AS Tallink Grupp Unaudited Consolidated Interim Report Q3 2015

Tallinn, 2015-11-12 08:50 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AS Tallink Grupp Unaudited Consolidated Interim Report Q3 2015

In the third quarter (1 July – 30 September) of the 2015 financial year AS Tallink Grupp and its subsidiaries’ (the Group) carried 2.7 million passengers which is 5.5% more compared to the third quarter last year. The Group’s unaudited revenue for the third quarter of 2015 increased by EUR 10.9 million or 4.2% year on year to the total of EUR 273.6 million, EBITDA increased by EUR 12.8 million or 20.1% to the total of EUR 76.8 million, compared to the same period last year. Net profit increased by EUR 9 million or 25.1% to the total of EUR 45.2 million, compared to the same period last year.

The Group’s revenue for the first nine months of 2015 was EUR 717.6 million and increased by EUR 20.3 million or 2.9% year on year comparison. EBITDA increased by EUR 41.9 million to the total of EUR 151.5 million and net profit increased by EUR 41.5 million to the total of EUR 60.4 million, compared to the same period last year.

The Estonia-Finland route third quarter revenue increased by 5.6% compared to same period last year. The increase is driven mainly by an 8.9% growth in the passenger number. The passenger number peaked in July when Group served a record number of 600 thousand passengers, which is an all-time high monthly passenger number on that route. The growth of 15.3% in cargo units transported is supported mainly by added capacity.

The Finland-Sweden routes third quarter revenue increased by 6.5% compared to the same period last year, driven by 8.4% growth in the passenger number. The number of cargo units transported decreased by 28.8% due to reduced capacity.

The Estonia-Sweden route passenger number increased by 1.5% and cargo volumes decreased by 8.3%. The Latvia-Sweden route, operating with only one vessel compared to two vessels last year, showed a 25.6% decline in the passenger number and cargo units transported decreased by 35.2%.

The Group’s restaurants and shop sales increased by EUR 9 million or 6.8% in the third quarter, compared to the same period last year, the sales growth is supported mainly by the growth in the passenger number. The upgrades to restaurant and shop concept throughout the fleet in past year, combined with the operational changes, have resulted in higher average on-board revenue per passenger.

The revenue from the chartered out vessels has reduced in the third quarter compared to the same period last year due to fewer ships in charter. Two ships previously in charter were sold in the second quarter of 2015.

In the third quarter, the summer period high season, the Group experienced strong price competition. The proactive marketing activities, improved visibility of sales campaigns and earlier investments into increasingly important online sales solutions has enabled the Group to reclaim the market share on its main routes and increase the total revenue.

In February 2015 AS Tallink Grupp signed a contract for the construction of the new generation LNG powered fast ferry. The new fast ferry is being built by Meyer Turku Oy and will cost around 230 million euros. The start of production of the new LNG fast ferry was celebrated on the 4th of August 2015 at Meyer Turku shipyard and the delivery of the vessel is planned in the beginning of 2017. The new LNG fast ferry is going to operate on the Tallinn-Helsinki route shuttle service.

In order to be ready for the delivery of the new generation LNG fast ferry to the Tallinn-Helsinki route early 2017, the Group has decided to sell the fast ferry Superstar, at present operating on the route shuttle service. The fast ferry Superstar will be sold to Corsica Ferries Group, concurrently the parties have entered into bareboat charter agreement and the Group will continue to operate the fast ferry Superstar on its Tallinn-Helsinki route shuttle service until the beginning of 2017, when the new LNG fast ferry will start to operate on the route. Change of the ownership of the fast ferry Superstar and start of the charter period is planned in December 2015.

In the third quarter of the 2015 financial year the Group’s gross profit amounted to EUR 84.8 million and EBITDA to EUR 76.8 million being respectively EUR 15.2 million and EUR 12.9 million more compared to the same period last year. The increase in the Group’s results is mainly attributed to the growth in passenger number, higher on-board revenue per passenger and decreased costs related to operations.

The Group’s net debt decreased by EUR 30.8 million to a total of EUR 583.6 million and the net debt to EBITDA ratio was 3.0 at the end of third quarter. The Group’s interest cost reduced by EUR 2.9 million, combined with less gain from foreign exchange revaluations, the total finance costs increased by EUR 1.3 million compared to the third quarter last year.

The unaudited net profit for the third quarter of the 2015 financial year was EUR 45.2 million or EUR 0.07 per share compared to the net profit of EUR 36.2 million or EUR 0.05 per share in the same period last year. The Group’s net profit for the nine months of the 2015 financial year was EUR 60.4 million or EUR 0.09 per share compared to the EUR 18.9 million or EUR 0.03 per share in the same period last year.

The total dividend of EUR 13.4 million (0.02 euros per share) was paid out in the beginning of July 2015 according to the decision of Annual General Meeting from June 2015.

Cash flow from operations increased by EUR 4.5 million in third quarter compared to the same period last year. The total liquidity, cash and unused credit facilities, at the end of the third quarter was EUR 100.4 million providing a strong financial position. At the end of the third quarter of 2015 the Group had EUR 79.1 million in cash and equivalents and the total of unused credit lines were at EUR 21.3 million.
  

EBITDA:  Earnings before net financial items, taxes, depreciation and amortization;
Earnings per share: net profit / weighted average number of shares outstanding;
Equity ratio: total equity / total assets;
Shareholder’s equity per share: shareholder’s equity / number of shares outstanding;
Gross margin: gross profit / net sales;
EBITDA margin: EBITDA / net sales;
Net profit margin: net profit / net sales;
Net debt: Interest bearing liabilities less cash and cash equivalents;
Net debt to EBITDA: Net debt / 12-months trailing EBITDA.
¹ Share numbers exclude own shares.


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(unaudited, in thousands of euros)

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

         Veiko Haavapuu
         Finance Director
         
         AS Tallink Grupp
         Sadama 5/7. 10111 Tallinn
         Tel +372 640 9914
         E-mail veiko.haavapuu@tallink.ee