REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the press release of Euronav NV (the “Company”), dated November 29, 2023, announcing a
business and dividend distribution update following the Company’s recent board and management changes.
The information contained in Exhibit 99.1, except for the commentary of Alexander Saverys, of this Report on Form 6-K is
hereby incorporated by reference into the Company’s registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-272785) that was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission effective June 20, 2023.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 29 November 2023 – 08:00 CET
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DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION FOR Q3 2023 AND BUSINESS UPDATE
ANTWERP, Belgium, 29 November, 2023 – Euronav NV (“EURN”, “Euronav” or “the Company”) (NYSE: EURN &
Euronext: EURN) provides a business and dividend update following the recent board and management changes.
The Supervisory board has agreed to distribute USD 0.57 per share to shareholders for the period covering Q3 2023. This reflects positive freight
market conditions in the large crude tanker market during Q3 2023. This favourable tanker market environment continues into Q4 2023 and is anticipated to remain robust during calendar year 2024.
Mandatory Takeover offer
Following the successful completion of the SPA (share purchase agreement) with Famatown/Frontline on 23 November, CMB by holding 49% of the share
capital of Euronav is now obliged under Belgian corporate law to launch a mandatory takeover offer.
The offer will be launched at a price of USD 18.43 per share, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount per share of any
distributions by Euronav to its shareholders with an ex-dividend date prior to the settlement date. The bid price will be paid in cash.
As CMB intends to maintain Euronav’s listing on Euronext Brussels and the New York Stock Exchange, it has clearly voiced its intention to not
launch a squeeze-out bid following the closing of the offer.
Future strategy
The new management has a clear future strategy for which is based on three axes:
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Diversification of the fleet
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Decarbonization of the fleet
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Optimization of the existing fleet
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The core for Euronav will remain the crude tanker operation. The prospects for this market remain very positive supported by strong industry
fundamentals. A low order book (5% on average), global fleet ages at 22 year highs and robust demand for crude (IEA forecast 1.2m bpd growth for 2024) provide a constructive background for calendar year 2024.
Consensus freight rate forecasts for 2024 at $50k per day for VLCC and Suezmax rates. In addition, with asset values approaching all-time highs
(adjusted for inflation) management will have the optionality to recycle capital from the tanker market into the energy transition over the medium term.
As the company transitions from a pure crude tanker vehicle toward an energy transition growth company investors should expect to see a more
equal balance between growth investments in the energy transition and cash distributions to shareholders.
Euronav management look forward to updating investors with more details on strategy, and capital allocation via an active investor engagement
programme during Q1 2024 including a capital markets day.
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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 29 November 2023 – 08:00 CET
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Trading update
So far in the fourth quarter, Euronav VLCCs in the Tankers International Pool have earned USD 36k per day with 84% of the available days fixed.
Euronav’s Suezmax fleet trading on the spot market has earned USD 42k per day on average with 72% of the available days fixed.
Distribution to shareholders for Q3 2023
The Supervisory Board is proposing a gross dividend of USD 57 cents per share to reflect both the strong tanker market fundamentals and the robust operational
leverage that the current Euronav platform had to such market conditions.
As mentioned before, this means that the bid price will be reduced by USD 57 cents per share to USD 17.86 per share.
COUPON 36:
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Ex dividend date:
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12/12/2023
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Record date:
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13/12/2023
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Payment date:
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20/12/2023
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Alexander Saverys, CEO of Euronav said: “Euronav is pleased to reward shareholders with this dividend
reflecting positive tanker market performance during Q3 2023. We are looking, to pivot the company further with a value-creating strategy to diversify the fleet, decarbonisation of the fleet and optimisation of the existing fleet”.
Contact:
Communications Coordinator – Enya Derkinderen
Tel: +32 476646359
Email: communications@euronav.com
About Euronav NV
Euronav is an independent tanker company engaged in the ocean transportation and storage of crude oil. The company is
headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, and has offices throughout Europe and Asia. Euronav is listed on Euronext Brussels and on the NYSE under the symbol EURN. Euronav employs its fleet both on the spot and period market. VLCCs on the spot market are
traded in the Tankers International pool of which Euronav is one of the major partners. Euronav’s owned and operated fleet consists of 1 V-Plus vessel, 41 VLCCs (with a further one under construction), 22 Suezmaxes (with a further four under
construction) and 2 FSO vessels.
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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 29 November 2023 – 08:00 CET
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Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 provides safe harbour 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. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbour provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbour legislation. The words "believe", "anticipate", "intends", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "potential", "may", "should",
"expect", "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this press release 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, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ
materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with us, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in
charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing,
charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, 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, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.