Golar LNG Limited announced Q2 2024 financial results.
Highlights and subsequent events
- Golar LNG Limited (“Golar” or “the Company”) signed an agreement for a 20-year FLNG deployment in Argentina. Strong progress on further FLNG opportunities.
- Golar and bp entered into commercial reset arrangements for FLNG Gimi for the pre-Commercial Operations Date (“Pre-COD”) period, enabling refinancing at improved terms which is expected to release liquidity of up to $0.5 billion.
- Finalization of yard EPC and payment terms agreed in preparation for contracting of 3.5mtpa MKII FLNG.
- Golar reports Q2 2024 (“Q2” or “the quarter”) Net income attributable to Golar of $26 million, and Adjusted EBITDA1 of $59 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA backlog1 of approximately $11 billion, including existing and redeployment charters for FLNGs Hilli and Gimi, before commodity exposure.
- FLNG Hilli Episeyo maintains market leading operational track record. Cumulative production to date surpasses 8 million tons.
- Declared dividend of $0.25 per share for the quarter.
FLNG Hilli Episeyo: Maintained her market leading operational track record, generating $69 million of Q2 Distributable Adjusted EBITDA1, of which Golar’s share was $64 million, both in line with Q1, 2024.
FLNG Gimi: In August 2024, Golar and the Greater Tortue Area (“GTA”) operator, a subsidiary of BP p.l.c. (“bp”), executed agreements simplifying and settling previous disputes related to payment mechanisms for pre-COD contractual cashflows (“the commercial reset”). Golar is now contractually entitled to receive daily payments from January 10, 2024 until the Commercial Operations Date (“COD”). The daily payments have step-up mechanisms based on project milestones up to COD and are secured by long-stop dates. Golar will also be entitled to certain lump-sum bonus payments subject to the achievement of certain project milestones. Under the new arrangements and based on the operator’s latest timeline, Golar expects to receive approximately $220 million across 2024 and 2025 in pre-COD compensation inclusive of milestone bonuses, of which approximately $130 million will be invoiced in 2024. The $110 million that Golar has paid bp in liquidated damages for the period up until January 10, 2024 will remain with bp. It is expected that this pre-COD compensation, net of already paid liquidated damages, will be deferred on the balance sheet.
The FLNG Gimi is moored at the GTA Hub offshore Mauritania and Senegal, ready to commence operations. Following the commercial reset of pre-COD contractual arrangements, Golar, bp and Kosmos Energy Ltd. (“Kosmos”) have agreed to use an LNG commissioning cargo to accelerate the commissioning schedule. A bp and Kosmos procured LNG cargo is expected to arrive at the GTA hub within August. The commissioning cargo is intended to parallel process the commissioning of the GTA FPSO and FLNG Gimi, and targets to shorten the time to COD.
COD will occur upon completion of all project infrastructure commissioning and will trigger the start of the 20-year Lease and Operate Agreement that unlocks the equivalent of around $3 billion (Golar’s share) of Adjusted EBITDA Backlog1 and recognition of the contractual day rate comprised of capital and operating elements in both the balance sheet and income statement.
The commercial reset also enables refinancing of the existing FLNG Gimi debt facility. A potential refinancing facility is now in the credit approval process. This potential debt facility offers a lower margin and improved amortization profile versus the current vessel debt facility and will release significant liquidity to Golar.
FLNG business development: In July 2024, Golar and Pan American Energy (“PAE”) entered into definitive agreements for a 20-year FLNG deployment project in Argentina. Expected to commence LNG exports within 2027, the project will tap into the Vaca Muerta shale deposit in the Neuquén Basin, the world’s second largest shale gas formation. The fully executed agreements include a Gas Sales Agreement from PAE for the supply of gas and an FLNG charter agreement with Golar. A final investment decision is expected before year-end subject to receipt of regulatory and environmental approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
The PAE project expects to utilize Golar’s FLNG Hilli Episeyo. With a nameplate capacity of 2.45 million tons per annum (“mtpa”) and assuming 90% capacity utilization, a re-deployed FLNG Hilli Episeyo is expected to generate an Adjusted EBITDA per MMBtu of approximately US$2.6, equivalent to annual Adjusted EBITDA1 of approximately $300 million, with a commodity-linked pricing element additional to this. As part of the agreements, Golar will also hold a 10% stake in Southern Energy S.A., a dedicated joint venture with PAE, responsible for the purchase of domestic natural gas, operations, and sale and marketing of LNG volumes from Argentina.
This initiative is envisaged to be the first phase of a multi-vessel project. In addition to FLNG Hilli Episeyo, this opportunity represents one of several potential deployment prospects for a 3.5mtpa MKII FLNG.
Golar’s offering as the only proven operator of FLNG as a service and planned available liquefaction capacity from 2027/2028 continues to be met by strong prospective client interest for additional FLNG projects. FLNG project opportunities in West Africa, South America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia are at various stages of development. The commercial team has been further expanded with two senior resources.
Further development of our planned MKII 3.5mtpa FLNG is progressing. Long lead items already ordered are now 63% complete. Golar targets to enter into a yard EPC contract for conversion of Fuji LNG into a MKII FLNG within Q3 2024. If the order is placed within this timeframe, the MKII FLNG will be delivered within 2027. As part of the yard discussions, we have also secured an option for a second MKII FLNG for delivery within 2028.
Other/Shipping: Operating revenues and costs under corporate and other items is comprised of two FSRU operate and maintain agreements in respect of the LNG Croatia and Italis LNG (formerly known as Golar Tundra). The non-core shipping segment is comprised of the LNGC Golar Arctic and Fuji LNG which is now trading on a multi-month charter. Subject to contracting, Fuji LNG is expected to enter the FLNG conversion yard at the end of her current charter in Q1 2025. Golar Arctic remains a candidate for sale or long-term charter.
Shares and dividends: As of June 30, 2024, 104.0 million shares are issued and outstanding. Of the $150.0 million approved share buyback scheme, $74.1 million remains available.
Golar’s Board of Directors approved a total Q2 2024 dividend of $0.25 per share to be paid on or around September 3, 2024. The record date will be August 26, 2024.
The Annual General Meeting was held on August 13, 2024.
Financial Summary
| (in thousands of $) | Q2 2024 | Q2 2023 | % Change | YTD 2024 | YTD 2023 | % Change |
| Net income/(loss) | 35,230 | 6,910 | 410% | 101,725 | (85,659) | (219)% |
| Net income/(loss) attributable to Golar LNG Ltd | 25,907 | (4,545) | (670)% | 81,127 | (106,408) | (176)% |
| Total operating revenues | 64,689 | 77,530 | (17)% | 129,648 | 151,498 | (14)% |
| Adjusted EBITDA 1 | 58,716 | 82,815 | (29)% | 122,303 | 166,963 | (27)% |
| Golar’s share of Contractual Debt 1 | 1,197,626 | 1,176,630 | 2% | 1,197,626 | 1,176,630 | 2% |
Financial Review
Business Performance:
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| (in thousands of $) | Apr-Jun | Jan-Mar | Apr-Jun |
| Net income | 35,230 | 66,495 | 6,910 |
| Income taxes | 140 | 138 | 1,445 |
| Net income before income taxes | 35,370 | 66,633 | 8,355 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 13,780 | 12,476 | 12,450 |
| Impairment of long-lived assets | — | — | 5,021 |
| Unrealized loss/(gain) on oil and gas derivative instruments | 16,050 | (2,148) | 76,646 |
| Other non-operating expense, net | — | — | 1,305 |
| Interest income | (8,556) | (10,026) | (11,836) |
| Interest expense | — | — | 610 |
| Gains on derivative instruments, net | (107) | (6,202) | (11,673) |
| Other financial items, net | 54 | 2,640 | 464 |
| Net losses from equity method investments | 2,125 | 214 | 1,577 |
| Net income from discontinued operations | — | — | (104) |
| Adjusted EBITDA 1 | 58,716 | 63,587 | 82,815 |
| 2024 | ||||||||
| Apr-Jun | Jan-Mar | |||||||
| (in thousands of $) | FLNG | Corporate and other | Shipping | Total | FLNG | Corporate and other | Shipping | Total |
| Total operating revenues | 56,120 | 5,444 | 3,125 | 64,689 | 56,368 | 5,386 | 3,205 | 64,959 |
| Vessel operating expenses | (22,765) | (5,056) | (3,453) | (31,274) | (18,784) | (5,137) | (1,941) | (25,862) |
| Voyage, charterhire & commission expenses | — | — | (1,711) | (1,711) | — | (33) | (1,737) | (1,770) |
| Administrative income/ (expenses) | 34 | (5,882) | (4) | (5,852) | (471) | (6,590) | (14) | (7,075) |
| Project development (expenses)/income | (1,300) | (2,226) | — | (3,526) | (1,085) | 274 | (1) | (812) |
| Realized gain on oil and gas derivative instruments (2) | 36,390 | — | — | 36,390 | 34,147 | — | — | 34,147 |
| Adjusted EBITDA 1 | 68,479 | (7,720) | (2,043) | 58,716 | 70,175 | (6,100) | (488) | 63,587 |
(2) The line item “Realized and unrealized (loss)/gain on oil and gas derivative instruments” in the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations relates to income from the Hilli Liquefaction Tolling Agreement (“LTA”) and the natural gas derivative which is split into: “Realized gain on oil and gas derivative instruments” and “Unrealized (loss)/gain on oil and gas derivative instruments”.
| 2023 | ||||
| Apr-Jun | ||||
| (in thousands of $) | FLNG | Corporate and other | Shipping | Total |
| Total operating revenues | 60,373 | 11,697 | 5,460 | 77,530 |
| Vessel operating expenses | (15,869) | (7,006) | (1,834) | (24,709) |
| Voyage, charterhire & commission expenses | (150) | — | (74) | (224) |
| Administrative (expenses)/income | (42) | (7,962) | 10 | (7,994) |
| Project development income | (1,965) | (16,590) | — | (18,555) |
| Realized gain on oil and gas derivative instruments | 46,451 | — | — | 46,451 |
| Other operating loss | 2,499 | 7,817 | — | 10,316 |
| Adjusted EBITDA 1 | 91,297 | (12,044) | 3,562 | 82,815 |
Golar reports today Q2 net income of $35 million, before non-controlling interests, inclusive of $18 million of non-cash items1, comprised of:
- TTF and Brent oil unrealized mark-to-market (“MTM”) losses of $16 million; and
- A $2 million MTM loss on interest rate swaps.
The Brent oil linked component of FLNG Hilli Episeyo’s fees generates additional annual cash of approximately $3.1 million (Golar share equivalent to $2.7 million) for every dollar increase in Brent Crude prices between $60 per barrel and the contractual ceiling. Billing of this component is based on a three-month look-back at average Brent Crude prices. During Q2, we recognized a total of $36 million of realized gains on FLNG Hilli Episeyo’s oil and gas derivative instruments comprised of a:
- $20 million realized gain on the Brent oil linked derivative instrument of which Golar has an effective 89.1% interest;
- $4 million realized gain in respect of fees for the TTF linked production of which Golar has an effective 89.4% interest; and
- $12 million realized gain on the hedged component of the quarter’s TTF linked fees of which 100% is attributable to Golar.
Further, we recognized a total of $16 million of non-cash losses in relation to FLNG Hilli Episeyo’s oil and gas derivative assets, with corresponding movements in its constituent parts recognized on our unaudited consolidated statement of operations as follows:
- $16 million loss on the Brent oil linked derivative asset;
- $12 million gain on the TTF linked natural gas derivative asset; and
- $12 million loss on the economically hedged portion of the Q2 TTF linked FLNG production.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity:
As of June 30, 2024, Total Golar Cash1 was $604 million, comprised of $528 million of cash and cash equivalents and $76 million of restricted cash.
Golar’s share of Contractual Debt1 as of June 30, 2024 is $1,198 million. Deducting Total Golar Cash1 of $604 million from Golar’s share of Contractual Debt1 of $1,198 million, leaves a debt position of $594 million.
A total of $85 million was invested in FLNG Gimi during the quarter, with the total FLNG Gimi asset under development balance, inclusive of $252 million of capitalized financing related costs, amounting to $1.7 billion as of June 30, 2024. Of this, $630 million was drawn against the $700 million debt facility secured by FLNG Gimi. Both the investment and debt drawn to date are reported on a 100% basis.
Expenditure on long-lead items, engineering services and conversion candidate Fuji LNG for the MKII FLNG amounted to $293 million as of June 30, 2024. Of this, $215 million is included in other non-current assets and $78 million in respect of Fuji LNG is presented in vessels and equipment, net. All MKII FLNG expenditure incurred to date, including the acquisition of Fuji LNG is fully equity financed.
Non-GAAP measures
In addition to disclosing financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP), this earnings release and the associated investor presentation contains references to the non-GAAP financial measures which are included in the table below. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with useful supplemental information about the financial performance of our business, enable comparison of financial results between periods where certain items may vary independent of business performance, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in operating our business and measuring our performance.
This report also contains certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures for which we are unable to provide a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside of our control, such as oil and gas prices and exchange rates, as such items may be significant. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future events which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied to Golar’s unaudited consolidated financial statements.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures and financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP measures are not uniformly defined by all companies and may not be comparable with similarly titled measures and disclosures used by other companies. The reconciliations as at June 30, 2024 and for the six months period ended June 30, 2024, from these results should be carefully evaluated.
| Non-GAAP measure | Closest equivalent US GAAP measure | Adjustments to reconcile to primary financial statements prepared under US GAAP | Rationale for adjustments |
| Performance measures | |||
| Adjusted EBITDA | Net income/(loss) | +/- Income taxes + Depreciation and amortization +/- Impairment of long-lived assets +/- Unrealized (gain)/loss on oil and gas derivative instruments +/- Other non-operating (income)/losses +/- Net financial (income)/expense +/- Net (income)/losses from equity method investments +/- Net loss/(income) from discontinued operations | Increases the comparability of total business performance from period to period and against the performance of other companies by excluding the results of our equity investments, removing the impact of unrealized movements on embedded derivatives, depreciation, financing costs, tax items and discontinued operations. |
| Distributable Adjusted EBITDA | Net income/(loss) | +/- Income taxes + Depreciation and amortization +/- Impairment of long-lived assets +/- Unrealized (gain)/loss on oil and gas derivative instruments +/- Other non-operating (income)/losses +/- Net financial (income)/expense +/- Net (income)/losses from equity method investments +/- Net loss/(income) from discontinued operations – Amortization of deferred commissioning period revenue – Amortization of Day 1 gains – Accrued overproduction revenue + Overproduction revenue received – Accrued underutilization adjustment | Increases the comparability of our operational FLNG Hilli from period to period and against the performance of other companies by removing the non-distributable income of FLNG Hilli, project development costs, the operating costs of the Gandria (prior to her disposal) and FLNG Gimi. |
| Liquidity measures | |||
| Contractual debt 1 | Total debt (current and non-current), net of deferred finance charges | +/- Debt within liabilities held for sale net of deferred finance charges +/-Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) consolidation adjustments +/-Deferred finance charges +/-Deferred finance charges within liabilities held for sale | During the year, we consolidate a lessor VIE for our Hilli sale and leaseback facility. This means that on consolidation, our contractual debt is eliminated and replaced with the lessor VIE debt. Contractual debt represents our debt obligations under our various financing arrangements before consolidating the lessor VIE. The measure enables investors and users of our financial statements to assess our liquidity, identify the split of our debt (current and non-current) based on our underlying contractual obligations and aid comparability with our competitors. |
| Adjusted net debt | Adjusted net debt based on GAAP measures: Total debt (current and non-current), net of deferred finance charges – Cash and cash equivalents – Restricted cash and short-term deposits (current and non-current) – Other current assets (Receivable from TTF linked commodity swap derivatives) | Total debt (current and non-current), net of: +Deferred finance charges +Cash and cash equivalents +Restricted cash and short-term deposits (current and non-current) +/-VIE consolidation adjustments +Receivable from TTF linked commodity swap derivatives | The measure enables investors and users of our financial statements to assess our liquidity based on our underlying contractual obligations and aids comparability with our competitors. |
| Total Golar Cash | Golar cash based on GAAP measures: + Cash and cash equivalents + Restricted cash and short-term deposits (current and non-current) | -VIE restricted cash and short-term deposits | We consolidate a lessor VIE for our sale and leaseback facility. This means that on consolidation, we include restricted cash held by the lessor VIE. Total Golar Cash represents our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and short-term deposits (current and non-current) before consolidating the lessor VIE. Management believe that this measure enables investors and users of our financial statements to assess our liquidity and aids comparability with our competitors. |
(1) Please refer to reconciliation below for Golar’s share of contractual debt
Adjusted EBITDA backlog: This is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure and represents the 100% basis of contracted fee income for executed contracts less forecasted operating expenses for these contracts. Adjusted EBITDA backlog should not be considered as an alternative to net income/(loss) or any other measure of our financial performance calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Non-cash items: Non-cash items comprise of impairment of long-lived assets, release of prior year contract underutilization liability, MTM movements on our TTF and Brent oil linked derivatives, listed equity securities and interest rate swaps (“IRS”) which relate to the unrealized component of the gains/(losses) on oil and gas derivative instruments, unrealized MTM (losses)/gains on investment in listed equity securities and gains on derivative instruments, net, in our unaudited consolidated statement of operations.
Abbreviations used:
FLNG: Floating Liquefaction Natural Gas vessel
FSRU: Floating Storage Regasification Unit
MKII FLNG: Mark II FLNG
FPSO: Floating Production, Storage and Offloading unit
MMBtu: Million British Thermal Units
mtpa: Million Tons Per Annum
Reconciliations – Liquidity Measures
Total Golar Cash
| (in thousands of $) | June 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | June 30, 2023 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 527,591 | 679,225 | 770,567 |
| Restricted cash and short-term deposits (current and non-current) | 93,930 | 92,245 | 132,219 |
| Less: VIE restricted cash and short-term deposits | (17,590) | (18,085) | (18,804) |
| Total Golar Cash | 603,931 | 753,385 | 883,982 |
Contractual Debt and Adjusted Net Debt
| (in thousands of $) | June 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | June 30, 2023 |
| Total debt (current and non-current) net of deferred finance charges | 1,173,592 | 1,216,730 | 1,189,278 |
| VIE consolidation adjustments | 223,782 | 202,219 | 177,440 |
| Deferred finance charges | 20,711 | 23,851 | 29,672 |
| Total Contractual Debt | 1,418,085 | 1,442,800 | 1,396,390 |
| Less: Keppel’s and B&V’s share of the FLNG Hilli contractual debt | (31,459) | (32,610) | (33,760) |
| Less: Keppel’s share of the Gimi debt | (189,000) | (189,000) | (186,000) |
| Golar’s share of Contractual Debt | 1,197,626 | 1,221,190 | 1,176,630 |
| Less: Total Golar Cash | (603,931) | (753,385) | (883,982) |
| Less: Receivables from the remaining unwinding of TTF hedges | (24,719) | (57,020) | (102,509) |
| Golar’s Adjusted Net Debt | 568,976 | 410,785 | 190,139 |