VLCCF - Second Quarter 2010 and Six Months Results
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
HIGHLIGHTS
* Knightsbridge reports net income of $13.4 million and earnings per share of
$0.79 for the second quarter of 2010.
* Knightsbridge reports net income of $23.7 million and earnings per share of
$1.39 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
* Knightsbridge announces a cash dividend of $0.50 per share for the second
quarter of 2010.
* Knightsbridge purchased the Capesize vessel, M/V Golden Future from Golden
Ocean for a price of $72 million and took delivery in July.
* Knightsbridge refinances existing debt of $58.24 million and arranges new
bank debt of $47.5 million to partially fund the purchase of M/V Golden
Future.
SECOND QUARTER 2010 AND SIX MONTHS RESULTS
Knightsbridge Tankers Limited (the "Company" or "Knightsbridge") reports net
income of $13.4 million and earnings per share of $0.79 for the second quarter
of 2010. The average daily time charter equivalents ("TCEs") earned by the
Company's three VLCCs on time charter and two Capesize vessels were $49,800 and
$45,500, respectively, compared with $35,500 and $45,500 in the preceding
quarter. M/T Camden commenced at the beginning of the quarter a 30 month
bareboat charter at a rate which is deemed to be equivalent to $32,000 per day
on a time charter basis. Revenues and net income increased mainly due to the M/T
Camden, and a demurrage claim by the M/T Mayfair of $1.4 million.
The net increase in cash and cash equivalents in the quarter was $1.4 million.
The Company generated cash from operating activities of $16.7 million, used $3.5
million to repay loan facilities, increased restricted cash by $5.0 million and
paid a dividend of $6.8 million. In August 2010, the Company has average cash
breakeven rates for its VLCCs and Capesize vessels of approximately $16,400 and
$14,200 per vessel per day, respectively.
For the six months ended June 30, 2010 the Company reports net income of $23.7
million and earnings per share of $1.39. The average daily TCEs for the
Company's VLCCs on time charter and two Capesize vessels for the six months
ended June 30, 2010 were $41,800 and $45,500 respectively.
On August 11, 2010, the Board declared a dividend of $0.50 per share. The record
date for the dividend is August 24, 2010, ex dividend date is August 20, 2010
and the dividend will be paid on or around September 7, 2010.
THE TANKER MARKET
The market rate for a VLCC trading on a standard 'TD3' voyage between the
Arabian Gulf and Japan in the second quarter of 2010 was WS 88; equivalent to
$54,500/day; representing a decrease of WS 1.5 points or $1,100/day from the
first quarter of 2010 and an increase of WS52 points from the second quarter of
2009. Present indications are approximately $25,000/day in Q3.
Bunkers at Fujairah averaged approximately $461/mt in the second quarter of
2010 compared to $468/mt in the first quarter of 2010; a decrease of $7/mt.
Bunker prices varied between a low of $422.5/mt at the end of May and a high of
$500/mt at the end of April. On August 11, 2010 the quoted bunker price in
Fujairah was $461/mt.
The International Energy Agency's ("IEA") July 2010 report stated an average
OPEC oil production, including Iraq, of 29 million barrels per day (mb/d) during
the second quarter of the year. This was a decrease of 100,000 barrels per day
compared to the first quarter of 2010 and an increase of 480,000 barrels per day
compared to the second quarter of 2009.
IEA further estimates that world oil demand averaged 86.6 mb/d in the second
quarter of 2010, representing an increase of 530,000 barrels per day compared to
the first quarter of 2010 and 2.7 mb/d compared to the second quarter of 2009.
Additionally, the IEA estimates that world oil demand will average 86.5 mb/d in
2010 representing an increase of 2.1 percent or 1.8 mb/d from 2009.
The VLCC fleet totalled 531 vessels at the end of the second quarter of 2010, up
from 527 vessels at the end of the previous quarter. 12 VLCCs were delivered
during the quarter versus an estimated 18 at the beginning of the year.
Throughout 2010 the current estimate is 74 deliveries. The orderbook counted
174 vessels at the end of the second quarter, down from 179 orders in the
previous quarter. Seven new orders were placed in the quarter and the current
orderbook represents about 35 percent of the VLCC fleet. During the quarter
eight vessels were removed from the trading fleet for scrapping or
conversion/storage purposes. According to Fearnleys the single hull fleet now
stands at 55 vessels.
THE DRY BULK MARKET
According to industry sources, the average earnings for a modern Capesize were
approximately $38,500/day for the second quarter of 2010. The earnings varied
from a high of approximately $59,300/day in early June to a low of approximately
$21,600/day at the end of June. The market continued to slide through July and
present indications are approximately $33,000/day.
CORPORATE AND OUTLOOK
In June 2010, the Company acquired the Capesize vessel "Golden Future" from
Golden Ocean Group Limited ("Golden Ocean") for a purchase price of $72 million.
The Golden Future was built at the Zhoushan Jinhaiwan Shipyard Co., Ltd. and
completed in February 2010. The vessel is employed on a time charter with a
minimum term of 35 months from February 2010 at a gross rate of $31,500 per day.
The vessel was delivered to Knightsbridge in July 2010.
Knightsbridge paid $25 million of the purchase price of the Golden Future by
issuing to Golden Ocean 1,464,515 restricted common shares. The Company has
arranged bank debt of $47 million to finance the remaining portion of the
purchase price.
The Golden Future will be the third Capesize vessel in the Knightsbridge fleet,
and Golden Ocean is acting as the commercial manager for all the three vessels.
Following the above the Company's three Capesize vessels are on time charters
expiring between 2013 and 2014 with an average time charter rate of
approximately $41,400/day.
In July 2010, the Company secured a long term debt facility of $58 million for
its VLCC fleet in order to refinance existing debt, which was due in February
2011.
The Company's VLCC fleet is fixed on time and bareboat charters expiring between
2011 and 2012, except for the VLCC M/T Mayfair which is trading in the spot
market.
Based on the second quarter results and its profitable forward contract
coverage, Knightsbridge is pleased to announce an increase in dividend from the
previous quarter and has decided to declare a dividend of $0.50 per share.
The Board continues to monitor the developments in the financial markets and the
outlook for the shipping industry and is actively seeking to expand the fleet.
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 dry bulk and tanker markets,
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
August 11, 2010
Questions should be directed to:
Contact:
Ola Lorentzon : Chairman, Knightsbridge Tankers Limited
+ 46 703 998886
Inger M. Klemp: Chief Financial Officer, Knightsbridge Tankers Limited
+47 23 11 40 76
[HUG#1437583]
2nd Quarter 2010 Results:
http://hugin.info/132879/R/1437583/382346.pdf
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Source: Knightsbridge Tankers Limited via Thomson Reuters ONE
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Datum: 12.08.2010 - 13:40 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 39550
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