Cool Company Ltd. Q3 2024 Business Update

Posted on November 21st, 2024 | Filed under Press Releases

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–This release includes business updates and unaudited interim financial results for the three (“Q3”, “Q3 2024” or the “Quarter”) and nine months (“9M 2024”) ended September 30, 2024 of Cool Company Ltd. (“CoolCo” or the “Company”) (NYSE:CLCO / CLCO.OL).

Q3 Highlights and Subsequent Events

Generated total operating revenues of $82.4 million in Q3, compared to $83.4 million for the second quarter of 2024 (“Q2” or “Q2 2024”), due to three vessels undergoing scheduled drydocking during the Quarter;
Net income of $8.1¹million in Q3, compared to $26.5¹ million for Q2 with the decrease primarily related to a loss in our mark-to-market interest rate swaps;
Achieved average Time Charter Equivalent Earnings (“TCE”)² of $81,600 per day for Q3, compared to $78,400 per day for Q2, primarily due to contribution from one vessel that recently started a higher rate charter;
Adjusted EBITDA² of $53.7 million for Q3, compared to $55.7 million for Q2;
Took delivery of newbuild vessel, Kool Tiger, from shipyard in October which was repositioned in the Atlantic Basin for spot market employment on an interim basis until a long-term charter is secured;
Completed drydocks for two vessels during Q3 2024, taking around 21 days and ahead of schedule. Subsequent to the Quarter, a drydock for another vessel was completed, which included LNGe upgrades;
Obtained commercial bank approval for a refinancing of our $570 million bank facility into a reducing revolving credit facility, which will provide approximately $120 million in additional borrowing capacity, while lowering margin and extending maturity to late 2029;
Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, payable to shareholders of record on December 2, 2024;
Subsequent to Quarter end, the Board approved a share repurchase program of up to $40 million to be executed over a 24-month period.

Richard Tyrrell, CEO, commented:

“Our contracted fleet and efficient dry-docking enabled us to reach the upper end of TCE guidance for the third quarter, despite a soft market backdrop that is expected to impact us in the fourth quarter. While we work to secure their long-term employment, the newly delivered Kool Tiger and the available Kool Glacier are currently subject to weaker rates in the short-term market. However, by design, our backlog from our remaining 10 vessels and one newbuild vessel, set for delivery in January, limits our exposure.

This winter’s market is expected to be impacted by unfavorable short-term trading dynamics and the delivery of orderbook vessels in the fourth quarter ahead of the new LNG supply they are intended to serve. LNG prices for immediate delivery have remained high, encouraging prompt delivery rather than the contango-driven floating storage that is customary at the onset of winter. Additionally, high prices in Europe have closed the East-West arbitrage that would result in a greater number of cargoes shipping to the distant East. While these trading dynamics could quickly reverse, we nevertheless expect vessels delivered ahead of their intended liquefaction projects to be absorbed in stages throughout 2025 as those projects and their associated LNG volumes come online. If the current market has a silver lining, it is the knocking out of the steam-turbine vessels from the fleet. These are falling off charter at a rate of 20-30 per year (in addition to the 92 that have already reached this age), not being extended, and exiting the active market in a way that cannot be easily reversed.

Longer-term, LNG remains the transition fuel of choice with well-established geopolitical credentials that are highly supportive of future development. It is expected that the moratorium on new LNG export projects in the US will soon be relaxed, resulting in material additional shipping demand towards the end of this decade.

CoolCo anticipates that current market conditions will provide growth opportunities, which it intends to seize from a position of strength. We are in the process of refinancing our $570 million bank facility into a reducing revolving credit facility, further increasing our liquidity by approximately $120 million while lowering the margin and extending the maturity from early 2027 to late 2029 (with options for two one-year extensions). After the transaction closes, our nearest debt maturity will come due in 4.5 years.

In connection with our current drydocking cycle (with 3 dry-dockings either finishing or starting during the third quarter), we have also reduced the quarterly dividend payment in line with our variable dividend policy’s parameters and expanded this policy to include a share repurchase program as a capital return alternative, approving a buyback program of up to $40 million over 24 months. By targeting repurchases of shares trading well below our Net Asset Value, and our own assessment of the inherent value and prospects of the business, we aim to capitalize on the current market price of our shares and deliver enhanced value to our shareholders.”

Financial Highlights

The table below sets forth certain key financial information for Q3 2024, Q2 2024, Q3 2023, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (“9M 2024”) and 2023 (“9M 2023”).

(in thousands of $, except average daily TCE)	Q3 2024	Q2 2024	Q3 2023	9M 2024	9M 2023
Time and voyage charter revenues	77,745	76,401	84,523	232,856	257,761
Total operating revenues	82,434	83,372	92,901	253,931	281,864
Operating income	38,948	41,361	48,336	124,406	145,844
Net income ¹	8,124	26,478	39,170	71,414	153,952
Adjusted EBITDA²	53,722	55,679	62,754	167,942	190,466
Average daily TCE²(to the closest $100)	81,600	78,400	82,400	79,000	82,400

LNG and LNG Shipping Market Review

The average Japan/Korea Marker gas price (“JKM”) for the Quarter was $13.10/MMBtu compared to $11.10/MMBtu for Q2 2024; with average JKM for Q4 2024 at $13.31/MMBtu as of November 12, 2024. The Quarter began with Dutch Title Transfer Facility gas price (“TTF”) at $10.40/MMBtu and quoted TFDE headline spot rates of $62,250 per day. By Quarter-end, TTF prices had risen to $12.08/MMBtu, while TFDE headline spot rates had fallen to $46,250 per day. Subsequently, the TFDE headline spot rates have decreased further to a quoted $18,750 per day as of November 12, 2024.

While robust LNG prices would typically support shipping rates in many markets, the lack of associated price volatility has had the opposite effect in this case. Near-term LNG prices in Europe have been bolstered by pipeline gas supply outages, capacity remaining in onshore storage, and security supply concerns related to the remaining Russian gas flowing into Europe. This has led to two main consequences: a lack of contango in the market, which would otherwise limit LNG carrier availability by encouraging charterers to store cargoes on ships at this time of year; and fairly minimal redirection of destination flexible cargoes from the Atlantic Basin to the more distant Pacific Basin.

Despite LNG pricing, capacity for the markets to take on additional cargoes is variable, opening a potential need for shipborne storage, especially in Asia. Following two unusually warm winters, an onset of cold weather would also be anticipated to add impetus to the shipping rates as charterers seek to achieve associated delivery windows.

In addition to these challenging trading dynamics, newbuild deliveries arriving ahead of the LNG supply for which they were ordered are impacting rates. During Q3, 21 ships were delivered, compared to 28 during the first half of 2024. This relative increase in deliveries has not been matched by a corresponding rise in LNG production, which has seen only a 1.2% year-on-year increase as of September 30, 2024. Annual LNG production is forecast at 410 MTPA, with the run-rate increasing by 50 MTPA, or 12%, as numerous projects are expected to come online during 2025, including the following: Corpus Christi (4.2MTPA), Plaquemines LNG (13.3 MTPA), LNG Canada (14 MTPA), Tortu FLNG (2.5MTPA), Energia Costa Azul (2.4 MTPA), North Field Expansion (7.8MTPA) , Eni Congo (2.4 MTPA), and Nigeria LNG (4.2 MTPA).

As of September 30, 2024, there were 233 steam turbine-powered vessels, of which 22 are currently idling, according to Clarksons Research. These idled vessels, mostly built in the 2000s and originally chartered on 20-year contracts as prevalent at the time, are expected to be replaced by more modern tonnage as they redeliver over the next few years. With today’s low prevailing charter rates and customers increasingly disfavoring older, less efficient tonnage, this trend is likely to accelerate, which we expect will lead to nearly all steam turbine vessels being idled and scrapped in the relative near term.

Operational Review

CoolCo’s fleet maintained strong performance, achieving 98% fleet utilization in Q3, the same level as Q2 2024. The minor off-hire period was due to the repositioning of a vessel between charters. Both the Kool Frost and the Kool Ice completed their drydocks ahead of schedule in Q3, with average costs in line with estimates at approximately $5 million per vessel. Additionally, the Kool Husky entered drydock during September which was completed along with upgrades for LNGe specifications ahead of schedule in October. These LNGe upgrades included a high-capacity sub-cooler retrofit, a passive air lubrication system, and various smaller performance enhancements.

Business Development

Chartering activity in the third quarter was subdued and this has extended beyond the end of the Quarter. Long-term charterers have responded by pushing out their requirements in the expectation that nearer-term cargos can be transported with vessels from the spot market.

CoolCo has successfully chartered its one TFDE vessel available in the fourth quarter on a spot voyage and anticipates continuing with similar employment until the vessel enters drydock in early February. This vessel will be upgraded with LNGe specifications and is scheduled to be in the yard for approximately 50 days.

CoolCo’s other available vessel in the quarter is the newly delivered Kool Tiger. She was delivered from the shipyard in October and repositioned to the Atlantic Basin for spot market employment on an interim basis, while pursuing a long-term charter.

Financing and Liquidity

As of September 30, 2024, CoolCo had cash and cash equivalents of $142.4 million and total short and long-term debt, net of deferred finance charges, amounting to $1,063.7 million. Total Contractual Debt² stood at $1,169.2 million, which is comprised of $456.7 million in respect of the $570 million bank facility maturing in March 2027, $442.5 million in respect of the $520 million term loan facility maturing in May 2029, $155.2 million of sale and leaseback financing in respect of the two vessels maturing in the first quarter of 2025 (Kool Ice and Kool Kelvin) and $114.8 million in respect of the Newbuilds’ pre-delivery financing.

Overall, the Company’s interest rate on its debt is currently fixed or hedged for approximately 80% of the notional amount of net debt, adjusting for existing cash on hand.

Subsequent to the end of the Quarter, the Company obtained commercial bank approval for a refinancing of its existing $570 million bank facility into a reducing revolving credit facility. The refinancing will provide approximately $120 million in additional borrowing capacity, while lowering the margin and extending the maturity to late 2029, including two one-year extension options. With this refinancing, the Company’s first debt maturity will come due in 4.5 years.

Corporate and Other Matters

As of September 30, 2024, CoolCo had 53,702,846 shares issued and outstanding. Of these, 31,254,390 shares (58.2%) were owned by EPS Ventures Ltd (“EPS”) and 22,448,456 (41.8%) were owned by other investors in the public markets.

In line with the Company’s variable dividend policy, the Board has declared a Q3 dividend of $0.15 per common share. The record date is December 2, 2024 and the dividend will be distributed to DTC-registered shareholders on or around December 9, 2024, while due to the implementation of the Central Securities Depositories Regulation in Norway, the dividend will be distributed to Euronext VPS-registered shareholders on or around December 13, 2024.

The Board has further approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the Company to conduct buy-backs at times when the Company’s common stock trades at a material discount to its Net Asset Value (“NAV”).

Under the repurchase program, the Company may at its discretion, repurchase outstanding common shares worth up to approximately $40 million over the next 24 months. Repurchases under the share repurchase program may be made from time to time through open market repurchases or through privately negotiated transactions subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other relevant factors. Repurchases are expected to be conducted through a combination of a non-discretionary plan and a discretionary plan during open trading windows in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company is not obligated under the share repurchase program to acquire any particular amount of common shares. The manner, timing, pricing and amount of any repurchases will depend on a number of factors including market conditions, the Company’s financial position and capital requirements, financial conditions, competing uses of cash and other factors. The repurchase program may be initiated, suspended or discontinued at the Company’s discretion at any time and may not be completed in full.

Outlook

With the current charter market weakness being driven by a combination of seasonal factors and a temporary oversupply of vessels that are expected to be absorbed as their related liquefaction projects come online throughout 2025, there remains a material disconnect between conditions and sentiment in the spot and short-term charter markets and those in the more stable, long-term time charter market. Prevailing rates in the long-term market remain within a narrower and materially higher range, reflecting the fundamentals of the LNG shipping sector. While charterers have less interest in near-term deliveries, rates for later start dates remain strong.

In addition to the anticipated 2025 absorption of newbuilds currently operating in the sub-let market, the supply-demand balance of the sector is expected to be materially supported by increasing pressure on legacy steam turbine vessels. Steam turbine vessels, which represent approximately 30% of the global LNG carrier fleet, are increasingly redelivering from long-term initial charters and either idling or struggling to achieve a competitive level of utilization. While this phenomenon is currently in its early stages, such redeliveries are set to sharply ramp in the near-term, at which point many or all of those older vessels would be expected to leave the mainstream trading fleet, whether due to scrapping, conversion into floating infrastructure, or redeployment into niche regional trades.

In contrast to the volatility and uncertainties of the near-term market, we believe longer-term sector prospects remain strongly supported by the pipeline of new liquefaction projects that have already reached Final Investment Decision (FID) and are set to increase the total volume of LNG on the water by more than 50% in the coming years. The sizable current newbuild orderbook consists mainly of vessels secured on a long-term basis to transport these new volumes, with a significant portion of that orderbook destined for charterers who have traditionally been disinclined to maximize vessel utilization through the out-charter/sub-let market. Coupled with the expected departure of steam turbine ships from mainstream trades, net fleet growth in the years ahead is expected to be well matched and potentially outpaced by expected increased demand for modern LNG carrier tonnage. With both an energy security focus and winter market factors capable of absorbing even more tonnage beyond underlying transportation demand, we anticipate that the multi-year outlook remains highly favorable for independent owners of high-quality modern vessels.

¹ Net income includes a mark-to market loss on interest rate swaps amounting to $12.5 million for Q3 2024, compared to gain of $4.1 million for Q2 2024, of which $15.5 million was unrealized loss for Q3 2024 compared to $1.0 million unrealized gain for Q2 2024 .

² Refer to ‘Appendix A’ – Non-GAAP financial measures and definitions, for definitions of these measures and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release and any other written or oral statements made by us in connection with this press release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of and made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities and events that will, should, could, are expected to or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “could,” “would,” “predict,” “propose,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to our outlook, industry trends, expected results, plans to upsize and/or refinance the existing facilities, expectations on LNG prices, chartering and charter rates, chartering plan and expectations, expected drydockings including the cost, timing and duration thereof, and impact of performance enhancements on our vessels, dividends and dividend policy, statements about our share repurchase program, potential growth opportunities in light of current market conditions, expected growth in LNG supply and the impact of new LNG and liquefaction projects on LNG volume, expected industry and business trends and prospects including expected trends in LNG demand and market trends expectations of steam-turbine vessels leaving the market, anticipated rates of net fleet growth, LNG vessel supply and demand factors impacting supply and demand of vessels, rates and expected trends in charter rates, contracting, market outlook and LNG vessel newbuild order-book and expectations that newbuilds will be absorbed in the market in 2025, statements made under “LNG and LNG Shipping Market Review” and “Outlook” and other non-historical matters.

The forward-looking statements in this document are based upon management’s current expectations, estimates and projections. These statements involve significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and factors that are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, and that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements including:

general economic, political and business conditions, including sanctions and other measures;
general LNG market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values;
changes in demand in the LNG shipping industry, including the market for our vessels;
changes in the supply of LNG vessels, including whether older steam vessels leave the market as expected;
our ability to successfully employ our vessels;
changes in our operating expenses, including fuel or cooling down prices and lay-up costs when vessels are not on charter, drydocking and insurance costs;
compliance with, and our liabilities under, governmental, tax, environmental and safety laws and regulations;
risks related to climate change, including climate-change or greenhouse gas related legislation or regulations and the impact on our business from physical climate-change related to changes in weather patterns, and the potential impact of new regulations relating to climate change and the potential impact on the demand for the LNG shipping industry;
changes in governmental regulation, tax and trade matters and actions taken by regulatory authorities;
potential disruption of shipping routes and demand due to accidents, piracy or political events and/or instability, including the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and changes in political leadership in the US and other countries;
vessel breakdowns and instances of loss of hire;
vessel underperformance and related warranty claims;
our ability to procure or have access to financing and refinancing and to complete the upsize and/or refinancing of our facilities;
continued borrowing availability under our credit facilities and compliance with the financial covenants therein;
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates;
potential conflicts of interest involving our significant shareholders;
our ability to pay dividends and repurchase shares;
information system failures, cyber incidents or breaches in security;
amounts repurchased under share repurchase programs; and
other risks indicated in the risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other filings with and submission to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The foregoing factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement included in this report should not be construed as exhaustive. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

As a result, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

Responsibility Statement

We confirm that, to the best of our knowledge, the interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (US GAAP) give a true and fair view of the Company’s consolidated assets, liabilities, financial position and results of operations. To the best of our knowledge, the financial report for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 includes a fair review of important events that have occurred during the period and their impact on the interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the principal risks and uncertainties, and major related party transactions.

November 21, 2024

Cool Company Ltd.

London, UK

Questions should be directed to:

c/o Cool Company Ltd – +44 20 7659 1111

Richard Tyrrell (Chief Executive Officer & Director)	Cyril Ducau (Chairman of the Board)
John Boots (Chief Financial Officer)	Antoine Bonnier (Director)
	Joanna Huipei Zhou (Director)
	Sami Iskander (Director)
	Neil Glass (Director)
	Peter Anker (Director)