JSC “Latvian Shipping Company” posts financial results for 2013
According to unaudited financial results of JSC “Latvian Shipping Company”, the company and its subsidiaries (LSC Group) closed 2013 with losses in amount of 18.12 million USD; however they have decreased by almost a half in comparison with previous year, when losses of the company were 34.6 million USD. The net result was negative mainly as a consequence of vessel impairments in the amount of 22.92 million USD, the company said in its press release.
But in the fourth quarter of last year unaudited financial results of LSC show net profit in amount of 6.50 million USD. This positive result was mainly due recalculation of depreciation attributable to 2013, a slight improvement in earnings, decrease in administrative costs and the successful sales of m/t “Kuldīga” and m/t “Kolka” in Q4 which generated a 1.31 million USD profit. This is the second consecutive quarter where the Group has been profitable.
Throughout 2013 EBITDA continued to increase and reached 47.33 million USD which was an improvement of 6.35 million USD when compared with the previous year. During 2013 the LSC Group improved its cash position significantly and as at 31st December 2013 the Group had cash and short-term deposits in the amount of 37.17 million USD, which is 11.04 million USD more than at the beginning of 2013.
Forecasting company’s performance results this year, LSC management indicates that throughout 2013 the LSC fleet generated earnings in line with expectations and current market indicators suggest that the petroleum product tanker sector will continue to perform satisfactorily. However, the future profitability of the product tanker segment will depend on worldwide economic growth, which still remains finely balanced. Economic growth drives demand for refined oil and hence impacts on demand for product tankers.
The total income of the fleet for 2013 was 103.54 million USD. The LSC Group fleet’s net voyage result for 2013 was 88.93 million USD which was a slight improvement when compared with the previous year (twelve months of 2012: 88.33 million USD) despite the fact that the number of vessels within the fleet has declined. The net voyage result is a more comparable indicator of fleet performance, rather than total income, as it is calculated by deducting voyage costs from voyage income and shows the Group’s result, irrespective of whether the fleet is employed in the spot or time charter market.
Throughout 2013 the majority of the LSC Group fleet was employed in time charter contracts with fixed guaranteed daily charter rates predominantly for periods of up to twelve months. Improving time charter and spot charter rates throughout the year have positively affected the Group’s financial position. Additionally new time charter agreements have been negotiated throughout the year for twelve month periods stretching into 2014 at improved TCE levels. The current strategy of the management is to continue to employ a large percentage of the fleet in time charter contracts to ensure a steady revenue stream however there will continue to be some exposure to the spot market.
During 2013 the price of LSC shares quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Riga experienced growth of 55.95%. The OMX Baltic Benchmark GI index in 2013 increased by 12.16%. There were 1 862 trades of Latvian Shipping Company’s shares during 2013 involving 4 575 982 shares worth 1 509 756 LVL which is 61% of total share turnover and 11% of trading volume in value terms of all the Latvian companies listed on the Baltic Main List. On 31 December 2013 the capitalization of Latvian Shipping Company shares at NASDAQ OMX Riga was 78.60 million LVL.
LSC financial statements for 12 months of 2013
About JSC “Latvijas kuģniecība” (Latvian Shipping Company)
In the medium-sized and handy tankers categories JSC „Latvijas kuģniecība” (NASDAQ OMX RIGA: LSC1R) is among the leading ship owners in the world, and in terms of transport volumes of petroleum products it is also in a leading position among similar companies in Northern Europe. It owns 17 modern ships, employing more than 700 professional and highly qualified seamen from Latvia. The average age of the fleet is 5.9 years. All ships have received ISM (International Safety Management) certificates.