VLCCF - First Quarter 2011 Results
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
HIGHLIGHTS
* Knightsbridge reports net income of $8.6 million and earnings per share of
$0.35 for the first quarter of 2011.
* Knightsbridge announces a cash dividend of $0.50 per share for the first
quarter of 2011.
FIRST QUARTER 2011 RESULTS
Knightsbridge Tankers Limited (the "Company" or "Knightsbridge") reports net
income of $8.6 million and earnings per share of $0.35 for the first quarter
compared to net income of $6.0 million and earnings per share of $0.25 for the
fourth quarter of 2010. The average daily time charter equivalents ("TCEs")
earned by the Company's VLCCs, excluding bareboat charters, and Capesize vessels
were $34,200 and $36,700, respectively, compared with $34,400 and $36,900 in the
preceding quarter. There were drydock costs of $1.1 million in the first quarter
for Hampstead and loss of revenue during the drydock period of $1.4 million
although net income in the first quarter benefited compared with the prior
quarter as there were drydock costs of $2.1 million in the fourth quarter for
Kensington and loss of revenue during the drydock period of $1.5 million. Net
income also increased in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter due to
a full quarter trading for Golden Zhejiang.
Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $0.6 million in the quarter. The Company
generated cash from operating activities of $12.6 million, used $1.0 million to
repay loan facilities and debt fees and paid $12.2 million in dividends. In May
2011, the Company has an average cash breakeven rate for its VLCCs, which are on
time charter, and Capesize vessels of $18,700 and $8,500, respectively, per
vessel per day. The VLCCs which are on bareboat contract have a cash break even
rate of $4,300 per vessel per day.
THE TANKER MARKET
The market rate for a VLCC trading on a standard 'TD3' voyage between the
Arabian Gulf and Japan in the first quarter of 2011 was $20,200/day,
representing an increase of $4,600/day from the fourth quarter of 2010 and a
decrease of $29,700/day from the first quarter of 2010. Present market
indications are approximately $10,000/day in the second quarter of 2011.
Bunkers at Fujairah averaged $600/mt in the first quarter of 2011 compared to
$488/mt in the fourth quarter of 2010. Bunker prices varied between a low of
$517/mt at the beginning of January and a high of $674/mt at the end of
February.
The International Energy Agency's ("IEA") April 2011 report stated an average
OPEC oil production, including Iraq, of 29.8 million barrels per day (mb/d)
during the first quarter. This was an increase of 320,000 barrels per day
compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 and an increase of 740,000 barrels per
day compared to the first quarter of 2010.
IEA further estimates that world oil demand averaged 88.8 mb/d in the first
quarter, representing a decrease of 680,000 barrels per day compared to the
fourth quarter of 2010 and an increase of approximately 2.3 mb/d from the first
quarter of 2010. Additionally, the IEA estimates that world oil demand will
average approximately 89.4 mb/d in 2011, representing an increase of 1.6 percent
or approximately 1.4 mb/d from 2010.
The VLCC fleet totalled 565 vessels at the end of the first quarter of 2011, up
from 548 vessels at the end of the previous quarter. 17 VLCCs were delivered
during the quarter versus an estimated 25 at the beginning of the year. The
orderbook counted 167 vessels at the end of the first quarter, down from 184
orders from the previous quarter. No new orders were placed during the quarter
and the current orderbook represents approximately 30 percent of the VLCC fleet.
During the quarter, no vessels were removed from the trading fleet and according
to Fearnleys the single hull fleet still stands at 43 vessels.
THE DRY BULK MARKET
While 2010 surprised on the upside taking into account a net fleet growth of
approximately 15 percent, the first quarter of 2011 has been a rough experience
for owners of dry bulk vessels. In particular, the capesize segment has suffered
with average earnings during the first quarter barely covering operating
expenses of $ 8,414 per day based on average time charter earnings from the
Baltic Exchange Index.
Weather disruptions in Australia and steel capacity shutdowns in Japan following
the earthquake and tsunami on the March 11 both impacted negatively on the
demand for dry bulk transportation. In addition, the filing for bankruptcy
protection by Korea Line added to an already negative market sentiment. But in
spite of the above, the overall demand growth measured in ton miles has been,
and is expected to be, healthy going forward supported by the general
temperature of the global economy.
For quite some time, dry bulk forecasters have been focusing on the supply side.
This has been on the back of a historically high order book, which sooner or
later had to bring down the utilization of the dry bulk fleet. By the end of the
previous quarter, the total order book was close to 45 percent of the existing
fleet. But based on what has been experienced over the last two years, question
marks must be raised as to the "official" order book itself. There are reasons
to believe that cancellations and restructuring of contracts have not been
accounted for and several yards are struggling to meet delivery dates, all of
which are leading to a much lower delivery rate than forecast. At the start of
2011, it was expected that 142 million dwt of new capacity would enter the
market this year. During the first quarter, approximately 22 million dwt was
delivered, giving a delivery ratio of 60 percent.
Scrapping is first and foremost a function of the spot market, but presently it
is also supported by strong prices for scrap steel. In the first quarter of
2011, approximately four million dwt was scrapped. One approach to forecast
scrapping going forward is to take all capesizes older than 20 years and
panamaxes and smaller bulk carriers older than 25 years, which are due for
special survey during 2011 and we could potentially see 15 million dwt being
scrapped this year.
In spite of increasing scrapping and fewer vessels being delivered, we should
expect a net fleet growth of approximately 75 million dwt or 14 percent of the
existing fleet. We need to get through this year and a slightly lower number of
deliveries in 2012, before the order book is expected to be at a healthy level
compared with the existing fleet. Consequently dry bulk forecasters do not see
utilization of the dry bulk fleet to be higher than 90 per cent the next 18 to
24 months.
CORPORATE AND OUTLOOK
The VLCC Kensington will be redelivered from her time charter to Frontline in
May 2011. She will remain with Frontline under commercial management and will
trade in the spot market while the Board monitors possibilities in the bareboat
and time charter markets.
The Board has been actively looking for tonnage, which can contribute to the
Company's future dividend payments. Various vessel types within the second hand
and resale market for bulk carriers and oil tankers have been explored. It has,
however, been a challenge to find the optimal combination of asset price and
time charter rate. The Board will, therefore, continue to monitor the sale and
purchase and time charter market for vessels that will support the Company's
future dividend capacity. The recent developments in the sale and purchase
market have created more attractive opportunities and the Board believes the
possibility for acquisitions is enhanced.
The Company's VLCC and Capesize fleet is fixed on time and bareboat charters
expiring between 2012 and 2015, except for the VLCC Kensington which will be
employed in the spot market from the second half of May.
The VLCC Hampstead finished her dry dock in the second quarter 2011 and part of
the dry dock cost will be recognized in the second quarter of 2011. During dry
dock, damage to the vessel's propeller shaft was discovered. The propeller shaft
will require replacement and the Company expects to claim for losses under its
insurances.
On May 9, 2011, the Board declared a dividend of $0.50 per share. The record
date for the dividend is May 25, 2011, the ex dividend date is May 23, 2011 and
the dividend will be paid on or around June 9, 2011. The Board's intention is to
continue to pay out a major part of the free cash flow after debt services as
dividend to its shareholders.
24,425,699 ordinary shares were outstanding as of March 31, 2011, and the
weighted average number of shares outstanding for the quarter was 24,425,699.
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
May 9, 2011
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
1st Quarter 2011 Results:
http://hugin.info/132879/R/1514119/450102.pdf
This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of
Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Knightsbridge Tankers Limited via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1514119]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 10.05.2011 - 13:50 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 54463
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contact information:
Town:
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