Energy, Automobile, EV, Renewable News | Cool Company Ltd. Q3 2023 Business Update

Cool Company Ltd. Q3 2023 Business Update

November 28, 2023

HAMILTON, Bermuda–(BUSINESS WIRE)–This release includes business updates and unaudited interim financial results for the three (“Q3”, “Q3 2023” or the “Quarter”) and nine months (“9M 2023”) ended September 30, 2023 of Cool Company Ltd. (“CoolCo” or the “Company”).

Q3 Highlights and Subsequent Events

Generated total operating revenues of $92.9 million in Q3, compared to $90.3 million for the second quarter of 2023 (“Q2” or “Q2 2023”);
Net income of $39.2¹million in Q3, compared to $44.6¹million for Q2, decrease was primarily due to lower unrealized mark-to-market gains on our interest rate swaps;
Achieved average Time Charter Equivalent Earnings (“TCE”)²of $82,400 per day for Q3, compared to $81,100 per day for Q2;
Adjusted EBITDA² of $62.8 million for Q3, compared to $59.9 million for Q2;
Subsequent to the Quarter, the Company announced that it had entered into sale and leaseback financing arrangements (the “Sale and Leasebacks”) with Huaxia Financial Leasing Co. Ltd for the two state-of-the-art MEGA LNG carriers (the “Newbuilds”);
Declared a dividend for Q3 of $0.41 per share, to be paid to shareholders of record on December 7, 2023.

Richard Tyrrell, CEO, commented:

“In the third quarter, we benefited from strong operational performance, a seasonal uplift on our variable rate contract and the fleet’s fixed-rate, medium- and long-term charter coverage. Additionally, we took measured exposure to the charter market in the form of one vessel that we chose to deploy directly in the spot market while waiting for the right term opportunity. The net result was a sequentially higher TCE level at $82,400 per day. While not currently reaching the levels seen in the months following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, rates in the early fourth quarter have settled in at levels above historic norms for both the industry and for the CoolCo fleet. This provides us upside on legacy contracts as they renew and scope to maintain TCE performance.

“During the second half of 2023, newbuild deliveries have been limited and overall fleet supply has remained well-balanced against demand. The last two newbuilds in the market from independent owners that deliver ahead of CoolCo’s 2024 deliveries have now secured long-term employment, positioning our Newbuilds as both the next in line and some of the only uncommitted newbuilds currently available before 2026. Newbuild pricing has remained elevated relative to historical levels at approximately $260 million per vessel, which along with the current interest rate environment is providing significant support to the long-term charter rates available for newbuilds while also discouraging incremental newbuild orders. Moving forward, a continued strength in gas prices and tightening regulations are expected to put increasing pressure on the large number of remaining steam turbine vessels in the market, likely resulting in heavy scrapping in the coming years.

“As the weather begins to turn colder in the Northern Hemisphere, seasonal support for LNG Carrier demand typically ratchets up. We have thus far seen only limited term chartering activity ahead of the 2023/24 winter market, but with the continued absence of Europe’s traditional supply backstop from Russian pipeline gas and few vessels currently employed as floating storage, the potential for weather events to produce volatility, and thus demand for LNG carriers, is heightened. Ultimately, energy security remains a top priority for many LNG importing nations, and we expect European demand to remain strong and Asian demand to continue its recovery. In the meantime, CoolCo is financially well positioned with $1.5 billion of contracted revenue backlog as of quarter end and built-in near-term earnings growth from its fully financed Newbuilds. We plan to maintain a patient, long-term perspective in our vessel chartering decisions intended to provide attractive returns and well-supported dividends for our shareholders.”

Financial Highlights

The table below sets forth certain key financial information for Q3 2023, Q2 2023, 9M 2023 and the nine month period ended September 30, 2022 (“9M 2022”), split between Successor and Predecessor periods, as defined below.

	Q3 2023	Q2 2023	9M 2023	9M 2022
(in thousands of $, except TCE)	Successor	Successor	Successor	Successor	Predecessor	Total
Time and voyage charter revenues	84,523	82,071	257,761	104,535	37,289	141,824
Total operating revenues	92,901	90,316	281,864	122,723	43,456	166,179
Operating income	48,336	45,484	145,844	62,055	27,728	89,783
Net income¹	39,170	44,646	153,952	54,431	23,244	77,675
Adjusted EBITDA²	62,754	59,894	190,466	75,964	33,473	109,437
Average daily TCE²(to the closest $100)	82,400	81,100	82,400	66,500	57,100	63,800

Note: As noted previously, the commencement of operations and funding of CoolCo and the acquisition of its initial tri-fuel diesel electric (“TFDE”) LNG carriers, The Cool Pool Limited and the shipping and FSRU management organization from Golar LNG Limited (“Golar”) were completed in a phased process. It commenced with the funding of CoolCo on January 27, 2022 and concluded with the acquisition of the LNG carrier and FSRU management organization on June 30, 2022, with vessel acquisitions taking place on different dates over that period. Results for the nine months that commenced January 1, 2022 and ended September 30, 2022 have therefore been split between the period prior to the funding of CoolCo and various phased acquisitions of vessel and management entities (the “Predecessor” period) and the period subsequent to the various phased acquisitions (the “Successor” period). The combined results are not in accordance with U.S. GAAP and consist of the aggregate of selected financial data of the Successor and Predecessor periods. No other adjustments have been made to the combined presentation. We cannot adequately benchmark the operating results for the nine month period ended September 30, 2023 against the previous period reported in our comparative unaudited financial information without combining the applicable Successor and Predecessor periods and do not believe that reviewing the results of the periods in isolation would be useful in identifying trends in or reaching conclusions regarding our overall operating performance.

LNG Market Review

The average Japan/Korea Marker gas price (“JKM”) for the Quarter was $11.81/MMBtu compared to $11.06/MMBtu for Q2 2023. The Quarter commenced with Dutch Title Transfer Facility gas price (“TTF”) at $10.91/MMBtu and quoted TFDE headline spot rates of $69,250 per day. The Quarter concluded with TTF at $12.61/MMBtu and quoted TFDE headline spot rates of $188,750 per day. The TFDE headline spot rate has subsequently fallen to $167,500 per day, however, achieving this rate is very much dependent on vessel position given market illiquidity.

Coming out of the seasonally quieter summer months in the northern hemisphere, the LNG carrier market has continued to be characterized by a relative lack of chartering liquidity. Both trading opportunities that rely on LNG carriers for floating storage capacity and periods of West-East arbitrage have been limited. Despite European gas storage reaching full capacity, concerns about security of supply have supported gas prices, leading to LNG being regasified rather than held in floating storage.

With Russian pipeline gas still off limits to the majority of Europe, importers have a limited buffer to the risk of natural gas demand spikes during winter weather events. In this context, exacerbated by LNG carrier positioning and recent constraints in the Panama Canal, there is an increased potential for volatility, regional arbitrage, and atypical trading and chartering activity if importers find themselves facing a gas shortage.

The ultimate outcome of the upcoming winter market is yet to be seen, but volatility in the LNG market is likely to be a significant feature in the coming months and years. This is especially true as more destination-flexible volumes enter the market, and energy traders play an increasingly prominent role.

Operational Review

CoolCo’s fleet continued to perform well with a Q3 fleet utilization of 97.3% with the remaining covered by a ballast bonus, compared to 100% for the first half of the 2023. There are no drydocks planned for 2023, with the next drydock expected during the second quarter of 2024.

Subsequent to the Quarter, a ship management services customer has decided to transfer up to nine vessels for which CoolCo currently provides technical management to managers that solely provide ship management services over the course of 2024. This is not expected to materially impact CoolCo’s earnings and we expect to incur some immaterial restructuring costs to adjust our operations in light of this change.

Business Development

On June 28, 2023, the Company announced that it had exercised its option to acquire the Newbuilds, Kool Tiger and Kool Panther from affiliates of EPS Ventures Ltd. (“EPS”). The Newbuilds are scheduled to be delivered from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (“HHI”) in Korea in September and December of 2024. The two Newbuilds have been acquired for an amount of approximately $234 million per vessel. The initial option exercise price was $56.9 million per vessel, resulting in a total of $113.8 million paid to EPS on July 3, 2023.

In October 2023, the Company announced that it had entered into Sale and Leasebacks for the Newbuilds with Huaxia Financial Leasing Co. Ltd. The Sale and Leasebacks are on a fixed rate per day basis for 10 years, with extension options, an implied fixed interest rate just under 6% and a minimum loan-to-value of 80%, with potential for additional capacity contingent upon the terms of the charter employment that the Company anticipates securing in advance of the Newbuilds’ deliveries. The Sale and Leaseback financing also offers pre-delivery financing of the Newbuilds.

CoolCo continues to be in discussions with multiple potential charterers seeking employment for the Newbuilds.

Financing and Liquidity

In July 2023, the Company announced that the syndicate of existing lenders in the $570 million bank facility approved a reduction of the interest rate margin from 225 basis points to 220 basis points after the Company achieved the sustainability criteria outlined in the loan agreement.

As of September 30, 2023, CoolCo had cash and cash equivalents of $152.2 million and total short and long-term debt, net of deferred finance charges, amounted to $1,045.3 million. Total Contractual Debt¹ stood at $1,161.4 million, which comprised of $494.8 million in respect of the $570 million bank facility maturing in March 2027, $481.3 million in respect of the $520 million term loan facility, maturing in May 2029, and $185.3 million in respect of the two sale and leaseback facilities maturing in the first quarter of 2025 (Kool Ice and Kool Kelvin).

Overall, the Company’s interest rate on its debt is fixed or hedged for approximately 85% of the notional amount of debt, adjusting for existing cash on hand.

Corporate and Other Matters

As of September 30, 2023, CoolCo had 53,688,462 shares issued and outstanding. Of these, 31,254,390 shares (58.2%) were owned by EPS Ventures Ltd (“EPS”) and 22,434,072 (41.8%) were publicly owned.

In line with the Company’s variable dividend policy, the Board has declared a Q3 dividend of $0.41 per ordinary share. The record date is December 7, 2023 and the dividend will be distributed to DTC-registered shareholders on or around December 15, 2023, 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 20, 2023.

Outlook

Since the end of the Quarter, TTF has increased to $14.51/MMBtu and TFDE spot rates have increased to $167,500 per day.

In the coming years, the global supply of LNG is set to increase by more than 50% based on projects that have already reached Final Investment Decision (“FID”). At least 40 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of capacity have reached FID in 2023 alone, equivalent to approximately 10% of total LNG production in 2022. To understand the current 51% orderbook-to-fleet ratio (by volume), it is critical to recognize that the orderbook has overwhelmingly been built based on long-term contracts to service new liquefaction facilities. The timing and quantity of their deliveries are intended to match the commencement of new production. Furthermore, to the extent that project development delays result in vessels delivering to their charterers before their intended startup time, we would expect to see a dynamic similar to that which has recently prevailed. In such a scenario, the market is sharply divided between charterers seeking to fill interim periods in the spot market and owners such as CoolCo, who are in a position to offer multi-year time charters. Numerous liquefaction projects are still under development in North America, the Middle East, and various other geographies. This supply is expected to meet gas demand arising from the continued strong and widespread desire to decarbonize both through complementing renewables with gas and gas substituting for the vast amounts of coal still being consumed.

Among LNG carriers currently on the water, the older, less efficient vessels in the charter market are expected to face growing competitive pressure over time, particularly among the steam turbine vessels that continue to make up over 30% of the global fleet by volume. The imposition of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) carbon intensity indicator (CII) rules from the beginning of this year, as well as forthcoming European carbon pricing set to come into effect next year, are set to increase the relative advantage of modern, efficient TFDE and 2-stroke tonnage, such as those in the CoolCo fleet.

The limited supply of modern vessels available for time charter employment through the medium-term is concentrated among a small number of owners, including CoolCo. Given the improved bargaining position afforded by a combination of scarcity and concentration, such owners have remained focused primarily on longer-term charters that would bridge the period from now until the next wave of LNG supply is expected to arrive in 2026-2027. A newbuild vessel ordered today would have a lead time of approximately four years and a purchase price exceeding $260 million, limiting the likelihood of unforeseen newbuild tonnage during that period while providing support for the rate benchmark against which the overall fleet is priced.

¹Net income includes mark-to market gain on interest rate swaps amounting to $9.7 million for Q3 2023, $16.7 million for Q2 2023 and $20.4 million for 9M 2023.

²Refer 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. 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. These forward-looking statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “could,” “would,” “predict,” “propose,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to our expectations on chartering and chartering strategy, outlook, expected results and performance, expected drydockings, delivery dates of newbuilds, dividends and dividend policy, expected growth in LNG supply, expected industry and business trends including expected trends in LNG demand and market trends, expected trends in LNG shipping capacity including expected scrapping and expected costs and timing for newbuilds, expected impacts to our restructuring costs due to our adjustments in operations, LNG vessel supply and demand, and factors impacting supply and demand of vessels such as CII and European carbon pricing backlog, rates and expected trends in charter and spot rates, expectations on rates for future charters, contracting, utilization (including expected revenue backlog), LNG vessel newbuild order-book, expected winter demand and volatility statements under “LNG Market Review” and “Outlook”, statements about our ship management business 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:

our limited operating history under the CoolCo name;
changes in demand in the LNG shipping industry, including the market for modern tri-fuel diesel electric (“TFDE”) vessels we acquired from Golar LNG Limited (the “Original Vessels”) and four vessels, comprising of two modern 2-stroke and two TFDE, acquired from Quantum Crude Tankers Ltd, an affiliate of EPS (the “Acquired Vessels”) (the Original Vessels and Acquired Vessels are collectively referred to as the “Vessels”);
general LNG market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values;
our ability to successfully employ our vessels and at attractive rates;
changes in the supply of LNG vessels;
our ability to procure or have access to financing and refinancing;
our continued borrowing availability under our credit facilities and compliance with the financial covenants therein;
potential conflicts of interest involving our significant shareholders;
our ability to pay dividends;
general economic, political and business conditions, including sanctions and other measures;
changes in our operating expenses due to inflationary pressure and volatility of supply and maintenance including fuel or cooling down prices and lay-up costs when vessels are not on charter, drydocking and insurance costs;
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates;
vessel breakdowns and instances of loss of hire;
vessel underperformance and related warranty claims;
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;
compliance with, and our liabilities under, governmental, tax environmental and safety laws and regulations;
information system failures, cyber incidents or breaches in security;
adjustments in our ship management business and related costs;
changes in governmental regulation, tax and trade matters and actions taken by regulatory authorities; and
other risks indicated in the risk factors included in CoolCo’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other filings with 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 three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, 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 three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, 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 28, 2023
Cool Company Ltd.
Hamilton, Bermuda

Questions should be directed to:
c/o Cool Company Ltd – +44 207 659 1111

Richard Tyrrell – Chief Executive Officer	Cyril Ducau (Chairman of the Board)
John Boots – Chief Financial Officer	Antoine Bonnier (Director)
	Mi Hong Yoon (Director)
	Neil Glass (Director)
	Peter Anker (Director)

COOL COMPANY LTD
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

	*For the three months ended*						*For the nine months ended*
	Jul-Sep 2023		Apr-Jun 2023		Jul-Sep 2022		Jan-Sep 2023		Jan-Sep 2022
(in thousands of $)	Successor (Consolidated)		Successor (Consolidated)		Successor (Consolidated)¹		Successor (Consolidated)		Successor (Consolidated)¹		Predecessor (Combined Carve-out)²
Time and voyage charter revenues	84,523		82,071		54,713		257,761		104,535		37,289
Vessel and other management fee revenues	3,860		3,757		3,684		10,993		3,684		6,167
Amortization of intangible assets and liabilities – charter agreements, net	4,518		4,488		7,434		13,110		14,504		—
Total operating revenues	92,901		90,316		65,831		281,864		122,723		43,456

Vessel operating expenses	(18,556	)	(18,835	)	(11,409	)	(55,979	)	(24,781	)	(7,706	)
Voyage, charter hire and commission expenses, net	(1,137	)	(877	)	(855	)	(3,512	)	(1,212	)	(1,229	)
Administrative expenses	(5,936	)	(6,222	)	(3,696	)	(18,797	)	(6,262	)	(5,422	)
Depreciation and amortization	(18,936	)	(18,898	)	(13,447	)	(57,732	)	(28,413	)	(5,745	)
Total operating expenses	(44,565	)	(44,832	)	(29,407	)	(136,020	)	(60,668	)	(20,102	)

Other operating income	—		—		—		—		—		4,374
Operating income	48,336		45,484		36,424		145,844		62,055		27,728

Other non-operating income	—		21		—		42,549		—		—

Financial income/(expense):
Interest income	2,176		2,791		330		6,484		389		4
Interest expense	(20,379	)	(19,863	)	(8,500	)	(59,727	)	(15,172	)	(4,725	)
Gains on derivative instruments	9,689		16,705		9,527		20,393		9,527		—
Other financial items, net	(605	)	(414	)	(868	)	(1,411	)	(2,227	)	622
Financial income/(expense), net	(9,119	)	(781	)	489		(34,261	)	(7,483	)	(4,099	)

Income before income taxes and non-controlling interests	39,217		44,724		36,913		154,132		54,572		23,629
Income taxes, net	(47	)	(78	)	(141	)	(180	)	(141	)	(385	)
Net income	39,170		44,646		36,772		153,952		54,431		23,244
Net (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(340	)	344		(1,091	)	(1,283	)	(1,902	)	(8,206	)
Net income attributable to the Owners of Cool Company Ltd	38,830		44,990		35,681		152,669		52,529		15,038

Net income/(loss) attributable to:
Owners of Cool Company Ltd	38,830		44,990		35,681		152,669		52,529		15,038
Non-controlling interests	340		(344	)	1,091		1,283		1,902		8,206
Net income	39,170		44,646		36,772		153,952		54,431		23,244