MONACO — (Marketwire) — 07/31/12 — Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG) (“Scorpio Tankers,” or the “Company”) today reported its results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012.
The Company recorded a net loss of $4.0 million or $0.10 basic and diluted loss per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2012. This is compared to a net loss of $2.7 million or $0.10 basic and diluted loss per share for the three months ended June 30, 2011.
The Company recorded a net loss of $9.1 million or $0.23 basic and diluted loss per share, which included a non-cash charge of $4.5 million, or $0.11 basic and diluted loss per share relating to the loss on sales of the STI Conqueror, STI Matador, and STI Gladiator for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Excluding the non-cash charge, the net loss would have been $4.6 million, or $0.12 basic and diluted loss per share. This is compared to a net loss of $4.2 million or $0.16 basic and diluted loss per share for the six months ended June 30, 2011.
Summary of Recent and Second Quarter Significant Events:
Contracted to sell the STI Coral and STI Diamond for $25.25 million each with the expected closing of the sales by the end of September 2012. As a result of the sales, the Company will recognize a loss of approximately $5.5 million in the third quarter of 2012.
Signed a letter of intent with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd. of South Korea (“HMD”) to construct the Company–s ninth and tenth newbuilding vessels with an option for two additional vessels.
Took delivery of the first vessel under the Company–s MR Newbuilding program, the STI Amber, on July 18, 2012.
Signed an agreement with 2011 Credit Facility lenders to extend the availability period until January 31, 2014.
Repurchased 365,000 shares under the share buyback program at an average price per share of $5.45 in the second quarter.
Took delivery of an MR product tanker on a six month time charter-in agreement in July 2012. The agreement contains two consecutive option periods for six months each.
Took delivery of three time chartered-in MR product tankers during the second quarter of 2012.
Extended the charters on two time chartered-in Handymax product tankers.
Emanuele Lauro, chief executive officer and chairman of the board commented, “We are pleased with the letter of intent for two additional newbuilding vessels and further optional vessels from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, and we are delighted by the successful delivery of our first newbuilding, STI Amber. We believe that modernizing our fleet with more fuel efficient vessels is essential in establishing a competitive advantage in our markets.
Mr. Lauro continued, “We are confident in continued market improvement, and present product tanker rates are higher than at this time last year. We remain focused on our strategy of balanced financial leverage coupled with selectively increasing our time charter-in exposure to maintain ample upside exposure to the spot market.”
On July 24, 2012, the Company entered into agreements to sell the STI Coral and STI Diamond for $25.25 million each. The sales of the two vessels are expected to close by the end of September 2012 and there is currently $32.3 million of debt outstanding on the 2011 Credit Facility relating to these vessels. In addition, the Company will record a $5.5 million loss on disposal in the third quarter of 2012 as part of the sales.
The Company signed a letter of intent with HMD to construct two newbuilding vessels for $34.0 million each, which are the Company–s ninth and tenth MR product tanker newbuildings with HMD. These vessels are scheduled to be delivered to the Company in January 2014. Financing for these vessels is available under the 2011 Credit Facility. The letter of intent included an option for two additional vessels.
On July 18, 2012, the Company took delivery of the STI Amber, the first vessel delivered under its Newbuilding program. The delivery of the vessel was partially financed by drawing down $23.0 million on its Newbuilding Credit Facility with Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB.
The Company signed an agreement with its lenders, Nordea Bank Finland plc, DNB Bank ASA, and ABN AMRO Bank N.V., to extend the availability period of its 2011 Credit Facility until January 31, 2014. The availability period was previously scheduled to expire in May 2013. There is currently $115 million available for borrowing under this facility, which can be used to finance up to 50% of future vessel acquisitions. Due to the amendment, the Company will write-off $2.9 million in deferred financing fees, which includes the loan origination fees from May 2011, in the third quarter of 2012.
In July 2012, the Company took delivery of a 2004 built, 46,102 DWT MR product tanker on a time charter-in agreement. The agreement is for a period of six months at an average rate of $11,500 per day. This agreement contains two consecutive option periods for the Company to extend the charter by six months and six months at $13,750 per day and $14,800 per day, respectively. The vessel is currently operating in the spot market.
In June 2012, the Company extended the charters on two time chartered-in Handymax product tankers for one year with an option for the Company to extend each time charter for an additional year (see Fleet List for additional information). The original time charter agreements for each vessel expired in June 2012 and July 2012, respectively.
In April and May 2012, the Company took delivery of three MR product tankers built between 2007 and 2012. Each vessel is time chartered-in for two years, and the Company has options to extend the time charters (see Fleet List for additional information).
On April 18, 2012, the Company closed on the sale of 4,000,000 shares of its common stock in a registered direct placement of common shares at an offering price of $6.75 per share. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $25.9 million, after deducting the placement agents– discount and offering expenses. There are 42,270,394 shares outstanding as of July 31, 2012.
The Company closed on the sales of two of its Handymax vessels, the STI Matador for $16.2 million in April 2012, and the STI Gladiator for $16.2 million in May 2012.
The Company will have a conference call on July 31, 2012 at 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Saving Time.
Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 1(800) 500-0920 (U.S.) or 1(719) 325-2204 (International). The conference participant passcode is 5535409. The information provided on the teleconference is only accurate at the time of the conference call, and the Company will take no responsibility for providing updated information.
There will also be a simultaneous live webcast over the internet, through the Scorpio Tankers Inc. website . Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.
Webcast URL:
As of July 31, 2012, the Company had $33.6 million in cash and $39.7 million available to draw down from its 2010 Credit Facility.
Newbuilding Financing
During the second quarter 2012, the Company drew down an aggregate of $9.7 million from the credit facility agreement with Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (“Newbuilding Credit Facility”) to partially finance the fourth installment on the first four Newbuilding vessels ($2.4 million per vessel).
In July 2012, the Company drew down $20.6 million from this facility to finance the final installment due on the STI Amber, which was delivered on July 18, 2012. The Company expects to draw the remaining amount available under this facility of $61.8 million ($20.6 million per vessel), during the third quarter of 2012 in connection with the delivery of the next three newbuildings from the shipyard.
2010 Reducing Revolving Credit Facility Repayments
In April and May 2012, the Company repaid $16 million and $26 million, respectively, into the 2010 Reducing Revolving Credit Facility. The Company currently has $39.7 million available to draw down when needed.
STI Spirit Credit Facility Repayment
The credit facility with DVB Bank SE requires that the charter-free market value of the STI Spirit shall be no less than 140% of the then outstanding loan balance. In order to stay in compliance with this covenant, the Company made a prepayment of $0.8 million in June 2012, which will be applied to the next three quarterly payments. This prepayment was in addition to the scheduled installment of $0.4 million that was also made in June 2012.
As of July 31, 2012, the Company–s outstanding debt balance is as follows:
2012 Debt Repayments
The third quarter 2012 debt repayment for the Newbuilding Credit Facility will be $0.7 million which assumes the full drawdown of the Facility upon the delivery of the remaining three vessels, in aggregate. There are no principal payments due for the 2011 Credit Facility which assumes the closing of the sales of the STI Coral and STI Diamond, and corresponding debt repayment, prior to September 30, 2012. There are no principal payments due for the 2010 Revolving Credit Facility since the amount available is greater than the amount drawn. There are no principal payments due for the STI Spirit Credit Facility as a result of the $0.8 million prepayment made in June 2012.
Payments for the Newbuilding Program
The Company made $22.1 million of installment payments on its newbuilding vessels during the second quarter of 2012.
The current estimated future payment dates and amounts are as follows as of June 30, 2012*:
* These are estimates only and are subject to change as the construction progresses. These estimates do not include amounts relating to the ninth and tenth newbuilding vessels. For expected delivery dates of the newbuildings, see the Fleet List below.
** Includes $20.6 million that was paid in July 2012 for delivery of the STI Amber.
For the three months ended June 30, 2012, the Company incurred a net loss of $4.0 million compared to a net loss of $2.7 million in the three months ended June 30, 2011. The following were the significant changes between the two periods:
Vessel revenue increased by $6.0 million to $27.0 million as a result of an increase in the average number of operating vessels to 17.80 from 15.51 for the three month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in daily time charter equivalent per vessel, to $12,258 from $13,783 (see the breakdown of daily TCE averages below) for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.
Vessel operating costs decreased by $0.5 million to $7.0 million as a result of a reduction in the average number of owned vessels to 9.55 from 11.13 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. This was driven by the sales of the STI Conqueror, STI Matador and STI Gladiator during the first and second quarter of 2012. This reduction was offset by an increase in operating costs per day to $7,942 from $7,388 in the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, primarily as a result of unplanned repairs on the STI Spirit.
Voyage expenses increased by $5.6 million to $7.3 million as a result of an increase in operating days of vessels operating in the spot market. The STI Coral and STI Diamond were acquired in May 2011, and were the only vessels operating in the spot market during the three months ended of June 30, 2011 for a total of 98 days. In the second quarter of 2012, the Company had 476 days of vessels operating in the spot market which, in addition to 182 days for the STI Coral and STI Diamond, was also driven by the time chartered vessels, Pacific Duchess, Freja Lupus and STX ACE 6.
Charterhire expense increased by $4.7 million to $9.8 million as a result of an increase in the average number of chartered-in vessels to 8.25 from 4.38 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See the Company–s Fleet List below for the terms of these agreements.
Depreciation expense decreased by $1.2 million to $3.2 million as a result of (i) a $66.6 million impairment charge recorded at December 31, 2011 which decreased the depreciable basis of the Company–s vessels and (ii) a decrease in the average number of owned vessels to 9.55 from 11.13 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which was driven by the sales of STI Conqueror, STI Matador, and STI Gladiator during the first half of 2012.
Business Strategy
The Company–s primary objectives are to profitably grow the business and emerge as a major operator of medium-sized tanker vessels. The Company intends to acquire modern, high-quality tankers through timely and selective acquisitions. The Company is currently concentrating on product or coated tankers because of the fundamentals of this segment, which the Company believes includes:
increasing demand for refined products;
increasing ton miles (distance between new refiners and areas of demand); and
reduced order book.
Dividend Policy
The Company does not have immediate plans to pay dividends but will continue to assess the dividend policy. In the future, the board of directors may determine it is in the best interest of the Company to pay dividends.
Share Buyback Program
On July 9, 2010, the board of directors authorized a share buyback program of up to $20 million. Scorpio Tankers expects to repurchase these shares in the open market, at times and prices that are considered to be appropriate by the Company, but is not obligated under the terms of the program to repurchase any shares.
As of July 31, 2012, the Company has purchased $7.5 million of shares in the open market at an average price of $6.88.
Scorpio Tankers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of petroleum products worldwide. Scorpio Tankers Inc. currently owns one LR2 tanker, four LR1 tankers, one Handymax tanker, three MR tankers, and one post-Panamax tanker with an average age of 5.7 years, time charters-in ten vessels (five MR tankers and five Handymax tankers), has contracted for seven newbuilding MR–s, which are expected to be delivered to the Company between August 2012 and May 2013 and signed a letter of intent for two additional newbuilding MR–s which are expected to be delivered to the Company in January 2014. Additional information about the Company is available at the Company–s website . Information on the Company–s website is not a part of this press release.
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “pending” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management–s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with us, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.
This press release describes EBITDA, which is not a measure prepared in accordance with IFRS (i.e. “Non-GAAP” measure). The Non-GAAP measure is presented in this press release as we believe that it provides investors with a means of evaluating and understanding how the Company–s management evaluates the Company–s operating performance. This Non-GAAP measure should not be considered in isolation from, as substitutes for, or superior to financial measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.