Riding on the Tanker Market Benefits TORM Extends Its Scrubber Commitment

By
Mfame Editor
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1518

According to a report published in the Shipping Herald, the Executive Director of TORM, Jacob Meldgaard has said that TORM’s results in the first quarter reflect the Company’s strong operating performance in a product tanker market where a significant recovery started in the fourth quarter of 2018.

TORM’s Profit

“We made a profit before tax of USD 23.5m in the first quarter of 2019, the strongest quarterly result in three years and the bookings so far in the second quarter indicate a continued positive product tanker market,“ he added

EBITDA for the first quarter of 2019 was USD 61.5m (2018, same period: USD 37.3m). The profit before tax amounted to USD 23.5m (2018, same period: USD 1.1m). Cash flow from operating activities was positive at USD 55.4m in the first quarter of 2019 (2018, same period: USD 18.0m), and earnings per share (EPS) was 31 cents (2018, same period: 1 cent). Return on Invested Capital (RoIC) was 8.8% (2018, same period: 2.4%).

TORM’s Scrubber Commitment

“We have extended our scrubber commitment with an additional 13 units, which will bring the total number of scrubber-fitted vessels to 34, or close to half of our fleet. With this balanced approach, TORM is well-positioned to reap the benefits of the increased demand for clean petroleum products expected from the implementation of the IMO 2020 regulation.”

How did they achieve that?

In the first quarter of 2019, TORM achieved TCE rates of USD/day 17,949 (2018, same period: USD/day 14,225). The product tanker freight rates started the first quarter of 2019 at strong levels last seen in 2016 before softening throughout the quarter as spring refinery maintenance gained pace.

  • As of 31 March 2019, 11% of the remaining total earning days in 2019 was covered at an average rate of USD/day 16,311.
  • As of 7 May 2019, 58% of the total earning days in the second quarter of 2019 were covered at USD/day 16,248. 22% of the total earning days in the second to the fourth quarter of 2019 were covered at USD/day 16,026.
  • During the first quarter of 2019, TORM entered into agreements to sell two older vessels: the MR vessels TORM Amazon (built in 2002) and TORM Cecilie (built in 2001).
  • The two vessels were sold for a total consideration of USD 15m, and a total debt of USD 9m was repaid in connection with the vessel sales.
  • TORM Amazon was delivered to its new owners during the first quarter of 2019, and TORM Cecilie was delivered during the second quarter of 2019.
  • As of 31 March 2019, excluding TORM Cecilie that is held for sale, TORM’s fleet consists of 69 owned vessels, three chartered vessels and nine vessels on order.

13 Additional Scrubbers Orders

In April 2019, TORM decided to install 13 additional scrubbers through retrofit installations. These new scrubbers will be produced by the joint venture ME Production China, in which TORM holds an ownership stake of 27.5%. Including the 13 additional scrubbers, TORM has committed to scrubber installations on 34 vessels, or close to half of our fleet.

The remaining newbuilding program with scrubbers and retrofit installations will be delivered throughout 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. TORM will finance the scrubber installations through a combination of additional debt and cash-in-hand. 32 of the 34 scrubbers will be installed ahead of the IMO 2020 deadline.

TORM’s Status

  1. As of 31 March 2019, TORM’s available liquidity was USD 438m consisting of USD 155m in cash, USD 237m in undrawn credit facilities and USD 46m in undrawn credit facilities subject to documentation.
  2. As of 31 March 2019, net interest-bearing debt amounted to USD 584m and TORM’s net loan-to-value (LTV) ratio was 52%.
  3. Based on broker valuations as of 31 March 2019, TORM’s Net Asset Value (NAV) excluding charter commitments was estimated at USD 829m.
  4. This corresponds to a NAV/share of USD 11.2 or DKK 74.5. TORM’s book equity amounted to USD 867m as of 31 March 2019. This corresponds to a book equity/share of USD 11.7 or DKK 77.9.
  5. Based on broker valuations, TORM’s fleet including newbuildings had a market value of USD 1,599m as of 31 March 2019.
  6. Compared to broker valuations as of 31 December 2018, the market value of the fleet decreased by USD 62m (~4%) when adjusted for sold vessels.
  7. The book value of the fleet was USD 1,412m as of 31 March 2019 excluding outstanding installments on the newbuildings of USD 258m.
  8. The outstanding installments include payments for scrubbers related to these vessels.
  9. As of 31 March 2019, TORM’s order book stood at nine newbuildings covering two LR1 and seven MR vessels. The LR1 and the MR vessels are expected to be delivered in 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.

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Source: Shipping Herald