Capital Product Partners L.P. Announces Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results

30.10.2014

Capital Product Partners L.P., an international diversified shipping company released its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

The Partnership’s net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, was $11.3 million. After taking into account the preferred interest in net income attributable to the unit holders of the 14,223,737 Class B Convertible Preferred Units outstanding as of September 30, 2014, (the “Class B Units” and the “Class B Unitholders”), the result for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 was $0.09 net income per limited partnership unit, which is $0.05 higher than the $0.04 net income per unit from the previous quarter ended June 30, 2014 and $0.26 lower than the $0.35 net income per unit in the third quarter of 2013. The Partnership’s reported net income for the third quarter of 2013 included a $24.8 million gain from bargain purchase related to the purchase value of the M/V ‘Hyundai Prestige’, the M/V ‘Hyundai Privilege’ and the M/V ‘Hyundai Platinum’.


Operating surplus for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 was $29.8 million, which is $2.9 million higher than the $26.9 million from the second quarter of 2014 and $4.0 million higher than the $25.8 million of the third quarter of 2013. The operating surplus adjusted for the payment of distributions to the Class B Unitholders was $26.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014. Operating surplus is a non-GAAP financial measure used by the publicly-traded partnership investment community to measure the financial performance of the Partnership and other master limited partnerships. Please refer to the section “Appendix A” at the end of the press release, for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to net income.


Revenues for the third quarter of 2014 were $48.2 million, compared to $42.7 million in the third quarter of 2013; the increase mainly a result of the increased fleet size of the Partnership.


Total expenses for the third quarter of 2014 were $32.8 million compared to $30.7 million in the third quarter of 2013, the increase being mainly a result of the increased fleet size of the Partnership. The vessel operating expenses for the third quarter of 2014 amounted to $15.2 million for the commercial and technical management of our fleet under the terms of our management agreements, compared to $13.9 million in the third quarter of 2013. The total expenses for the third quarter of 2014 also include $14.4 million in depreciation and amortization, compared to $13.2 million in the third quarter of 2013, as a result of our increased fleet size. General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2014 amounted to $1.9 million compared to $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2013.


Total other expense, net for the third quarter of 2014 amounted to $4.1 million compared to $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2013. The increase was due to higher interest cost as a result of the increased indebtedness of the Partnership compared to the third quarter of 2013.


As of September 30, 2014, the Partners’ capital amounted to $886.6 million, which is $105.2 million higher than the Partners’ capital as of December 31, 2013, which amounted to $781.4 million. This increase primarily reflects:


the issuance of 17,250,000 common units in the quarter ended September 30, 2014, which raised gross proceeds of approximately $181.6 million,
the repurchase and cancellation of 5,950,610 common units from the Partnership’s sponsor, Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. (“Capital Maritime”, or the “Sponsor”),
the difference of $36.4 million between the average fair market value of the five vessels that the Partnership has agreed to acquire from Capital Maritime and the agreed price for these vessels, combined with
the payment of $75.1 million in distributions since December 31, 2013 and
the net income for the nine months period ended September 30, 2014.


As of September 30, 2014, the Partnership’s total debt has decreased by $4.0 million to $579.3 million, compared to total debt of $583.3 million as of December 31, 2013, as a result of the loan amortization in one of our credit facilities.


Issuance of 17,250,000 Common Units and Cancelation of 5,950,610 Common Units


The Partnership announced in September 2014 the issuance and sale of 17,250,000 common units representing limited partnership interests at a public offering price of $10.53 per unit, which included 2,250,000 common units sold as a result of the full exercise of the overallotment option granted to the underwriters of the public offering.


The net proceeds of $173.5 million from the issuance of common units have partly been used to repurchase from Capital Maritime 5,950,610 common units at an aggregate price of approximately $60.0 million, and to cancel such common units. The remaining proceeds will be used (i) to partially fund the approximately $311.5 million aggregate purchase price for three new-build Daewoo 9,160 TEU eco-flex containerships and two new-build Samsung eco medium range product tankers that the Partnership has agreed to acquire from Capital Maritime and (ii) for general partnership purposes.


Conversion of 4,048,484 Class B Preferred Units to Common Units


In September 2014, Capital Maritime converted the 4,048,484 Class B Units that it owned, into an equivalent number of common units, in an effort to better align the interest of the Sponsor with that of the Partnership’s limited partners.


Fleet Developments


The M/T Miltiadis M II (162,397 dwt, ice-class 1A Crude/Product Carrier, built 2006, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd) extended its employment to Petróleos Mexicanos (“PEMEX”), the state- owned Mexican petroleum company, through Subtec S.A. de C.V. of Mexico, under a charter expected to expire in April 2015 at a daily rate increased by $4,815.


The Partnership also announced on September 16, 2014 that it has secured time charter employment for the M/T ‘Avax’, M/T ‘Agisilaos’ and the M/T ‘Alkiviadis’:


The M/T ‘Alkiviadis’ (36,721 dwt, IMO II/III Chemical Product Tanker built 2006, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, South Korea) was employed with CSSA S.A., a fully owned subsidiary of Total S.A., for one year (+/- 30 days) at a gross daily rate of $14,125. CSSA S.A. has the option to extend the charter for an additional year (+/- 30 days) at $15,125 gross per day. Previously the vessel was employed under a time charter to Capital Maritime at a gross rate of $14,250 per day. The new charter commenced in September 2014. This marks the opening of a new time charter relationship of CPLP with CSSA S.A. (Total S.A.).


The M/T ‘Avax’ (47,834 dwt, IMO II/III Chemical Product Tanker built 2007, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, South Korea) is chartered to our sponsor, Capital Maritime, for one year (+/- 30 days) at a gross daily rate of $14,750. Capital Maritime has the option to extend the charter for an additional 12 months (+/- 30 days) at a gross day rate of $15,250. The charter commenced in September 2014. Previously the vessel was employed under a time charter to BP Shipping Ltd. at a gross rate of $14,700 per day.


Finally, the M/T ‘Agisilaos’ (36,760 dwt, IMO II/III Chemical Product Tanker built 2006, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, South Korea) entered into a new charter with Capital Maritime for one year (+/- 30 days) at a gross daily rate of $14,250 including an optional year (+/- 30 days) at a gross daily rate of $14,500. The charter commenced in September 2014. Previously the vessel was employed under a time charter to Capital Maritime at a gross rate of $14,250 per day.


As a result of the above employments, the Partnership’s total weighted average remaining charter duration is 8.5 years (weighted by contracted charter hire) as of September 30, 2014.


Market Commentary


Product tanker spot earnings modestly improved in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the previous quarter, but remained overall at fairly soft levels, as lack of arbitrage opportunities in the Atlantic kept rates under pressure for most of the quarter. However the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic product tanker spot market experienced a marked improvement on the back of increased activity towards the end of the quarter and into the fourth quarter of 2014. The market’s performance in the Eastern Hemisphere was more positive throughout the quarter, as rates experienced some notable gains on the back of strong Asia naphtha demand, while the addition of new refinery capacity in Saudi Arabia has resulted in increased petroleum product exports from the Arabian Gulf.


The product tanker period market remained active during the third quarter of 2014, but rates declined due to the weaker spot market.


On the supply side, the ordering activity for medium range (MR) tankers slowed significantly year-to-date 2014, as most quality shipyards have now exhausted their capacity through 2016. Analysts expect that net fleet growth for product tankers for 2014 will be in the region of 3.9\%, while overall demand for product tankers for the year is estimated to grow at 3.8\%.


The Suezmax spot market improved considerably in the third quarter of 2014, as average earnings more than doubled year-on-year from 2013. Strong gains were registered in the first half of the third quarter of 2014 on the back of increased European and Chinese demand, and due to supply concerns in the Arabian Gulf. As the third quarter progressed, activity and rates gradually retreated as a result of slower Chinese crude imports and seasonally lower demand out of Europe, as European refineries approached the autumn maintenance season.


As a result of the improving spot market compared to a year ago, the Suezmax period market saw more activity and at increased rates, when compared to the same quarter last year.


On the supply side, the Suezmax orderbook is among the lowest in the industry, corresponding to 11.5\% of the current fleet. Suezmax tanker demand is expected to continue growing in 2014, driven by increased crude oil shipments from the Atlantic basin to the Far East and Europe. Overall, industry analysts forecast that Suezmax vessel demand will grow by approximately 2.4\% in the full year 2014, with net fleet growth projected at 0.3\%.


Quarterly Common and Class B Unit Cash Distribution


On October 23, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Partnership declared a cash distribution of $0.2325 per common unit for the third quarter of 2014, in line with management’s annual distribution guidance. The third quarter common unit cash distribution will be paid on November 14, 2014, to unit holders of record on November 7, 2014.


In addition, on October 23, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Partnership declared a cash distribution of $0.21375 per Class B Unit for the third quarter of 2014, in line with the Partnership’s Second Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, as amended (the “Partnership Agreement”). The third quarter Class B Unit cash distribution will be paid on November 10, 2014, to Class B unitholders of record on November 3, 2014.


Appointment of Chief Operating Officer (COO)


In an effort to further strengthen Operational and Commercial activities, the Board of Directors of the Partnership has unanimously approved the appointment of Jerry Kalogiratos as COO of the Partnership.


Management Commentary


Mr. Petros Christodoulou, Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer of the Partnership:


“We are very pleased to have completed a number of important transactions for the Partnership over the course of the third quarter of 2014 which ensure its continued growth potential. Firstly, a substantial majority of our common and Class B unitholders approved an amendment to our Partnership Agreement, which reset the thresholds for the Partnership’s Incentive Distribution Rights (“IDRs”), thus enabling the Partnership to pursue a continuous growth strategy with the attending agreement to acquire, at prices below current market value, three 9,160 TEU eco-flex wide beam container vessels and two eco MR 50,000 dwt product tankers, all with period employment attached. Secondly, the Partnership secured a right of first refusal over six additional eco MR product tankers currently on order by our Sponsor for delivery in 2015 and 2016. Thirdly, the Partnership received approximately $173.5 million in net proceeds from a public offering earlier in the quarter, which after the approximately $60.0 million used to repurchase 5,950,610 common units from Capital Maritime, covered a substantial portion of the funding required for the acquisition of the five vessels from Capital Maritime in 2015. Having agreed and secured finance for these transformative transactions for the Partnership, we believe that the Partnership has entered into a new growth phase, which we expect will provide the basis for reviewing the Partnership’s annual distribution guidance with an eye toward an upward revision in the first quarter 2015, concurrent with the expected timing of the first of five agreed vessel acquisitions from Capital Maritime.”


Mr. Christodoulou concluded: “Lastly, I would like to thank Ioannis Lazaridis, who served as CEO and CFO of the General Partner for over 7 years, for his dedication and invaluable contribution to the growth of the Partnership. We count on his continued contribution to the Partnership through his participation on our board of directors and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”


source:Capital Product Partners

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