Interim results for the period ended 31 March 2017
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Highlights
· Golar LNG Partners LP ("Golar Partners" or "the Partnership") reports net
income attributable to unit holders of $23.6 million and operating income of
$54.9 million for the first quarter of 2017.
· Generated distributable cash flow of $36.4 million(1) for the first
quarter with a distribution coverage ratio of 0.89(1).
· Issued new $250 million LIBOR plus 6.25% senior unsecured bond in the
Nordic market principally to refinance existing bond indebtedness.
· Issued 5.175 million new common units together with 0.1 million general
partner units raising gross proceeds of $119.4 million.
· Secured new LNG carrier contract for LNG carrier Golar Grand.
Subsequent Events
* Put option in respect of FSRU Golar Tundra exercised and entry into a
purchase option agreement for up to a 25% interest in FLNG Hilli Episeyo.
* Declared an unchanged distribution for the first quarter of $0.5775 per
unit.
Financial Results Overview
Golar LNG Partners LP reports net income attributable to unit holders of $23.6
million and operating income of $54.9 million for the first quarter of 2017
("the first quarter" or "1Q"), as compared to net income attributable to unit
holders of $71.4 million and operating income of $72.1 million for the fourth
quarter of 2016 ("the fourth quarter" or "4Q") and net income attributable to
unit holders of $16.8 million and operating income of $56.1 million for the
first quarter of 2016.
+------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
|(USD '000) | Q1 2017 | Q4 2016 | Q1 2016 |
+------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
|Total Operating Revenues | 101,385 | 114,942 | 101,065 |
| | | | |
|Adjusted EBITDA (2) | 79,677 | 97,377 | 81,131 |
| | | | |
|Operating Income | 54,921 | 72,091 | 56,092 |
| | | | |
|Interest Income | 1,173 | 969 | 1,524 |
| | | | |
|Interest Expense | (18,247 )| (16,983 )| (13,695 )|
| | | | |
|Other Financial Items | (6,903 )| 20,555 | (20,709 )|
| | | | |
|Taxes | (3,491 )| (2,822 )| (3,450 )|
| | | | |
|Net Income attributable to Golar Partners| | | |
|Owners | 23,554 | 71,443 | 16,750 |
| | | | |
|Net Debt (3) |1,173,315 |1,264,336 |1,252,093 |
+------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
As anticipated, total operating revenues decreased, from $114.9 million in the
fourth quarter to $101.4 million in the first quarter. The $13.5 million
decrease is largely due to two scheduled events. Firstly the winter down-time
period for the FSRU Golar Igloo during January and February and secondly, in
anticipation of her new charter, the LNG carrier Golar Grand was taken out of
layup and dry-docked, which resulted in 46 days off-hire during 1Q.
Operating expenses at $17.1 million were $3.7 million higher than the prior
quarter. A general increase in repairs and maintenance costs, in particular in
relation the Golar Igloo during the winter down-time period, together with
mobilizing crew and preparing the Golar Grand for reactivation account for most
of the increase.
Administration costs and depreciation and amortization at $2.6 million and $24.8
million respectively, were in line with 4Q.
Interest expense at $18.2 million for the first quarter was higher than the
fourth quarter interest of $17.0 million. The cost of servicing the new February
2017 $250 million bond, net of savings as a result of the part-redemption of the
2012 bond it was issued to refinance, accounts for most of the increase. Other
financial items recorded a loss of $6.9 million for 1Q compared to a $20.6
million gain in 4Q. Although swap rates continued to increase resulting in
incremental non-cash mark-to-market interest rate swap gains, these were a total
of $2.7 million as compared to $23.4 million in 4Q. 1Q other financial items
also include an accounting loss of $3.8 million relating to the largely
offsetting foreign exchange gain and loss on the 2012 Norwegian Krone Bond and
the related currency swap from December 31, 2016 to repayment date and the
transfer of the accumulated loss from other comprehensive income to the income
statement as a result of the cessation of hedge accounting in 1Q for the 2012
bond cross currency swap. This is in addition to the $2.7 million premium paid
upon the partial buy-back of the 2012 bond.
The tax charge for the quarter at $3.5 million was $0.7 million higher than 4Q.
As a result of the foregoing 1Q distributable cash flow(1) was lower at $36.4
million compared to $57.9 million in the fourth quarter. The distribution
coverage ratio(1) declined accordingly from 1.53 to 0.89 in 1Q.
Commercial Review
In March 2017 the Partnership secured new business for the Golar Grand. In
anticipation of this the vessel was removed from layup in February and relocated
to Singapore for dry-dock which completed on April 14, 2017. Golar Grand
subsequently commenced service under her new charter on May 5, 2017. This new
time charter is for a period of up to a maximum of 9 years with a major
international oil and gas company (the "New Charter"). The Golar Grand is
currently on charter with Golar LNG Limited ("Golar LNG") and will therefore be
sub-chartered back from Golar LNG, at the same rate as the New Charter, for the
initial period of the New Charter until the Golar LNG charter ends in October
2017. The New Charter is for an initial fixed period of 2 years with a series of
extension options up to the maximum charter period of 9 years.
The Partnership's operating income before depreciation derived from the Golar
Grand will be unchanged until October 2017 when the Golar LNG charter ends.
Assuming initial extension options for up to 5 years are exercised the New
Charter is expected to generate on average approximately $10 million of
operating income before depreciation per annum over the full 5 year term.
Golar Partners is continuing to work on specific recontracting opportunities for
FSRU Golar Spirit and LNG carrier Golar Mazo. Chartering opportunities for Golar
Mazo and LNG carrier Golar Maria should improve as a function of an expected
improvement in the LNG shipping market moving forward. Evidence of an increased
interest in term LNG carrier contracts is provided by the Golar Grand New
Charter.
The FSRU Golar Tundra remains anchored off the coast of Ghana and the project
has made limited recent progress. In light of this Golar Partners has elected
to exercise its right (the "Put Right") to require Golar to repurchase the
company ("Tundra Corp"), the disponent owner and operator of the FSRU, the Golar
Tundra, at a price equal to the original purchase price (the "Put Sale") paid by
the Partnership in its acquisition of Tundra Corp in May 2016 (the "Purchase
Price"). In connection with the exercise of the Put Right, the Partnership and
Golar have entered into an agreement pursuant to which the Partnership has
agreed to sell Tundra Corp to Golar on the date of the closing of the Put Sale
(the "Put Sale Closing Date") in return for Golar's promise to pay an amount
equal to approximately $107 million (the "Deferred Purchase Price") plus an
additional amount equal to 5% per annum of the Deferred Purchase Price (the
"Additional Amount"). The Deferred Purchase Price and the Additional Amount
shall be due and payable by Golar on the earlier of (a) the date of the closing
of the acquisition of the Hilli Shares (as defined below) and (b) March
31, 2018. The closing of the Put Sale is expected to occur during June 2017,
subject to customary closing conditions.
The Partnership has agreed to accept the Deferred Purchase Price and the
Additional Amount in lieu of a cash payment on the Put Sale Closing Date in
exchange for Golar granting to the Partnership the option (the "Golar Hilli
Purchase Option") to purchase, at fair market value, up to a 25% equity interest
(the "Hilli Shares") in Golar Hilli Corp. ("Hilli Corp"), the owner of the FLNG
vessel Hilli Episeyo.
Under the new agreement with Golar, the Partnership has the ability to exercise
the Golar Hilli Purchase Option at any time on or before March 31, 2018. There
can be no assurance that the Partnership will exercise the Hilli Purchase Option
or that it will consummate an acquisition of the Hilli Shares. The acquisition
by the Partnership of the Hilli Shares will be subject to, among other things,
the approval by the Conflicts Committee of the Partnership's board of directors
of the decision to purchase the Hilli Shares, the fair market value to be paid
for the Hilli Shares and the other terms of the purchase.
In addition, the purchase agreement for the Hilli Shares will provide that the
Partnership will not be required to consummate the purchase of the Hilli Shares
if, among other things, the Hilli Episeyo shall not have been delivered to and
accepted by Perenco Cameroon SA and Societe Nationale Des Hydrocarbures
("Perenco") and commenced its commercial operation under the eight year
Liquefaction Tolling Agreement with Perenco for the first two of four
liquefaction trains of Hilli Episeyo. The purchase price to be paid by the
Partnership for the Hilli Shares would be reduced by the sum of the unpaid
Deferred Purchase Price plus the unpaid Additional Amounts on the date of the
closing of the Hilli Shares.
A 25% interest in the Hilli Shares is effectively 50% of the two liquefaction
trains, out of a total of four, that have been contracted to Perenco.
It is not expected that the Partnership would be acquiring exposure to any oil
price linked elements of the tariff under the Perenco contract or to the
potential expansion of utilized capacity of Hilli Episeyo from two trains to
four trains. Taking into consideration the new equity raised in February 2017,
it is not expected that the Partnership will require any further funding in
order to complete the acquisition.
Operational Review
The fleet performed well during the quarter achieving 100% availability during
scheduled 1Q operations.
Following its scheduled winter down-time period from January 1 the FSRU Golar
Igloo recommenced operations in Kuwait on February 27.
On February 14 Golar Grand was removed from lay-up and relocated to Singapore
for dry-dock. Positioning, dry-dock and other repairs collectively took 59 days,
46 of which fell in 1Q and 13 in 2Q. After leaving the yard on April 14 the
vessel proceeded to the delivery point for her new charterers on May 5.
Ahead of its Petrobras charter end date in June, the FSRU Golar Spirit began
preparations for departure. It is unlikely that the projects being considered
for this vessel will be in a position to commence operations in the near term
after leaving Brazil. Layup options during this intervening period are
therefore being considered with a view to the location of prospective potential
employment opportunities.
Financing and Liquidity
On February 1, 2017 the Partnership placed a USD 250 million non-amortizing
2021 maturing bond in the Nordic bond market. The bond priced at 3-month LIBOR
plus 6.25% and the Partnership subsequently entered into interest rate swaps to
hedge the aggregate principal of the bond such that the all-in interest cost for
the $250 million is 8.194%. The listing process for the bond is progressing
well.
As at March 31, 2017 NOK 971 million of the 2012 issued bond had been
repurchased and to date NOK 996 million of the NOK 1,300 million has been
repurchased.
On February 7, 2017 the Partnership announced an underwritten offering of
4,500,000 common units representing limited partner interests in the
Partnership. The underwriter subsequently exercised an option to acquire a
further 675,000 common units ahead of closing on February 13, 2017. To maintain
its 2% stake, our general partner Golar GP LLC acquired a further 94,714 general
partner units. The offering raised gross proceeds of $119.4 million to be used
for general partnership purposes, including, subject to agreement, the
acquisition of a part share in the Hilli Episeyo.
As of March 31, 2017, the Partnership had cash and cash equivalents of $166.9
million and available and undrawn revolving credit facilities of $150.0 million.
The increase in cash and available undrawn revolving facilities reflects receipt
of the equity offering and bond proceeds offset by repurchases of the October
maturing 2012 bonds and repayment of $125 million of revolving debt. Total debt
and capital lease obligations net of total cash balances (net debt(3))
(excluding the Golar Tundra debt) was $1,173.3 million as of March 31, 2017.
Based on the above net debt(3) amount and annualized(4) first quarter 2017
Adjusted EBITDA(2), Golar Partners' net debt(3) to Adjusted EBITDA(2) ratio was
3.7.
As of March 31, 2017, Golar Partners had interest rate swaps with a notional
outstanding value of approximately $1,427.6 million (including swaps with a
notional value of $457.5 million in connection with the Partnership's bonds)
representing approximately 105% of total debt and capital lease obligations net
of long-term restricted cash. This percentage is inflated in part due to the
$125 million revolver repayment.
The average fixed interest rate of swaps related to bank debt is approximately
1.63% with an average maturity of approximately 3.9 years as of March 31, 2017.
Outstanding bank debt as of March 31, 2017 was $939.6 million, which had average
margins, in addition to LIBOR, of approximately 2.53%. The Partnership also has
a 2020 maturing $150.0 million Norwegian USD bond with a swapped all-in rate of
6.275%, the 2021 maturing $250 million Norwegian USD bond with a swapped all-in
rate of 8.194% and the balance of an October 2017 maturing Norwegian Krone (NOK)
bond with a fixed rate of 6.485%. With respect to the October maturing NOK bond,
NOK 971 million had been repaid as at March 31, 2017. The Partnership has a
currency swap to hedge the NOK exposure for the remaining NOK 329 million. As
the bonds are repurchased a corresponding share of the cross currency swap is
terminated. The total swap liability as at March 31, 2017, which also includes
an interest rate swap element, was $20.0 million and the restricted cash
securing this swap liability was $5.3 million.
Corporate and Other Matters
As of March 31, 2017 there were 70,661,522 units outstanding in the Partnership,
of which 22,265,522, exclusive of earn-out units but including 1,413,231 General
Partner units, are owned by Golar, representing a 31.5% interest in the
Partnership.
On April 26, 2017, Golar Partners declared an unchanged distribution for the
fourth quarter of $0.5775 per unit. This distribution was paid on May 12, 2017
on total units of 70,661,522.
Total outstanding options as at 31 March were 99,000. The issued options have an
initial exercise price of $20.55 per unit and vest over a three year period.
Outlook
Operating earnings for 2Q 2017 are expected to be positively impacted by a full
quarters earnings from the Golar Igloo as it returns to service after its winter
down-time period. Golar Grand earnings are also expected to improve as a result
of the completion of its drydock in 2Q although there will be some reduction in
revenues and additional voyage costs associated with the 13 day balance of its
dry-dock related off-hire and subsequent positioning of the vessel for its new
charter.
There will also be a substantial positive impact on 2Q as a result of the
termination payment receivable in respect of the FSRU Golar Spirit which will
complete its charter with Petrobras on June 23, 2017. This one-off termination
fee will be partly offset by the loss of charter-hire and revenues thereafter
together with costs incurred positioning the Golar Spirit for temporary layup.
The termination fee is approximately equivalent to 62% of the Adjusted EBITDA(2
)that would have otherwise been earned between June 2017 and August 2018 when
the charter was originally due to end.
Although the new rate for the initial 2-year term of the new Golar Grand charter
is lower than its current rate, the Partnership is pleased to have taken its
first step toward addressing its LNG carrier re-contracting requirement.
Approximately 34 million tonnes of new LNG production is expected to come to
market during 2017, most of which will be in the second half of the year. This
coincides well with the end-2017 expiring Golar Maria and 60% owned Golar Mazo
charters.
Work continues with regard to securing new employment for the FSRU Golar Spirit
and specific opportunities have been identified. The market for smaller
capacity FSRUs is quite active as the cost of significant unutilised capacity on
larger FSRU's can undermine the economics of a switch to gas in smaller markets.
Smaller units like the Golar Spirit are therefore able to provide a more
economical solution.
The lack of progress of the Ghana FSRU project for which Golar Tundra was
chartered has been disappointing. However, the proposed swap of the Golar
Tundra, together with the proceeds from the February equity offering, into a
potential transaction to acquire up 25% of the FLNG Hilli Episeyo is very
positive for Golar Partners. The acquisition would, if consummated as planned,
add approximately 44% to effective revenue backlog and increase revenue backlog
years(5) of the Partnership's vessels from 4.4 years to 6.4 years. It would
further diversify the Partnerships revenue streams as well as help offset the
recontracting risk of the Partnerships vessels that come off contract in 2017.
The acquisition would also, if concluded, give significant support to
distributions going forward. The positive effects are enhanced by the fact that
the proposed Hilli Episeyo purchase can be concluded without raising additional
equity.
(1)Distributable cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure used by investors to
measure the performance of master limited partnerships. Distribution coverage
ratio represents the ratio of distributable cash flow to total cash
distributions paid. Please see Appendix A for a reconciliation to the most
directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
(2)Adjusted EBITDA: Earnings before interest, other financial items, taxes,
depreciation and amortization and non-controlling interest. Adjusted EBITDA is a
non-GAAP financial measure used by investors to measure our performance. Please
see Appendix A for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measure.
(3) Net Debt is defined as short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
plus long-term debt plus obligations under capital leases less cash and cash
equivalents less restricted cash.
(4)Annualized means the figure for the quarter multiplied by 4.
(5 )Revenue backlog divided by annualized current quarter revenues
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning future
events and Golar Partners' operations, performance and financial condition.
Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may
predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or
achievements, and may contain the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect,"
"estimate," "project," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "plan,"
"intend" or words or phrases of similar meanings. These statements involve known
and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that
are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of
which are beyond Golar Partners' control. Actual results may differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are
not limited to:
· statements about market trends in the floating storage unit (or FSU),
floating storage and regasification unit (or FSRU), liquefied natural gas (or
LNG) carrier and floating liquefied natural gas vessel (or FLNG) industries,
including charter rates, factors affecting supply and demand, and opportunities
for the profitable operations of FSRUs, LNG carriers and FLNGs;
· statements about Golar Partners' and Golar's ability to retrofit vessels
as FSRUs or FLNGs and the timing of the delivery and acceptance of any such
retrofitted vessels by their respective charterers;
· Golar Partners' ability to increase distributions and the amount of any
such increase;
· Golar Partners' ability to integrate and realize the expected benefits
from acquisitions and potential acquisitions, including the FLNG Hilli Episeyo;
· our estimates of anticipated revenue and adjusted EBITDA(2) generated by
the FLNG Hilli Episeyo;
· Golar Partners' anticipated growth strategies;
· the effect of the worldwide economic slowdown;
· turmoil in the global financial markets;
· fluctuations in currencies and interest rates;
· the liquidity and creditworthiness of Golar Partners customers;
· general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates
and vessel values;
· changes in Golar Partners' operating expenses, including dry-docking and
insurance costs and bunker prices;
· Golar Partners' future financial condition or results of operations and
future revenues and expenses;
· the repayment of debt and settling of interest rate swaps;
· Golar Partners' and Golar LNG Limited's ability to make additional
borrowings and to access debt and equity markets;
· planned capital expenditures and availability of capital resources to fund
capital expenditures;
· the exercise of purchase options by the Partnership's charterers;
· Golar Partners' ability to maintain long-term relationships with major LNG
traders;
· our ability to leverage the relationships and reputation of Golar, Golar
Power Limited (or Golar Power) and OneLNG S.A. (or OneLNG(SA ))in the LNG
industry;
· Golar Partners' ability to purchase vessels from Golar, Golar Power and
OneLNG(SA) in the future;
· Golar Partners' continued ability to enter into long-term time charters,
including our ability to re-charter the Golar Spirit, the Golar Mazo and the
Golar Maria following the expected termination or expiration of their respective
time charters in 2017;
· Golar Partners' ability to maximize the use of its vessels, including the
re-deployment or disposition of vessels no longer under long-term time charter;
· timely purchases and deliveries of newbuilding vessels;
· future purchase prices of newbuildings and secondhand vessels;
· Golar Partners' ability to compete successfully for future chartering and
newbuilding opportunities;
· acceptance of a vessel by its charterer;
· termination dates and extensions of charters;
· the expected cost of, and Golar Partners' ability to comply with,
governmental regulations, maritime self-regulatory organization standards, as
well as standard regulations imposed by its charterers applicable to Golar
Partners' business;
· availability of skilled labor, vessel crews and management;
· Golar Partners' general and administrative expenses and its fees and
expenses payable under the fleet management agreements and the management and
administrative services agreement;
· the anticipated taxation of Golar Partners and distributions to Golar
Partners' unitholders;
· challenges by authorities to the tax benefits Golar Partners previously
obtained;
· estimated future maintenance and replacement capital expenditures;
· Golar Partners' ability to retain key employees;
· customers' increasing emphasis on environmental and safety concerns;
· potential liability from any pending or future litigation;
· potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, political
events, piracy or acts by terrorists;
· future sales of Golar Partners' securities in the public market;
· Golar Partners' business strategy and other plans and objectives for
future operations; and
· other factors listed from time to time in the reports and other documents
that Golar Partners files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Factors may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained
in any forward-looking statement. Golar Partners does not intend to release
publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained
herein to reflect any change in Golar Partners' expectations with respect
thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such
statement is based.
May 31, 2017
Golar LNG Partners L.P.
Hamilton, Bermuda
Questions should be directed to:
c/o Golar Management Ltd - +44 207 063 7900
Brian Tienzo - Chief Finance Officer
Graham Robjohns - Chief Executive Officer
Interim results for the period ended 31 March 2017:
http://hugin.info/147317/R/2109459/801511.pdf
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Golar LNG Partners L.P. via GlobeNewswire
Datum: 31.05.2017 - 14:07 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 545513
Anzahl Zeichen: 30188
contact information:
Town:
Hamilton
Kategorie:
Business News
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