Knightsbridge Tankers Limited
HIGHLIGHTS
* Knightsbridge reports net income of $9.0 million and earnings per share of
$0.53 for the fourth quarter of 2009.
* Knightsbridge reports net income of $21.7 million and earnings per share of
$1.27 for the year ended December 31, 2009.
* Knightsbridge announces a cash dividend of $0.30 per share for the fourth
quarter of 2009.
* Knightsbridge enters into a 30 month bareboat contract for the VLCC MT
Camden with commencement in March 2010.
* The second and final Capesize newbuilding from Daehan, the MV Belgravia, was
delivered on October 29 and commenced a five year time charter.
PRELIMINARY FOURTH QUARTER AND FINANCIAL YEAR 2009 RESULTS
Knightsbridge Tankers Limited (the "Company" or "Knightsbridge") reports net
income of $9.0 million and earnings per share of $0.53 for the fourth quarter of
2009. The average daily time charter equivalents ("TCEs") earned by the
Company's four VLCCs and two Capesize vessels were $36,900 and $44,300,
respectively, compared with $32,900 and $39,200 in the preceding quarter.
Revenues increased due to the delivery of the MV Belgravia, which commenced a
five year time charter during the quarter, a full quarter's earnings from the MV
Battersea, which commenced a five year time charter during the preceding quarter
and an improvement in earnings from the MT Camden, which operated in the spot
market.
The net increase in cash and cash equivalents in the quarter was $6.4 million.
The Company generated cash from operating activities of $12.0 million and
received $30.0 million from new long term loans, used $19.0 million to repay
loan facilities and invested $16.6 million in its newbuilding project. In
February 2010, the Company has an average cash breakeven rate for its VLCCs of
$19,300 per vessel per day, which is unchanged from February 2009. The average
cash breakeven rate for its Capesize vessels is $16,900 per vessel per day.
For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company reports net income of $21.7
million and earnings per share of $1.27, compared with $48.1 million and $2.81
respectively, in 2008. The average daily TCE earned by the Company's four VLCCs
and two Capesize vessels in 2009 was $36,000 and $43,400, respectively. The
average daily TCEs earned by the Company's four VLCCs in 2008 was $52,600. The
Capesize vessels did not operate during 2008. Net interest expense for the year
increased to $1.8 million from $0.9 million in 2008 principally due to the
higher net debt levels.
The net decrease in cash and cash equivalents in 2009 was $70.0 million. The
Company generated cash from operating activities of $34.6 million and received
$58.7 million net from new long term loans, used $42.5 million to repay loan
facilities, invested $116.5 million in its newbuildings and distributed $4.3
million in dividend payments.
On February 8, 2010, the Board declared a dividend of $0.30 per share. The
record date for the dividend is February 19, 2010, ex dividend date is February
17, 2010 and the dividend will be paid on or around March 4, 2010.
THE TANKER MARKET
In the fourth quarter of 2009 the market rate for a VLCC trading on a standard
'TD3' voyage between the Arabian Gulf and Japan was W48.5; equivalent to
$35,500/day and an increase of W12.5 points, or $18,800/day, from the third
quarter. Year on year the average rate decreased by approximately W92 points, or
70 percent, from W133.5 or $105,000/day in 2008 to W42 or $31,200/day in 2009.
Present indications are approximately at $30,000/day.
Bunkers at Fujairah averaged approximately $455/metric ton ("mt") in the fourth
quarter of 2009 compared to $426/mt in the third quarter; an increase of $30/mt.
Bunker prices varied from a low of $420/mt at the beginning of October and a
high of $485/mt at the end of December. Year on year the bunker price decreased
with $137/mt or 27 percent on average from $508/mt in 2008 to $370/mt in 2009.
The International Energy Agency's ("IEA") January 2010 report stated an average
OPEC oil production, including Iraq, of 28.98 million barrels per day (mb/d)
during the fourth quarter of the year. This was an increase of 180,000 barrels
per day compared to the third quarter of 2009. Year on year OPEC production,
including Iraq, decreased with 8 percent from 31.2 mb/d in 2008 to 28.7 mb/d in
2009. At the OPEC meeting that took place in December it was agreed to leave the
production level unchanged.
IEA further estimates that world oil demand averaged 85.7 mb/d in the fourth
quarter of 2009, an increase of 460,000 barrels per day compared to the third
quarter of the year. IEA estimates that the average demand for 2009 was 85.0
mb/d , an approximate 1.5 percent decline from 2008. Additionally, the IEA
estimates that world demand will average 86,33 mb/d in 2010 which is an increase
of 1.7 percent or 1.4 mb/d from 2009.
The VLCC fleet totalled 529 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter, up from
524 at the end of the previous quarter, with 10 deliveries during the quarter.
Throughout 2009 54 VLCC's were delivered against 69 estimated at the beginning
of the year. Throughout 2010 the current estimate is 67 deliveries. The
orderbook counted 178 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter, down from 188
vessels after the third quarter of 2009. The current orderbook represents about
33 percent of the VLCC fleet. During the quarter five vessels were removed from
the trading fleet and two were sold for demolition and conversion purposes.
According to Fearnleys the single hull fleet now stands at 84 vessels.
THE DRY BULK MARKET
According to industry sources the average earnings for a modern Capesize was
approximately $55,540/day for the fourth quarter. The earnings varied from a
high of approximately $88,000/day in the middle of the quarter and ending at
approximately $37,000/day. Present indications are approximately at $32,000/day
CORPORATE AND OUTLOOK
The Company's VLCC fleet is fixed on time and bareboat charters expiring between
2011 and 2012, except for the VLCC MT Mayfair which will be redelivered from the
charterer during March 2010 and we are currently evaluating employment
possibilities for this vessel. The Company has recently entered into a 30 month
bareboat contract for the MT Camden with commencement in March 2010 at a rate,
which is deemed by the Company to be equivalent to at least $32,000 per day on a
time charter basis.
The second and final Capesize newbuilding from Daehan, the MV Belgravia, was
delivered on October 29 and commenced a five year time charter. The Capesize
vessel MV Battersea is also fixed on a time charter expiring in 2014.
As stated in the press release for the third quarter 2009 the Company is
building its cash reserves. Knightsbridge is now in position to resume dividend
distribution based on the Company's contract coverage and announces a dividend
of $0.30 for the fourth quarter of 2009.
The Board is monitoring the developments in the financial markets and the
outlook for the shipping industry and believes that opportunities for expanding
the fleet are increasing.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
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.
Knightsbridge 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," "except," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project,"
"plan," "potential," "will," "may," "should," "expect" "pending" and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this document 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, important factors that, in our view,
could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the
forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and
currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charterhire
rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market, as a result of
changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and world wide oil consumption and
storage, changes in Knightsbridge's operating expenses, including bunker prices,
drydocking and insurance costs, the market for Knightsbridge's vessels,
availability of financing and refinancing, 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, and other important factors described from time to time in the
reports filed by Knightsbridge with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The full report is available in the link enclosed.
The Board of Directors
Knightsbridge Tankers Limited
Hamilton, Bermuda
February 8, 2010
Questions should be directed to:
Contact: Ola Lorentzon: Chairman, Knightsbridge Tankers Limited
+ 46 703 998886
Inger M. Klemp: CFO, Knightsbridge Tankers Limited
+47 23 11 40 76
[HUG#1382187]
4th Quarter and FY 2009 Results:
http://hugin.info/132879/R/1382187/341172.pdf