VLCCF - Knightsbridge Tankers Limited - Fourth Quarter and Financial Year 2009 Results
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - Knightsbridge Tankers LimitedHIGHLIGHTS * 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 RESULTSKnightsbridge Tankers Limited (the "Company" or "Knightsbridge") reports netincome of $9.0 million and earnings per share of $0.53 for the fourth quarter of2009. The average daily time charter equivalents ("TCEs") earned by theCompany'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 afive year time charter during the quarter, a full quarter's earnings from the MVBattersea, which commenced a five year time charter during the preceding quarterand an improvement in earnings from the MT Camden, which operated in the spotmarket.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 andreceived $30.0 million from new long term loans, used $19.0 million to repayloan facilities and invested $16.6 million in its newbuilding project. InFebruary 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 averagecash 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 $21.7million and earnings per share of $1.27, compared with $48.1 million and $2.81respectively, in 2008. The average daily TCE earned by the Company's four VLCCsand two Capesize vessels in 2009 was $36,000 and $43,400, respectively. Theaverage daily TCEs earned by the Company's four VLCCs in 2008 was $52,600. TheCapesize vessels did not operate during 2008. Net interest expense for the yearincreased to $1.8 million from $0.9 million in 2008 principally due to thehigher net debt levels.The net decrease in cash and cash equivalents in 2009 was $70.0 million. TheCompany 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 loanfacilities, invested $116.5 million in its newbuildings and distributed $4.3million in dividend payments.On February 8, 2010, the Board declared a dividend of $0.30 per share. Therecord date for the dividend is February 19, 2010, ex dividend date is February17, 2010 and the dividend will be paid on or around March 4, 2010.THE TANKER MARKETIn 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 thirdquarter. Year on year the average rate decreased by approximately W92 points, or70 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 fourthquarter 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 ahigh of $485/mt at the end of December. Year on year the bunker price decreasedwith $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 averageOPEC 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 barrelsper 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 in2009. At the OPEC meeting that took place in December it was agreed to leave theproduction level unchanged.IEA further estimates that world oil demand averaged 85.7 mb/d in the fourthquarter of 2009, an increase of 460,000 barrels per day compared to the thirdquarter of the year. IEA estimates that the average demand for 2009 was 85.0mb/d , an approximate 1.5 percent decline from 2008. Additionally, the IEAestimates that world demand will average 86,33 mb/d in 2010 which is an increaseof 1.7 percent or 1.4 mb/d from 2009.The VLCC fleet totalled 529 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter, up from524 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 beginningof the year. Throughout 2010 the current estimate is 67 deliveries. Theorderbook counted 178 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter, down from 188vessels after the third quarter of 2009. The current orderbook represents about33 percent of the VLCC fleet. During the quarter five vessels were removed fromthe 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 MARKETAccording to industry sources the average earnings for a modern Capesize wasapproximately $55,540/day for the fourth quarter. The earnings varied from ahigh of approximately $88,000/day in the middle of the quarter and ending atapproximately $37,000/day. Present indications are approximately at $32,000/dayCORPORATE AND OUTLOOKThe Company's VLCC fleet is fixed on time and bareboat charters expiring between2011 and 2012, except for the VLCC MT Mayfair which will be redelivered from thecharterer during March 2010 and we are currently evaluating employmentpossibilities for this vessel. The Company has recently entered into a 30 monthbareboat 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 atime charter basis.The second and final Capesize newbuilding from Daehan, the MV Belgravia, wasdelivered on October 29 and commenced a five year time charter. The Capesizevessel 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 isbuilding its cash reserves. Knightsbridge is now in position to resume dividenddistribution based on the Company's contract coverage and announces a dividendof $0.30 for the fourth quarter of 2009.The Board is monitoring the developments in the financial markets and theoutlook for the shipping industry and believes that opportunities for expandingthe fleet are increasing.FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTSMatters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-lookingstatements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safeharbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encouragecompanies to provide prospective information about their business.Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives,goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions andother statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.Knightsbridge desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of thePrivate Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including thiscautionary 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 similarexpressions identify forward-looking statements.The forward-looking statements in this document are based upon variousassumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions,including without limitation, our management's examination of historicaloperating trends, data contained in our records and other data available fromthird parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable whenmade, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significantuncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict andare beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplishthese 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 theforward-looking statements include the strength of world economies andcurrencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charterhirerates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market, as a result ofchanges in OPEC's petroleum production levels and world wide oil consumption andstorage, 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 andregulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability frompending or future litigation, general domestic and international politicalconditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents orpolitical events, and other important factors described from time to time in thereports filed by Knightsbridge with the Securities and Exchange Commission.The full report is available in the link enclosed.The Board of DirectorsKnightsbridge Tankers LimitedHamilton, BermudaFebruary 8, 2010Questions should be directed to:Contact: Ola Lorentzon: Chairman, Knightsbridge Tankers Limited + 46 703 998886Inger 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
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Datum: 09.02.2010 - 07:17 Uhr
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