UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 20-F
¨ | REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007 |
OR
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
¨ | SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Date of event requiring this shell company report
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 001-31236
TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) |
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrants name into English) |
Bermuda |
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
367 Syngrou Avenue 175 64 P. Faliro Athens, Greece 011-30210-9407710 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered | |||
Common Shares, par value $1.00 per share | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
As of December 31, 2007, the registrant had 38,059,142 Common Shares outstanding.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No ¨
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes ¨ No x
Note Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP x International Financial Reporting Standards ¨ Other ¨
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. Item 17 ¨ Item 18 x
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements based on beliefs of our management. Any statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 20-F that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events, including:
| general economic and business conditions; |
| global and regional political conditions; |
| acts of terrorism and other hostilities; |
| availability of crude oil and petroleum products; |
| demand for crude oil and petroleum products and substitutes; |
| actions taken by OPEC and major oil producers and refiners; |
| competition in the marine transportation industry; |
| developments in international trade; |
| international trade sanctions; |
| changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns; |
| our ability to find new charters for our vessels at attractive rates; |
| capital expenditures; |
| meeting our requirements with customers; |
| tanker supply and demand; |
| regulations; |
| interest rate movements; and |
| foreign exchange |
The words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, may, plan, project, predict, should and will and similar expressions as they relate to us are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views and assumptions and all forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect our future financial results are discussed more fully under Key Information Risks Factors as well as elsewhere in the Annual Report on Form 20-F and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We caution readers of this Annual Report not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited is a Bermuda company that is referred to in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, together with its subsidiaries, as Tsakos Energy Navigation, the Company, we, us, or our. This report should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto, which are included in Item 18 to this report.
Item 1. | Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers |
Not Applicable.
Item 2. | Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable |
Not Applicable.
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Item 3. | Key Information |
Selected Consolidated Financial Data and Other Data
The following table presents selected consolidated financial and other data of Tsakos Energy Navigation for each of the five years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2007. The table should be read together with Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects. The selected consolidated financial data of Tsakos Energy Navigation is a summary of, is derived from and is qualified by reference to, our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) and have been audited for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. (Ernst & Young), independent registered public accounting firm.
Per share data has been adjusted to give effect to our two for one share split which became effective on November 14, 2007.
Our audited consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007, and the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2006 and 2007, together with the notes thereto, are included in Item 18. Financial Statements and should be read in their entirety.
Selected Consolidated Financial and Other Data
(Dollars in thousands, except for share and per share amounts and fleet data)
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
Income Statement Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Voyage revenues |
$ | 241,365 | $ | 318,278 | $ | 295,623 | $ | 427,654 | $ | 500,617 | ||||||||||
Expenses |
||||||||||||||||||||
Commissions |
11,296 | 13,065 | 11,604 | 15,441 | 17,976 | |||||||||||||||
Voyage expenses |
48,152 | 42,109 | 35,970 | 69,065 | 72,075 | |||||||||||||||
Charter hire expense |
13,145 | 24,341 | 24,317 | 24,461 | 15,330 | |||||||||||||||
Vessel operating expenses (1) |
49,949 | 53,900 | 52,945 | 76,095 | 108,356 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation |
32,877 | 35,377 | 35,697 | 59,058 | 81,567 | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of deferred dry-docking costs |
7,835 | 8,753 | 6,583 | 4,857 | 3,217 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for doubtful receivables |
700 | 933 | 40 | | | |||||||||||||||
Management fees |
4,470 | 5,328 | 5,460 | 7,103 | 9,763 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
2,415 | 3,099 | 3,631 | 3,510 | 4,382 | |||||||||||||||
Management incentive award |
| 2,500 | 2,500 | 3,500 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||
Staff compensation expense |
| | | 216 | 5,670 | |||||||||||||||
Foreign currency losses (gains) |
389 | 185 | (181 | ) | 279 | 691 | ||||||||||||||
Amortization of deferred gain on sale of vessels |
(541 | ) | (3,167 | ) | (3,168 | ) | (3,168 | ) | (3,168 | ) | ||||||||||
Gain on sale of vessels |
| (13,608 | ) | (34,540 | ) | (38,009 | ) | (68,944 | ) | |||||||||||
Operating income |
70,677 | 145,463 | 154,765 | 205,246 | 249,702 | |||||||||||||||
Other expenses (income): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of non-operating vessels |
| (7,757 | ) | (10,765 | ) | | | |||||||||||||
Gain on sale of shares in subsidiary |
| | | (25,323 | ) | | ||||||||||||||
Interest and finance costs, net |
12,372 | 10,135 | 11,247 | 42,486 | 77,382 | |||||||||||||||
Interest and investment income |
(387 | ) | (761 | ) | (7,360 | ) | (7,164 | ) | (13,316 | ) | ||||||||||
Share of profits of joint-venture |
(602 | ) | | | | | ||||||||||||||
Other, net |
242 | 556 | (112 | ) | (1,159 | ) | (924 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total other expenses (income), net |
11,625 | 2,173 | (6,990 | ) | 8,840 | (63,142 | ) | |||||||||||||
Minority Interest |
| | | (2 | ) | (3,389 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 59,052 | $ | 143,290 | $ | 161,755 | $ | 196,404 | $ | 183,171 | ||||||||||
Per Share Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings per share, basic |
$ | 1.72 | $ | 3.77 | $ | 4.09 | $ | 5.15 | $ | 4.81 | ||||||||||
Earnings per share, diluted |
$ | 1.72 | $ | 3.76 | $ | 4.09 | $ | 5.15 | $ | 4.79 | ||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares, basic |
34,268,694 | 38,069,454 | 39,544,540 | 38,127,692 | 38,075,859 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares, diluted |
34,375,718 | 38,161,950 | 39,573,692 | 38,141,052 | 38,234,079 | |||||||||||||||
Dividends per common share, paid |
$ | 0.35 | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.975 | $ | 1.175 | $ | 1.575 | ||||||||||
Cash Flow Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
84,184 | 153,606 | 146,903 | 214,998 | 190,611 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(91,837 | ) | (92,663 | ) | (108,969 | ) | (829,326 | ) | (375,641 | ) |
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2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
54,792 | (30,834 | ) | (9,087 | ) | 643,126 | 191,910 | |||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 86,813 | $ | 116,922 | $ | 145,769 | $ | 174,567 | $ | 181,447 | ||||||||||
Cash, restricted |
| 1,453 | 271 | 4,347 | 6,889 | |||||||||||||||
Investments |
| 10,000 | 32,121 | 14,045 | 1,000 | |||||||||||||||
Advances for vessels under construction |
33,420 | 121,260 | 150,428 | 261,242 | 169,739 | |||||||||||||||
Vessels, net book value |
654,662 | 636,274 | 711,362 | 1,458,647 | 1,900,183 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets |
825,507 | 938,969 | 1,089,174 | 1,969,875 | 2,362,776 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term debt, including current portion |
452,620 | 365,164 | 433,519 | 1,133,661 | 1,389,943 | |||||||||||||||
Total stockholders equity |
314,569 | 519,521 | 607,186 | 755,273 | 854,540 | |||||||||||||||
Fleet Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Average number of vessels (2) |
25.7 | 27.3 | 26.1 | 33.8 | 41.7 | |||||||||||||||
Number of vessels (at end of period) (2) |
27.0 | 26.0 | 25.0 | 37.0 | 43.0 | |||||||||||||||
Average age of fleet (in years) (3) |
6.5 | 7.5 | 6.3 | 5.9 | 5.6 | |||||||||||||||
Earnings capacity days (4) |
9,386 | 9,988 | 9,527 | 12,335 | 15,213 | |||||||||||||||
Off-hire days (5) |
663 | 241 | 335 | 322 | 523 | |||||||||||||||
Net earnings days (6) |
8,723 | 9,747 | 9,192 | 12,013 | 14,690 | |||||||||||||||
Percentage utilization (7) |
92.9 | % | 97.6 | % | 96.5 | % | 97.4 | % | 96.6 | % | ||||||||||
Average TCE per vessel per day (8) |
$ | 22,639 | $ | 28,722 | $ | 28,645 | $ | 30,154 | $ | 29,421 | ||||||||||
Vessel operating expenses per ship per day (9) |
$ | 5,946 | $ | 6,286 | $ | 6,534 | $ | 6,979 | $ | 7,669 | ||||||||||
Vessel overhead burden per ship per day (10) |
$ | 734 | $ | 1,094 | $ | 1,217 | $ | 1,162 | $ | 1,565 |
(1) | Vessel operating expenses are costs that vessel owners typically bear, including crew wages and expenses, vessel supplies and spares, insurance, tonnage tax, routine repairs and maintenance, and other direct operating costs. |
(2) | Includes chartered vessels, but excludes vessels from the Companys joint venture, LauriTen Ltd., which existed between October 2002 and August 2003. |
(3) | The average age of our fleet is the age of each vessel in each year from its delivery from the builder, weighted by the vessels deadweight tonnage (dwt) in proportion to the total dwt of the fleet for each respective year. |
(4) | Earnings capacity days are the total number of days in a given period that we own or control vessels. |
(5) | Off-hire days are days related to repairs, dry-dockings and special surveys, vessel upgrades and initial positioning after delivery of new vessels. |
(6) | Net earnings days are the total number of days in any given period that we own vessels less the total number of off-hire days for that period. |
(7) | Percentage utilization represents the percentage of earnings capacity days that the vessels were actually employed, i.e., earnings capacity days less off-hire days. |
(8) | The shipping industry uses time charter equivalent, or TCE, to calculate revenues per vessel in dollars per day for vessels on voyage charters. The industry does this because it does not commonly express charter rates for vessels on voyage charters in dollars per day. TCE allows vessel operators to compare the revenues of vessels that are on voyage charters with those on time charters. For vessels on voyage charters, we calculate TCE by taking revenues earned on the voyage and deducting the voyage costs and dividing by the actual number of voyage days. For vessels on bareboat charter, for which we do not incur either voyage or operation costs, we calculate TCE by taking revenues earned on the charter and adding a representative amount for vessel operating expenses. TCE differs from average daily revenue earned in that TCE is based on revenues before commissions and does not take into account off-hire days. |
(9) | Vessel operating expenses per ship per day represents vessel operating expenses divided by the earnings capacity days of vessels incurring operating expenses. Earnings capacity days of vessels on bareboat or chartered-in have been excluded. |
(10) | Vessel overhead burden per ship per day is the total of management fees, management incentive awards, staff compensation expense and general and administrative expenses divided by the total number of earnings capacity days. |
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Capitalization and Indebtedness
The table below sets forth our consolidated capitalization at December 31, 2007, as adjusted for the following events through March 31, 2008:
| our incurrence of $24.3 million of new long-term debt under an existing credit facility to partially finance the purchase of two new vessels, and debt repayments totalling $10.9 million; |
| our repurchase of our common shares amounting to $8.3 million; and |
| the decrease in the net value of interest rate swaps by $28.0 million. |
This table should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, and Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects, included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
As of December 31, 2007 | ||||||||||||
Actual | Adjustments | Adjusted | ||||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||
In thousands of U.S. Dollars |
||||||||||||
Long-term secured debt obligations (including current portion) |
$ | 1,389,943 | $ | 13,356 | $ | 1,403,299 | ||||||
Negative fair value of interest rate swaps, net |
27,620 | 28,030 | 55,650 | |||||||||
Shareholders equity: |
||||||||||||
Common shares, $1.00 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 38,059,142 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2007 |
38,059 | (266 | ) | 37,793 | ||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
273,036 | (1,641 | ) | 271,395 | ||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) |
(23,775 | ) | (21,423 | ) | (45,198 | ) | ||||||
Retained earnings |
567,220 | (12,961 | ) | 554,259 | ||||||||
Total stockholders equity |
854,540 | (36,291 | ) | 818,249 | ||||||||
Total capitalization |
$ | 2,272,103 | $ | 5,095 | $ | 2,277,198 | ||||||
Reasons For the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not Applicable.
Risk Factors
Risks Related To Our Industry
The tanker industry is highly dependent upon the crude oil and petroleum products industries.
The employment of our vessels is driven by the availability of and demand for crude oil and petroleum products, the availability of modern tanker capacity and the scrapping, conversion or loss of older vessels. Historically, the world oil and petroleum markets have been volatile and cyclical as a result of the many conditions and events that affect the supply, price, production and transport of oil, including:
| increases and decreases in the demand for crude oil and petroleum products; |
| availability of crude oil and petroleum products; |
| demand for crude oil and petroleum product substitutes, such as natural gas, coal, hydroelectric power and other alternate sources of energy that may, among other things, be affected by environmental regulation; |
| actions taken by OPEC and major oil producers and refiners; |
| global and regional political and economic conditions; |
| developments in international trade; |
| international trade sanctions; |
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| environmental factors; |
| weather; and |
| changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns. |
The economic expansion in the U.S., Chinese and Indian economies, and the improved performance of the Japanese economy, with their impact on Pacific Rim and Latin American activity, maintained in 2007, albeit at a slower pace, the strong growth in demand for crude oil and oil products seen since in the years 2003 to 2006. The strong demand for crude oil and oil products was also supported by seasonal and environmental factors and the need to restore depleted oil inventories in the U.S. and the other major Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development importing countries. However, if the production of and demand for crude oil and petroleum products slow in the future, a corresponding decrease in shipments of these products could have an impact on the employment of our vessels and the charter rates that they command. In particular, the charter rates that we earn from our spot charters and contracts of affreightment and time-charters with profit-share may decline. In addition, overbuilding of tankers has, in the past, led to a decline in charter rates. If the supply of tanker capacity increases and the demand for tanker capacity does not, the charter rates paid for our vessels could materially decline. The resulting decline in revenues could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and profitability.
The global tanker industry is highly competitive.
We operate our fleet in a highly competitive market. Our competitors include owners of VLCCs, Suezmax, Aframax, Panamax, Handymax and Handysize tankers. These competitors include other independent tanker companies, as well as national and independent oil companies, some of whom have greater financial strength and capital resources than we do. Competition in the tanker industry is intense and depends on price, location, size, age, condition, and the acceptability of the available tankers and their operators to potential charterers.
Terrorist attacks and international hostilities can affect the tanker industry, which could adversely affect our business.
An attack like those of September 11, 2001 or longer-lasting wars or international hostilities, including those currently in Afghanistan and Iraq could damage the world economy, adversely affect the availability of and demand for crude oil and petroleum products and negatively affect our investment and our customers investment decisions over an extended period of time. We conduct our vessel operations internationally, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by changing economic, political and governmental conditions in the countries and regions where our vessels are employed. Moreover, we operate in a sector of the economy that is likely to be adversely impacted by the effects of political instability, terrorist or other attacks, war or international hostilities.
As our current time charters expire, new charters at attractive rates may not be available.
In 2007, we derived approximately 62% of our revenues from time charters, as compared to 42% in 2006. As the current period charters of our vessels expire, it may not be possible to re-charter these vessels on a period basis at attractive rates. If attractive period charter opportunities are not available, we would seek to charter our vessels on the spot market. Charter rates in the spot market are subject to significant fluctuations, and tankers traded in the spot market may experience substantial off-hire time.
If our exposure to the spot market or contracts of affreightment increases, our revenues could suffer and our expenses could increase.
The spot market for crude oil and petroleum product tankers is highly competitive. As a result of any increased reliance on the spot market, we may experience a lower utilization of our fleet, leading to a decline in operating revenue. Moreover, to the extent our vessels are employed in the spot market, both our revenue from vessels and our operating costs, specifically, our voyage expenses will be more significantly impacted by increases in the cost of bunkers (fuel). Unlike time charters in which the charterer bears all of the bunker costs, in spot market voyages we bear the bunker charges as part of our voyage costs. As a result, while historical increases in bunker charges are factored into the prospective freight rates for spot market voyages periodically announced by WorldScale Association (London) Limited and similar organizations, increases in bunker charges in any given period could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and results of operations for the period in which the increase occurs. In addition, to the extent we employ our vessels pursuant to contracts of affreightment or under pooling arrangements, the rates that we earn from the charterers under those contracts may be subject to reduction based on market conditions, which could lead to a decline in our operating revenue.
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Oil industry developments, competition among tanker operators and evolving regulatory requirements will compel us to renew our fleet and make ongoing capital expenditures.
During the down cycle in the oil industry in late 1998 and 1999, the oil industry experienced consolidation with the announcement or completion of several combinations among major oil companies, as well as consolidations involving tanker operators. As a result, the major oil companies have focused their chartering requirements with a smaller number of shipping companies that possess large and diversified modern fleets that are compliant with the increasingly stringent environmental regulations applicable to tanker operators.
To address these developments, we have expanded and intend to further renew and grow our fleet by pursuing the acquisition or construction of additional vessels or fleets or tanker companies that are complementary to our existing operations, assuming we have the financial resources and debt capacity to do so. In addition, we are exploring opportunities in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market to expand our exposure in the overall energy sector. However, the worlds leading tanker and LNG shipyards have little or no additional capacity until the middle of 2011 and we may not be able to purchase or construct additional vessels, other than those currently on order, on commercially acceptable terms. If we seek to expand through the acquisition of other tanker or LNG companies, we face numerous challenges, including:
| difficulties in the assimilation of acquired operations; |
| diversion of managements attention from other business concerns; |
| assumption of potentially unknown material liabilities or contingent liabilities of acquired companies; |
| competition from other potential acquirers, some of which have greater financial resources; |
| impairment of acquired assets, which would reduce future reported earnings; and |
| potential loss of clients or key employees of acquired companies. |
We cannot assure you that we will be able to integrate successfully the operations, personnel, services or vessels that we might acquire in the future, and our failure to do so could adversely affect our profitability.
We are subject to regulation and liability under environmental laws that could require significant expenditures and affect our cash flows and net income.
Our business and the operation of our vessels are subject to extensive international, national and local environmental and health and safety laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which our vessels operate, as well as in the country or countries of their registration. In addition, major oil companies chartering our vessels impose, from time to time, their own environmental and health and safety requirements. We have incurred significant expenses in order to comply with these regulations and requirements, including the costs of ship modifications and changes in operating procedures, additional maintenance and inspection requirements, contingency arrangements for potential spills, insurance coverage and full implementation of the new security-on-vessels requirements which came into effect on July 1, 2004.
In particular, certain international, national and local laws and regulations require, among other things, double hull construction for new tankers, as well as the retrofitting or phasing-out of single hull tankers based on each vessels date of build, gross tonnage (a unit of measurement for the total enclosed spaces within a vessel) and/or hull configuration. We have sold all our vessels which were not double hull, except for the Vergina II which has been converted to a double hull vessel. All of the newbuildings we have contracted to purchase are double-hulled. However, because environmental regulations may become stricter, future regulations may limit our ability to do business, increase our operating costs and/or force the early retirement of our vessels, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
International, national and local laws imposing liability for oil spills are also becoming increasingly stringent. Some impose joint, several, and in some cases, unlimited liability on owners, operators and charterers regardless of fault. We could be held liable as an owner, operator or charterer under these laws. In addition, under certain circumstances, we could also be held accountable under these laws for the acts or omissions of Tsakos Shipping & Trading (Tsakos Shipping) or Tsakos Energy Management, companies that provide technical and commercial management services for our vessels and us, or others in the management or operation of our vessels. Although we currently maintain, and plan to continue to maintain, for each of our vessels pollution liability coverage in the amount of $1billion per incident (the maximum amount available), liability for a catastrophic spill could exceed the insurance coverage we have available, and result in our having to liquidate assets to pay claims. In addition, we may be required to contribute to funds established by regulatory authorities for the compensation of oil pollution damage or provide financial assurances for oil spill liability to regulatory authorities.
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Maritime disasters and other operational risks may adversely impact our reputation, financial condition and results of operations.
The operation of ocean-going vessels has an inherent risk of maritime disaster, environmental mishaps, cargo and property losses or damage and business interruptions caused by, among others:
| mechanical failure; |
| human error; |
| labor strikes; |
| adverse weather conditions; |
| vessel off hire periods; |
| regulatory delays; and |
| political action, civil conflicts, terrorism and piracy in countries where vessel operations are conducted, vessels are registered or from which spare parts and provisions are sourced and purchased. |
Any of these circumstances could adversely affect our operations, result in loss of revenues or increased costs and adversely affect our profitability and our ability to perform our charters. The events of September 11, 2001 led to increases in our insurance premium rates and the implementation of special war risk premiums for certain trading routes. The more recent natural disasters, such as the hurricanes striking the United States, have led to yet further increases. For 2007-2008, our P&I club insurance premiums increased by up to 10% for most of our vessels, but for a few vessels the increase was between 24% and 41%. Our hull and machinery insurance premiums also increased in most cases by less than 10%, but in certain cases by 20%. Increases of up to 12.5% for P&I club insurance premiums and up to 10% for hull and machinery insurance premiums are expected for 2008-2009. In addition, war risk coverage for vessels operating in certain geographical areas has doubled, but this type of coverage represents a relatively small portion of our total insurance premiums. These increases in insurance rates would adversely affect our profitability.
Our vessels could be arrested at the request of third parties.
Under general maritime law in many jurisdictions, crew members, tort claimants, vessel mortgagees, suppliers of goods and services and other claimants may lien a vessel for unsatisfied debts, claims or damages. In many jurisdictions a maritime lien holder may enforce its lien by arresting a vessel through court process. In some jurisdictions, under the extended sister ship theory of liability, a claimant may arrest not only the vessel with respect to which the claimants maritime lien has arisen, but also any associated vessel under common ownership or control. While in some jurisdictions which have adopted this doctrine, liability for damages is limited in scope and would only extend to a company and its ship owning subsidiaries, we cannot assure you that liability for damages caused by some other vessel determined to be under common ownership or control with our vessels would not be asserted against us.
Our vessels may be requisitioned by governments without adequate compensation.
A government could requisition or seize our vessels. Under requisition for title, a government takes control of a vessel and becomes its owner. Under requisition for hire, a government takes control of a vessel and effectively becomes its charterer at dictated charter rates. Generally, requisitions occur during periods of war or emergency. Although we would be entitled to compensation in the event of a requisition, the amount and timing of payment would be uncertain.
Risks Related To Our Business
We depend on Tsakos Energy Management and Tsakos Shipping to manage our business.
We do not have the employee infrastructure to manage our operations and have no physical assets except our vessels and the newbuildings that we have under contract. We have engaged Tsakos Energy Management to perform all of our executive functions. Tsakos Energy Management directly provides us with financial, accounting and other back-office services, including acting as our liaison with the New York Stock Exchange and the Bermuda Stock Exchange. Tsakos Energy Management, in turn, oversees and subcontracts commercial management, day-to-day
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fleet technical management, such as crewing, chartering and vessel purchase and sale functions, to Tsakos Shipping, one of the worlds largest independent tanker managers. As a result, we depend upon the continued services of Tsakos Energy Management and Tsakos Energy Management depends on the continued services of Tsakos Shipping.
We derive significant benefits from our relationship with the Tsakos Group, including purchasing discounts to which we otherwise would not have access. We would be materially adversely affected if either Tsakos Energy Management or Tsakos Shipping becomes unable or unwilling to continue providing services for our benefit at the level of quality they have provided such services in the past and at comparable costs as they have charged in the past. If we were required to employ a ship management company other than Tsakos Energy Management, we believe our access to world-class charterers could be diminished, our management costs could increase and our profitability could be adversely affected.
Tsakos Energy Management and Tsakos Shipping are privately held companies and there is little or no publicly available information about them.
The ability of Tsakos Energy Management and Tsakos Shipping to continue providing services for our benefit will depend in part on their own financial strength. Circumstances beyond our knowledge or control could impair their financial strength and, because both of these companies are privately held, it is unlikely that information about their financial strength would become public unless these companies began to default on their obligations. As a result, an investor in our common shares might have little advance warning of problems affecting Tsakos Energy Management or Tsakos Shipping, even though these problems could have a material adverse effect on us.
Tsakos Energy Management has the right to terminate its management agreement with us, and Tsakos Shipping has the right to terminate its contract with Tsakos Energy Management.
Tsakos Energy Management may terminate its management agreement with us at any time upon one years notice. In addition, if even one director were to be elected to our board without having been recommended by our existing board, Tsakos Energy Management would have the right to terminate the management agreement on 10 days notice. If Tsakos Energy Management terminates the agreement for this reason, we would be obligated to pay Tsakos Energy Management the present discounted value of all payments that would have otherwise become due under the management agreement until June 30 in the tenth year following the date of the termination plus the average of the incentive awards previously paid to Tsakos Energy Management multiplied by ten. A termination as of December 31, 2007 would have resulted in a payment of approximately $119 million.
Tsakos Energy Managements contract with Tsakos Shipping may be terminated by either party upon six months notice and would terminate automatically upon termination of our management agreement with Tsakos Energy Management.
Our ability to pursue legal remedies against Tsakos Energy Management and Tsakos Shipping is very limited.
In the event Tsakos Energy Management breached its management agreement with us, we could bring a lawsuit against Tsakos Energy Management. However, because we are not ourselves party to a contract with Tsakos Shipping, it may be impossible for us to sue Tsakos Shipping for breach of its obligations under its contract with Tsakos Energy Management, and Tsakos Energy Management may have no incentive to sue Tsakos Shipping. Tsakos Energy Management is a company with no substantial assets and no income other than the income it derives under our management agreement. Therefore, it is unlikely that we would be able to obtain any meaningful recovery if we were to sue Tsakos Energy Management or Tsakos Shipping on contractual grounds.
Tsakos Shipping manages other tankers and could experience conflicts of interests in performing obligations owed to us and the operators of the other tankers.
Tsakos Shipping manages three VLCC tankers, two double-hull and one single-hull, that operate under long term charters, plus four other tankers aged over twenty years, in addition to the vessels that it manages for us. These vessels are operated by the same group of Tsakos Shipping employees that manage our vessels, and Tsakos Shipping has advised us that its employees manage these vessels on an ownership neutral basis; that is, without regard to who owns them. Due to their age and design, the tankers that are managed by Tsakos Shipping primarily serve a different market than the market served by our vessels, however, it is possible that Tsakos Shipping might allocate charter or spot opportunities to other Tsakos Shipping vessels when our vessels are unemployed, or could allocate more lucrative opportunities to its other vessels. It is also possible that Tsakos Shipping could in the future agree to manage more tankers that directly compete with us.
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Clients of Tsakos Shipping may acquire vessels that compete with our fleet.
Tsakos Shipping has given us a right of first refusal on any opportunity to purchase a tanker which is 10 years of age or younger or contract to construct a tanker that is referred to or developed by Tsakos Shipping. Were we to decline any opportunity offered to us, or if we do not have the resources or desire to accept it, other clients of Tsakos Shipping might decide to accept the opportunity. In this context, Tsakos Shipping clients have ordered four modern panamax tankers for delivery in 2008 and which could be in competition with our fleet and be faced with conflicts of interest between their own interests and their obligations to us.
Our chief executive officer has affiliations with Tsakos Energy Management and Tsakos Shipping which could create conflicts of interest.
Nikolas Tsakos is the president, chief executive officer and a director of our company and the director and sole shareholder of Tsakos Energy Management. Nikolas Tsakos is also the son of the founder of Tsakos Shipping. These responsibilities and relationships could create conflicts of interest that could result in our losing revenue or business opportunities or increase our expenses.
Our commercial arrangements with Tsakos Energy Management and Argosy may not always remain on a competitive basis.
We pay Tsakos Energy Management a management fee for its services pursuant to our management agreement. We also place our hull and machinery insurance, increased value insurance and loss of hire insurance through Argosy Insurance Company, Bermuda, a captive insurance company affiliated with Tsakos Shipping. We believe that the management fees that we pay Tsakos Energy Management compare favorably with management compensation and related costs reported by other publicly traded shipping companies and that our arrangements with Argosy are structured at arms-length market rates. Our board reviews publicly available data periodically in order to confirm this. However, we cannot assure you that the fees charged to us are or will continue to be as favorable to us as those we could negotiate with third parties and our board could determine to continue transacting business with Tsakos Energy Management and Argosy even if less expensive alternatives were available from third parties.
We depend on our key personnel.
Our future success depends particularly on the continued service of Nikolas Tsakos, our president and chief executive officer and the sole shareholder of Tsakos Energy Management. The loss of Mr. Tsakoss services or the services of any of our key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business. We do not maintain key man life insurance on any of our executive officers.
Because the market value of our vessels may fluctuate significantly, we may incur losses when we sell vessels which may adversely affect our earnings.
The fair market value of tankers may increase or decrease depending on any of the following:
| general economic and market conditions affecting the tanker industry; |
| supply and demand balance for ships within the tanker industry; |
| competition from other shipping companies; |
| types and sizes of vessels; |
| other modes of transportation; |
| cost of newbuildings; |
| governmental or other regulations; |
| prevailing level of charter rates; and |
| technological advances. |
We have a policy of considering the disposal of tankers periodically and in particular after they reach 20 years of age. If we sell tankers at a time when tanker prices have fallen, the sale may be at less than the vessels carrying value on our financial statements, with the result that we will incur a loss.
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In addition, accounting pronouncements require that we periodically review long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. An impairment loss for an asset held for use should be recognized when the estimate of undiscounted cash flows, excluding interest charges, expected to be generated by the use of the asset is less than its carrying amount. Measurement of the impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset as provided by third parties. In this respect, management regularly reviews the carrying amount of our vessels in connection with the estimated recoverable amount for each vessel. Such reviews may from time to time result in asset write-downs that could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. No such impairment loss has been incurred since 2002.
If Tsakos Shipping is unable to attract and retain skilled crew members, our reputation and ability to operate safely and efficiently may be harmed.
Our continued success depends in significant part on the continued services of the officers and seamen whom Tsakos Shipping provides to crew our vessels. The market for qualified, experienced officers and seamen is extremely competitive and has grown more so in recent periods as a result of the growth in world economies and other employment opportunities. Although Tsakos Shipping has a contract with a manning agency and sponsors various marine academies in the Philippines and has opened a manning office in Odessa, Ukraine, we cannot assure you that Tsakos Shipping will be successful in its efforts to recruit and retain properly skilled personnel at commercially reasonable salaries. Any failure to do so could adversely affect our ability to operate cost-effectively and our ability to increase the size of our fleet.
Labor interruptions could disrupt our operations.
Substantially all of the seafarers and land based employees of Tsakos Shipping are covered by industry-wide collective bargaining agreements that set basic standards. We cannot assure you that these agreements will prevent labor interruptions. In addition, some of our vessels operate under flags of convenience and may be vulnerable to unionization efforts by the International Transport Federation and other similar seafarer organizations which could be disruptive to our operations. Any labor interruption or unionization effort which is disruptive to our operations could harm our financial performance.
The contracts to purchase our newbuildings present certain economic and other risks.
We currently have contracts to construct six newbuildings that are scheduled for delivery during 2008, 2009 and 2010. If available, we may also order additional newbuildings. During the course of construction of a vessel, we are typically required to make progress payments. While we have refund guarantees from banks to cover defaults by the shipyards and our construction contracts would be saleable in the event of our payment default, we can still incur economic losses in the event that we or the shipyards are unable to perform our respective obligations. Shipyards periodically experience financial difficulties.
The profitability of our newly delivered LNG vessel will be subject to market volatility.
The LNG market is still in its infancy and could fail to develop into a mature state for profitable LNG shipping investments. In such market scenarios, we could fail to dispose of our newbuilding LNG carriers. If we decide to exit this sector, for whatever reason, we might have to sell the vessel at a price below its cost and subsequently suffer an economic loss or might be forced to operate the vessel at unprofitable or breakeven levels. The vessel is currently on charter until June 2008. If the charter market experiences a downturn on the expiry of the charter we might not be able to secure new employment or be obliged to accept charters for rates materially below those originally factored into our investment evaluation.
The effectiveness of attaining accretive charters for the LNG carrier would be determined by the reliability and experience of third-party technical managers.
We have subcontracted all technical management aspects of our LNG operation to Hyundai Merchant Marine for a fee. Neither Tsakos Energy Management nor Tsakos Shipping has the dedicated personnel for running LNG operations nor can we guarantee that they will employ an adequate number of employees in the future. As such, we are currently totally dependent on the reliability and effectiveness of third-party managers for whom we can not guarantee that their employees, both onshore and at-sea are adequate in their assigned role. We can not guarantee the quality of their services or the longevity of the management contract.
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Our earnings may be adversely affected if we do not successfully employ our tankers.
We seek to employ our tankers on time charters, contracts of affreightment, tanker pools and in the spot market in a manner that will optimize our earnings. As of December 31, 2007, 39 of our tankers were contractually committed to period employment (including contract of affreightment). The remaining terms of 35 of these period charters range from one month to six years. Although these period charters provide steady streams of revenue, our tankers committed to period charters may not be available for spot voyages during an upswing in the tanker industry cycle, when spot voyages may be more profitable. If we cannot re-charter these vessels on long-term period charters or trade them in the spot market profitably, our results of operations and operating cash flow may suffer.
Our significant investment in ice-class vessels might not prove successful.
We have made significant investments in building a solid presence in the ice-class tanker market through both building and acquiring ice strengthened vessels. This type of vessel commonly commands a premium to build and/or acquire to compensate for the ice-class features of the hull and engine. The versatility of these vessels allows them to operate not only in ice-bound routes, but also in conventional tanker routes. Usually rates for ice bound trades are at a premium to conventional tanker trades for the period the vessel operates in such demanding conditions. Ice-class vessels do not commonly operate throughout the year in such harsh environments. We can not guarantee that our vessels will operate in ice-class trades for meaningful periods and/or earn rates with premiums to compensate for the investment made. If our vessels fail to earn any material and sustained ice-class premium, their revenues would derive from conventional routes which we can not guarantee will be adequate to financially support our ice-class investment.
If the charterer under one of our bareboat charters is unable to perform under the charter, we may lose revenues.
We currently have a bareboat charter contract for the Millennium and time charters with profit share for four other vessels with Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), a member of the Hyundai group of companies. The financial difficulties that the Hyundai group has faced in the past may still affect HMMs ability to perform under these charters, which are scheduled to expire between 2009 and 2013. This could result in the loss of significant revenue. In addition, we may expand this chartering relationship with HMM to other vessels in our fleet which would ultimately increase our exposure to that particular charterer.
We may not be able to finance all of the vessels we currently have on order.
We have not finalized financing arrangements to satisfy the balance of the purchase price due, approximately $193 million, for four of the six vessels that we have on order, Hull S-1349, Hull S-1350 and Hull S-1356 (three Aframaxes for delivery in 2009), and Hull S-1360 (an Aframaxes for delivery at the beginning of 2010). We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain additional financing for these newbuildings on terms that are favorable to us or at all.
If we are unable to finance further installments for the newbuildings we have on order, we may attempt to sell the uncompleted vessels to a buyer who would assume the remainder of the contractual obligations. The amount we would receive from the buyer would depend on market circumstances and could result in a deficit over the advances we had paid to the date of sale plus capitalized costs. Alternatively, we may default on the contract, in which case the builder would sell the vessel and refund our advances, less any amounts the builder would deduct to cover all of its own costs. We would be obliged to cover any deficiency arising in such circumstances.
Apart from the delay in receiving the refund of advances and the possible payment of any deficiencies, the direct effect on our operations of not acquiring the vessel would be to forego any revenues and related vessel operating cash flows.
We may sell one or more of our newbuildings.
While we intend to take delivery of and operate all six newbuildings we currently have on order, attractive opportunities may arise to sell one or more of these vessels while they are under construction or after they are delivered. Our board of directors will review any such opportunity and may conclude that the sale of one or more vessels would be in our best interests. If we sell a vessel, we would receive the proceeds from the sale, repay any indebtedness we had incurred relating to such newbuilding and we would no longer be responsible for further installments under the relevant newbuilding contract. We would, however, forego any revenues and operating cash flows associated with such newbuilding.
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We will face challenges as we diversify and position our fleet to meet the needs of our customers.
We may need to diversify our fleet to accommodate the transportation of forms of energy other than crude oil and petroleum products in response to industry developments and our customers needs. Accordingly, the Company is continually exploring opportunities in other areas such as the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) market and the greater oil onshore / offshore sector. As the composition of our fleet continues to change, we may not have adequate experience in transporting these other forms of energy. In addition, if the cost structure of a diversified fleet that is able to transport other forms of energy differs significantly from the cost structure of our current fleet, our profitability could be adversely affected.
We may not have adequate insurance.
In the event of a casualty to a vessel or other catastrophic event, we will rely on our insurance to pay the insured value of the vessel or the damages incurred. We believe that we maintain as much insurance on our vessels, through insurance companies, including Argosy, a related party company and P&I clubs as is appropriate and consistent with industry practice. However, particularly in view of the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere, we cannot assure you that this insurance will remain available at reasonable rates, and we cannot assure you that the insurance we are able to obtain will cover all foreseen liabilities that we may incur, particularly those involving oil spills and catastrophic environmental damage. In addition, we may not be able to insure certain types of losses, including loss of hire, for which insurance coverage may become unavailable.
We are subject to funding calls by our protection and indemnity clubs, and our clubs may not have enough resources to cover claims made against them.
Our subsidiaries are indemnified for legal liabilities incurred while operating our vessels through membership in P&I clubs. P&I clubs are mutual insurance clubs whose members must contribute to cover losses sustained by other club members. The objective of a P&I club is to provide mutual insurance based on the aggregate tonnage of a members vessels entered into the club. Claims are paid through the aggregate premiums of all members of the club, although members remain subject to calls for additional funds if the aggregate premiums are insufficient to cover claims submitted to the club. Claims submitted to the club may include those incurred by members of the club, as well as claims submitted to the club from other P&I clubs with which our P&I club has entered into interclub agreements. We cannot assure you that the P&I clubs to which we belong will remain viable or that we will not become subject to additional funding calls which could adversely affect our profitability.
The insolvency or financial deterioration of any of our insurers or reinsurers would negatively affect our ability to recover claims for covered losses on our vessels.
We have placed our hull and machinery, increased value and loss of hire insurance with Argosy, a captive insurance company affiliated with Tsakos Shipping. Argosy reinsures the insurance it underwrites for us with various reinsurers, however, the coverage deductibles of the reinsurance policies periodically exceed the coverage deductibles of the insurance policies Argosy underwrites for us. Argosy, therefore, would be liable with respect to the difference between those deductibles in the event of a claim by us to which the deductibles apply. Although these reinsurers have credit ratings ranging from BBB to AA, we do not have the ability to independently determine our insurers and reinsurers creditworthiness or their ability to pay on any claims that we may have as a result of a loss. In the event of insolvency or other financial deterioration of our insurer or its reinsurers, we cannot assure you that we would be able to recover on any claims we suffer.
Our degree of leverage and certain restrictions in our financing agreements impose constraints on us.
We incur substantial debt to finance the acquisition of our tankers. At December 31, 2007, our debt to capital ratio was 62% (debt / debt plus equity), with $1.39 billion in long-term debt outstanding. Assuming known and estimated debt financing arrangements for our future newbuilding deliveries and based on our current forecasts of income for 2008 and 2009, we expect this ratio to be at approximately 60% by the end of December 2009, and declining thereafter. We are required to apply a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations, before interest payments, to the payment of principal and interest on this debt. In 2007, approximately 36% of cash flow derived from operations was dedicated to debt service, excluding debt prepayment upon the sale of vessels. This limits the funds available for working capital, capital expenditures, dividends and other purposes. Our degree of leverage could have important consequences for us, including the following:
| a substantial decrease in our net operating cash flows or an increase in our expenses could make it difficult for us to meet our debt service requirements and force us to modify our operations; |
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| we may be more highly leveraged than our competitors, which may make it more difficult for us to expand our fleet; and |
| any significant amount of leverage exposes us to increased interest rate risk and makes us vulnerable to a downturn in our business or the economy generally. |
In addition, our financing arrangements, which we secured by mortgages on our ships, impose operating and financial restrictions on us that restrict our ability to:
| incur additional indebtedness; |
| create liens; |
| sell the capital of our subsidiaries or other assets; |
| make investments; |
| engage in mergers and acquisitions; |
| make capital expenditures; |
| repurchase common shares; and |
| pay cash dividends. |
We have a holding company structure which depends on dividends from our subsidiaries and interest income to pay our overhead expenses and otherwise fund expenditures consisting primarily of advances on newbuilding contracts and the payment of dividends to our shareholders. As a result, restrictions contained in our financing arrangements and those of our subsidiaries on the payment of dividends may restrict our ability to fund our various activities.
We selectively enter into derivative contracts, which can result in higher than market interest rates and charges against our income.
In the past seven years we have selectively entered into derivative contracts both for investment purposes and to hedge our overall interest expense. Our board of directors has reviewed and approved all our derivative terms as being within reasonable limits and reasonable in light of our particular investment strategy at the time we entered into each such derivative contract.
Loans advanced under our secured credit facilities are, generally, advanced at a floating rate based on LIBOR. Our financial condition could be materially adversely affected at any time that we have not entered into interest rate hedging arrangements to hedge our interest rate exposure and the interest rates applicable to our credit facilities and any other financing arrangements we may enter into in the future, including those we enter into to finance a portion of the amounts payable with respect to newbuildings. Moreover, even if we have entered into interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments for purposes of managing our interest rate exposure, our hedging strategies may not be effective and we may incur substantial loss.
The Company has a risk management policy and a risk committee to oversee all our derivative transactions. It is our policy to monitor our exposure to business risk, and to manage the impact of changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rate movements and bunker prices on earnings and cash flows through derivatives. Derivative contracts are executed when management believes that the action is not likely to significantly increase overall risk. Entering into swaps and derivatives transactions is inherently risky and presents various possibilities for incurring significant expenses. The derivatives strategies that we employ in the future may not be successful or effective, and we could, as a result, incur substantial additional interest costs. See Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk for a description of how our current interest rate swap arrangements have been impacted by recent events.
The appraised values of our ships could deteriorate as the result of a variety of factors, resulting in our inability to comply with covenants under our loan agreements.
The loan agreements we use to finance our ships require us not to exceed specified debt-to-asset ratios. Our only significant assets are our ships, which are appraised each year. The appraised value of a ship fluctuates depending on a variety of factors including the age of the ship, its hull configuration, prevailing charter market conditions, supply and demand balance for ships and new and pending legislation.
We cannot guarantee that a deterioration of our asset values will not result in defaults in the future, nor can we guarantee that we will be able to negotiate a waiver in the event of a default. A default under one of our loan
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agreements could trigger cross-acceleration or cross-default provisions in our other loan agreements, which in turn could result in all or a substantial amount of our debt becoming due at a time when we could not satisfy our obligations.
If we default under any of our loan agreements, we could forfeit our rights in our vessels and their charters.
All of our vessels and related collateral are individually pledged as security to the respective lenders under our loan agreements. Default under any of these loan agreements, if not waived or modified, would permit the lenders to foreclose on the mortgages over the vessels and the related collateral, and we could lose our rights in the vessels and their charters.
Our vessels may suffer damage and we may face unexpected dry-docking costs which could affect our cash flow and financial condition.
If our vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a dry-docking facility. The costs of drydock repairs can be both substantial and unpredictable. We may have to pay dry-docking costs that our insurance does not cover. This would result in decreased earnings.
A significant amount of our 2007 revenues was derived from five customers and a significant amount of our 2006 revenues was derived from four customers, and our revenues could decrease significantly if we lost these customers.
In 2007, approximately 16% of our revenues came from Petrobras, approximately 12% of our revenues came from Houston Refining (formerly Lyondell/Citgo), 11% from NESTE, 10% from Flopec and approximately 9% of our revenues from HMM. Our inability or failure to continue to employ our vessels at rates comparable to those earned from these customers, the loss of these customers or our failure to charter these vessels otherwise in a reasonable period of time or at all could adversely affect our operations and performance. Although our customers generally include leading national, major and other independent oil companies and refiners, we are unable to assure you that future economic circumstances will not render one or more of such customers unable to pay us amounts that they owe us, or that these important customers will not decide to contract with our competitors or perform their shipping functions themselves.
Approximately 12% of our revenue is derived from our customers that conduct a significant amount of business in Venezuela.
Houston Refining (formerly Lyondell/Citgo), accounted for approximately 12% in 2007 and 13% in 2006 of our revenue. This company conducts a significant amount of business in Venezuela. Venezuela has experienced economic difficulties and social and political changes in recent years and we cannot say whether there will be further unrest or political upheavals in Venezuela. If we were to lose this customer, or if its exports were curtailed, or if this customer was to become unable to perform their contractual obligations to us, our earnings would be adversely affected.
If we were to be subject to tax in jurisdictions in which we operate, our financial results would be adversely affected.
Our income is not presently subject to taxation in Bermuda, which currently has no corporate income tax. We believe that we should not be subject to tax under the laws of various countries other than the United States in which we conduct activities or in which our customers are located. However, our belief is based on our understanding of the tax laws of those countries, and our tax position is subject to review and possible challenge by taxing authorities and to possible changes in law or interpretation. We cannot determine in advance the extent to which certain jurisdictions may require us to pay tax or to make payments in lieu of tax. In addition, payments due to us from our customers may be subject to tax claims.
Under United States federal tax rules applicable to international shipping income derived by qualifying non-United States corporations we will be eligible for a special statutory exemption if we satisfy the so-called publicly-traded test set forth in Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Under Treasury regulations interpreting the publicly-traded test that, if persons (other than certain investment companies) each of whom, either directly or under applicable attribution rules, owns five percent or more of our common shares own in the aggregate fifty percent or more of our common shares, we could satisfy the publicly-traded test only if a sufficient portion of our shareholders were qualifying shareholders (generally, shareholders that are individuals residents in foreign countries which grant an exemption from tax that is equivalent to the exemption provided in Section 883 of the
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Internal Revenue Code) and complied with potentially onerous documentation requirements. Although we believe we currently satisfy all requirements for exemption, it is possible that we may not satisfy the publicly-traded test for our current taxable year or any future taxable year. If we were to fail to qualify for the statutory exemption, we expect that we would be subject to United States taxation at a rate of 4% levied on half of our gross shipping income attributable to transportation beginning or ending in the United States or, for example, United States.
If our U.S. source income from international transportation did not qualify for exemption from U.S. federal taxation in 2007 or prior years, we would have a liability for tax, together with interest and penalties.
In 2001 and prior years, in order for our U.S. source income from international transportation to qualify for exemption for U.S. federal income taxation, more than 50% of our shares, by value, must have been owned, directly or indirectly, by individuals resident in qualified foreign countries (generally, countries that provide an exemption from tax equivalent to that provided in Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code). While we believe that the ownership of our common shares was such that this requirement was satisfied, our common shares were listed on the Oslo Børs and many of our common shares were held by nominees or entities. Thus, we have not established that we will be able to demonstrate the required level of direct or indirect ownership by individuals resident in qualified foreign jurisdictions. If it were determined that the ownership requirement was not satisfied for a given year, we would be liable for U.S. federal income tax at a 4% rate on our gross U.S. source income from international transportation for such years, together with related interest and penalties. If it were determined that the ownership requirement was not satisfied for 2002 or a subsequent year, and we were unable to establish that we satisfied a publicly-traded test similar to that described above for such year, we would be liable for U.S. federal income tax at a 4% rate on our gross U.S. source income from international transportation for such year, together with related interest and penalties.
If we were treated as a passive foreign investment company, a U.S. investor in our common shares would be subject to disadvantageous rules under the U.S. tax laws.
If we were treated as a passive foreign investment company (a PFIC) in any year, U.S. holders of our common shares would be subject to unfavorable U.S. federal income tax treatment. We do not believe that we will be a PFIC in 2008 or in any future year. However, PFIC classification is a factual determination made annually and we could become a PFIC if the portion of our income derived from bareboat charters or other passive sources were to increase substantially. Moreover, the IRS may disagree with our position that time and voyage charters do not give rise to passive income for purposes of the PFIC rules. Accordingly, we can provide no assurance that we will not be treated as a PFIC for 2008 or for any future year. Please see Tax ConsiderationsUnited States Federal income tax considerationsPassive Foreign Investment Company Considerations herein for a description of the PFIC rules.
Dividends we pay with respect to our common shares to United States holders would not be eligible to be taxed at reduced U.S. tax rates applicable to qualifying dividends if we were a passive foreign investment company or under other circumstances.
For taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 2011, distributions on the common shares of non-U.S. companies that are treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and are received by individuals generally will be eligible for taxation at capital gain rates if the common shares with respect to which the dividends are paid are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. This treatment will not be available to dividends we pay, however, if we qualify as a PFIC for the taxable year of the dividend or the preceding taxable year, or to the extent that (i) the shareholder does not satisfy a holding period requirement that generally requires that the shareholder hold the shares on which the dividend is paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins 60 days before the date on which the shares become ex-dividend with respect to such dividend, (ii) the shareholder is under an obligation to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property or (iii) such dividend is taken into account as investment income under Section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. We do not believe that we qualified as a PFIC for our last taxable year and, as described above, we do not expect to qualify as a PFIC for our current or future taxable years. Legislation has been proposed in the United States Congress which, if enacted in its current form, would likely cause dividends on our shares to be ineligible for the preferential tax rates described above. There can be no assurance regarding whether, or in what form, such legislation will be enacted.
Because some of our expenses are incurred in foreign currencies, we are exposed to exchange rate risks.
The charterers of our vessels pay us in U.S. dollars. While we incur most of our expenses in U.S. dollars, we have in the past incurred expenses in other currencies, most notably the Euro. In 2007, Euro expenses accounted for
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approximately 20% of our total operating expenses. Declines in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Euro, or the other currencies in which we incur expenses, would increase the U.S. dollar cost of paying these expenses and thus would adversely affect our results of operations.
The Tsakos Holdings Foundation and the Tsakos family can exert considerable control over us, which may limit your ability to influence our actions.
As of December 31, 2007, companies controlled by the Tsakos Holdings Foundation or affiliated with the Tsakos Group own approximately 36% of our common shares. The Tsakos Holdings Foundation is a Liechtenstein foundation whose beneficiaries include persons and entities affiliated with the Tsakos family, charitable institutions and other unaffiliated persons and entities. The council which controls the Tsakos Holdings Foundation consists of five members, two of whom are members of the Tsakos family. As long as the Tsakos Holdings Foundation and the Tsakos family beneficially own a significant percentage of our common shares, each will have the power to influence the election of the members of our board of directors and the vote on substantially all other matters, including significant corporate actions.
Risks Related To Our Common Shares
We may not be able to pay cash dividends on our common shares as intended.
In October of 2007, we paid a cash dividend of $0.825 per common share in relation to the year 2007. In April 2008, we paid a further dividend of $0.90 per common share relating to 2007. Subject to the limitations discussed below, we currently intend to continue to pay regular cash dividends on our common shares of between one-quarter and one-half of our annual net income for the year in respect of which the dividends are paid. However, there can be no assurance that we will pay dividends or as to the amount of any dividend. The payment and the amount will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend, among other things, on available cash balances, anticipated cash needs, our results of operations, our financial condition, and any loan agreement restrictions binding us or our subsidiaries, as well as other relevant factors. For example, if we earned a capital gain on the sale of a vessel or newbuilding contract, we could determine to reinvest that gain instead of using it to pay dividends. Depending on our operating performance for that year, this could result in no dividend at all despite the existence of net income, or a dividend that represents a lower percentage of our net income. Any payment of cash dividends could slow our ability to renew and expand our fleet, and could cause delays in the completion of our current newbuilding program.
Because we are a holding company with no material assets other than the stock of our subsidiaries, our ability to pay dividends will depend on the earnings and cash flow of our subsidiaries and their ability to pay us dividends. In addition, the financing arrangements for indebtedness we incur in connection with our newbuilding program may further restrict our ability to pay dividends. In the event of any insolvency, bankruptcy or similar proceedings of a subsidiary, creditors of such subsidiary would generally be entitled to priority over us with respect to assets of the affected subsidiary. Investors in our common shares may be adversely affected if we are unable to or do not pay dividends as intended.
Provisions in our Bye-laws, our management agreement with Tsakos Energy Management and our shareholder rights plan would make it difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if such a transaction is beneficial to our shareholders.
Our Bye-laws provide for a staggered board of directors, blank check preferred stock, super majority voting requirements and other anti-takeover provisions, including restrictions on business combinations with interested persons and limitations on the voting rights of shareholders who acquire more than 15% of our common shares. In addition, Tsakos Energy Management would have the right to terminate our management agreement and seek liquidated damages if a board member were elected without having been approved by the current board. Furthermore, our shareholder rights plan authorizes issuance to existing shareholders of substantial numbers of preferred share rights and common shares in the event a third party seeks to acquire control of a substantial block of our common shares. These provisions could deter a third party from tendering for the purchase of some or all of our shares. These provisions may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes of control of the ownership and management of our company, even if such transactions would have significant benefits to our shareholders.
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Our shareholder rights plan could prevent you from receiving a premium over the market price for your common shares from a potential acquirer.
Our board of directors has adopted a shareholder rights plan that authorizes issuance to our existing shareholders of substantial preferred share rights and additional common shares if any third party acquires 15% or more of our outstanding common shares or announces its intent to commence a tender offer for at least 15% of our common shares, in each case, in a transaction that our board of directors has not approved. The existence of these rights would significantly increase the cost of acquiring control of our company without the support of our board of directors because, under these limited circumstances, all of our shareholders, other than the person or group that caused the rights to become exercisable, would become entitled to purchase our common shares at a discount. The existence of the rights plan could therefore deter potential acquirers and thereby reduce the likelihood that you will receive a premium for your common shares in an acquisition. See Description of Capital StockShareholder Rights Plan for a description of our shareholder rights plan.
Because we are a foreign corporation, you may not have the same rights as a shareholder in a U.S. corporation.
We are a Bermuda corporation. Our Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws and the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda govern our affairs. While many provisions of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda resemble provisions of the corporation laws of a number of states in the United States, Bermuda law may not as clearly establish your rights and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors as do statutes and judicial precedent in some U.S. jurisdictions. In addition, apart from one non-executive director, our directors and officers are not resident in the United States and all or substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, investors may have more difficulty in protecting their interests and enforcing judgments in the face of actions by our management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a U.S. jurisdiction.
Item 4. | Information on the Company |
Tsakos Energy Navigation is a leading provider of international seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services. In 2007 it also started to transport liquefied natural gas. It was incorporated in 1993 as an exempted company under the laws of Bermuda under the name Maritime Investment Fund Limited. In 1996, Maritime Investment Fund Limited was renamed MIF Limited. Our common shares were listed in 1993 on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE) and the Bermuda Stock Exchange although we de-listed from the OSE in March 2005 due to limited trading. The Companys shares are no longer actively traded on the Bermuda exchange. In July 2001, the Companys name was changed to Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited to enhance our brand recognition in the tanker industry, particularly among charterers. In March 2002, we completed an initial public offering of the common shares in the United States and our common shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TNP. Since incorporation, the Company has owned and operated 61 vessels and has sold 20 vessels (of which three have been chartered back. One of these, Olympia, was repurchased at the end of its charter and sold again after a further one years trading).
Our principal offices are located at 367 Syngrou Avenue, 175 64 P. Faliro, Athens, Greece. Our telephone number at this address is 011 30 210 9407710. Our website address is www.tenn.gr.
Business Overview
Tsakos Energy Navigation owns a fleet of modern tankers providing world-wide marine transportation services for national, major and other independent oil companies and refiners under long, medium and short-term charters. We believe that we have established a reputation as a safe, cost efficient operator of modern and well-maintained tankers. We also believe that these attributes, together with our strategy of proactively working towards meeting our customers chartering needs, has contributed to our ability to attract leading charterers as customers and to our success in obtaining charter renewals.
Our technical management is undertaken, by Tsakos Shipping and Trading (Tsakos Shipping) one of the worlds largest independent tanker managers, based on the number of tankers under management.
Tsakos Shipping has a total of 65 operating vessels under management (with a further 18 to be delivered, six of which are vessels under construction for Tsakos Energy Navigation, as of March 31, 2008). This enables Tsakos Shipping to achieve significant economies of scale when procuring supplies and underwriting insurance. These economies of scale, as well as Tsakos Shippings ability to spread their operating costs over a larger vessel base, have resulted in cost savings to us.
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Tsakos Shippings established operations have allowed us to manage the growth of our fleet without having to integrate additional resources. The size of our operating fleet increased from 231,103 dwt at inception to approximately 4.7 million dwt at March 31, 2008 (including two chartered-in vessels) with no significant adverse impact on the organization.
We have access to Tsakos Shippings network offices around the world and a pool of over 3,000 available seafarers, which is supported by Tsakos Shippings sponsorship of naval academies in the Philippines, and a Tsakos Shipping manning office in Odessa, Ukraine.
As of March 31, 2008, our fleet consisted of 44 vessels (including two chartered-in vessels) of which three are VLCC tankers, ten are suezmax tankers, nine are aframax tankers (including three LR2 aframax product carriers), seven are panamax tankers, six are handymax MR2 product carriers, eight are handysize MR1 product carriers and one is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier. Twenty-three of the operating vessels are of ice-class specification. This fleet diversity, which includes a number of sister ships, provides us with the opportunity to be one of the more versatile operators in the market. The current fleet totals approximately 4.7 million dwt, all of which is double-hulled. This compares favorably to the worldwide average of 25% single-hulled dwt as of March 31, 2008. As of March 31, 2008, the average age of the tankers in our current operating fleet was 5.6 years, compared with the industry average of 10.6 years.
In addition to the vessels currently operating in our fleet, we are building an additional six vessels. In the first quarter of 2008, the Company took delivery of two panamaxes, Selecao and Socrates. Furthermore, the Company sold its 1999 aframax tanker Olympia, which it had repurchased in January, 2007. In the last quarter of 2008, the Company expects to take delivery of two aframax tankers of DNA design. In 2009, the Company expects delivery of a further three aframax tankers of DNA design and in early 2010, one further aframax tanker of DNA design. The resulting fleet (assuming no sales) would comprise 50 vessels with 5.3 million dwt, which will include six vessels built between 1990 and 1998 of 1.1million dwt.
We believe the following factors distinguish us from other public tanker companies:
| Modern, high-quality, fleet. We own a fleet of modern, high-quality tankers that are designed for enhanced safety and low operating costs. Since inception, we have committed to investments of over $3.1 billion, including investments of approximately $2.4 billion in newbuilding constructions, in order to maintain and improve the quality of our fleet. We believe that increasingly stringent environmental regulations and heightened concerns about liability for oil pollution have contributed to a significant demand for our vessels by leading oil companies, oil traders and major government oil entities. Tsakos Shipping, the technical manager of our fleet, has received ISO 14001 certification, based in part upon audits conducted on our vessels. |
| Diversified fleet. Our diversified fleet, which includes VLCC, suezmax, aframax, panamax, handysize and handymax tankers, as well as one LNG carrier, allows us to better serve our customers international crude oil and petroleum product transportation needs. We have also committed a sizable part of our newbuilding and acquisition program to ice-class vessels. By March 31, 2008, we had 23 ice-class vessels. Additionally, we have entered the LNG market with the delivery of our first LNG carrier in the first quarter of 2007. |
| Stability throughout industry cycles. Historically, we have employed a high percentage of our fleet on long and medium-term employment with fixed rates or minimum rates plus profit sharing agreements. We believe this approach has resulted in high utilization rates for our vessels. At the same time, we maintain flexibility in our chartering policy to allow us to take advantage of favorable rate trends through spot market employment and contract of affreightment charters with periodic adjustments. Over the last five years, our overall average fleet utilization rate was 96.3%. |
| Industry recognition. For over 35 years, the Tsakos Group has maintained relationships with and has achieved acceptance by national, major and other independent oil companies and refiners. Several of the worlds major oil companies and traders, including Houston Refining, PDVSA, ExxonMobil, FLOPEC, Shell, BP, Sunoco, Tesoro, Petrobras, Trafigura, Glencore and Neste Oil are among the regular customers of the Tsakos Group and of Tsakos Energy Navigation, in particular. |
| Significant leverage from our relationship with Tsakos Shipping. We believe the expertise, scale and scope of Tsakos Shipping are key components in maintaining low operating costs, efficiency, quality and safety. We leverage Tsakos Shippings reputation and longstanding relationships with leading charterers to foster charter renewals. |
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Our Fleet (as of March 31, 2008):
Vessel |
Year Built |
Year Acquired |
Charter Type | Expiration of Charter |
Hull Type(9) (all double hull) |
Deadweight Tons | ||||||
VLCC |
||||||||||||
1. Millennium |
1998 | 1998 | bareboat charter | September 2013 | 301,171 | |||||||
2. La Madrina (2) (7) |
1994 | 2004 | time charter | April 2011 | 299,700 | |||||||
3. La Prudencia (2) (7) |
1993 | 2006 | time charter | April 2011 | 298,900 | |||||||
SUEZMAX |
||||||||||||
1. Silia T |
2002 | 2002 | time charter | October 2011 | 164,286 | |||||||
2. Cape Baker (1) |
2002 | 2002 | time charter | October 2009 | 164,274 | |||||||
3. Cape Balboa (1) |
2002 | 2002 | time charter | November 2009 | 164,236 | |||||||
4. Triathlon (3) (2) |
2002 | 2002 | time charter | January 2013 | 164,445 | |||||||
5. Eurochampion 2004 (2) |
2005 | 2005 | time charter | November 2010 | ice-class 1C | 164,608 | ||||||
6. Euronike |
2005 | 2005 | time charter | September 2009 | ice-class 1C | 164,565 | ||||||
7. Archangel |
2006 | 2006 | spot | | ice-class 1A | 163,216 | ||||||
8. Alaska |
2006 | 2006 | spot | | ice-class 1A | 163,250 | ||||||
9. Arctic |
2007 | 2007 | spot | | ice-class 1A | 163,216 | ||||||
10. Antarctic (2) |
2007 | 2007 | time charter | October 2010 | ice-class 1A | 163,216 | ||||||
AFRAMAX |
||||||||||||
1. Parthenon (6) |
2003 | 2003 | contract of affreightment |
September 2009 | 107,018 | |||||||
2. Marathon (6) |
2003 | 2003 | contract of affreightment |
September 2009 | 107,181 | |||||||
3. Opal Queen (4) (5) |
2001 | 2002 | contract of affreightment |
Evergreen | 107,222 | |||||||
4. Vergina II |
1991 | 1996 | time charter | July 2009 | 96,709 | |||||||
5. Proteas (2) |
2006 | 2006 | time charter | July 2008 | ice-class 1A | 117,055 | ||||||
6. Promitheas (2) |
2006 | 2006 | time charter | August 2008 | ice-class 1A | 117,055 | ||||||
7. Propontis (2) |
2006 | 2006 | time charter | October 2008 | ice-class 1A | 117,055 | ||||||
8. Izumo Princess (4) (5) |
2007 | 2007 | contract of affreightment |
Evergreen | DNA | 105,374 | ||||||
9. Sakura Princess |
2007 | 2007 | time charter | June 2009 | DNA | 105,365 | ||||||
PANAMAX |
||||||||||||
1. Andes (7) |
2003 | 2003 | time charter | November 2011 | 68,439 | |||||||
2. Maya (7) (8) |
2003 | 2003 | time charter | September 2012 | 68,439 | |||||||
3. Inca (7) (8) |
2003 | 2003 | time charter | May 2013 | 68,439 | |||||||
4. Victory III |
1990 | 1996 | time charter | December 2008 | ice-class 1C | 68,157 |
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Vessel |
Year Built |
Year Acquired |
Charter Type | Expiration of Charter |
Hull Type(9) (all double hull) |
Deadweight Tons | ||||||
5. Hesnes |
1990 | 1996 | time charter | December 2008 | ice-class 1C | 68,157 | ||||||
6. Selecao |
2008 | 2008 | time-charter | February 2011 | 74,296 | |||||||
7. Socrates |
2008 | 2008 | time-charter | March 2011 | 74,327 | |||||||
HANDYMAX |
||||||||||||
1. Artemis (2) |
2005 | 2006 | time charter | June 2009 | ice-class 1A | 53,039 | ||||||
2. Afrodite (2) |
2005 | 2006 | time charter | June 2009 | ice-class 1A | 53,082 | ||||||
3. Ariadne (2) |
2005 | 2006 | time charter | October 2009 | ice-class 1A | 53,021 | ||||||
4. Aris (2) |
2005 | 2006 | time charter | May 2009 | ice-class 1A | 53,107 | ||||||
5. Apollon (2) |
2005 | 2006 | time charter | September 2009 | ice-class 1A | 53,149 | ||||||
6. Ajax (2) |
2005 | 2006 | time charter | May 2009 | ice-class 1A | 53,095 | ||||||
HANDYSIZE |
||||||||||||
1. Didimon |
2005 | 2005 | time charter | March 2010 | 37,432 | |||||||
2. Arion (2) (7) |
2006 | 2006 | time charter | October 2009 | ice-class 1A | 37,061 | ||||||
3. Delphi |
2004 | 2006 | time charter | October 2008 | 37,432 | |||||||
4. Antares (2) (7) |
2006 | 2006 | time charter | May 2009 | ice-class 1A | 37,061 | ||||||
5. Andromeda (2) |
2007 | 2007 | time charter | May 2010 | ice-class 1A | 37,061 | ||||||
6. Aegeas (2) |
2007 | 2007 | time charter | April 2010 | ice-class 1A | 37,061 | ||||||
7. Byzantion (2) |
2007 | 2007 | time charter | May 2010 | ice-class 1B | 37,275 | ||||||
8. Bosporos (2) |
2007 | 2007 | time charter | August 2010 | ice-class 1B | 37,275 | ||||||
LNG |
||||||||||||
1. Neo Energy |
2007 | 2007 | time charter | June 2008 | Membrane | 85,602 | ||||||
Total Vessels |
44 | Total Dwt | 4,711,124 |
(1) | The Decathlon and Pentathlon were sold through a sale and leaseback arrangement in November 2003 and are time-chartered back by us for a minimum period of five years. The vessels have been re-named by the new owner Cape Baker and Cape Balboa. We have exercised options to re-purchase these vessels at the end of the charter period in October and November, 2008, respectively at pre-agreed prices of $47.5 million each. |
(2) | The charter rate for this vessel is based on a minimum rate for the Company plus different levels of profit sharing above the minimum rate, settled on a calendar month basis. |
(3) | The charterers of the vessel have the option to employ the vessel upon completion of the initial 7-year time charter for an additional 3 years. |
(4) | Freight is based on a market-related formula. |
(5) | Evergreen employment has no specific expiration. The vessel is continuously employed until either we or the charterer request cancellation upon 30 days notice in the case of contract of affreightment. |
(6) | Freight is based on a minimum/maximum market-related formula. |
(7) | These vessels are chartered under fixed and variable hire rates. The variable portion of hire is recognized to the extent the amount becomes fixed and determinable at the reporting date. |
(8) | 49% of the holding company of these vessels has been sold to a third party. |
(9) | DH-double-hull. Ice-class classifications are based on ship resistance in brash ice channels with a minimum speed of 5 knots for the following conditions ice-1A: 1m brash ice, ice-1B: 0.8m brash ice, ice-1C: 0.6m brash ice. DNA- design new aframax with shorter length overall allowing greater flexibility in the Caribbean and the United States. |
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Our newbuildings under construction
As of March 31, 2008, we have on order and expect to take delivery between 2008 and 2010 of six aframaxes of DNA design currently under construction from Sumitomo Heavy Industries. The newbuildings have a double hull design compliant with all classification requirements and prevailing environmental laws and regulations. Tsakos Shipping has worked closely the Sumitomo yard in Japan in the design of the newbuildings and will continue to work with Sumitomo Heavy Industries during the construction period.
Our newbuildings under construction as of March 31, 2008:
Vessel Type |
Expected Delivery |
Ship Yard | Hull Type (all double-hull) |
Deadweight Tons |
Purchase Price (1) (in millions of U.S. dollars) | |||||
AFRAMAX |
||||||||||
1. Hull S-1342 |
October 2008 | Sumitomo Heavy Industries |
DNA | 105,000 | $59.7 | |||||
2. Hull S-1344 |
November 2008 | Sumitomo Heavy Industries |
DNA | 105,000 | $59.7 | |||||
3. Hull S-1349 |
3rd Quarter 2009 | Sumitomo Heavy Industries |
DNA | 105,000 | $60.2 | |||||
4. Hull S-1350 |
4th Quarter 2009 | Sumitomo Heavy Industries |
DNA | 105,000 | $60.2 | |||||
5. Hull S-1356 |
4th Quarter 2009 | Sumitomo Heavy Industries |
DNA | 105,000 | $60.2 | |||||
6. Hull S-1360 |
1st Quarter 2010 | Sumitomo Heavy Industries |
DNA | 105,000 | $60.2 | |||||
Total |
630,000 | $360.2 | ||||||||
(1) | Including extra cost agreed as of March 31, 2008 |
Under the newbuilding contracts, the purchase prices for the ships are subject to deductions for delayed delivery, excessive fuel consumption and failure to meet specified deadweight tonnage requirements. We make progress payments equal to 30% or 40% of the purchase price of each vessel during the period of its construction. The remainder of the purchase price with respect to each vessel will be paid upon delivery of the given vessel. As of March 31, 2008, we had made progress payments of $71 million out of the total purchase price of approximately $360.2 million for these newbuildings. Of the remaining amount, a further $96 million will be paid during 2008.
While we intend to expand our fleet, attractive opportunities may arise to sell one or more of our vessels, including the six newbuildings we have on order, and our board of directors may conclude that the sale of one or more vessels, if a compelling opportunity arises, could be in our best interest.
Fleet Deployment
We strive to optimize the financial performance of our fleet by deploying at least two-thirds of our vessels on either time charters or period employment with variable rates. In the past two years, this proportion has been over 75% as we took proactive steps to meet any potential impact of the expanding world fleet on freight rates. The remainder of the fleet is in the spot market. We believe that our fleet deployment strategy provides us with the ability to benefit from increases in tanker rates while at the same time maintaining a measure of stability through cycles in the industry. The following table details the respective employment basis of our fleet during 2007 and 2006 as a percentage of operating days.
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Employment Basis |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||
Time Charter fixed rate |
27 | % | 22 | % | ||
Time Charter variable rate |
49 | % | 32 | % | ||
Period Employment at variable rates |
9 | % | 25 | % | ||
Spot Voyage |
15 | % | 21 | % | ||
Total Net Earnings Days |
14,690 | 12,013 |
Tankers operating on time charters may be chartered for several months or years whereas tankers operating in the spot market typically are chartered for a single voyage that may last up to several weeks. Vessels on period employment at variable rates related to the market are either in a pool or operating under contract of affreightment for a specific charterer. Tankers operating in the spot market may generate increased profit margins during improvements in tanker rates, while tankers operating on time charters generally provide more predictable cash flows. Accordingly, we actively monitor macroeconomic trends and governmental rules and regulations that may affect tanker rates in an attempt to optimize the deployment of our fleet. Our fleet has three tankers currently operating on spot voyages.
Operations and Ship Management
Our operations
Management policies regarding our fleet that are formulated by our Board of Directors are executed by Tsakos Energy Management under a management contract. Tsakos Energy Managements duties, which are performed exclusively for the benefit of TEN, include overseeing the purchase, sale and chartering of vessels, supervising day-to-day technical management of our vessels and providing strategic, financial, accounting and other services, including investor relations. Our fleets technical management, including crewing, maintenance and repair, procuring insurance, and voyage operations, has been subcontracted by Tsakos Energy Management to Tsakos Shipping. Tsakos Energy Management also engages Tsakos Shipping to arrange chartering of our vessels. During 2007, two vessels were sub-contracted to third-party ship managers.
The following chart illustrates the management of our fleet:
Management Contract
Executive and Commercial Management
Pursuant to our management agreement with Tsakos Energy Management, our operations are executed and supervised by Tsakos Energy Management, based on the strategy devised by the board of directors and subject to the approval of our board of directors as described below. We pay Tsakos Energy Management monthly management fees for its management of our vessels. Beginning July 1, 2004, we paid Tsakos Energy Management management fees of $18,000 per owned vessel per month and $12,500 per chartered-in vessel per month. The management agreement was amended effective January 1, 2007, to raise the monthly fee to $20,000 per owned vessel and
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$15,000 for vessels chartered-in or chartered out on a bare-boat basis, with a prorated adjustment if at each year end the Euro has appreciated by 10% or more against the Dollar since January 1, 2007. In addition, there is an increase each year by a percentage figure reflecting 12 month Euribor, if both parties agree. As a consequence, from January 1, 2008, monthly fees for operating vessels have been increased accordingly to $23,000 and, for chartered-in vessels, to $17,000. The management fee starts to accrue for a vessel at the point a newbuilding contract is executed. To help ensure that these fees are competitive with industry standards, our management has periodically made presentations to our board of directors in which the fees paid to Tsakos Energy Management are compared against the publicly available financial information of integrated, self-contained tanker companies. We paid Tsakos Energy Management aggregate management fees of $9.8 million in 2007. From these amounts, Tsakos Energy Management pays a technical management fee to Tsakos Shipping. For additional information about the management agreement, including the calculation of management fees, see Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions and our consolidated financial statements which are included as Item 18 to this annual report.
General Administration. Tsakos Energy Management provides us with general administrative, office and support services necessary for our operations and our fleet, including technical and clerical personnel, communication, accounting, and data processing services.
Sale and Purchase of Vessels. Tsakos Energy Management advises our board of directors when opportunities arise to purchase, including through newbuildings, or to sell any vessels. All decisions to purchase or sell vessels require the approval of our board of directors.
Any purchases or sales of vessels approved by our board of directors are arranged and completed by Tsakos Energy Management. This involves the appointment of superintendents to inspect and take delivery of vessels and to monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of the purchase or newbuilding contracts.
In the case of a purchase of a vessel by us, each broker involved will receive commissions from the seller generally at the industry standard rate of one percent of the purchase price, but subject to negotiation. In the case of a sale of a vessel by us, each broker involved will receive a commission from us generally at the industry standard rate of one percent of the sale price, but subject to negotiation. In accordance with the management agreement, Tsakos Energy Management is entitled to charge us for sale and purchase brokerage commission, but to date has not done so.
Technical Management
Pursuant to a technical management agreement, Tsakos Energy Management employs Tsakos Shipping to manage the day-to-day aspects of vessel operations, including maintenance and repair, provisioning, and crewing of our vessels. We benefit from the economies of scale of having our vessels managed as part of the Tsakos Shipping managed fleet. On occasion, Tsakos Shipping subcontracts the technical management and manning responsibilities of our vessels to third parties. The executive and commercial management of our vessels, however, is not subcontracted to third parties. Tsakos Shipping, which is privately held, is one of the largest independent tanker managers with a total of 65 operating vessels under management, with a further 18 to be delivered, 6 of which are vessels under construction for Tsakos Energy Navigation, totaling approximately 8.9 million dwt. Tsakos Shipping currently employs full-time superintendents, technical experts and maritime engineers and have expertise in supervising the construction of new build vessels and inspecting second-hand vessels for purchase and sale, and in fleet maintenance and repair. They have approximately 200 employees engaged in ship management and approximately 3,300 seafaring employees of whom half are employed at sea and the remainder is on leave at any given time. Tsakos Shipping maintains representative offices in several locations covering key areas of the shipping business such as London, New York, Houston, Montevideo, Manila, Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Odessa and Panama. Their principal office is in Athens, Greece. The fleet managed by Tsakos Shipping consists mainly of tankers and feeder container vessels, but also includes dry bulk carriers and other vessels owned by affiliates and unaffiliated third parties.
Tsakos Energy Management pays Tsakos Shipping a fee per vessel per month for technical management of operating vessels and vessels under construction. This fee was determined by comparison to the rates charged by other major independent vessel managers. We generally pay all monthly operating requirements of our fleet in advance. At December 31, 2007, we had advances to Tsakos Shipping totaling $1.0 million.
Tsakos Shipping performs the technical management of our vessels under the supervision of Tsakos Energy Management. Tsakos Energy Management approves the appointment of fleet supervisors and oversees the establishment of operating budgets and the review of actual operating expenses against budgeted amounts.
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Chartering. Our board of directors formulates our chartering strategy for all our vessels and Tsakos Shipping, under the supervision of Tsakos Energy Management, implements the strategy by:
| evaluating the short, medium, and long-term opportunities available for each type of vessel; |
| balancing short, medium, and long-term charters in an effort to achieve optimal results for our fleet; and |
| positioning such vessels so that, when possible, re-delivery occurs at times when Tsakos Shipping expects advantageous charter rates to be available for future employment. |
Tsakos Shipping utilizes the services of various charter brokers to solicit, research, and propose charters for our vessels. The charter brokers role involves researching and negotiating with different charterers and proposing charters to Tsakos Shipping for cargoes to be shipped in our vessels. Tsakos Shipping negotiates the exact terms and conditions of charters, such as delivery and re-delivery dates and arranges cargo and country exclusions, bunkers, loading and discharging conditions and demurrage. Tsakos Energy Management is required to obtain our approval for charters in excess of six months and is required to obtain the written consent of the administrative agent for the lenders under our secured credit facility for charters in excess of thirteen months. There are frequently two or more brokers involved in fixing a vessel on a charter. Brokerage fees typically amount to 2.5% of the value of the freight revenue or time charter hire derived from the charters. We pay a chartering commission of 1.25% to Tsakos Shipping for every charter involving our vessels. The total amount we paid for these chartering commissions was $6.1 million in 2007.
Tsakos Shipping supervises the post fixture business of our vessels, including:
| the monitoring of the daily geographic position of such vessels in order to ensure that the terms and conditions of the charters are fulfilled by us and our charterers; |
| the collection of monies payable to us; and |
| resolution of disputes through arbitration and legal proceedings. |
In addition, Tsakos Shipping appoints superintendents to supervise the loading and discharging of cargoes when necessary.
Maintenance and Repair. Each of our vessels is dry-docked once every five years in connection with special surveys and, after the vessel is fifteen years old, the vessel is also obliged to dry-dock the vessel in connection with its intermediate survey two and one-half years after the last special survey, or as necessary to ensure the safe and efficient operation of such vessels and their compliance with applicable regulations. Tsakos Shipping arranges dry-dockings and repairs under instructions and supervision from Tsakos Energy Management. We believe that the time periods during which our vessels are in dry-dock are, on average, shorter than those prevalent in the industry due to the rigorous on-going maintenance program we conduct.
Tsakos Shipping routinely employs on each vessel additional crew members whose primary responsibility is the performance of maintenance while the vessel is in operation. Tsakos Energy Management awards and, directly or through Tsakos Shipping, negotiates contracts with shipyards to conduct such maintenance and repair work. They seek competitive tender bids in order to minimize charges to us, subject to the location of our vessels and any time constraints imposed by a vessels charter commitments. In addition to dry-dockings, Tsakos Shipping, where necessary, utilizes superintendents to conduct periodic physical inspections of our vessels.
Crewing and Employees
We do not employ the personnel to run our business on a day-to-day basis. We outsource substantially all of our executive, commercial and technical management functions.
Tsakos Shipping arranges employment of captains, officers, engineers and other crew who serve on our vessels. Tsakos Shipping ensures that all seamen have the qualifications and licenses required to comply with international regulations and shipping conventions and that experienced and competent personnel are employed for our vessels.
Customers
Several of the worlds major oil companies are among the regular customers of Tsakos Energy Navigation. The table below shows the approximate percentage of revenues we earned from some of these customers in 2007.
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Customer |
Year Ended December 31, 2007 | |
Petrobras |
16% | |
Houston Refineries (ex-Lyondell/Citgo) |
12% | |
NESTE |
11% | |
FLOPEC |
10% | |
HMM |
9% | |
Trafigura |
7% | |
STBL |
4% | |
Sunoco |
4% | |
ST Shipping |
3% | |
Tesoro |
3% | |
Methane |
2% | |
BP |
2% | |
Scorpio |
2% | |
THKMG |
2% | |
Standard |
1% | |
PDVSA |
1% | |
Vitol |
1% | |
CSSSA |
1% | |
Clearlake |
1% | |
Shell |
1% | |
URSA |
1% | |
Koch Shipping |
1% |
Regulation
Our business and the operation of our vessels are materially affected by government regulation in the form of international conventions and national, state and local laws and regulations in force in the jurisdictions in which the vessels operate, as well as in the country or countries of their registration. Because these conventions, laws, and regulations are often revised, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with them or their impact on the resale price and/or the useful lives of our vessels. Additional conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted which could limit our ability to do business or increase the cost of our doing business and which may have a material adverse effect on our operations. Various governmental and quasi-governmental agencies require us to obtain permits, licenses, certificates, and financial assurances with respect to our operations. Subject to the discussion below and to the fact that the kinds of permits, licenses, certificates and financial assurances required for the operations of the vessels we own will depend upon a number of factors, we believe that we have been and will be able to obtain all permits, licenses, certificates and financial assurances material to the conduct of our operations.
We believe that the heightened environmental and quality concerns of classification societies, insurance underwriters, regulators and charterers will impose greater inspection and safety requirements on all vessels in the tanker market and will accelerate the scrapping of older vessels throughout the industry.
IMO. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has negotiated international conventions that impose liability for oil pollution in international waters and in a signatorys territorial waters. In March 1992, the IMO adopted amendments to Annex I of the 1993 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) which set forth new and upgraded requirements for oil pollution prevention for tankers. These regulations, which became effective in July 1993 (in relation to newbuildings) and in July 1995 (in relation to existing tankers) in many jurisdictions in which our tanker fleet operates, provide that (1) tankers between 25 and 30 years old must be of double-hull construction or of a mid-deck design with double side construction, unless they have wing tanks or double-bottom spaces not used for the carriage of oil, which cover at least 30% of the length of the cargo tank section of the hull or are capable of hydrostatically balanced loading which ensures at least the same level of protection against oil spills in the event of collision or stranding, (2) tankers 30 years old or older must be of double-hull construction or mid-deck design with double-side construction, and (3) all tankers will be subject to enhanced inspections. Also, under IMO regulations, a tanker must be of double-hull construction or a mid-deck design with double-side construction or be of another approved design ensuring the same level of protection against oil pollution if that tanker (1) is the subject of a contract for a major conversion or original construction on or after July 6, 1993, (2) commences a major conversion or has its keel laid on or after January 6, 1994, or (3) completes a major conversion or is a newbuilding delivered on or after July 6, 1996. All of the vessels in our fleet are of double hull construction.
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Revisions to Annex I were adopted in 2001. The revised regulations, which became effective in September 2002, provide for increased inspection and verification requirements and for a more aggressive phase-out of single-hull oil tankers, in most cases by 2015 or earlier, depending on the age of the vessel and whether the vessel complies with requirements for protectively located segregated ballast tanks. Segregated ballast tanks use ballast water that is completely separate from the cargo oil and oil fuel system. Segregated ballast tanks are currently required by the IMO on crude oil tankers of 20,000 tonnes deadweight constructed after 1982. The changes, which will likely increase the number of tankers that are scrapped, are intended to reduce the likelihood of oil pollution in international waters.
As a result of the oil spill in November 2002 relating to the loss of the oil tanker Prestige, which was owned by a company not affiliated with us, in December 2003 the IMO proposed an amendment to MARPOL to accelerate further the phase out of single-hull tankers from 2015 to 2010 unless the relevant flag state, in a particular case, extends the date to either 2015 or the date on which the ship reaches 25 years of age after the date of its delivery, whichever is earlier. This amendment became effective on April 5, 2005.
On 1 January 2007 Annex I of MARPOL was revised to incorporate all amendments since the MARPOL Convention entered into force in 1983 and clarify the requirements for new tankers and existing tankers.
Regulation 12A, the latest amendment to Annex I of MARPOL, came into force on 1 August 2007 and governs oil fuel tank protection. The requirements apply to oil fuel tanks on all ships with an aggregate capacity of 600 cubic metres and above which are delivered on or after 1 August 2010 and all ships for which shipbuilding contracts are placed on or after 1 August 2007.
In September 1997, the IMO adopted Annex VI to MARPOL to address air pollution from ships. Annex VI came into force on May 19, 2005. It sets limits on sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone depleting substances, such as chlorofluorocarbons. Annex VI also includes a global cap on the sulfur content of fuel oil and allows for special areas to be established with more stringent controls on sulfur emissions. Annex VI has been ratified by some, but not all IMO member states. All vessels subject to Annex VI and built after May 19, 2005 must carry an International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate evidencing compliance with Annex VI. Vessels built before May 19, 2005, must obtain this Certificate by the earlier of the first dry docking after that date and May 19, 2008. Implementing the requirements of Annex VI may require modifications to vessel engines or the addition of post combustion emission controls, or both, as well as the use of lower sulfur fuels. In April 2008, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, or MEPC, of the IMO approved proposed amendments to Annex VI regarding particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide emissions standards. If adopted, the proposed amendments would reduce air pollution from vessels by establishing a series of progressive standards to further limit the sulfur content in fuel oil, which would be phased in through 2020, and by establishing new tiers of nitrogen oxide emission standards for new marine diesel engines, depending on their date of installation. These amendments will be considered for adoption by the MEPC in October 2008, and could enter into force in 2010. We have obtained International Air Pollution Prevention certificates for all of our vessels and believe that maintaining compliance with Annex VI will not have an adverse financial impact on the operation of our vessels.
In 2001, IMO adopted the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (the Anti-fouling Convention) which prohibits the use of organotin compound coatings to prevent the attachment of mollusks and other sea life to the hulls of vessels. The Anti-fouling Convention applies to vessels constructed prior to January 1, 2003 that have not been in dry-dock since that date. By September 13, 2008, the effective date of the Anti-fouling Convention, exteriors of vessels must either be free of the prohibited compounds, or coatings that act as a barrier to the leaching of the prohibited compounds must be applied to the vessel exterior. Vessels of over 400 gross tons engaged in international voyages must obtain an International Anti-fouling System Certificate and must undergo a survey before the vessel is put into service or when the anti-fouling systems are altered or replaced. We expect to obtain Anti-Fouling System Certificates for all of our vessels that are subject to the Anti-Fouling Convention and do not believe that obtaining and maintaining such certificates will have an adverse financial impact on the operation of our vessels.
In addition, the Companys liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier (delivered in February 2007) is required to meet IMO requirements for liquefied gas carriers. In order to operate in the navigable waters of the IMOs member states, liquefied gas carriers must have an IMO Certificate of Fitness demonstrating compliance with construction codes for liquefied gas carriers. These codes, and similar regulations in individual member states, address fire and
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explosion risks posed by the transport of liquefied gases. Collectively, these standards and regulations impose detailed requirements relating to the design and arrangement of cargo tanks, vents, and pipes; construction materials and compatibility; cargo pressure; and temperature control.
Liquefied gas carriers are also subject to international conventions that regulate pollution in international waters and a signatorys territorial waters. Under the IMO regulations, gas carriers that comply with the IMO construction certification requirements are deemed to satisfy the requirements of Annex II of MARPOL applicable to transportation of chemicals at sea, which would otherwise apply to certain liquefied gases. The IMO recently revised the Annex II regulations that restrict discharges of noxious liquid substances during cleaning or de-ballasting operations. The revisions took effect on January 1, 2007 and include significantly lower permitted discharge levels of noxious liquid substances for vessels constructed on or after the effective date, made possible by improvements in vessel technology. These new discharge levels apply to the Companys LNG carrier.
Tsakos Shipping, our technical manager, has been ISO 14001 compliant since April 2000. ISO 14001 requires companies to commit to the prevention of pollution as part of the normal management cycle. Additional or new conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted that could adversely affect our ability to manage our ships.
In addition, the European Union and countries elsewhere have considered stricter technical and operational requirements for tankers and legislation that would affect the liability of tanker owners and operators for oil pollution. In December 2001, the European Union adopted a legislative resolution confirming an accelerated phase-out schedule for single hull tankers in line with the schedule adopted by the IMO in April 2001. Any additional laws and regulations that are adopted could limit our ability to do business or increase our costs. The results of these or potential future environmental regulations could have a material adverse affect on our operations.
Under the current regulations, the vessels of our existing fleet will be able to operate for substantially all of their respective economic lives. However, compliance with the new regulations regarding inspections of all vessels may adversely affect our operations. We cannot at the present time evaluate the likelihood or magnitude of any such adverse effect on our operations due to uncertainty of interpretation of the IMO regulations.
The operation of our vessels is also affected by the requirements set forth in the IMOs International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (ISM Code) which was came into effect in relation to oil tankers in July 1998. The ISM Code requires shipowners, ship managers and bareboat (or demise) charterers to develop and maintain an extensive safety management system that includes the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for safe operation and describing procedures for dealing with emergencies. The failure of a shipowner, ship manager or bareboat charterer to comply with the ISM Code may subject that party to increased liability, may decrease available insurance coverage for the affected vessels, and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, some ports. All of our vessels are ISM Code certified.
OPA 90. The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) established an extensive regulatory and liability regime for the protection and cleanup of the environment from oil spills. OPA 90 affects all owners and operators whose vessels trade to the United States or its territories or possessions or whose vessels operate in United States waters, which include the United States territorial sea and its two hundred nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Under OPA 90, vessel owners, operators and bareboat charterers are responsible parties and are jointly, severally and strictly liable (unless the spill results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war) for all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from discharges or threatened discharges of oil from their vessels. Tsakos Shipping and Tsakos Energy Management would not qualify as third parties because they perform under contracts with us. These other damages are defined broadly to include (1) natural resources damages and the costs of assessing them, (2) real and personal property damages, (3) net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, fees and other lost revenues, (4) lost profits or impairment of earning capacity due to property or natural resources damage, (5) net cost of public services necessitated by a spill response, such as protection from fire, safety or health hazards, and (6) loss of subsistence use of natural resources. As a result of 2006 amendments to OPA 90, the statute now limits the liability of responsible parties to the greater of $1,900 per gross ton or $16 million per tanker that is over 3,000 gross tons and has a double-hull (tankers with single-hull, double sides only or double bottom only are subject to higher limits). These limits of liability would not apply if the incident was proximately caused by violation of applicable United States federal safety, construction or operating regulations or by the responsible party (or its agents or employees or any person acting pursuant to a contractual relationship with the responsible party) or by gross negligence or willful misconduct, or if the responsible party fails or refuses to report the incident or to cooperate and assist in connection with the oil removal activities. We currently plan to continue to maintain for each of our vessels pollution liability coverage in the amount of $1 billion per incident. A catastrophic spill could exceed the insurance coverage available, in which case there could be a material adverse effect on us.
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Under OPA 90, with some limited exceptions, all newly built or converted tankers operating in United States waters must be built with double-hulls, and existing vessels which do not comply with the double-hull requirement must be phased out over a 25-year period (1990-2015) based on size, age and hull construction. Notwithstanding the phase-out period, OPA 90 currently permits existing single-hull tankers to operate until the year 2015 if their operations within United States waters are limited to discharging at the Louisiana Off-Shore Oil Platform, or off-loading by means of lightering activities within authorized lightering zones more than 60 miles off-shore. Currently, all of our fleet is of double-hull construction.
OPA 90 requires owners and operators of vessels to establish and maintain with the United States Coast Guard evidence of financial responsibility sufficient to meet their potential liabilities under OPA 90. In December 1994, the Coast Guard implemented regulations requiring evidence of financial responsibility in the amount of $1,500 per gross ton for tankers (with double-hulls), coupling the OPA limitation on liability of $1,200 per gross ton with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act liability limit of $300 per gross ton. On February 6, 2008 the Coast Guard proposed amendments to the financial responsibility regulations to increase the required amount of financial responsibility to $1,900 per gross ton to reflect the 2006 increases in limits on OPA 90 liability. The increased amounts will become effective 90 days after the proposed regulations are adopted. Under the regulations, evidence of financial responsibility may be demonstrated by insurance, surety bond, letter of credit, self-insurance, guaranty or other satisfactory evidence. Under OPA 90, an owner or operator of a fleet of tankers is required only to demonstrate evidence of financial responsibility in an amount sufficient to cover the tanker in the fleet having the greatest maximum liability under OPA 90.
The Coast Guards regulations concerning certificates of financial responsibility provide, in accordance with OPA 90, that claimants may bring suit directly against an insurer or guarantor that furnishes certificates of financial responsibility. If an insurer or guarantor is sued directly, it is prohibited from asserting any contractual defense that it may have had against the responsible party and is limited to asserting those defenses available to the responsible party and the defense that the incident was caused by the willful misconduct of the responsible party. Some organizations, which had typically provided certificates of financial responsibility under pre-OPA 90 laws, including the major protection and indemnity organizations, have declined to furnish evidence of insurance for vessel owners and operators if they have been subject to direct actions or required to waive insurance policy defenses.
The Coast Guards financial responsibility regulations may also be satisfied by evidence of surety bond, guaranty or by self-insurance. Under the self-insurance provisions, the ship owner or operator must have a net worth and working capital, measured in assets located in the United States against liabilities located anywhere in the world, that exceeds the applicable amount of financial responsibility.
OPA 90 specifically permits individual US coastal states to impose their own liability regimes with regard to oil pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries, and some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for oil spills. In some cases, states which have enacted such legislation have not yet issued implementing regulations defining tanker owners responsibilities under these laws. We intend to comply with all applicable state regulations in the ports where our vessels call.
Owners or operators of tankers operating in United States waters are required to file vessel response plans with the Coast Guard, and their tankers are required to operate in compliance with their Coast Guard approved plans. These response plans must, among other things, (1) address a worst case scenario and identify and ensure, through contract or other approved means, the availability of necessary private response resources to respond to a worst case discharge, (2) describe crew training and drills, and (3) identify a qualified individual with full authority to implement removal actions.
Environmental Regulation
U.S. Clean Water Act: The U.S. Clean Water Act (CWA) prohibits the discharge of oil or hazardous substances in navigable waters and imposes strict liability in the form of penalties for any unauthorized discharges. The CWA also imposes substantial liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages and complements the remedies available under OPA 90. Currently, under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, vessels are exempt from the requirement to obtain CWA permits for the discharge of ballast water and other substances incident to normal operation in U.S. ports. However, a United States District Court ruled in March 2005 that the EPA exceeded its statutory authority in creating this exemption, which has been in place since 1978. On September 18, 2006 the Court ordered the EPA to develop new regulations by September 30, 2008 to ensure that
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owners and operators of vessels visiting U.S. ports comply with the CWA and restrict the discharge of invasive species in ballast water, or face penalties. Although the EPA has appealed the decision to the Circuit Court of Appeals, it is proceeding with the development of the regulations. We cannot predict the outcome of the litigation, but if the District Courts decision is upheld, we will be subject to CWA permitting requirements that could include ballast water treatment. While we do not believe that the costs associated with obtaining such permits and complying with any treatment obligations would be material, it is difficult to predict the overall impact of any CWA permit requirements on our operations.
The Clean Air Act: The U.S. Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the EPA to promulgate standards applicable to emissions of volatile organic compounds and other air contaminants. Our vessels are subject to CAA vapor control and recovery standards for cleaning fuel tanks and conducting other operations in regulated port areas and emissions standards for so-called Category 3 marine diesel engines operating in U.S. waters. The marine diesel engine emission standards are currently limited to new engines beginning with the 2004 model year. In November 2007, EPA announced its intention to proceed with development of more stringent standards for emissions of particulate matter, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides and other related provisions for new Category 3 marine diesel engines. If these proposals are adopted and apply not only to engines manufactured after the effective date but also to existing marine diesel engines, we may incur costs to install control equipment on our vessels to comply with the new standards. Several states regulate emissions from vessel vapor control and recovery operations under federally-approved State Implementation Plans. California has adopted limits on particulate matter, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides emissions from the auxiliary diesel engines of ocean-going vessels in waters within approximately 24 miles of the California coast. Although the California rules were recently struck down by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as preempted by the CAA, the state intends to request further judicial review. It could also seek a waiver from EPA to allow the adoption of such standards. If new or more stringent requirements relating to emissions from marine diesel engines or port operations by vessels are adopted by EPA or the states where we operate, compliance with these regulations could entail significant capital expenditures or otherwise increase the costs of our operations.
European Union Initiatives: In response to the oil spill caused by the sinking of the oil tanker Erika in December 1999, the European Union has proposed legislation that would (1) ban manifestly sub-standard ships (defined as those over 15 years old that have been detained by port authorities more than twice in the previous six months) from European waters and create an obligation of port states to inspect ships posing a high risk to maritime safety and the marine environment; (2) provide the European Commission with greater authority and control over classification societies, including the ability to seek to suspend or revoke the authority of negligent societies; and (3) accelerate the phasing in of double-hull or equivalent design standards for single-hull oil tankers on the same schedule as that required under the IMO regulations on pollution prevention for tankers. In December 2001, the European Union adopted a legislative resolution confirming an accelerated phase-out schedule for single hull tankers in line with the schedule adopted by the IMO in April 2001. In July 2003, in response to the m.t. Prestige oil spill in November 2002, the European Union adopted legislation that (1) prohibits all single-hull tankers from entering into European Union ports or offshore terminals by 2010; (2) bans all single-hull tankers carrying heavy grades of oil from entering or leaving European Union ports or offshore terminals or anchoring in areas under its jurisdiction; and (3) commencing in 2005, imposes a Condition Assessment Scheme Survey for single-hull tankers older than 15 years of age. Such regulations became effective on October 21, 2003. In September 2005, the European Union adopted legislation to incorporate international standards for ship-source pollution into European Community law and to establish penalties for discharge of polluting substances from ships (irrespective of flag). The legislation contemplates that sanctions will be levied against any person, including the master, owner and/or operator of the polluting ship, found to have caused or contributed to ship-source pollution with intent, recklessly or with serious negligence (this is a lower threshold for liability than applied by MARPOL, upon which the ship-source pollution legislation is partly based). In the most serious cases, infringements will be regarded as criminal offences (where sanctions include imprisonment) and will carry fines of up to Euro 1.5 million. The ship-source pollution legislation is required to be enacted into national law of the Member States of the European Union by March 2007. A further package of proposed legislation, commonly referred to as the Erika III proposals, was presented by the European Commission in November 2005 and two bills (dealing with the obligation of Member States to exchange information among themselves and to check vessels comply with international rules, and with the allocation of responsibility in the case of accident, respectively) were adopted in March 2007. Additionally, the sinking of the m.t. Prestige has led to the adoption of other environmental regulations by certain European Union Member States. It is impossible to predict what legislation or additional regulations, if any, may be promulgated by the European Union or any other country or authority.
Other Environmental Initiatives: Many countries have ratified and follow the liability scheme adopted by the IMO and set out in the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969, as amended (CLC), and the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil
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Pollution Damage of 1971, as amended (Fund Convention). The United States is not a party to these conventions. Under these conventions, a vessels registered owner is strictly liable for pollution damage caused on the territorial waters of a contracting state by discharge of persistent oil, subject to certain complete defenses. The liability regime was increased (in limit and scope) in 1992 by the adoption of Protocols to the CLC and Fund Convention which became effective in 1996. The Fund Convention was terminated in 2002 and the Supplementary Fund Protocol entered into force in March 2005. The liability limit in the countries that have ratified the 1992 CLC Protocol is tied to a unit of account which varies according to a basket of currencies. Under an amendment to the Protocol that became effective on November 1, 2003, for vessels of 5,000 to 140,000 gross tons, liability is limited to approximately $7.32 million plus $1,025 for each additional gross ton over 5,000. For vessels of over 140,000 gross tons, liability is limited to approximately $145.8 million. As the convention calculates liability in terms of a basket of currencies, these figures are based on currency exchange rates on April 30, 2008. From May 1998, parties to the 1992 CLC Protocol ceased to be parties to the CLC due to a mechanism established in the 1992 Protocol for compulsory denunciation of the old regime; however, the two regimes will co-exist until the 1992 Protocol has been ratified by all original parties to the CLC. The right to limit liability is forfeited under the CLC where the spill is caused by the owners actual fault and under the 1992 Protocol where the spill is caused by the owners intentional or reckless conduct. The 1992 Protocol channels more of the liability to the owner by exempting other groups from this exposure. Vessels trading to states that are parties to these conventions must provide evidence of insurance covering the liability of the owner. In jurisdictions where the CLC has not been adopted, various legislative schemes or common law govern, and liability is imposed either on the basis of fault or in a manner similar to that convention. We believe that our protection and indemnity insurance will cover the liability under the plan adopted by IMO.
The U.S. National Invasive Species Act (NISA) was enacted in 1996 in response to growing reports of harmful organisms being released into U.S. ports through ballast water taken on by ships in foreign ports. Under NISA, the U.S. Coast Guard adopted regulations in July 2004 imposing mandatory ballast water management practices for all vessels equipped with ballast water tanks entering U.S. waters. These requirements can be met by performing mid-ocean ballast exchange, by retaining ballast water on board the ship, or by using environmentally sound alternative ballast water management methods approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. (However, mid-ocean ballast exchange is mandatory for ships heading to the Great Lakes or Hudson Bay, or vessels engaged in the foreign export of Alaskan North Slope crude oil.) Mid-ocean ballast exchange is the primary method for compliance with the Coast Guard regulations, since holding ballast water can prevent ships from performing cargo operations upon arrival in the U.S., and alternative methods are still under development. Vessels that are unable to conduct mid-ocean ballast exchange due to voyage or safety concerns may discharge minimum amounts of ballast water (in areas other than the Great Lakes and the Hudson River), provided that they comply with record keeping requirements and document the reasons they could not follow the required ballast water management requirements. The Coast Guard has been developing ballast water discharge standards, which could set maximum acceptable discharge limits for invasive species, or lead to requirements for active treatment of ballast water. The U.S. House of Representatives has recently passed a bill that amends NISA by prohibiting the discharge of ballast water unless it has been treated with specified methods or acceptable alternatives. Similar bills have been introduced in the U.S. Senate, but we cannot predict which bill, if any, will be enacted into law. In the absence of federal standards, some states have enacted legislation or regulations to address invasive species through ballast water and hull cleaning management and permitting requirements. These requirements could increase the costs of operating in state waters.
At the international level, the IMO adopted an International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments in February 2004 (the BWM Convention). The Conventions implementing regulations call for a phased introduction of mandatory ballast water exchange requirements (beginning in 2009), to be replaced in time with mandatory concentration limits. The BWM Convention will not enter into force until 12 months after it has been adopted by 30 states, the combined merchant fleets of which represent not less than 35 percent of the gross tonnage of the worlds merchant shipping. As of March 31, 2008 the BWM Convention has been adopted by thirteen states, representing 3.62 percent of world tonnage.
If mid-ocean ballast exchange is made mandatory throughout the United States or at the international level, or if water treatment requirements or options are instituted, the cost of compliance could increase for ocean carriers. Although we do not believe that the costs of compliance with a mandatory mid-ocean ballast exchange would be material, it is difficult to predict the overall impact of such a requirement on our operations.
Although the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change requires adopting countries to implement national programs to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping are not subject to the Kyoto Protocol. The EU intends to expand its emissions trading scheme to vessels. The United States EPA is considering a petition from the California Attorney
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General and environmental groups to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from ocean-going vessels under the CAA. The IMO, the EU or individual countries in which we operate could pass climate control legislation or implement other regulatory initiatives to control greenhouse gas emissions from vessels that could require us to make significant financial expenditures or otherwise limit our operations.
Classification and inspection
Our vessels have been certified as being in class by their respective classification societies: Bureau Veritas, Det Norske Veritas, American Bureau of Shipping, Korean Register, Lloyds Register of Shipping or Nippon Kaiji Kyokai. Every vessels hull and machinery is classed by a classification society authorized by its country of registry. The classification society certifies that the vessel has been built and maintained in accordance with the rules of such classification society and complies with applicable rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and the international conventions of which that country is a member. Each vessel is inspected by a surveyor of the classification society every year, an annual survey, every two to three years, an intermediate survey, and every four to five years, a special survey. Vessels also may be required, as part of the intermediate survey process, to be dry-docked every 24 to 30 months for inspection of the underwater parts of the vessel and for necessary repair related to such inspection.
In addition to the classification inspections, many of our customers, including the major oil companies, regularly inspect our vessels as a precondition to chartering voyages on these vessels. We believe that our well-maintained, high quality tonnage should provide us with a competitive advantage in the current environment of increasing regulation and customer emphasis on quality of service.
Tsakos Shipping, our technical manager, obtained a document of compliance with the ISO 9000 standards of total quality management. ISO 9000 is a series of international standards for quality systems that includes ISO 9002, the standard most commonly used in the shipping industry. Our technical manager has also completed the implementation of the ISM Code. Our technical manager has obtained documents of compliance for our offices and safety management certificates for our vessels, as required by the IMO. Our technical manager has also received ISO 14001 certification.
Risk of loss and insurance
The operation of any ocean-going vessel carries an inherent risk of catastrophic marine disasters and property losses, including:
| collision; |
| adverse weather conditions; |
| fire and explosion; |
| mechanical failures; |
| negligence; |
| war; |
| terrorism; and |
| piracy. |
In addition, the transportation of crude oil is subject to the risk of crude oil spills, and business interruptions due to political circumstances in foreign countries, hostilities, labor strikes, and boycotts. Tsakos Shipping arranges insurance coverage to protect against most risks involved in the conduct of our business and we maintain environmental damage and pollution insurance coverage. Tsakos Shipping arranges insurance covering the loss of revenue resulting from vessel off-hire time. We believe that our current insurance coverage is adequate to protect against most of the risks involved in the conduct of our business. The terrorist attacks in the United States and various locations abroad and international hostilities have lead to increases in our insurance premium rates and the implementation of special war risk premiums for certain trading routes. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects for a description of how our insurance rates have been affected by recent events.
We have hull and machinery insurance, increased value (total loss or constructive total loss) insurance and loss of hire insurance with Argosy Insurance Company. Each of our ship owning subsidiaries is a named insured under our insurance policies with Argosy. Argosy provides the same full coverage as provided through London and Norwegian underwriters and reinsures its exposure, subject to customary deductibles, in the London, French, Norwegian and U.S. reinsurance markets. We were charged by Argosy aggregate premiums of $7.4 million in 2007.
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By placing our insurance through Argosy, we believe that we achieve cost savings over the premiums we would otherwise pay to third party insurers. Argosy reinsures most insurance it underwrites for us with various reinsurers. These reinsurers have credit ratings ranging from BBB to AA.
Our subsidiaries are indemnified for legal liabilities incurred while operating our vessels by protection and indemnity insurance that we maintain through their membership in a P&I club. This protection and indemnity insurance covers legal liabilities and other related expenses of injury or death of crew members and other third parties, loss or damage to cargo, claims arising from collisions with other vessels, damage to other third party property and pollution arising from oil or other substances, including wreck removal. The object of P&I clubs is to provide mutual insurance against liability to third parties incurred by P&I club members in connection with the operation of their vessels entered into the P&I club in accordance with and subject to the rules of the P&I club and the individual members terms of participation. A members individual P&I club premium is typically based on the aggregate tonnage of the members vessels entered into the P&I club according to the risks of insuring the vessels as determined by the P&I club. P&I club claims are paid from the aggregate premiums paid by all members, although members remain subject to calls for additional funds if the aggregate insurance claims made exceed aggregate member premiums collected. P&I clubs enter into reinsurance agreements with other P&I clubs and with third party underwriters as a method of preventing large losses in any year from being assessed directly against members of the P&I club. Currently, applicable P&I club rules provide each of its members with more than $4 billion of liability coverage except for pollution coverage which is limited to $1 billion.
Recent world events have led to increases in our insurance premium rates and the implementation of special war risk premiums for certain trading routes. For 2007-2008, our P&I club insurance premiums increased by up to 10% for most of our vessels, but for a few vessels the increase was between 24% to 41%. Our hull and machinery insurance premiums also increased in most cases by less than 10 %, but in certain cases by 20 %. We have been advised that for 2008-2009 our P&I club insurance premiums will increase by approximately another 12.5 % and our hull and machinery insurance premiums by 10%. In addition, war risk coverage for vessels operating in certain geographical areas has doubled, but this type of coverage represents a relatively small portion of our total insurance premiums. P&I, hull and machinery and war risk insurance premiums are accounted for as part of operation expenses in our financial statements. Accordingly, any change in insurance premium rates directly impacts our operating results.
Competition
We operate in markets that are highly competitive and where no owner currently controls more than 5% of the world tanker fleet. Ownership of tankers is divided among independent tanker owners and national and independent oil companies. Many oil companies and other oil trading companies, the principal charterers of our fleet, also operate their own vessels and transport oil for themselves and third party charterers in direct competition with independent owners and operators. We compete for charters based on price, vessel location, size, age, condition and acceptability of the vessel as well as Tsakos Shippings reputation as a manager. Currently we compete primarily with owners of tankers in the ULCCs, VLCCs, Suezmax, Aframax, Panamax, Handymax and Handysize class sizes, and we also compete with owners of LNG carriers.
Although we do not actively trade to a significant extent in Middle East trade routes, disruptions in those routes as a result of international hostilities, including those in Afghanistan and Iraq, and terrorist attacks such as those made against the United States in September 2001 and various international locations since then may affect our business. We may face increased competition if tanker companies that trade in Middle East trade routes seek to employ their vessels in other trade routes in which we actively trade.
Other significant operators of multiple Aframax and Suezmax tankers in the Atlantic basin that compete with us include Overseas Shipholding Group Inc., Teekay Shipping Corporation, Top Ships Inc., and General Maritime Corporation. There are also numerous, smaller tanker operators in the Atlantic basin.
Employees
We have no salaried employees. See Management ContractCrewing and Employees.
Properties
We operate out of Tsakos Energy Management offices in the building also occupied by Tsakos Shipping at Megaron Makedonia, 367 Syngrou Avenue, Athens, Greece.
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Legal proceedings
We are involved in litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of business. In our opinion, the litigation in which we are currently involved, individually and in the aggregate, is not material to us.
Item 4A. | Unresolved Staff Comments |
None.
Item 5. | Operating and Financial Review and Prospects |
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. This discussion includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, such as those set forth under Risk Factors and elsewhere in this annual report our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
Overview
As at March 31, 2008, we operated a fleet of 44 modern double-hull tankers providing world-wide marine transportation services for national, major and other independent oil companies and refiners under long, medium and short-term charters and one LNG carrier. The charter rates that we obtain for these services are determined in a highly competitive global tanker charter market. We operate our tankers in markets that have historically exhibited both cyclical and seasonal variations in demand and corresponding fluctuations in charter rates. Tanker markets are typically stronger in the winter months as a result of increased oil consumption in the northern hemisphere. In addition, unpredictable weather conditions in the winter months tend to disrupt vessel scheduling. The oil price volatility resulting from these factors has historically led to increased oil trading activities. Changes in available tanker capacity have also had a strong impact on tanker charter markets over the past 20 years.
Results from Operations2007
World oil demand in 2007 grew by 1.4% over 2006 and, despite another year of increases in world tanker tonnage (by 6.2%), 2007 was another year with strong revenues and net income for operators, albeit somewhat down from 2006. The third quarter in 2007 reverted to its more usual characteristic of being a soft quarter, in comparison to the unusually strong third quarter of 2006 and the fourth quarter did not gather strength until December. The delay for the fourth quarter to take off is partly explained by the large drawdown on existing reserves of crude oil by refiners as forward oil prices fell lower than current prices. A relatively mild first part of winter also slowed down demand. The doubling of the price of oil also began to bite by the end of the year, overall world economic growth being 4.9%, still considered a strong growth rate, but down from the 5.3% growth in 2006. However, while prices were at a level that continued to encourage exploration and exploitation of previously uneconomic sources, they continued to impact tanker profitability by increasing the cost of bunker (fuel) and lubricants. The year also saw a continuation of high US interest rates which naturally impacted a capital-intensive industry, until the Federal Reserve took steps to generate financial liquidity by reducing interest rates in the latter part of the year, the real benefits of which may not be felt until well into 2008. The action to reduce rates did not help to slow the decline of the US Dollar against other currencies, in particular the Euro, and this also negatively impacted the industry, especially those companies which have significant expenditures initially in Euro.
Our fleet achieved voyage revenues of $500.6 million, up by 17.1% from $427.7 million in 2006. Capital gains on the sale of three operating vessels were $68.9 million. Operating income increased from $205.2 million in 2006 to $249.7 million in 2007, a 21.7% increase. Net income was $183.2 million, compared to $196.4 million in the prior year, a 6.7% decrease. Diluted income per share decreased from $5.15 in 2006, based on 38.14 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding, to $4.79 in 2007, based on 38.23 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding. Revenues, capital gains and operational income increased, in part due to our move towards more time charters with profit-share, which protect the Company with healthy minimum rates during periods of soft rates, and also allow us to take advantage of the charter market when rates move up. However, financing costs, including negative movements on non-hedging interest rate swaps, increased significantly and impacted net income accordingly.
Some of the more significant developments for the Company during 2007 were:
| The delivery of the LNG carrier Neo Energy, the 1A ice-class suezmaxes Arctic and Antarctic, the DNA aframaxes Izumo Princess and Sakura Princess and the ice-class product carriers Aegeas, Andromeda, Byzantion and Bosporos. |
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| The signing of contracts for two Sumitomo built DNA aframaxes for delivery in 2009 and in 2010. |
| The sale of the panamax Bregen and aframaxes Maria Tsakos and Athens 2004 for a combined gain of over $68 million. |
| The repurchase of the aframax Olympia at a price substantially below market value and the later agreement to sell the same vessel in early 2008 with a gain of $34 million. |
| The dry-docking of Silia T., Cape Baker, Cape Balboa, Triathlon, La Prudencia and La Madrina for their mandatory special survey. |
| The two-for-one stock split in mid-November, 2007, increasing the total shares outstanding from approximately 19 million to 38 million. |
| The payment to the Companys shareholders of two dividends; $0.75 per common share in April in respect of the fiscal year 2006, and $0.825 per common share in November, the first dividend with respect to fiscal year 2007. Total cash paid out on dividends amounted to $60.0 million. |
| The completion of the upgrade of the aframax Vergina II to double-hull. |
The Company operated the following types of vessels during, and at the end of, 2007:
Vessel Type |
LNG carrier | VLCC | Suezmax | Aframax | Panamax | Handymax MR2 |
Handysize MR1 |
Total Fleet |
||||||||||||||||
Average number of vessels |
0.8 | 3.0 | 9.7 | 10.6 | 5.1 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 41.7 | ||||||||||||||||
Number of vessels at end of year |
1.0 | 3.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 43.0 | ||||||||||||||||
Dwt at end of year (in thousands) |
85.6 | 899.8 | 1,639.3 | 1,087.2 | 341.6 | 318.5 | 297.7 | 4,669.7 | ||||||||||||||||
Percentage of total fleet |
1.8 | % | 19.3 | % | 35.1 | % | 23.3 | % | 7.3 | % | 6.8 | % | 6.4 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
Average age, in years, at end of year |
0.9 | 12.5 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 5.6 |
We believe that the key factors which determined our financial performance in 2007, within the given freight rate environment in which the Company operated, were:
| the diversified aspect of the fleet which allowed the Company to take advantage of all tanker sectors; |
| the benefits of the new vessels acquired in recent years in terms of operating efficiencies and desirability on the part of charterers; |
| our balanced chartering strategy (discussed further below) which ensured a stable cash flow while allowing the Company to take advantage of the buoyant freight market; |
| the long-established relationships with our chartering clients and the development of new relationships with renowned oil-majors; |
| the continued control over costs by our technical managers despite pressures caused by a weakening dollar and higher operating and fuel costs; |
| our control over financial costs by negotiating competitive terms with reputable banks, and protecting interest rate levels through swap arrangements; |
| our ability to manage leverage levels through cash generation and repayment/prepayment of debt; |
| our ability to reward our shareholders through a dividend policy which is linked directly to the profitability of the Company; |
| the two-for-one stock split which improved share liquidity and access to a broader investment population; |
| our ability to raise new financing through bank debt at competitive terms despite the current tight credit environment, and |
| the sale of both older and newer vessels when attractive opportunities arose. |
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We believe that the above factors will also be those that will be behind the future financial performance of the Company and which are evident as we proceed through 2008, to which may be added:
| a continuing buoyant charter market in comparison to historical levels; |
| the securing of a high level of utilization for our vessels (as at March 31, 2008, 80% of the remaining operational days available for 2008, and 62% for 2009, excluding expected new deliveries, have secured employment); |
| the continued appetite by oil majors to fix forward on medium to long term charters at current market rates which are significantly higher than the historical average. |
| the delivery of the six newbuildings that will join the fleet between March 31, 2008 and 2010 ( two of which are to be delivered during the remainder of 2008); |
| the rapid development of new strategic areas with purpose-built vessels to access ice-bound ports and carry LNG (liquefied natural gas), and |
| the repurchase of common shares at favorable prices. During the first quarter of 2008, we bought back 265,600 shares under a fixed repurchase plan at a total cost of approximately $8.3 million. |
Looking forward and given increasing demand and the lack of clarity over oil production from Iran, Nigeria and Iraq, and continued discussion by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) about their production levels, high oil prices may continue through 2008, although there is now some expectation that oil prices may decrease significantly later in the year. The expected increasing demand from China and India will continue to have a beneficial impact on transportation requirements for petroleum and its products in the foreseeable future. Another indication of the strength of the market can be seen in continued demand growth despite price hikes. Historically, as oil prices have risen, some global consumers have been forced to curtail imports. However, even in the current environment, it appears that price has not materially dissuaded imports.
We expect that 2008 should once again prove to be a good year for the tanker industry. The current financial crisis and any possible recession in the U.S. is likely to be contained within 2008 and, although a certain amount of pain may possibly still be felt within the financial sector, the underlying economic and business fundamentals are said to remain sound and are not expected to have a major impact on the demand for and transportation of oil. The aforementioned economic stimuli, coupled with geopolitical events in areas such as Nigeria, Iraq, Iran and Venezuela, should continue to fuel the market and maintain the new trading patterns with long-haul requirements we have seen emerge over the past two years. Additionally, despite the expected surge in deliveries of new vessels, the IMO and European Union regulations relating to the phase-out of single-hull tankers should begin to have a significant compensating impact on the supply/demand balance of tanker availability.
Our current fleet consists of three VLCCs, ten suezmaxes, nine aframaxes, seven panamaxes, six handymaxes, eight handysizes and one LNG carrier. All vessels are owned by our subsidiaries with the exception of the two suezmaxes, Cape Baker and Cape Balboa, acquired in 2002 and sold in October and November 2003, respectively, that were time chartered back from the owners for five years. We have exercised options to repurchase these vessels in the latter part of 2008 at a price of $47.5 million each which is well below current market value.
Subsequent Events
(a) | On February 4, 2008, the aframax tanker Olympia, was delivered to its new owners for $63.1 million resulting in a gain of approximately $34.3 million. |
(b) | On February 12, 2008, the Company took delivery of the panamax product carrier Selecao and drew down $12.1 million on a related credit facility for $82 million. On March 14, 2008, the Company took delivery of the panamax product carrier Socrates and drew down $12.2 million on the same credit facility. |
(c) | On March 14, 2008, the Board of Directors resolved that a dividend of $0.90 cents per share be paid on April 30, 2008 to shareholders of record on April 24, 2008. |
General Market Overview World Oil Demand / Supply and Trade
(Source: Galbraiths Ltd)
The price of oil continued its unabated rise during 2007, seeing the cost of WTI nearly double within the year from a low of around $50/bbl in early January. The psychological $100/bbl barrier has since been broken in early 2008, and continues to exhibit volatility on the back of supply and demand, economic and geopolitical factors.
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The IEA is reporting 2007 global demand for oil as 86.0m bpd, an increase on 2006 of 1.4%, or 1.1m bpd. OECD demand comprises 49.2m bpd of the total, a year-on-year decline of 0.3%, whilst the 38.2m bpd non-OECD demand is up 3.7%.
Looking ahead to 2008, the IEA has forecast a total demand of 87.6m bpd, up 1.9% on 2007. OECD demand is expected to grow by 0.6% to 49.5m bpd, led by increased demand for heating use. Transportation fuel growth is expected to be lower, primarily due to the weakening economic situation and higher oil prices. Non-OECD demand is expected to see a slightly increased growth rate of 3.8%.
Global oil supply increased marginally in 2007 to 85.6m bpd, up from 85.43m bpd in 2006, led by OPEC, which had to offset the decline in non-OPEC production. OPEC production increased in 2007 to 35.47m bpd from 34.34m bpd in 2006. The extent of the non-OPEC production decline was seen by a fall of nearly 1m bpd, from 51.09m bpd in 2006 to 50.13m bpd in 2007.
The IEA anticipate a halt to the non-OPEC production decline in 2008, expecting growth averaging 0.97m bpd; however it is thought to be heavily weighted to Q3 and Q4, led by the FSU, Asia-Pacific region, Brazil, Australia and Sudan, as well as biofuels. The sharp increase in Canadian production in 2007 is seen as a one-off, and not expected to be repeated in the coming years. North Sea and Mexican production are expected to continue their decline. At the OPEC meeting in Vienna on 5th March 2008, the cartel announced it had no plans to increase supply, despite appeals from the US and other consuming countries, and hinted that their next move might be to actually cut supply due to the weakening US economy. The news sent WTI oil prices to a record high of $104.56 in inter-day trading. OPEC maintains its belief that the current price climate is the work of speculation, not supply.
While a decrease in supply by OPEC would harm crude oil tanker markets, especially voyages AG/East-West, the continued increase by the FSU, Asia-Pacific region and Brazil will provide some welcome additional tonne-mile demand, especially if China can weather the current weakening economic conditions to maintain its impressive growth in oil demand. Production increases from the FSU have seen increased activity in all its major load regions; the Baltic, Mediterranean/Black Sea and the Russian Far East. The Baltic market is expected to increase further with the BPS-2 pipeline due to commence operations in 2009 or 2010, diverting as much as 0.7m bpd from the Druzhba pipeline to Primorsk.
Crude oil tanker demand growth was again driven by China, importing a total 2.94m bpd (seaborne) in 2007, an increase of 0.34m bpd on 2006, up slightly on the year before. North America and Japan imports were marginally down, 0.05m bpd and 0.05m bpd, respectively. OECD Europe saw an increase of 0.07m bpd, after a decline of 0.12m bpd in 2006. The only other notable increase was from Other Asia, primarily India, which imported 2.25m bpd, up 0.10m bpd on 2006.
The product tanker market continues to benefit from the geographical mismatch between refineries and end consumers. The US and Europe are the largest importers of oil products, both due to strong demand, whilst for the US also because of insufficient refining capacity, whereas in Europe there is a product mismatch between consumers demand and what the refineries produce.
With refining capacity fairly static in Europe and the US, or at least not keeping pace with demand growth, seaborne products imports into these regions have been steadily increasing to meet growing demand.
The Asia/Pacific region however has been the main source of refinery growth in recent years, explaining why seaborne products imports have not risen at a similar pace to the US and Europe. China, Taiwan and India are notable growing refining centers, as well as the Middle East region.
One of the most important changes in refining capacity is happening in India, where Essar Oil recently announced that it will expand capacity at its Vadinar refinery to 34m tonnes p/a, or 680,000bpd, by 2010. This expansion is part of a wider trend of growth in Indias refining capacity. The new 580,000bpd Reliance 2 refinery at Jamnagar will increase its output to 1.24m bpd, making it the largest refining centre in the world. These refinery developments are expected to benefit the long-haul product tanker market, supplying both the East and West markets. As well as India, refineries in China, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are expected to add capacity in the coming years, however many projects worldwide will be delayed or may not come to fruition.
World Tanker Fleet
As the 2010 IMO phase-out of non-double hull tankers approaches, 2007 saw record numbers of vessels scheduled for conversion, as owners baulked at the prospect of the non-economic demolition market. The charge
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was led by the single-hull VLCCs, with intensions joining the booming dry bulk market as VLOCs (Very Large Ore Carriers), capable of shipping the huge quantities of iron ore from Brazil to feed Chinas seemingly insatiable demand. Since January 1, 2007, it is thought 45 VLCCs have been ear-marked for dry bulk conversion, with seven already removed from the oil trading fleet, and a further three due to leave imminently. A further eight vessels were listed for double-hull conversions, with half already completed and trading. Six VLCCs are being used as FSUs, and a further 13 are listed for conversion to FPSOs, seven of which are no longer trading. Two of the four remaining ULCCs have also recently been committed for FSO-use. If all the projects come to fruition, over 17 million deadweight will be removed from the VLCC trading fleet.
The conversion plans have not been limited to the VLCC sector, with owners also looking to convert some of their Suezmaxes and Aframaxes. Suezmaxes have followed a similar path to the VLCCs, with conversions to dry bulk, double-hull and FPSO/FSU, although there have also been a number of conversions to heavy-lift vessels, looking to join the lucrative offshore market. If all the Suezmax conversions go-ahead, over 4 million deadweight will be removed from the trading fleet. It is thought around 20 Aframax vessels are to be converted, almost exclusively to dry bulk, totaling around 1.8m deadweight.
These conversion plans have helped temper the impending phase-out of non-double hull tonnage. Whilst under the IMO phase-out regulations it is permitted for port and flag states to allow the continuation in trading of non-double hull tonnage under certain conditions, following the recent oil spill by the Hebei Spirit off South Korea, only a handful of countries east of Suez are prepared to do so, with the west of Suez market already almost exclusively double-hull. With a two-tier market already in place for double-hull and non-double hull tonnage, by 2010 the non-double hull tonnage will find their trade increasingly restricted. Meaning whilst there will be fewer vessels to phase-out due to the conversion plans, the likelihood of vessels trading beyond 2010 has been reduced.
The tanker fleet (10,000dwt+) as of January 1, 2008 stood at 389.2m dwt, with 30.1m dwt delivered in 2007. The orderbook is currently 157.4m dwt, due to be delivered by 2013, of which 140.7m dwt is due to be delivered by end-2010, more than covering the non-double hull fleet which stands at 87.3m dwt due to be phased out by 2010. 2007 saw a slowdown in the ordering of tanker newbuildings, with 683 vessels (43.6m dwt) ordered in 2007 compared with 789 vessels (75.9m dwt) a year earlier. 3.0m dwt was scrapped in 2007, a similar level to 2006, which saw 2.9m dwt removed, primarily the smaller vessels in both cases.
The scrapping market has been very limited recently due to the strength of freight rates and the second-hand sale and purchase markets. Under the MARPOL Annex 2 and IBC code, which came into effect on January 1, 2007, vegetable oils can no longer be carried in products carriers and now must be carried in IMO 2 chemical carriers or, where exemptions permit, double-hull IMO 3 chemical carriers. As a result of this change there was an increase in scrapping of MRs in 2007, as many of those non double hulled vessels that were past their IMO phase out date for mineral oils and were also no longer permitted to carry vegetable oils were sold for demolition.
The larger fleet sectors contain very little older tonnage, and with the demolition market having provided little economic sense, especially on the back of the wave of conversions, there were no real early candidates for scrapping. However in recent weeks reports of increasing scrap prices may tempt some of the older tonnage towards the Indian sub-continent for demolition.
Asset Prices
Newbuildings
Tanker newbuilding prices continued to increase having reached a plateau towards the end of 2006. VLCC and Suezmax newbuilding prices have risen 13% since the start of 2007, Aframax prices have risen by 11% and 47,000 dwt MR tankers by 12%. While increasing steel prices have had some influence, shipbuilding yard space is proving the main driver. With so many more lucrative ships to be had on order for the shipyards, prices of newbuilding tankers have had to increase to give the shipyards an incentive to build these vessels. Orders have now been placed for as far out as 2013, while for the same period last year, orders only stretched to 2011, and with contracting down on 2006, this helps highlight the race for shipyard space. For example, 31 VLCCs were contracted in 2007, down from 100 in 2006, while the other sectors follow the same trend, they are not quite as extreme, with 56 Suezmaxes ordered in 2007, down from 72 the year before and 81 Aframaxes ordered in 2007, down from 132 in 2006.
One area which reverses the trend has been the smaller tankers (10,000-59,999 dwt), where contracting has risen from 436 vessels in 2006 to 475 vessels in 2007, although in deadweight terms, they have still declined in line with the larger sectors, from 15.66m dwt to 13.31m dwt, which implies there is an increased interest in the smaller end of this 10,000-59,999 dwt range.
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Newbuilding Tanker Prices at January Each Year | |||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |||||||||||||||
VLCC |
$ | 70m | $ | 66m | $ | 79m | $ | 118m | $ | 122m | $ | 130m | $ | 147m | |||||||
Suezmax |
$ | 47m | $ | 45m | $ | 53m | $ | 74m | $ | 73m | $ | 81m | $ | 91m | |||||||
Aframax (Uncoated) |
$ | 36m | $ | 36m | $ | 45m | $ | 62m | $ | 61m | $ | 66m | $ | 73m | |||||||
47k dwt (Epoxy Coated) |
$ | 26m | $ | 28m | $ | 34m | $ | 41m | $ | 44m | $ | 47m | $ | 53m |
Second-Hand Market
Tanker second-hand prices increased to a greater extent than newbuilding prices, with 5-year-old VLCCs increasing 18% since the start of 2007, and 5-year-old Suezmaxes by 20%. The second-hand market has proved a little more volatile, with the price of 5-year-old VLCCs plunging by around $12m mid-2007, only to recover to previous levels by year-end and continue their rise. 5-year-old Aframaxes and MRs also increased over the period by 12% and 9% respectively.
The relatively strong freight market has meant promptly available tonnage is valued at a premium. Newbuilding re-sales and recently delivered vessels have continued to be purchased at values higher than their original cost.
5-Year-Old Tanker Prices at January Each Year | |||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |||||||||||||||
VLCC |
$ | 58m | $ | 60m | $ | 72m | $ | 110m | $ | 120m | $ | 117m | $ | 138m | |||||||
Suezmax |
$ | 39m | $ | 43m | $ | 50m | $ | 75m | $ | 76m | $ | 80m | $ | 96m | |||||||
Aframax (Uncoated) |
$ | 30m | $ | 34m | $ | 39m | $ | 59m | $ | 65m | $ | 65m | $ | 73m | |||||||
45k dwt (Epoxy Coated) |
$ | 21m | $ | 23m | $ | 30m | $ | 40m | $ | 47m | $ | 48m | $ | 52m |
Earnings
Whilst the volatility has continued on a daily and weekly basis within the tanker markets, the annual trends have tended to follow the wider supply/demand picture. As the looming orderbook begins to deliver increasingly more new vessels, with few being removed from the fleet, and oil demand growth not keeping pace, a loosening of the supply/demand balance suggests rates should begin to trend downwards until more non-double hull vessels are removed from the fleet.
VLCC
While 2006 saw similar earnings to 2005, it also saw a relatively small number of deliveries, just 18 vessels, compared with 29 vessels for 2007; coupled with reduced output from OPEC-10 for much of 2007, the down side fundamentals are straightforward. The rates were held up by Chinas continued oil demand growth, refinery expansion and strategic stock building, before OPEC increased output in Q4, as well as some removals for conversions. December 2007 helped pull up the 2007 full year average with soaring rates on the back of seasonal demand, increased OPEC output and the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Full year earnings for VLCCs averaged around $54,000/day, down from $62,000/day.
Suezmax
The Suezmax fleet grew in 2007 by 4.8%, larger than in 2006, hence the greater reduction in Suezmax earnings. On the upside Suezmaxes have benefited from loadings from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, as well as Iraqi crude from Kirkuk. Whilst the sector is generally less exposed to changes in OPEC production, it still benefited from the knock-on effect from the VLCC rate hike due to the Hebei Spirit. Full year earnings for Suezmaxes averaged $41,000/day, down from $50,000/day.
Aframax
Demand for Aframaxes increased in 2007, result from the growing exports from the BTC pipeline and Sakhalin 1 project. Deliveries of Aframax vessels to the fleet were marginally up on 2006. Aframaxes were subject to less volatility during 2007, with fewer Turkish Straits delays toward the year-end compared to previous years, as well as a milder Baltic winter for 2007/8, where normally this volatility would help increase average annual earnings. Full year earnings for Aframaxes averaged $31,000/day, down from $35,000/day.
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Product Tankers
The introduction of the MARPOL Annex 2 and IBC code which prevent vegetable oils being carried in products carriers require them to be carried in IMO 2 chemical carriers or, where exemptions permit, double-hull IMO 3 chemical carriers has helped temper the product tanker fleet growth, contributing to the tightness in the market.
The product tankers continue to benefit from refinery developments, especially as new refining capacity tends to be located away from the end consumers. Full year earnings for MR product tankers averaged $21,000/day, equal to the 2006 level.
Chartering Strategy
We typically charter our vessels to third parties in any of three basic types of charter. First are voyage charters or spot voyages, under which a shipowner is paid freight on the basis of moving cargo from a loading port to a discharging port at a given rate per ton or other unit of cargo. Port charges, bunkers and other voyage expenses (in addition to normal vessel operating expenses) are the responsibility of the shipowner.
Second are time charters, under which a shipowner is paid hire on a per day basis for a given period of time. Normal vessel operating expenses, such as maintenance and repair, crew wages and insurance premiums, are incurred by the shipowner, while voyage expenses, including bunkers and port charges, are the responsibility of the charterer. The time charterer decides the destination and types of cargoes to be transported, subject to the terms of the charter. Time charters can be for periods of time ranging from one or two months to more than three years. The agreed hire may be for a fixed daily rate throughout the period or may be at a guaranteed minimum fixed daily rate plus a share of a determined daily rate above the minimum, based on a given variable charter index or on a decision by an independent brokers panel for a defined period. Many of our charters have been renewed on this time charter with profit share basis over the past two years. Time charters can also be evergreen, which means that they automatically renew for successive terms unless the shipowner or the charterer elects to terminate the charter.
Third are bareboat charters under which the shipowner is paid a fixed amount of hire for a given period of time. The charterer is responsible for substantially all the costs of operating the vessel including voyage expenses, vessel operating expenses and technical and commercial management. Longer-term time charters and bareboat charters are sometimes known as period charters.
We also enter into contracts of affreightment which are contracts for multiple employments that provide for periodic adjustments, within prescribed ranges, to the charter rates. At the beginning of 2007 two of our vessels also operated within a pool of similar vessels whereby all income (less voyage expenses) is earned on a market basis and shared between pool participants on the basis of a formula which takes into account the vessels age, size and technical features. None of our vessels have operated in a pool since January, 2007.
The chartering strategy of the Company continues to be one of fixing the greater portion of our fleet on medium to long-term employment in order to secure a stable income flow, but one which also ensures a satisfactory return. This strategy has enabled the Company to level the affects of the cyclical nature of the tanker industry, achieving almost optimal utilization of the fleet. In order to capitalize on possible upturns in rates, the Company has chartered out several of its vessels on a market basis. We currently have 41 of our 44 vessels managed on time charter or other form of period employment, ensuring that at least 80% of 2008 availability and 62% of 2009 is already fixed.
The Board of Directors, through its Chartering Committee, formulates the chartering strategy of the Company and the Companys commercial manager Tsakos Energy Management implements this strategy through the technical manager, Tsakos Shipping. They evaluate the opportunities for each type of vessel, taking into account the strategic preference for medium and long-term charters and ensure optimal positioning to take account of redelivery opportunities at advantageous rates.
The cooperation with Tsakos Shipping enables the Company to take advantage of the long-established relationships they have built with many of the worlds major oil companies and refiners over 36 years of existence and high quality commercial and technical service. Tsakos Shipping manages the vessels of the Company plus another 21 operating vessels, mostly container vessels and single hull tankers. Apart from the customer relations, the
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Company is also able to take advantage of the inherent economies of scale associated with a large fleet manager and its commitment to contain running costs without jeopardizing the vessels operations. Tsakos Shipping provides top grade officers and crew for the Companys vessels and first class superintendent engineers and port captains to ensure that the vessels are in prime condition.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Companys significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the attached consolidated financial statements. The application of such policies may require management to make estimates and assumptions. We believe that the following are the more critical accounting estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements that involve a higher degree of judgment and could have a significant impact on our future consolidated results of operations and financial position:
Revenue recognition. Our vessels are employed under a variety of charter contracts, including time, bare-boat and voyage charters, contracts of affreightment and pool arrangements. Time and bare-boat charter revenues are recorded over the term of the charter as the service is provided. Revenues from voyage charters on the spot market or under contract of affreightment are recognized on the proportional performance method using the discharge to discharge basis. Vessel voyage and operating expenses and charter hire expense are accounted for in the period incurred on an accrual basis. Vessel voyage and operating expenses of vessels operating under a tanker pool are aggregated by the pool manager and net operating revenues, calculated on a time charter equivalent basis, are allocated to the pool participants according to an agreed upon formula. As at the reporting date, revenues from variable hire arrangements are recognized to the extent the amounts are fixed and determinable at that date.
Depreciation. We depreciate our vessels on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, after considering their estimated residual values, based on the assumed value of the scrap steel available for recycling after demolition, calculated at $180 per lightweight ton. As from January 1, 2008, the assumed value of scrap steel for the purpose of estimating the residual values of vessels is calculated at $300 per lightweight ton. We have taken this decision as steel prices and related scrap values have increased substantially over the past ten years and are currently at historically high levels. The impact of the increase in the scrap price used in the estimation of residual values will be a decrease in depreciation expense going forward. In assessing the useful lives of vessels, we have adopted the industry-wide accepted practice of assuming a vessel has a useful life of 25 years (40 years for the LNG carrier), given that all classification society rules have been adhered to concerning survey certification and statutory regulations are followed.
Impairment. The carrying value of the Companys vessels includes the original cost of the vessels plus capitalized expenses since acquisition relating to improvements and upgrading of the vessel, less accumulated depreciation. Carrying value also includes the unamortized portion of deferred special survey and dry-docking costs. The carrying value of vessels usually differs from the fair market value applicable to any vessel, as market values fluctuate continuously depending on the market supply and demand conditions for vessels, as determined primarily by prevailing freight rates and newbuilding costs.
In order to identify indicators of impairment, test for recoverability of each vessels carrying value and if necessary, measure the required impairment charges, management regularly compares each vessels carrying amount with the average of its fair market values as provided by two independent and reputable brokers. In the event that an indicator of impairment exists because a vessels carrying value is in excess of its fair market value, management estimates the undiscounted future cash flows to be generated by each of the Companys vessels in order to assess the recoverability of the vessels carrying value. These estimates are based on historical industry freight rate averages for each category of vessel taking into account the age, specifications and likely trading pattern of each vessel and the likely condition and operating costs of each vessel. Such estimations are inevitably subjective and actual freight rates may be volatile. As a consequence, estimations may differ considerably from actual results.
The estimations also take into account new regulations regarding the permissible trading of tankers depending on their structure and age. As a consequence of new European Union regulations effective from October 2003, the IMO adopted new regulations in December 2003 regarding early phase out of non-double hull tankers. At March 31, 2008, the Company owned only double-hulled vessels.
While management, therefore, is of the opinion that the assumptions it has used in assessing whether there are grounds for impairment are justifiable and reasonable, the possibility remains that conditions in future periods may vary significantly from current assumptions, which may result in a material impairment loss.
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In the event that the undiscounted future cash flows do not exceed a vessels carrying value, an impairment charge is required, and the vessels carrying value is written down to the fair market value as determined above. As vessel values are also volatile, the actual market value of a vessel may differ significantly from estimated values within a short period of time.
Allowance for doubtful accounts. Revenue is based on contracted charter parties and although our business is with customers whom we believe to be of the highest standard, there is always the possibility of dispute over terms and payment of freight and demurrage. In particular, disagreements may arise as to the responsibility for lost time and demurrage revenue due to the Company as a result. As such, we periodically assess the recoverability of amounts outstanding and we estimate a provision if there is a possibility of non-recoverability. Although we believe our provisions to be based on fair judgment at the time of their creation, it is possible that an amount under dispute is not ultimately recovered and the estimated provision for doubtful recoverability is inadequate.
Amortization of deferred charges. In accordance with Classification Society requirements, a special survey is performed on our vessels every five years. A further intermediate survey takes place in between special surveys, depending on the age of the vessel, generally every 5 years for vessels aged up to 10 years and every 2.5 years thereafter. In most cases a dry-docking is necessary with work undertaken to bring the vessel up to the condition required for the vessel to be given its classification certificate. The costs include the yard charges for labor, materials and services, possible new equipment and parts where required, plus part of the participating crew costs incurred during the survey period. We defer these charges and amortize them over the period up to the vessels next scheduled dry-docking.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157 Fair Value Measurements. The Statement provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. The Statement also responds to investors requests for expanded information about the extent to which, companies measure assets and liabilities at fair value, the information used to measure fair value, and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings. The Statement applies whenever other Statements require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. The standard does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances. Under the Statement, fair value refers to the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts. This Statement clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. In support of this principle, the Statement establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data, for example, the reporting entitys own data. Under the Statement fair value measurements would be separately disclosed by level within the fair value hierarchy. It is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt this pronouncement beginning in fiscal year 2008. The Company does not believe that the adoption of Statement 157 will have a material impact on its earnings and financial position.
In February 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position FASB 157-1 which amends SFAS No. 157 to exclude SFAS No. 13 Accounting for Leases and other accounting pronouncements that address fair value measurements for purposes of lease classification or measurement under Statement 13. This scope exception does not apply to assets and liabilities assumed in a business combination that are required to be measured at fair value under SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations, or No. 141(R) Business Combinations, regardless of whether those assets or liabilities are related to leases. In addition, in February 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position FASB 157-2 which delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The delay is intended to allow the Board and constituents additional time to consider the effect of various implementation issues that have arisen, or that may arise, from the application of SFAS No. 157. FASB Staff Position 157-2 defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years for items within its scope. The Company does not believe that the adoption of Statement 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities will have a material impact on its earnings and financial position.
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In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This Statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. The objective of the Statement is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings. It also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities. This Statement does not affect any existing accounting literature that requires certain assets and liabilities to be carried at fair value. The Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company does not believe that the adoption of Statement 159 will have a material impact on its earnings and financial position.
On December 4, 2007, the FASB issued Statement 141(R), Business Combinations and Statement 160, Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statementsan amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51. These new standards will significantly change the accounting for and reporting of business combination transactions and non-controlling (minority) interests in consolidated financial statements. Statement 141(R) and Statement 160 are required to be adopted simultaneously and are effective for the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Early adoption is prohibited. Statement 141(R) replaces Statement 141 Business Combinations, and establishes several new principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the goodwill acquired.
Statement 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent, the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the non-controlling interest, changes in a parents ownership interest and the valuation of retained non-controlling equity investments when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. The Statement also establishes disclosure requirements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners. It is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2009, and is required to be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which it initially applied, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which must be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of Statement 160 relative to the accounting for non-controlling (minority) interest.
In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The Statement is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entitys financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. It is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of Statement 161 on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.
Basis of Presentation and General Information
Voyage revenues. Revenues are generated from freight billings and time charters. Time and bare-boat charter revenues are recorded over the term of the charter as the service is provided. Revenues from voyage charters on the spot market or under contract of affreightment are recognized on the proportional performance method using the discharge to discharge basis. Net operating revenues of vessels operating under a tanker pool are calculated on a time charter equivalent basis and are allocated to the pool participants according to an agreed upon formula. Unearned revenue represents cash received prior to the year end and is related to revenue applicable to periods after December 31 of each year.
Time Charter Equivalent (TCE) allows vessel operators to compare the revenues of vessels that are on voyage charters with those on time charters. For vessels on voyage charters, we calculate TCE by taking revenues earned on the voyage and deducting the voyage costs and dividing by the actual number of net earning days, which does not take into account off-hire days. For vessels on bareboat charters, for which we do not incur either voyage or operating costs, we calculate TCE by taking revenues earned on the charter and adding a representative amount for the vessels operating expenses. TCE differs from average daily revenue earned in that TCE is based on revenues before commissions and does not take into account off-hire days.
Commissions. We pay commissions on all chartering arrangements to Tsakos Shipping, as our broker, and to any other broker we employ. Each of these commissions generally amounts to 1.25% of the daily charter hire or lump sum amount payable under the charter. In addition, on some trade routes, we may pay the charterer an address commission ranging from 1.25% to 3.75% of the daily charter hire or lump sum amount payable under the charter. These commissions, as well as changes in prevailing charter rates, will cause our commission expenses to fluctuate from period to period.
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Voyage expenses. Voyage expenses include all our costs, other than vessel operating expenses, that are related to a voyage, including port charges, canal dues and bunker fuel costs.
Charter hire expense. We hire certain vessels from third-party owners or operators for a contracted period and rate in order to charter the vessels to our customers. These vessels may be hired when an appropriate market opportunity arises or as part of a sale and lease back transaction. Currently, we hire two vessels (Cape Baker and Cape Balboa), which have been hired as part of sale and leaseback transactions as described in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Vessel operating expenses. These expenses consist primarily of manning, hull and machinery insurance, P&I insurance, repairs and maintenance and stores and lubricant costs.
Management fees. These are the fixed fees we pay to Tsakos Energy Management under our management agreement with them. As of January 1, 2003, all vessels had a management fee of $15,000 per month until June 30, 2004. Beginning July 1, 2004, the amount increased to $18,000 monthly, except for chartered-in vessels, where the fee decreased to $12,500 per month. The management agreement has been amended effective January 1, 2007, to raise the monthly fee to $20,000 per owned vessel and $15,000 for vessels chartered-in or chartered out on a bare-boat basis. Additionally, according to the same amendments, from January 1, 2008, there is a prorated adjustment if at beginning of the year the Euro has appreciated by 10% or more against the U.S. Dollar since January 1, 2007, and an increase each year by a percentage figure reflecting 12 month Euribor, if both parties agree. As a consequence, from January 1, 2008, monthly fees for operating vessels have been increased to $23,000 and, for chartered-in vessels, to $17,000.
Depreciation. We depreciate our vessels on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, after considering their estimated scrap values, calculated at $180 per lightweight ton ($300 per lightweight ton from January 1, 2008). In assessing the useful lives of vessels, we have estimated them to be 25 years (40 years for the LNG carrier), which is in line with the industry wide accepted practice, assuming that all classification society rules have been adhered to concerning survey certification and statutory regulations are followed. Useful life is ultimately dependent on customer demand and if customers were to reject our vessels, either because of new regulations or internal specifications, then the useful life of the vessel will require revision.
Amortization of deferred charges. We amortize the costs of dry-docking and special surveys of each of our ships over the period up to the ships next scheduled dry-docking (generally every 5 years for vessels aged up to 10 years and every 2.5 years thereafter). These charges are part of the normal costs we incur in connection with the operation of our fleet.
Impairment loss. An impairment loss for an asset held for use should be recognized when indicators of impairment exist and when the estimate of undiscounted cash flows, expected to be generated by the use of the asset is less than its carrying amount (the vessels net book value plus any unamortized deferred dry-docking charges). Measurement of the impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset as provided by third parties. In this respect, management reviews regularly the carrying amount of the vessels in connection with the estimated recoverable amount for each of the Companys vessels. There were no impairment losses in the years 2003 to 2007.
As at December 31, 2007, the market value of our fleet (excluding two chartered-in vessels) was approximately $3.0 billion, according to valuations received from an independent and reputable broker. On the basis of these valuations, we determined that no impairment of the carrying value of any vessel, including older vessels, was required.
General and administrative expenses. These expenses consist primarily of professional fees, office supplies, investor relations, advertising costs, directors liability insurance, and reimbursement of our directors and officers travel-related expenses.
Financial Analysis
(Percentage changes are based on the full numbers in the accompanying consolidated financial statements)
Year ended December 31, 2007 versus year ended December 31, 2006
Voyage revenues
Revenue from vessels was $500.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to $427.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2006, a 17.1% increase primarily resulting from an increase in the number of vessels to an average of 41.7 in 2007 from an average of 33.8 in 2006. The average time charter
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equivalent rate per vessel achieved for the year 2007 was $29,421 per day compared to $30,154 for the previous year. During the course of 2007, one LNG carrier, two ice-class suezmax tankers, two aframax tankers and four ice-class handysize product carriers were newly-delivered to the Company. Three vessels were sold. The fleet had 96.6% employment compared to 97.4% in the previous year, mainly because dry-docking activity was higher in 2007.
Commissions
Commissions during 2007 amounted to $18.0 million, or 3.6% of revenue from vessels, a similar percentage to the prior year in which commissions totaled $15.4 million.
Voyage expenses
Voyage expenses include all our costs, other than vessel operating expenses and commissions that are related to a voyage, including port charges, agents fees, canal dues and bunker (fuel) costs. Voyage expenses were $72.1 million during 2007 compared to $69.1 million during the prior year, a 4.4% increase, despite the fact that the total operating days on spot charter and contract of affreightment totaled only 3,526 days in 2007 compared to 5,559 days in 2006. Although voyage expenses are highly dependent on the voyage patterns followed, much of the increase can be explained by the average cost of bunkers (fuel), which accounts for 64% of total voyage expenses in 2007, increasing by over 70% from 2006 to 2007 due to further significant increases in the price of oil during 2007. Port expenses also increased over the prior year.
Charter hire expense
Charter hire expense was $15.3 million for 2007 and $24.5 million for 2006. During 2007 and 2006, two vessels, Cape Baker and Cape Balboa, were time chartered in throughout the entire year, while Olympia was also chartered in throughout 2006 until its re-purchase in January 2007.
Vessel operating expenses
Vessel operating expenses include crew costs, maintenance, repairs, spares, stores, lubricants, insurance and sundry expenses such as tonnage tax, registration fees and communication costs. Total operating costs were $108.4 million during 2007 compared to $76.1 million during 2006, an increase of 42.4% due to the increase in the size of the fleet and an increase of costs.
Operating expenses per ship per day for the fleet increased to $7,669 for 2007 from $6,979 in 2006, a 10% increase. This increase was primarily due to significant increases in crew costs due to pay increases and because of the 10% appreciation of the Euro during 2007 which also primarily affected crew costs. Also, advantage was taken of the dry-dockings of the older VLCCs and other vessels during 2007 to undertake delayed routine repairs and replacements, the costs of which were necessarily expensed as they were not part of the cost of dry-dockings.
Depreciation
Depreciation was $81.6 million during 2007 compared to $59.1 million during 2006, an increase of 38.1%, due to the addition of nine new, mostly high-value vessels offset by the sale of three older vessels, the aframaxes Maria Tsakos and Athens 2004, and the panamax Bregen.
Amortization
We amortize the cost of dry-docking and special surveys over the period to the next dry-docking, and this amortization is included as part of the normal costs we incur in connection with the operation of our vessels. During 2007, amortization of deferred dry-docking charges was $3.2 million compared to $4.9 million during 2006, a decrease of 33.8%. The decrease was mainly due to the sale of three vessels in 2007 on which there were still balances of unamortized deferred dry-docking charges which were included in determination of gains on sale and because the dry-dockings in 2007 mostly took place in the second half of the year.
Management fees
Management fees are the fixed fees per vessel the Company pays to Tsakos Energy Management Limited under a management agreement between the companies. During 2007, the Company paid to Tsakos Energy Management Limited fixed monthly fees per vessel under the management agreement. The monthly fee during 2007 was $20,000 and in 2006 was $18,000 for all vessels except the chartered-in vessels, where the fee was $15,000 and
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$12,500 per month respectively. The fee pays for services that cover both the management of the individual vessels and of the Company as a whole. Management fees totaled $9.8 million for 2007 compared to $7.1 million for 2006, an increase of 37.4%, due both to the increase in number of vessels in the fleet and the increase in monthly fees.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of professional fees, office supplies, advertising costs, directors liability insurance, directors fees and reimbursement of our directors and officers travel-related expenses. General and administrative expenses were $4.4 million during 2007 compared to $3.5 million during 2006, an increase of 24.8 % due mainly to increases in audit fees.
Total general and administrative expenses plus management fees paid to Tsakos Energy Management Limited represent the overhead of the Company. On a per vessel basis, daily overhead costs were $930 in 2007 compared to $860 in 2006, mainly due to the increase in audit fees. If the incentive award and staff compensation expense described below are taken into account, the 2007 daily overhead cost per vessel is $ 1,565 compared to $1,162 for 2006.
Management incentive award
In accordance with the management agreement between the Company and Tsakos Energy Management Limited and as approved by the Board of Directors, $4.0 million was paid in April 2008 to Tsakos Energy Management Limited due to the success of the Company during 2007 in achieving a return of 24.2% on opening equity for 2007. In the previous year, an award of $3.5 million was achieved for exceeding a 25% target.
Stock compensation expense
In January 2007, officers and staff of the commercial and technical managers and of the vessels were informed that there would be an issuance of 580,000 restricted share units (RSUs), 50% of which would vest on December 31, 2008 and the remaining 50% on December 31, 2010. These units were issued on March 7, 2007. On June 1, 2006, 20,000 RSUs had been issued to be shared between the non-executive directors. These RSUs vested 100% on June 1, 2007. A further 4,650 RSUs were issued on June 1, 2007 to be shared between the non-executive directors which vest 100% on June 1, 2008. 1,000 RSUs were issued on June 1, 2007 to one non-executive director, vesting immediately. The compensation expense of $5.7 million represents the combined amortization. In 2006, an amount of $0.2 million was amortized and included in General and Administrative expenses. The 2006 amortization has been reclassified to be shown separately as Stock compensation expense.
Amortization of the deferred gain on the sale of vessels.
The Company sold two suezmaxes in a sale and leaseback transaction during 2003. The total gain of $15.8 million was deferred and is being amortized over the five year minimum charter period to late 2008. The amortization of this gain amounted to $3.2 million for both 2007 and 2006. In the fourth quarter of 2008, both vessels will be re-acquired by the Company in accordance with the related repurchase option which has been recently exercised.
Gain on sale of vessels
During 2007, the Company sold the aframax tankers Maria Tsakos and Athens 2004 to the same buyer for a total of $122.1 million, resulting in a combined gain of $61.8 million, and the panamax Bregen was also sold for $22.9 million resulting in a gain of $6.4 million. Further sundry capital gains amounted to $0.7 million. In 2006, the Company sold three operating tankers for gains totaling $38.0 million.
Operating income
Income from vessel operations was $249.7 million during 2007 versus $205.2 million during 2006, a 21.7% increase.
Gain on sale of shares in subsidiary
During the fourth quarter 2006, the Company sold to FLOPEC of Ecuador 49% of the shares of the holding company of the two vessel-owning companies which hold the panamax vessels Maya and Inca. The sale resulted in recognition of a gain of $25.3 million. There were no sales of shares in subsidiaries during 2007.
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Interest and finance costs, net
Interest and finance costs, net were $77.4 million for 2007 compared to $42.5 million for 2006, an 82.1% increase. Loan interest, after the receipt of swap interest, increased to $77.0 million from $54.7 million, a 40.9% increase. Total weighted average bank loans outstanding were approximately $1,365 million for 2007 compared to $933 million for 2006. The average loan financing cost in 2007, considering the impact of swap interest, was 5.60% compared to 5.59% for 2007.
There was a net negative movement of $7.8 million in the fair value (mark-to-market) of the non-hedging interest rate swaps in 2007 compared to a positive $2.6 million for 2006.
Capitalized interest in 2007 was $8.9 million compared to $12.5 million in the previous year. The decline is due primarily to the decrease in the number of vessels under construction, nine newbuildings being delivered in 2007, leaving only eight to be delivered over the following two years.
Amortization of loan expenses was $0.9 million in 2007 and $1.5 million in 2006. Other loan charges, including commitment fees were $0.6 million in 2007 and $1.4 million in 2006.
Interest and investment income
Interest and investment income derived from bank deposits and investments, including the net positive changes in the market values of the investments and net gains on disposal of investments, was $13.3 million for 2007 as compared to $7.2 million for 2006. The increase is mainly due to the increase in the value of investments and to the increase in the amount of cash balances.
Minority interest
The amount earned by the minority (49%) interest in the shareholding of the subsidiary which owns the owning companies of the vessels Maya and Inca was $3.4 million in 2007 compared to $0.2 million in 2006. The sale of the shares took place in mid-December 2006.
Net income
As a result of the foregoing, net income for 2007 was $183.2 million, or $4.79 per diluted share versus $196.4 million or $5.15 per diluted share for 2006.
Year ended December 31, 2006 versus year ended December 31, 2005
Voyage revenues
Revenue from vessels was $427.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 as compared to $295.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2005, a 44.7% increase partly resulting from an increase in the number of vessels from an average of 26.1 in 2005 to an average of 33.8 in 2006, and partly from the improvement in charter rates. The average time charter equivalent rate per vessel achieved for the year 2006 was $30,154 per day compared to $28,645 for the previous year. During the course of 2006, one VLCC, two new ice-class suezmaxes, three new ice-class LR2 aframax product carriers, six new ice-class MR2 handymax product carriers, and three new handysize product carriers were acquired or newly-delivered. Three vessels were sold. The fleet had 97.4% employment compared to 96.5% in the previous year, mainly because dry-docking activity was slightly less in 2006.
Commissions
Commissions were $15.4 million, or 3.6% of revenue from vessels, during 2006, compared to $11.6 million, 3.9% of revenue from vessels, for 2005. The decrease was due to changes in employment of several vessels to charter arrangements where lower commission was charged. The newly acquired vessels were employed on similar charters.
Voyage expenses
Voyage expenses include all our costs, other than vessel operating expenses and commissions, that are related to a voyage, including port charges, agents fees, canal dues and bunker (fuel) costs. Voyage expenses were $69.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to $36.0 million during the prior year, a 92.0% increase. Although voyage expenses are highly dependent on the voyage patterns followed, much of the increase can be explained by the fact that the total operating days on spot charter and contract of affreightment increased from
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3,503 days in 2005 to 5,559 days in 2006. In addition, the cost of bunkers (fuel) which accounts for 68% total voyage expenses in 2006 increased by 26% from 2005 to 2006 due to the significant increase in the price of oil during 2006.
Charter hire expense
Charter hire expense was $24.3 million for 2005 and $24.5 million for 2006, with the same three vessels chartered in throughout the entire year, Olympia, Cape Baker and Cape Balboa.
Vessel operating expenses
Vessel operating expenses include crew costs, maintenance, repairs, spares, stores, lubricants, insurance and sundry expenses such as tonnage tax, registration fees and communication costs. Total operating costs were $76.1 million during 2006 compared to $52.9 million during 2005, an increase of 43.7%. This increase is directly related to the increase in the size of the fleet.
Operating expenses per ship per day for the fleet increased from $6,534 for 2005 to $6,979 for 2006, a 6.8% increase. This increase primarily reflects increases in lubricant prices and insurance premiums.
Depreciation
Depreciation was $59.1 million during 2006 compared to $35.7 million during 2005, an increase of 65.4%, due to the addition of fifteen new, mostly high-value vessels offset by the sale of two small older vessels, Libra and Crux, and the panamax Aztec.
Amortization
We amortize the cost of dry-docking and special surveys over the period to the next dry-docking, and this amortization is included as part of the normal costs we incur in connection with the operation of our vessels. During 2006, amortization of deferred dry-docking charges was $4.9 million as compared to $6.6 million during 2005, a decrease of 26.2%. The decrease was partly due to the sale of two vessels in 2006 on which there were still balances of unamortized deferred dry-docking charges which is included in determination of gains on sale and the fact that only two vessels had completed dry-docking during 2006.
Management fees
Management fees are the fixed fees per vessel the Company pays to Tsakos Energy Management Limited under a management agreement between the companies. During 2006, the Company paid to Tsakos Energy Management Limited fixed monthly fees per vessel under the management agreement. The monthly fee during 2006 and 2005 was $18,000 for all vessels except the chartered-in vessels, where the fee was $12,500 per month. The fee pays for services that cover both the management of the individual vessels and of the Company as a whole. Management fees totaled $7.1 million for 2006 compared to $5.5 million for 2005, an increase of 30.1%, due to the increase in number of vessels in the fleet.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of professional fees, office supplies, advertising costs, directors liability insurance, directors fees and reimbursement of our directors and officers travel-related expenses. General and administrative expenses were $3.5 million during 2006 compared to $3.6 million during 2005.
Total general and administrative expenses plus management fees paid to Tsakos Energy Management Limited represents the overhead of the Company. On a per vessel basis, daily overhead costs decreased from $954 in 2005 to $860 in 2006, mainly due to an increase in professional fees. If the incentive award and stock compensation expense described below are taken into account, the 2006 daily overhead cost is $1,162 compared to $1,217 for 2005.
Management incentive award
In accordance with the management agreement between the Company and Tsakos Energy Management Limited, $3.5 million is due as an award to Tsakos Energy Management Limited due to the success of the Company during 2006 for exceeding a targeted return of 25% on opening equity for 2006. In the previous year, an award of $2.5 million was achieved for exceeding the 25% target.
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Stock compensation expense
On June 1, 2006, 20,000 RSUs had been issued to be shared between the non-executive directors and vesting 100% on June 1, 2007. An amount of $216 was amortized and was included in General and Administrative expenses.
Amortization of the deferred gain on the sale of vessels
The Company sold two suezmaxes in a sale and leaseback transaction during 2003. The total gain of $15.8 million was deferred and is being amortized over the five year minimum charter period. The amortization of this gain amounted to $3.2 million for both 2005 and 2006.
Gain on sale of vessels
During 2006, the Company sold the handysize product carriers Libra and Crux to the same buyer for a total of $32.3 million, resulting in a gain of $13.3 million, and the panamax Aztec was also sold for $58.5 million resulting in a gain of $24.7 million. In 2005, the Company sold five operating tankers for gains totaling $34.5 million.
Operating income
Income from vessel operations was $205.2 million during 2006 versus $154.8 million during 2005, a 32.6% increase.
Gain on the sale of non-operating vessels
There were no sales of non-operating vessels during 2006. During 2005, one newbuilding hull was sold resulting in a gain of $10.8 million.
Gain on sale of shares in subsidiary
During the fourth quarter 2006, the Company completed its sale to FLOPEC of Ecuador 49% of the shares of the holding company of the two vessel-owning companies which hold the panamax vessels Maya and Inca. The sale resulted in recognition of a gain of $25.3 million. There were no sales of shares in subsidiaries during 2005.
Interest and finance costs, net
Interest and finance costs, net were $42.5 million for 2006 compared to $11.2 million for 2005, a 277.8% increase. Loan interest increased to $54.7 million from $19.1 million, a 186.4% increase. Total weighted average bank loans outstanding were approximately $933 million for 2006 compared to $416 million for 2005. The average loan financing cost in 2006, considering the impact of swap interest, was 5.59% compared to 4.40% for 2005.
There was a net positive movement of $2.6 million, including reclassification adjustments on undesignated cash flow hedges, in the fair value (mark-to-market) of the non-hedging interest rate swaps in 2006 compared to $3.2 million for 2005. During 2005 a deferred gain on the termination of an interest rate swap of $1.7 million was fully recognized in income on repayment of the related loan.
Capitalized interest in 2006 was $12.5 million compared to $5.3 million in the previous year, due to the additional number of vessels under construction during 2006, as well as the increase in interest rates.
Amortization of loan expenses was $1.5 million in 2006 and $1.0 million in 2005. Other loan charges, including commitment fees were $1.4 million in both 2006 and 2005.
Interest and investment income
Interest and investment income derived from bank deposits and investments, including the net positive changes in the market values of the investments, was $7.2 million for 2006 as compared to $7.4 million for 2005.
Net income
As a result of the foregoing, net income for 2006 was $196.4 million, or $5.15 per diluted share versus $161.8 million or $4.09 per diluted share for 2005, an increase of 25.9% per share.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity requirements relate to servicing our debt, funding the equity portion of investments in vessels, funding working capital and controlling fluctuations in cash flow. Net cash flow generated by operations is our main source of liquidity. Apart from the possibility of securing further equity, additional sources of cash include proceeds from asset sales and borrowings, although all borrowing arrangements to date have specifically related to the acquisition of vessels.
We believe that, unless there is a major and sustained downturn in market conditions, our financial resources are sufficient to meet our liquidity needs through January 1, 2010, taking into account both our existing capital commitments and the minimum debt service requirements as defined by our loan covenants.
Working capital (non-restricted net current assets) amounted to approximately $109.9 million at December 31, 2007 compared to $116.7 million at December 31, 2006. Current assets increased from $222.5 million at December 31, 2006 to $276.1 million at December 31, 2007 mainly due to an increase in amounts receivable (trade accounts and insurance claims) and the inclusion of the net book value of the vessel Olympia the sale of which had been agreed in 2007 for delivery at the first mutually convenient point in 2008. There was also an increase in cash balances (including restricted cash) which, as at December 31, 2007, amounted to $188.3 million compared to $178.9 million a year previously. However, current liabilities also increased considerably from $101.4 million to $159.3 million at December 31, 2007 due mainly to increases in the current portion of long-term debt by approximately $21 million and trade payables and accrued loan interest, again related to the significant deliveries of new vessels and associated debt. More significantly, negative valuation on interest rate swaps increased by approximately $25 million as forward interests fell.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $190.6 million during 2007 compared to $215.0 million in the previous year, an 11.1% decrease. Despite increased revenue generated by the increase in fleet size, higher vessel operating expenses due to fleet size and higher costs and increased finance costs eroded much of the cash benefits from operations.
Expenditure for dry-dockings is deducted from cash generated by operating activities. Total expenditure during 2007 on dry-dockings amounted to $9.7 million compared to $4.9 million in 2006. In 2007, dry-docking work was performed on the Silia T., Triathlon, La Prudencia and La Madrina. In 2006, dry-dock work related to special surveys was completed on the Libra, Hesnes and Opal Queen.
Net cash used in investing activities was $375.6 million for the year 2007, compared to $829.3 million for 2006. In 2007, the Company took delivery of and paid the final installments on the LNG carrier Neo Energy, the two ice-class suezmaxes Arctic and Antarctic, the two aframaxes Izumo Princess and Sakura Princess and the four product carriers Aegeas, Andromeda, Byzantion and Bosporos. Total payments, including the cost of upgrading the Vergina II to double-hull, amounted to $421.2 million. Installments amounting to $111.1 million were also paid on the remaining vessels to be delivered, two panamaxes in the first quarter of 2008, two aframaxes in the last quarter of 2008, three further aframaxes in 2009 and the final aframax in early 2010. During 2006, the Company paid $813.2 million to acquire eight vessels, the contracts for the construction of five product carriers and to take delivery of two suezmaxes and two handysize product carrier newbuildings. A further $152.8 million was paid on installments on the vessels still under construction at the end of 2006.
During 2007 the Company entered into contracts to construct another two aframaxes, bringing the total number of vessels on order at December 31, 2007 to eight.
The anticipated payment schedule on these vessels as of December 31, 2007, which is subject to change for delays or advanced work, is as follows (in $ millions):
Contractual Obligations |
Prior to 2007 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Total | ||||||
Quarter 1 |
23.6 | 42.4 | ||||||||||
Quarter 2 |
5.9 | |||||||||||
Quarter 3 |
0 | 60.2 | ||||||||||
Quarter 4 |
90.0 | 90.8 | ||||||||||
Total Year |
57.2 | 101.1 | 119.5 | 151.0 | 42.4 | 471.2 | ||||||
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In 2007, the Company sold the panamax Bregen and the aframaxes Maria Tsakos and Athens 2004, and net sale proceeds amounted to $142.4 million. Net sale proceeds in 2006 from the sale of the handymax product carriers Libra and Crux, and the panamax Aztec, amounted to $88.7 million. Also, during 2006, the Company sold 49% of the shares of the holding company of the two vessel-owning companies holding the panamax vessels Maya and Inca, for net proceeds of $25.3 million. In 2007, the Company acquired shares in a private U.S. company under development for an amount of $1.0 million and sold existing investments for $15.2 million. In 2006, the Company placed $5.0 million in a structured note, but later sold the same investment and other existing investments for $27.6 million.
Net cash derived from financing activities was $191.9 million in 2007 compared to $643.1 million cash in 2006. Proceeds from new bank loans in 2007 amounted to $342.3 million compared to $992.3 million in the previous year. Prepayments of debt amounted to $59.4 million and scheduled repayments to $26.6 million in 2007 compared to total loan reimbursements of $292.1 million in 2006. During 2007, 20,800 shares were repurchased as part of the share buy-back program at a cost of $1.3 million. During 2006, the Company purchased 143,200 shares at a cost of approximately $5.3 million. All the transactions were open market based through the New York Stock Exchange with a maximum price set by the Board of Directors. The shares were immediately deemed cancelled on purchase in accordance with the Companys bye-laws and Bermudan legislation.
A cash dividend of $0.75 was paid in April 2007 representing the final dividend for the fiscal year 2006 and a $0.825 dividend was paid in October 2007 as the first dividend for the fiscal year 2007. In total, the two dividends amounted to $60 million. A final dividend of $0.90 per share for the fiscal year 2007 has been declared on March 14, 2008, to be paid on April 30, 2008. The dividend policy of the Company is to pay between 25% and 50% of the net income in any given year, payable in two installments, the first prior to the end of the year based on expected earnings and cash requirements, and the final portion in the early part of the following year based on final earnings and cash requirements. The payment and the amount is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and depends, among other things, on available cash balances, anticipated cash needs, our results of operations, our financial condition, and any loan agreement restrictions binding us or our subsidiaries, as well as other relevant factors.
Investment in Fleet and Related Expenses
We operate in a capital-intensive industry requiring extensive investment in revenue-producing assets. As discussed previously in the sections on Business Overview and Our Fleet we continue to have an active fleet development program resulting in a fleet of modern and young vessels with an average age of 5.6 years at March 31, 2008. We raise the funds for such investments in newbuildings mainly from borrowings and partly out of internally generated funds. Newbuilding contracts generally provide for multiple staged payments of 5% to 10%, with the balance of the vessel purchase price paid upon delivery. For the equity portion of an investment in a newbuilding or a second-hand vessel the Company usually pays from its own cash approximately 30% of the contract price. Repayment of the debt incurred to purchase the vessel is made from vessel operating cash flow, typically over eight to twelve years, compared to the vessels asset life of approximately 25 years (LNG carrier 40 years).
As of December 31, 2007, we were committed to eight newbuilding contracts totaling approximately $468.5 million, of which $158.2 million had been paid by December 31, 2007. Deliveries to date within 2008 include the panamaxes Selecao on February 12 and Socrates on March 14 (final delivery payments $24.3 million, loan drawn $25.3 million).
Debt
As is customary in our industry, we anticipate financing the majority of our commitments on the newbuildings with bank debt. Usually we raise at least 70% of the vessel purchase price with bank debt for a period of between eight and twelve years (while the expected life of a tanker is 25 years and an LNG carrier is 40 years). As of December 31, 2007, we had available unused loan amounts totaling $274.5 million, of which $170.4 million has been arranged to finance the delivery installments of vessels under construction and due in 2008, and the remaining $104.1 million represents undrawn amounts on facilities arranged for the financing of vessels delivered prior to December 31, 2007.
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Summary of Loan Movements Throughout 2007 (in $ millions):
Loan |
Vessel |
Balance at January 1, 2007 |
New Loans |
Repaid | Balance at December 31, 2007 | |||||
12-year term loan |
Opal Queen | 22.7 | 0 | 1.8 | 20.9 | |||||
Credit facility |
La Madrina, Hesnes, Vergina II, Victory III, Sakura Princess | 162.2 | 41.8 | 67.2 | 136.8 | |||||
Credit facility |
Silia T, Andes, Didimon, Antares, Izumo Princess, Aegeas. | 142.4 | 56.3 | 0 | 198.7 | |||||
Credit facility |
Millennium, Parthenon, Marathon, Triathlon, Eurochampion 2004, Euronike | 234.8 | 0 | 0 | 234.8 | |||||
Credit facility |
Archangel, Alaska, Arctic, Antarctic | 73.6 | 70.8 | 7.6 | 136.8 | |||||
Credit facility |
Delphi, La Prudencia, Byzantion, Bosporos | 80.7 | 43.5 | 2.7 | 121.5 | |||||
Credit facility |
Artemis, Afrodite, Ariadne, Ajax, Apollon, Aris, Proteas Promitheas, Propontis | 327.3 | 0 | 0 | 327.3 | |||||
10-year term loan |
Arion | 25.0 | 0 | 1.6 | 23.4 | |||||
Credit facility |
Maya, Inca | 65.0 | 0 | 4.4 | 60.6 | |||||
10-year term loan |
Andromeda | 0 | 25.0 | 0.8 | 24.2 | |||||
Credit facility |
Neo Energy | 0 | 104.9 | 0 | 104.9 | |||||
Total |
1,133.7 | 342.3 | 86.1 | 1,389.9 | ||||||
As a result of such financing activities, long-term debt increased in 2007 by a net amount of $256.2 million, compared to a net increase of $700.1 million in 2006. The average debt to capital ratio was 61.9% by December 31, 2007 or, in net terms, 58.6 %. In terms of liabilities against assets at fair value, our leverage at December 31, 2007, was 38.7%, well below the loan covenant maximum of 70%. Interest payable is usually at a variable rate, based on six-month LIBOR plus a margin. Interest rate swap instruments currently cover approximately 61 % of the outstanding debt, and further coverage is being arranged with major banks.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
Long-term Contractual Obligations as of December 31, 2007 (in $ millions) were:
Contractual Obligations |
Total | Less than 1 year (2008) |
1-3 years (2009-2010) |
3-5 years (2011-2012) |
More than 5 years (After January 1, 2013) | |||||
Long-Term Debt Obligations (excluding interest)1 |
1,389.9 | 44.4 | 174.2 | 190.2 | 981.1 | |||||
Operating Lease Obligations |
13.9 | 13.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Purchase Obligations (newbuildings)2 |
312.9 | 119.5 | 193.4 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Management Fees (based on existing fleet plus contracted future deliveries as at December 31, 2007) |
126.2 | 12.9 | 26.5 | 26.9 | 59.9 | |||||
Total |
1,842.9 | 190.7 | 394.1 | 217.1 | 1,040.0 |
1 |
Estimates of interest payments are not included in the above table. The majority of loans bear interest rates at LIBOR plus a margin within the range of 50 to 100 basis points as at December 31, 2007, with the exception of loans amounting to $116.6 million which bear fixed interest at 5.19%. Also, the table does not include an additional $24.3 million indebtedness incurred in 2008. |
2 |
The above table does not include options to purchase the Cape Baker and Cape Balboa which were exercised in 2008. |
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Item 6. | Directors, Senior Management and Employees |
The following table sets forth, as of March 31, 2008, information for each of our directors and senior managers.
Name |
Age | Positions |
Year First Elected | |||
D. John Stavropoulos |
75 | Chairman of the Board | 1994 | |||
Nikolas P. Tsakos |
44 | President and Chief Executive Officer | 1993 | |||
Michael G. Jolliffe |
58 | Deputy Chairman of the Board | 1993 | |||
George V. Saroglou |
43 | Chief Operating Officer, Director | 2001 | |||
Paul Durham |
57 | Chief Financial Officer | | |||
Vladimir Jadro |
62 | Chief Marine Officer | | |||
Torben Janholt |
61 | Director | 2002 | |||
Peter Nicholson |
74 | Director | 1993 | |||
Francis T. Nusspickel |
67 | Director | 2004 | |||
William ONeil |
80 | Director | 2004 | |||
Aristides A.N. Patrinos |
60 | Director | 2006 |
Certain biographical information about each of these individuals is set forth below.
D. JOHN STAVROPOULOS
CHAIRMAN
Mr. Stavropoulos served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of The First National Bank of Chicago and its parent, First Chicago Corporation, before retiring in 1990 after 33 years with the bank. He chaired the banks Credit Strategy Committee, Country Risk Management Council and Economic Council. His memberships in professional societies have included Robert Morris Associates (national director), the Association of Reserve City Bankers and the Financial Analysts Federation. Mr. Stavropoulos was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve for life on the Presidential Credit Standards Advisory Committee. Mr. Stavropoulos was a director of CIPSCO from 1979 to 1992, an instructor of Economics and Finance at Northwestern University from 1962 to 1968, serves as a life member on the Alumni Advisory Board of the Kellogg School of Management and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
NIKOLAS P. TSAKOS
PRESIDENT
Mr. Tsakos has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company since inception. Mr. Tsakos is the sole shareholder of Tsakos Energy Management Limited. He has been involved in ship management since 1981 and has 36 months of seafaring experience. He is the former President of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Agency (HELMEPA). Mr. Tsakos is a member of the council of the Independent Tanker Owners Association (INTERTANKO), a board member of the UK P&I Club, a board member of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS), a council member of the board of the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee (GSCC) and a council member of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV) and of the Greek Committee of Det Norske Veritas (DNV). He graduated from Columbia University in New York in 1985 with a degree in Economics and Political Science and obtained a Masters Degree in Shipping, Trade and Finance from the City of London University Business School in 1987. Mr. Tsakos served as an officer in the Hellenic Navy in 1988.
MICHAEL G. JOLLIFFE
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Mr. Jolliffe has been Chairman of Wigham-Richardson Shipbrokers Ltd., one of the oldest established shipbroking companies in the City of London, since 1987 and Chairman of Shipping Spares Repairs and Supplies Ltd., an agency company based in Piraeus, Greece since 1976. Additionally, Mr. Jolliffe has been the President of Eurotrans Hermes Hellas S.A., the Greek agent for various manufacturers of trams, buses and trains since 2002. Mr. Jolliffe is also the Joint President of Hanjin Eurobulk Ltd., a joint venture between Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd., of Seoul, Korea and Wigham-Richardson Shipbrokers Ltd. Mr. Jolliffe is Deputy Chairman of Lannet, a telephone company quoted on the Athens Stock Exchange. He is also Chairman of StealthGas Inc, a shipping company whose common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
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GEORGE V. SAROGLOU
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Mr. Saroglou has been Chief Operating Officer of the Company since 1996. Mr. Saroglou is a shareholder and director of Pansystems S.A., a leading Greek information technology systems integrator, where he also worked from 1987 until 1994. From 1995 to 1996 he was employed in the Trading Department of the Tsakos Group. He graduated from McGill University in Canada in 1987 with a Bachelors Degree in Science (Mathematics).
PAUL DURHAM
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mr. Durham joined the Tsakos Group in 1999 and has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer since 2000. Mr. Durham is a United Kingdom Chartered Accountant. From 1989 through 1998, Mr. Durham was employed in Athens with the Latsis Group, a shipping, refinery and banking enterprise, becoming Financial Director of Shipping in 1995. From 1983 to 1989, Mr. Durham was employed by RJR Nabisco Corporation, serving as audit manager for Europe, Asia and Africa until 1986 and then as financial controller of one of their United Kingdom food divisions. Mr. Durham worked with Ernst & Young (London and Paris) from 1972 to 1979 and Deloitte & Touche (Chicago and Athens) from 1979 to 1983.
VLADIMIR JADRO
CHIEF MARINE OFFICER
Mr. Jadro joined Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited in February 2006. He was appointed Chief Marine Officer of the Company in June 2006. Mr. Jadro was employed by Exxon/ExxonMobil Corp. from 1980 until 2004 in various technical and operational positions including: operations, repairs, new building constructions, off shore conversions and projects of the marine department of ExxonMobil Corp. He was in charge of various tankers and gas carriers from 28,000 dwt to 409,000 dwt, and responsible for the company vetting system. He was also involved in the development of oil companies international SIRE vessel inspection system. From 1978 until 1980 he was employed by the Bethlehem Steel shipyard in charge of machinery repairs, dry-dockings and steel renewals. From 1967 until 1977, Mr. Jadro was employed on various tankers starting as third engineer and advancing to Chief Engineer.
TORBEN JANHOLT
DIRECTOR
Mr. Janholt has been President and Chief Executive Officer of J. Lauritzen A/S, a major Danish ship-owning and trading company, since 1998. Between 1995 and 1998 he was Director OTS of the United Nations World Food Programme based in Rome. In 1992, he took a position as director with the Armada A/S shipping group. Prior to 1992, Mr. Janholt held various senior positions within the Lauritzen Group, including Managing Director of Lauritzen Naval Madrid from 1990 to 1992 and Senior Vice President of J. Lauritzen USA Inc. New York from 1982 to 1989. Mr. Janholt is either Chairman or a board member for various companies in the J.Lauritzen Group and Chairman of the Danish Shipowners Association. Mr. Janholt is also a member of the executive committee of the International Chamber of Shipping and a member of the Board of the European Community Shipowners Association.
PETER NICHOLSON
DIRECTOR
Mr. Nicholson is trained as a naval architect and spent the majority of his professional career with Camper & Nicholson Limited, the world-famous yacht builder. He became Managing Director of the firm and later, Chairman. When Camper & Nicholson merged with Crest Securities to form Crest Nicholson Plc in 1972, Mr. Nicholson became an executive director, a role he held until 1988 when he became a non-executive in order to pursue a wider range of business interests. Since that time, he has been a non-executive director of Lloyds TSB Group Plc (from 1990 to 2000) and Chairman of Carisbrooke Shipping Plc (from 1990 to 1999). He was a director of various companies in the Marsh Group of insurance brokers and remained a consultant to the company until recently. He has served on the boards of a variety of small companies, has been active in the administration of the United Kingdom marine industry and is a trustee of the British Marine Federation. He is a Younger Brother of Trinity House. He was Chairman of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution from 2000 to 2004.
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FRANCIS T. NUSSPICKEL
DIRECTOR
Mr. Nusspickel is a retired partner of Arthur Andersen LLP with 35 years of public accounting experience. He is a Certified Public Accountant in several U.S. states. During his years with Arthur Andersen, he served as a member of their Transportation Industry Group and was worldwide Industry Head for the Ocean Shipping segment. His responsibilities included projects for mergers and acquisitions, fraud investigations, arbitrations and debt and equity offerings. He was President of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants from 1996 to 1997, a member of the AICPA Council from 1992 to 1998, and from 2004 to 2007 was Chairman of the Professional Ethics Committee of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Nusspickel is also a Director of Symmetry Medical Inc., a New York Stock Exchange listed medical device manufacturer.
WILLIAM O NEIL
DIRECTOR
Mr. ONeil is Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, the United Nations agency concerned with maritime safety and security and the prevention of pollution from ships. He was first elected Secretary-General of the IMO in 1990 and was re-elected four times, remaining Secretary-General until the end of 2003. Mr. ONeil has served in various positions with the Canadian Federal Department of Transport and subsequently held senior positions during the construction and operation of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority. He was appointed the first Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard where he served from 1975 until 1980 and then became President and Chief Executive Officer of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority for ten years. Mr. ONeil originally represented Canada in 1972 at the IMO Council, later becoming Chairman of the IMO Council in 1980. In 1991, he became Chancellor of the World Maritime University, Malmo, Sweden and Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta. Mr. ONeil is a past President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and is President of Videotel Marine International, both of which are engaged in the training of seafarers. He is a civil engineer graduate of the University of Toronto, a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Panama Canal Authority.
ARISTIDES A.N. PATRINOS
DIRECTOR
Dr. Patrinos has been instrumental in advancing the scientific and policy framework underpinning key governmental energy and environmental initiatives. Dr. Patrinos is President of Synthetic Genomics, Inc., a privately-held company dedicated to developing and commercializing clean and sustainable biofuels that alleviate our dependence on petroleum, enable carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gases. Dr. Patrinos joined Synthetic Genomics from the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Science. There he served as associate director of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, overseeing the departments research activities in human and microbial genome research, structural biology, nuclear medicine, and global environmental change. Dr. Patrinos played a historic role in the Human Genome Project, the founding of the DOE Joint Genome Institute and the design and launch of the DOEs Genomes to Life Program, a research program dedicated to developing technologies to use microbes for innovative solutions to energy and environmental challenges. Dr. Patrinos is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Meteorological Society, and a Member of the American Geophysical Union, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Greek Technical Society. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, including three Presidential Rank Awards and two Secretary of Energy Gold Medals, as well as an honorary doctorate from the National Technical University of Athens. A native of Greece, Dr. Patrinos received his undergraduate degree from the National Technical University of Athens, and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and astronautical sciences from Northwestern University.
Corporate Governance
Board of Directors
The Companys business is managed under the direction of the Board, in accordance with the Companies Act of 1981 of Bermuda and the Companys Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws. Members of the Board are kept informed of the Companys business through: discussions with the Chairman of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer and other members of the Companys management team; the review of materials provided to directors; and, participation in meetings of the Board and its committees. In accordance with our Bye-laws, the Board has specified that the number of directors will be set at no less than five or more than fifteen. At December 31, 2007 we had nine members on our Board. Under the Companys Bye-laws, one third (or the number nearest one third) of the Board (with the exception of any executive director) retires by rotation each year. The Bye-
54
laws require that the one third of the directors to retire by rotation be those who have been in office longest since their last appointment or re-appointment. The Bye-laws specify that where the directors to retire have been in office for an equal length of time, those to retire are to be determined by lot (unless they agree otherwise among themselves).
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the full Board held three meetings. With the exception of two absences by Dr. Patrinos, and one absence by Mr. Nicholson, each director attended all of the meetings of the Board. Also, with the exception of one absence each by Dr. Patrinos, Mr. Janholt and Mr. Nicholson from the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee meeting and Mr. Nicholson from one Audit Committee meeting, each director attended all the meetings of committees of which the director was a member.
Independence of Directors
The foundation for the Companys corporate governance is the Boards policy that a substantial majority of the members of the Board should be independent. With the exception of the two Executive Directors (Mr. Nikolas P. Tsakos and Mr. George V. Saroglou) the Board believes that none of the other directors (Messrs. Janholt, Jolliffe, Nicholson, Nusspickel, ONeil, Patrinos and Stavropoulos) currently have a material relationship with the Company directly or indirectly that would interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment as directors of the Company.
The Board made its determination of independence in accordance with its Corporate Governance Guidelines, which specifies standards and a process for evaluating director independence. The Guidelines provide that:
| A director cannot be independent if he or she fails to meet the objective requirements as to independence under the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) listing standards. |
| If a director meets the objective NYSE standards, he or she will be deemed independent, absent unusual circumstances, if in the current year and the past three years the director has had no related-party transaction or relationship with the Company or an interlocking relationship with another entity triggering disclosure under the SEC disclosure rules. |
| If a director who meets the objective New York Stock Exchange independence requirements either has had a disclosable transaction or relationship or the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee requests that the Board consider any other circumstances in determining the directors independence, the Board will make a determination of the directors independence. |
To promote open discussion among the independent directors, those directors met three times in 2007 in regularly scheduled executive sessions without participation of the Companys management and will continue to do so in 2008. Mr. Nicholson currently serves as the Presiding Director for purposes of these meetings.
Documents Establishing Our Corporate Governance
The Board and the Companys management have engaged in an ongoing review of our corporate governance practices in order to oversee our compliance with the applicable corporate governance rules of the NYSE and the SEC.
The Company has adopted a number of key documents that are the foundation of its corporate governance, including:
| a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, Officers and Employees; |
| a Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee Charter; and |
| an Audit Committee Charter. |
These documents and other important information on our governance, including the Boards Corporate Governance Guidelines, are posted in the Investor Relations section of the Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited website, and may be viewed at http://www.tenn.gr. We will also provide any of these documents in hard copy upon the written request of a shareholder. Shareholders may direct their requests to the attention of Investor Relations, c/o George Saroglou or Paul Durham, Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited, 367 Syngrou Avenue, 175 64 P. Faliro, Athens, Greece.
The Board has a long-standing commitment to sound and effective corporate governance practices. The Boards Corporate Governance Guidelines address a number of important governance issues such as:
| Selection and monitoring of the performance of the Companys senior management; |
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| Succession planning for the Companys senior management; |
| Qualifications for membership on the Board; |
| Functioning of the Board, including the requirement for meetings of the independent directors; and |
| Standards and procedures for determining the independence of directors. |
The Board believes that the Corporate Governance Guidelines and other governance documents meet current requirements and reflect a very high standard of corporate governance.
Committees of the Board
The Board has established an Audit Committee, a Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee, a Capital Markets Committee, a Risk Committee, an Operational and Environmental R&D Committee and a Chartering Committee.
Audit Committee
The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Jolliffe, Nicholson, Nusspickel and Stavropoulos, each of whom is an independent Director. Mr. Nusspickel is the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is governed by a written charter, which is approved and annually adopted by the Board. The Board has determined that the continuing members of the Audit Committee meet the applicable independence requirements, and that all continuing members of the Audit Committee meet the requirement of being financially literate. The Audit Committee held four meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 including one by conference call. The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board and is responsible for, among other matters:
| engaging the Companys external and internal auditors; |
| approving in advance all audit and non-audit services provided by the auditors; |
| approving all fees paid to the auditors; |
| reviewing the qualification and independence of the Companys external auditors; |
| reviewing the Companys relationship with external auditors, including the consideration of audit fees which should be paid as well as any other fees which are payable to auditors in respect of non-audit activities, discussions with the external auditors concerning such issues as compliance with accounting standards and any proposals which the external auditors have made vis-à-vis the Companys accounting standards; |
| overseeing the Companys financial reporting and internal control functions; |
| overseeing the Companys whistleblowers process and protection; and |
| overseeing general compliance with related regulatory requirements. |
The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Nusspickel and Stavropoulos, whose biographical details are included herein, each qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined under current SEC regulations and each is independent in accordance with the listing standards of the NYSE.
Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee
The members of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee are Messrs. Janholt, Jolliffe, Nicholson, Nusspickel, ONeil, Patrinos and Stavropoulos, each of whom is an independent Director. Mr. Nicholson is Chairman of the Committee. The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee is appointed by the Board and is responsible for:
| assisting the Board and the Companys management in establishing and maintaining a high standard of ethical principles; |
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| insuring appropriate independence of directors under NYSE and SEC rules; |
| identifying and nominating candidates for election to the Board and appointing the Chief Executive Officer and the Companys senior management team; |
| designing the compensation structure for the Company and for the members of the Board and its various committees; and |
| designing and overseeing the short-term and long-term incentive compensation program of the Company. |
During 2007, there were three meetings of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee.
Capital Markets Committee
The members of the Capital Markets Committee are Messrs. Jolliffe, Tsakos and Stavropoulos. Mr. Jolliffe is Chairman of the Capital Markets Committee. The Capital Markets Committee assists the Board and the Companys management regarding matters relating to the raising of capital in the equity and debt markets, relationships with investment banks, communications with existing and prospective investors and compliance with related regulatory requirements.
Risk Committee
The members of the Risk Committee are Messrs. Nicholson, Stavropoulos, Tsakos, and our chief financial officer, Mr. Durham. Mr. Stavropoulos is Chairman of the Risk Committee. The primary role of the Risk Committee is to assist the Board and the Companys management regarding matters relating to insurance protection coverage of physical assets, third party liabilities, contract employees, charter revenues and officer and director liability. The Risk Committee also assists in the development and maintenance of commercial banking and other direct lender relationships, including loans and, when appropriate, interest rate hedging instruments.
Operational and Environmental R&D Committee
The Operational and Environmental R&D Committee was established at the Board of Directors meeting of May 31, 2007. The members of the committee are Messrs. ONeil, Nusspickel and Patrinos. It also includes the Deputy Chairman of our technical manager, Mr. Vasilis Papageorgiou. Mr. Papageorgiou is not a director or officer of our Company. Dr. Patrinos is Chairman of the Operational and Environmental R&D Committee. The primary role of the Operational and Environmental R&D Committee is to draw the attention of the Board and the Companys management to issues of concern regarding the safety of crew and vessel and the impact of the maritime industry on the environment, to provide an update on related legislation and technological innovations, and more specifically highlight areas in which the Company itself may play a more active role in being in the forefront of adopting operational procedures and technologies that will ensure maximum safety for crew and vessel and contribute to a better environment.
Chartering Committee
The members of the Chartering Committee are Messrs. Stavropoulos, Saroglou and Tsakos. Mr. Tsakos is Chairman of the Chartering Committee. The Chartering Committee assists the Board and the Companys management regarding the strategies of fleet employment, fleet composition and the general structuring of charter agreements.
Board Compensation
We pay no cash compensation to our senior management or to our directors who are senior managers. We have no salaried employees. For the year ended December 31, 2007, the aggregate cash compensation of all of the members of the Board was $455,000 as per the following annual fee allocation which was approved by the shareholders of the Company on May 31, 2007:
| Service on the Board - $45,000 |
| Service on the Audit Committee - $17,500 |
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| Service on the Capital Markets Committee - $10,000 |
| Service as Chairman of the Audit Committee - $20,000 |
| Service as Chairman of the Capital Markets Committee - $10,000 |
| Service as Chairman of the Board - $30,000 |
At the Board of Directors meeting of September 21-22, 2007, it was proposed that an annual fee of $10,000 be paid directly to all directors and members sitting on the Operational and Environmental R&D Committee.
Management Compensation
Our senior managers receive salaried compensation from Tsakos Energy Management, which receives a monthly management fee from the Company pursuant to the Management Agreement to provide overall executive and commercial management of its affairs. See Management and Other Fees in Item 7 for more information on the management fees we paid for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Messrs. Tsakos, Saroglou, Durham and Jadro serve as President and Chief Executive Officer, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Marine Officer, respectively. Such individuals are employees of Tsakos Energy Management and, except for the awards of share options and restricted shares as discussed below, are not directly compensated by the Company.
The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee adopted a short-term performance incentive program for Tsakos Energy Management based on the return on equity (R.O.E.) measured by the book value per share at the beginning of each fiscal year and basic earnings per share for that year. U.S. GAAP accounting defines the value of the components. An award scale for 2006, ranging from R.O.E. greater than 15% corresponding to an award amount of $1.25 million ($1.0 million in 2004 and 2005) up to R.O.E. greater than 25% with an award amount of $3.5 million ($2.5 million in 2004 and 2005). For 2006, 2005 incentive awards of $3.5 million and $2.5 million respectively were approved by the Board of Directors and are expensed and recognized in accrued liabilities in the Companys December 31, 2006 and 2005 Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In September 2006, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee established the incentive award scale, for fiscal 2007, as follows:
R.O.E |
Amount of award | ||
15.0% |
$ | 1.50 million | |
17.5% |
$ | 2.25 million | |
20.0% |
$ | 3.00 million | |
22.5% |
$ | 3.75 million | |
25.0% |
$ | 4.50 million |
For the operations of 2007, Tsakos Energy Management has earned an award of $4.0 million, which will be distributed to the senior personnel of Tsakos Energy Management and Tsakos Shipping whose performance was critical in achieving a return of equity of 24.2%. The ultimate award of the management incentive award is always at the sole discretion of the Companys Board of Directors. The 2007 award was approved by the Companys Board of Directors on March 14, 2008.
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In September, 2007, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee revised the incentive award scale, effective from January 1, 2008, as follows:
R.O.E |
Amount of award | ||
15.0% |
$ | 2.50 million | |
17.5% |
$ | 3.25 million | |
20% |
$ | 4.00 million | |
22.5% |
$ | 4.75 million | |
25% |
$ | 5.50 million |
Employees
Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. has no salaried employees. All crew members are employed by the owning-company of the vessel on which they serve, except where the vessel is on a bare-boat charter-out (Millennium), or the vessels, or crewing of the vessels, are under third-party management arranged by our technical managers. All owning-companies, with the exception of the companies owning the two chartered-in vessels, are subsidiaries of Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. Approximately 840 officers and crew members served on board the vessels we own and are managed by our technical managers as of December 31, 2007.
Share ownership
The common shares beneficially owned by our directors and senior managers and/or companies affiliated with these individuals are disclosed in Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions below.
Stock compensation plan
We currently have one stock compensation plan, the Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited 2004 Incentive Plan (the 2004 Plan), which was adopted by our Board and approved by our shareholders at the 2004 Annual Meeting of shareholders. This plan permits us to grant share options or other share based awards to our directors and officers, to the officers of our vessels, and to the directors, officers and employees of our manager, Tsakos Energy Management, and our technical manager, Tsakos Shipping.
The purpose of the 2004 Plan is to provide a means to attract, retain motivate and reward our present and prospective directors, officers and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries, and the officers of our vessels and the employees of the management companies providing administrative, commercial, technical and maritime services to, or for the benefit of, the Company, its subsidiaries and their vessels by increasing their ownership in our Company. Awards under the 2004 Plan may include options to purchase our common shares, restricted share awards, other share-based awards (including share appreciation rights granted separately or in tandem with other awards) or a combination thereof.
The 2004 Plan is administered by our Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee. Such committee has the authority, among other things, to: (i) select the present or prospective directors, officers, consultants and other personnel entitled to receive awards under the 2004 Plan; (ii) determine the form of awards, or combinations of awards; (iii) determine the number of shares covered by an award; and (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any awards granted under the 2004 Plan, including any restrictions or limitations on transfer, any vesting schedules or the acceleration of vesting schedules and any forfeiture provision or waiver of the same.
The 2004 Incentive Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares in the form of grants or options. In June 2006, the Company granted a total of 20,000 shares of restricted share units (RSUs) to the non-executive directors that vested on June 1, 2007. The fair market value of the Companys restricted shares at the date of the award was $18.44 per share. Accordingly, an amount of $369,000 is being amortized to compensation expense over one year. In March 2007, 580,000 RSUs related to the 2004 Plan were granted to officers of the Company and to officers of our vessels as well as employees of our manager and technical manager. These RSUs are scheduled to vest 50% on December 31, 2008 with the remaining 50% vesting on December 31, 2010. A further 4,650 RSUs were issued to non-executive directors in June 2007 to vest after one year and 1,000 RSUs were issued to a non-executive director in June 2007 vesting immediately. Of the 605,650 RSUs awarded in 2007 and 2006, 21,000 had been vested and none forfeited as of December 31, 2007. As of December 31, 2007, the weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding grants is 2.0 years. Total compensation expense recognized for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $5.7 million and for the year ended December 31, 2006, $0.2 million.
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On November 14, 2007, the Company paid a 100% common share dividend which effected a two-for-one split of the Companys common shares. RSUs that were unvested on that date were adjusted for the share dividend.
During 2006, a previous stock compensation plan, the 1998 plan, ceased. The purpose of the 1998 Plan also was to provide incentives to those people who were capable of influencing the development, or contributing to the success, of our business. The maximum of 900,000 common shares were issued as options under the 1998 Plan to a total of 163 persons, consisting of directors and officers of the Company, and directors, officers and employees of Tsakos Energy Management and Tsakos Shipping. In August 2001, all outstanding stock options under the 1998 Plan were vested. During 2003, holders of options to acquire an aggregate of 538,000 common shares at $5 per share exercised the options held by them. During 2005, holders of options to acquire an aggregate of nil common shares (36,000 common shares in 2004) at $5 per share and 36,898 common shares (261,826 common shares in 2004) at $6 per share exercised the options held by them. During 2006, holders of 9,752 common shares (36,898 common shares in 2005) at $6 per share exercised the options held by them.
Item 7. | Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions |
It is our policy that transactions with related parties are entered into on terms no less favorable to us than would exist if these transactions were entered into with unrelated third parties on an arms length basis. Tsakos Energy Management has undertaken to ensure that all transactions with related parties are reported to the board of directors. Under the management agreement, any such transaction or series of transactions involving payments in excess of $100,000 and which is not in the ordinary course of business requires the prior consent of the board of directors. Transactions not involving payments in excess of $100,000 may be reported quarterly to the board of directors.
To help minimize any conflict between our interests and the interests of other companies affiliated with the Tsakos family and the owners of other vessels managed by such companies if an opportunity to purchase a tanker which is 10 years of age or younger is referred to or developed by Tsakos Shipping, Tsakos Shipping will notify us of this opportunity and allow us a 10 business day period within which to decide whether or not to accept the opportunity before offering it to any of its affiliates or other clients.
Management affiliations
Nikolas P. Tsakos, our president, chief executive officer and one of our directors, is an officer, director and the sole shareholder of Tsakos Energy Management. He is also the son of the founder of Tsakos Shipping.
George V. Saroglou, our chief operating officer and one of our directors, is a cousin of Nikolas P. Tsakos.
Management and other fees
We prepay or reimburse Tsakos Shipping at cost for all vessel operating expenses payable by Tsakos Shipping in its capacity as technical manager of our fleet. At December 31, 2007, outstanding advances to Tsakos Shipping and Trading amounted to $1.0 million.
From the management fee we pay Tsakos Energy Management, Tsakos Energy Management in turn pays a management fee to Tsakos Shipping for its services as technical manager of our fleet and for its supervision of the construction of our newbuildings. Under the terms of our management agreement with Tsakos Energy Management, we paid to Tsakos Energy Management management fees of $9.8 million and supervisory fees of $1.8 million relating to the construction of our vessels in 2007.
Based on the results of operations for 2007, Tsakos Energy Management has earned an incentive award of $4.0 million, which will be distributed to senior and other personnel of Tsakos Energy Management and Tsakos Shipping whose performance was critical in achieving a return on equity of 24.2%.
Management agreement
Our management agreement with Tsakos Energy Management was amended and restated on March 8 , 2007 and has a term of ten years from the effective date of January 1, 2007. Tsakos Energy Management may terminate the management agreement at any time upon not less than one years notice. In addition, each party may terminate the management agreement in the following circumstances:
| certain events of bankruptcy or liquidation involving either party; |
| a material breach by either party; or |
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| a failure by either party, for a continuous period of six months, materially to perform under circumstances resulting from war, governmental actions, riot, civil commotion, weather, accident, labor disputes or other causes not in the control of the non-performing party. |
Moreover, following a change in our control, which would occur if at least one director were elected to our board without having been recommended by our existing board, Tsakos Energy Management may terminate the agreement on 10 business days notice. If Tsakos Energy Management terminates the agreement for this reason, then we would immediately be obligated to pay Tsakos Energy Management the present discounted value of all of the payments that would have otherwise been due under the management agreement up until June 30 of the tenth year following the date of termination plus the average of the incentive awards previously paid to Tsakos Energy Management multiplied by ten. Under these terms, therefore, a termination as of December 31, 2007 would have resulted in a payment of approximately $117 million. Under the terms of the Management Agreement between the Company and Tsakos Energy Management Limited, the Company may terminate the agreement only under specific circumstances, such as breach of contract by the manager and change of control in the shareholding of the manager without the prior approval of the Companys Board of Directors.
Under the management agreement, we pay monthly fees for Tsakos Energy Managements management of our vessels. The management fees we pay Tsakos Energy Management under our management agreement are based on the number of ships in our fleet. The per-ship charges begin to accrue for a vessel at the point that a newbuilding contract is acquired, which is 18 to 24 months before the vessel begins to earn revenue for us. From July, 2004, the fee payable on owned operating vessels was $18,000 per month, and the monthly fee on chartered-in operating vessels to $12,500. As from June 30, 2004, a monthly management fee of $12,500 is also payable on vessels under construction, except for the LNG carrier under construction where the fee is $18,000. The management agreement was amended on March 8,2007, to raise the monthly fee to $20,000 per owned vessel and $15,000 for vessels chartered-in or chartered out on a bare-boat basis, effective January 1, 2007. Per the same management agreement, effective from January 1, 2008, there is a prorated adjustment if at beginning of the year the Euro has appreciated by 10% or more against the U.S. Dollar since January 1, 2007. In addition, there is an increase each year by a percentage figure reflecting 12 month Euribor, if both parties agree. As a consequence, from January 1, 2008, monthly fees for operating vessels have been increased accordingly to $23,000 and, for chartered-in vessels to $17,000.
Chartering commissions
We pay a chartering commission to Tsakos Shipping equal to 1.25% on all freights, hires and demurrages involving our vessels. We have been charged by Tsakos Shipping chartering commissions aggregating $6.1 million in 2007.
Captive insurance policies
We pay Argosy Insurance Company premiums to provide hull and machinery, increased value and loss of hire insurance for our vessels. We have been charged by Argosy for insurance premiums aggregating $9.3 million in 2007.
Travel services
We use AirMania Travel S.A., an affiliate of the Tsakos Group, for travel services primarily to transport our crews to and from our vessels. We were charged by AirMania an aggregate amount of $1.6 million in 2007.
Major Shareholders
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our outstanding common shares as of April 11, 2008 held by:
| each person or entity that we know beneficially owns 5% or more of our common shares; |
| each of our officers and directors; and |
| all our directors and officers as a group. |
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. In general, a person who has voting power or investment power with respect to securities is treated as a beneficial owner of those securities. Beneficial ownership does not necessarily imply that the named person has the economic or other benefits of ownership. For the purposes of this table, shares subject to options, warrants or rights currently exercisable or
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exercisable within 60 days of April 11, 2008 are considered as beneficially owned by the person holding those options, grants or warrants or rights. The applicable percentage of ownership of each shareholder is based on 37,793,542 Common Shares outstanding on April 11, 2008. Except as noted below, the address of all shareholders, officers, directors and director nominees identified in the table and accompanying footnotes below is in care of the Companys principal executive offices.
Name of Beneficial Owner |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percentage of Outstanding Common Shares |
|||
Tsakos Holdings Foundation(1) |
|||||
Redmont Trading Corp.(1) |
2,247,312 | 5.9 | % | ||
First Tsakos Investments Inc.(1) |
|||||
Kelley Enterprises Inc.(1) |
4,560,824 | 12.1 | % | ||
Marsland Holdings Limited(1) |
2,771,068 | 7.3 | % | ||
Sea Consolidation S.A. of Panama(2) |
3,952,232 | 10.5 | % | ||
Renaissance Technologies LLC(3) |
2,059,800 | 5.5 | % |
Officers and Directors |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Number of RSUs Granted |
||||
D. John Stavropoulos(3) |
229,660 | * | 1,000 | A | ||
Nikolas P. Tsakos(5) |
32,000 | * | 80,000 | B | ||
Michael G. Jolliffe |
20,800 | * | 800 | A | ||
George V. Saroglou |
4,000 | * | 22,000 | B | ||
Paul Durham |
16,000 | * | 22,000 | B | ||
Torben Janholt |
2,400 | * | 400 | A | ||
Peter C. Nicholson |
30,300 | * | 800 | A | ||
Francis T. Nusspickel |
6,350 | * | 850 | A | ||
William A. ONeil |
2,400 | * | 400 | A | ||
Aristides A.N. Patrinos, Ph.D. |
2,400 | * | 400 | A | ||
Vladimir Jadro |
| 6,000 | B | |||
All officers and directors as a group (11 persons)(5) |
346,310 | * | 134,650 |
* | Less than 1% of the Common Shares outstanding. |
Grant Vesting Dates
A 100% of the RSUs vest at June 1, 2008. Included in the number of shares beneficially owned as they vest within 60 days of April 11, 2008.
B 50% vest on December 31, 2008 and the remaining 50% vest on December 31, 2010. Not included in the number of shares beneficially owned.
(1) | First Tsakos Investments Inc. (First Tsakos) is the sole holder of the outstanding capital stock of Kelley Enterprises Inc. (Kelley) and Marsland Holdings Limited (Marsland) and may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power of the Common Shares reported by Kelley and Marsland. Tsakos Holdings Foundation is the sole holder of outstanding capital stock of First Tsakos and Redmont Trading Corp. (Redmont) and may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power of the Common Shares reported by Kelley, Marsland and Redmont. The business address of First Tsakos is 34 Efesou Street, Nea Smyrni, Athens, Greece. The business address of Kelley is Saffrey Square, Suite 205, Park Lane, P.O. Box N-8188, Nassau, Bahamas. The business address of Marsland is FGC Corporate Services Limited, 125 Main Street, PO Box 144, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The business address of Tsakos Holdings Foundation is Heiligkreuz 6, Vaduz, Liechtenstein. The business address of Redmont is 9 Nikodimon Street, Kastella Piraeus, Greece. |
(2) | Sea Consolidation S.A. of Panama is controlled by members of the Tsakos family. |
(3) | The amount of shares is based upon a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2008, reporting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2007. According to the filing, each of Renaissance Technologies LLC (Renaissance) and James H. Simons, control person of Renaissance, has sole voting power over 1,826,084 shares and sole dispositive power over 2,059,800 shares. The business address of Renaissance and Mr. Simons is 800 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022. |
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(4) | Includes 1,000 RSUs that will vest on June 1, 2008 and 20,000 shares held in trusts for children (Mr. Stavropoulos spouse is trustee and has voting rights for these shares). In addition, 8,610 shares are held directly by his children. Mr. Stavropoulos has no economic interest in these 28,610 shares. Additionally, his two siblings and an in-law collectively own 8,050 shares. Mr. Stavropoulos has no economic interest in these 8,050 shares. |
(5) | Does not include shares owned by the Tsakos Holdings Foundation, Kelley Enterprises Inc., Marsland Holdings Limited, Redmont Trading Corp. or Sea Consolidation S.A. of Panama. |
As of April 11, 2008, we had 41 shareholders of record. 31 of the shareholders of record were located in the United States and held in the aggregate 37,713,542 common shares representing approximately 99.8% of our outstanding common shares. However, the 31 United States shareholders of record include CEDEFAST which, as nominee for the Depository Trust Company, is the record holder of 37,612,180 common shares. The Company is not aware of any arrangements the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of the Company.
Item 8. | Financial Information |
See Item 18. Financial Statements below.
Significant Changes. No significant change has occurred since the date of the annual financial statements included in this annual report on Form 20-F.
Legal Proceedings. We are involved in litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of business. In our opinion, the litigation in which we are currently involved, individually or in the aggregate, is not material to us.
Dividend Policy. While we cannot assure you that we will do so, and subject to the limitations discussed below, we currently intend to pay regular cash dividends on our common shares of between one-quarter and one-half of our annual net income for the year in respect of which the dividends are paid. We plan to pay dividends on a semi-annual basis.
There can be no assurance that we will pay dividends or as to the amount of any dividend. The payment and the amount will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend, among other things, on available cash balances, anticipated cash needs, our results of operations, our financial condition, and any loan agreement restrictions binding us or our subsidiaries, as well as other relevant factors. For example, if we earned a capital gain on the sale of a vessel or newbuilding contract, we could determine to reinvest that gain instead of using it to pay dividends. Depending on our operating performance for that year, this could result in no dividend at all despite the existence of net income, or a dividend that represents a lower percentage of our net income. Of course, any payment of cash dividends could slow our ability to renew and expand our fleet, and could cause delays in the completion of our current newbuilding program.
Because we are holding a company with no material assets other than the stock of our subsidiaries, our ability to pay dividends will depend on the earnings and cash flow of our subsidiaries and their ability to pay dividends to us.
Under the terms of our existing credit facilities, we are permitted to declare or pay a cash dividend in any year as long as the amount of the dividend does not exceed 50% of our net income for that year. Net income will be determined based on the audited financial statements we deliver to the banks under our credit facilities which are required to be in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. This amount can be carried forward and applied to a dividend payment in a subsequent year provided the aggregate amount of all dividends we declare and/or pay after January 1, 1998 does not exceed 50% of our accumulated net income from January 1, 1996 up to the most recent date on which audited financial statements have been delivered under the credit facility. We anticipate incurring significant additional indebtedness in connection with our newbuilding program, which will affect our net income and cash available to pay dividends. In addition, cash dividends can be paid only to the extent permitted by Bermuda law and our financial covenants. See Description of Capital StockBermuda LawDividends. See Item 3. Key InformationRisks Related to our Common SharesWe may not be able to pay cash dividends as intended.
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Item 9. | The Offer and Listing |
Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Bermuda Stock Exchange. Following a decision of our Board of Directors, our common shares were de-listed from Oslo Børs on March 18, 2005 and our common shares are not actively traded on the Bermuda Stock Exchange.
Trading on the New York Stock Exchange
Since our initial public offering in the United States in March of 2002, our common shares have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TNP. The following table shows the high and low closing prices for our common shares during the indicated periods, all prices have been adjusted to take account of the two-for-one share split which became effective on November 14, 2007.
High | Low | |||||
2003 (Annual) |
$ | 9.63 | $ | 5.67 | ||
2003 |
||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 7.58 | $ | 6.00 | ||
Second Quarter |
$ | 7.25 | $ | 5.67 | ||
Third Quarter |
$ | 7.54 | $ | 6.48 | ||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 9.63 | $ | 7.10 | ||
2004 (Annual) |
$ | 21.71 | $ | 9.29 | ||
2004 |
||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 16.24 | $ | 9.29 | ||
Second Quarter |
$ | 17.23 | $ | 12.13 | ||
Third Quarter |
$ | 17.80 | $ | 13.38 | ||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 21.71 | $ | 17.30 | ||
2005 (Annual) |
$ | 22.94 | $ | 16.13 | ||
2005 |
||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 22.02 | $ | 16.15 | ||
Second Quarter |
$ | 22.94 | $ | 18.38 | ||
Third Quarter |
$ | 21.00 | $ | 17.79 | ||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 19.72 | $ | 16.13 | ||
2006 (Annual) |
$ | 24.83 | $ | 17.01 | ||
2006 |
||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 20.17 | $ | 17.66 | ||
Second Quarter |
$ | 20.84 | $ | 17.01 | ||
Third Quarter |
$ | 24.83 | $ | 20.48 | ||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 23.14 | $ | 21.28 | ||
2007 (Annual) |
$ | 38.90 | $ | 22.00 | ||
2007 |
||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 26.00 | $ | 22.00 | ||
Second Quarter |
$ | 35.27 | $ | 25.89 | ||
Third Quarter |
$ | 37.36 | $ | 31.70 | ||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 38.90 | $ | 32.99 | ||
November |
$ | 36.46 | $ | 32.99 | ||
December |
$ | 38.90 | $ | 35.48 | ||
2008 |
||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 38.40 | $ | 29.43 | ||
January |
$ | 38.40 | $ | 29.52 | ||
February |
$ | 35.74 | $ | 32.72 | ||
March |
$ | 33.06 | $ | 29.43 | ||
Second Quarter |
||||||
April |
$ | 32.57 | $ | 30.36 | ||
May 1 to May 7 |
$ | 34.40 | $ | 33.49 |
Source: Bloomberg
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Comparison of Cumulative Total Shareholder Return
Set forth below is a graph comparing the cumulative total shareholder return of our common shares between March 6, 2002 and December 31, 2007, with the cumulative total return of the Dow Jones Marine Transportation Index and the S&P 500 Index. Total shareholder return represents stock price changes and assumes the reinvestment of dividends. The graph assumes the investment of $100 on March 6, 2002. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future results.
Source: Zacks Investment Research, Inc.
Item 10. | Additional Information |
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares, par value $1.00 per share. As of December 31, 2007 there were 38,059,142 outstanding common shares. On November 14, 2007, there was a 2-for-1 split of our common shares, effected as a share dividend.
Common Shares
The holders of common shares are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available for that purpose at times and in amounts as our board of directors may from time to time determine. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each common share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Cumulative voting for the election of directors is not provided for in our Memorandum of Association or Bye-laws, which means that the holders of a majority of the common shares voted can elect all of the directors then standing for election. Our Bye-laws provide for a staggered board of directors, with one-third of our non-executive directors being selected each year. The common shares are not entitled to preemptive rights and are not subject to conversion or redemption. Upon the occurrence of a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of common shares would be entitled to share ratably in the distribution of all of our assets remaining available for distribution after satisfaction of all our liabilities.
Shareholder Rights Plan
Our board of directors has adopted a shareholder rights plan under which our shareholders received one right for each common share they held. Each right will entitle the holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Shares, or a combination of securities
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and assets of equivalent value, at an exercise price of $127.00, subject to adjustment. The following summary description of the rights agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the rights agreement between us and The Bank of New York, as rights agent, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and is incorporated herein by reference.
If any person or group acquires shares representing 15% or more of our outstanding common shares, the flip-in provision of the rights agreement will be triggered and the rights will entitle a holder, other than such person, any member of such group or related person, as such rights will be null and void, to acquire a number of additional common shares having a market value of twice the exercise price of each right. In lieu of requiring payment of the purchase price upon exercise of the rights following any such event, we may permit the holders simply to surrender the rights, in which event they will be entitled to receive common shares (and other property, as the case may be) with a value of 50% of what could be purchased by payment of the full purchase price.
Until a right is exercised, the holder of the right, as such, will have no rights as a shareholder of our company, including, without limitation, no right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the rights will not be taxable to shareholders or to us, shareholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the rights become exercisable for preferred shares (or other consideration) or for common shares of the acquiring or surviving company or in the event of the redemption of the rights as set forth above.
The existence of the rights agreement and the rights could deter a third party from tendering for the purchase of some or all of our common shares and could have the effect of entrenching management. In addition, they could have the effect of delaying or preventing changes of control of the ownership and management of our company, even if such transactions would have significant benefits to our shareholders.
Bermuda Law
We are an exempted company organized under the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda. Bermuda law and our Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws govern the rights of our shareholders. Our objects and purposes are set forth in paragraph 6 and the Schedule to our Memorandum of Association. Our objects and purposes include to act and to perform all the functions of a holding company in all its branches and to coordinate the policy and administration of any subsidiary company or companies wherever incorporated or carrying on business or of any group of companies of which the Company or any subsidiary company is a member or which are in any manner controlled directly or indirectly by the Company. We refer you to our Memorandum of Association, which is filed as an exhibit to this annual report, for a full description of our objects and purposes. The Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda differs in some material respects from laws generally applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. The following is a summary of the material provisions of Bermuda law and our organizational documents.
Dividends. Under Bermuda law, a company may pay dividends that are declared from time to time by its board of directors unless there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is or would, after the payment, be unable to pay its liabilities as they become due or that the realizable value of its assets would then be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and issued share capital and share premium accounts.
Voting rights. Under Bermuda law, except as otherwise provided in the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda or our Bye-laws, questions brought before a general meeting of shareholders are decided by a majority vote of shareholders present at the meeting. Our Bye-laws provide that, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, any question proposed for the consideration of the shareholders will be decided in a general meeting by a simple majority of the votes cast, on a show of hands, with each shareholder present (and each person holding proxies for any shareholder) entitled to one vote for each common share held by the shareholder, except for special situations where a shareholder has lost the right to vote because he has failed to comply with the terms of a notice requiring him to provide information to the company pursuant to the Bye-laws, or his voting rights have been partly suspended under the Bye-laws as a consequence of becoming an interested person. In addition, a super-majority vote of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the votes cast at the meeting is required to effect the following actions: variation of class rights, removal of directors, approval of business combinations with certain interested persons and for any alteration to the provisions of the Bye-laws relating to the staggered board, removal of directors and business combinations.
Rights in liquidation. Under Bermuda law, in the event of liquidation or winding up of a company, after satisfaction in full of all claims of creditors and subject to the preferential rights accorded to any series of preferred shares, the proceeds of the liquidation or winding up are distributed ratably among the holders of the companys common shares.
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Meetings of shareholders. Under Bermuda law, a company is required to convene at least one general shareholders meeting each calendar year. Bermuda law provides that a special general meeting may be called by the board of directors and must be called upon the request of shareholders holding not less than 10% of the paid-up capital of the company carrying the right to vote. Bermuda law also requires that shareholders be given at least five (5) days advance notice of a general meeting but the accidental omission to give notice to any person does not invalidate the proceedings at a meeting. Under our Bye-laws, we must give each shareholder at least ten (10) days notice of the annual general meeting and of any special general meeting.
Under Bermuda law, the number of shareholders constituting a quorum at any general meeting of shareholders is determined by the Bye-laws of a company. Our Bye-laws provide that the presence in person or by proxy of two shareholders constitutes a quorum; but if we have only one shareholder, one shareholder present in person or by proxy shall constitute the necessary quorum.
Access to books and records and dissemination of information. Members of the general public have the right to inspect the public documents of a company available at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda. These documents include a companys Certificate of Incorporation, its Memorandum of Association (including its objects and powers) and any alteration to its Memorandum of Association. The shareholders have the additional right to inspect the Bye-laws of the company, minutes of general meetings and the companys audited financial statements, which must be presented at the annual general meeting. The register of shareholders of a company is also open to inspection by shareholders without charge and by members of the general public on the payment of a fee. A company is required to maintain its share register in Bermuda but may, subject to the provisions of Bermuda law, establish a branch register outside Bermuda. We maintain a share register in Hamilton, Bermuda. A company is required to keep at its registered office a register of its directors and officers that is open for inspection for not less than two (2) hours each day by members of the public without charge. Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records.
Election or removal of directors. Under Bermuda law and our Bye-laws, directors are elected or appointed at the annual general meeting and serve until re-elected or re-appointed or until their successors are elected or appointed, unless they are earlier removed or resign. Our Bye-laws provide for a staggered board of directors, with one-third of the non-executive directors selected each year.
Under Bermuda law and our Bye-laws, a director may be removed at a special general meeting of shareholders specifically called for that purpose, provided the director is served with at least 14 days notice. The director has a right to be heard at that meeting. Any vacancy created by the removal of a director at a special general meeting may be filled at that meeting by the election of another director in his or her place or, in the absence of any such election, by the board of directors.
Amendment of Memorandum of Association. Bermuda law provides that the Memorandum of Association of a company may be amended by a resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders of which due notice has been given. An amendment to the Memorandum of Association, other than an amendment which alters or reduces a companys share capital as provided in the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, also requires the approval of the Bermuda Minister of Finance, who may grant or withhold approval at his discretion. Generally, our Bye-laws may be amended by the directors with the approval of a majority vote of the shareholders in a general meeting. However, a super-majority vote is required for certain resolutions relating to the variation of class rights, the removal of directors, the approval of business combinations with certain interested persons and for any alteration to the provisions of the Bye-laws relating to the staggered board, removal of directors and business combinations.
Under Bermuda law, the holders of an aggregate of no less than 20% in par value of a companys issued share capital or any class of issued share capital have the right to apply to the Bermuda Court for an annulment of any amendment of the Memorandum of Association adopted by shareholders at any general meeting, other than an amendment which alters or reduces a companys share capital as provided in the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda. Where such an application is made, the amendment becomes effective only to the extent that it is confirmed by the Bermuda Court. An application for the annulment of an amendment of the Memorandum of Association must be made within 21 days after the date on which the resolution altering the companys memorandum is passed and may be made on behalf of the persons entitled to make the application by one or more of their number as they may appoint in writing for the purpose. Persons voting in favor of the amendment may make no such application.
Appraisal rights and shareholder suits. Under Bermuda law, in the event of an amalgamation involving a Bermuda company, a shareholder who is not satisfied that fair value has been paid for his shares may apply to the Bermuda Court to appraise the fair value of his shares. The amalgamation of a company with another company requires the amalgamation agreement to be approved by the board of directors and, except where the amalgamation is between a holding company and one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries or between two or more wholly owned subsidiaries, by meetings of the holders of shares of each company and of each class of such shares.
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Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under Bermuda law. The Bermuda Court, however, would ordinarily be expected to permit a shareholder to commence an action in the name of a company to remedy a wrong done to the company where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the corporate power of the company or is illegal or would result in the violation of the companys Memorandum of Association or Bye-laws. Further consideration would be given by the Bermuda Court to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or, for instance, where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of the companys shareholders than that which actually approved it.
When the affairs of a company are being conducted in a manner oppressive or prejudicial to the interests of some part of the shareholders, one or more shareholders may apply to the Bermuda Court for an order regulating the companys conduct of affairs in the future or compelling the purchase of the shares by any shareholder, by other shareholders or by the company.
Anti-takeover effects of provisions of our charter documents. Several provisions of our Bye-laws may have anti-takeover effects. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, lessen our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize shareholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these anti-takeover provisions, which are summarized below, could also discourage, delay or prevent (1) the merger or acquisition of our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, that a shareholder may consider in our best interest and (2) the removal of incumbent officers and directors.
Blank check preferred shares. Under the terms of our Bye-laws, our board of directors has authority, without any further vote or action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares with terms and preferences determined by our board. Our board of directors may issue preferred shares on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or the removal of our management.
Staggered board of directors. Our Bye-laws provide for a staggered board of directors with one-third of our non-executive directors being selected each year. This staggered board provision could discourage a third party from making a tender offer for our shares or attempting to obtain control of our company. It could also delay shareholders who do not agree with the policies of the board of directors from removing a majority of the board of directors for two years.
Transactions involving certain business combinations. Our Bye-Laws prohibit the consummation of any business combination involving us and any interested person, unless the transaction is approved by a vote of a majority of 80% of those present and voting at a general meeting of our shareholders, unless:
| the ratio of (i) the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of other consideration to be received per share in the business combination by holders of shares other than the interested person involved in the business combination, to (ii) the market price per share, immediately prior to the announcement of the proposed business combination is at least as great as the ratio of (iii) the highest per share price, which the interested person has theretofore paid in acquiring any share prior to the business combination, to (iv) the market price per share immediately prior to the initial acquisition by the interested person of any shares; |
| the aggregate amount of the cash and the fair market value of other consideration to be received per share in the business combination by holders of shares other than the interested person involved in the business combination (i) is not less than the highest per share price paid by the interested person in acquiring any shares, and (ii) is not less than the consolidated earnings per share of our company for our four full consecutive fiscal quarters immediately preceding the record date for solicitation of votes on the business combination multiplied by the then price/earnings multiple (if any) of the interested person as customarily computed and reported in the financial community; |
| the consideration (if any) to be received in the business combination by holders of shares other than the interested person involved shall, except to the extent that a shareholder agrees otherwise as to all or part of the shares which the shareholder owns, be in the same form and of the same kind as the consideration paid by the interested person in acquiring shares already owned by it; |
| after the interested person became an interested person and prior to the consummation of the business combination: (i) such interested person shall have taken steps to ensure that the board includes at all |
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times representation by continuing directors proportionate in number to the ratio that the number of shares carrying voting rights in our company from time to time owned by shareholders who are not interested persons bears to all shares carrying voting rights in our company outstanding at the time in question (with a continuing director to occupy any resulting fractional position among the directors); (ii) the interested person shall not have acquired from us or any subsidiary of ours directly or indirectly, any shares (except (x) upon conversion of convertible securities acquired by it prior to becoming an interested person, or (y) as a result of a pro rata share dividend, share split or division or subdivision of shares, or (z) in a transaction consummated on or after June 7, 2001 and which satisfied all requirements of our Bye-laws); (iii) the interested person shall not have acquired any additional shares, or rights over shares, carrying voting rights or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares, or rights over shares, carrying voting rights except as a part of the transaction which resulted in the interested person becoming an interested person; and (iv) the interested person shall not have (x) received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or tax credits provided by us or any subsidiary of ours, or (y) made any major change in our business or equity capital structure or entered into any contract, arrangement or understanding with us except any change, contract, arrangement or understanding as may have been approved by the favorable vote of not less than a majority of the continuing directors; and |
| a proxy statement complying with the requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall have been mailed to all holders of shares carrying voting rights for the purpose of soliciting shareholders of the business combination. The proxy statement shall contain at the front thereof, in a prominent place, any recommendations as to the advisability (or inadvisability) of the business combination which the continuing directors, or any of them, may have furnished in writing and, if deemed advisable by a majority of the continuing directors, an opinion of a reputable investment banking firm as to the adequacy (or inadequacy) of the terms of the business combination from the point of view of the holders of shares carrying voting rights other than any interested person (the investment banking firm to be selected by a majority of the continuing directors, to be furnished with all information it reasonably requests, and to be paid a reasonable fee for its services upon receipt by us of the opinion). |
For purposes of this provision, a business combination includes mergers, consolidations, exchanges, asset sales, leases and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested shareholder and an interested person is any person or entity that beneficially owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting shares and any person or entity affiliated with or controlling or controlled by that person or entity. Continuing directors means directors who have been elected before June 7, 2001 or designated as continuing directors by the majority of the then continuing directors.
Consequences of becoming an interested person. Our Bye-Laws provide that, at any time a person acquires or becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of our voting shares, which we refer to as the threshold, then the person will not be entitled to exercise voting rights for the number of common shares in excess of the threshold he holds or beneficially owns. This disability applies to any general meeting of our company as to which the record date or scheduled meeting date falls within a period of five years from the date such person acquired beneficial ownership of a number of common shares in excess of the threshold.
The above restrictions do not apply to us, our subsidiaries or to:
| any person who on June 7, 2001 was the holder or beneficial owner of a number of shares carrying voting rights that exceeded the threshold and who continues at all times after June 7, 2001 to hold shares in excess of the threshold; and |
| any person whose acquisition of a number of shares exceeding the threshold has been approved by (1) a majority of 80% of those present and voting at a general meeting or (2) by a resolution adopted by the continuing directors, followed by a resolution adopted by a shareholder vote in excess of 50% of the voting shares not owned by such interested person. |
Transfer agent and registrar. The Bank of New York serves as transfer agent and registrar for our common shares.
New York Stock Exchange listing. Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TNP.
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Other listings. Our common shares were listed on the Oslo Børs under the symbol TEN until a voluntary de-listing on March 18, 2005 and on the Bermuda Stock Exchange under the symbol TEN. Our common shares are no longer actively traded on either of these exchanges.
Material Contracts
See description of Management Agreement under Item 4. Information on the CompanyManagement ContractExecutive and Commercial Management. Such description is not intended to be complete and reference is made to the contract itself, which is an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
Exchange Controls
Under Bermuda and Greek law, there are currently no restrictions on the export or import of capital, including foreign exchange controls, or restrictions that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to nonresident holders of our common shares.
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TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Taxation of Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited
We believe that none of our income will be subject to tax in Bermuda, which currently has no corporate income tax, or by other countries in which we conduct activities or in which our customers are located, excluding the United States. However, this belief is based upon the anticipated nature and conduct of our business which may change, and upon our understanding of our position under the tax laws of the various countries in which we have assets or conduct activities, which position is subject to review and possible challenge by taxing authorities and to possible changes in law, which may have retroactive effect. The extent to which certain taxing jurisdictions may require us to pay tax or to make payments in lieu of tax cannot be determined in advance. In addition, payments due to us from our customers may be subject to withholding tax or other tax claims in amounts that exceed the taxation that we might have anticipated based upon our current and anticipated business practices and the current tax regime.
Bermuda tax considerations
Under current Bermuda law, we are not subject to tax on income or capital gains. Furthermore, we have obtained from the Minister of Finance of Bermuda, under the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966, an undertaking that, in the event that Bermuda enacts any legislation imposing tax computed on profits or income or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, then the imposition of such tax will not be applicable to us or to any of our operations, or to the shares, capital or common stock of Tsakos Energy Navigation, until March 28, 2016. This undertaking does not, however, prevent the imposition of property taxes on any company owning real property or leasehold interests in Bermuda or on any person ordinarily resident in Bermuda. We pay an annual government fee on our authorized share capital and share premium, which for 2008 is $9,815. In the opinion of Mello Jones & Martin, under current Bermuda law, no income, withholding or other taxes or stamp or other duties are imposed upon the issue, transfer or sale of the common shares or on any payments made on the common shares.
United States federal income tax considerations
The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax considerations that apply to (1) our operations and the operations of our vessel-operating subsidiaries and (2) the acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares by a shareholder that is a United States holder. This summary is based upon our beliefs and expectations concerning our past, current and anticipated activities, income and assets and those of our subsidiaries, the direct, indirect and constructive ownership of our shares and the trading and quotation of our shares. Should any such beliefs or expectations prove to be incorrect, the conclusions described herein could be adversely affected. For purposes of this discussion, a United States holder is a beneficial owner of common shares who or which is:
| an individual citizen or resident of the United States; |
| a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any of its political subdivisions; or |
| an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source. |
This summary deals only with common shares that are held as capital assets by a United States holder, and does not address tax considerations applicable to United States holders that may be subject to special tax rules, such as:
| dealers or traders in securities or currencies; |
| financial institutions; |
| insurance companies; |
| tax-exempt entities; |
| United States holders that hold common shares as a part of a straddle or conversion transaction or other arrangement involving more than one position; |
| United States holders that own, or are deemed for United States tax purposes to own, ten percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock; |
| a person subject to United States federal alternative minimum tax; |
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| a partnership or other entity classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes; |
| United States holders that have a principal place of business or tax home outside the United States; or |
| United States holders whose functional currency is not the United States dollar. |
The discussion below is based upon the provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations, administrative pronouncements and judicial decisions as of the date of this prospectus; any such authority may be repealed, revoked or modified, perhaps with retroactive effect, so as to result in federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below.
Because United States tax consequences may differ from one holder to the next, the discussion set out below does not purport to describe all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to you and your particular situation. Accordingly, you are advised to consult your own tax advisor as to the United States federal, state, local and other tax consequences of investing in the common shares.
Taxation of our operations
In General
We believe that none of our transportation income or that of our vessel-operating subsidiaries will be treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. Accordingly, we expect that we and our vessel-operating subsidiaries will not be subject to United States federal income tax on transportation income from foreign sources. However, except to the extent that the so-called reciprocal exemption of Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code or an income tax convention applies, we and our vessel-operating subsidiaries generally will be subject to United States federal income tax on transportation income from United States sources. For this purpose, transportation income includes income derived from or in connection with the use of vessels or the hiring or leasing of vessels for use on a time or voyage charter basis or on a bareboat charter basis.
Income attributable to transportation that both begins and ends in the United States is wholly United States-source income. Fifty percent of income attributable to other transportation that begins or ends in the United States, referred to in the remainder of this discussion as international transportation, is treated as United States-source income. As discussed below, United States-source income from the operation of ships in international transportation may be exempt from United States tax under the reciprocal exemption. Income attributable to transportation between points outside the United States is wholly foreign-source income.
Application of Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code
In General. In general, under the reciprocal exemption of Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code, if a foreign corporation (1) is organized in a country that grants an equivalent exemption to corporations organized in the United States and (2) satisfies the requirements of Section 883(c) discussed below, then such foreign corporation will not be subject to United States federal income tax on United States-source income attributable to the operation of ships in international transportation. The determination as to whether a foreign country has granted an equivalent exemption is made separately for operating income, for income from time and voyage charters, for income from bareboat charters and for certain other types of income. We and our vessel-operating subsidiaries are organized under the laws of Bermuda, Cyprus, Liberia, Panama or Malta, each of which, at present, grants an equivalent exemption to United States corporations for operating income and for income from time and voyage charters and bareboat charters.
We anticipate, and it is assumed for purposes of this discussion, that substantially all of the United States-source income to be derived by us or by our vessel-operating subsidiaries will be income from the operation of ships in international transportation that is potentially exempt from United States tax under the reciprocal exemption. Any item of United States-source income that is derived by us or by our vessel-operating subsidiaries and that is not treated as income from the operation of ships in international transportation will not qualify for the reciprocal exemption and therefore generally will be subject to United States tax, but we do not anticipate that such income will be a material portion of the gross income of our group.
The Treasury regulations under Section 883 (the Section 883 regulations) contain a relatively complex and narrow definition of the income from the operation of ships in international transportation that may qualify for the reciprocal exemption. However, even under the provisions of the Section 883 regulations, we anticipate that substantially all of the United States-source income to be derived by us or by our vessel-operating subsidiaries will qualify as income from the operation of ships in international transportation.
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Section 883(c). Under Section 883(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, we and our vessel-operating subsidiaries will qualify for the reciprocal exemption for a taxable year if (1) individuals who are residents of qualified foreign countries directly or indirectly own over 50% of the value of our stock for at least half of the number of days in such taxable year (the qualified ownership test), or (2) our stock is considered to be primarily and regularly traded on one or more established securities markets in the United States (the publicly traded test).
We have not established that we will be able to demonstrate that we satisfied the qualified ownership test for 2007 or any prior taxable year. We do not believe that we satisfied the publicly traded test for any taxable year prior to 2002. For 2002 through 2005, although it is unclear what requirements needed to be met in order to satisfy the publicly traded test, we have taken the position that we satisfied the publicly traded test, as during those years (i) the aggregate number of our common shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange exceeded the aggregated number of our common shares traded on established securities markets in Norway or any other single foreign country and (ii) we believe that during those years our common shares were regularly quoted by one or more dealers that made a market in our shares. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service could disagree with our position.
Under Treasury regulations that are effective for 2006 and subsequent years, satisfaction of the publicly traded test for a taxable year in which we have only common shares outstanding requires that:
| our common shares are listed during such taxable year on one or more established securities markets in the United States |
| the number of our common shares that are traded during the taxable year on an established securities market in the United States exceed the aggregate number of our common shares that are traded during such taxable year on established securities markets in any other single country |
| either (i) our common shares are regularly quoted during such taxable year by dealers making a market in our common shares (for this purpose, a dealer is treated as making a market only if the dealer regularly and actively offers to, and in fact does, purchase our common shares from, and sell our common shares to, unrelated customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business) or (ii) (A) trades in our common shares are effected, other than in de minimis quantities, on established securities markets in the United States on at least 60 days during the taxable year (or a proportionate number of days in a short taxable year) and (B) the aggregate number of common shares that are traded on established securities markets in the United States during such taxable year are at least 10% of the average number of our common shares outstanding during the taxable year (or a specified lesser percentage, in the case of a short taxable year). |
We believe that we satisfied the requirements described above for 2006 and have satisfied or will satisfy such requirements for subsequent taxable years. However, under Treasury regulations in effect for 2006 and subsequent years, even if we satisfy the requirements described above, we will not satisfy the publicly traded test for any year in which we have only common shares outstanding if, for more than half of the number of days during the taxable year, one or more persons that own, actually or under applicable constructive ownership rules, five percent or more of our common shares (five percent shareholders) own, in the aggregate, 50 percent or more of our common shares (the closely-held exception), unless we can establish, in accordance with documentation procedures set forth in the regulations, that individuals resident in qualified foreign countries (qualified shareholders) own, directly or under applicable constructive ownership rules, enough of our common shares taken into account in determining whether the closely-held exception applies to preclude non-qualified shareholders in the closely-held block of shares from owning 50 percent or more of our common shares for more than half the days of the taxable year. There can be no assurance that our shareholders will be qualified shareholders or will provide us with the documentation required to avoid the application of the closely-held exception under these rules. For purposes of determining the application of the closely-held exception, certain related shareholders are treated as a single shareholder and investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are not treated as five percent shareholders.
In determining whether our shares are closely-held for purposes of the closely-held exception, we generally may rely upon certain filings with the United States Securities Exchange Commission to identify our five percent shareholders. Based upon current filings, we believe that our common shares are not currently closely-held for purposes of the closely-held exception. There can be no assurance, however, that the ownership of our common shares will not change in such a way that we would need to comply with the documentation procedures set forth in the Section 883 regulations in order to establish that the closely-held exception did not apply to us. In such circumstances, however, it is possible that we may be unable to demonstrate that the closely held exception does not apply to us, as our shareholders may not comply with documentation requirements or we may not have sufficient qualified shareholders to satisfy the requirements for avoiding application of the closely-held exception. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will qualify for the reciprocal exemption.
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Taxation of Our Operations if the Reciprocal Exemption Is Unavailable
To the extent that the reciprocal exemption is not available to us or to our vessel-operating subsidiaries, then we and our vessel-operating subsidiaries generally will be subject to United States federal income tax on United States-source international transportation income under one of two alternative systems. Under the first system, we generally will be subject to a four percent tax on the gross amount of the United States-source international transportation income derived by us or by a vessel-operating subsidiary that is not considered to be effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. Under the second system, the United States-source international transportation income that we or a vessel-operating subsidiary derives that is considered to be effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business, determined after allowance of allocable deductions, will be subject to general United States federal income tax at normal corporate rates, currently at 35 percent. In addition, under the second system, we or the vessel-operating subsidiary will be subject to a 30 percent branch-level tax on earnings that are effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business, as determined after allowance for certain adjustments, and on certain interest paid or deemed paid by a United States trade or business.
At present, we do not expect that any of the United States-source international transportation income to be derived by us or by our vessel-operating subsidiaries will be effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. Accordingly, we expect that any United States-source international transportation income that does not qualify for the reciprocal exemption would be subject to the four percent tax on such gross income. If the manner in which we conduct our operations were to change, our international transportation income could come to be treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, in which case, if the reciprocal exemption were not available, it would be subject to tax under the second system described above, rather than subject to a four percent gross income tax.
United States Holders
Distributions
Subject to the discussion below under Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations, distributions that we make with respect to the common shares, other than distributions in liquidation and distributions in redemption of stock that are treated as exchanges, will be taxed to United States holders as dividend income to the extent that the distributions do not exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes). Distributions, if any, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a nontaxable return of capital to a United States holder and will be applied against and reduce the United States holders tax basis in its common shares. To the extent that distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits exceed the tax basis of the United States holder in its common shares, the excess generally will be treated as capital gain.
Qualifying dividends received by individuals in taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 2011 are eligible for taxation at capital gains rates (currently 15% for individuals not eligible for a lower rate). We are a non-United States corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends paid by a non-United States corporation are eligible to be treated as qualifying dividends only if (i) the non-United States corporation is incorporated in a possession of the United States, (ii) the non-United States corporation is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States or (iii) the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. We will not satisfy either of the conditions described in clauses (i) and (ii) of the preceding sentence. We expect that distributions on our common shares that are treated as dividends will qualify as dividends on stock that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States so long as our common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, dividends paid by a non-United States corporation will not be treated as qualifying dividends if the non-United States corporation is a passive foreign investment company (a PFIC) for the taxable year of the dividend or the prior taxable year. Our potential treatment as a PFIC is discussed below under the heading Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations. A dividend will also not be treated as a qualifying dividend to the extent that (i) the shareholder does not satisfy a holding period requirement that generally requires that the shareholder hold the shares on which the dividend is paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date which is sixty days before the date on which the shares become ex-dividend with respect to such dividend, (ii) the shareholder is under an obligation to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property or (iii) such dividend is taken into account as investment income under Section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. Legislation has been proposed in the United States Congress which, if enacted in its current form, would likely cause dividends on our shares to be ineligible for the preferential tax rates described above. There can be no assurance regarding whether, or in what form, such legislation will be enacted.
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Dividend income derived with respect to the common shares generally will constitute portfolio income for purposes of the limitation on the use of passive activity losses, and, therefore, generally may not be offset by passive activity losses, and, unless treated as qualifying dividends as described above (for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011), investment income for purposes of the limitation on the deduction of investment interest expense. Dividends that we pay will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction generally allowed to United States corporations under Section 243 of the Internal Revenue Code.
For foreign tax credit purposes, if at least 50 percent of our stock by voting power or by value is owned, directly, indirectly or by attribution, by United States persons, then, subject to the limitation described below, a portion of the dividends that we pay in each taxable year will be treated as United States-source income, depending in general upon the ratio for that taxable year of our United States-source earnings and profits to our total earnings and profits. The remaining portion of our dividends (or all of our dividends, if we do not meet the 50 percent test described above) will be treated as foreign-source income and generally will be treated as passive category income or, in the case of certain types of United States Holders, general category income for purposes of computing allowable foreign tax credits for United States federal income tax purposes. However, if, in any taxable year, we have earnings and profits and less than ten percent of those earnings and profits are from United States sources, then, in general, dividends that we pay from our earnings and profits for that taxable year will be treated entirely as foreign-source income. Where a United States holder that is an individual receives a dividend on our shares that is a qualifying dividend (as described in the second preceding paragraph) in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2011, special rules will apply that will limit the portion of such dividend that will be included in such individuals foreign source taxable income and overall taxable income for purposes of calculating such individuals foreign tax credit limitation.
Sale or Exchange
Subject to the discussion below under Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations, upon a sale or exchange of common shares to a person other than Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited (or certain related entities), a United States holder will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or exchange and the United States holders adjusted tax basis in the common shares. Any gain or loss recognized will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the United States holder has held the common shares for more than one year.
Gain or loss realized by a United States holder on the sale or exchange of common shares generally will be treated as United States-source gain or loss for United States foreign tax credit purposes.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
PFIC Classification. Special and adverse United States tax rules apply to a United States holder that holds an interest in a PFIC. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation, if (1) 75 percent or more of the gross income of the corporation for the taxable year is passive income (the PFIC income test) or (2) the average percentage of assets held by the corporation during the taxable year that produce passive income or that are held for the production of passive income is at least 50 percent (the PFIC asset test). In applying the PFIC income test and the PFIC asset test, a corporation that owns, directly or indirectly, at least 25 percent by value of the stock of a second corporation must take into account its proportionate share of the second corporations income and assets.
If a corporation is classified as a PFIC for any year during which a United States person is a shareholder, then the corporation generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to that shareholder in all succeeding years, regardless of whether the corporation continues to meet the PFIC income test or the PFIC asset test, subject to elections to recognize gain that may be available to the shareholder.
To date, we and our subsidiaries have derived most of our income from time and voyage charters, and we expect to continue to do so. This income should be treated as services income, which is not treated as passive income for PFIC purposes. On this basis, we do not believe that we were treated as a PFIC for our most recent taxable year or that we will be treated as a PFIC for any subsequent taxable year. This conclusion is based in part upon our beliefs regarding our past assets and income and our current projections and expectations as to our future business activity, including, in particular, our expectation that the proportion of our income derived from bareboat charters will not materially increase. Moreover, the IRS may disagree with the conclusion that time and voyage charters do not give rise to passive income for purposes of the PFIC income test. Accordingly, we can provide no assurance that we will not be treated as a PFIC for our most recent taxable year or for any subsequent taxable year.
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Consequences of PFIC Status. If we are treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a United States holder holds our common shares, then, subject to the discussion of the qualified electing fund (QEF) and mark-to-market rules below, the United States holder will be subject to a special and adverse tax regime in respect of (1) gains realized on the sale or other disposition of our common shares and (2) distributions on our common shares to the extent that those distributions are treated as excess distributions. An excess distribution generally includes dividends or other distributions received from a PFIC in any taxable year of a United States holder to the extent that the amount of those distributions exceeds 125 percent of the average distributions made by the PFIC during a specified base period. A United States holder that is subject to the PFIC rules (1) will be required to allocate excess distributions received in respect of our common shares and gain realized on the sale of common shares to each day during the United States holders holding period for the common shares, (2) will be required to include in income as ordinary income the portion of the excess distribution or gain that is allocated to the current taxable year and to certain pre-PFIC years, and (3) will be taxable at the highest rate of taxation applicable to ordinary income for the prior years, other than pre-PFIC years, to which the excess distribution or gain is allocable, without regard to the United States holders other items of income and loss for such prior taxable years (deferred tax). The deferred tax for each prior year will be increased by an interest charge for the period from the due date for tax returns for the prior year to the due date for tax returns for the year of the excess distribution or gain, computed at the rates that apply to underpayments of tax. Pledges of PFIC shares will be treated as dispositions for purposes of the foregoing rules. In addition, a United States holder who acquires common shares from a decedent prior to 2010 generally will not receive a stepped-up basis in the common shares. Instead, the United States holder will have a tax basis in the common shares equal to the lower of the fair market value of the common shares and the decedents basis.
QEF Election. In some circumstances, a United States holder may avoid the unfavorable consequences of the PFIC rules by making a QEF election with respect to us. A QEF election effectively would require an electing United States holder to include in income currently its pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and net capital gain. However, a United States holder cannot make a QEF election with respect to us unless we comply with certain reporting requirements and we currently do not intend to provide the required information.
Mark-to-Market Election. A United States holder that holds marketable stock in a PFIC may, in lieu of making a QEF election, avoid some of the unfavorable consequences of the PFIC rules by electing to mark the PFIC stock to market as of the close of each taxable year. Under recently promulgated regulations, the common shares will be treated as marketable stock for a calendar year if the common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, in other than de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter of the year. A United States holder that makes the mark-to-market election generally will be required to include in income each year as ordinary income an amount equal to the increase in value of the common shares for that year, regardless of whether the United States holder actually sells the common shares. The United States holder generally will be allowed a deduction for the decrease in value of the common shares for the taxable year, to the extent of the amount of gain previously included in income under the mark-to-market rules, reduced by prior deductions under the mark-to-market rules. Any gain from the actual sale of the PFIC stock will be treated as ordinary income, and any loss will be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of net mark-to-market gains previously included in income and not reversed by prior deductions.
Other PFIC Elections. Under recently issued regulations, if a United States holder held our stock during a period when we were treated as a PFIC but the United States holder did not have a QEF election in effect with respect to us, then in the event that we failed to qualify as a PFIC for a subsequent taxable year, the United States holder could elect to cease to be subject to the rules described above with respect to those shares by making a deemed sale or, in certain circumstances, a deemed dividend election with respect to our stock. If the United States holder makes a deemed sale election, the United States holder will be treated, for purposes of applying the rules described above under the heading Consequences of PFIC Status, as having disposed of our stock for its fair market value on the last day of the last taxable year for which we qualified as a PFIC (the termination date). The United States holder would increase his, her or its basis in such common stock by the amount of the gain on the deemed sale described in the preceding sentence. Following a deemed sale election, the United States holder would not be treated, for purposes of the PFIC rules, as having owned the common stock during a period prior to the termination date when we qualified as a PFIC.
If we were treated as a controlled foreign corporation for United States federal income tax purposes for the taxable year that included the termination date, then a United States holder could make a deemed dividend election with respect to our common stock. If a deemed dividend election is made, the United States holder is
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required to include in income as a dividend his, her or its pro rata share (based on all of our stock held by the United States holder, directly or under applicable attribution rules, on the termination date) of our post-1986 earnings and profits as of the close of the taxable year that includes the termination date (taking only earnings and profits accumulated in taxable years in which we were a PFIC into account). The deemed dividend described in the preceding sentence is treated as an excess distribution for purposes of the rules described above under the heading Consequences of PFIC Status. The United States holder would increase his, her or its basis in our stock by the amount of the deemed dividend. Following a deemed dividend election, the United States holder would not be treated, for purposes of the PFIC rules, as having owned the stock during a period prior to the termination date when we qualified as a PFIC. For purposes of determining whether the deemed dividend election is available, we generally will be treated as a controlled foreign corporation for a taxable year when, at any time during that year, United States persons, each of whom owns, directly or under applicable attribution rules, shares having 10% or more of the total voting power of our stock, in the aggregate own, directly or under applicable attribution rules, shares representing more than 50% of the voting power or value of our stock.
A deemed sale or deemed dividend election must be made on the United States holders original or amended return for the shareholders taxable year that includes the termination date and, if made on an amended return, such amended return must be filed not later than the date that is three years after the due date of the original return for such taxable year. Special rules apply where a person is treated, for purposes of the PFIC rules, as indirectly owning our common stock.
You are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding our possible classification as a PFIC, as well as the potential tax consequences arising from the ownership and disposition, directly or indirectly, of interests in a PFIC.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries generally are subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless (i) you are a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) in the case of backup withholding, you provide a correct taxpayer identification number and certify that you are not subject to backup withholding.
The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a credit against your United States federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service
Documents on Display
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In accordance with these requirements, we file reports and other information as a foreign private issuer with the SEC. You may inspect and copy our public filings without charge at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. You may obtain copies of all or any part of such materials from the SEC upon payment of prescribed fees. You may also inspect reports and other information regarding registrants, such as us, that file electronically with the SEC without charge at a web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, material filed by Tsakos Energy Navigation can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
Item 11. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
Our risk management policy. Our policy is to continuously monitor our exposure to business risks, including the impact of changes in interest rates, currency rates, and bunker prices on earnings and cash flows. We intend to assess these risks and, when appropriate, enter into derivative contracts with creditworthy counter parties to minimize our exposure to these risks. As part of our efforts to manage our risk, we have in the past entered into derivative contracts for both hedging and, periodically, trading purposes.
In August 2001, we created a Risk Committee, which is comprised of our finance director and a standing committee of the board of directors. The primary role of the Risk Committee is to:
| continuously review and assess all activities that may generate exposure to risk and ensure we are taking appropriate measures; |
| ensure that our policies and procedures for evaluating and managing risks are effective and do not significantly increase overall risk; and |
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| assess the effectiveness of derivative contracts and recommend, if necessary, the early termination of any contract. |
Our risk management policy provides for the following procedures:
| All recommendations to enter into a derivative contract must originate either from qualified officers or directors of the company or from equivalent specialized officers of our technical manager; |
| All recommendations to enter into a derivative contract must be reviewed by a combined team of officers and advice is taken, as applicable, from third-party sources (e.g., our bankers, other banks, bunker brokers, insurers, etc.); |
| Any recommendation must be formalized into a specific proposal which defines the risks to be managed, the action to be implemented, and the benefits and potential risks of the proposed derivative contract, which proposal shall be presented to the risk committee; and |
| All derivative contracts must be approved by the Risk Committee and the board of directors. |
Interest rate risk
The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates, which could impact its results of operations, financial condition and cash flow. The Company manages its ratio of fixed to floating rate debt with the objective of achieving a mix that reflects managements interest rate outlook. As of March 31, 2008 we have $615 million in effective hedging swaps and a further $241 million in interest rate swaps that do not currently meet hedging criteria. The annualized impact in terms of swap related interest payable resulting from a one-percentage point increase in interest rates would be an increase of approximately $7.5 million in earnings and cash flow. The annualized impact resulting from a one-percentage point decrease in interest rates would be a decrease of approximately $7.5 million in earnings and cash flow.
The table below provides information about our financial instruments at December 31, 2007, which are sensitive to changes in interest rate, including our debt and interest rate swaps. For debt obligations, the table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates. Weighted-average variable rates are based on the implied forward rates in the yield curves at the reporting date. For interest rate swaps, the table presents notional amounts and weighted- average interest rates by expected contractual maturity dates. Notional amounts are used to calculate the contractual payments to be exchanged under the contracts.
Balance as of Dec. 31, 2007 |
Expected Maturities (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Thereafter | ||||||||||||||||
(In millions of U.S. dollars, except percentages) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Debt: |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed Rate Debt |
116.6 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 63.6 | ||||||||||||||
Weighted Average Interest Rate |
5.19 | % | 5.19 | % | 5.19 | % | 5.19 | % | 5.19 | % | 5.19 | % | 5.19 | % | |||||||
Variable Rate Debt (2) |
1,273.3 | 33.8 | 71.1 | 82.0 | 84.5 | 84.5 | 917.4 | ||||||||||||||
Weighted Average Interest Rate |
5.52 | % | 4.88 | % | 3.95 | % | 4.72 | % | 5.12 | % | 5.40 | % | 5.90 | % | |||||||
1,389.9 | 44.4 | 81.7 | 92.6 | 95.1 | 95.1 | 981.0 | |||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Swaps (or Derivatives): |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swapsvariable to fixed |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Notional Amount at December 31, 2007 |
477.8 | 19.8 | 24.6 | 24.6 | 29.6 | 363.9 | 15.3 | ||||||||||||||
Adjustment for early termination up to March 31, 2008 |
(22.6 | ) | (1.5 | ) | (1.5 | ) | (1.5 | ) | (1.4 | ) | (1.4 | ) | (15.3 | ) | |||||||
Notional Amount adjusted |
455.2 | 18.3 | 23.1 | 23.1 | 28.2 | 362.5 | | ||||||||||||||
Average Pay Rate |
5.17 | % | 5.21 | % | 5.22 | % | 5.22 | % | 5.22 | % | 5.22 | % | | ||||||||
Average Receive Rate |
5.11 | % | 3.90 | % | 3.38 | % | 4.12 | % | 4.49 | % | 4.49 | % | | ||||||||
Cap and Floor Options |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Notional Amount |
459.3 | 116.5 | 62.4 | 16.9 | 95.4 | 22.7 | 145.4 | ||||||||||||||
Adjustment for early termination up to March 31, 2008 |
(57.4 | ) | (5.1 | ) | (52.3 | ) | | | | |
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Balance as of Dec. 31, 2007 |
Expected Maturities (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Thereafter | ||||||||||||||||
(In millions of U.S. dollars, except percentages) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Notional Amount adjusted |
401.9 | 111.4 | 10.1 | 16.9 | 95.4 | 22.7 | 145.4 | ||||||||||||||
Average Pay Rate (2) |
4.42 | % | 4.61 | % | 4.63 | % | 4.71 | % | 4.69 | % | 4.77 | % | 4.88 | % | |||||||
Average Receive Rate |
5.34 | % | 3.91 | % | 3.35 | % | 4.12 | % | 4.49 | % | 4.74 | % | 5.06 | % | |||||||
937.1 | 136.3 | 87.0 | 41.5 | 125.0 | 386.6 | 160.7 |
(1) | These are the expected maturities based on the balances as of December 31, 2007. Note that four interest rate swaps with notional amounts totaling $80.0 million at December 31, 2007 were terminated prior to maturity in March 2008 for a net loss of $0.09 million. The notional amounts at December 31, 2007 have been adjusted to reflect the early termination. Furthermore, the interest rate effect of these terminated swaps has been excluded from the Average Pay and Receive Rates in the above table. |
(2) | Interest Payments on US Dollardenominated debt and interest rate swaps are based on LIBOR. |
Bunker price risk
During 2007, the Company had two swap arrangements in progress whereby it pays to the counterparty a fixed price of $267 per metric ton (MT) for a notional 1,000 MT of fuel oil for each of three months and $233 per metric ton for a notional amount of 2,000MT of fuel oil for each of two months, and received from the counterparty a floating price dependent on a monthly arithmetical average of daily market prices provided by Platts, a leading provider of energy information. As at December 31, 2007, there were no outstanding contracts.
Foreign exchange rate fluctuation
The currency the international tanker industry is primarily using is the U.S. dollar. Virtually all of our revenues are in U.S. dollars and the majority of our operating costs are incurred in U.S. dollars. We incur certain operating expenses in foreign currencies, the most significant of which are in Euros. During fiscal 2007, approximately 20% of the total of our vessel and voyage costs, overhead and dry-dock expenditures were denominated in Euro. However, we have the ability to shift our purchase of goods and services from one country to another and, thus, from one currency to another in order to mitigate the effects of exchange rate fluctuations. We have a policy of continuously monitoring and managing our foreign exchange exposure. To date, we have not engaged in any foreign currency hedging transactions, as we do not believe we have had significant risk exposure to foreign currency fluctuations.
Inflation
Although inflation has had a moderate impact on operating expenses, dry docking expenses and corporate overhead, our management does not consider inflation to be a significant risk to direct costs in the current and foreseeable economic environment. However, if inflation becomes a significant factor in the world economy, inflationary pressures could result in increased operating and financing costs.
Item 12. | Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities |
Not Applicable.
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Item 13. | Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies |
Not Applicable.
Item 14. | Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds |
None.
Item 15. | Controls and Procedures |
A. Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Companys management, with the participation of the Companys chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer concluded that the Companys disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this annual report were designed and were functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Companys management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The Company believes that a system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the controls are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.
B. Managements Annual Report of Internal Financial Reporting Controls
The management of Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the Company), according to Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of adequate internal controls over financial reporting for the Company. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Companys financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. However, in any system of internal control there are inherent limitations and consequently internal control over financial reporting may not absolutely prevent or detect misstatements.
The Companys system of internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:
(i) | pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; |
(ii) | provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and |
(iii) | provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
Management has performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the criteria established within Internal Control- Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
Based on our assessment, management has determined that the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, is effective.
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C. Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A., or Ernst & Young (Hellas), which has audited the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2007, has also audited the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting as stated in their audit report which is incorporated into Item 18 of this Form 20-F from page F-2 hereof.
D. Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
No change in the Companys internal control over financial reporting occurred during the Companys most recent fiscal year that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
Item 16A. | Audit Committee Financial Expert |
The Board of Directors of the Company has determined that Francis T. Nusspickel and D. John Stavropoulos, whose biographical details are included in Item 6, each qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined under current SEC regulations and each is independent in accordance with the rules of the SEC and listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.
Item 16B. | Code of Ethics |
The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its directors, officers and employees. A copy of our code of ethics is posted in the Investor Relations section of the Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited website, and may be viewed at http://www.tenn.gr. We will also provide a hard copy of our code of ethics free of charge upon written request of a shareholder. Shareholders may direct their requests to the attention of Investor Relations, c/o George Saroglou or Paul Durham, Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited, 367 Syngrou Avenue, 175 64 P. Faliro, Athens, Greece.
Item 16C. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services |
Ernst & Young (Hellas) has audited our annual financial statements acting as our independent auditor for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005.
The chart below sets forth the total amount billed for the Ernst & Young services performed in 2007 and 2006 and breaks down these amounts by the category of service (in Euros).
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | |||||||
Audit fees |
| 218,400 | | 549,880 | | 525,510 | |||
Audit-Related fees |
11,400 | 37,300 | | ||||||
Tax fees |
13,600 | 12,800 | 17,588 | ||||||
All other fees |
| | |||||||
Total fees |
| 243,440 | | 599,980 | | 543,098 |
Audit Fees
The audit fees include the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our 2006 and 2007 annual financial statements and for related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or services that are normally provided by the auditor in connection with regulatory filings or engagements for those financial years (including comfort letters, review of the 20-F, consents and other services related to SEC matters and including the review of work performed by other parties relating to the implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley requirements).
Audit-Related Fees
The audit-related fees include the aggregate fees billed for certain accounting consultations and other work which are not reported under audit services.
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Tax Fees
The Ernst & Young office in Columbus, Ohio, United States provided tax services for 2005, 2006 and 2007 by assisting the Company in submitting tax declarations for those subsidiaries whose vessels performed voyages to the United States within 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. None of the declarations indicated a tax liability.
All Other Fees
Ernst & Young did not provide any other services that would be classified in this category during 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Pre-approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee Charter sets forth the Companys policy regarding retention of the independent auditors, requiring the Audit Committee to review and approve in advance the retention of the independent auditors for the performance of all audit and lawfully permitted non-audit services and the fees related thereto. The Chairman of the Audit Committee or in the absence of the Chairman, any member of the Audit Committee designated by the Chairman, has authority to approve in advance any lawfully permitted non-audit services and fees. The Audit Committee is authorized to establish other policies and procedures for the pre-approval of such services and fees. Where non-audit services and fees are approved under delegated authority, the action must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
Item 16D. | Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees |
Not Applicable.
Item 16E. | Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers |
During 2005, three share buy-back programs were announced with an authorized amount of $68.5 million in total. As set forth below, the Company purchased 41,600 shares in 2007 and 286,400 shares in 2006, in the open market in a buy-back program at a cost of approximately $1.3 million in 2007 and $5.3 million in 2006. The transactions were open market-based through the New York Stock Exchange with a maximum price set by the Board of Directors. The shares were immediately deemed cancelled on purchase in accordance with the Companys bye-laws and Bermudan law.
Share amounts and share prices have been adjusted for our two-for-one share split which became effective on November 14, 2007.
The shares listed below represent the only shares repurchased by the Company in 2006.
Common Shares Repurchased by the Company
(per month in 2006)
Month |
Number of Shares | Average Price | |||
January |
116,000 | $ | 17.98 | ||
February |
101,000 | 18.14 | |||
May |
17,000 | 18.28 | |||
June |
28,400 | 17.83 | |||
October |
24,000 | 21.81 | |||
Total |
286,400 | $ | 18.36 |
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The shares listed below represent the only shares repurchased by the Company in 2007.
Common Shares Repurchased by the Company
(per month in 2007)
Month |
Number of Shares | Average Price | |||
August |
19,800 | $ | 31.99 | ||
September |
21,800 | 32.37 | |||
Total |
41,600 | $ | 32.17 |
We repurchased a total of 265,600 shares during the first quarter of 2008 at an average price of $31.10 per share.
Item 17. | Financial Statements |
Not Applicable.
Item 18. | Financial Statements |
The following financial statements together with the report of our independent registered public accounting firm, are set forth on pages F-1 through F-26 included herein.
Item 19. | Exhibits |
Number |
Description | |
1.1 |
Memorandum of Association of Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited* | |
1.2 |
Bye-laws of Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited* | |
4.1 |
Rights Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2005, between Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent (filed as an exhibit to the Companys Form 6-K filed with the SEC on September 30, 2005, and hereby incorporated by reference) | |
4.2 |
1998 Stock Option Plan of Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited* | |
4.3 |
Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited 2004 Incentive Plan | |
4.4 |
Amended and Restated Management Agreement between Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited and Tsakos Energy Management Limited effective January 1, 2007** | |
8 |
List of subsidiaries of Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited | |
11 |
Code of Ethics | |
12.1 |
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | |
12.2 |
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | |
13.1 |
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
13.2 |
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
15.1 |
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
* | Previously filed as an exhibit to the Companys Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-82326) filed with the SEC and hereby incorporated by reference to such Registration Statement. |
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** | Previously filed as an exhibit to the Companys 20-F filed with the SEC on May 15, 2007, hereby incorporated by reference to such Annual Report. |
| Previously filed as an exhibit to the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on June 29, 2004 and hereby incorporated by reference to such Annual Report. |
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SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED | ||
/s/ Nikolas P. Tsakos | ||
Name: |
Nikolas P. Tsakos | |
Title: |
President and Chief Executive Officer | |
Date: |
May 9, 2008 |
85
TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED and subsidiaries at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED and subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated April 18, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
ERNST & YOUNG (HELLAS) CERTIFIED AUDITORS ACCOUNTANTS S.A.
Athens, Greece
April 18, 2008
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED
We have audited TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED and subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED and subsidiaries management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Managements Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the companys internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 and our report dated April 18, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
ERNST & YOUNG (HELLAS) CERTIFIED AUDITORS ACCOUNTANTS S.A.
Athens, Greece
April 18, 2008
F-2
TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2007 and DECEMBER 31, 2006
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars - except share data)
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 181,447 | $ | 174,567 | ||||
Restricted cash |
6,889 | 4,347 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net |
23,411 | 15,425 | ||||||
Insurance claims |
13,120 | 1,865 | ||||||
Due from related companies (Note 2) |
972 | | ||||||
Advances and other |
5,359 | 5,480 | ||||||
Vessel held for sale |
27,535 | | ||||||
Inventories |
12,099 | 8,431 | ||||||
Prepaid insurance and other |
4,030 | 3,020 | ||||||
Financial instruments-Fair value (Note 9) |
1,191 | 9,358 | ||||||
Total current assets |
276,053 | 222,493 | ||||||
INVESTMENTS (Note 3) |
1,000 | 14,045 | ||||||
FIXED ASSETS (Notes 2b, 4 and 8) |
||||||||
Advances for vessels under construction |
169,739 | 261,242 | ||||||
Vessels |
2,127,704 | 1,649,928 | ||||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(227,521 | ) | (191,281 | ) | ||||
Vessels Net Book Value |
1,900,183 | 1,458,647 | ||||||
Total fixed assets |
2,069,922 | 1,719,889 | ||||||
DEFERRED CHARGES, net (Note 5) |
15,801 | 13,448 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 2,362,776 | $ | 1,969,875 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY | ||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6) |
$ | 44,363 | $ | 23,117 | ||||
Payables |
34,871 | 22,255 | ||||||
Due to related companies (Note 2) |
2,428 | 2,414 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities |
17,275 | 18,218 | ||||||
Accrued bank interest |
16,952 | 13,705 | ||||||
Unearned revenue |
11,939 | 12,075 | ||||||
Deferred income, current portion (Note 7) |
2,626 | 5,821 | ||||||
Financial instruments - Fair value (Note 9) |
28,811 | 3,825 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
159,265 | 101,430 | ||||||
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current portion (Note 6) |
1,345,580 | 1,110,544 | ||||||
DEFERRED INCOME, net of current portion (Note 7) |
| 2,626 | ||||||
MINORITY INTEREST (Note 12) |
3,391 | 2 | ||||||
STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY: |
||||||||
Common stock, $ 1.00 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 38,059,142 and 38,079,742 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively |
38,059 | 19,040 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
273,036 | 267,430 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income / (loss) |
(23,775 | ) | 4,718 | |||||
Retained earnings |
567,220 | 464,085 | ||||||
Total stockholders equity |
854,540 | 755,273 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
$ | 2,362,776 | $ | 1,969,875 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2006 AND 2005
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars - except share and per share data)
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||||
VOYAGE REVENUES: |
$ | 500,617 | $ | 427,654 | $ | 295,623 | ||||||
EXPENSES: |
||||||||||||
Commissions |
17,976 | 15,441 | 11,604 | |||||||||
Voyage expenses |
72,075 | 69,065 | 35,970 | |||||||||
Charter hire expense |
15,330 | 24,461 | 24,317 | |||||||||
Vessel operating expenses |
108,356 | 76,095 | 52,945 | |||||||||
Depreciation |
81,567 | 59,058 | 35,697 | |||||||||
Amortization of deferred dry-docking costs |
3,217 | 4,857 | 6,583 | |||||||||
Provision for doubtful receivables |
| | 40 | |||||||||
Management fees (Note 2) |
9,763 | 7,103 | 5,460 | |||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
4,382 | 3,510 | 3,631 | |||||||||
Management incentive award (Note 2) |
4,000 | 3,500 | 2,500 | |||||||||
Stock compensation expense (Note 10) |
5,670 | 216 | | |||||||||
Foreign currency losses/(gains) |
691 | 279 | (181 | ) | ||||||||
Amortization of deferred gain on sale of vessels (Note 7) |
(3,168 | ) | (3,168 | ) | (3,168 | ) | ||||||
Gain on sale of vessels (Note 8) |
(68,944 | ) | (38,009 | ) | (34,540 | ) | ||||||
Total expenses |
250,915 | 222,408 | 140,858 | |||||||||
Operating income |
249,702 | 205,246 | 154,765 | |||||||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES): |
||||||||||||
Gain on sale of non-operating vessels (Note 8) |
| | 10,765 | |||||||||
Gain on sale of shares in subsidiary (Note 12) |
| 25,323 | | |||||||||
Interest and finance costs, net (Note 9) |
(77,382 | ) | (42,486 | ) | (11,247 | ) | ||||||
Interest and investment income |
13,316 | 7,164 | 7,360 |   |