Navig8 Chemical Tankers Inc. Reports Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

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LONDON, Nov. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Navig8 Chemical Tankers Inc. (the "Company") (N-OTC: CHEMS), an international shipping company focused on the transportation of chemicals, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Highlights

• Generated revenue of $39.0 million and net loss of $4.9 million, or $0.13 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2017.
• Successfully completed newbuilding program with the delivery of the 25,000 DWT stainless steel chemical tanker, Navig8 Sol.
• Increase in vessel operating days by 32% in the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in the prior year.

"Following the delivery of our final newbuilding vessel in August, Navig8 Chemical Tankers has one of the largest, most modern fleet of chemical tankers in the world," said Nicolas Busch, Chief Executive Officer of Navig8 Chemical Tankers, Inc.  "With growing demand for long haul trade and a rapidly declining rate of growth in the global fleet of large chemical tankers, market fundamentals are expected to tighten, which will provide a strong backdrop for operating our fleet."

Fleet Update

All 32 of the Company's vessels have been delivered and have been deployed in commercial pools managed by the Navig8 Group, including the Chronos8, Delta8 and Stainless8 pools.  The Company's fleet is composed of:

Eighteen IMO2 37,000 DWT Interline-coated tankers built at Hyundai Mipo, Korea ("A-Class vessels"), all of which have been delivered and have been deployed in the Delta8 pool. 

Four IMO2 49,000 DWT Interline-coated medium range tankers ("T-Class vessels") built at STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. ("STX"), all of which have been delivered and have been deployed in the Chronos8 pool. 

Two IMO2 49,000 DWT Epoxy-coated medium range tankers built at Hyundai, Vinashin ("V-Class vessels").  Both V-Class vessels were delivered to the Company on bareboat charters in the first quarter of 2015; the Company purchased one of these vessels in December 2015 and the other in March 2016 pursuant to purchase obligations.  The V-Class vessels are currently deployed in the Chronos8 pool.

Six IMO2 25,000 DWT stainless steel tankers built at Kitanihon Shipbuilding Co. Ltd and two IMO2 25,000 DWT stainless steel tankers built at Fukuoka (Japan) (together, "S-Class vessels").  The Company took delivery of its final S-Class vessel, Navig8 Sol, in August 2017.  The Navig8 Sol was delivered under the sale and leaseback arrangements entered into with subsidiaries of SBI Holdings, Inc announced on May 19, 2017.  The S-Class vessels are deployed in the Stainless8 pool. 

Results for the three months ended September 30, 2017

For the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company reported a net loss of $4.9 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to the net income of $3.7 million, or $0.10 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2016.  The decrease in net income is mainly attributable to lower gross average daily time charter equivalent ("TCE")¹ rates achieved in the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in prior year.    

Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $39.0 million, compared to revenue of $35.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016.  The total number of vessel operating days for the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased by 675 to 2,815 compared to the same time period in the prior year.

The TCE rates earned by the A-Class, V-Class, T-Class and S-Class vessels for the three months ended September 30, 2017, were $14,489, $12,933, $14,133 and $13,574 per day, respectively. The A-Class, V-Class, T-Class and S-Class vessels earned $16,773, $17,514, $19,562 and $20,561 per day, respectively, during the same period in the prior year. The Company had 32 vessels operating during the three months ended September 30, 2017, all of which operate in pools from which they derive TCE revenue.

Vessel operating expenses were $18.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $5.3 million from the three months ended September 30, 2016, when the Company had only taken delivery of 24 vessels compared to 32 vessels at September 30, 2017.  Average fleet operating costs per day, including technical management fees, were approximately $5,850 per day for the three months ended September 30, 2017, which is marginally higher than the average fleet operating costs per day during the three months ended September 30, 2016.

Depreciation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $12.2 million, an increase of $3.5 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016.  The Company begins to depreciate vessels in its newbuilding fleet as they are delivered. 

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017, were $1.6 million, a decrease of $0.7 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016. 

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $12.1 million, an increase of $4.2 million from $7.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 when the Company had only taken delivery of 24 of the vessels in its newbuilding program. 

Conference Call

On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 2:00PM GMT, the Company's management team will host a conference call to discuss its results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Participant should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following number: 0800 279 9489 (UK Toll Free Dial In) or +44 (0) 2075 441 375 (Standard International Dial In).  Please inform the operator you wish to listen to the Navig8 Chemical Tankers Inc. conference call.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until November 28, 2017 by dialing +1 412 317 0088 (Standard International Dial In) and using access code 10113682.

Slides and Webcast

There will also be a live webcast of the conference call and slide presentation, available through the Company's website (www.navig8chemicaltankers.com).  Participants on the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes before the start of the webcast.

About Navig8 Chemical Tankers Inc.

Navig8 Chemical Tankers Inc. was established in 2013 as a joint venture between the Navig8 Group and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management to capitalize on significant structural changes in the petrochemical industry and the continuing development of long-haul chemical trades.  Its best-in-class 32-vessel fleet is comprised exclusively of large, fuel-efficient vessels with modern eco-designs to take greatest advantage of these shifts and features a complementary mix of primarily Interline-coated and stainless-steel vessels that are capable of servicing the full range of conventional and specialized chemicals cargoes.

The Company's fleet is contracted to operate in various chemical tanker pools managed by the Navig8 Group, the world's largest independent pool and commercial management company.

Navig8 Chemical Tankers Inc. is listed on the Norwegian OTC market under the symbol CHEMS.

Forward-Looking Statements and Distribution

This press release contains forward looking statements. These statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including the Navig8 Chemical Tankers Inc's management's examination of historical operating trends. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control, the Company cannot give assurance that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs, or intentions.

Important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this press release include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the chemicals market as a result of changes in  OPEC's petroleum production levels and  worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in the Company's operating expenses including bunker prices, dry- docking and insurance costs, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company on the Norwegian OTC trading support system.

This communication is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into any state or jurisdiction into which doing so would be unlawful. The distribution of this communication may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes, should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdictions. The Company assumes no responsibility in the event there is a violation by any person of such restrictions.

¹ Time charter equivalent, a non-US GAAP measure, is vessel revenues less voyage expenses (including bunkers and port charges but excluding pool commission).