EURN Euronav NV

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EURONAV ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER AND HALF YEAR RESULTS 2018

HIGHLIGHTS

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Gener8 merger completed mid-June with fleet integration ongoing

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Growing number of large tankers recycling during Q2

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Concentrated newbuilds delivery schedule continues to provide challenges

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VLCC freight rates: improving at the start of Q3

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Minimum fixed dividend USD 0.06 per share confirmed for first half year

ANTWERP, Belgium, August 9, 2018 – Euronav NV (NYSE: EURN & Euronext: EURN) ("Euronav" or the "Company") today reported its non-audited financial results for the first semester and second quarter of 2018 ended June 30, 2018.

Paddy Rodgers, CEO of Euronav said: "Completion of the Gener8 merger during the second quarter of 2018 reflected a huge amount of work by Euronav and provides the Company with a market leading large tanker platform of over 70 vessels. Demand for and supply of crude oil remain resilient, boosted recently by a directional change from key OPEC participants and well supported by expansion in ton miles, elevated recycling activity and impending regulatory change.

However, the rebalancing of the tanker market requires further affirmative action in reducing primarily older tonnage, restraint from contracting and a supportive oil price structure. Euronav remains confident on the medium term prospects for the large tanker market and today we see some short term improvements in the supply of both crude and tankers."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the first half of 2018 the Company had a net loss of USD -51.6 million or USD -0.31 per share (first half of 2017: net profit of USD 10.1 million or USD 0.06 per share). Proportionate EBITDA (a non-IFRS measure) for the same period was USD 98.8 million (first half of 2017: USD 151.8 million).

 

 

 

 

The average daily time charter equivalent rates (TCE, a non IFRS-measure) can be summarized as follows:

 

*Euronav owned ships in TI Pool

**Including profit share where applicable

*** Excluding technical offhire days

INTERIM DIVIDEND 2018

In line with our stated policy of a minimum fixed dividend, Euronav will pay an interim dividend of USD 0.06 per share for the first half of 2018. It is anticipated that the ex-dividend date shall be September 26, 2018 with a record date of September 27, 2018 and a payment date as of October 8, 2018. This equates to a cash payment to shareholders of USD 13.1 million on the enlarged number of shares following completion of the Gener8 Maritime merger in June.

EURONAV TANKER FLEET & CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Euronav took delivery of the third Suezmax the Cap Port Arthur (2018 – 156,600 dwt) on August 8, 2018 with the fourth and last vessel from Hyundai Heavy Industries due for delivery at the end of August. During the second quarter a total of 43.5 USD million was made in installment payments towards the construction of the two remaining Suezmax vessels at Hyundai Heavy Industries with an outstanding balance of 86.6 USD million at the end of the second quarter. These vessel orders are accompanied by four seven-year time charter contracts.

The Company sold the Suezmax Cap Jean (1998 – 146,643 dwt) for USD 10.6 million. The vessel was delivered to her new owners on June 8, 2018. The Company recorded a capital gain of approximately USD 10.6 million on the sale.

In conjunction with the merger with Gener8 Maritime, Inc. ("Gener8") Euronav sold six VLCCs to International Seaways on June 14, 2018 for a total consideration of 434 million USD which includes 123 million USD in cash and 311 million USD in the form of assumption of the outstanding debt related to the vessels. The six vessels are the Gener8 Miltiades (2016 – 301,038 dwt), Gener8 Chiotis (2016 – 300,973 dwt), Gener8 Success (2016 – 300,932 dwt), Gener8 Andriotis (2016 – 301,014 dwt), Gener8 Strength (2015 – 300,960 dwt) and Gener8 Supreme (2016 – 300,933 dwt).

On June 27, 2018 Euronav acquired the ULCC Seaways Laura Lynn (2003 – 441,561 dwt) from Oceania Tanker Corporation, a subsidiary of International Seaways. Euronav renamed the ULCC as Oceania and registered it under the Belgian flag. Euronav Tankers bought the Seaways Laura Lynn for 32.5 million USD. Next to the TI Europe (2002 – 441,561 dwt) which the Company already owned, the Seaways   Laura Lynn is the only other ULCC in the global tanker fleet.

MERGER BETWEEN EURONAV AND GENER8 MARITIME

On June 11, 2018 Gener8's shareholders approved the merger between the two companies. Upon closing the merger, Gener8 became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Euronav. Holders of 81% of the outstanding shares of Gener8 cast their vote, and of those 98% approved the merger.

The Combined Entity balance sheet assets of over USD 4 billion has marked-to-market leverage of less than 50% with the Company retaining around USD 758 million of liquidity as at the end of June 2018. The status of this transaction has been recognized with the Seatrade awards selecting the merger as its "Deal of the Year" for 2018 in June.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TANKER MARKET

Recycling of primarily older tonnage during the first half of 2018 has caused modest net decrease of worldwide fleet for this period. The 41 VLCC equivalents (33 VLCCs and 16 Suezmaxes) removed from the global fleet in the six months to the end of June (source: Pareto) compares favorably with the 69 VLCC equivalents removed during the course of calendar year 1985 – the record year for recycling. Accompanying this trend, prices in both the VLCC and Suezmax sectors for new builds have been rising 9% and 7% respectively during the first semester (source: Clarkson's).

An elevated recycling price, continued negative cash flow pressure on older tonnage from challenged freight rates, low utilization and growing pressure from incoming regulatory changes should provide support for further recycling in the second half and beyond. Further fleet rebalancing is however required before the freight market can make sustained progress as the new build delivery schedule remains concentrated particularly in the VLCC sector well into 2019.

Whilst recent proposals from OPEC to increase production are positive for the tanker market, they are caveated by volatile supply signals from Venezuela, Libya and Iran, primarily over how sanctions are imposed on them. Should sanction imposition be aggressive this could lead to 20-30 Iranian tankers being removed from the global trading fleet to be used for domestic floating storage which would provide a positive boost to the tanker market in the second half.

OUTLOOK

The IEA have largely kept demand growth forecasts static at 1.4 mbpd for calendar 2018 and recently introduced the same estimate for 2019. These resilient demand figures remain above the long term trend growth level (1.1 mbpd) despite a crude oil price remaining above USD 70 since the start of the second quarter of 2018.

Ton miles has supported this buoyant demand background particularly with U.S. crude exports which topped 3 mbpd in late June for the first time. Over the past 30 months, since the export ban was lifted, U.S. crude exports have risen 600% with potential for further expansion into 2019/20 as pipeline and port infrastructure are improved.

Further fleet rebalancing is required before this supportive background can be translated into improved freight rates on a sustainable basis. Restraint from contracting and a supportive oil price structure would also provide support against recent volatile signals from the crude oil market.

So far in the third quarter of 2018, the Euronav VLCC fleet operated in the Tankers International Pool has earned about USD 17,100 and 60% of the available days have been fixed. Euronav's Suezmax fleet trading on the spot market has earned about USD 12,725 per day on average with 60% of the available days fixed.

 

 

 

Telephone participants may avoid any delays by pre-registering for the call using the following link to receive a special dial-in number and PIN conference call registration link: http://dpregister.com/10122254 . Pre-registration fields of information to be gathered: name, company, email.

Telephone participants located in the U.S. who are unable to pre-register may dial in to +1-877-328-5501 on the day of the call. Others may use the international dial-in number +1-412-317-5471.

A replay of the call will be available until 14 August 2018, beginning at 9 a.m. EDT / 3 p.m. CET on 9 August 2018. Telephone participants located in the U.S. can dial +1-877-344-7529. Others can dial +1-412-317-0088. Please reference the conference number 10122254.

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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 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. The Company 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", "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.

Contact:

Mr. Brian Gallagher – Euronav Investor Relations

Tel: +44 20 7870 0436

Email: IR@euronav.com

Half year report 2018 available on website: Thursday, August 23, 2018

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Regulated information within the meaning of the Royal Decree of 14 November 2007.

 

 

 

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position (unaudited)

(in thousands of USD)

* The Group has initially applied IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 at January 1, 2018. Under the transition methods chosen, comparative information is not restated.

 

 

 

Condensed consolidated statement of profit and loss (unaudited)

(in thousands of USD except per share amounts)

* The Group has initially applied IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 at January 1, 2018. Under the transition methods chosen, comparative information is not restated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income (unaudited)

(in thousands of USD)

* The Group has initially applied IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 at January 1, 2018. Under the transition methods chosen, comparative information is not restated.

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity (unaudited)

(in thousands of USD)

* The Group has initially applied IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 at January 1, 2018. Under the transition methods chosen, comparative information is not restated but the opening balance of 2018 has been adjusted following the application of IFRS 15 on revenue Recognition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows (unaudited)

(in thousands of USD)

* The Group has initially applied IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 at January 1, 2018. Under the transition methods chosen, comparative information is not restated.