Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. (OSL:OET)
Norway flag Norway · Delayed Price · Currency is NOK
515.00
+23.00 (4.67%)
Apr 28, 2026, 4:25 PM CET
← View all transcripts

Earnings Call: Q2 2021

Aug 13, 2021

Speaker 1

Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining today's event. The conference will begin in just a few moments. Please remain on the line and we appreciate your patience. Again, Thank you for joining the OET Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results Presentation. We will begin shortly.

Thank you. Hello, and welcome to the OET Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results Presentation. We will begin shortly. Aristides Alfonso, COO And John Papillano, CFO of Okeanosico Tankers will take you through the presentation. They will be pleased to address any questions raised at the end of the call.

I will advise you that this session is being recorded. John will now begin the presentation.

Speaker 2

Welcome to the presentation of OET's results for the Q2 of 2021. We will discuss matters that are forward looking in nature. These forward looking statements are based on our current expectations about future events, Including OEC's commercial performance, dividend policy, projected drydock schedules and anticipated debt capital commitments. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations reflected in these forward looking statements. Starting on Slide 3, We review the highlights of the quarter.

We generated net revenue of $35,000,000 adjusted EBITDA of $22,000,000 An adjusted profit of $4,000,000 or $0.11 per share, currently the only tanker company to post a profit in Q2. We distributed $24,000,000 to our shareholders during the quarter. Since its inception, OET has generated a 35% We took steps to optimize our VLCC fleet and charter portfolio. Specifically, we sold 2 2019 built VLCCs, the Nicos Hardiparos and Nicos Santo Ilimi for $90,000,000 each And acquired 2 2022 billed VLCCs for $97,000,000 each. The 3 year age adjusted spread of $7,000,000 per VLCC Compares very favorably to a 3 year straight line depreciation base spread of approximately $12,000,000 per VLCC, Thus making the transaction immediately accretive to NAV upon delivery of the ships in first half twenty twenty two.

Furthermore, we replaced time charters on the VLCCs Nizo Srina and Nizo Despotico with those on existing VLCCs, Creating additional spot exposure for the company. Lastly, our Board of Directors has decided to postpone any further capital distributions Until the aforementioned sale of the 2 VLCCs is completed, OET will distribute any excess cash build up through the sale back to shareholders As it has done previously. I'll now hand it over to Risili for an overview of our continued industry leading commercial performance.

Speaker 3

Thank you, John. Once again, OET is trending as the top performer in the spot market for VLCCs and Suezmaxes in Q2 and Q3. During Q2, we achieved a fleet wide TCE rate of $27,200 per operating day, net of 5% technical off hire days. Our VLCCs generated $14,300 per day in the spot market, a 22% outperformance relative to our tanker peers that have Reported Q2 earnings. During the quarter, we took advantage of the weak market to make some light repairs on our VLCC fleet Our Suezmaxes generated $18,800 per spod day, 32% higher than the tanker peer group average.

We benefited from several front haul voyages to the East as well as a positive IFRS impact. Lastly, our earnings generated $16,000 per spot day, 57% higher The Natinca Pure Group average. We delivered the Pirascan Sinusa to the new owners and benefited from long haul On the vessels last voyages, we were also able to capture some of the upside from a spike in the med early in the quarter on 2 voyages. Overall, the market was characterized by weak sentiment and low volatility, with an oversupply of ships prevailing in almost every trading basin. In this context, there were very few opportunities available to make money trading our fleet.

On Slide 5, we provide an overview of our guidance for Q3. So far in Q3, We have fixed 43% of our VLCC spot days at $15,600 per day, with VLCC spot rates currently around $11,000 per 57% of our Suezmax spot days at $18,600 per day, with Suezmax spot rates currently around $9,000 per day. And all of our Aframax spot days at $12,900 per day with Eureka to be delivered to the new owners next week. Based on the guidance and current spot conditions, we expect our Q3 TCE revenue to be in the mid low 20,000,000 The bad news is, it's as bad as we've ever seen the market. The good news is the reason why it's bad, inventory drawdowns.

Refiners are choosing not to import expensive spot oil cargoes, but instead are drawing down on cheap crude they bought last year and held in stores. The next round of refiner buying will have to be from the seaborne market, which will be very positive for Tankers. On Slide 6, We provide an overview of our fleet and charter portfolio. For full year 2022, we will operate 14 vessels, 6 Suezmaxes and AVLCCs. 2 of the 6 Suezmaxes and 1 of the AVLCCs will be on time chart, leaving 79% of available spot available days on the spot market to capitalize on what we believe will be a very strong recovery in rates.

And now back to John to walk you through the financials.

Speaker 2

Thanks, Adithiri. Starting with our income statement on Slide 7. In Q2, Daily OpEx excluding management fees averaged $6,700 per day, while daily G and A came in at an industry low $400 per day. So far, OET has been the only tanker company to remain profitable in Q2. Moving to Slide 8, We report book value of DKK 98 per share following a write down of paid in capital and distribution to our shareholders.

Moving to Slide 9, we summarize our cash flows and CapEx commitments. Of the $194,000,000 CapEx $141,500,000 is due to the yard on delivery and $35,100,000 is payable to our Chairman and may be deferred At OET's sole discretion, to any date before the end of June 2024 at a cost of 3.5% fixed interest per year The outstanding amount commencing from the date of the new VLCC's delivery. Against this CapEx, we have received Firm indications for low cost, high LTV delivery financing for multiple large and reputable financial institutions And calculate that the anticipated capital structure of the new VLCCs will reduce cash breakevens by $3,100 per ship day And accelerate equity build up by $1,000,000 per year per shift relative to the current lease financing of the second hand VLCCs despite carrying roughly the same leverage. The Salen acquisition will also reduce the already industry low average age of the company's fleet and improve its emissions performance. Shifting to Slide 10, we provide a comprehensive overview of our debt stack.

Our all in cost of debt is roughly 3.5%. Our debt stood at $758,000,000 at quarter end and is set to decline further to $560,000,000 by year end Following the retirement of debt of 1 Aframax, Zirac Diaz and 2 VLCCs, the Sadarinina Dipados. Following the sale of the Aframax fleet, we now have no debt maturities until 2025. Back to the city to walk you through our market outlook.

Speaker 3

Thank you again, John. Analysts estimate that the crude production will need to increase by 4,000,000 barrels per day in the second half 21 in order to not deplete inventories to critically low levels. Despite uncertainty due to the delta variant, oil demand is holding up well it's forecast to increase to over 100,000,000 barrels per day by December. On Slide 12, We see that the crude production increase between now and the end of 2022 will be the biggest and longest increase in recent history. Increases in crude oil production and seaborne trade is a driver of tanker market strength.

This was proven in the period 2013 to 2015 And again in 2017 to 2018, when consistent growth in crude oil production lifted VLC spot rates as shown in Slide 13. So far, most of the increase in oil demand has been bet by drawing down on inventories of cheap oil that were bought in the aftermath of COVID last year. Global crude oil inventories have now reverted to normal levels, signaling the need for seaborne imports to satisfy demand increases going forward. We continue to believe that we will experience a very healthy winter market this year, similar to what happened in the VLCC market in 2013 2018, As well as an exceptional 2022. Back to John for an overview of our cash flow generation potential and historical capital markets track record.

Speaker 2

Thanks, Alefib. On Slide 14, we present our projections for profit and free cash flow to equity in 20222023, Assuming various VLCC and Suezmax spot rate scenarios, in 2022, our cash breakeven is forecast to be $23,400 per day, While profit breakeven is $20,900 per day, overall, we can expect that between 2022 2023, OET will be able to return 20% to 130% of its market cap in earnings back to shareholders in profit. On Slide 15, we calculate our total return since inception of 35% or DKK 25 per share for shareholders that brought into our primary and secondary issuance in 2018. I'll now turn the page to Slide 16 And leave with you some concluding thoughts while we open the line for questions.

Speaker 1

We'll now open the lines for questions. And our first question from the phone comes from the line of Dennis Angelopoulos of ABG. When you're ready, please proceed.

Speaker 4

Good afternoon, gentlemen. Hope everything is good with you guys.

Speaker 2

Hi, David.

Speaker 4

Hi, guys. So my sort of first thing question, of course, is congratulations on paying profit in such a difficult market. You guys are talking about the market bouncing back. How soon do you really expect that to be? I think we're going to have to wait quite a lot like this until deep into Q4?

Or are you guys already seeing some potential signs of improvement just around the corner

Speaker 3

Hi, Dennis, it's Arcevi. Currently, we haven't seen any signs of improvement yet. We believe that the market will see significant improvements by October November. And every month that goes viral, we increase the crude production as well as the annual seasonality will help us get us there.

Speaker 4

Okay. And just a question for John maybe here. In your financial report, you guys State that there can be potential finance breakage fees from the termination of the bareboat charters that you guys have with Ocean Yield. Do you have any idea of how high those could be? Or is it a negligible amount for us to consider?

Speaker 2

I would air towards the side of saying it's negligible.

Speaker 4

Okay. All right. And then on the topic of the bareboats from Ocean Yield, you guys essentially replaced these 2019 vessels With 2022 is brand new and probably with better financing terms, what are your thoughts on potentially doing that again with the remaining Ocean Yield vessels, The 2 Suezmaxes and the 2 VLCCs, is that sort of a thought process as you have to sort of lower your financing costs and also rejuvenate continue rejuvenating the fleet?

Speaker 2

No, I think that we found an opportunity to do it on the ships at Desprotico and Deringa, I don't think such an action is repeatable. But as we've always said, we're always ways to lower our cost of capital and we think that, for example, the LTV that we achieved on the Suezmaxes, SIKINOS and It's probably more indicative of the kind of margin over LIBOR that a company like OET should be paying. And so we think that that kind of Financing structure and margin is doable again for the 2 2022 VLCCs that will join us next year. And as you pointed out, these ships will have a much more cash generative capital structure that also builds equity faster. So The combined cash flow benefit of the resale VLCCs, we think is somewhere around $2,000,000 per year per ship relative To the ocean yields VLCCs.

Speaker 4

All right, guys. Thank you so much for the color. Hello, the capital of Augusto. Enjoy your families and have a good holiday. Thank you so much for today.

Bye.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Dennis. Likewise.

Speaker 1

We also have our questions submitted online. And at this time, we have no incoming questions on the phone. So we'll turn to those submitted via the webcast.

Speaker 2

Yes. So The first question is if we can give a little bit of color on our decision to upgrade the spot exposure. So I would say that the TC swap was a market call. There are certain decisions that we need to take Based on what the market is doing today, such as, for example, today's capital allocation decision to preserve liquidity, And there are some decisions that we need to take based on where we see the market going, such as the TC swap decision. Right now, we're in the seasonally weakest part of the year with the weakness being compounded further by heavy inventory destocking.

It's obviously not a pleasant situation, but one that doesn't concern us much either. In that I mean to say that we weren't expecting a strong Q2 or Q3 If we end up in November and the market is still at the current levels, then that would be concerning. And we don't think that will happen for the reasons we detailed on Slides 11 through 13, really cargo is king. And when cargoes come to market in the quantity and for as long consistently as they'll come We'll be stronger than people think because of sentiment. Because when sentiment in the VLCC market switches from negative to positive, Rates respond more strongly than fundamentals alone would suggest.

And then we have a question from Peter Yarlsby at Fearnleys About the discrepancy between Chinese runs and imports over the past months. And he asks that Our thoughts on what's happening there and whether it's just an attempt to curb the prices and potential impact further down the road. I think it's the former. I think that right now product pricing is still a little bit weak, particularly in Asia Because of the delta variant and I think that refiners are sort of deliberately staying out of the spot market And not wanting to buy spot oil cargoes at today's prices, and instead are drawing down On the cheap crude stocks that they accumulated last year. And that's evidenced, as Peter points out, between the discrepancy with Very strong runs, but low imports.

So we think that right now, heavy inventory destocking is taking place in China, which of course Hurts the tanker market immensely in the near term, but it's incredibly positive for the medium to longer term, and that's what we think is happening. And then there's a question on to what extent buybacks are on the agenda given where the equity is trading relative to steel. Great question. It's something that we consider all the time. We like to point out that insiders rather the Board Own 72% of the company, with some longer term holders close to 10%, so that our true effective free float is somewhere around It's true that we believe that we trade below NAV.

We just don't think that A tender offer would make much of a dent in terms of how much shares would be able to buy back in the open market. It's something that we do gauge from time to time, and I'd say that this is one of those times given Pricing relative to the 1 to 2 year forward outlook that makes buybacks much more interesting and it's certainly something that we look at very closely. And then we had one question. How we see the market in 20222023 and how we're positioned Visavis long term contracts for spot. So for next year, 2022, as I think we pointed out, we'll have close to 80% Of our shift days in the spot market, and it will be a little bit more than that, somewhere in the mid-80s spot in 2023.

So that should give you a sense of how optimistic we are about the next 2 years, and we're positioning our We to be able to capture the upside that we see coming over the until through 2023. And I think that's all we have.

Speaker 1

Yes. I'll make one

Speaker 2

Please, please.

Speaker 1

Yes, absolutely. I'll make one last call for questions. Anyone on the phones, And with that, I'll return over to your presenters.

Speaker 2

Thank you all very much for tuning in, and we look forward to chatting with you next quarter. Thank you.

Speaker 3

Thank you, guys. Have a nice afternoon.

Speaker 1

Thank you, everyone, for joining today's presentation. You may now disconnect your lines.

Powered by