Teekay LNG Partners Announces Acquisition and Charter Back for Up to Two LNG Carrier Newbuildings
August 05 2013 - 1:35AM
Marketwired
Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (Teekay LNG or the Partnership) (NYSE:TGP)
today announced that it has agreed to acquire a 155,900 cubic meter
(cbm) liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier newbuilding from Awilco
LNG ASA (Awilco) (ALNG:NO), a Norwegian-based owner and operator of
LNG carriers. The vessel, which is currently under construction by
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd., (DSME) of
South Korea, is expected to deliver in the third quarter of 2013,
and subsequent to delivery from DSME to Awilco, Teekay LNG will
purchase the vessel and bareboat charter the vessel back to Awilco
at a fixed rate for a firm period of five years, plus a one-year
extension option. Teekay LNG will purchase the vessel for a price
of $205 million less a $50 million upfront prepayment of charter
hire by Awilco which is in addition to the daily bareboat charter
rate. Awilco has fixed-price purchase obligations at the end of
both the firm charter period and option period.
As part of the transaction, Awilco has an option to sell to and
bareboat charter back from Teekay LNG a second 155,900 cbm LNG
carrier newbuilding currently under construction by DSME, under
similar terms. The second LNG carrier newbuilding is expected to
deliver in the fourth quarter of 2013.
The Partnership intends to finance the transaction with a
portion of its existing liquidity and expects to secure long-term
debt financing prior to delivery.
"We are pleased to announce this mutually beneficial
acquisition-leaseback arrangement with Awilco which will provide
Teekay LNG with immediate accretive cash flow," commented Peter
Evensen, Chief Executive Officer of Teekay GP LLC. "Together with
our four LNG carrier newbuildings delivering in 2016 and the ten
LPG newbuildings in our joint venture with Exmar, delivering
between 2014 and 2017, this transaction with Awilco provides a
near-term compliment to the Partnership's strong portfolio of
long-term visible growth projects."
The transaction, which is expected to close during the third
quarter of 2013, has been approved by Board of Directors of both
Teekay LNG and Awilco, and remains subject to customary closing
conditions, including satisfactory documentation.
About Teekay LNG Partners L.P.
Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is the world's third largest
independent owner and operator of LNG vessels, providing LNG,
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and crude oil marine transportation
services primarily under long-term, fixed-rate charter contracts
with major energy and utility companies through its interests in 31
LNG carriers (including one LNG regasification unit and four
newbuildings), 31 LPG/Multigas carriers (including five
chartered-in LPG carriers and ten newbuildings) and 11 conventional
tankers. The Partnership's interests in these vessels ranges from
33 to 100 percent. Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is a publicly-traded
master limited partnership (MLP) formed by Teekay Corporation
(NYSE:TK) as part of its strategy to expand its operations in the
LNG and LPG shipping sectors.
Teekay LNG Partners' common units trade on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol "TGP".
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
which reflect management's current views with respect to certain
future events and performance, including statements regarding: the
timing and certainty of completion of acquisition of a newbuilding
LNG carrier from Awilco, including the completion of customary
closing conditions; the timing and certainty of Teekay LNG
acquiring a second LNG carrier newbuilding under similar terms to
the first vessel; the timing and certainty of Teekay LNG securing
long-term financing for the acquired vessel, or vessels; and the
timing and effect of the transaction with Awilco, as well as other
committed LNG and LPG newbuildings, will have on the Partnership's
cash flows. The following factors are among those that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, and that should
be considered in evaluating any such statement: shipyard
construction delays; failure by the Partnership to secure long-term
financing; the potential early termination of the bareboat charter
contracts with Awilco; failure to secure long-term charters for the
acquired vessels; failure to satisfy closing conditions of the
transaction; changes in production of LNG, either generally or in
particular regions that would impact the expected future growth in
the global LNG transportation and regasification markets, and spot
LNG shipping rates; changes in trading patterns or timing of the
start-up of new LNG liquefaction projects significantly impacting
overall LNG shipping requirements; changes in applicable industry
laws and regulations and the timing of implementation of new laws
and regulations; and other factors discussed in Teekay LNG
Partners' filings from time to time with the SEC, including its
Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.
The Partnership expressly disclaims any obligation to release
publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect any change in the Partnership's
expectations with respect thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is
based.
Contacts: For Teekay LNG Kent Alekson Investor Relations
enquiries 1 (604) 609-6442 www.teekaylng.com
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