UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 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, 2010
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)
Paul Durham
367 Syngrou Avenue
175 64 P. Faliro
Athens, Greece
Telephone: 011-30210-9407710
E-mail: ten@tenn.gr
Facsimile: 011-30210-9407716
(Name, Address, Telephone Number, E-mail and Facsimile Number of Company Contact Person)
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 | |
Preferred share purchase rights | 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, 2010, there were 46,081,487 shares of the registrants 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 ¨ No x
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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ¨ 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 ¨ Accelerated filer x Non-accelerated filer ¨
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 ¨ |
If Other has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. Item 17 ¨ Item 18 ¨
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
All statements in this Annual Report on Form 20-F that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The disclosure and analysis set forth in this Annual Report on Form 20-F includes assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events in a number of places, particularly in relation to our operations, cash flows, financial position, plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in our business and the markets in which we operate. These statements are intended as forward-looking statements. In some cases, predictive, future-tense or forward-looking words such as believe, intend, anticipate, estimate, project, forecast, plan, potential, may, predict, should and expect and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, such matters as:
| future operating or financial results and future revenues and expenses; |
| future, pending or recent business and vessel acquisitions, business strategy, areas of possible expansion and expected capital spending and our ability to fund such expenditure; |
| operating expenses including the availability of key employees, crew, length and number of off-hire days, dry-docking requirements and fuel and insurance costs; |
| general market conditions and shipping industry trends, including charter rates, vessel values and factors affecting supply and demand of crude oil and petroleum products; |
| our financial condition and liquidity, including our ability to make required payments under our credit facilities, comply with our loan covenants and obtain additional financing in the future to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and other corporate activities; |
| the overall health and condition of the U.S. and global financial markets, including the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies; |
| the carrying value of our vessels and the potential for any asset impairments; |
| our expectations about the time that it may take to construct and deliver new vessels or the useful lives of our vessels; |
| our continued ability to enter into period time charters with our customers and secure profitable employment for our vessels in the spot market; |
| the ability of our counterparties including our charterers to honor their contractual obligations; |
| our expectations relating to dividend payments and ability to make such payments; |
| our ability to leverage to our advantage the relationships and reputation of Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement within the shipping industry; |
| our anticipated general and administrative expenses; |
| environmental and regulatory conditions, including changes in laws and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities; |
| risks inherent in vessel operation, including terrorism, piracy and discharge of pollutants; |
| potential liability from future litigation; |
| global and regional political conditions; |
| tanker and product carrier supply and demand; and |
| other factors discussed in the Risk Factors described in Item 3. of this Annual Report on Form 20-F. |
We caution that the forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 20-F and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results. These forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and represent
1
only our managements belief as of the date hereof, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and inversely from expectations expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events may, and often do, vary from actual results and these differences can be material. There are a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, which affect our operations, performance, business strategy and results and could cause actual reported results and performance to differ materially from the performance and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, supply and demand for crude oil carriers and product tankers, charter rates and vessel values, supply and demand for crude oil and petroleum products, accidents, collisions and spills, environmental and other government regulation, the availability of debt financing, fluctuation of currency exchange and interest rates and the other risks and uncertainties that are outlined in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. As a result, the forward-looking events discussed in this Annual Report on Form 20-F might not occur and our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on any forward-looking statements.
We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, whether as a result of new information, future events, a change in our views or expectations or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of these factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
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.
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 Limited for each of the five years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2010. The table should be read together with Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects. The selected consolidated financial data of Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited 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).
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, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2009 and 2010, together with the notes thereto, are included in Item 18. Financial Statements and should be read in their entirety.
2
Selected Consolidated Financial and Other Data
(Dollars in thousands, except for share and per share amounts and fleet data)
2006(11) | 2007(11) | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | ||||||||||||||||
Income Statement Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Voyage revenues |
$ | 427,654 | $ | 500,617 | $ | 623,040 | $ | 444,926 | $ | 408,006 | ||||||||||
Expenses |
||||||||||||||||||||
Commissions |
15,441 | 17,976 | 22,997 | 16,086 | 13,837 | |||||||||||||||
Voyage expenses |
69,065 | 72,075 | 83,065 | 77,224 | 85,813 | |||||||||||||||
Charter hire expense |
24,461 | 15,330 | 13,487 | | 1,905 | |||||||||||||||
Vessel operating expenses (1) |
76,095 | 108,356 | 143,757 | 144,586 | 126,022 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation |
59,058 | 81,567 | 85,462 | 94,279 | 92,889 | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of deferred dry-docking costs |
4,857 | 3,217 | 5,281 | 7,243 | 4,553 | |||||||||||||||
Management fees |
7,103 | 9,763 | 12,015 | 13,273 | 14,143 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
3,510 | 4,382 | 4,626 | 4,069 | 3,627 | |||||||||||||||
Management incentive award |
3,500 | 4,000 | 4,750 | | 425 | |||||||||||||||
Stock compensation expense |
216 | 5,670 | 3,046 | 1,087 | 1,068 | |||||||||||||||
Foreign currency losses (gains) |
279 | 691 | 915 | 730 | (378 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Amortization of deferred gain on sale of vessels |
(3,168 | ) | (3,168 | ) | (634 | ) | | | ||||||||||||
Net gain on sale of vessels |
(38,009 | ) | (68,944 | ) | (34,565 | ) | (5,122 | ) | (19,670 | ) | ||||||||||
Vessel impairment charge |
| | | 19,066 | 3,077 | |||||||||||||||
Operating income |
205,246 | 249,702 | 278,838 | 72,405 | 80,695 | |||||||||||||||
Other expenses (income): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of shares in subsidiary |
(25,323 | ) | | | | | ||||||||||||||
Interest and finance costs, net |
42,486 | 77,382 | 82,897 | 45,877 | 62,283 | |||||||||||||||
Interest and investment income |
(7,164 | ) | (13,316 | ) | (8,406 | ) | (3,572 | ) | (2,626 | ) | ||||||||||
Other, net |
(1,159 | ) | (924 | ) | 350 | (75 | ) | 3 | ||||||||||||
Total other expenses (income), net |
8,840 | 63,142 | 74,841 | 42,230 | 59,660 | |||||||||||||||
Net income |
196,406 | 186,560 | 203,997 | 30,175 | 21,035 | |||||||||||||||
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest |
(2 | ) | (3,389 | ) | (1,066 | ) | (1,490 | ) | (1,267 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. |
$ | 196,404 | $ | 183,171 | $ | 202,931 | $ | 28,685 | $ | 19,768 | ||||||||||
Per Share Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings per share, basic |
$ | 5.15 | $ | 4.81 | $ | 5.40 | $ | 0.78 | $ | 0.50 | ||||||||||
Earnings per share, diluted |
$ | 5.15 | $ | 4.79 | $ | 5.33 | $ | 0.77 | $ | 0.50 | ||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares, basic |
38,127,692 | 38,075,859 | 37,552,848 | 36,940,198 | 39,235,601 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares, diluted |
38,141,052 | 38,234,079 | 38,047,134 | 37,200,187 | 39,601,678 | |||||||||||||||
Dividends per common share, paid |
$ | 1.175 | $ | 1.575 | $ | 1.80 | $ | 1.15 | $ | 0.60 | ||||||||||
Cash Flow Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
214,998 | 190,611 | 274,141 | 117,161 | 83,327 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(829,326 | ) | (375,641 | ) | (164,637 | ) | (75,568 | ) | (240,115 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash provided by /(used in) financing activities |
643,126 | 191,910 | 21,218 | (57,581 | ) | 137,244 | ||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 174,567 | $ | 181,447 | $ | 312,169 | $ | 296,181 | $ | 276,637 | ||||||||||
Cash, restricted |
4,347 | 6,889 | 7,581 | 6,818 | 6,291 | |||||||||||||||
Investments |
14,045 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | |||||||||||||||
Advances for vessels under construction |
261,242 | 169,739 | 53,715 | 49,213 | 81,882 | |||||||||||||||
Vessels, net book value |
1,458,647 | 1,900,183 | 2,155,489 | 2,009,965 | 2,235,065 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets |
1,969,875 | 2,362,776 | 2,602,317 | 2,549,720 | 2,702,260 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term debt, including current portion |
1,133,661 | 1,389,943 | 1,513,629 | 1,502,574 | 1,562,467 | |||||||||||||||
Total stockholders equity |
755,275 | 857,931 | 915,115 | 914,327 | 1,019,930 | |||||||||||||||
Fleet Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Average number of vessels (2) |
33.8 | 41.7 | 44.1 | 46.6 | 46.1 | |||||||||||||||
Number of vessels (at end of period) (2) |
37.0 | 43.0 | 46.0 | 47.0 | 48.0 | |||||||||||||||
Average age of fleet (in years) (3) |
5.9 | 5.6 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 6.8 | |||||||||||||||
Earnings capacity days (4) |
12,335 | 15,213 | 16,143 | 17,021 | 16,836 | |||||||||||||||
Off-hire days (5) |
322 | 523 | 431 | 390 | 400 |
3
2006(11) | 2007(11) | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | ||||||||||||||||
Net earnings days (6) |
12,013 | 14,690 | 15,712 | 16,631 | 16,436 | |||||||||||||||
Percentage utilization (7) |
97.4 | % | 96.6 | % | 97.3 | % | 97.7 | % | 97.6 | % | ||||||||||
Average TCE per vessel per day (8) |
$ | 30,154 | $ | 29,421 | $ | 34,600 | $ | 22,329 | $ | 19,825 | ||||||||||
Vessel operating expenses per ship per day (9) |
$ | 6,979 | $ | 7,669 | $ | 9,450 | $ | 8,677 | $ | 7,647 | ||||||||||
Vessel overhead burden per ship per day (10) |
$ | 1,162 | $ | 1,565 | $ | 1,514 | $ | 1,083 | $ | 1,144 |
(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, quality and safety costs and other direct operating costs. |
(2) | Includes chartered vessels. |
(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. TCE is a non-GAAP measure. 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. |
Derivation of time charter equivalent per day (amounts in thousands except for days and per day amounts):
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | ||||||||||||||||
Voyage revenues |
$ | 427,654 | $ | 500,617 | $ | 623,040 | $ | 444,926 | $ | 408,006 | ||||||||||
Less: Voyage expenses |
(69,065 | ) | (72,075 | ) | (83,065 | ) | (77,224 | ) | (85,813 | ) | ||||||||||
Add: Representative operating expenses for bareboat charter ($10,000 daily) |
3,650 | 3,650 | 3,660 | 3,650 | 3,650 | |||||||||||||||
Time charter equivalent revenues |
362,239 | 432,192 | 543,635 | 371,352 | 325,843 | |||||||||||||||
Net earnings days |
12,013 | 14,690 | 15,712 | 16,631 | 16,436 | |||||||||||||||
Average TCE per vessel per day |
$ | 30,154 | $ | 29,421 | $ | 34,600 | $ | 22,329 | $ | 19,825 |
(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, stock compensation expense and general and administrative expenses divided by the total number of earnings capacity days. |
(11) | The unaudited selected consolidated financial data for the year ended December 31, 2006 and as at December 31, 2007 and 2006, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not appearing in this Annual Report and has been recast to reflect the adoption of new accounting and reporting standards as defined in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 810 Consolidation issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in December 2007 for ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent. As a result of the adoption of the new guidance effective January 1, 2009, Total stockholders equity for the years 2007 and 2006 as show above incorporates the non-controlling interest in two of our subsidiaries (formerly referred to as minority interest and shown separately from stockholders equity). |
4
Capitalization
The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2010, our (i) cash and cash equivalents and (ii) consolidated capitalization, as adjusted for the following events through March 31, 2011:
| our scheduled debt repayments totaling $28.6 million and debt prepayment on the sale of the vessel Opal Queen totaling $15.6 million; |
| the sale of the vessel Opal Queen for the amount of $34.0 million, resulting in estimated gains totaling $5.3 million; |
| our payment of vessel construction installments amounting to $21.6 million; and |
| our payment of a $6.9 million dividend on February 1, 2011 and the declaration of a further $6.9 million dividend on March 14, 2011, payable on April 28, 2011. |
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, 2010 | ||||||||||||
Actual | Adjustments | Adjusted | ||||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||
In thousands of U.S. Dollars |
||||||||||||
Cash |
||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 276,637 | $ | (38,752 | ) | $ | 237,885 | |||||
Restricted cash |
6,291 | | 6,291 | |||||||||
Total cash |
$ | 282,928 | $ | (38,752 | ) | $ | 244,176 | |||||
Capitalization |
||||||||||||
Debt: |
||||||||||||
Long-term secured debt obligations (including current portion) |
$ | 1,562,467 | $ | (44,240 | ) | $ | 1,518,227 | |||||
Stockholders equity: |
||||||||||||
Common shares, $1.00 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 46,081,481 shares issued and outstanding on an actual and as adjusted basis |
46,081 | | 46,081 | |||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
350,946 | | 350,946 | |||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(52,329 | ) | | (52,329 | ) | |||||||
Retained earnings |
671,480 | (8,490 | ) | 662,990 | ||||||||
Non-controlling interest |
3,752 | | 3,752 | |||||||||
Total stockholders equity |
1,019,930 | (8,490 | ) | 1,011,440 | ||||||||
Total capitalization |
$ | 2,582,397 | $ | (52,730 | ) | $ | 2,529,667 | |||||
Reasons For the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not Applicable.
5
Risk Factors
Risks Related To Our Industry
The charter markets for crude oil carriers and product tankers have deteriorated significantly since the summer 2008, which could affect our future revenues, earnings and profitability.
After reaching highs during the summer of 2008, charter rates for crude oil carriers and product tankers fell dramatically thereafter. While the rates occasionally improved during 2009 and 2010, generally they remained significantly below the levels that contributed to our increasing revenues and profitability through 2008. The decline in charter rates was due to various factors, including the significant fall in demand for crude oil and petroleum products, the consequent rising inventories of crude oil and petroleum products in the United States and in other industrialized nations and the corresponding reduction in oil refining, the net increase in supply of new vessels and the restrictions on crude oil production that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other non-OPEC oil producing countries have imposed in an effort to stabilize the price of oil.
As of March 31, 2011, twelve of our vessels were employed under spot charters that are scheduled to expire by May 1, 2011, and 14 of our vessels were employed on time charters, which, if not extended, are scheduled to expire during the period between May and November of 2011. In addition, 19 of our vessels have profit sharing provisions in their time charters that are based upon prevailing market rates and two of our vessels are under contracts of affreightment which provide for periodic adjustments of their charter rates, also based upon prevailing market rates. In addition, six of our vessels are employed in pool arrangements at variable rates. Moreover, there are two newbuildings which are scheduled to be delivered within the next six months, for which we do not have charters. If the current low rates in the charter market continue for any significant period in 2011 it will affect the charter revenue we will receive from these vessels, which could have an adverse effect on our revenues, profitability and cash flows. The decline in charter rates also affects the value of our vessels, which follows the trends of charter rates and earnings on our charters.
Disruptions in world financial markets and the resulting governmental action in the United States and in other parts of the world could have a further material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could cause the market price of our common stock to further decline.
The economic crisis that started in 2008 has affected the global economy and the shipping markets. Extraordinary steps that were taken by the governments of several leading economic countries to combat the economic crisis appear to have restrained the downturn; however, the long-term impact of these measures is not yet known and cannot be predicted. While there are positive indications that the global economy is improving, we cannot provide any assurance that the global recession will not return and tight credit markets will not continue or become more severe.
We face risks attendant to changes in economic environments, changes in interest rates, and instability in the banking, commodities and securities markets around the world, among other factors. Major market disruptions and the current adverse changes in market conditions and regulatory climate in the United States and worldwide may adversely affect our business or impair our ability to borrow amounts under our credit facilities or any future financial arrangements. We cannot predict how long the current market conditions will last. However, these recent and developing economic and governmental factors, together with the concurrent decline in charter rates and vessel values, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. This has caused the price of our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange to decline and could cause the price of our common shares to decline further.
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; |
6
| 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; |
| political turmoil in or around oil producing nations; |
| global and regional political and economic conditions; |
| developments in international trade; |
| international trade sanctions; |
| environmental factors; |
| natural catastrophes; |
| weather; and |
| changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns. |
The turbulence and uncertainty the world economies have encountered over the last three years has resulted in a fall in demand for crude oil and oil products which in turn has resulted in a decrease in freight rates and values. However, has been some rebound in worldwide demand for oil and oil products, which industry observers forecast will continue. In the event that this rebound falters, the production of and demand for crude oil and petroleum products will again encounter pressure which could lead to a decrease in shipments of these products and consequently this would have an adverse 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.
Charter hire rates are cyclical and volatile.
The crude oil and petroleum products shipping industry is cyclical with attendant volatility in charter hire rates and profitability. After reaching highs in mid-2008, charter hire rates for oil product carriers have remained poor with some short periods of relative respite. In addition, hire and spot rates for large crude carriers remained low since the middle of 2010, often resulting in rates well below break-even. The charter rates for 39 of our vessels are on variable basis or include a variable element and the time charters (whether fixed or partly variable) for 14 of our vessels may expire within eight months if not extended. As a result, we will be exposed to changes in the charter rates which could affect our earnings and the value of our vessels at any given time. Because the factors affecting the supply and demand for vessels are outside of our control and are unpredictable, the nature, timing, direction and degree of changes in industry conditions are also unpredictable.
Our operating results are subject to seasonal fluctuations.
Our tankers operate in markets that have historically exhibited seasonal variations in tanker demand, which may result in variability in our results of operations on a quarter-by-quarter basis. Tanker markets are typically stronger in the winter months as a result of increased oil consumption in the northern hemisphere, but weaker in the summer months as a result of lower oil consumption in the northern hemisphere and refinery maintenance. As a result, revenues generated by the tankers in our fleet have historically, with the exception of 2008, been weaker during the fiscal quarters ended June 30 and September 30. However, the expected seasonal strength of the fourth quarter of 2010 and first quarter of 2011 did not materialize due to tanker overcapacity, despite an unusually harsh winter in the Northern hemisphere.
7
An increase in the supply of vessels without an increase in demand for such vessels could cause charter rates to decline, which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and profitability.
Historically, the marine transportation industry has been cyclical. The profitability and asset values of companies in the industry have fluctuated based on certain factors, including changes in the supply and demand of vessels. The supply of vessels generally increases with deliveries of new vessels and decreases with the scrapping of older vessels. The newbuilding order book equalled 26% of the existing world tanker fleet as of mid-March, 2011 (per Clarkson Research Services) and no assurance can be given that the order book will not increase further in proportion to the existing fleet. If the number of new ships delivered exceeds the number of vessels being scrapped, capacity will increase. In addition, if dry-bulk vessels are converted to oil tankers, the supply of oil tankers will increase. If supply increases and demand does not match that increase, the charter rates for our vessels could decline significantly, as we have witnessed in the past three quarters. A decline in charter rates 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. In addition, in event of trade disruptions caused by hostilities in the Middle East, tanker companies that operate in Middle East trade routes may seek to employ their vessels in the trade routes that our vessels serve, which would further increase the level of competition that we face. 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.
Acts of piracy on ocean-going vessels have recently increased in frequency, which could adversely affect our business.
Throughout 2009 and 2010 into 2011, the frequency of pirate attacks on seagoing vessels has remained, particularly in the Gulf of Aden and off the west coast of Africa. If piracy attacks result in regions (in which our vessels are deployed) being characterized by insurers as war risk zones, as the Gulf of Aden has been, or Joint War Committee (JWC) war and strikes listed areas, premiums payable for such insurance coverage could increase significantly and such insurance coverage may be more difficult to obtain. Crew costs, including those due to employing onboard security guards, could increase in such circumstances. In addition, while we believe the charterer remains liable for charter payments when a vessel is seized by pirates, the charterer may dispute this and withhold charter hire until the vessel is released. A charterer may also claim that a vessel seized by pirates was not on-hire for a certain number of days and it is therefore entitled to cancel the charter party, a claim that we would dispute. We may not be adequately insured to cover losses from these incidents, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, hijacking as a result of an act of piracy against our vessels, or an increase in cost, or unavailability of insurance for our vessels, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Terrorist attacks and international hostilities can affect the tanker industry, which could adversely affect our business.
An attack like that of September 11, 2001, or longer-lasting wars or international hostilities, such as in Afghanistan, Iraq and currently in Libya, could damage the world economy and 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 despite undertaking various security measures, our vessels may become subject to terrorist acts and other acts of hostility like piracy, either at port or at sea. Such actions could adversely impact our overall business, financial condition and operations. In addition, our financial viability may also be negatively 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 local or international political instability, terrorist or other attacks, war or international hostilities.
8
The earthquake and resulting tsunami and nuclear power plant crisis that struck Japan in March 2011 could, in both the short and intermediate terms, result in reduced trade and demand in Japan for crude oil and oil products, which could reduce the number of charters to and from Japan and global charter rates and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In March 2011, a severe earthquake struck the northeast portion of Japan. The earthquake created a severe tsunami, the effects of which were felt in Japan and other countries throughout the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the earthquake and resulting tsunami have caused several nuclear power plants located in Japan to fail, emit radiation and possibly result in meltdowns that could have catastrophic effects. The full effect of these disasters, both on the Japanese and global economies and the environment, is not currently known, and may not be known for a significant period of time. These disasters will likely result in reduced trade and demand in Japan for crude oil and oil products, in both the short and intermediate terms, which could reduce the number of charters for our vessels, and could reduce charter rates globally both in the short and longer terms. In addition, there can be no assurances that our vessels trading in the Pacific may not be impacted by the possible effects of spreading radiation. These disasters and the resulting economic instability, both in the region and globally, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Taking advantage of attractive opportunities in pursuit of our growth strategy may result in financial or commercial difficulties.
Despite the economic downturn in the past three years, a key strategy of management is to continue to further renew and grow our fleet by pursuing the acquisition 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. The depressed charter market and credit crisis may present opportunities in the short to medium term to acquire new vessels or tanker companies or contracts to construct new vessels or even to undertake new construction contracts at prices more favorable than those seen in the recent past. If we seek to expand through such acquisitions of other tanker or companies, we face numerous challenges, including:
| difficulties in raising all the required capital; |
| 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; 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
9
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), Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement (TCM or Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement) or Tsakos Energy Management Limited (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 $1 billion 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.
Increased inspection procedures and tighter import and export controls could increase costs and disrupt our business.
International shipping is subject to various security and customs inspections and related procedures in countries of origin and destination. Inspection procedures can result in the seizure of contents of our vessels, delays in the loading, offloading or delivery and the levying of customs, duties, fines and other penalties against us.
It is possible that changes to inspection procedures could impose additional financial and legal obligations on us. Furthermore, changes to inspection procedures could also impose additional costs and obligations on our customers and may, in certain cases, render the shipment of certain types of cargo impractical. Any such changes or developments may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to pay dividends and/or principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes.
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. Terrorist acts and regional hostilities around the world in recent years have led to increases in our insurance premium rates and the implementation of special war risk premiums for certain trading routes. Natural disasters, such as the hurricanes striking the United States and earthquake in Chile, have led to yet further increases. Such increases in insurance rates 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
10
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
Charters at attractive rates may not be available when our current time charters expire or when we negotiate employment for our four newbuildings.
In 2010, we derived approximately 59% of our revenues from time charters, as compared to 65% in 2009. As our current period charters on 14 our vessels expire, it may not be possible to re-charter these vessels on a period basis at attractive rates given the currently depressed state of the charter market. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in entering into time charters at attractive rates for the two newbuildings that will be delivered to us in April and July of 2011. 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 currently low and are subject to significant fluctuations, and tankers traded in the spot market may experience substantial off-hire time. In the event a vessel may not find employment at economically viable rates, management may opt to lay up the vessel until such time that rates become attractive again. During the period of lay up, the vessel will continue to incur expenditure such as insurance, reduced crew wages and maintenance costs.
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). See Fuel prices may adversely affect our profits. 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.
We depend on Tsakos Energy Management, Tsakos Shipping and TCM 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 part of commercial management to Tsakos Shipping, and day-to-day fleet technical management, such as crewing, chartering and vessel purchase and
11
sale functions, to TCM, 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 and TCM.
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 cannot offer any assurances that the terms of such management agreements and results of operations would be more beneficial to the Company in the long term.
If the joint venture between Tsakos interests and Schoeller Holdings is unsuccessful, our business may be adversely affected.
In February 2010, Tsakos Shipping and the German company, Schoeller Holdings Ltd., the owner of Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd., formed a joint-venture ship management company. The entity, TCM, assumed on July 1, 2010, the technical management most of the vessels previously managed by Tsakos Shipping, including most of our fleet. TCM has achieved significant savings in the purchase of supplies for our fleet, but there is no guarantee that it will continue to succeed in the future.
Although the TCM staff is primarily comprised of former Tsakos Shipping employees, there is no guarantee that the quality of technical management services that it provides will be equal in future to that we received from Tsakos Shipping. TCM will seek to provide technical management services to other owners of vessels, who may be competitors of ours. Such efforts to grow its customer base may be unsuccessful and inhibit TCMs ability to provide technical management services to its existing customers, including us.
Tsakos Energy Management, Tsakos Shipping and TCM are privately held companies and there is little or no publicly available information about them.
The ability of Tsakos Energy Management, Tsakos Shipping and TCM to continue providing services for our benefit will depend in part on their own financial strength. Circumstances beyond our control could impair their financial strength and, because each of these companies is 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, Tsakos Shipping or TCM, 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 and TCM have the right to terminate their respective contracts 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 10. A termination as of December 31, 2010 would have resulted in a payment of approximately $134 million.
Tsakos Energy Managements contracts with Tsakos Shipping and with TCM 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
12
Shipping, it may be impossible for us to sue Tsakos Shipping and TCM for breach of its obligations under its contract with Tsakos Energy Management, and Tsakos Energy Management may have no incentive to sue Tsakos Shipping and TCM. 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, Tsakos Shipping or TCM on contractual grounds.
Tsakos Shipping provides chartering services to other tankers and TCM manages other tankers and could experience conflicts of interests in performing obligations owed to us and the operators of the other tankers.
In addition to the vessels that it manages for us, TCM manages two other double-hull VLCC tankers, that operate under long term charters which will expire in April, 2011. These vessels are operated by the same group of TCM employees that manage our vessels, and we are advised that its employees manage these vessels on an ownership neutral basis; that is, without regard to who owns them. It is possible that Tsakos Shipping, which provides chartering service for all vessels technically managed by TCM, might allocate charter or spot opportunities to other TCM managed vessels when our vessels are unemployed, or could allocate more lucrative opportunities to its other vessels. It is also possible that TCM could in the future agree to manage more tankers that directly compete with us.
Clients of Tsakos Shipping have acquired and may acquire further vessels that may 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 in the past acquired modern tankers and have ordered the construction of vessels. They may acquire or order tankers in the future, which, if we decline to buy from them, could be entered into charters in competition with our vessels. These charters and future charters of tankers by Tsakos Shipping could result in conflicts of interest between their own interests and their obligations to us.
Our chief executive officer has affiliations with Tsakos Energy Management, Tsakos Shipping and TCM 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.
13
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. |
The global economic downturn that commenced in 2008 has resulted in a decrease in vessel values. In addition, although we currently own a modern fleet, with an average age of 6.9 years as of March 31, 2011, as vessels grow older, they generally decline in value.
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.
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 charge 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 charge 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. Such impairment charge was incurred in 2009 amounting to $19.1 million relating to the three oldest vessels of the fleet, Hesnes, Victory III and Vergina II and again in 2010, with a further impairment charge on the value of the Vergina II.
If either Tsakos Shipping or TCM 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 TCM provide 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 TCM has a contract with a manning agency and sponsors various marine academies in the Philippines, Greece and Russia, we cannot assure you that TCM 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 TCM 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.
14
The contracts to purchase our newbuildings present certain economic and other risks.
As of March 31, 2011, we have contracts to construct four newbuildings that are scheduled for delivery during 2011, 2012 and 2013. 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.
Credit conditions internationally might impact our ability to raise debt financing.
We have traditionally financed our vessel acquisitions with cash (equity) and bank debt from various reputable national and international commercial banks. In relation to newbuilding contracts, the equity portion covers all or part of the pre-delivery obligations while the debt portion covers the outstanding amount due to the shipyard on delivery. To date, we have not secured bank financing for our remaining obligations to the shipyards with respect to our four newbuildings, although negotiations are in progress. Terms and conditions, however, could be different from terms obtained in the past and could result in higher cost of capital. In addition revised covenants might be imposed that might limit our flexibility in terms of dividend payments and other operational matters and materially affect our ability to raise additional debt from the market. In addition, we cannot guarantee the financial state of the banks we deal with nor their short or long term viability as going-concerns. Any adverse development in that respect could materially alter our current and future financial planning and growth and have a potentially negative impact on our balance sheet.
We may not be able to finance all of the vessels we have on order as of March 31, 2011.
We have not finalized financing arrangements to satisfy the balance of the purchase price due, approximately $40 million, for the two suezmax vessels on order (for delivery in the second and third quarters of 2011), and for financing of the newly ordered two DP2 suezmax shuttle tankers for delivery at the end of 2012 and first quarter 2013. 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 were unable to finance further installments for the newbuildings we have on order, an alternative would be to use the available cash holdings of the Company or, if we should lack adequate cash, to 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 four newbuildings we have on order as of March 31, 2011, 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.
The profitability of our LNG vessel is subject to market volatility.
The Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market could fail to develop into a mature state for profitable LNG shipping investments. 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
15
breakeven levels. The vessel is on charter until August 2011, with options for a further six months. If the charter market is weak on the expiration 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 (HMM) 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 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.
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 March 31, 2011, 34 of our tankers were contractually committed to period employment (including contract of affreightment) with remaining terms ranging from one month to five 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.
Fuel prices may adversely affect our profits.
While we do not bear the cost of fuel or bunkers, under time and bareboat charters, fuel is a significant, if not the largest, expense in our shipping operations when vessels are under spot charter. Changes in the price of fuel may adversely affect our profitability. The price and supply of fuel is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events outside our control, including geopolitical developments, supply and demand for oil and gas, actions by the OPEC and other oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil producing countries and regions, regional production patterns and environmental concerns. Further, fuel may become much more expensive in the future, which may reduce the profitability of our business.
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 sufficient 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 our counterparties were to fail to meet their obligations under a charter agreements we could suffer losses or our business could be otherwise adversely affected.
As of March 31, 2011, twenty-six of our vessels were employed under time charters and two of our vessels were employed on contracts of affreightment. The ability and willingness of each of our counterparties to perform its obligations under their charters with us will depend on a number of factors that are beyond our control and may include, among other things, general economic conditions, the condition of the oil and energy industries and of the oil and oil products shipping industry as well as the overall financial condition of the counterparties. With the steep declines in the prices of crude oil and oil products, there can be no assurance that some of our customers would not fail to pay charter hire or attempt to renegotiate charter rates. Should a counterparty fail to honor its obligations under agreements with us, it may be difficult for us to secure substitute employment for the affected vessels, and any
16
new charter arrangements we secure in the spot market or on time charters could be at lower rates given the depressed charter rate levels as of March 31 2011. If our charterers fail to meet their obligations to us or attempt to renegotiate our charter agreements, we could sustain significant losses which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, as well as our ability to pay dividends in the future.
If the charterer under our bareboat charter is unable to perform under the charter, we may lose revenues.
As of March 31 2011, we had a bareboat charter contract for the Millennium and time charters with profit share for one other vessel with 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 April, 2011 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 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. For example, on March 21, 2011, we ordered two new suezmax DP2 shuttle tankers that are expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, respectively. A shuttle tanker is a specialized vessel designed to transport crude oil and condensates from offshore oil fields to onshore terminal and refineries. 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, and pirate activity off the coast of Africa, 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
17
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, 2010, our debt to capital ratio was 60.5 % (debt / debt plus equity), with $1.56 billion in long-term debt outstanding. 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 2010, approximately all of our cash flow derived from operations was dedicated to debt service, excluding any 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; |
| 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.
If the recent volatility in LIBOR continues, it could affect our profitability, earnings and cash flow.
Although relatively stable in 2009 and 2010, LIBOR was volatile in 2008, during which the spread between LIBOR and the prime lending rate widened, at times significantly. Because the interest rates borne by our outstanding indebtedness fluctuate with changes in LIBOR, if these rates increase significantly or become significantly volatile once again, it would affect the amount of interest payable on our debt, which in turn, could have an adverse effect on our profitability, earnings and cash flow.
Furthermore, interest in most loan agreements in our industry has been based on published LIBOR rates. Recently, however, lenders have insisted on provisions that entitle the lenders, in their discretion, to replace published LIBOR as the base for the interest calculation with their cost-of-funds rate. If we are required to agree to
18
such a provision in future loan agreements, our lending costs could increase significantly, which would have an adverse effect on our profitability, earnings and cash flow.
We selectively enter into derivative contracts, which can result in higher than market interest rates and charges against our income.
In the past ten years we have selectively entered into derivative contracts both for investment purposes and to hedge our overall interest expense and, more recently, our bunker expenses. Our board of directors is regularly informed of the status of our derivatives in order to assess that such derivatives are within reasonable limits and reasonable in light of our particular investment strategy at the time we entered into the derivative contracts.
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 or bunker cost exposure, our hedging strategies may not be effective and we may incur substantial loss.
We have 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 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 dry-dock 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.
19
A significant amount of our 2010 revenues was derived from five customers and a significant amount of our 2009 revenues was derived from six customers, and our revenues could decrease significantly if we lost these customers.
In 2010, 16% of our revenues came from Petrobras, 10% of our revenues came from Houston Refining, 9% of our revenues from BP, 9% from Flopec, and 9% from STBL, certain of which were also among our largest customers in 2009. 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 10% 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 10% in 2010 and 2009 of our revenues. 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 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 the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code), 50% of the gross shipping income of a vessel owning or chartering corporation, such as ourselves and our subsidiaries, that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States is characterized as United States source shipping income and such income is subject to a gross 4% United States federal income tax without allowance for deductions, unless that corporation qualifies for exemption from tax under Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
We believe that we and our subsidiaries qualified for this exemption for 2010. There are, however, factual circumstances beyond our control that could cause us and our subsidiaries to be unable to obtain the benefit of this tax exemption in future years and thus to be subject to United States federal income tax on United States source shipping income. Due to the factual nature of the issues involved, we can give no assurances on our tax-exempt status or that of any of our subsidiaries. See Tax ConsiderationsUnited States federal income tax considerations for additional information about the requirements of this exemption.
If we or our subsidiaries are not entitled to this exemption under Section 883 for any taxable year, we or our subsidiaries would be subject for those years to a 4% United States federal income tax on our gross U.S.-source shipping revenue, without allowance for deductions, under Section 887 of the Internal Revenue Code. The imposition of such tax could have a negative effect on our business and would result in decreased earnings available for distribution to our stockholders.
20
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 2011 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 or if the portion of our assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income 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 2010 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, 2013, 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 2010, Euro expenses accounted for approximately 46% 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 March 31, 2011, companies controlled by the Tsakos Holdings Foundation or affiliated with the Tsakos Group own approximately 36% of our outstanding 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.
21
Risks Related To Our Common Shares
Future sales of our common shares could cause the market price of our common shares to decline.
During 2010, we issued and sold an aggregate of almost 1.2 million common shares pursuant to an at-the-market offering, resulting in net proceeds of $19.9 million, and a further 7.6 million common shares in a follow-on offering raising an additional $85.1 million of net proceeds. Sales of a substantial number of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, may depress the market price for our common shares. These sales could also impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of our equity securities in the future.
We may issue additional common shares in the future and our shareholders may elect to sell large numbers of shares held by them from time to time. Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares, par value $1.00 per share, of which 46,081,487 common shares are outstanding as of March 31, 2011.
The market price of our common shares may be unpredictable and volatile.
The market price of our common shares may fluctuate due to factors such as actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results and those of other public companies in our industry, mergers and strategic alliances in the tanker industry, market conditions in the tanker industry, changes in government regulation, shortfalls in our operating results from levels forecast by securities analysts, announcements concerning us or our competitors, our sales of our common shares and the general state of the securities market. The tanker industry has been highly unpredictable and volatile. The market for common stock in this industry may be equally volatile. Therefore, we cannot assure you that you will be able to sell any of our common shares you may have purchased, or will purchase in the future, at a price greater than or equal to the original purchase price.
We may not be able to pay cash dividends on our common shares as intended.
During 2010, we paid dividends totaling $0.60 per common share. In February, 2011 we paid a quarterly share of $0.15 per common share and in March, 2011, our board of directors declared a further quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share to be paid on April 28, 2011. 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
22
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.
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, as amended (the Companies Act) govern our affairs. While many provisions of the Companies Act 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 Limited 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 our 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 65 vessels and has sold 23 vessels (of which three had been chartered back and eventually repurchased at the end of their charters. All three have since been sold again).
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 http://www.tenn.gr.
For additional information on the Company, see Item 5 Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.
23
Business Overview
Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited is a leading provider of international seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services and, as of March 31, 2011, operated a fleet of 47 modern crude oil carriers and petroleum product tankers that provide world-wide marine transportation services for national, major and other independent oil companies and refiners under long, medium and short-term charters. Our fleet also includes one 2007-built Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier. In addition to the vessels currently operating in our fleet as of March 31, 2011, we are building two additional suezmax tankers, which we expect to take delivery of in the second and third quarters of 2011. In addition, we expect to take delivery of the first in a series of two DP2 shuttle tankers in the fourth quarter of 2012 and the second in the first quarter of 2013. The resulting fleet (assuming no further sales) would comprise 51 vessels representing approximately 5.5 million dwt.
We believe that we have established a reputation as a safe, high quality, 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 generating strong fleet utilization.
Our fleet is managed by Tsakos Energy Management Limited, an affiliate company owned by our chief executive officer. Tsakos Energy Management, which performs its services exclusively for our benefit, provides us with strategic advisory, financial, accounting and back-office services, while subcontracting the commercial management of our business to Tsakos Shipping & Trading, S.A., or Tsakos Shipping. In its capacity as commercial manager, Tsakos Shipping manages vessel purchases and sales and identifies and negotiates charter opportunities for our fleet. Until June 30, 2010, Tsakos Shipping also provided technical and operational management for the majority of our vessels.
Since July 1, 2010, Tsakos Energy Management subcontracts the technical and operational management of our fleet to Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement S.A., or TCM. TCM was formed in February 2010 by a Tsakos affiliated company and the German company, Schoeller Holdings Ltd., the owner of the ship management company Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd., or CSM, as a joint-venture ship management company on an equal partnership basis to provide technical and operational management services to owners of vessels, primarily within the Greece-based market. TCM, which formally commenced operations on July 1, 2010, now manages the technical and operational activities of all of our vessels apart from three vessels technically managed by other non-affiliated ship managers. TCM is based in Athens, Greece and is staffed primarily with former Tsakos Shipping personnel, in addition to certain CSM executives. TCM and CSM cooperate in the purchase of certain supplies and services on a combined basis. By leveraging the purchasing power of CSM, which currently provides full technical management services for over 130 vessels and crewing services for an additional 200 vessels, we believe TCM is able to procure services and supplies at lower prices than Tsakos Shipping could alone, thereby reducing overall operating expenses for us. We also expect to benefit from CSMs significant crewing capabilities. In its capacity as technical manager, TCM manages our day-to-day vessel operations, including maintenance and repair, crewing and supervising newbuilding construction. Members of the Tsakos family are involved in the decision-making processes of Tsakos Energy Management, Tsakos Shipping and TCM.
Tsakos Shipping will continue to provide commercial management services for our vessels, which include chartering, charterer relations, vessel sale and purchase, and vessel financing.
24
As of March 31, 2011, our fleet consisted of the following 47 vessels:
Number of Vessels |
Vessel Type | |
3 |
VLCC | |
8 |
Suezmax | |
9 |
Aframax | |
3 |
Aframax LR2 | |
9 |
Panamax LR1 | |
6 |
Handymax MR2 | |
8 |
Handysize MR1 | |
1 |
LNG carrier | |
Total 47 |
Twenty-one 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 4.9 million dwt, all of which is double-hulled. This compares favorably to the worldwide average of 6% single-hulled dwt as of March 31, 2011. As of March 31, 2011, the average age of the tankers in our current operating fleet was 6.9 years, compared with the industry average of 7.7 years.
In addition to the vessels operating in our fleet as of March 31, 2011, we are building an additional four vessels. We expect delivery of two suezmax tankers in the second and third quarters of 2011. On March 23, 2011, we delivered the aframax tanker Opal Queen to its buyers.
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 $3.4 billion, including investments of approximately $2.5 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. We have 21 ice-class vessels. Additionally, we entered the LNG market with the delivery of our LNG carrier in 2007. In addition, we have ordered two new suezmax DP2 shuttle tankers that are expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, respectively. |
| 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 97.3%. |
| Industry recognition. For over 38 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, Vitol, 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 and TCM. We believe the expertise, scale and scope of Tsakos Shipping and TCM are key components in maintaining low operating costs, |
25
efficiency, quality and safety. We leverage Tsakos Shippings reputation and longstanding relationships with leading charterers to foster charter renewals. In addition, due to its anticipated size, we believe that TCM has the ability to spread costs over a larger vessel base than that previously of Tsakos Shipping, thereby capturing even greater economies of scale that may lead to additional cost savings for us. |
As of March 31, 2011, our fleet consisted of the following 47 vessels:
Vessel |
Year Built |
Deadweight Tons |
Year Acquired |
Charter Type | Expiration of Charter |
Hull Type(1) (all double hull) |
||||||||||||||||||
VLCC |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. Millennium |
1998 | 301,171 | 1998 | bareboat charter | September 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||
2. La Madrina |
1994 | 299,700 | 2004 | spot | | |||||||||||||||||||
3. La Prudencia |
1993 | 298,900 | 2006 | spot | | |||||||||||||||||||
SUEZMAX |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. Silia T |
2002 | 164,286 | 2002 | time charter | October 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||
2. Triathlon(2) |
2002 | 164,445 | 2002 | time charter | January 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||
3. Eurochampion 2004(2) |
2005 | 164,608 | 2005 | time charter | October 2012 | ice-class 1C | ||||||||||||||||||
4. Euronike(2) |
2005 | 164,565 | 2005 | time charter | October 2011 | ice-class 1C | ||||||||||||||||||
5. Archangel(2) |
2006 | 163,216 | 2006 | time charter | September 2011 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||||||||||
6. Alaska(2) |
2006 | 163,250 | 2006 | time charter | November 2011 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||||||||||
7. Arctic(2) |
2007 | 163,216 | 2007 | time charter | July 2012 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||||||||||
8. Antarctic(2) |
2007 | 163,216 | 2007 | time charter | September 2012 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||||||||||
AFRAMAX |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. Vergina II |
1991 | 96,709 | 1996 | spot | | |||||||||||||||||||
2. Proteas(2) |
2006 | 117,055 | 2006 | time charter | June 2011 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||||||||||
3. Promitheas(2) |
2006 | 117,055 | 2006 | time charter | May 2011 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||||||||||
4. Propontis(2) |
2006 | 117,055 | 2006 | time charter | October 2011 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||||||||||
5. Izumo Princess |
2007 | 105,374 | 2007 | spot | | DNA | ||||||||||||||||||
6. Sakura Princess(4) |
2007 | 105,365 | 2007 | |
contract of affreightment |
|
Evergreen | DNA | ||||||||||||||||
7. Maria Princess |
2008 | 105,346 | 2008 | spot | | DNA | ||||||||||||||||||
8. Nippon Princess |
2008 | 105,392 | 2008 | spot | | DNA |
26
Vessel |
Year Built |
Deadweight Tons |
Year Acquired |
Charter Type | Expiration of Charter |
Hull Type(1) (all double hull) |
||||||||||
9. Ise Princess(4) |
2009 | 105,361 | 2009 | contract of affreightment |
Evergreen | DNA | ||||||||||
10. Asahi Princess |
2009 | 105,372 | 2009 | spot | | DNA | ||||||||||
11. Sapporo Princess |
2010 | 105,354 | 2010 | spot | | DNA | ||||||||||
12. Uraga Princess |
2010 | 105,344 | 2010 | spot | | DNA | ||||||||||
PANAMAX |
||||||||||||||||
1. Andes(3) |
2003 | 68,439 | 2003 | time charter | November 2011 | |||||||||||
2. Maya(3)(5) |
2003 | 68,439 | 2003 | time charter | September 2012 | |||||||||||
3. Inca(3)(5) |
2003 | 68,439 | 2003 | time charter | May 2013 | |||||||||||
4. Selecao |
2008 | 74,296 | 2008 | time-charter | July 2011 | |||||||||||
5. Socrates |
2008 | 74,327 | 2008 | time-charter | June 2011 | |||||||||||
6. World Harmony(3) |
2009 | 74,200 | 2010 | time-charter | April 2013 | |||||||||||
7. Chantal(3) |
2009 | 74,329 | 2010 | time-charter | June 2013 | |||||||||||
8. Selini |
2009 | 74,296 | 2010 | pool | | |||||||||||
9. Salamina |
2009 | 74,251 | 2010 | pool | | |||||||||||
HANDYMAX |
||||||||||||||||
1. Artemis(2) |
2005 | 53,039 | 2006 | time charter | October 2011 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||
2. Afrodite(2) |
2005 | 53,082 | 2006 | time charter | January 2012 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||
3. Ariadne(2) |
2005 | 53,021 | 2006 | time charter | September 2011 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||
4. Aris |
2005 | 53,107 | 2006 | pool | | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||
5. Apollon(2) |
2005 | 53,149 | 2006 | time charter | January 2012 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||
6. Ajax |
2005 | 53,095 | 2006 | pool | | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||
HANDYSIZE |
||||||||||||||||
1. Didimon |
2005 | 37,432 | 2005 | time charter | March 2012 | |||||||||||
2. Arion |
2006 | 37,061 | 2006 | pool | | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||
3. Delphi |
2004 | 37,432 | 2006 | time charter | November 2011 |
27
Vessel |
Year Built |
Deadweight Tons |
Year Acquired |
Charter Type | Expiration of Charter |
Hull Type(1) (all double hull) |
||||||||||||||
4. Amphitrite (formerly Antares) |
2006 | 37,061 | 2006 | pool | | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||||||
5. Andromeda |
2007 | 37,061 | 2007 | spot | | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||||||
6. Aegeas |
2007 | 37,061 | 2007 | time charter | October 2013 | ice-class 1A | ||||||||||||||
7. Byzantion |
2007 | 37,275 | 2007 | spot | | ice-class 1B | ||||||||||||||
8. Bosporos |
2007 | 37,275 | 2007 | spot | | ice-class 1B | ||||||||||||||
LNG |
||||||||||||||||||||
1. Neo Energy |
2007 | 85,602 | 2007 | time charter | August 2011 | Membrane | ||||||||||||||
Total Vessels |
47 | 4,854,124 |
(1) | 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. |
(2) | The charter rate for these vessels is based on a fixed minimum rate for the Company plus different levels of profit sharing above the minimum rate, determined and settled on a calendar month basis. |
(3) | 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. Determination is every six months. |
(4) | Evergreen employment has no specific expiration. These vessels are continuously employed on a market-related formula for each separate voyage until either we or the charterer request cancellation upon 30 or 90 days notice. |
(5) | 49% of the holding company of these vessels is held by a third party. |
Our newbuildings under construction
We have on order and expect to take delivery in the second and third quarters of 2011 two suezmaxes under construction by Sungdong Shipbuilding. The newbuildings have a double hull design compliant with all classification requirements and prevailing environmental laws and regulations. On March 21, 2011, the Company ordered two suezmax DP2 shuttle tankers with expected delivery dates the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, respectively. Tsakos Shipping has worked closely with the Sungdong yard in South Korea in the design of all the newbuildings and continues to work with the yard during the construction period. TCM provides supervisory personnel present during the construction.
Our newbuildings under construction as of March 31, 2011 consisted of the following:
Vessel Type |
Expected Delivery | Shipyard | Deadweight Tons |
Purchase Price(1) (in millions of U.S. dollars) |
||||||||||||
SUEZMAX |
||||||||||||||||
Conventional |
||||||||||||||||
1. Hull S2034 |
2nd Quarter 2011 | |
Sungdong Shipbuilding |
|
158,000 | $ | 70.2 |
28
Vessel Type |
Expected Delivery | Shipyard | Deadweight Tons |
Purchase Price(1) (in millions of U.S. dollars) |
||||||||||
2. Hull S2035 |
3rd Quarter 2011 | |
Sungdong Shipbuilding |
|
158,000 | $ | 70.2 | |||||||
Shuttle |
||||||||||||||
3. Hull S7001 |
4th Quarter 2012 | |
Sungdong Shipbuilding |
|
157,000 | $ | 92.0 | |||||||
4. Hull S7002 |
1st Quarter 2013 | |
Sungdong Shipbuilding |
|
157,000 | $ | 92.0 | |||||||
Total |
630,000 | $ | 324.4 |
(1) | Including extra cost agreed as of March 31, 2011 |
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. In the case of Hulls S2034 and S2035, we renegotiated the purchase price of the vessels down by $2.5 million each in return for 80% progress payments. The remainder of the purchase price with respect to each vessel will be paid upon delivery of the given vessel. As of March 31, 2011, we had made progress payments of $100.4 million out of the total purchase price of approximately $324.4 million for these newbuildings. Of the remaining amount, a further $76.8 million will be paid during 2011. As of March 31, 2011, we have not secured bank financing for our remaining obligations to the shipyards with respect to our four newbuildings, although negotiations are in progress.
While we intend to expand our fleet, attractive opportunities may arise to sell one or more of our vessels, including the four newbuildings we have on order, and our board of directors may conclude that the sale of one or more vessels, if an attractive 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 85% 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 2010, 2009 and 2008 as a percentage of operating days.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
Employment Basis |
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||
Time Charter fixed rate |
19 | % | 25 | % | 29 | % | ||||||
Time Charter variable rate |
45 | % | 44 | % | 54 | % | ||||||
Period Employment at variable rates |
19 | % | 15 | % | 9 | % | ||||||
Spot Voyage |
17 | % | 16 | % | 8 | % | ||||||
Total Net Earnings Days |
16,436 | 16,631 | 15,712 |
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
29
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 eleven 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 our benefit, 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, and voyage operations, has been subcontracted by Tsakos Energy Management to Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement. Tsakos Energy Management also engages Tsakos Shipping to arrange chartering of our vessels, provide sales and purchase brokerage services and procure vessel insurance. Seven vessels were sub-contracted to third-party ship managers during part or all of 2010.
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 our board of directors and subject to the approval of our board of directors as described below. In accordance with the management agreement, we pay Tsakos Energy Management monthly management fees for its management of our vessels. From January 1, 2009, we paid Tsakos Energy Management management fees $23,700 per month per owned vessel and $17,500 per month for vessels chartered-in or chartered out on a bareboat basis or under construction. There is 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, 2010, monthly fees for operating vessels were increased to $24,000 per owned vessel and $17,700 for chartered-in vessels or chartered out on a bareboat basis or under construction. From July 1, 2010, the monthly management fees for operating vessels were increased to $27,000 per owned vessel except for the LNG carrier which bears a monthly fee of $32,000 of which $7,000 is paid to the Management Company and $25,000 to a third party manager. The monthly management fees for chartered-in vessels or for owned vessels chartered out on a bare-boat basis were increased to $20,000. It was agreed that no further increase would be
30
implemented at the beginning of 2011. 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 $13.8 million in 2010. From these amounts, Tsakos Energy Management paid a technical management fee to Tsakos Shipping up to the end of June 2010 and from July 1, 2010 to Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement. 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.
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 agents for the lenders under our secured credit facilities 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. In addition, Tsakos Shipping may charge a brokerage commission on the sale of a vessel. In 2010 and 2009 this commission was approximately 1% of the sale price of a vessel. The total amount we paid for these chartering and sale brokerage commissions was $6.3 million in 2010.
Tsakos Shipping supervises the post fixture business of our vessels, including:
| monitoring 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; |
| 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.
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,
31
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 Columbia Shipmanagement 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, TCM 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., TCM which is privately held, is one of the largest independent tanker managers with a total of 68 operating vessels under management (including our 47 vessels) at March 31, 2011, with a further six to be delivered, four of which are vessels under construction for us, totaling approximately 7.7 million dwt. TCM employs full-time superintendents, technical experts and maritime engineers and has expertise in supervising the construction of newbuild vessels and inspecting second-hand vessels for purchase and sale, and in fleet maintenance and repair. They have approximately 120 employees engaged in ship management and approximately 2,500 seafaring employees of whom half are employed at sea and the remainder are 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, Beijing, Tokyo and Panama. Their principal office is in Athens, Greece. The fleet managed by TCM consists mainly of tankers, but also includes feeder container vessels, dry bulk carriers and other vessels owned by affiliates and unaffiliated third parties.
Tsakos Energy Management pays TCM 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.
TCM 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.
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 dry-docked every two and one-half years after a special survey (referred to as an intermediate survey), or as necessary to ensure the safe and efficient operation of such vessels and their compliance with applicable regulations. TCM arranges dry-dockings and repairs under instructions and supervision from Tsakos Energy Management. We believe that the continuous maintenance program we conduct results in a reduction of the time periods during which our vessels are in dry-dock.
TCM 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 TCM, 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, TCM, 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.
TCM arranges employment of captains, officers, engineers and other crew who serve on our vessels. TCM 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.
32
Customers
Several of the worlds major oil companies are among our regular customers. The table below shows the approximate percentage of revenues we earned from some of our customers in 2010.
Customer |
Year Ended December 31, 2010 |
|||
Petrobras |
15.5 | % | ||
Houston Refineries (ex-Lyondell/Citgo) |
9.5 | % | ||
STBL |
8.6 | % | ||
FLOPEC |
8.6 | % | ||
BP |
8.9 | % | ||
HMM |
7.8 | % | ||
Stena |
4.5 | % | ||
Mansel |
4.3 | % | ||
Dorado |
3.2 | % | ||
NESTE |
2.8 | % | ||
TOR |
2.0 | % | ||
Sun |
2.0 | % | ||
Methane |
1.8 | % | ||
ENI |
1.4 | % | ||
Chevron |
1.3 | % | ||
Litasco |
1.3 | % | ||
Clearlake |
1.2 | % | ||
Trafigura |
1.2 | % | ||
Bosporos Shipping |
1.0 | % |
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.
The heightened environmental and quality concerns of classification societies, insurance underwriters, regulators and charterers have led to the imposition of increased inspection and safety requirements on all vessels in the tanker market and accelerated 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 25 years old and older must be of double-hull construction or of a mid-deck design with double side construction (with some exceptions for tankers between 25 and 30 years old), and (2) 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 if that tanker (1) is the subject of a contract for a major conversion or
33
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.
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.
In December 2003, as a result of the oil spill in November 2002 following the loss of the oil tanker Prestige, which was owned by a company not affiliated with us, 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 January 1, 2007, Annex I of MARPOL was revised to incorporate all amendments since the MARPOL Convention entered into force in 1983 and to clarify the requirements for new and existing tankers.
Regulation 12A of MARPOL Annex I came into force on August 1, 2007 and governs oil fuel tank protection. The requirements apply to oil fuel tanks on all ships with an aggregate capacity of 600 cubic meters and above which are delivered on or after August 1, 2010 and all ships for which shipbuilding contracts are placed on or after August 1, 2007.
Effective January 1, 2011, oil tankers of 150 gross tons and above are subject to new Annex I pollution prevention requirements for transfers of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea. This requires any subject oil tanker involved in oil cargo ship-to-ship (STS) operations to (1) carry a plan, approved by its flag state administration, prescribing the conduct of STS operations and (2) comply with notification requirements. Also with effect from that date, Annex I has been amended to clarify the long standing requirements for on board management of oil residue (sludge).
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. 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 October 2008, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, (MEPC), of the IMO approved proposed amendments to Annex VI regarding particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide emissions standards. These amendments entered into force in July 2010. They seek to 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 by 2020, and by establishing new tiers of nitrogen oxide emission standards for new marine diesel engines, depending on their date of installation. Additionally, more stringent emission standards could apply in coastal areas designated as Emission Control Areas (ECAs). The United States ratified the amendments in October 2008. In November 2010 the IMO proposed amendments to Annex VI to make mandatory technical and operational measures for new ships to further reduce emissions from shipping; such amendments will be considered for adoption in July 2011. Meanwhile, 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, the 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 came into force on
34
September 17, 2008 and applies to vessels constructed prior to January 1, 2003 that have not been in dry-dock since that date. By January 1, 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 have obtained Anti-Fouling System Certificates for all of our vessels that are subject to the Anti-Fouling Convention and do not believe that maintaining such certificates will have an adverse financial impact on the operation of our vessels.
In addition, the Companys LNG carrier meets 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 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. Effective January 1, 2007, the IMO revised the Annex II regulations that restrict discharges of noxious liquid substances during cleaning or de-ballasting operations. The revisions 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.
TCM, our technical manager, is ISO 14001 compliant. 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 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.
Environmental Regulation
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.
35
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 not acting pursuant to a contractual relationship with a responsible 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. OPA 90 incorporates limits on the liability of responsible parties for a spill. Effective July 31, 2009, the limits on liability for a double-hulled tanker over 3,000 gross tons is the greater of $2,000 per gross ton or $17,088,000 (subject to periodic adjustment). These limits on liability would not apply if the incident was proximately caused by violation of applicable United States federal safety, construction or operating regulations,, 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. The U.S. Congress is considering legislation to increase the limits of OPA liability for all vessels in response to the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico resulting from the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. We 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.
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 by 2015. 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 October 2008 the Coast Guard adopted amendments to the financial responsibility regulations to require with effect from January 15, 2009 evidence of financial responsibility in an amount equal to or greater than the limitations on liability adjusted from time to time. 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 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 requires an owner or operator of a fleet of tankers 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. We have provided evidence of financial responsibility to the Coast Guard and obtained a certificate of financial responsibility for each of our vessels that is subject to the financial responsibility requirements.
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.
OPA 90 specifically permits individual U.S. 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.
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. We have approved vessel response plans and comply with all applicable Coast Guard and state regulations for all our vessels operating in U.S. waters.
36
U.S. Clean Water Act: The U.S. Clean Water Act of 1972 (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. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has enacted rules regulating ballast water discharges and other discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels within U.S. waters. Under these rules, commercial vessels 79 feet in length or longer (other than commercial fishing vessels), or Regulated Vessels, are required to obtain a CWA permit regulating and authorizing such discharges. This permit, which the EPA has designated as the Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Vessels, or VGP, incorporates the current U.S. Coast Guard requirements for ballast water management, as well as supplemental ballast water requirements, and includes limits applicable to specific discharge streams. Regulated Vessels delivered after September 19 2009 cannot operate in United States waters unless they are covered by the VGP. To be covered by the VGP, a vessel owner must submit a Notice of Intent, or NOI, at least 30 days before the vessel operates in United States waters. Any Regulated Vessel that is not covered by a VGP cannot discharge into United States waters. Owners and operators of vessels visiting United States waters will be required to comply with this VGP program or face penalties. Compliance with the VGP could require the installation of equipment on our vessels to treat ballast water before it is discharged or the implementation of other port facility disposal arrangements or procedures at potentially substantial cost, and/or otherwise restrict our vessels from entering United States waters. In addition, the CWA requires each state to certify federal discharge permits such as the VGP. Certain states have enacted more stringent discharge standards as conditions to their certification of the VGP. Earlier this year, the U.S. Coast Guard and the EPA published a memorandum of understanding which provides for collaboration on the enforcement of the VGP requirements and it is expected that the U.S. Coast Guard will include the VGP as part of its normal Port State Control inspections. As part of a settlement of a lawsuit challenging the VGP, EPA has recently agreed to propose a new VGP with numerical restrictions on organisms in ballast water discharges by November 2011. We intend to comply with the VGP and the record keeping requirements and do not believe that the costs associated with obtaining and complying with the obligations will have a material impact on our operations. We have submitted NOIs for each Regulated Vessel in our fleet.
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. Effective June 29, 2010, the EPA adopted final emission standards for Category 3 marine diesel engines equivalent to those adopted in the amendments to Annex VI to MARPOL. As a result, the most stringent engine emissions and marine fuel sulfur requirements of Annex VI will apply to all vessels regardless of flag entering U.S. ports or operating in U.S. waters. The emission standards apply in two stages: near-term standards for newly-built engines which have applied since the beginning of 2011, and long-term standards requiring an 80% reduction in nitrogen dioxides (NOx), which will apply from 2016. Compliance with these standards may cause us to incur costs to install control equipment on our vessels.
The IMO has designated the waters extending 200 nautical miles from the coasts of the United States and Canada, the French territories of St. Pierre and Miquelon, and the eight main Hawaiian Islands as an ECA, meaning that vessels entering the designated ECA will need to use compliant fuel while in the area. The North American ECA will be enforceable from August 2012, whereupon fuel used by all vessels operating in the ECA will not be permitted to exceed a 1.0% sulfur content, dropping to a 0.1% sulfur content in 2015. From 2016, NOx after-treatment requirements will also apply. California has already implemented a 24 nautical mile ECA zone within which fuel must have a sulfur content of 1.0% of less. It is expected that the Californian regulations will be phased out in favor of the North American ECA once this is in force. Compliance with the North American ECA, as well as the possibility of more stringent emissions requirements from marine diesel engines or port operations by vessels adopted by the EPA or the states where we operate, could entail significant capital expenditures or otherwise increase the costs of our operations.
European Union Initiatives: In December 2001, in response to the oil tanker Erika oil spill of December 1999, 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. Since 2010 (1) all single hull tankers have been banned from entering European Union ports or offshore terminals; (2) all single hull tankers carrying heavy grades of oil have been banned from entering or leaving European Union ports or offshore terminals or anchoring in
37
areas under its jurisdiction; and (3) since 2005 a Condition Assessment Scheme Survey for single-hull tankers older than 15 years of age has been imposed. 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). Since April 1, 2007 Member States of the European Union have had to ensure that illegal discharges of polluting substances, participation in and incitement to carry out such discharges are penalized as criminal offences and that sanctions can be applied 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 that 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. On November 23, 2005 the European Commission published its Third Maritime Safety Package, commonly referred to as the Erika III proposals, and two bills (dealing with the obligation of Member States to exchange information among themselves and to check that vessels comply with international rules, and with the allocation of responsibility in the case of accident) were adopted in March 2007. The Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on December 1, 2009 following ratification by all 27 European Union member states and identifies protection and improvement of the environment as an explicit objective of the European Union. The European Union adopted its Charter of Fundamental Rights at the same time, declaring high levels of environmental protection as a fundamental right of European Union citizens. Additionally, the sinking of the 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. The EU has ECAs in place in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea and /English Channel within which fuel with a sulfur content in excess of 1.5% is not permitted. In addition, the EU Sulfur directive provides the from January 1, 2010 inland waterway vessels and ships that berth in EU ports have been banned form using marine fuels with a sulfur content 0.1% my mass. The prohibition applies to use in all equipment including main and auxiliary engines and boilers. Some EU Member States also require vessels to record the times of any fuel-changeover operations in the ships logbook.
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 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 $7.13 million plus $998 for each additional gross ton over 5,000. For vessels over 140,000 gross tons, liability is limited to approximately $141.93 million. As the Convention calculates liability in terms of IMF Special Drawing Rights, these figures are based on currency exchange rates on April 1, 2011. 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. In July 2004, U.S. Coast Guard adopted regulations under NISA establishing a national mandatory ballast water management program for all vessels equipped with ballast water tanks that enter or operate in U.S. waters. These
38
regulations require vessels to maintain a specific ballast water management plan. The 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. On August 28, 2009 the U.S. Coast Guard proposed amendments to its ballast management regulations that, if approved, will impose standards on ballast water discharged in U.S. waters. The final rules are expected to be published in April 2011. 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, 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% of the gross tonnage of the worlds merchant shipping. As of February 28, 2011 the BWM Convention has been adopted by 27 states, representing 25.32% of world tonnage. Nonetheless, in March 2010 MEPC passed a resolution calling upon those countries that had already ratified the convention to encourage the installation of ballast water management systems.
If mid-ocean ballast exchange is made mandatory throughout the United States or at the international level, or if ballast 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 protocol. No new treaty was adopted at the United Nations climate change conference in Cancun in December 2010. However, agreements were signed extending the deadline to decide on whether or not to extend the validity of the Kyoto Protocol, and requiring developed countries to raise the level of their emission reductions whilst helping poor countries to do the same. There is pressure to include shipping in any new treaty. The European Union intends to expand its emissions trading scheme to emissions of greenhouse gases from vessels, and IMOs MEPC is developing technical and operational measures to limit emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping, including market-based mechanisms and energy efficiency standards. In the United States, the EPA has issued a finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health and safety and has adopted regulations relating to the control of greenhouse gases from mobile sources and certain large stationary sources. Although the EPA findings and regulations do not extend to vessels and vessel engines, EPA is separately considering a petition from the California Attorney General and a coalition of 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
39
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.
TCM, our technical manager, has 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 $10.3 million in 2009. 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
40
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. As of March 31, 2011, 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 2009-2010, our P&I club insurance premiums increased by between 6% and 11% for most of our vessels. Our hull and machinery insurance premiums also increased in most cases up to 23%. We have been advised that for 2010-2011 our P&I club insurance premiums will remain at approximately the same level as the previous year, and our hull and machinery insurance premiums are also expected to remain at the same level mainly due to reduced vessel values. War risk coverage for vessels operating in certain geographical areas has increased, 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 controlled more than 5% of the world tanker fleet as of March 31, 2011. 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 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.
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 were involved as of March 31, 2011, individually and in the aggregate, was not material to us.
Item 4A. | Unresolved Staff Comments |
None.
41
Item 5. | Operating and Financial Review and Prospects |
General Market OverviewWorld Oil Demand / Supply and Trade
All of the statistical data and other information presented in this section entitled General Market OverviewWorld Oil Demand / Supply and Trade, including the analysis of the various sectors of the oil tanker industry, has been provided by ICAP Shipping (ICAP). ICAP has advised that the statistical data and other information contained herein are drawn from its database and other sources. In connection therewith, ICAP has advised that: (a) certain information in ICAPs database is derived from estimates or subjective judgments; (b) the information in the databases of other maritime data collection agencies may differ from the information in ICAPs database; and (c) while ICAP has taken reasonable care in the compilation of the statistical and other information and believes it to be accurate and correct, data compilation is subject to limited audit and validation procedures.
In comparison to the previous two years, crude oil prices were relatively stable for most of 2010, with NYMEX WTI front month futures prices trading within a range of $68-$92/barrel and Brent front month futures remaining within a range of $69-$95/barrel. OPEC pronounced that it was content with these price levels and therefore the group maintained its crude oil production levels within a relatively narrow band ranging from 28.9 million bpd to 29.6 million bpd. Average production levels were, however, some 0.52 million bpd higher than those seen in 2009. Towards the end of the year and in the early part of 2011 the group started to increase its production in response to rising oil prices, which breached the $100/barrel mark at the end of January, and also in response to the strong rebound in demand that had now become evident. Preliminary figures for January 2011 showed that OPEC crude oil output was some 0.90 million bpd higher than in January 2010. In early March 2011, disruption of Libyan crude oil exports meant that trade patterns seemed likely to shift somewhat with increased production from Arabian Gulf countries compensating for the lost volumes from Libya. This was also expected to increase demand for Suezmax tankers to transport grades of crude oil similar to the missing Libyan production, from West Africa to Europe.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), world oil demand increased by 2.88 million bpd in 2010, the largest increase in demand since 2004. The increase in demand in 2010 more than reversed the decline in demand that was witnessed in 2008 and 2009, meaning that oil demand reached a new peak annual average level of 87.9 million bpd. Very large increases were recorded in China where demand increased by as much as 1.01 million bpd, and also the United States where demand increased by 0.46 million bpd. Demand growth was recorded in every region with the exception of Europe which recorded a further fall in demand of 0.08 million bpd. Among the major crude oil importers, Japan and Korea recorded demand growth of 0.05 and 0.07 million bpd, respectively, while India recorded further demand growth of 0.08 million bpd. Demand in the other developing Asian countries grew by 0.21 million bpd, while demand growth in Latin America and the Former Soviet Union rebounded strongly with each region recording growth of 0.28 million bpd. The Middle East recorded similar growth in demand of 0.27 million bpd, while African demand growth accelerated to 0.05 million bpd.
Apart from the increase in OPEC crude oil production that provided for part of the increase in global demand, there was also an increase of some 0.49 million bpd in OPEC natural gas liquids and an increase in non-OPEC production of some 1.14 million bpd, including a 0.24 million bpd increase in biofuels production. A major year-on-year increase in production was recorded in the United States in spite of the moratorium on drilling new offshore wells. Production rose by 0.36 million bpd assisted by increased shale oil production and by the fact that in spite of the strong hurricane season, the worst effects were felt on the Atlantic coast rather than in the US Gulf. Other large increases in production were recorded in Canada which saw an increase of 0.15 million bpd and China where output increased by 0.21 million bpd. Among major non-OPEC oil exporting countries, Russian production increased by 0.24 million bpd, while Brazilian output rose by a further 0.11 million bpd and Columbian production rose by a further 0.12 million bpd.
The very strong resurgence in demand and increased OPEC and non-OPEC production led to a strong rebound in seaborne crude oil trade. Our latest estimates show that seaborne crude oil trade increased by 1.12 million bpd in 2010 or 3.1%. In terms of tonne-miles (international trade x distance traveled) we estimate that the impact was even greater, with an estimated increase of 5.5% as long-haul trade from West Africa, South America and the Arabian Gulf increased.
42
The largest rise in seaborne crude imports was once again recorded in China, which saw an increase of some 0.65 million bpd. Meanwhile data for the United States show that seaborne crude oil imports were some 0.07 million bpd higher in 2010 than in 2009. Japanese imports rose by some 0.02 million bpd in 2010. Japans imports seem set to rise further in 2011, as additional crude oil is likely to be imported for use in thermal power stations to replace power output from facilities damaged by the earthquake and tsunami. Preliminary estimates of European seaborne crude imports show a decline of 0.02 million bpd in 2010, while preliminary data for in India indicate that imports may have risen by as much as 0.3 million bpd. Korean imports rebounded by 0.10 million bpd in 2010.
During the first half of the year the number of vessels from the trading fleet employed in floating storage remained at a high level, with on average 37 VLCCs occupied in this way, the equivalent of 7% of the fleet. An average of 9 Suezmaxes and 61 coated and uncoated vessels from the Aframax and Panamax trading fleets were also employed in oil products storage in the first half of 2010, which helped to support freight market earnings. These numbers began to fall sharply in the second half of the year. The average number of VLCCs storing crude oil and refined products in the second half of the year was reduced to 16 vessels while just 3 Suezmaxes were known to be involved in oil products storage. Meanwhile the average number of vessels from the Aframax and Panamax fleets involved in storage fell to 37.
In the products tanker sector, imports of gasoline, distillates, jet fuel and fuel oil into the United States, the world largest products importing country, declined very slightly once again from 2009s level of 1.59 million bpd to 1.57 million bpd in 2010. However the U.S. entrenched its position as a major exporter of refined products, with exports of the 4 main products groups rising to 1.44 million bpd from 1.27 million bpd in 2009.
Europe once again recorded high levels of imports of gasoil and jet fuel, although jet fuel imports were negatively impacted by the closure of European airspace in the 2nd quarter due to hazards posed by a volcanic ash cloud. Chinese imports of most refined products were lower in 2010. An exception was naphtha which was in strong demand from the petrochemicals sector. In addition Chinese imports of gasoil/diesel increased at the end of the year as diesel powered generators were once again used to cover power shortages, this time caused by the closure of older coal fired power stations. Naphtha imports into Japan and South Korea also increased from a combined total of 0.87 million bpd in 2009 to 0.93 million bpd in 2010, again buoyed by the strong demand for petrochemicals in Asia.
Looking forward, the IEA in its March 2011 report predicted that oil demand would continue to rebound in 2011. The latest forecast showed an increase of 1.44 million bpd. This compares to a forecast increase of 1.51 million bpd from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and 1.44 million bpd forecast from OPEC. The IEA, in its latest report has forecast that demand in the developed world will fall slightly, by 0.10 million bpd, while further strong demand growth of 1.55 million bpd is predicted for developing countries including growth of 0.86 million bpd in Asia. As was shown last year these estimates are often subject to revision as a result of changes in economic and oil market developments. The IEAs comparable forecast in March 2010 of a 1.57 million bpd increase in demand in 2010 was eventually upgraded to an estimate of 2.88 million bpd of growth in its March 2011 report. Global oil demand is expected to continue its upward trend over the medium-term, even if greater energy efficiency is seen in the developed world. In its most recent medium-term outlook, the IEA forecast further annual average increases in demand in the developing world of 1.4 1.5 million bpd per annum from 2012 to 2015 led by growth in Asia. Further increases in refining capacity in Asia and strategic stock building are also expected to help to drive crude oil trade growth.
World Tanker Fleet
Growth in the crude oil tanker fleet slowed to 4.5% in 2010 from some 7.2% in 2009, in terms of dwt. 54 new VLCCs were delivered into the market, one more than in 2009, although this was from an original list of 75 vessels reported for delivery in 2010. 41 vessels were removed from the trading fleet, compared to 39 in 2009. This meant that the trading fleet (excluding changes to the number of vessels employed in storage) increased by a modest 2.6%, compared to 2.8% in 2009. The number of VLCCs that are listed for delivery in 2011 is quite substantial in excess of 80 vessels however as has been the case for the past 2 years, it is expected that many of these recorded orders will not in fact materialize this year.
43
In the Suezmax sector 36 vessels were delivered in 2010, compared to 46 deliveries in 2009. This was from an original list of some 55 vessels that were due to be delivered in 2010. A total of 17 Suezmaxes were removed from service in 2010 compared to 10 vessels in 2009. As a result fleet growth was much lower at 5.5%, in terms of the number of vessels, whereas 2009 saw fleet growth of some 11.6%. At the start of 2011, 66 vessels were listed as due for delivery this year however a substantial number of these vessels are also expected to remain undelivered at the end of the year.
In the Aframax segment 68 vessels were delivered in 2010 from an original list of 96 vessels that were listed as being due for delivery. Eventual deliveries were markedly lower than in 2009 when a total of 96 Aframaxes were actually delivered. A further 30 vessels were removed from service on top of the 21 vessels removed from service in 2009. Fleet growth therefore fell sharply from 9.8% in 2009 to 4.6% in 2010. 69 vessels were listed as due for delivery at the start of 2011 however slippage of deliveries is also expected in the Aframax segment. Aframax fleet growth is expected to be lower once again in 2011 and the overall orderbook is now relatively modest at 16% of the existing fleet.
In the Panamax tanker segment (60,000 80,000 dwt) the number of deliveries fell for the 5th successive year, with 30 vessels delivered compared to 37 in 2009. Removals of vessels from the trading fleet increased to 21 vessels from 14 in 2009, therefore, net fleet growth was reduced to 2.3%, from 4.9% in 2009. 36 vessels are listed as due for delivery in 2011, the same number as were listed for 2010 delivery at the start of last year. Fleet growth is therefore expected to be broadly equivalent to 2010s level in this market sector, as more 1980s built vessels and non double hulled vessels are removed from service. The orderbook for 2012 delivery in this segment is lower still, with fewer than 20 vessels currently scheduled to be delivered.
In the MR products tanker sector (45,000 55,000 dwt), fleet growth fell substantially from 17.5% in 2009 to 8.3% in 2010. Meanwhile the fleet in the more mature Handy tanker segment (27,000 dwt 45,000 dwt) segment contracted for the first time since 2002, with negative growth of -2.3%. This meant that fleet growth for the combined Handy and MR segments (27,000 55,000 dwt) was some 2.6% overall. In total 90 MRs and 35 Handy tankers were delivered, from an original list of 153 MRs and 50 Handy tankers. Removals of vessels increased in both the MR and Handy tanker segments. In total 82 vessels were removed from service. At the start of 2011, 101 MRs and 36 Handy tankers were listed as due for delivery in 2011, however substantial slippage of deliveries is expected once again this year. Fleet growth is therefore expected to be lower once again in 2011 with fewer deliveries and a large number of 1980s built and non double hulled Handy tankers still available to be removed from the fleet.
The total deep sea oil tanker fleet from 27,000 445,000 dwt increased by 3.9% in 2010 to 412 million dwt. A further 110 million dwt remained on order for delivery at the beginning of 2011, while there was 16 million dwt of non double hulled tonnage to be removed from service under MARPOL Annex 1 regulations. Fleet growth in the Aframax and products tankers sectors is expected to be significantly lower in 2011 and 2012 than in the period from 2008 to 2010, however strong fleet growth is expected in both the VLCC and Suezmax sectors, notwithstanding the fact that further slippage is expected from the list of vessels to be delivered.
Newbuildings
(Newbuilding and second hand price assessments were temporarily suspended in late 2008 and early 2009 due to a lack of liquidity in the ship sale and purchase markets)
Newbuilding Tanker Prices at January Each Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VLCC |
$ | 70m | $ | 66m | $ | 79m | $ | 118m | $ | 122m | $ | 130m | $ | 147m | N/A | $ | 100m | $ | 105m | |||||||||||||||||||||
Suezmax |
$ | 47m | $ | 45m | $ | 53m | $ | 74m | $ | 73m | $ | 81m | $ | 91m | N/A | $ | 60m | $ | 65m | |||||||||||||||||||||
Aframax (Uncoated) |
$ | 36m | $ | 36m | $ | 45m | $ | 62m | $ | 61m | $ | 66m | $ | 73m | N/A | $ | 51m | $ | 57m | |||||||||||||||||||||
47k dwt (Epoxy Coated) |
$ | 26m | $ | 28m | $ | 34m | $ | 41m | $ | 44m | $ | 47m | $ | 53m | N/A | $ | 32m | $ | 37m |
Tanker newbuilding prices increased in 2010 as we saw resurgent ordering of dry bulk carriers, VLCCs and Suezmaxes helping to fill shipyards forward orderbooks. In total 52 VLCC newbuilding contracts were recorded in 2010. More than half of the VLCC orders were placed at Chinese shipyards at prices ranging from $95 - 100 million. Most of the remaining orders were placed at South Korean yards, with several orders reported in the 3rd
44
quarter of the year at prices in the region of $105 108 million. Japanese yards were largely priced out of the international market by the strength of the Yen.
Fifty-seven new Suezmax contracts were recorded in 2010. Over 70% of these vessels were ordered at South Korean yards with prices reaching $67 68 million for contracts reported in the middle of the year. Chinese shipyards accounted for nearly all of the remaining contracts with vessels priced in the range of $60 62 million.
Fifty-four new contracts were recorded for Aframax tankers in 2010 although several of these were for relatively far out delivery in 2014 or later and seven of these orders were for shuttle tankers rather than conventional trading ships. Indicative prices for conventional vessels to be built at South Korean yards increased from $51 million at the start of the year to $57 million in the second quarter of 2010.
There was little newbuilding contracting in the MR and Handy tanker segment (27,000 dwt 55,000 dwt), however newbuilding prices were driven higher by activity in other market sectors. Indicative newbuilding prices for MR products tankers rose from $32 million at the start of the year to $37 million by the middle of the year.
The early part of 2011 has seen a lowering of newbuilding prices in some sectors, with indicative VLCC newbuilding prices in South Korea reduced to $104 million from a 2010 peak of $108 million and indicative Suezmax newbuilding prices reduced to $62 million from $68 million in the second half of 2010. Although shipyards face rising input costs, relatively abundant yard space for 2013 deliveries and a slow start to the year in both the tanker and dry bulk carrier markets has meant that there is downward pressure on newbuilding prices.
Secondhand Prices
5-Year-Old Tanker Prices at January Each Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VLCC |
$ | 58m | $ | 60m | $ | 72m | $ | 110m | $ | 120m | $ | 117m | $ | 138m | N/A | $ | 77m | $ | 80m | |||||||||||||||||||||
Suezmax |
$ | 39m | $ | 43m | $ | 50m | $ | 75m | $ | 76m | $ | 80m | $ | 96m | N/A | $ | 55m | $ | 56m | |||||||||||||||||||||
Aframax (Uncoated) |
$ | 30m | $ | 34m | $ | 39m | $ | 59m | $ | 65m | $ | 65m | $ | 73m | N/A | $ | 39m | $ | 41m | |||||||||||||||||||||
47k dwt (Epoxy Coated) |
$ | 21m | $ | 23m | $ | 30m | $ | 40m | $ | 47m | $ | 48m | $ | 52m | N/A | $ | 24.5m | $ | 26m |
Secondhand tanker sales activity picked up in 2010 after a very quiet period in 2009. Indicative prices for 5-year old vessels rebounded quickly in the first half of the year, peaking in the third quarter with market prices in some sectors estimated to be more that 20% higher than at the start of the year. By early 2011 indicative prices had subsided from their peaks, however indicative prices of modern secondhand tankers generally remained slightly above year ago levels at the start of 2011.
Vessel Earnings
Tanker spot market earnings increased in 2010 vis-à-vis 2009s levels. The strong growth in oil demand, the rebound in seaborne crude oil trade, storage employment and lower fleet growth all contributed to the rise in the market.
VLCC
Benchmark VLCC spot market earnings rebounded to strong levels in the first half of 2010. Estimated time charter equivalent (TCE) earnings on the benchmark AG-Far East route averaged some $55k/day as storage employment absorbed 7% of the vessels that would otherwise have been trading. Vessel demand also increased due to the very large rise in Chinese seaborne crude imports and increased long-haul trade into China and India from the Atlantic Basin. During the second half of the year, when storage employment was reduced, earnings fell to lower levels averaging some $18k/day. In early 2011 earnings have been volatile, remaining at low levels in January before spiking to in excess of $50k/day in mid-February.
Suezmax
Freight rates for Suezmax tankers also recovered to relatively strong levels in the first half of 2010, with indicative TCE earnings averaging some $34k/day. In the second half of the year earnings were lower, after the redelivery of both VLCC and Suezmax tonnage that had been storing. Indicative TCE earnings therefore fell to
45
some $18k/day. The start of 2011 also saw low levels of earnings, however the conflict in Libya and the anticipation of resulting changes in crude oil trade, helped to drive earnings to higher levels close to $40k/day by early March 2011. Any prolonged disruption of North African crude oil exports is expected to result in greater demand for Suezmax shipments on the longer-haul route from West Africa to the Mediterranean
Aframax
Earnings for Aframaxes were also higher in the first half of 2010, averaging some $20k/day, supported by both storage employment and the return of a premium for ice-classed tonnage in the Baltic during the first quarter. As was the case with the VLCC and Suezmax sectors, indicative TCE earnings were lower in the second half of the year, once storage employment had been reduced, at some $12k/day. Whilst earnings remained at low levels in the early part of 2011, the uncertainty in Libya, bad weather in the Mediterranean and the ice-season in the Baltic led to a sharp rise in earnings levels in March. Indicative TCE earnings for ice-class vessels exporting cargoes from the Baltic rose to a peak of some $122k/day, while earnings for vessels trading in the Mediterranean rose to $57k/day.
Products Carriers
Indicative TCE earnings for MR products carriers rose slightly in 2010, but remained at relatively low levels as the large number of newbuildings delivered in 2008 and 2009 continued to weigh on the market. Earnings were relatively flat throughout the year, ranging from some $8k/day in October to $16k/day in July, when there was a brief surge in the United States gasoline import requirement. Although earnings generally remained at low levels in early 2011, the unrest in Libya, higher gasoline imports into the U.S. and strong diesel demand from Latin America helped to push earnings for vessels trading in the Atlantic Basin and Mediterranean upwards in March. Indicative TCE earnings on the benchmark Northwest Europe to US Atlantic Coast route peaked at some $19k/day late in the month. Overall the lower level of fleet growth is expected to benefit this sector in 2011.
Company Overview
As of March 31, 2011, we operated a fleet of 47 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. Our current fleet consists of three VLCCs, eight suezmaxes, twelve aframaxes, nine panamaxes, six handymaxes, eight handysizes and one LNG carrier. All vessels are owned by our subsidiaries. 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 Operations2010
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.
The year 2010 saw increasing signs of recovery to the global economy with GDP up 5%, the growth engine being the continued development in Asia, but also the U.S. clearly on the road to recovery albeit without the hoped for reduction in unemployment. Even Europe, beset with national debt problems and taking the long route to recovery through austerity measures, saw some slow growth, primarily in Germany. The recovery and growing global demand for oil, up 2.7% from 2009, gave rise to optimism in the earlier part of the year that 2010 could see a strong recovery in the tanker market by the fourth quarter. Such hope was fueled by increasing use of tankers for storage as the oil price contango moved upwards, from a more relaxed policy by OPEC regarding oil production and from the increased scrapping of older vessels. These hopes dissipated by mid-year as the contango evaporated and more vessels came onto the market, both newbuildings and those released from storage, and inventories of crude and
46
product remained high. The fact that fleet growth was far exceeding vessel demand became more evident towards the fourth quarter as overcapacity pushed industry spot rates to levels near or below vessels operating expenses, forcing global fleet utilization to approximately 85%. It was not until December that the crude carrying market saw healthier rates more in line with seasonal expectations, but this was not to last long into 2011. Product carrier rates saw a modest improvement over the previous year, but the market still remained relatively soft.
Our fleet achieved voyage revenues of $408.0 million in 2010, a decrease of 8.3% from $444.9 million in 2009. The average size of the fleet declined slightly in 2010 to 46.1 from 46.6 in 2009, and fleet utilization decreased only marginally from 97.7% to 97.6% over the same period. The decrease in revenue was primarily due to the decline in rates in a softer market caused by the oversupply of vessels mentioned above. The average daily time charter rate per vessel after deducting voyage expenses, decreased to $19,825 compared to $22,329 in 2009. Voyage expenses increased, despite a decrease in operating days on voyages incurring such expenses, because of higher bunker (fuel) prices caused by rising oil prices. Operating expenses decreased by 12.8% to $126.0 million, while average daily costs per vessel fell by 11.9% due to better pricing obtained by our new technical managers for purchases of spares, stores and lubricants, reduced crew costs derived from actions taken since 2009, reduced P&I insurance costs and a stronger dollar which impacted primarily crew expenses.
Depreciation was $92.9 million in 2010 compared to $94.3 million in 2009 due to the disposal of vessels in the earlier part of 2010 offset by new additions in the latter part of the year. Management fees totaled $14.1 million for 2010 compared to $13.3 million for 2009, an increase of 6.6%, mainly due to an increase in monthly fees from July 1, 2010. General and administrative expenses were $3.6 million during 2010 compared to $4.1 million during 2009.
The net gain on the sale of five vessels in 2010 amounted to $19.7 million, compared to the sale of one vessel in 2009 with a gain of $5.1 million. The Company incurred an impairment charge in 2010, relating to the oldest vessel in the fleet, amounting to $3.1 million, compared to impairment charges on three vessels in 2009 totalling $19.1 million. Operating income increased to $80.7 million in 2010 from $72.4 million in 2009. Interest and finance costs, net increased by 35.8% in 2010 to $62.3 million, due mainly to negative movements on non-hedging interest rate and bunker swaps. Net income was $19.8 million compared to $28.7 million in 2009. Diluted earnings per share were $0.50 in 2010 based on 39.60 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding compared to $0.77 in 2009 based on 37.20 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding.
Some of the more significant developments for the Company during 2010 were:
| the delivery of the two aframax tankers Sapporo Princess and Uraga Princess; |
| the sale of the suezmax tanker Decathlon, the aframax tankers, Pentathlon and Marathon, and the panamax tankers Hesnes and Victory III; |
| the acquisition of four new panamax tankers with employment, World Harmony, Chantal, Selini and Salamina; |
| the dry-docking of Didimon, Ariadne, Propontis, Euronike, Eurochampion 2004, La Prudencia and La Madrina for their mandatory special or intermediate survey; |
| the continuation of an at-the-market offering, initiated in December 2009, resulting in the sale of approximately 1.2 million common shares for net proceeds of approximately $19.9 million in 2010; |
| a follow-on offering of approximately 7.6 million common shares that resulted in net proceeds of $85.1 million; |
| the payment to our shareholders of dividends totaling $0.60 per common share with total cash paid out amounting to $22.8 million; |
| the charter for 15-year periods of two DP2 suezmax shuttle tankers to be built with delivery expected in the fourth quarter of 2012 and first quarter of 2013, respectively; and |
| the agreement to sell the aframax tanker Opal Queen, which was delivered to buyers on March 23, 2011. |
47
The Company operated the following types of vessels during, and at the end of 2010:
Vessel Type |
LNG carrier | VLCC | Suezmax | Aframax | Panamax | Handymax MR2 |
Handysize MR1 |
Total Fleet |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average number of vessels |
1.0 | 3.0 | 8.4 | 12.7 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 46.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of vessels at end of year |
1.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 13.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 48.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dwt at end of year (in thousands) |
86.0 | 900.0 | 1,311.0 | 1,398.0 | 651.0 | 318.0 | 298.0 | 4,962 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Percentage of total fleet |
1.7 | % | 18.1 | % | 26.4 | % | 28.2 | % | 13.1 | % | 6.4 | % | 6.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Average age, in years, at end of year |
3.9 | 15.8 | 5.6 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 6.8 |
We believe that the key factors which determined our financial performance in 2010, within the given freight rate environment in which we operated, were:
| the diversified aspect of the fleet, including our acquisition in recent years of purpose-built vessels to access ice-bound ports and carry LNG (liquefied natural gas), which allowed us 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 us to take advantage of any upside in the 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 rising operating and fuel costs; |
| our ability to mitigate financial costs by negotiating competitive terms with reputable banks; |
| 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; |
| our ability to raise new financing through bank debt at competitive terms despite the current tight credit environment; and |
| the sale of vessels when attractive opportunities arise. |
We believe that the above factors will also be those that will be behind our future financial performance and will play an especially significant role in the current world economic climate as we proceed through 2011. To these may be added:
| a possible recovery in the crude charter market in the latter part of the year; |
| the securing of a high level of utilization for our vessels (as at March 31, 2011, 62% of the operational days available for 2011, and 35% for 2012, excluding expected new deliveries, have secured employment); |
| the continued appetite by oil majors to fix vessels on medium to long term charters at economic rates; |
| the delivery of the two newbuilding suezmaxes that will join the fleet in 2011 and the newbuilding suezmax shuttle tankers to be delivered in 2012 and 2013; and |
| the build up of our cash reserves through operations, vessel sales and equity issuance. |
We look forward from a 2010 background of overcapacity of tankers and high crude inventory levels, and, more recently, with the images of Middle East political turmoil, civil war in Libya and natural catastrophe in Japan still before us. Against this backdrop, and the considerable uncertainty which still exists relating to the global economy, there are some positive signs of which the most important is the continued recovery of the western economies and growth of the developing nations. Rising oil demand and geopolitical factors have contributed to an upward movement of oil prices which may continue through 2011. Demand from China, India and other developing
48
countries will continue to have a beneficial impact on transportation requirements for petroleum and its products in the absorption of capacity to meet demand.
We expect, therefore, that 2011 will also prove to be a challenging year for the tanker industry, even with the beneficial effect of increasing oil demand. The current economic and financial problems, together with the forecasted increase in the size of the global tanker fleet, will continue to dampen the potential for reviving the returns from the transportation of oil to the levels seen in previous years. Nevertheless, the governments of the world continue to make an effort to revitalize their own economies and by extension, the world economy. The rising level of oil prices has stopped the production cuts witnessed in 2009. The ordering of new vessels has eased and trading patterns with long-haul requirements will continue to absorb many of the new vessels to be delivered. In particular, the creation of new refining capacity in the East is expected to generate new trade routes for product carriers which, together with the reduction in new orders in this sector, should lead to a boost in product carrier rates.
Subsequent Events
On January 11, 2011, we announced a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share, paid on February 1, 2011 to shareholders of record on January 25, 2011. On March 14, 2011, we announced a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share to be paid on April 28, 2011, to shareholders of record on April 21, 2011. On March 21, 2011, we signed with Sungdong yard of South Korea contracts for the construction of two suezmax DP2 shuttle tankers at a price of $92.0 million each, to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2012 and first quarter of 2013, respectively. On March 23, 2011, the aframax tanker Opal Queen, recorded in the consolidated Balance Sheet as Held-for-Sale, was delivered to its new owners. Opal Queen was sold for $34.0 million, resulting in an estimated gain of $5.3 million. On April 4, 2011, we agreed to the terms of a bank loan for an amount of $48.0 million relating to the financing of the suezmax tanker Spyros K, expected to be delivered at the end of April 2011.
Chartering Strategy
We typically charter our vessels to third parties in any of five 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 stores, spares, repair and maintenance, 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 three years. Time charters can also be evergreen, which means that they automatically renew for successive terms unless the shipowner or the charterer gives notice to the other party 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, dry-docking costs and technical and commercial management. Longer-term time charters and bareboat charters are sometimes known as period charters.
Fourth are contracts of affreightment which are contracts for multiple employments that provide for periodic market related adjustments, sometimes within prescribed ranges, to the charter rates.
Fifth are pools. At various stages during 2010, eight of our vessels also entered into and 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.
Our chartering strategy 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
49
has enabled us to level the effects of the cyclical nature of the tanker industry, achieving almost optimal utilization of the fleet. In order to capitalize on possible upturns in rates, we have chartered out several of our vessels on a basis related to market rates for either spot or time charter. As of March 31, 2011, we have 33 of our 47 vessels on time charter or other form of period employment, ensuring that at least 62% of the remaining days of 2011 year and 35% of the available days of 2012 are already fixed.
Our Board of Directors, through its Chartering Committee, formulates our chartering strategy and our commercial manager Tsakos Energy Management implements this strategy through the Chartering Department of 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, who still provide the Company with chartering services, enables us to take advantage of the long-established relationships they have built with many of the worlds major oil companies and refiners over 38 years of existence and high quality commercial and technical service.
Since July 1, 2010, through our cooperation with TCM, the new technical managers, we are able to take advantage of the inherent economies of scale associated with two large fleet operators working together and its commitment to contain running costs without jeopardizing the vessels operations. TCM provides top grade officers and crew for our 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. Our 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, bareboat and voyage charters, contracts of affreightment and pool arrangements. Time and bareboat 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 ratably from when a vessel becomes available for loading (discharge of the previous charterers cargo) to when the next charterers cargo is discharged, provided an agreed non-cancelable charter between the Company and the charterer is in existence, the charter rate is fixed or determinable and collectivity is reasonably assured. Vessel voyage and operating expenses and charter hire expense are expensed when incurred. The operating revenues and voyage expenses of vessels operating under a tanker pool are pooled and are allocated to the pool participants on a time charter equivalent basis, according to an agreed formula. Revenues from variable hire arrangements are recognized to the extent the variable amounts earned beyond an agreed fixed minimum hire at the reporting date and all other revenue recognition criteria are met.
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 $300 per lightweight ton since January 1, 2008 (previously calculated at $180 per lightweight ton). The impact of the increase in the scrap price used in the estimation of residual values was to reduce the depreciation charge for 2008 by $5.3 million. We revised our estimate of scrap prices, as prices in the past five years had reached historically high levels, significantly in excess of $300. Scrap prices currently approximate $500. While there remains overcapacity within the tanker sector and scrap prices remain at these levels we would expect scrapping to remain a viable alternative to trading older vessels. We also expect commodity prices to remain at buoyant levels as the economic recovery continues to gather pace. Given the historical volatility of scrap prices, management will monitor prices going forward and where a distinctive trend is observed over a given length of time, management may consider revising the scrap price accordingly. 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.
50
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.
The Company reviews vessels for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a vessel may not be recoverable, such as during severe disruptions in global economic and market conditions. When such indicators are present, a vessel to be held and used is tested for recoverability by comparing the estimate of future undiscounted net operating cash flows expected to be generated by the use of the vessel over its remaining useful life and its eventual disposition to its carrying amount. Future undiscounted net operating cash flows are determined by applying various assumptions regarding future revenues net of commissions, operating expenses, scheduled dry-dockings, expected off-hire and scrap values, and taking into account historical revenue data and published forecasts on future world economic growth and inflation.
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. Economic forecasts of world growth and inflation are also taken into account. 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. Since April 2007, the Company has 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. If the current economic recovery stalls or if oil prices continue to trend upwards, oil demand over an extended period of time could be negatively impacted. This will exacerbate the consequences of overcapacity in the tanker sector. In such circumstances, the possibility will increase that both the market value of the older vessels of our fleet and the future cash flow they are likely to earn over their remaining lives will be less than their carrying value and an impairment loss will occur. Management tests the value and future cash flows for the possibility of impairment on a quarterly basis.
Should the carrying value of the vessel exceed its estimated undiscounted cash flows, impairment is measured based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the asset. 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.
During the latter part 2009, the global economic and market conditions, combined with a growing fleet, led to a further fall in the values and earnings capacity of three older vessels owned by the Company. We performed the tests described above under various future scenarios for these vessels and arrived at a weighted estimated undiscounted future cash flow for each vessel. As a result, it was determined that the carrying values of the three vessels, Hesnes, Victory III and Vergina II, were impaired in 2009 and an impairment loss of $19.1 million was incurred. During the latter part of 2010, when the tanker market remained exceptionally weak despite seasonal expectations, it became increasingly apparent that overcapacity in tanker supply was having a profound impact on rates and that the aframax Vergina II would suffer from age discrimination for the remainder of its life (five years). Taking this into account, it was determined that the carrying value of the vessel was further impaired and an impairment loss of $3.1 million was incurred in 2010. At December 31, 2010, the market value of the fleet, as determined based on management estimates and assumptions and by making use of available market data and taking into consideration third party valuations was $2.3 billion, compared to a total carrying value also of $2.3 billion. While the future cash flow expected to be generated by all the vessels of the fleet, apart from Vergina II, was comfortably in excess of their carrying value, there were 26 vessels in our fleet that had an aggregate carrying value
51
of $189.7 million in excess of their combined market value as determined at December 31, 2010. These vessels were:
| VLCC: La Prudencia |
| Aframax: Sakura Princess, Maria Princess, Nippon Princess, Ise Princess, Asahi Princess, Uraga Princess, Sapporo Princess |
| Aframax LR: Propontis, Promitheas, Proteas |
| Panamax: Selecao, Socrates, Selini, Salamina, World Harmony, Chantal |
| Handymax: Artemis, Afrodite, Ariadne, Ajax, Aris, Apollon |
| Handysize: Delphi, Byzantion, Bosporos |
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 any provision that we might record to be based on fair judgment at the time of its 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 special survey requires a dry-docking. In between special surveys, a further intermediate survey takes place, for which a dry-docking is obligatory for vessels over ten years. During a dry-docking, work is 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.
Fair value of financial instruments. Management reviews the fair values of financial assets and liabilities included in the balance sheet on a quarterly basis as part of the process of preparing financial statements. The carrying amounts of financial assets and accounts payable are considered to approximate their respective fair values due to the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of long-term bank loans with variable interest rates approximate the recorded values, generally due to their variable interest rates. The present value of the future cash flows of the portion of any long-term bank loan with a fixed interest rate is estimated and compared to its carrying amount. The fair value of the investments equates to the amounts that would be received by the Company in the event of sale of those investments, and any shortfall in from carrying value is treated as an impairment of the value of that investment. The fair value of the interest rate swap and bunker swap agreements held by the Company are determined through Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy as defined in FASB guidance and are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data, interest rates, yield curves and other items that allow value to be determined. The fair values of impaired vessels are determined through Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy based on management estimates and assumptions and by making use of available market data and taking into consideration third party valuations.
Basis of Presentation and General Information
Voyage revenues. Revenues are generated from freight billings and time charters. Time and bareboat 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 ratably from when a vessel becomes available for loading (discharge of the previous charterers cargo) to when the next charterers cargo is discharged, provided an agreed non-cancelable charter between the Company and the charterer is in existence, the charter rate is fixed or determinable and collectivity is reasonably assured. The operating revenues of vessels operating under a tanker pool are pooled and are allocated to the pool participants on a time charter equivalent basis according to an agreed upon formula. Revenues from variable hire arrangements are recognized to the extent the variable amounts earned beyond an agreed fixed minimum hire at the reporting date and all other revenue recognition criteria are met. Unearned revenue represents cash received prior to the year end and is related to revenue applicable to periods after December 31 of each year.
52
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 less voyage expenses 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, certain charterers may include in the charter agreement an address commission which is a payment due to the charterer, usually ranging from 1.25% to 3.75% of the daily charter hire or freight payable under the relevant charter. These commissions, as well as changes in prevailing charter rates, will cause our commission expenses to fluctuate from period to period.
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 or on a short-term basis to cover the time-charter obligations of one of our vessels in dry-dock. During 2010, we sold the Decathlon while it was on time-charter and in order to fulfill our obligations under that time-charter we chartered the vessel back on market terms from the buyers for 103 days under its new name Nordic Passat. Another vessel was chartered-in during 2010 to cover for the product carrier Didimon while it was in dry-dock. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had no vessel under hire from a third-party.
Vessel operating expenses. These expenses consist primarily of manning, hull and machinery insurance, P&I and other vessel insurance, repairs and maintenance, stores and lubricant costs.
Management fees. These are the fixed fees we pay to Tsakos Energy Management under our management agreement with them. Prior to 2010, the existing management agreement was last amended effective January 1, 2007. According to the amendments, from each January 1, 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 were increased to $23,000 per owned vessel and $17,000 for chartered-in vessels or chartered out on a bareboat basis or vessels under construction. Under the same terms, the monthly fees have been increased to $23,700 and $17,500, respectively, effective January 1, 2009, and effective January 1, 2010, such fees were further increased to $24,000 and $17,700, respectively. Following the start of TCM as technical managers, the fees were raised from July 1, 2010, to $27,000 and $20,000, respectively ($32,000 in respect of the LNG carrier). It was agreed that no further increase should be implemented at January 1, 2011.
Depreciation. We depreciate our vessels on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, after considering their estimated scrap values, calculated at $300 per lightweight ton. 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.
53
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. As a result of such reviews it was determined in 2010 and 2009 that an impairment loss had been incurred with respect to the carrying values of one older vessel in 2010 and three older vessels in 2009. There were no impairment losses in 2008.
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.
Insurance claim proceeds. In the event of an incident involving one of our vessels, where the repair costs or loss of hire is insurable, we immediately initiate an insurance claim and account for such claim when it is determined that recovery of such costs or loss of hire is probable and collectability is reasonably assured within the terms of the relevant policy. Depending on the complexity of the claim, we would generally expect to receive the proceeds from claims within a twelve month period. During 2010, we received approximately $2.9 million in proceeds from hull and machinery and loss of hire claims arising from incidents with or damage incurred on our vessels. Such settlements were generally received as credit-notes from our insurers, Argosy Insurance Company Limited, and used as a set off against insurance premiums due to that company. Within the consolidated statements of cash flows therefore, these proceeds are included in decreases in receivables and in decreases in accounts payable. There is no material impact on reported earnings arising from these settlements.
Financial Analysis
(Percentage calculations are based on the actual amounts shown in the accompanying consolidated financial statements)
Year ended December 31, 2010 versus year ended December 31, 2009
Voyage revenues
Voyage revenues earned in 2010 and 2009 per charter category were as follows:
2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||||
$ million | % of total | $ million | % of total | |||||||||||||
Time charter-bareboat |
9.3 | 2 | % | 9.3 | 2 | % | ||||||||||
Time charter-fixed rate |
69.8 | 17 | % | 111.0 | 25 | % | ||||||||||
Time charter-variable rate (profit share) |
162.6 | 40 | % | 170.2 | 38 | % | ||||||||||
Pool arrangement |
14.3 | 4 | % | 7.3 | 2 | % | ||||||||||
Voyage charter-contract of affreightment |
45.3 | 11 | % | 43.0 | 10 | % | ||||||||||
Voyage charter-spot market |
106.7 | 26 | % | 104.1 | 23 | % | ||||||||||
Total voyage revenue |
408.0 | 100 | % | 444.9 | 100 | % | ||||||||||
Revenue from vessels was $408.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $444.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2009, an 8.3% decrease. There was an average of 46.1 vessels in 2010
54
compared to an average of 46.6 in 2009. During the course of 2010, five tankers were sold, mostly in the earlier part of 2010 and six vessels were acquired, mostly in the latter part of the year. Based on the total days that the vessels were actually employed as a percentage that we owned or controlled the vessels, the fleet had 97.6% employment compared to 97.7% in the previous year, the lost time being mainly due to dry-docking activity. In 2010, seven vessels undertook dry-docking and eight vessels underwent dry-dock in 2009 (discussed further below).
Due to poorer market conditions in 2010 as a result primarily of excess capacity within the tanker sector and also to a slow recovery in oil demand and high oil inventories, the average time charter equivalent rate per vessel achieved for the year 2010 was $19,825 per day compared to $22,329 for the previous year. Only the VLCC and aframax categories saw marginally better rates in 2010 than in 2009. Suezmax rates achieved were 5% less on average than in 2009. The product carriers saw a significant decline in rates, with little profit-share being earned during 2010 and eight relatively lucrative time-charters ending during late 2009 and 2010 and new charters being fixed at lower rates. Nevertheless, these lower product carrier minimum time-charter rates were still higher than rates these vessels would have been able to earn in the spot market. The LNG carrier also ended a profitable charter in 2010 and was re-fixed for a year at a lower rate.
Commissions
Commissions during 2010 amounted to $13.8 million compared to $16.1 million in 2009, a 14.0% decrease compared to an 8.3% decrease in voyage revenues. Commissions were 3.4% of revenue from vessels in 2010 compared to 3.6% in 2009. The reduction in commission charges relates to changes in employment on several vessels where commission rates were less and to reduced rates by specific brokers on existing charters.
Voyage expenses
Total voyage expenses per category |
Average daily voyage expenses per vessel |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, |
% increase/ (decrease) |
Year ended December 31, |
% increase/ (decrease) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||
$ million | $ million | $ million | $ million | |||||||||||||||||||||
Bunkering expenses |
54.5 | 47.8 | 14.1 | % | 13,271 | 11,253 | 17.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Port and other expenses |
31.3 | 29.4 | 6.4 | % | 7,608 | 6,917 | 10.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total voyage expenses |
85.8 | 77.2 | 11.1 | % | 20,879 | 18,170 | 14.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Days on spot and Contract of Affreightment (COA) employment |
|
4,110 | 4,250 | (3.3 | )% |
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 $85.8 million during 2010 compared to $77.2 million during the prior year, an 11.1% increase, despite the fact that the total operating days on spot charter and contract of affreightment totaled 4,110 days in 2010 compared to 4,250 days in 2009. Although voyage expenses are highly dependent on the voyage patterns followed and size of vessels employed on spot, much of the increase can be partly explained by the average cost of bunkers (fuel) purchased for the fleet increasing by 32% from 2009 to 2010, contributing to a $6.7 million increase in the overall expenditure on bunkers between the two years.
Charter hire expense
Charter hire expense amounted to $1.9 million in 2010. There was no charter hire expense in 2009. The charter hire expense in 2010 related primarily to the vessel Decathlon, which was sold to a third-party, but immediately re-chartered at market rate in order that the vessel fulfill its obligations relating to the charter that the vessel was employed on at the time of sale.
55
Vessel operating expenses
Operating expenses per category |
Average daily operating expenses per vessel |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||
U.S.$ million |
U.S.$ million |
% increase/ (decrease) |
U.S.$ | U.S.$ | % increase/ (decrease) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Crew expenses |
74.1 | 79.0 | (6.3 | )% | 4,495 | 4,743 | (5.2 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Insurances |
14.4 | 18.7 | (23.0 | )% | 873 | 1,118 | (21.9 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Repairs and maintenance, and spares |
14.5 | 17.9 | (18.6 | )% | 883 | 1,071 | (17.6 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Stores |
7.4 | 9.7 | (24.2 | )% | 447 | 583 | (23.3 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Lubricants |
6.0 | 8.4 | (28.4 | )% | 366 | 505 | (27.5 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Quality and Safety |
1.7 | 1.7 | (2.4 | )% | 102 | 104 | (1.9 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Other (taxes, registration fees, communications) |
7.9 | 9.2 | (13.9 | )% | 481 | 553 | (13.0 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
126.0 | 144.6 | (12.8 | )% | 7,647 | 8,677 | (11.9 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Earnings capacity days excluding vessel on bare-boat charter |
|
16,471 | 16,656 |
Vessel operating expenses include crew costs, insurances, repairs and maintenance, spares, stores, lubricants, quality and safety costs and other expenses such as tonnage tax, registration fees and communication costs. Total operating costs were $126.0 million during 2010, compared to $144.6 million during 2009, a decrease of 12.8%. As a percentage of voyage revenues, vessel operating expenses were 30.9% in 2010 and 32.5% in 2009.
Operating expenses per ship per day for the fleet decreased to $7,647 for 2010 from $8,677 in 2009, an 11.9% decrease. This decrease was in part due to reductions in crew expenses resulting from actions taken in 2009 and 2010 to cut costs by reducing the number of Greek officers on certain vessels. The creation of TCM in order to take over the technical management of the fleet, and the cooperation which existed between Tsakos Shipping and Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd. prior to July 1, 2010, the formal start date of TCM, resulted in a purchasing power based on the combined fleets managed by Tsakos Shipping and Columbia. This provided considerable savings in the purchase of stores, spares and lubricants. A reduction in P&I Club back calls contributed to the decrease in insurance costs. A 5% appreciation of the US dollar against the Euro during 2010 also benefited costs, as approximately 46% of operating expenses (26% of total costs) incurred are in Euro, mainly relating to vessel officers (saving approximately $2.3 million), but also to various parts, supplies and repairs acquired or undertaken in Euro zone countries.
Depreciation
Depreciation was $92.9 million during 2010 compared to $94.3 million during 2009, a decrease of $1.4 million, or 1.5%. This was partly due to the sale of one vessel in the fourth quarter of 2009 and five vessels during 2010. The five vessels sold in 2010 had all been accounted for as held for sale from the end of 2009 and, therefore, bore no depreciation during 2010. In addition, the depreciation charge relating to the aframax Vergina II was reduced following the impairment of its carrying value at the end of 2009. The impact of these vessels sold or impaired was to reduce the total depreciation charge for 2010 compared to 2009 by $9.7 million, offset by $8.3 million extra depreciation in 2010 over 2009 incurred by the addition of two new high-value vessels in 2009 and a further six in 2010.
56
Amortization
We amortize the cost of dry-dockings related to classification society 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 2010, amortization of deferred dry-docking charges was $4.6 million compared to $7.2 million during 2009, a decrease of 37.1%. The decrease was mainly due to the sale of four vessels in 2010 that had dry-docking amortization amounting to $3.3 million in 2009, but no new amortization in 2010 due to their held for sale categorization as from the end of 2009. There were fourteen dry-dockings in the two years 2009 and 2010, which explains most of the net increase of approximately $0.7 million amortization in 2010 over 2009, after taking account of the amortization reduction due to sale of vessels. Ten of the dry-dockings in these two years related to younger and smaller vessels that underwent their first dry-dockings, the costs of which were lower than dry-dockings of older and larger vessels. The next dry-docking of these vessels would be in five years, and, therefore, the amortization would be spread over this extended period resulting in a relatively lower annual charge, whereas older vessels would be amortized over 30 months.
Management fees
The Company pays to Tsakos Energy Management fixed fees per vessel under a management agreement between the companies. The fee pays for services that cover both the management of the individual vessels and of the enterprise as a whole. According to the amended management agreement (from January 2007), 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, 2009 monthly fees for owned operating vessels increased from $23,000 to $23,700 and for operating vessels chartered-in or chartered out on a bareboat basis or for vessels under construction, from $17,000 to $17,500. From January 1, 2010, monthly fees for owned operating vessels increased from $23,700 to $24,000 and for operating vessels chartered-in or chartered out on a bareboat basis or for vessels under construction, from $17,500 to $17,700. From July 1, 2010, most of the fleet is managed by TCM, apart from four vessels which continued to be managed by Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd. until early 2011 and three by other third-party ship managers. Vessel monthly fees have been increased by $3,000 for owned operating vessels or approximately $85 per day per vessel, substantially less than the savings achieved from the creation of the new ship management company. The monthly fee relating chartered-in or chartered out on a bareboat basis or for vessels under construction increased to $20,000 and for the LNG carrier to $32,000. Management fees totaled $14.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $13.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a 6.6% increase over the year ended December 31, 2009 due to increased management fees, offset by a slightly reduced fleet. Total fees include fees paid directly to a third-party ship manager in the case of the LNG carrier. Fees paid relating to vessels under construction are capitalized as part of the vessels costs.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of professional fees, investor relations, office supplies, advertising costs, directors liability insurance, directors fees and reimbursement of our directors and officers travel-related expenses. General and administrative expenses were $3.6 million during 2010 compared to $4.1 million during 2009, a decrease of 10.9 %. Apart from the result of a general effort to keep administrative costs down, there were significant reductions in legal fees, in advertising costs, in expenses associated with the issuance of the annual general meeting proxy statement and in costs related to project evaluations.
Total general and administrative expenses plus management fees paid to Tsakos Energy Management, the incentive award and stock compensation expense, together represent the overhead of the Company. On a per vessel basis, daily overhead costs were $1,144 in 2010 compared to $1,083 in 2009, the increase being mainly due to increases in management fees and the incentive award, offset partly by the reduction in general and administrative expenses described above, and decrease in the stock compensation expense described below.
Management incentive award
An amount of $0.4 million was awarded to Tsakos Energy Management for 2010. There was no management incentive award in 2009. The 2008 award amounted to $4.75 million and was paid in 2009.
57
Stock compensation expense
The compensation expense in 2010 of $1.1 million represents the 2010 portion of the total amortization of the value of restricted share units (RSUs). In 2009, a similar amount of $1.1 million was amortized. At the beginning of 2010, there were 399,500 RSUs granted, but unvested. A further 145,000 RSUs were awarded in the year and 3,100 forfeited, with 341,650 grants vesting in the year. The average number of RSUs was actually higher in 2010 than 2009. However, over half of the RSUs outstanding had been issued to staff of the commercial and technical managers who are considered as non-employees. In the case of RSUs issued to non-employees, amortization is based on the share price on vesting with quarterly adjustments until vesting. As the average share price in 2010 was lower than in 2009, the amortization charge per outstanding RSU fell accordingly.
Gain on sale of vessels
During 2010, we sold the suezmax tanker Decathlon for sales proceeds of $51.5 million resulting in a gain of approximately $5.9 million, the aframax tankers Parthenon and Marathon for sales proceed of $39.5 million and $38.5 million, respectively, giving rise to gains of $8.4 million and $5.8 million, respectively, and the panamax tankers Hesnes and Victory III for sales proceeds of $7.4 million and $7.2 million, respectively, with a gain of $0.1 million and a loss of $0.5 million, respectively. During 2009, the suezmax Pentathlon was sold for sales proceeds of $50.5 million and a capital gain of $5.1 million.
Vessel impairment charge
There was an impairment charge in 2010 of $3.1 million relating to the 1991 built aframax tanker Vergina II. The vessel had previously incurred an impairment charge in 2009 together with the first generation 1990 built double-hull panamax tankers Hesnes and Victory III. An impairment charge relating to these three vessels totaled $19.1 million in 2009. The negative market forces existing in most of 2009 impacted the ability to charter older vessels at accretive rates. In the case of these three vessels, the total weighted average cash flow expected to be generated over the future remaining life of the vessels under various possible scenarios, was less than the current carrying value of the vessels in our books and consequently the amount of carrying value in excess of the fair market value of these vessels was written-off as an impairment charge. The market continued to be poor in 2010 and especially in the fourth quarter when the expected usual seasonal uplift in rates did not occur and the probability of Vergina II finding new extended profitable employment after the end of its current charter diminished in an environment of increasing discrimination against older vessels. As a consequence, the revised scenarios for our more recent cash flow tests gave greater probability to disposing of the vessels well before the end of 25 years. As such, the vessel would not generate adequate cash flow in excess of its carrying value and therefore the carrying value has been reduced to fair market at December 31, 2010.
At December 31, 2010, following a decline in vessel values in the latter part of the year, apart from the Vergina II, a further 26 of our vessels had carrying values in excess of market values. The remainder of our fleet is, for the most part young and in all cases the vessels are expected to generate considerably more cash than the carrying values.
Operating income
Income from vessel operations was $80.7 million during 2010 versus $72.4 million during 2009, an 11.4% increase. As a percentage of voyage revenues, operating income was 19.8% in 2010 and 16.3% in 2009.
58
Interest and finance costs, net
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
Loan interest expense |
24.5 | 41.1 | ||||||
Swap interest expense |
35.8 | 19.9 | ||||||
Less: Interest capitalized |
(2.5 | ) | (2.1 | ) | ||||
Interest expense, net |
57.8 | 58.9 | ||||||
Bunkers swap cash settlements |
(2.9 | ) | (1.7 | ) | ||||
Change in fair value of non-hedging bunker swaps |
2.6 | (6.5 | ) | |||||
Amortization of deferred loss on de-designated interest rate swap |
1.3 | | ||||||
Expense of portion of accumulated negative valuation of de-designated interest rate swap |
0.8 | | ||||||
Change in fair value of non-hedging interest rate swaps |
1.3 | (6.1 | ) | |||||
Amortization of loan expenses |
1.1 | 1.0 | ||||||
Bank loan charges |
0.3 | 0.3 | ||||||
Net total |
62.3 | 45.9 | ||||||
Interest and finance costs, net were $62.3 million for 2010 compared to $45.9 million for 2009, a 35.8% increase. Loan interest, excluding payment of swap interest, decreased to $24.5 million from $41.1 million, a 40.3% decrease. Total weighted average bank loans outstanding were approximately $1,495 million for 2010 compared to $1,503 million for 2009. However, interest rate payments on interest swaps, based on the difference between fixed payments and variable 6-month LIBOR, increased to $35.8 million from $19.9 million as LIBOR fell during 2010. The average loan financing cost in 2010, including the impact of swap interest, was 3.98% compared to 4.00% for 2009. Capitalized interest in 2010 was $2.5 million and $2.1 million in the previous year. The increase is due primarily to the payments made on the new suezmaxes under construction based on contracts placed in late 2009.
There was a negative movement in the fair value (mark-to-market) of the non-hedging interest rate swaps in 2010 compared to a positive movement of $6.1 million in 2009. At the end of the first quarter, an agreement was made to sell the panamax tanker Hesnes which eventually was sold in the second quarter of 2010, and in the third quarter the panamax tanker Victory III was also sold. As a consequence, the interest rate swap relating to the loan which included the part financing of Hesnes and Victory III became ineligible for special hedge accounting and was de-designated. As a result, a part of the accumulated negative valuation relating to this swap amounting to $0.8 million was transferred from other comprehensive income to the income statement. In addition, the remaining part of the accumulated negative valuation relating to this interest rate swap is being amortized to earnings over the term of the original hedge. The total amount amortized in 2010 was $1.3 million.
In 2009, the Company entered into swap arrangements relating to bunker (fuel) costs, which do not qualify as hedging instruments. In 2010, the Company received $2.9 million on these swaps in realized gains compared to $1.7 million in 2009. However, unrealized mark-to-market valuation losses were $2.6 million in 2010, whereas mark-to-market valuation gains amounted to nearly $6.5 million in 2009.
Amortization of loan expenses was $1.1 million in 2010 and approximately $1.0 million in 2009. Other loan charges, including commitment fees amounted to $0.3 million in 2010 and 2009.
Interest and investment income
For 2010, interest and investment income amounted to $2.6 million compared to $3.6 million in 2009. In both years the income related to bank deposit interest. In 2010, although the average total cash balances were slightly higher than in 2009, and interest rates on deposits were lower.
59
Non-controlling interest
The amount earned by the minority (49%) shareholding of the subsidiary which owns the owning companies of the vessels Maya and Inca was $1.3 million in 2010 compared to $1.5 million in 2009. Although these vessels earned less revenue per day in 2010 compared to 2009, the difference was more than offset by reductions in operating expenses.
Net income
As a result of the foregoing, net income for 2010 was $19.8 million or $0.50 per diluted share versus $28.7 million or $0.77 per diluted share for 2009.
Year ended December 31, 2009 versus year ended December 31, 2008
Voyage revenues
Revenue from vessels was $444.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $623.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2008, a 28.6% decrease despite an increase in the number of vessels to an average of 46.6 in 2009 from an average of 44.1 in 2008.
Due to much poorer market conditions in 2009, the average time charter equivalent rate per vessel achieved for the year 2009 was $22,329 per day compared to $34,600 for the previous year. During the course of 2009, two aframax tankers were newly-delivered to us and one vessel was sold. The fleet had 97.7% employment compared to 97.3% in the previous year, mainly due to dry-docking activity for surveys.
Commissions
Commissions during 2009 amounted to $16.1 million, or 3.6% of revenue from vessels compared to 3.7% in the prior year in which commissions totaled $23.0 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 $77.2 million during 2009 compared to $83.1 million during the prior year, a 7.0% decrease, despite the fact that the total operating days on spot charter and contract of affreightment totaled 5,223 days in 2009 compared to only 2,712 days in 2008. Although voyage expenses are highly dependent on the voyage patterns followed, much of the decrease can be explained partly by the average cost of bunkers (fuel) falling considerably from 2008 to 2009, resulting in a $12 million reduction in the overall expenditure on bunkers between the two years. As a result, bunkers share of total voyage expenses fell to 62% from 72% in 2008 while port expenses in total increased by nearly $7 million and share of voyage expenses rose from 27% to 37%. As a percentage of voyage revenues, voyage expenses were 17.4% in 2009 and 13.3% in 2008.
Charter hire expense
There was no charter hire expense in 2009 while in 2008 charter hire expense amounted to $13.5 million. The charter hire expense in 2008 related primarily to the two vessels, Cape Baker and Cape Balboa, which were time chartered had been chartered for several years until their repurchase by us in October and November 2008, respectively.
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 $144.6 million during 2009 compared to $143.8 million during 2008, an increase of 0.6% despite the increase in the size of the fleet and the repurchase of two vessels previously chartered-in. As a percentage of voyage revenues, vessel operating expenses were 32.5% in 2009 and 23.1% in 2008. However, costs per vessel fell.
60
Operating expenses per ship per day for the fleet decreased to $8,677 for 2009 from $9,450 in 2008, an 8.2% decrease. This decrease was primarily due to decreases in crew costs mostly due to an appreciation of the US dollar during 2009 which also affected other costs. Also, several of the dry-dockings of vessels during 2009 were on relatively new vessels which did not require extensive routine repairs and replacements as occurred on the vessels dry-docked in the previous year, such costs being necessarily expensed as they were not part of the cost of dry-dockings.
Depreciation
Depreciation was $94.3 million during 2009 compared to $85.5 million during 2008, an increase of 10.3%, due to the repurchase of the two suezmaxes previously chartered-in plus the addition of two new, mostly high-value vessels towards the end of 2008 plus a further two similar vessels in 2009 partly offset towards the end of 2009 by the sale of one older vessel, the suezmax Pentathlon. 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. For the purpose of estimating the residual values of vessels, the scrap is calculated at $300 per lightweight ton since the beginning of 2008 (previously a price of $180 was used, but scrap values increased substantially over recent years). 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.
Amortization
We amortize the cost of dry-dockings related to classification society 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 2009, amortization of deferred dry-docking charges was $7.2 million compared to $5.3 million during 2008, an increase of 37.2%. The increase was mainly due to the heavy program of dry-dockings occurring throughout 2008 and 2009.
Management fees
Management fees are primarily the fixed fees per vessel we pay to Tsakos Energy Management Limited under the management agreement. The fee pays for services that cover both the management of the individual vessels and of the Company as a whole. The management agreement had 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 bareboat basis and for vessels under construction. 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, the monthly fees for operating vessels were increased to $23,000 per owned vessel and $17,000 for chartered in vessels and vessels on bareboat charter and for vessels under construction. In accordance with the terms of the same agreement, monthly fees have been increased to $23,700 and $17,500, respectively, from January 1, 2009 and from January 1, 2010, to $24,000 and $17,700, respectively. During 2009, 11 vessels operated under third-party ship managers, and 5 vessels in 2008. Also six more vessels had their crewing operations managed by a third-party ship manager for both years.
Management fees totaled $13.3 million for 2009 compared to $12.0 million for 2008, an increase of 10.5%, 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 $4.1 million during 2009 compared to $4.6 million during 2008, a decrease of 12.0 % due mainly to decreases in advertising and event expenses.
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 $1,019 in 2009 compared to $1,031 in 2008, the decrease being mainly due to the decrease in general and administrative expenses offset partly
61
by increases in management fees. If the incentive award and stock compensation expense described below are taken into account, the 2009 daily overhead cost per vessel is $1,083 compared to $1,514 for 2008.
Management incentive award
As the 2009 targets for management to achieve an incentive award were not met, there is no management incentive award to be accounted for in 2009. The 2008 award amounted to $4.75 million and was paid in 2009 to Tsakos Energy Management.
Stock compensation expense
At the beginning of 2009, there were 283,000 RSUs granted, but unvested. A further 121,800 RSUs were awarded in the year and 5,300 forfeited, with no grants vesting in the year. The 2009 compensation expense of $1.1 million represents the 2009 portion of the total amortization of the value of these RSUs. In 2008, an amount of $3.0 million was amortized. The reduction in compensation expense is mainly due to the fact that approximately half of the RSUs were issued to staff of the commercial and technical managers who are considered as non-employees and, therefore, amortization is based on the share price on vesting with quarterly adjustments until vesting. As the average share price in 2009 was lower than in 2008, the amortization charge fell accordingly.
Amortization of the deferred gain on the sale of vessels.
There was no amortization of deferred gains in 2009 as the deferred gain relating to two suezmaxes sold in a sale and leaseback transaction during 2003 was fully amortized in 2008 following the decision to repurchase the vessels.
Gain on sale of vessels
During 2009, the suezmax Pentathlon was sold for net sales proceeds of $50.5 million and a capital gain of $5.1 million. During 2008, we sold the aframax tanker Olympia for net sales proceeds of $62.1 million resulting in a gain of approximately $34.6 million.
Vessel impairment charge
An impairment charge relating to three vessels and totaling $19.1 million was incurred in 2009. There was no impairment charge in 2008. During 2009 the negative market forces especially impacted the ability to charter older vessels at accretive rates. In the case of our three oldest vessels, the first generation 1990 built double-hull panamax tankers Hesnes and Victory III, and the aframax tanker Vergina II (built in 1991 and converted to double-hull in 2007), the total weighted average cash flow expected to be generated over the future remaining life of the vessels under various possible scenarios, was less than the current carrying value of the vessels in our books and consequently the amount of carrying value in excess of the fair market value of these vessels has been written-off as an impairment charge.
Operating income
Income from vessel operations was $72.4 million during 2009 versus $278.8 million during 2008, a 74.0% decrease. As a percentage of voyage revenues, operating income was 16.3% in 2009 and 44.8% in 2008.
Interest and finance costs, net
Interest and finance costs, net were $45.9 million for 2009 compared to $82.9 million for 2008, a 44.7% decrease. Loan interest, including payment of swap interest, decreased to $61.0 million from $70.2 million, a 13.2% decrease. Total weighted average bank loans outstanding were approximately $1,503 million for 2009 compared to $1,417 million for 2008. The average loan financing cost in 2009, including the impact of swap interest, was 4.07% compared to 4.87% for 2008.
There was a positive movement of $6.1 million in the fair value (mark-to-market) of the non-hedging interest rate swaps in 2009 compared to a negative $15.5 million for 2008.
62
Capitalized interest in 2009 was $2.1 million compared to $4.3 million in the previous year. The decline is due primarily to the decrease in the number of vessels under construction, with two newbuildings delivered in 2009, leaving only four to be delivered by the end of the third quarter of 2011.
In 2009, the Company entered into swap arrangements relating to bunker (fuel) costs which resulted in the receipt of $1.7 million in realized gains and a further $6.4 million in unrealized positive mark-to-market valuation gains.
Amortization of loan expenses was $0.9 million in 2009 and in 2008. Other loan charges, including commitment fees amounted to $0.3 million in 2009 and $0.6 million in 2008.
Interest and investment income
For 2009, interest and investment income amounted to $3.6 million compared to $8.4 million in 2008. In both years the income related to bank deposit interest. In 2009, the average total cash balances were slightly lower than 2008, and interest rates on deposits were lower.
Non-controlling interest
The amount earned by the minority (49%) shareholding of the subsidiary which owns the owning companies of the vessels Maya and Inca was $1.5 million in 2009 compared to $1.1 million in 2008. Although these vessels earned less revenue per day in 2009 compared to 2008, in 2008 they suffered from increased expenses and time lost resulting from dry-dockings for repair and special survey purposes.
Net income
As a result of the foregoing, net income for 2009 was $28.7 million or $0.77 per diluted share versus $202.9 million or $5.33 per diluted share for 2008.
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. In addition, our newbuilding commitments, other expected capital expenditure on dry-dockings and possible vessel acquisitions, which in total equaled $386.7 million in 2010, $130.4 million in 2009 and $238.1 million in 2008, will again require us to expend cash in 2011 and in future years. 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, given our current cash holdings (approximately $265 million at March 31, 2011) and the number of vessels we have on time charter, that even if there is a further major and sustained downturn in market conditions, our financial resources, including the cash expected to be generated within the year, will be sufficient to meet our liquidity and working capital needs through January 1, 2012, taking into account our existing capital commitments and debt service requirements.
Working capital (non-restricted net current assets) amounted to approximately $137.0 million at December 31, 2010 compared to $200.6 million at December 31, 2009. Current assets decreased to $367.5 million at December 31, 2010 from $471.6 million at December 31, 2009 mainly due to the five vessels sold within 2010, which were accounted for at December 31, 2009 as Held for sale in the Consolidated balance sheet with an aggregate value of $120.9 million. There was only one vessel held for sale at December 31, 2010 with a value of $27.0. Current liabilities decreased to $224.2 million at December 31, 2010 from $264.2 million due mainly to a decrease in the current portion of long-term debt by approximately $38.8 million relating to reduced expected prepayments of debt on vessels held for sale.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $83.3 million during 2010 compared to $117.2 million in the previous year, a 28.9% decrease. The decrease is mainly due to the decrease in revenue generated by operations offset by reduced operational expenses, and to higher receivables compared to the previous year. Expenditure for dry-dockings is deducted from cash generated by operating activities. Total expenditure during 2010 on dry-dockings amounted to $6.1 million compared to $4.3 million in 2009. In 2010, dry-docking work was performed on
63
Didimon, Ariadne, Propontis, Euronike, Eurochampion 2004, La Prudencia and La Madrina. In 2009, dry-docking work was performed on the vessels Delphi, Didimon, Promitheas, Vergina II, Ajax, Apollon, Artemis and Afrodite. Expenditure was higher in 2010 as the vessels were mostly larger than those vessels (mostly product carriers) dry-docked in 2009 and La Prudencia and La Madrina (both VLCCs) were older vessels requiring more work. Apart from the two VLCCs and the Vergina II, all the vessels in both years underwent their first dry-docking.
Net cash used in investing activities was $240.1 million for the year 2010, compared to $75.6 million for 2009. In 2010, we took delivery of and paid the final installments on the two aframaxes Sapporo Princess and Uraga Princess for a total cost of $94.2 million. Also, in 2010, we acquired four 2009-built panamaxes for a total of $218.0 million and undertook certain improvements on several existing vessels amounting to $1.4 million. During 2009, the Company took delivery of two aframaxes Asahi Princess and Ise Princess, which together with improvements to existing vessels, totaled $103.3 million. Installments amounting to $67.0 million were also paid on vessels which are under construction compared to $22.8 million paid in 2009. At December 31, 2010, we had two suezmax tankers on order with total remaining payments totaling $61.6 million, of which $21.6 million was paid in the first quarter, 2011. On March 21, 2011, the Company signed contracts for the construction of two DP2 suezmax shuttle tankers at a total contract price of $92.0 million each, with delivery in the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, respectively. The anticipated payment schedule on the four vessels under construction, which is subject to change for delays or advanced work, is as follows (in $ millions) as at March 31, 2011:
Contractual Obligations |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | Total | ||||||||||||
Quarter 1 |
| 27.6 | 46.0 | |||||||||||||
Quarter 2 |
43.8 | 13.8 | | |||||||||||||
Quarter 3 |
33.0 | 13.8 | | |||||||||||||
Quarter 4 |
46.0 | | ||||||||||||||
Total Year |
76.8 | 101.2 | 46.0 | 224.0 | ||||||||||||
In the first quarter of 2010, net sale proceeds from the sale of the aframax tanker Parthenon amounted to $38.7 million and from the sale of the suezmax Decathlon to $50.7 million. In the second quarter, 2010, net sales proceeds from the sale of the aframax Marathon amounted to $37.7 million and from the sale of the panamax Hesnes to $7.0 million. In the third quarter 2010, the panamax Victory III was sold with net proceeds amounting to $6.4 million. In 2009, net sale proceeds from the sale of the suezmax tanker Pentathlon in the fourth quarter of 2009 amounted to $50.5 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities in 2010 amounted to $137.2 million compared to net cash used in financing activities of $57.6 million in 2009. Proceeds from new bank loans in 2010 amounted to $235.0 million compared to $80.8 million in the previous year. Scheduled repayments of debt amounted to $106.2 million in 2010 compared to $91.8 million of repayments in 2009. Prepayments of debt as a result of vessel sales amounted to $68.9 million (no prepayments in 2009). There were no repurchases of common shares during 2010. During 2009, as part of the share buy back program, 245,400 shares were repurchased as treasury stock at a cost of $4.1 million. All the repurchases were open market transactions with a maximum price set by the Board of Directors. In December 2009, the Company initiated an at-the-market share issuance program for the sale of up to 3,000,000 common shares. During 2010, 1,199,833 shares were sold for net proceeds $19.9 million. The program was closed in September 2010. In 2009, 17,394 shares had been sold for net proceeds of approximately $0.3 million. On November 1, 2010, a follow-on offering the Company had initiated, closed with the sale of 6,726,457 common shares for $75.0 million, plus a further 896,861 common shares sold to Tsakos family interests for $10.1 million. Offering expenses amounted to $0.5 million.
A cash dividend of $0.30 was paid in April 2010 representing the final dividend for the fiscal year 2009. In June 2010, the Company decided to change the dividend policy from a semi-annual payment basis to a quarterly payment basis. The first quarterly dividend of $0.15 was paid in July 2010 and a second quarterly dividend of $0.15 paid in October, 2010, bringing the total paid to $0.60 per common share and total payments in 2010 to $22.8 million. In 2011, a quarterly dividend of $0.15 was announced in January for payment on February 1 and a further quarterly dividend of $0.15 was declared on March 14 with payment on April 28. In 2009, total dividends amounted to $1.15 per common share and payments totaled $42.4 million. The dividend policy of the Company is to pay between 25% and 50% of the net income in any given year, payable, since the change in policy, on a quarterly basis. The payment and the amount are subject to the discretion of our board of directors and depend, among other things,
64
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 section 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 6.9 years at March 31, 2011. 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, we generally pay from our 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, 2010, we were committed to two newbuilding contracts totaling approximately $140.4 million, of which $78.8 million had been paid by December 31, 2010.
Debt
As is customary in our industry, we anticipate financing the majority of our commitments on the newbuildings with bank debt. Generally 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, 2010, we had available unused and undesignated loan amounts totaling $32.5 million. Financing amounting to $48.0 million has been arranged for the first suezmax tanker, under construction at December 31, 2010 to be delivered at the end of April 2011. Negotiations for the second suezmax are currently in progress and are expected to be concluded prior to delivery of the vessel in July 2011.
Summary of Loan Movements Throughout 2010 (in $ millions):
Loan |
Vessel |
Balance at January 1, 2010 |
New Loans |
Repaid | Balance at December 31, 2010 |
|||||||||||||
12-year term loan |
Opal Queen | 17.4 | 0 | 1.8 | 15.6 | |||||||||||||
Credit facility |
La Madrina, Hesnes, Vergina II, Victory III, Sakura Princess | 111.6 | 0 | 23.9 | 87.7 | |||||||||||||
Credit facility |
Silia T, Andes, Didimon, Antares, Izumo Princess, Aegeas | 173.7 | 0 | 13.2 | 160.5 | |||||||||||||
Credit facility |
Millennium, Parthenon, Marathon, Triathlon, Eurochampion 2004, Euronike | 218.7 | 0 | 69.9 | 148.8 | |||||||||||||
Credit facility |
Archangel, Alaska, Arctic, Antarctic | 115.6 | 0 | 10.5 | 105.1 | |||||||||||||
Credit facility |
Delphi, La Prudencia, Byzantion, Bosporos | 117.7 | 0 | 8.4 | 109.3 | |||||||||||||
Credit facility |
Artemis, Afrodite, Ariadne, Ajax, Apollon, Aris, Proteas Promitheas, Propontis | 311.0 | 0 | 20.0 | 291.0 | |||||||||||||
10-year term loan |
Arion, Andromeda | 41.4 | 0 | 3.1 | 38.3 | |||||||||||||
Credit facility |
Maya, Inca | 56.8 | 0 | 4.3 | 52.5 | |||||||||||||
Credit facility |
Neo Energy | 104.9 | 0 | 2.4 | 102.5 | |||||||||||||
10-year term loan |
Maria Princess, Nippon Princess | 82.9 | 0 | 5.6 | 77.3 | |||||||||||||
Credit facility |
Selecao, Socrates | 75.1 | 0 | 4.6 | 70.5 | |||||||||||||
10-year term loan |
Ise Princess | 35.8 | 0 | 2.3 | 33.5 | |||||||||||||
10-year term loan |
Asahi Princess | 40.0 | 0 | 2.6 | 37.4 | |||||||||||||
12-year term loan |
Sapporo Princess | 0 | 40.0 | 1.2 | 38.8 | |||||||||||||
10-year term loan |
Uraga Princess | 0 | 39.0 | 1.3 | 37.7 | |||||||||||||
7-year term loan |
World Harmony | 0 | 35.0 | 0 | 35.0 | |||||||||||||
7-year term loan |
Chantal | 0 | 35.0 | 0 | 35.0 | |||||||||||||
10-year term loan |
Selini | 0 | 43.9 | 0 | 43.9 | |||||||||||||
8-year term loan |
Salamina | 0 | 42.1 | 0 | 42.1 | |||||||||||||
Total |
1,502.6 | 235.0 | 175.1 | 1,562.5 | ||||||||||||||
As a result of such financing activities, long-term debt increased in 2010 by a net amount $59.9 million compared to a net decrease of $11.0 million in 2009. The debt to capital (equity plus debt) ratio was 60.5% at
65
December 31, 2010 or, net of cash, 55.6%. As a percentage of total liabilities against total assets at fair value, our leverage (a non-GAAP measure) as computed in accordance with our credit facilities at December 31, 2010 was 56.9%, well below the loan covenant maximum of 70% which is applicable to all the above loans on a fleet and total liabilities basis. All other bank loan covenants have also been met as at December 31, 2010. Interest payable is usually at a variable rate, based on six-month LIBOR plus a margin. Interest rate swap instruments covered approximately 56% of the outstanding debt as of March 31, 2011, and further coverage is being discussed with major banks.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
Long-Term Contractual Obligations as of December 31, 2010 (in $ millions) were:
Contractual Obligations |
Total | Less than
1 year (2011) |
1-3
years (2012-2013) |
3-5
years (2014-2015) |
More
than 5 years (after January 1, 2016) |
|||||||||||||||
Long-term debt obligations (excluding interest) |
1,562.5 | 133.8 | 272.7 | 347.3 | 808.7 | |||||||||||||||
Interest on long-term debt obligations |
304.0 | 54.5 | 89.4 | 91.4 | 68.7 | |||||||||||||||
Purchase Obligations (newbuildings) |
61.6 | 61.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
Management Fees payable to Tsakos Energy Management (based on existing fleet plus contracted future deliveries as at December 31, 2010) |
145.6 | 15.5 | 31.1 | 31.3 | 67.7 | |||||||||||||||
Total |
2,073.7 | 265.4 | 393.2 | 470.0 | 945.1 |
The amounts shown above for interest obligations include contractual fixed interest obligations and interest obligations for floating rate debt as at December 31, 2010 based on the amortization schedule for such debt and the average interest rate as described in Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. The Company is a party to floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps covering notional amounts aggregating $859.2 million at December 31, 2010 that effectively convert the Companys interest rate exposure from a floating rate based on LIBOR to a fixed rate. Three of these swaps covering a total notional amount of $263.6 million include cap and floor option features by which interest rate payable may revert to a variable rate if certain defined criteria based on LIBOR or US swap rates are breached. Obligations arising from swaps are based on rates described in Item 11.
66
Item 6. | Directors, Senior Management and Employees |
The following table sets forth, as of March 31, 2011, information for each of our directors and senior managers.
Name |
Age | Positions |
Year First Elected |
|||||||
D. John Stavropoulos |
78 | Chairman of the Board | 1994 | |||||||
Nikolas P. Tsakos |
47 | President and Chief Executive Officer, Director | 1993 | |||||||
Michael G. Jolliffe |
61 | Deputy Chairman of the Board | 1993 | |||||||
George V. Saroglou |
46 | Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Director | 2001 | |||||||
Paul Durham |
60 | Chief Financial Officer | | |||||||
Vladimir Jadro |
65 | Chief Marine Officer | | |||||||
Peter Nicholson |
77 | Director | 1993 | |||||||
Francis T. Nusspickel |
70 | Director | 2004 | |||||||
William A. ONeil |
83 | Director | 2004 | |||||||
Richard L. Paniguian |
61 | Director | 2009 | |||||||
Aristides A.N. Patrinos |
63 | Director | 2006 | |||||||
Takis Arapoglou |
60 | Director | 2011 |
Certain biographical information regarding 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 elected to the board of directors of Aspis Bank in Greece and served as its Chairman from July 2008 to April 2010. 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 member on the EMEA 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) and a board member of Bank of Cyprus. 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. In 2011, Mr. Tsakos was awarded an honorary doctorate from the City of London University Business School, for his pioneering work in the equity financial markets relating to shipping companies. Mr. Tsakos served as an officer in the Hellenic Navy in 1988. Mr. Tsakos is the cousin of Mr. Saroglou.
67
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. 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. He is also Chairman of the Board of StealthGas Inc., a shipping company whose common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Mr. Jolliffe is also a director of INTERNETQ, a tele-marketing company quoted on the London AIM Stock Market and he is chief executive officer of Titans Maritime Ltd., a private shipping company.
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). Mr. Saroglou is the cousin of Mr. Tsakos.
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. Mr. Durham is a graduate in Economics from the University of Exeter, England.
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, newbuilding 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. From 1967 until 1977, Mr. Jadro was employed on various tankers starting as third engineer and advancing to Chief Engineer. Mr. Jadro is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and Port Engineers of New York.
PETER NICHOLSON, CBE
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. In 2010, Mr. Nicholson became a partner and chairman of a limited liability partnership, R.M.G. Wealth Management
68
LLP. 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.
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 A. O NEIL, CMG, CM
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. During this period, Mr. ONeil was a Director of CanArctic Shipping, a Canadian entity engaged in shipping activities in the Canadian Arctic. 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.
RICHARD L. PANIGUIAN, CBE
DIRECTOR
Mr. Paniguian was appointed Head of UK Defence and Security Organisation, or DSO, in August 2008, which supports UK defence and security businesses seeking to export and develop joint ventures and partnerships overseas, as well as overseas defence and security businesses seeking to invest in the UK. Previously, Mr. Paniguian pursued a career with BP plc. where he worked for 37 years. He held a wide range of posts with BP, including, in the 1980s, as Commercial Director in the Middle East, Head of International Oil Trading in New York and Head of Capital Markets in London. In the 1990s he completed assignments as a Director of BP Europe, Chief Executive of BP Shipping and subsequently Head of Gas Development in the Middle East and Africa. In 2001 he was appointed Group Vice President for Russia, the Caspian, Middle East and Africa, where he was responsible for developing and delivering BPs growth strategy in these regions. He played a leading role in support of the TNK-BP joint venture; in delivering the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan pipeline project; in driving for new gas exploration in Libya, Egypt and Oman and, in completing BPs first oil project in Angola. In 2007 he was appointed CBE for services to business. Between 2002 and 2007 he was Chairman of the Egyptian British Business Council, and between 2000 and 2002 President of the UK Chamber of Shipping. Mr. Paniguian has a degree in Arabic and Middle East politics and an MBA.
ARISTIDES A.N. PATRINOS, PH.D
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
69
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 in February 2006 from the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Science. There he served from December 1988 to February 2006 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.
TAKIS ARAPOGLOU
DIRECTOR
From 1978 to 1991, Mr. Arapoglou held various executive positions at Paine Webber, Citicorp Investment Bank and Chase Investment Bank in London. In 1991, he was appointed by the Greek Government as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Ionian Bank Group, Athens. During the same period, he was appointed by the Hellenic Banks Association, Chairman of DIAS S.A., the Greek Interbank Payments System. In 1994, he joined American Express Bank Ltd., Greece as Senior Country Executive. In 1997, he joined Citibank Greece, as Managing Director, Market Manager and Citigroup Country Officer. In 2000, he moved to Citibank, London, as Managing Director, Global Industry Head for the Banks & Securities Industry, covering Banks, Broker/Dealers, Consumer Finance companies and Financial Infrastructures, within the Citigroup Global Corporate and Investment Bank. From May 2003 to March 2004, he was Senior Advisor for Financial Institution customers, in Citigroup, London. Since March 2004 he is Chairman and CEO of National Bank of Greece. Since April 2005 he is President of the Hellenic Bank Association. Mr. Arapoglou holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Athens, a B.Sc. in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from the University of Glasgow and an M.Sc. in Finance and Management from Brunel University, London.
Corporate Governance
Board of Directors
Our business is managed under the direction of the Board, in accordance with the Companies Act and our Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws. Members of the Board are kept informed of our business through: discussions with the Chairman of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer and other members of our 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 nor more than fifteen. At December 31, 2010 we had ten members on our Board. Under our 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-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, 2010, the full Board held three meetings. Each director attended all of the meetings of the Board with the exception of Dr. Patrinos who was absent from all 2010 Board meetings. In addition, each director, except Dr. Patrinos, attended all of the meetings of committees of which the director was a member.
70
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 (Messrs. Tsakos and Saroglou) and one Non-executive Director (Mr. Jolliffe), the Board believes that each of the other incumbent directors (Messrs. Stavropoulos, Nicholson, Nusspickel, ONeil, Paniguian, Patrinos and Arapoglou) is independent under the standards established by the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) because none has a material relationship with the Company directly or indirectly or any relationship 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 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 NYSE 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 2010 in regularly scheduled executive sessions without participation of the Companys management and will continue to do so in 2011. 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:
71
| Selection and monitoring of the performance of the Companys senior management; |
| 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. 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 adopted annually 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, 2010, three of which were in person and one via telephone conference. Mr. Jolliffe was absent from the March 2010 meeting that was held via telephone conference call. In October, 2010, Mr. Jolliffe resigned from the Audit and Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committees to provide services to the Company that would preclude him from satisfying the NYSE requirements for independence. 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 SEC rules and the listing standards of the NYSE.
72
Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee
The members of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee are Messrs. Arapoglou, Nicholson, Nusspickel, ONeil, Paniguian, 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; |
| ensuring 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 2010, there were three meetings of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee. Dr. Patrinos did not participate in these committee meetings.
Capital Markets Committee
The members of the Capital Markets Committee are Messrs. Arapoglou, 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. Arapoglou, Nicholson, Saroglou, 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 held on May 31, 2007. The members of the committee are Messrs. ONeil, Nusspickel and Patrinos. It also includes the Deputy Chairman of Tsakos Shipping, 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. Mr. ONeil chaired the Committee meeting in May 2010 in the absence of Dr. Patrinos. 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.
73
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, 2010, the aggregate cash compensation of all of the members of the Board was $460,000 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 |
| Service on the Capital Markets Committee - $10,000 |
| Service on the Operational and Environmental R&D 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 |
No fees are paid for service on the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee, Risk Committee and Chartering Committee.
In March 2011, the annual fee allocation was revised, subject to shareholder approval at our 2011 annual meeting of shareholders.
We do not provide benefits for directors upon termination of their service with us.
Management Company
Our senior managers, other then Mr. Tsakos, receive salaried compensation from Tsakos Energy Management, which receives a monthly management fee from us 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 agreement and the management fees we paid for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
Management Compensation
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 equity compensation discussed below, are not directly compensated by the Company.
The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee has 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. The award scale for 2006 ranged 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%
74
with an award amount of $3.5 million ($2.5 million in 2004 and 2005). For 2006 and 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.
The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee established the incentive award scale, and the Companys Board of Directors approved the final award, for fiscal years 2007, 2008 and 2009, as follows:
R.O.E |
Amount of award in US $ millions | |||||||||||
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||||||
15.0% |
1.50 | 2.50 | 3.00 | |||||||||
17.5% |
2.25 | 3.25 | 4.00 | |||||||||
20.0% |
3.00 | 4.00 | 5.50 | |||||||||
22.5% |
3.75 | 4.75 | | |||||||||
25.0% |
4.50 | 5.50 | | |||||||||
Final award |
4.00 | 4.75 | 0.00 |
The awards were given to Tsakos Energy Management and were 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% in 2007 and 23.7% in 2008. The ultimate award of the management incentive award is always at the sole discretion of the Companys Board of Directors.
Additionally in 2009, if the R.O.E. was less than 15.0% but greater than 10.0% then an alternative award was possible if the Companys R.O.E. exceeded the average R.O.E. of its peers (Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. and Teekay Corporation). In such case, the Board of Directors may elect to award a bonus of $1.5 million. However, as the 2009 R.O.E. was less than 10%, no incentive award was approved by the Companys Board of Directors.
A scale was not set for 2010. However, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Compensation Committee recommended a special award of $425,000 to be distributed to the senior personnel of Tsakos Energy Management and Tsakos Shipping. A scale has not been set for 2011.
Employees
Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited 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 bareboat 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 company owning the chartered-in vessel, are subsidiaries of Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited. Approximately 860 officers and crew members served on board the vessels we own and are managed by our technical managers as of December 31, 2010.
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 equity incentive 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
75
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 Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 1,000,000 common shares in the form of RSUs or options.
Movements of RSUs under the 2004 Plan though December 31, 2010, are as follows:
Issued | Forfeited | Vested | Non-Vested (as of December 31, 2010) |
|||||||||||||||
2006 |
Directors and officers (D&O) |
21,000 | ||||||||||||||||
2007 |
D&O and ships officers |
190,650 | (21,000 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other personnel |
394,000 | |||||||||||||||||
2008 |
D&O and ships officers |
(3,200 | ) | (96,050 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other personnel |
(7,800 | ) | (194,600 | ) | ||||||||||||||
2009 |
D&O |
67,800 | (1,300 | ) | | |||||||||||||
Other personnel |
54,000 | (4,000 | ) | | ||||||||||||||
2010 |
D&O |
69,000 | (2,100 | ) | (130,450 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other personnel |
76,000 | (1,000 | ) | (211,200 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total | 872,450 |