HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb. 13, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Knightsbridge Tankers Limited (the "Company") reports net income of $15.9 million and earnings per share of $0.93 for the fourth quarter of 2005. The average daily time charter equivalents ("TCEs") earned by the Company's five VLCCs in the quarter was $58,600 compared with $34,700 in the immediately preceding quarter. This increase reflects the strengthening of the market experienced in the fourth quarter.
During the fourth quarter, the vessel TI Qingdao (formerly named Kensington) was drydocked at a cost of $515,000 and resulting in approximately 13 days offhire. The vessel TI Ningdo (formerly named Hampstead) is scheduled to be drydocked in the first quarter of 2006. Following this, all of the Company's five vessels will have completed their scheduled ten year drydocking and special survey.
The net increase in cash and cash equivalents in the quarter was $1.4 million. The Company generated $12.9 million from operating activities and used $3.0 million to repay the Company's loan and credit facilities and distributed $8.6 million in dividend payments. As of January 31, 2006, the Company has an average cash breakeven rate for its vessels of $16,700 per vessel per day compared to $15,800 at January 31, 2005. This increase is as result of higher general market interest rates and slightly increased operating costs for the Company.
For the financial year ended December 31, 2005 the Company reports annual net income of $44.0 million and earnings per share of $2.57 compared with $85.8 million and $5.02, respectively in 2004. The average daily TCE's earned in 2005 were $47,100 compared with $68,700 in 2004. Net interest expense for the period was $4.3 million (2004: $7.4 million).
The net decrease in cash and cash equivalents in 2005 was $19.0 million. The Company generated cash from operating activities of $70.1 million, used $11.3 million to repay debt and credit facilities and distributed $77.8 million in dividends to shareholders. The total dividends paid in each of 2004 and 2005 were $4.55 per share.
On February 13, 2006, the Board declared a dividend of $0.80 per share. The record date for the dividend is February 23, 2006, ex dividend date is February 21, 2006, and the dividend will be paid on or about March 9, 2006.
THE MARKET
The generally positive trend of the VLCC market witnessed in the end of the third quarter of the year continued with strength well into the fourth quarter. After a brief decline in late September, October started off with steady rates around World Scale ("WS") 100 for the benchmark route from the Arabian Gulf to Japan. From late October until the middle of November, the rates rose dramatically, peaking at WS 226 in the middle of November, the highest rate of the year. Following the peak, the market softened seeing a steady decline until the middle of December, when the decline in rates became steeper towards the traditionally quieter Christmas season. Fixtures were done around WS 120 levels at quarter end, demonstrating the high volatility experienced during the period. The average WS rate from the Arabian Gulf to Japan in the fourth quarter was about WS 156, compared to WS 83 in the third quarter of 2005. This equates to a daily time charter equivalent ("TCE") of approximately $94,000 per day.
The tanker market experienced upwards pressure due to disruptions on the supply side, as tonnage was delayed in the U.S. Gulf, Iraq and the Turkish Straits.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported in February an average OPEC Oil production, including Iraq, of approximately 29.4 million barrels per day during the fourth quarter of the year, a 0.06 million barrels per day or 0.2 percent decrease from the third quarter. OPEC decided at its meeting held 31st January to maintain current production levels.
IEA estimates world oil demand averaged 84.1 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter, a 1.3 percent increase from the third quarter in 2005. IEA further predicts that the average demand for 2006 in total will be 85.1 million barrels per day, or a 2.1 percent growth from 2005, hence showing a firm belief in continued demand growth.
The world trading VLCC fleet totalled 473 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter of 2005, an increase of 2.6 percent over the quarter. No VLCCs were scrapped in the period and 12 were delivered. The total order book is at 92 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter, down from 98 vessels after the third quarter of 2005. This represents 19.5 percent of the current VLCC fleet. A total of six VLCCs were ordered during the quarter.
OUTLOOK
The market to date in 2006 has been volatile but at healthy freight levels. The Board believes that the first quarter will yield satisfactory results albeit at lower levels than the corresponding quarter in 2005. Market participants seem to share an optimistic view for the whole of 2006 and at the moment it is possible to sell freight futures for the year at a level that equals approximately $50,000 per day on VLCCs.
Subsequent to the amendment of the Bye-laws last year, the Board has considered the Company's future strategy. The Board feels that the Company and its shareholders will be best served by seeking to grow the Company's business within the existing business sector. Such growth creates the possibility for a good long term return by a combination of increased dividend payments and value creation. The Board will, in the coming period, evaluate different investment alternatives including available financing sources. The Board will focus on transactions which give the Company the opportunity to dividend a high degree of the operating profit, and will pay due attention to the cyclicality of the industry.
Based on the TCE results achieved so far in the quarter and, subject to no material negative developments for the rest of the quarter, the Board anticipates a maintained or increased dividend payment for the first quarter of 2006 compared to the fourth quarter of 2005.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.
Knightsbridge desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "except," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "will," "may," "should," "expect" "pending and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this document are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
In addition to these important factors, important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market, as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and world wide oil consumption and storage, changes in Knightsbridge's operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, the market for Knightsbridge's vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by Knightsbridge with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
February 13, 2006 The Board of Directors Knightsbridge Tankers Limited Hamilton, Bermuda
Questions should be directed to:
Contact: Ola Lorentzon
+ 46 703 998886
Inger M. Klemp
+ 47 23 11 40 76
KNIGHTSBRIDGE TANKERS LIMITED FOURTH QUARTER REPORT (UNAUDITED)
2004 2005 INCOME STATEMENT 2005 2004
Oct-Dec Oct-Dec (in thousands of $) Jan-Dec Jan-Dec
(audited)
42,564 30,134 Total operating 100,179 135,695
revenues
Operating
expenses
4,152 4,097 Voyage expenses 16,459 14,240
3,113 4,322 Ship operating 17,211 9,868
expenses
218 178 Administrative 988 1,114
expenses
4,304 4,315 Depreciation 17,120 17,219
11,787 12,912 Total operating 51,778 42,441
expenses
Other
income/(expenses)
185 140 Interest income 959 449
(1,042) (1,489) Interest expense (5,244) (7,877)
(4) (21) Other financial (149) 13
items
(861) (1,370) Net other (4,434) (7,415)
income/(expenses)
29,916 15,852 Net income (loss) 43,967 85,839
17,100 17,100 Average number of 17,100 17,100
ordinary shares
outstanding
$ 1.75 $ 0.93 Earnings per $ 2.57 $ 5.02
Share ($)
BALANCE SHEET 2005 2004
(in thousands of $) Dec 31 Dec 31
ASSETS
Short term
Cash and cash equivalents
(including restricted cash) 22,634 41,653
Other current assets 15,096 22,008
Long term
Vessels and equipment, net 285,070 301,500
Deferred charges and other
long-term assets 359 392
Total assets 323,159 365,553
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Short term
Short term interest bearing debt 11,200 11,309
Other current liabilities 7,726 4,974
Long term
Long term interest bearing debt 109,200 120,400
Stockholders' equity 195,033 228,870
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity 323,159 365,553
2004 2005 STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS 2005 2004
Oct-Dec Oct-Dec (in thousands of $) Jan-Dec Jan-Dec
(audited)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
29,916 15,852 Net income (loss) 43,967 85,839
Adjustments to reconcile net
income to net cash provided by
operating activities
4,304 4,332 Depreciation and amortisation 17,186 17,219
16 Other 110
(8,916) (7,273) Change in operating assets and 8,975 3,420
liabilities
25,320 12,911 Net cash provided by operating 70,128 106,588
activities
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
- - Compensation on vessel - 690
redelivery
- - Net cash provided by investing - 690
activities
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
- - Proceeds from long-term debt, - 139,556
net of fees paid
(2,691) (2,955) Repayments of long-term debt (11,342) (133,688)
(17,100) (8,550) Dividends paid (77,805) (77,805)
(19,791) (11,505) Net cash used in financing (89,147) 71,937
activities
5,529 1,406 Net increase/(decrease) in cash (19,019) 35,341
and cash equivalents
36,124 21,228 Cash and cash equivalents at 41,653 6,312
start of period
41,653 22,634 Cash and cash equivalents
at end of period 22,634 41,653