Operator
Operator
Good day. And welcome to the Q1 2015 Frontline Limited Earnings Conference Call. Today's conference is being recorded. At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Robert Hvide MaCleod. Please go ahead, sir.
Frontline Ltd. (FRO)
Q1 2015 Earnings Call· Fri, May 29, 2015
$36.30
+0.86%
Same-Day
+6.20%
1 Week
+5.81%
1 Month
-5.43%
vs S&P
-2.92%
Operator
Operator
Good day. And welcome to the Q1 2015 Frontline Limited Earnings Conference Call. Today's conference is being recorded. At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Robert Hvide MaCleod. Please go ahead, sir.
Robert Hvide MaCleod
Management
Thank you very much. Good afternoon, and good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Frontline's presentation for the first quarter of 2015. This presentation will proceed as follows: Inger will start with the quarterly highlights, the main transactions and the financial review of the quarter. I will then follow-up with earnings and market factors, newbuilding prices, fleet development and time charter rates, Frontline's present situation, and finally, the market outlook. Inger, please go ahead.
Inger Klemp
Management
Thanks, Robert, and good morning, and good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Then I would like you to move to slide four, Highlights and Transactions. In January 2015, Frontline took delivery of Front Idun and the ATM program was increased to having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $150 million from up to $100 million in January as well. Frontline issued 12.9 million new shares under its ATM program in the first quarter. In April 2015, we issued further 12.9 million new shares under the ATM program and in May 2015, the company issued further 5.9 new shares under the ATM program and existing ATM program is then fully utilized. In February 2015, Frontline bought $33.3 million of its convertible bond at a purchase price of 99% and in April 2015, the remaining outstanding balance on the convertible bond of $93.4 million was repaid in full upon maturity. Then today, Frontline announced that it has entered into a heads of agreement to amend the terms of the long-term charter agreements with Ship Finance. This is for the remainder of the charter period with effect from July 1, 2015. Then I would like you to move to slide five, summary of new charter structure with Ship Finance. The new agreement is a combination of, first that the long-term time charter rates are reduced to $20,000 per day for all VLCCs and $15,000 per day for all Suezmax tankers for the whole charter period. The operating expenses payable by Ship Finance is increased from current rate $6,500 per day to now $9,000 per day. Ship Finance will receive 50% of achieved rate above new time charter rate. The remaining pre-paid profit split will be terminated, which means that profit split will be paid to Ship Finance from July 1, 2015. The cash sweep…
Robert Hvide MaCleod
Management
Thank you very much Inger. Let's look at slide 12, earnings and market factors in Q1. The quarter started off strongly in both the VLCC and the Suezmax markets. There were a few sharp corrections during the quarter but they were short-lived and rebounded quicker than seemed for many years. Volatility certainly came back into the market along with owner’s belief that the markets were entering recovery stage. These factors led to the quarter signing off with the best spot daily earnings Frontline has delivered since the first quarter of 2009. In January, we looked in three VLCCs through to the second quarter of 2016 at an average rate of $43,000 and another one through to summer this year at $55,000 per day. The quarter showed an average debt in crude supply over $95 million barrels per day for the second time in history. Floating storage did not play as an important part as we predicted. This can be reasoned with the increase in the oil price which straitened the contango curve. This along with the strong spot market encouraged trading the vessels as spot. Five VLCCs and six Suezmaxes were delivered during the quarter. We only saw one ship leave each fleet. Moving onto page 13, values and rates. The prices came off fractionally from the last quarter always depending on the specific yard and the final specification but we estimate a standard VLCC to be priced at $95 million, $96 million and $65 million, $66 million for Suezmax. As for the time charter markets, rates firmed up and a number of deals increased substantially at the start of the first quarter versus what we saw in 2014. This occurred in the back of the seaborne contango which found charters scrambling for tonnage intended for storage. As an example,…
Operator
Operator
Thank you. [Operator Instructions] We will now take our first question from Jon Chappell at Evercore ISI. Please go ahead. Your line is open.
Jon Chappell
Analyst
Thank you. Good afternoon. Robert, I just want to focus on the shift now from defense to offense and the growth initiatives. So specifically, you’ve done a lot of very proactive things like the transaction with Ship Finance, obviously paying off the convert really good now, remove that overhang. What liquidity do you have today, whether that’s from a debt capacity or cash capacity to actually start to pursue growth again?
Robert Hvide MaCleod
Management
I will let Inger go through the liquidity to give you an update on that.
Inger Klemp
Management
I’m not sure what you are thinking about, Jonathan. But as you know, the cash situation as of the end of the first quarter, you can see it from the press release.
Jon Chappell
Analyst
Do you have any more debt capacity or if you can -- if we just looked at the cash and took out the buffer for Ship Finance and assume that you can lever that 50%? I mean, I guess the question is would you be comfortable taking on more leverage at this point to add ships?
Inger Klemp
Management
No, we don’t have any revolving loan facility or anything, which we can draw on is best within the industry. Obviously if there is an opportunity which we think is a very good opportunity for us to grow going forward, I am certain about that we will find financing for that.
Jon Chappell
Analyst
And would you be willing to use shares considering by most estimates you’re still trading at a pretty hardy premium to NAV?
Inger Klemp
Management
This needs to be considered when we have certain tax transaction that they would like to consider.
Jon Chappell
Analyst
Okay.
Inger Klemp
Management
So anything is possible.
Jon Chappell
Analyst
As far as potential transactions, Robert your background from what I understand is somewhat in the product side, Frontline has historically been a permanently crude player and Frontline 2012 is getting bit in the product. If you just think about Frontline Limited with the focus remain on the crude side if you think you would venture into the product market.
Robert Hvide MaCleod
Management
No, going forward, the focus will be for the company to be on the crude side and now we’ve without into important steps in getting the company ready for the future. So now we will use some head to see what we can do with it.
Jon Chappell
Analyst
Okay. Final thing, read in the Frontline 2012 release you’re looking at a listing in the U.S. 2015, things like the Fredriksen group in drybulk and other sectors as well have been very much behind the consolidation. Is the end game for Frontline Limited to end up with Frontline 2012 and create a bigger and more broad-based and more modern fleet?
Robert Hvide MaCleod
Management
Now that’s most of the time to do. That was what we said in the last quarter that we want to bring Frontline back into being a leading tanker company and there is many ways to do that and that’s something we will keep working on.
Jon Chappell
Analyst
Okay. Thank you, Robert.
Robert Hvide MaCleod
Management
Thank you.
Inger Klemp
Management
Thank you.
Operator
Operator
Thank you. We will now take our next question from Matthias Detjen at Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead. Your line is open.
Matthias Detjen
Analyst
Good morning. I have one question about the markets to start off. We started at about the West African cargoes and how there is quite a few unsold cargoes there. Could you maybe give us some color about that and if that might relates to the market further and if you’ve also seen that relate those cargoes stuff there?
Robert Hvide MaCleod
Management
It is very uncertain region in terms of flow head, but no, I can come up with, as said we have seen the flows have been relatively stable actually.
Matthias Detjen
Analyst
Okay. And then I guess one other question about the shareholding, what is the current value of your both gas and gold notion shares that you received and will receive from Frontline 2012?
Inger Klemp
Management
You can think about Frontline Limited shareholding.
Matthias Detjen
Analyst
No, the shareholding and even received dividend share in the form of dividends from 2012?
Inger Klemp
Management
We will receive from notion shares from Frontline 2012, that’s correct.
Matthias Detjen
Analyst
And can you give us the value of those shares?
Inger Klemp
Management
Sorry, the value?
Matthias Detjen
Analyst
The value or how many you are going to receiving and the estimate there, do you have anything there?
Inger Klemp
Management
That will be the percentage that we have according to our shareholding in Frontline 2012 and we have 13.4 million shares in Frontline 2012. So you have to divide that by 3.27 -- 3.21 was next, 3.21 yes and then you get to the number of shares.
Matthias Detjen
Analyst
Okay. That’s helpful. And just like the follow-up to that. What are you planning on doing with the shares? Do you plan to hold them or liquidate them, or what are you planning on doing them once you receive those shares?
Inger Klemp
Management
We haven’t really decided on that yet. So let’s see what we do.
Matthias Detjen
Analyst
Okay. Well, thank you for that.
Operator
Operator
Thank you. We will now take our next question from [Paul Caile] [ph] [indiscernible]. Please go ahead. Your line is open. : Good morning. Thank you. Our three-part question. Could you help us with the remaining term on the new finance structure? And secondly, is there -- are there buyout provisions that are not remaining term? And finally, are old friend Independent Tankers if you could give us a status update on that? Thank you.
Inger Klemp
Management
The remaining duration of the block period of these 17 vessels, you can average 7.7 years. And there is a buyout or purchase option of the derivatives in the structure at it is today. And what your second question was? : Independent tankers status update.
Inger Klemp
Management
I can tell you that has been mainly more or less something happening in a way because we have sold and paid down everything in a way, so that this is something which is more or less no operation any longer. : Thank you.
Operator
Operator
Thank you. Our next question comes from Donald Bogden at Wells Fargo. Please go ahead. Your line is open.
Donald Bogden
Analyst
Good morning. I just wanted to talk about I guess how you view your time charter versus spot market exposure moving forward? I mean, I saw you locked in three long-term charters and an additional charter earlier in Q1 but now that you sort of cover some of the overhang from the convertible bonds, would you transition back to full more traditional spot exposure?
Robert Hvide MaCleod
Management
Donald, as I said earlier, we took some cover in January and we will look at where the levels are. At the moment for some we see the levels as quite high. I would say it’s truly we’re pursuing -- setting out to one ship rather than taking one in. But then again if the market drops and our future prediction of the market is positive then we’d also consider taking ships in. So it very much depends on where the market heads.
Donald Bogden
Analyst
I appreciate the color, guys. Thanks.
Operator
Operator
Thank you. Our next question comes from George Froley at Pacific Income Advisers. Please go ahead. Your line is open.
George Froley
Analyst
Good morning. It’s from California. Could you explain why it seems that Frontline 20 has bigger never tankers and we seem to have older smaller? And how did that some could be that all the good tankers ended up in this partnership?
Inger Klemp
Management
Frontline 2012 was created almost for about 3.5 years ago and that was in connection with the restructuring of some plans, which took place late 2011. So what was the decision then or what the solution in a way was that we created a company which both some of the vessels and new buildings from Frontline Limited. And obviously, many of the vessels went up owned by Frontline Limited. It was the least vessels from Japan. So it wasn’t that many vessels that you could sell. And so those are the vessels that we could sell. And then that’s why in a way they ended up in sometime 2012.
George Froley
Analyst
If Frontline 2012 listed in the U.S. how would that help Limited?
Inger Klemp
Management
Sorry. Can you repeat?
George Froley
Analyst
Yes. If Frontline 20 listed in the U.S. markets, how would that help Limited?
Inger Klemp
Management
Not in any way in the way because these are two different separate companies.
George Froley
Analyst
And how much of Frontline 20 do you own, does limited own?
Inger Klemp
Management
Approximately 5%.
George Froley
Analyst
Just 5%.
Inger Klemp
Management
Yes.
George Froley
Analyst
Okay. Thank you.
Inger Klemp
Management
Yes. You are welcome.
Operator
Operator
Thank you. [Operator Instructions] We will now take our next question from Andreas Attalides at CapeView. Please go ahead. Your line is open.
Andreas Attalides
Analyst
Hi. I had a quick question regarding the agreement with SFL. Correct me if I’m wrong but from today until July 1st whereby this new agreement kicks in, your company will not share any profit with SFL so effectively whatever upside that are in the market will accrue to you because then utilized of bond ship, $50 million asset is not yet fully utilized? That’s my first question.
Inger Klemp
Management
Yeah. Your question that we have prepared profit list, so until the 1st of July, its not very likely that ship finance will receive any profit share and that is correct.
Andreas Attalides
Analyst
And then will you get a refund for the outstanding balance on the prepaid or will you just forego it as part of this deal?
Inger Klemp
Management
The rest or remaining will be forgiven as part of the transaction as explained in the press release.
Andreas Attalides
Analyst
Okay.
Inger Klemp
Management
Like also ship finance also gives the cash rate of the second half of 2015.
Andreas Attalides
Analyst
Understood. And for non-SFL assets, correct me, if I’m wrong but they expire in a year. So you basically owned the cash flow of those assets in the value that are accrued to you for one year. And then is there any purchase options on those four assets?
Andreas Attalides
Analyst
Are you referring -- are you referring to the vessels from the German KGs…
Andreas Attalides
Analyst
Exactly. So Tina, Commodore, Melody, and Symphony, those four assets.
Inger Klemp
Management
Yes. They will expire at the end of 2015, the charters. And we don’t have any purchase options but they have a possibility to put the rest of them on ourselves.
Andreas Attalides
Analyst
Okay. Understood.
Inger Klemp
Management
Okay.
Operator
Operator
Thank you. [Operator Instruction] We do have a question, pardon me, and it is from [Nicholas Espiritu] [ph] at Tendercapital. Please go ahead. Your line is open.
Nicholas Espiritu
Analyst
Hi. Good morning. I would like to see if your capital increase with ship finance is the first tranche or it’s old, and if the ship finance can buy all from client after debt agreement? Thank you.
Inger Klemp
Management
Do you ask whether they are going to buy the whole Frontline capital you are asking?
Nicholas Espiritu
Analyst
Yes.
Inger Klemp -
Analyst
I guess we are not ready for that question.
Nicholas Espiritu
Analyst
I mean that now you have a ship agreement with Ship Finance and then you have a new capital increase of $27 million I think and have about 27% of property of shares.
Inger Klemp -
Analyst
Of the company.
Nicholas Espiritu
Analyst
And I would like, if we trash that can available, I know that one and if Ship Finance can buy all Frontline in the future?
Inger Klemp
Management
I wouldn’t imagine that could be here likely. But I can’t see why they should. What you think, Robert?
Robert Hvide MaCleod
Management
Just keep guessing.
Inger Klemp
Management
Yeah.
Nicholas Espiritu
Analyst
I don’t understand. About your capital increase, why is the ratio of capital increase?
Inger Klemp
Management
Why we have done the capital increase?
Nicholas Espiritu
Analyst
Yeah. Why do you have a capital increase with ship finance?
Inger Klemp -
Analyst
Because we’re doing the agreement with them. We are doing amendment of the charter agreement. And as compensation, we’re issuing shares, 55 million shares.
Nicholas Espiritu
Analyst
Yeah. And then, they are the first shareholder or not in the future?
Inger Klemp
Management
The first in the future, I’m not sure I understand your question.
Nicholas Espiritu
Analyst
About your new shareholder, you seeing that they can increase shares in the future or not, can become the new shareholder in the future or not, if it’s only a financial shareholder?
Inger Klemp
Management
As I’ve just said, I don’t think that is likely. But I guess that’s only speculation. So, I don’t have any further answer to that.
Nicholas Espiritu
Analyst
Okay. Thank you.
Operator
Operator
Thank you. [Operator Instructions] We do not appear to have any more questions at this time. I would pass it back to the speakers for any closing remarks.
Robert Hvide MaCleod
Management
Thank you. Thank you all for dialing into this call. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in Frontline for their excellent efforts in turning the shift around. Thank you very much.