John Costain
Analyst · Wells Fargo. Please go ahead
Thank you. If any of you have not read the earnings release or slide presentation, they are both available on the Investors section of our website. On today’s call, our review will include non-U.S. GAAP measures such as distributable cash flow and adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization, the EBITDA. The earnings release includes a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. A quick reminder that any forward-looking statements made during today’s call are subject to risks and uncertainties and these are discussed at length in our annual and quarterly SEC filings. As you know, actual events and results can differ materially from those forward-looking statements. The partnership does not undertake a duty to update any forward-looking statements. So, introduction, KNOT Offshore Partners, KNOP, focuses on the shuttle tanker segment. The individual tankers are field-specific and an integral component of the offshore oil production value chain. Shuttle tankers operate in a niche space and under non-volume based contracts transporting oil from the offshore production units to shore side. Often being built to the charterer’s requirements, the tankers are generally used on specific oil fields enabling the partnership to yield both the sustainable and stable revenue longer term. Oil production continues to move further offshore, so shuttle tankers operate in a space which will see substantial growth in the coming years. Some of the largest discovered oil reserves in the Southern Hemisphere are in the pre-salt, 130 kilometers off the coast of Brazil. The average annual production operates in the pre-salt layer which includes portions of Petrobras and its partners, in 2007 [ph], were the largest in the company’s history reaching at a mark of 1.29 million barrels per day. Although our MLP is young, our sponsor is a very experienced operator having been involved in the design and construction of this type of vessel growing its fleet organically for more than 30 years. In the last 18 months, the MLP has acquired Raquel Knutsen in Q4 ‘16, Tordis in Q1 ‘17, Vigdis in Q2, Lena in Q3, Brasil in Q4 and Q1 ‘18 Anna Knutsen. We have achieved these acquisitions through a combination of common and preferred shares together with refinancings in revolving credit facilities. This has enabled us to grow our distributable cash flow cover to our current level and improve their long-term outlook for the MLP. Our sponsor, Knutsen NYK, is according to Clarkson Platou Research, part of the largest shipping group in the world and NYK is a major company in the Mitsubishi family. In the space of just under 5 years, the fleet has grown 300% to 16 vessels with an average age of about 4.75 years. Now turning to the presentation, looking at Slide 3, the financial highlights. For the first quarter 2018, the partnership generated its best set of results, all of the following are our highest figures on both in aggregate and a per unit basis. Total revenue of $68 million, operating income of $31.9 million, net income of $30.7 million and adjusted EBITDA of $53.4 million. The partnership generated distributable cash flow of $27.9 million, and after declaring a cash distribution of $0.52 per unit, this gives a coverage of $1.55 for the quarter. During the quarter, the fleet operated a 99.6% utilization for scheduled operations. Since our initial public offering in 2013, we declared and paid common unit distributions of $9.78. So our initial investors have received a total return of 47%. Our current distribution is stable at around 10%. On January 30, 2018, the partnership closed $100 million senior secured credit facility with a consortium of banks in which Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ acted as agent. This was secured on a total [indiscernible] with a margin of 2.1% over LIBOR. On March 1, 2018, the partnership acquired the shuttle tanker Anna Knutsen from Knutsen NYK for a purchase price of $120 million. After acquisition, there was approximately $74.4 million of debt secured on the vessel. Slide 4, the income statement. The total revenues were $68 million. For the 3 months ended March 31, 2018 and compared to $61.6 million for the 3 months ended December 31 in Q4. The increase in revenues was mainly due to increased earnings from the Brasil Knutsen as she was included in the results from operations from December 15, 2017, and 1 month of earnings on the Anna Knutsen included from March 1 plus full quarter of earnings from the Carmen Knutsen which was incurred up higher in the fourth quarter due to both scheduled drydocking and subsequent propeller repairs. The increase was partly offset by reduced revenues from the Raquel Knutsen as a result of 4.5 days of fire. Reduced revenues from Brasil Knutsen, as she started showing drydocking at the end of the quarter and 2 additional calendar days in the Q4 compared to Q1. Vessel operating expenses for the first quarter of 2018 were $13.2 million, a decrease of $1.9 million from the $15.2 million in Q4 2017. The decrease was mainly due to the bunker consumption in connection with the scheduled drydocking and propeller repairs of the Carmen Knutsen that was charged in the fourth quarter. This was partly offset by higher operating expenses due to the Brasil Knutsen and Anna Knutsen being included in the results from operations from December 15 and March 1, 2018 respectively. General administration expenses of $1.3 million for the first quarter, won’t change from the fourth quarter. Depreciation of $21.6 million for Q1, an increase of $1.5 million. The increase was mainly due to the Brasil Knutsen and Anna Knutsen being put in operations from December 15 and March 1. As a result, operating income from Q1 was $31.9 million compared to $25 million in Q4. Interest expense for Q1 was $10.6 million compared to $9.2 million in Q4. The increase was mainly due to additional debt incurred in connection with the acquisitions. Realized, non-realized derivative gains were $10 million in Q1 compared to $3 million in Q4. The unrealized non-cash element of the mark-to-market gain was $9.2 million for Q1 compared to $3.8 million for Q4. Of the unrealized gain for the first quarter 2018, $8.9 million related to mark-to-market gains on interest rates swaps due to the swap rate here in the quarter. The comparison for Q4 was a mark-to-market gain of $4.6 million and an unrealized loss of $0.8 million related to the foreign exchange contracts due to the strength of the U.S. dollar against the market. As a result, net income for the Q1 was $30.7 million compared to $18.6 million for Q4. Slide 5, adjusted EBITDA. In Q1, the partnership generated EBITDA of $53.4 million compared to $45.1 million to Q4. Adjusted EBITDA refers to earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization and other financial items. It provides a proxy for cash flow. Adjusted EBITDA of course is a non-U.S. GAAP measure used by our investors to measure partnership performance. With a wasting asset like a vessel, younger fleets tend to produce lower EBITDA for every dollar invested. The annuity effect reduces the annual loss in the early years, which is factored into the replacement CapEx calculation for the distributable cash flow. At the end of Q1, the KNOT fleet had 16 vessels with an average age of 4.7 years compared to the rest of the industry average for shuttle tankers, excluding KNOP of around 12 years. Since the formation of KNOP, we have very high levels of vessel utilization, on average around 99.6% of scheduled operations. Financial risk translates into a continually high and increasing predictable revenue, adjusted EBITDA and discounted cash flow as more vessels are added to the fleet. Slide 6, distributable cash flow, another non-U.S. GAAP measure to measure estimate distribution sustainability. Distributable cash flow, or DCF, represents a net income adjusted for depreciation on realized gains and losses from derivatives and foreign exchange. Distributions on a Series A convertible preference units from other non-cash items and estimate of maintenance and maintenance capital for drydocking and replacement capital expenditures, which are required to maintain long-term operating capacity up and therefore the revenue generated by the partnership capital assets. DCF was $27.9 million in Q1, comparison to $21.5 million in Q4. We maintained our distribution level for Q1 at $0.52 per unit equivalent to an annual distribution of $2.80. The distribution coverage ratio is our highest ever recorded at 1.55% for Q1. Impact in the calculation for the full year 2018, one-third of the time charter fleet were complete drydockings between May and November 2018. More specifically, the partnership’s earnings for the second quarter of 2018 will be affected by the planned 5-year special survey drydocking with Brasil Knutsen which was off-hire for 56 days, including mobilization back and forth with Brasil. The drydocking of Brasil Knutsen was completed on-time and within budgeted cost. Offsetting this off-hire will be the Anna Knutsen expected to operate for the entire second quarter. The Hilda is due her first 5-year special survey drydocking in the third quarter of 2018 and the Torill and Ingrid Knutsen are due for their 4, 5 special survey drydocking in the fourth quarter of 2018. These vessels operate in the North Sea and will undergo drydocking in Europe and are expected to incur off-hire times of approximately 18 to 20 days per vessel as well as off-hire on these vessels with positional bunker costs are expensed impacting the 2018 results. Nevertheless, whilst we have not guided financial results for 2018, we expect a coverage ratio of outflow of 1.3% on average for the year. The average coverage ratio was 1.26% for the full year of 2017. In Q1, the partnership had interest rates swap agreements totaling $645 million on which the partnership received interest based on LIBOR and paid an average interest rate of 1.73%. These have an average maturity of approximately 4.5 years. Whilst the partnership financial results are impacted by changes in the market value of these swaps, our cash flow is stabilized mitigating the interest rate impact on the DCF. We also see rising interest rates in the U.S. in 2018 and ‘19 together with increasing replacement CapEx provisions charged on our vessels as they get older. However, our coverage has increased from earlier years and our full year estimates for 2018 and ‘19 looks solid. KNOT has an elevated yield compared to most MLPs and is focused on building coverage and de-leveraging as today it’s not making accretive investments. Given the quality and market position of the sponsor together with the shuttle tanker outlook, this yield has elevated amidst a very attractive value proposition. There is therefore little benefit to the MLP in the short-term to increase the distribution. When the yield is close to 10%, we continue to see double-digit distributions as a signal that investors would prefer increased coverage through investments and secondly de-leveraging rather than increasing dividends. Growing coverage ratio gives the partnership more flexibility regarding both our capital base and distributions going forward. Slide 7, the balance sheet. At the end of Q1, the partnership had $57.1 million in available liquidity, which consisted of cash and cash equivalents of $44.1 million and $13 million of capacity under its revolving credit facilities. The revolving credit facilities mature in June and August 2019. Given the increasing fleet size, we hope to extend these facilities. We have a predictable cash flow, a healthy liquidity position and with the total refinancing no significant volume repayments until 2019. The partnership’s total interest bearing debt is standing as of the March 31, 2018 was $1.133 billion net of debt issuance costs. The average margin was approximately 2.1% over LIBOR for Q1. While March 1, 2018, the partnership acquired shuttle tanker Anna Knutsen from Knutsen NYK for a purchase price of $120 million less $405 million of debt net of capitalization fees. There were other purchase price adjustments totaling $5.3 million. Upon its closing, the partnership repaid $32 million of the debt misleading an aggregate of approximately $74 million. The debt was repayable – the debt is repayable in quarter installments with its final OEM payment of $57.1 million due in March 2020. It has a margin of 2%. The purchase price of the Anna acquisition was settled in cash. As well as the acquisition, the other significant transactions affecting the balance sheet occurred in January 2018, when the partnership subsidiary that owns the vessel Torill Knutsen closed $100 million senior secured term facility with the consortium of banks, in which the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ acted as agent. The new facility is repayable in 24 consecutive and quarterly installments with a balloon payment of $60 million due on majority. It has a margin of 2.1% maturing in January 2024. The facility refinanced its $73.1 million loan facility associated with the vessel, capital interest and margin of 2.5%, almost due to be repaid in full in November 2018, a much larger loan with a significantly lower margin. Slide 8, long-term contracts by leading energy companies. The wins at Knutsen have been on charter to a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell since October 2015. After the initial 2-year period, Shell lifted the first of 6 annual extension options. The next option is declarable in July and the vessel has a competitive option rate fully reflecting the current market. So Shell we believe are wanting to continue using this vessel for the long-term. Bodil Knutsen, our largest shuttle tanker operating in the North Sea is ice class on chart to Statoil AS until May 2019. Following the end of the charter, there are 5 annual extension options. Torill and Hilda Knutsen operates on the Goliat, the first field to be developed in the Barents Sea and it currently represents the world’s most northerly offshore development. It is estimated that the Barents Sea contains nearly half of the discovered oil reserves in the Norwegian shelf. Starting production in 2016, the estimated lifetime in the field is 15 years. It has an estimated recoverable reserves equivalent of about 178 million barrels of oil. Hilda and Torill are 2 or 3 specially designed shuttle tankers built to operate in this arctic environment. Never have shuttle tankers had to make such strict requirements. Our vessels are heavily ventralized allowing the crew and hence the vessels to operate safely in temperatures down to minus 30 degrees Celsius. At the initial 5-year term on both vessels, there are 5 annual extension options, we expect any trading and shipping SPA entity to lift the first of these annual extension options to Hilda in July and Torill in October. Our bankers are certainly relaxed. We have recently completed refinancing on both vessels on significantly better terms than our previous deals. Today, many charterers like this annual option type of agreement, both for the commercial flexibility and because of the imposition of more un-risked financial disclosure requirements, there is a much lower impact in the accounts of the charterer. For the MLP, this mix of short and long charters in the portfolio is useful, because as well as tailoring solutions for the charterers’ wishes, we believe asset prices could firm and the market will tighten in the coming years and given the size of our fleet and therefore its commercial footprint, some measure of contract flexibility is desirable. 4 of our vessels are on long-term debt are chartered till 2023 with Petrobras transporting. These vessels are amongst the youngest in the Petrobras fleet delivering between 2011 and 2012 and are heavily utilized. Dan Sabia and Dan Cisne are unique sized and Fortaleza and Recife Knutsen have shallow drafts with lots of thruster capacity. Delivered in 2013, the Carmen is on charter direct to Repsol Sinopec until 2023. The Ingrid was delivered in December 2013 and is operating in the North Sea on time charter to Standard Marine Tønsberg, a Norwegian subsidiary of ExxonMobil. This will expire in the first quarter of 2024. The charterer has options to extend the charter to 5 1-year periods. The Raquel Knutsen was delivered in March 2015 and operates under a charter that expires in the first quarter of 2025 to Repsol Sinopec in Brazil. There are options to extend until 2030. The Tordis, Vigdis and Lena Knutsen are on 5-year time charters to Brazil Shipping 1, a subsidiary of Shell. These will expire in 2022 and the charter has options to extend with two additional 5-year options, totaling 15 years. The Brasil and Anna Knutsen are on charter to Galp Energia until 2022 with options to extend until 2028. The KNOT fleet has an average remaining fixed contract duration of just under 4 years and an additional 4.7 years on average in charterers option. Whilst we currently have no further dropdown candidate which means no near-term equity requirement given the market outlook, we will expect to be able to build the MLP significant in the coming years. Slide 9, refinancing our fleet. We have a significant refinancing due in 2019 with the current debt secured on Fortaleza, Recife, Windsor, Bodil and Carmen requiring a renewal and a smaller commercial tranche due on the Ingrid towards the end of 2018. We are starting the process and we will look to finalize a new facility around September 2018. This will be secured against all available vessels. Compared to what currently exists, the average margin on the new facility remains in line. With the package as currently presented, we anticipate that we will be able to increase the overall size of the attach credit line by around $20 million. A drawdown of structured debt element will match the borrowing at the end of June giving a small advantage. In summary, Slide 10, KNOT Offshore Partners should be considered as a mobile pipeline business with fully contracted revenue streams and therefore a great fit in the MLP market. Since being awarded its first few contracts in 1984, Knutsen has grown organically for over 30 years as the business has been able to build into a sizable fleet of these tankers, currently 29 units. This quarter report the partnership’s highest ever quarterly performance both in absolute and per unit terms for revenue, profit, EBITDA and distributable cash flow, yet another quarter with strong financial performance and substantial increase in all financial measures, not surprising when set against the acquisition program. 1 vessel Raquel was added into the fleet in March in Q4 2016. 4 vessels were added to the fleet during 2017, Tordis first quarter, Vigdis second quarter, Lena third quarter, and Brasil fourth quarter, a fifth vessel, in a 16 month day, the Anna was added on the March 1, 2018. KNOP has very good access to financing in the last year to finance the growth acquisitions. We have raised both $211 million worth of new equity and $200 million worth of long-term debt with $25 million of credit facilities fall on attractive terms. KNOP is well-placed to complete in future candidates. We have a solid and profitable contract base generated by our modern fleet, which by the end of December have an average age of around 4.75 years. Since the formation of KNOP, we have very high levels of vessel utilization on average around 99.6%. Financially, this translates into high and increasingly predictable revenue, adjusted EBITDA and a discounted cash flow as more vessels are added to the fleet. No one has more expertise in operating the sophisticated shale tankers of KNOT Offshore Partners and we operate these vessels with real expertise. Today, supply is timing and the market is expanding and with tenders back the sponsor expects to build a further drop-down inventory. We have a large and financially strong and supportive sponsor who knows his market as well as anyone. We remain a very attractive value proposition with a quarter distribution of $0.52 equating to around 10% as an annual distribution. Thank you. And that concludes the narrative for the slides. If anybody has any questions, I will be happy to take them.