Teekay LNG Partners Reports First Quarter 2015 Results
(firmenpresse) - HAMILTON, BERMUDA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/14/15 -- Highlights
Teekay GP L.L.C., the general partner of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (Teekay LNG or the Partnership) (NYSE: TGP), today reported the Partnership's results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. During the first quarter of 2015, the Partnership generated distributable cash flow(1) of $66.2 million, compared to $60.1 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase in distributable cash flow was primarily due to lower interest expense resulting from the December 2014 termination of capital leases and the subsequent refinancing of three 70 percent -owned liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, fewer scheduled dry-dockings and unscheduled off-hire days compared to the first quarter of 2014, the acquisition of the Norgas Napa liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier in November 2014, and an increase in charter rates for two of the Partnership's Suezmax tankers. These increases were partially offset by a grounding incident and related disputed off-hire for the 52 percent-owned Magellan Spirit during the first quarter of 2015, the scheduled expiration of the time-charter contract for the 52 percent-owned Methane Spirit in mid-March 2015 and the sale of a 2000 and 2001-built conventional tanker, including related restructuring charges, in February 2014 and August 2014, respectively.
On April 2, 2015, the Partnership declared a cash distribution of $0.70 per unit for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The cash distribution will be paid on May 15, 2015 to all unitholders of record on April 13, 2015.
"The Partnership's diversified portfolio of long-term fixed-rate contracts continued to generate stable cash flow, resulting in a positive coverage ratio for the quarter," commented Peter Evensen, Chief Executive Officer of Teekay GP LLC. Mr. Evensen continued, "With approximately $11.2 billion of forward fixed-rate revenues with an average duration of 13 years, the Partnership is largely insulated from short-term LNG shipping rate fluctuations and remains well-positioned for expected future growth. Spot and short-term LNG shipping rates continued to decline since the start of 2015 due to low Asian LNG prices, production outages at various liquefaction plants and the delivery of speculative LNG carriers ahead of corresponding LNG supply growth. With LNG liquefaction export growth expected to occur from the second half of 2015 onwards, mostly located in the U.S. and Australia, and the restart of certain existing liquefaction plants, the Partnership expects the supply/demand balance to tighten."
"Our LPG business also continues to produce stable results, underpinned by strong realized rates and utilization in our LPG joint venture with Exmar," Mr. Evensen continued. "During the quarter, the Partnership's LPG joint venture took delivery of the fourth of 12 mid-size LPG carrier newbuildings, which will contribute to fleet renewal and future growth within our LPG carrier fleet."
Mr. Evensen added, "Looking ahead, in addition to our current growth project pipeline of $3 .4 billion, we continue to see strong long-term fundamentals for marine-based liquefied gas transportation, as reflected in our recently announced transaction to provide Shell with five MEGI LNG carrier newbuildings, for delivery onto fixed -rate contracts, commencing in 2017 and 2018."
Recent Transactions
LNG Carrier Newbuilding Order with Options
In February 2015, Teekay LNG entered into an agreement with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd., (DSME) of South Korea for the construction of one additional 173,400 cubic meter (cbm) LNG carrier newbuilding, for a total fully built-up cost of approximately $225 million, with options to order up to four additional vessels. This vessel, and the optional newbuildings, will be constructed with M-type, Electronically Controlled, Gas Injection (MEGI) twin engines, which are designed to be significantly more fuel-efficient and have lower emission levels than engines currently used in LNG shipping. The Partnership intends to secure long-term contract employment for the vessel prior to its scheduled delivery in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Charter Contracts for Two 52 Percent-Owned LNG carriers
In January 2015, the Magellan Spirit, in which the Partnership has a 52 percent ownership interest through its joint venture with Marubeni Corporation (Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture), was involved in a grounding incident. The vessel was subsequently refloated and returned to service with a majority of the costs of the grounding expected to be covered by insurance, less an applicable deductible. As a result of this incident, the charterer claimed 59 days of vessel off-hire during the first quarter of 2015, which in the view of the charterer, permitted the charterer to terminate the charter contract, which it claimed to do effective in late-March 2015. The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture has disputed both the charterer's aggregate off-hire claims as well as the charterer's ability to terminate the charter contract, which would have otherwise expired in September 2016. The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture has obtained legal assistance in resolving this dispute.
In mid-March 2015, the charter contract for the Partnership's 52 percent-owned LNG carrier Methane Spirit expired as scheduled.
The Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture has secured short-term employment, commencing in September 2015, for both the Magellan Spirit and the Methane Spirit at significantly lower charter rates and continues to seek medium-term to long-term employment for both vessels.
Other Committed Growth Projects
LNG Carriers
Cheniere MEGI LNG Carrier Newbuildings
In December 2012, Teekay LNG entered into an agreement with DSME of South Korea for the construction of two 173,400 cbm MEGI LNG carrier newbuildings for an aggregate fully built-up cost of approximately $420 million. In June 2013, the Partnership was awarded two five-year time-charter contracts with Cheniere Marketing LLC (Cheniere) for these vessels. Upon deliveries in the first half of 2016, the vessels will each commence five-year charters with Cheniere exporting LNG primarily from Cheniere's Sabine Pass LNG liquefaction facility in Louisiana.
Shell MEGI LNG Carrier Newbuildings
In December 2014, Teekay LNG secured time-charter contracts with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) for five newbuilding LNG carriers. The new contracts will be serviced by two MEGI LNG carrier newbuildings ordered in 2013 and three MEGI LNG carrier newbuildings ordered in December 2014 which are being constructed for an aggregate fully built-up cost of approximately $1.1 billion. Upon deliveries, which are expected to occur from the second half of 2017 into 2018, the vessels will operate as part of Shell's global LNG fleet under time-charters ranging in duration from six to eight years, plus extension options.
Four LNG Carrier Newbuildings for BG
In June 2014, Teekay LNG acquired from BG Group (BG) its ownership interests in four 174,000 cbm Tri-Fuel Diesel Electric LNG carrier newbuildings, which will be constructed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. in China for an aggregate estimated fully built-up cost of approximately $1.0 billion. The vessels, which are scheduled to deliver between September 2017 and January 2019, will each operate under time-charter contracts with BG for initial periods of 20 years, plus extension options.
Through this transaction, the Partnership acquired a 30 percent ownership interest in the first two LNG carrier newbuildings, with the balance of ownership held by CETS Investment Management (HK) Co. Ltd. (CETS) (an affiliate of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)) and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited (China LNG), and a 20 percent ownership interest in the second two LNG carrier newbuildings, with the balance of ownership held by CETS, China LNG and BW Group.
Six Icebreaker LNG Carrier Newbuildings
In July 2014, Teekay LNG, through a 50/50 joint venture with China LNG, finalized agreements to provide six internationally-flagged icebreaker LNG carriers for the Yamal LNG Project in Northern Russia. The project, located on the Yamal Peninsula, is a joint venture between Novatek OAO, Total SA and China National Petroleum Corporation, and will consist of three LNG trains with a total capacity of 16.5 million metric tonnes per annum, currently scheduled to start-up in early-2018. LNG from the project is expected to be transported from Northern Russia to Europe and Asia. The Yamal LNG joint venture has publicly indicated that nearly all of the expected LNG production output of the project has already been agreed to be purchased by affiliates of the Yamal LNG project sponsors and other third parties.
The joint venture between Teekay LNG and China LNG will provide to the Yamal LNG project six 172,000 cbm ARC7 LNG carrier newbuildings to be constructed by DSME for an aggregate fully built-up cost of approximately $2.1 billion. Each vessel will be constructed with maximum 2.1 meter icebreaking capabilities in both the forward and reverse direction. The six vessels, which are scheduled to deliver between the first quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2020, will operate under time-charter contracts until December 31, 2045, plus extension options.
LPG Carriers
Exmar LPG Carrier Newbuildings
Exmar LPG BVBA, the Partnership's 50/50 LPG joint venture with Belgium-based Exmar NV, currently has eight mid-size gas carrier newbuildings under construction, which are scheduled to deliver between the third quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2018. The eight LPG carrier newbuildings have an aggregate cost of approximately $345 million, of which the Partnership's 50 percent portion is approximately $173 million. Upon deliveries, four of the LPG carrier newbuildings will commence charter contracts ranging from three to ten years.
Financial Summary
The Partnership reported adjusted net income attributable to the partners(1) of $43.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to $41.8 million for the same period of the prior year. Adjusted net income attributable to the partners excludes a number of specific items that had the net effect of increasing net income by $19.1 million and decreasing net income by $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, primarily relating to unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments and foreign currency exchange gains and losses, as detailed in Appendix A to this release. Including these items, the Partnership reported net income attributable to the partners, on a GAAP basis, of $63.1 million and $38.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Adjusted net income attributable to the partners for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 increased from the prior year, primarily due to the termination of capital leases and the subsequent refinancing at a lower interest rate of three LNG carriers owned by the Partnership's RasGas II Joint Venture in December 2014, scheduled dry-dockings for two of the Partnership's vessels and unscheduled off-hire days for one of the Partnership's LNG carriers for repairs during same quarter of the prior year, and the acquisition of one LPG carrier from Skaugen, the Norgas Napa, in November 2014, partially offset by the Magellan Spirit grounding incident and related disputed off-hire during the first quarter of 2015, the scheduled expiration of the time-charter contract for the Methane Spirit in mid-March 2015 and the sale of two conventional tankers in February 2014 and August 2014, respectively.
For accounting purposes, the Partnership is required to recognize the changes in the fair value of its outstanding derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes in net income. This method of accounting does not affect the Partnership's cash flows or the calculation of distributable cash flow, but results in the recognition of unrealized gains or losses on the consolidated statements of income as detailed in notes 2, 3 and 4 to the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income included in this release.
Operating Results
The following table highlights certain financial information for Teekay LNG's two segments: the Liquefied Gas Segment and the Conventional Tanker Segment (please refer to the "Teekay LNG's Fleet" section of this release below and Appendices C through F for further details).
Liquefied Gas Segment
Cash flow from vessel operations from the Partnership's Liquefied Gas segment, excluding equity accounted vessels, increased to $60.7 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $58.6 million in the same quarter of the prior year. The increase was primarily due to the acquisition of the LPG carrier, Norgas Napa, in November 2014 and fewer off-hire days during the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same quarter of the prior year.
Cash flow from vessel operations from the Partnership's equity accounted vessels in the Liquefied Gas segment decreased to $46.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 from $48.1 million in the same quarter of the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to the grounding incident and related off-hire dispute involving the Magellan Spirit during the first quarter of 2015 and the scheduled expiration of the time-charter contract for the Methane Spirit in mid-March 2015. Both the Magellan Spirit and Methane Spirit are owned through the Partnership's 52 percent interest in the Teekay LNG-Marubeni Joint Venture. The aforementioned decreases were partially offset by increased cash flows from the Partnership's 50 percent -owned LPG joint venture, Exmar LPG BVBA, as a result of higher charter rates from the addition of four LPG newbuildings delivered during 2014 and early 2015, net of the sale of four older LPG carriers during 2014.
Conventional Tanker Segment
Cash flow from vessel operations from the Partnership's Conventional Tanker segment decreased to $12.0 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $12.9 million in the same quarter of the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to the sale of two Suezmax tankers, the 2000-built Algeciras Spirit and the 2001-built Huelva Spirit, in February 2014 and August 2014, respectively.
Teekay LNG's Fleet
The following table summarizes the Partnership's fleet as of May 1, 2015:
Liquidity and Continuous Offering Program Update
In 2013, the Partnership implemented a continuous offering program (COP) under which the Partnership may issue new common units at market prices up to a maximum aggregate amount of $100 million. Since initiation of the program, the Partnership has sold an aggregate of 1,334,534 common units under the COP, generating net proceeds of approximately $53.4 million (including the general partner's 2 percent contribution and net of offering costs) of which $6.8 million was settled in the first quarter of 2015.
In May 2015, the Partnership issued NOK 1,000 million in senior unsecured bonds in the Norwegian bond market that mature in May 2020. The aggregate principal amount of the bonds was equivalent to approximately USD 130 million and all interest and principal payments have been swapped into U.S. Dollars at a fixed rate of 5.92 percent. The net proceeds from the bonds are expected to be used for general partnership purposes, including funding of newbuilding installments. The Partnership is applying to list the bonds on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
As of March 31, 2015, the Partnership had total liquidity of $239.6 million (comprised of $106.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and $133.2 million in undrawn credit facilities). Giving pro-forma effect to the $130 million of net proceeds from the Partnership's NOK bond offering completed in early-May 2015, the Partnership's total liquidity at March 31, 2015 would have been approximately $370 million.
2014 Audited Financial Statements
Teekay LNG Partners L.P. filed its 2014 Annual Report on Form 20-F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 23, 2015. Copies are available on Teekay LNG's website, under "Investors - Teekay LNG Partners L.P. - Financials & Presentations", at . Unitholders may request a printed copy of this annual report, including the complete audited financial statements free of charge by contacting Teekay LNG's Investor Relations.
Conference Call
The Partnership plans to host a conference call on Friday, May 15, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss the results for the first quarter of 2015. All unitholders and interested parties are invited to listen to the live conference call by choosing from the following options:
A supporting First Quarter 2015 Earnings Presentation will also be available at in advance of the conference call start time.
The conference call will be recorded and made available until Friday, May 29, 2015. This recording can be accessed following the live call by dialing (888) 203-1112 or (647) 436-0148, if outside North America, and entering access code 2036708.
About Teekay LNG Partners L.P.
Teekay LNG Partners is one of the world's largest independent owners and operators of LNG carriers, providing LNG, LPG and crude oil marine transportation services primarily under long-term, fixed-rate charter contracts through its interests in 48 LNG carriers (including one LNG regasification unit and 19 newbuildings), 30 LPG/Multigas carriers (including three in- chartered LPG carriers and eight newbuildings) and eight conventional tankers. The Partnership's interests in these vessels range from 20 to 100 percent. Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is a publicly-traded master limited partnership (MLP) formed by Teekay Corporation (NYSE: TK) as part of its strategy to expand its operations in the LNG and LPG shipping sectors.
Teekay LNG Partners' common units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TGP".
Set forth below is a reconciliation of the Partnership's unaudited adjusted net income attributable to the partners, a non- GAAP financial measure, to net income attributable to the partners as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Partnership believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Partnership's financial performance. The items below are also typically excluded by securities analysts in their published estimates of the Partnership's financial results. Adjusted net income attributable to the partners is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Description of Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Distributable Cash Flow (DCF)
Distributable cash flow represents net income adjusted for depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash items, estimated maintenance capital expenditures, unrealized gains and losses from derivatives, distributions relating to equity financing of newbuilding installments, equity income, adjustments for direct financing leases to a cash basis, and foreign exchange related items. Maintenance capital expenditures represent those capital expenditures required to maintain over the long-term the operating capacity of, or the revenue generated by, the Partnership's capital assets. Distributable cash flow is a quantitative standard used in the publicly-traded partnership investment community to assist in evaluating a partnership's ability to make quarterly cash distributions. Distributable cash flow is not required by GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other indicator of the Partnership's performance required by GAAP. The table below reconciles distributable cash flow to net income.
Description of Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Net Voyage Revenues
Net voyage revenues represents voyage revenues less voyage expenses, which comprise all expenses relating to certain voyages, including bunker fuel expenses, port fees, cargo loading and unloading expenses, canal tolls, agency fees and commissions. Net voyage revenues is included because certain investors use this data to measure the financial performance of shipping companies. Net voyage revenues is not required by GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to voyage revenues or any other indicator of the Partnership's performance required by GAAP.
Description of Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Cash Flow from Vessel Operations from Consolidated Vessels
Cash flow from vessel operations from consolidated vessels represents income from vessel operations before (a) depreciation and amortization expense, (b) amortization of in-process revenue contracts included in voyage revenues, and includes (c) adjustments for direct financing leases to a cash basis, realized gains or losses on the Toledo Spirit derivative contract, and the revenue for two Suezmax tankers recognized to a cash basis. The Partnership's direct financing leases for the periods indicated relates to the Partnership's 69 percent interest in two LNG carriers, Tangguh Sago and Tangguh Hiri, and the two LNG carriers acquired from Awilco in September and November 2013. The Partnership's cash flow from vessel operations from consolidated vessels does not include the Partnership's cash flow from vessel operations from its equity accounted joint ventures. Cash flow from vessel operations is included because certain investors use cash flow from vessel operations to measure a company's financial performance, and to highlight this measure for the Partnership's consolidated vessels. Cash flow from vessel operations from consolidated vessels is not required by GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other indicator of the Partnership's performance required by GAAP.
Description of Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Cash Flow from Vessel Operations from Equity Accounted Vessels
Cash flow from vessel operations from equity accounted vessels represents income from vessel operations before (a) depreciation and amortization expense, (b) amortization of in-process revenue contracts, (c) loss on sale of vessel and includes (d) adjustments for direct financing leases to a cash basis. Cash flow from vessel operations from equity accounted vessels is included because certain investors use cash flow from vessel operations to measure a company's financial performance, and to highlight this measure for the Partnership's equity accounted joint ventures. Cash flow from vessel operations from equity-accounted vessels is not required by GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to equity income or any other indicator of the Partnership's performance required by GAAP.
This release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) which reflect management's current views with respect to certain future events and performance, including statements regarding: the Partnership's expected future revenues and ability of its portfolio of fixed -rate contracts to largely insulate it from fluctuations in spot LNG shipping rates; the Partnership's current project pipeline; the long -term fundamentals in the liquefied gas industry, including expected future growth in LNG supply and LNG vessel supply/demand balance; the delivery timing and total cost of the newbuilding vessels, either directly ordered by the Partnership or through its joint venture subsidiaries, the commencement of related time charter contracts and the effect of these contracts on the Partnership's distributable cash flows; future growth opportunities and the effect on the Partnership's operational results a nd distributable cash flow; expected fuel-efficiency and emission levels associated with the MEGI engines; the Partnership's ability to secure charter contract employment for currently unchartered vessels prior to their deliveries; the timing and certainty of exercising any of the Partnership's existing options to order up to four additional MEGI LNG carrier newbuildings; the outcome of the Partnership's dispute over the Magellan Spirit offhire incident and claimed charter contract termination; and the timing of the start-up of the Yamal LNG project and the expected total LNG production capacity of the project, if completed.
The following factors are among those that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, and that should be considered in evaluating any such statement: potential shipyard construction delays, newbuilding specification changes or cost overruns; availability of suitable LNG shipping, LPG shipping, floating storage and regasification and other growth project opportunities; changes in production of LNG or LPG, either generally or in particular regions; changes in trading patterns or timing of start -up of new LNG liquefaction and regasification projects significantly affecting overall vessel tonnage requirements; competitive dynamics in bidding for potential LNG, LPG or floating regasification projects; potential failure of the Yamal LNG project to be completed on time or at all for any reason, including due to lack of funding as a result of existing or future sanctions against Russian entities and individuals, which may affect partners in the project; changes in applicable industry laws and regulations and the timing of implementation of new laws and regulations; the potential for early termination of long-term contracts of existing vessels in the Teekay LNG fleet; the inability of charterers to make future charter payments; the inability of the Partnership to renew or replace long-term contracts on existing vessels; actual performance of the MEGI engines; failure by the Partnership to secure charter contracts for unchartered vessels; factors affecting the outcome of the Partnership's dispute over the Magellan Spirit; the Partnership's ability to raise financing for its existing newbuildings or to purchase additional vessels or to pursue other projects; actual capital expenditures under the Partnership's project pipeline ; and other factors discussed in Teekay LNG Partners' filings from time to time with the SEC, including its Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. The Partnership expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Partnership's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Contacts:
Investor Relations enquiries:
Ryan Hamilton
+1 (604) 609-6442
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Datum: 14.05.2015 - 05:54 Uhr
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