Capital Clean Energy Carriers, an international owner of ocean-going vessels, released its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024.
Key Quarterly Highlights
- Announced dividend of $0.15 for the fourth quarter of 2024
- Concluded the sale of three debt-free container sister vessels
In November 2023, the Company announced its decision to shift its strategic focus towards the transportation of various forms of gas to industrial customers, including liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) and new commodities emerging in connection with the energy transition. As a result, the Company agreed to acquire 11 newbuild LNG carriers (“LNG/C”) (the “Newbuild LNG/C Vessels”) and in June 2024, the Company further invested in 10 gas carriers, including four LCO2/multi gas and six LPG-ammonia carriers (the “Gas Fleet”). Since December 2023, the Company has also completed or entered into agreements for the sale of 12 container vessels.
In view of this strategic shift, we present our financial results on a continuing operations basis, except for where reference is made to discontinued operations. Financial results from continuing operations include revenues, expenses and cash flows arising from our 15 vessels currently in-the-water, including 12 latest generation LNG/Cs and three 13,000 twenty equivalent unit (“TEU”) Neo-Panamax container vessels.
Financial results from discontinued operations include revenues, expenses and cash flows arising from the 12 container vessels we have sold or agreed to sell following the announcement of our strategic shift in November 2023. Please refer to Appendix A Discontinued Operations.
Key Financial Highlights (continuing operations)
| Three-month period ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | Increase | |
| Revenues | $105.1 million | $64.2 million | 64% |
| Expenses (excluding impairment of vessels) | $48.7 million | $34.4 million | 42% |
| Interest expense and finance cost | $36.7 million | $25.8 million | 42% |
| Impairment of vessels | – | $3.2 million | – |
| Net Income | $20.8 million | $1.1 million | 1,791% |
| Average number of vessels1 | 15.0 | 10.5 | 43% |
Management Commentary
Mr. Jerry Kalogiratos, Chief Executive Officer of CCEC, commented:
“We continue to make progress on our chosen objective of positioning the Company as the premier carrier of gas including emerging trades from the energy transition. The sale of four of our wide beam 5,000 TEU container vessels has been completed, with the last vessel expected to be delivered later in the first quarter of 2025. This sale will further solidify our position as a gas-focused platform with built-in growth driven by the delivery of 16 new gas carriers over six quarters, starting in 2026. Importantly, CCEC is largely insulated from current spot market conditions, with our first open newbuilding scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.
We anticipate that the weakness in the underlying spot and short-term period markets is likely to act as a catalyst for a potentially substantial reduction in older technology LNG vessels in the global fleet. In addition, the new U.S. administration’s stated intention to help boost US LNG exports should further support what we expect to be already a tight long-term demand supply picture, when it comes to LNG shipping. With the support of a current contracted revenue backlog of more than $2.5 billion, the board and management look forward to expanding CCEC’s profile and narrative to reach a broader and more diversified investor base.”
Overview of Fourth Quarter 2024 Results
Net income from continuing operations for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, was $20.8 million, compared with net income from continuing operations of $1.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Total revenue from continuing operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, was $105.1 million, compared to $64.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in revenue was attributable to the five LNG/C vessels acquired by the Company, namely the LNG/C Amore Mio I acquired in the fourth quarter of 2023, the LNG/C Axios II acquired in the first quarter of 2024, and the LNG/C Apostolos, the LNG/C Aktoras and the LNG/C Assos acquired in the second quarter of 2024, which increased the average number of vessels to 15.0 from 10.5 in the same quarter of last year.
Total expenses from continuing operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, were $48.7 million, compared to $34.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 (excluding a non-cash impairment charge of $3.2 million in total that we recognized in the fourth quarter of 2023 in connection with the sale of the M/V Cape Agamemnon). Total vessel operating expenses from continuing operations during the fourth quarter of 2024 amounted to $17.7 million, compared to $11.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in vessel operating expenses from continuing operations was mainly due to the net increase in the average number of vessels in our fleet. Total expenses from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2024 also include vessel depreciation and amortization of $24.2 million, compared to $14.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in depreciation and amortization from continuing operations during the fourth quarter of 2024 was attributable to the net increase in the average number of vessels in our fleet. General and administrative expenses from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2024 amounted to $4.3 million, a reduction of $1.4 million compared to total general and administrative expenses of $5.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, mainly due to costs associated with the acquisition of the “Newbuild LNG/C Vessels” that were incurred during the fourth quarter of last year.
Total other expenses, net from continuing operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, were $35.5 million compared to $25.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Total other expenses, net from continuing operations include interest expense and finance cost of $36.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $25.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in interest expense and finance cost from continuing operations was mainly attributable to the increase in the Company’s average indebtedness as a result of the net increase in the average number of vessels in our fleet, partly offset by the decrease in the weighted average interest rate compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.
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1 Average number of vessels is measured by aggregating the number of days each vessel was part of our fleet during the period and dividing such aggregate number by the number of calendar days in the period.
Company Capitalization
As of December 31, 2024, total cash amounted to $336.5 million. Total cash includes restricted cash of $22.5 million, which represents the minimum liquidity requirement under our financing arrangements.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s total shareholders’ equity amounted to $1,343.0 million, an increase of $168.1 million compared to $1,174.9 million as of December 31, 2023. The increase reflects total net income from operations of $193.6 million for the twelve months to December 31, 2024, the amortization associated with the equity incentive plan of $6.9 million and other comprehensive gain of $1.3 million relating to the net effect of the cross-currency swap agreement we designated as an accounting hedge, partly offset by distributions declared and paid during the period in the total amount of $33.8 million.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s total debt was $2,598.3 million before financing fees, reflecting an increase of $810.5 million compared to $1,787.8 million as of December 31, 2023. The increase is attributable to (i) the drawdown of $910.0 million in total of bank debt and the drawdown of $134.8 million in total under the $220.0 million unsecured seller’s credit issued to the Company by Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. (the “LNG Seller’s Credit”), in connection with the acquisition of four LNG/C carriers and (ii) the refinancing of the outstanding indebtedness of the LNG/C Aristidis I, the LNG/C Attalos and the LNG/C Asklipios which released $130.2 million of gross additional liquidity. The increase of the Company’s total debt was partly offset by (i) scheduled principal payments for the year of $118.3 million, (ii) the early repayment in full of the seller’s credit issued to the Company by Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. (“Capital Maritime”) for an amount of $6.0 million to finance the past acquisition of three container vessels (iii) the early repayment in full of the facilities related to three container vessel sales in the total amount of $88.9 million due to the vessels’ sale, (iv) the $16.4 million decrease as of December 31, 2024 in the U.S. Dollar equivalent of the euro-denominated bonds issued by CPLP Shipping Holdings Plc in October 2021 and July 2022 and (v) the repayment in full of the LNG Seller’s Credit.
As of December 31, 2024, the weighted average margin on our floating debt amounting to $2,093.4 million was 1.84% over SOFR and the weighted average interest rate on our fixed rate debt amounting to $505.0 million was 4.41%.
ATM Offering
On January 27, 2025, we entered into an open market sale agreement with Jefferies LLC, under which we may sell, from time to time through Jefferies LLC, as our sales agent, new common shares having an aggregate offering amount of up to $75.0 million. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of new common shares, after deducting the sales agent’s commissions and our offering expenses, for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, the acquisition of new vessels, the repayment or refinancing of all or a portion of our outstanding indebtedness and funding of working capital requirements or capital expenditures.
Container Divestment Update
During the third quarter of 2024, the Company announced it had entered into five agreements for the sale of five container sister vessels: the M/V Hyundai Prestige, the M/V Hyundai Premium, the M/V Hyundai Paramount, the M/V Hyundai Privilege and the M/V Hyundai Platinum, (each 63,010 DWT/ 5,023 TEU container vessel, built 2013, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., S. Korea) to a third party. Of these, the M/V Hyundai Prestige, the M/V Hyundai Premium and the M/V Hyundai Paramount were successfully delivered to their new owners in the fourth quarter of 2024, and the M/V Hyundai Privilege in January 2025. The M/V Hyundai Platinum is expected to be delivered to her new owners during the first quarter of 2025.
Under-Construction Fleet Update
The Company’s under-construction fleet includes six additional latest generation LNG/Cs (comprising the remaining Newbuild LNG/C Vessels that have not yet been delivered to the Company) and the Gas Fleet. The Company expects delivery of these 16 new gas carriers to occur between the first quarter of 2026 and the third quarter of 2027. The following table sets out the Company’s schedule of expected capex payments for its under-construction fleet as of December 31, 2024.
Capex Schedule of CCEC in USD million, as of December 31, 2024:
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | TOTAL | |||||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | ||
| LNG/Cs2 | – | 49.9 | 25.6 | 50.6 | 511.0 | 51.2 | 149.7 | 149.7 | 307.2 | – | – | 1,294.9 |
| Gas Fleet | 45.4 | 22.5 | 15.5 | 22.0 | 74.0 | 105.4 | 123.2 | 47.7 | 89.3 | 46.9 | 35.9 | 627.8 |
| TOTAL | 45.4 | 72.4 | 41.1 | 72.6 | 585.0 | 156.6 | 272.9 | 197.4 | 396.5 | 46.9 | 35.9 | 1,922.7 |
Quarterly Dividend Distribution
On January 22, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a cash dividend per share of $0.15 for the fourth quarter of 2024 payable on February 12, 2025, to shareholders of record on February 6, 2025.
LNG Market Update
Despite demand for LNG reaching its seasonal peak in the fourth quarter, high European gas prices combined with delays in the commissioning of certain natural gas liquefaction projects and subdued demand from Asia led to an oversupply of vessels. This, in turn, led to a further fall in spot charter rates across both basins compared to the previous quarter, following a steady decline experienced throughout the year.
According to analysts, rates for a 2-stroke vessel averaged $29,054 per day in the fourth quarter, while one year time charter rates stood at similar levels. Longer-term charter rates continue to command a significant premium compared to shorter-term rates, with the last fixture over 10 years for delivery of a latest generation two-stroke vessel in 2027, being reported close to $90,000 per day.
LNG trade grew by approximately 1.7% in 2024 on the back of limited project start-ups. Over the same period, the LNG/C fleet grew by 62 ships, the majority of which had been ordered against US projects that were delayed. The delivery ramp-up throughout the year was significant, with ten deliveries in the first quarter of the year increasing to 23 by the fourth quarter. Currently 317 vessels are on order. Looking further ahead, long term prospects for the LNG/C market remain robust – we expect this to be the case especially for modern, latest generation vessels, like those controlled by CCEC. On the one hand, the current weakness in the spot and short-term markets is expected to accelerate the commercial removal of older, smaller and less efficient vessels – a process that increased in pace last year with a record of eight older Steam Turbine vessels sold for demolition. Currently, the steam turbine fleet comprises approximately 200 vessels or 32% of the current fleet. On the other hand, the ~200 mtpa of incremental LNG liquefaction capacity that has taken FID and is expected to come online between 2025-2028 and an additional circa ~150 to 170 mtpa that is awaiting regulatory and investment approvals, which are expected to be accelerated under the new US administration, mean that demand for LNG/Cs is expected to exceed current supply over the coming years, leading to a tightening market from 2026 and especially 2027 onwards.