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Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (SHIP)

Q1 2021 Earnings Call· Tue, May 25, 2021

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Thank you for standing by, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Seanergy Maritime conference call on the first quarter 2021 financial results. We have with us Mr. Stamatios Tsantanis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; and Mr. Stavros Gyftakis, Chief Financial Officer of the company at Seanergy. [Operator Instructions] I must advise you that this conference is being recorded today. Forward-looking statement. Please be reminded that the company publicly released its financial results, which are available to be followed on the Seanergy's website at seanergymaritime.com. If you do not have a copy of the press release, you May Contact Capital Link at (212) 661-7566, and they will be happy to send it to you. Before turning the call over to Mr. Tsantanis, we would like to remind you that this conference call contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, concerning future events and the company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategies. Words such as expect, intend, plans, believes, anticipates, hopes, estimates and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates, which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to competitive factors in the market in which the company operates, risks associated with the operations outside the United States, changing rules and regulations applicable to the shipping industry and other risk factors included from time to time in the company's annual report on Form 20-F and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the SEC. The company's filings can be obtained free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements and contained herein to reflect any change in the company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Now I'll pass the floor to Mr. Tsantanis. Please go ahead, sir.

Stamatios Tsantanis

Analyst

Thank you, operator. Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining our call. Today, we will discuss our results for the first quarter of 2021, and we will provide you with a general update of the major corporate events that have taken place. After going through a transformational year in 2020, where Seanergy laid a solid foundation for the future through several important transactions, from the beginning of 2021, we have focused mainly on positioning the company optimally to take advantage of the strong dry bulk market. I would like to highlight the following important milestones for the company. Seanergy's fleet will reach 16 Capesize vessels after agreeing to acquire 1 more Capesize ship since our last update. This represents a 50% fleet increase compared to the end of Q3 2020. All vessels acquired are built at the highest quality shipyards in Japan, and 2 of them come with exhaust gas scrubbers installed. On a fully delivered basis, the market value of our fleet should be approximately $412 million against debt outstanding of about $207 million. A total investment of $134.3 million has been made in 2021 for these purchases, and total new debt of approximately $42.3 million will be added to our balance sheet by the end of Q2 2021. This represents a loan-to-value of approximately 33% on these new 5 vessels. The weighted average interest rate of the new debt is about 3.1%. As regards to our commercial developments, we have entered 4 new period employment agreements. Three of these time charters are index-linked, benefited -- benefiting directly from the strengthening of the market. One is at a fixed rate of $31,000 per day for 12 to 18 months. We are currently on course to see the best year for Capesize market in many years. Our fleet achieved a…

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

Thank you, Stamatios. I would like to welcome everyone to our first earnings call for 2021. Let me start by reviewing some highlights from our financial statements before discussing some of the important financing transactions that have taken place. During the first quarter of the year, we experienced significant counter-seasonal market strength. Even as the first quarter is traditionally the weakest of year, the Baltic Capesize index averaged approximately $17,000 per day compared to only $4,500 in the first quarter of last year. Against this positive backdrop, Seanergy's daily time charter equivalent improved from approximately $8,500 to approximately $16,200 during the quarter, which led to a 99% increase in net operating revenues from $7.5 million to approximately $16.3 million. Daily vessel operating expenses were stable compared to last year at approximately $5,500. On a sequential basis, it is worth noting that daily OpEx improved from $6,100 in the fourth quarter of 2020, and we are optimistic about achieving further improvement as the adverse effects of the COVID crisis have started dissipating. EBITDA for the quarter was equal to $6.7 million as opposed to approximately $1 million in the first quarter of 2020. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes nonrecurring, noncash charges, was $7.9 million. The Capesize market has already registered a notable consecutive improvement from the already strong levels of the first quarter, and our daily TCE for the second quarter is expected to be approximately $23,000 as seen from the forward guidance in our press release. Our fleet's daily cost breakeven rate per operating day for the rest of 2021 is expected to be equal to approximately $12,500 to $13,000 per day, excluding CapEx, and we, therefore, expect our significant operating leverage to result in continued profitability improvements for the rest of the year. Moving on, I'm pleased to note the…

Stamatios Tsantanis

Analyst

Thank you, Stavros. Moving on to a brief overview of the market conditions, I am glad to say that the positive outlook presented in our last earnings call remains robust. If anything, dry bulk market has shown even greater strength than expected. After years of marketing balances, we seem to have entered a long-term period of strong demand and slow fleet growth. In 2021, dry bulk demand is expected to rise by approximately 4% on a ton mile basis, while net fleet growth is projected to be around 2.8% in 2021, which will drop to only 1% in 2022. These figures are very constructive for the dry bulk market, especially when viewed in the context of very strong commodity prices and the post-COVID recovery that is driven by fiscal spending and infrastructure construction in many parts of the world. As regards to the first quarter of 2021, the Baltic Capesize Index averaged about $17,000 per day and saw a significant improvement in sentiment after a relatively weaker Q4 2020, when the market was negatively affected by operational inefficiencies in Brazil. Capesize rates during the first half of -- sorry, the first quarter of 2021 ranged from a low of about $10,000 a day to high of $26,500 a day. This performance was truly exceptional considering the weak seasonality. Global demand for steel and iron ore remains very strong as China continues record volumes of steel making. In addition, Brazil iron ore exports are clearly recovering from the low levels of 2019 and 2020. And Vale recently stated its target of achieving 400 million of iron ore production by the end of 2022. This compares very favorably with the 320 million tons in 2021, and given the long distance voyages out of Brazil, would generate substantial incremental Capesize demand. In addition,…

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from the line of Tate Sullivan from Maxim Group.

Tate Sullivan

Analyst

Thank you for all the details on 2Q '21 guidance with the debt at the end of the quarter, but can you talk a little about 3Q, 2Q to May 24, too? I mean, so just to recap, it's $207 million of debt by the end of the quarter, with $412 million market value of the acquired vessels, is that what you said earlier, please?

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

Tate, this is Stavros. Thank you for your question. Yes, actually, this is the figure. It's the figures that you mentioned. I mean we have 1 facility on financing that is currently being negotiated, and we're close to completing that. Assuming that these proceeds, our pro forma debt will stand at $207 million. And following the delivery of all the vessels that we have recently announced, the market value of the fleet will be at around $412 million -- $417 million. So yes, that's the picture.

Tate Sullivan

Analyst

No, that helps for the forecasting our pro forma for the shifts. And then just can you give an update -- and it was great you included the detail on the shares outstanding after the Jelco warrant exercises. Are there additional shares Jelco warrants outstanding related to the December SPA, please?

Stamatios Tsantanis

Analyst

Tate, this is Stamatios. The answer is no. There are no additional warrants outstanding at this kind of levels with Jelco, so we have done well.

Tate Sullivan

Analyst

Great. And it sounds like -- I can do the calculations after. And maybe you could follow-up, too. But with 3 -- about a 3% spread on your new debt can you just give any comment on the cash interest costs. I think it was about $3,000 -- $2,000 or a little less than $2,000 per day per ship. I mean, so all-in, what do you expect your interest expense to decrease to pro forma for all the acquisition of the ships? Or is that better to follow-up later?

Stamatios Tsantanis

Analyst

Everything, all-in, including LIBOR, we expect to be around 5%, including LIBOR.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Poe Fratt, NOBLE Capital Market.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

I was hoping if you could just clarify how you're going to handle the FFAs that you've locked in from the second quarter? And whether you're going to report the TCE average of $22,400? Or is it going to be higher and then you're going to back out below the line, the FFA?

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

Well, it's actually -- it's been recorded on a blended average. So that's why we just provided the guidance that -- at the end of Q2, having known what we knew at the time, we decided to hedge a very few of our ships at this kind of levels, which might seem very low today. However, as compared to the information we had on the FFAs at the time, especially the way that the Q2 always works, I mean, it was a multiple of what the FFA for Q2 always works. So we thought at that time it was a good hedge. Of course, we're proven not to be so correct about that. Still, the majority of the fleet operated at a very, very decent levels, around $28,000. So the blended overall average is about $22,000, $23,000. This is where we expect it to be for Q2, maybe a bit more.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Okay. Yes, I was asking more about how you can report it, but -- so Stamatios, do you have any FFAs locked in for the third quarter at this point in time? And do you have...

Stamatios Tsantanis

Analyst

We do yes. Again, we expect the third quarter -- yes, we expect the third quarter to be substantially higher than that. First of all, we're going to have 1 ship fixed for 12 to 18 months running at $31,000. So the 1 fixed ship will run at substantially higher levels. And then we have an average of about $25,000 on 4 other ships locked in for Q3. So we expect the Q3 figures to be -- knowing what we know right now, we expect it to be substantially higher than Q2.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Okay. That's helpful. So you have, I think, a total of 6 Capes that are subject to where you can use FFAs to lock in, so you've locked in on 4 of the 6 for the third quarter?

Stamatios Tsantanis

Analyst

For the third quarter, we're going to have 1 fixed 12 to 18 months and 5 more converted for -- at an average of $25,000 and 1 converted at $33,000. So like I said before, it's going to be substantially higher than that.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Okay. And then is anything fixed into the fourth quarter beyond that 1-year-time charter at $31,000?

Stamatios Tsantanis

Analyst

No, it's not. We have not fixed anything for Q4.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Okay. So you're completely open. Great. And then can you just, Stavros, maybe walk through how we should be trying to work through the change in the cash position, if you could just give us some of the major cash flow statement items like acquisitions that you essentially the money that you spent on acquisitions in the fourth quarter? And then also, if you could highlight working capital changes, that would be helpful. I'm just trying to get a cash walk between the year-end and the end of the first quarter, if you could do that?

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

Yes. In the first quarter, I mean, we have reduced working capital by around $1.5 million. So you have a negative change in working capital by around $1.3 million or so. Then we paid around $20 million, $22 million for our advance fees for the various vessel acquisitions. And I think that's all. For everything else, I mean, that is the cash flow, is derived from the P&L and reconciliation of the cash interest -- of interest expense to cash interest. I don't think that there is anything else missing. But I mean, if you need any more information, please let me know.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

That's helpful. Those are the major items. And then could you highlight how much are you going to spend on acquisitions, whether it's advances, they're actually closing the acquisitions in the second quarter?

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

So in the second quarter, we're going to pay around $90 million. And we have drawn debt of $100 million, less $25 million, which we used for the acquisition. So let's -- so we have added debt of around $75 million. We have paid $90 million for new vessel acquisitions.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Okay. And then...

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

What is important for you all to note, I mean, is that currently we have around -- as we speak now, we have around $50 million to $53 million in cash. We have loan commitments of around $38 million, and we have around $50 million, $52 million of outstanding commitments for our vessel acquisitions. So pro forma, after all the new debt arrangements have been concluded, and after we have taken delivery of all the ships, including the 16 ships that Stamatios discussed about it previously, we're going to end up with a cash position of around $35 million to $40 million. So basically, the acquisitions are well-funded and very significant cash buffer in the balance for the company.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

So Stavros, just to be clear, that you expect pro forma cash at the end of the third quarter to be $35 million?

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

It's going to be around $35 million to $40 million end of Q3 from what you get, plus 1 unlevered ship. So the final ship will not have leverage for now. So if we decide to have another 30% to 40% leverage on that ship, then the cash balance is going to be around $15 million, $20 million more.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Okay. And then the $207 million that you referenced for the pro forma debt, does that include the convertible? Or is the convertible over and above that?

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

It does not include the convertible. We are in the process of, hopefully, towards the end of the year, with the strong cash flows of the company, to aggressively reduce that as well.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Okay. And then just to clarify to the comments on the number of shares outstanding. What -- the 8 million warrants that were exercised by Jelco, those brought in $5.6 million. Was that in the first quarter or the second quarter?

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

That was in the second quarter.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Okay. And then they did convert the debt -- sorry.

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

Yes. Well, that was basically a legacy thing that was negotiated back in December, and it was signed in the beginning of January of this year without having -- knowing what kind of performance. I mean, at the time when the stock was at $0.50, obviously, providing convertibility at $0.70 or $1.20 appeared to be significantly higher. So that's kind of a legacy situation that we're done with that now and there's no more dilution to Jelco expected to happen.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Yes. No, I just wanted to make sure that I was accounting for that and try to figure out the first quarter versus the second quarter. In April, they converted -- Jelco converted $3 million of debt into essentially shares, that 4.3 million. My understanding there was also warrants issued of like amount...

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

No. Yes. Yes, of course, the full units. Of course, yes.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Yes. So there's -- Jelco still has 4.3 million roughly in warrants that they can exercise at $0.70?

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

Yes. But these are all unregistered, and they cannot be registered prior to Q4. So these are not covered by any registration statement nor did we expect to find any registration statement whatsoever to register those. So if they become available for sale, it's going to be not before another 5, 6 months.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Yes. I just wanted to make sure that I was -- again, I had full clarity on what still potentially could be issued looking at the rest of the year. And I thought you said that there weren't any warrants outstanding that Jelco had. And that's -- thank you for clarifying that.

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

Yes.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

Okay. I think I'm done. Thank you so much for your time.

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

No, no. You're going to have asked a question. Sorry, there's some sort of a delay in the call. So please feel free.

Charles Fratt

Analyst

No -- actually, if you could follow-up on sort of your decision to buy the world ship, and sort of how you -- how that transaction came about? And what you're thinking as far as potentially additional acquisitions? You continue to look at growth as one of the corporate goals. So I was just -- maybe you could color -- give us a little more color on how the S&P market looks right now?

Stavros Gyftakis

Analyst

Of course. First of all, as you know, for us, the investment into the Capesize segment, it's not just speculative or flipping exercise. We're heavily invested in that segment where the world's largest charter rates operate. And we have developed some excellent joint ventures and partnerships with some great names in this business. So for us, a commitment to Capesize a commitment to the sector, not just buying a ship or selling another or things like that. And we have proven to be very right with the recent significant increase into the market. Now regarding your question about the availability of tonnage, we have been one of the most active buyers of second-hand tonnage of coal with the second-hand tonnage since the beginning of the year. We have both 5 out of the 7 high-quality Japanese ships that were available for sale. So obviously, we have some internal edge, to put it this way, some good angle with quality Japanese sellers. They make shifts that are considered to be commercially superior to other assets, and that has been proven to be right in the commercial arrangements that we have made. So we are very proud to have concluded or agreed to conclude 5 quality Capesize purchases since the beginning of the year. Now going forward, we might be looking into additional talents depending on the cash flows. And of course, whether that is an accretive transaction for our shareholders. So we're not just going to be buying ships to buy ships, we think that the average price that we have paid for these 5 acquisitions has been very, very, very good. So we will just continue if and other opportunity arises later in the year. But for now, we're good, I think.

Operator

Operator

I will now hand the conference back over to you, sir, for closing remarks.

Stamatios Tsantanis

Analyst

Well, thanks, Helen, and thanks to everyone for attending our call today. We're done. Please check out our website in the next few weeks. We're going to be posting a very comprehensive presentation of what the company looks like today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. So stay tuned, and we're going to have some more information coming out on the website in the next few weeks. Thank you very much for attending our call today.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. That does conclude today's conference. Thank you for participating. You may all disconnect.