Capital Product Partners L.P. Announces Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results

ATHENS, Greece, Nov. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital Product Partners L.P. (the “Partnership”, “CPLP” or “we” / “us”) (NASDAQ: CPLP), an international owner of ocean-going vessels, today released its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

Highlights

• Operating Surplus³ and Operating Surplus after the quarterly allocation to the capital reserve for the third quarter of 2023 were $41.7 million and $7.2 million, respectively.
• Announced common unit distribution of $0.15 for the third quarter of 2023.

¹ Adjusted Net Income (excluding gain on sale of vessels) and Net Income per common unit (excluding gain on sale of vessels), which we believe they are useful to analysts and investors in comparing the results of operations between periods, are not required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and should not be considered a substitute for Net income and Net Income per common unit prepared in accordance with GAAP or as a measure of profitability.

²Average 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.

³ Operating surplus is a non-GAAP financial measure used by certain investors to measure the financial performance of the Partnership and other master limited partnerships. Please refer to Appendix A at the end of the press release for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure with net income.

Overview of Third Quarter 2023 Results

Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, was $17.0 million, compared with net income of $58.7 million for the third quarter of 2022. Net income for the third quarter of 2022 included a gain of $47.3 million from the sale of the M/V Archimidis and the M/V Agamemnon. Taking into account the interest attributable to the general partner and the allocation of net income to unvested units, net income per common unit for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, was $0.84, compared to net income per common unit of $2.90 for the third quarter of 2022, or $0.57 per common unit for the third quarter of 2022, if we exclude the gain from the sale of the M/V Archimidis and the M/V Agamemnon in that quarter.

Total revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, was $95.5 million, compared to $71.9 million during the third quarter of 2022. The increase in revenue was primarily attributable to the revenue contributed by the four newbuilding vessels delivered to the Partnership between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023, as well as the increase in the daily rate earned by two of the Partnership’s LNG/C vessels effective since September 1, 2022.

Total expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, were $51.0 million, compared to $40.4 million in the third quarter of 2022. Total vessel operating expenses during the third quarter of 2023 amounted to $22.3 million, compared to $17.0 million during the third quarter of 2022. The increase in vessel operating expenses was mainly due to the net increase in the average number of vessels in our fleet and costs incurred during scheduled maintenance underwent by certain of our vessels. Total expenses for the third quarter of 2023 also include vessel depreciation and amortization of $21.9 million, compared to $16.2 million in the third quarter of 2022. The increase in depreciation and amortization during the third quarter of 2023 was mainly attributable to the net increase in the average size of our fleet. General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2023 amounted to $2.6 million, compared to $2.8 million in the third quarter of 2022.

Total other expense, net for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, was $27.5 million compared to $20.0 million for the third quarter of 2022. Total other expense, net includes interest expense and finance costs of $27.8 million for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $14.9 million for the third quarter of 2022. The increase in interest expense and finance costs was mainly attributable to the increase in the Partnership’s average indebtedness and the increase in the weighted average interest rate compared to the third quarter of 2022.

Capitalization of the Partnership

As of September 30, 2023, total cash amounted to $108.5 million. Total cash includes restricted cash of $11.7 million, which represents the minimum liquidity requirement under our financing arrangements.

As of September 30, 2023, total partners’ capital amounted to $664.5 million, an increase of $26.1 million compared to $638.4 million as of December 31, 2022. The increase reflects net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, other comprehensive income of $2.1 million relating to the net effect of the cross-currency swap agreement we designated as an accounting hedge and the amortization associated with the equity incentive plan of $2.8 million, partly offset by distributions declared and paid during the period in a total amount of $9.2 million and the cost of repurchasing our common units under our Unit Repurchase Program for an aggregate amount of $4.1 million.

As of September 30, 2023, the Partnership’s total debt was $1,602.4 million before financing fees, reflecting an increase of $303.1 million compared to $1,299.2 million as of December 31, 2022. The increase is attributable to the drawdowns of: a) $100.0 million under a new credit facility to partly finance the acquisition of the M/V Buenaventura Express in June 2023, b) $184.0 million under a sale and leaseback transaction to partly finance the acquisition of the LNG/C Asterix I in February 2023 and c) $108.0 million under a new financing arrangement to partly finance the acquisition of the M/V Itajai Express in January 2023, partly offset by the scheduled principal payments for the period of $64.0 million, the early repayment in full of the facility we entered into with CMB Financial Leasing Co., Ltd to partly finance the acquisition of the M/V Seattle Express, the M/V Long Beach Express and the M/V Fos Express, in February 2021, in a total amount of $23.4 million, and a $1.5 million decrease in the U.S. Dollar equivalent of the euro-denominated bonds issued by CPLP Shipping Holdings in July 2022 and October 2021 (the “Bonds”) as of September 30, 2023.

Operating Surplus

Operating surplus for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, amounted to $41.7 million, compared to $38.2 million for the previous quarter ended June 30, 2023, and $37.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2022. We allocated $34.4 million to the capital reserve, a decrease of $0.6 million compared to the previous quarter due to the net decrease in the rate of amortization of our debt. Operating surplus for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, after the quarterly allocation to the capital reserve, was $7.2 million.

Unit Repurchase Program

On January 25, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Partnership (the “Board”) approved a unit repurchase program, providing the Partnership with authorization to repurchase up to $30.0 million of the Partnership’s common units, which was effective for a period of two years through January 2023.

On January 26, 2023, the Board approved a new unit repurchase program, providing the Partnership with authorization to repurchase up to $30.0 million of the Partnership’s common units, effective for a period of two years through January 2025. During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Partnership repurchased 16,963 common units at an average cost of $14.36 per unit.

The Partnership has repurchased a total of 1,074,993 common units since the launching of the first unit repurchase plan on February 19, 2021, at an average cost of $13.46 per unit.

Quarterly Common Unit Cash Distribution

On October 23, 2023, the Board declared a cash distribution of $0.15 per common unit for the third quarter of 2023 payable on November 13, 2023, to common unit holders of record on November 6, 2023.

Sale of M/V ‘Cape Agamemnon’

On November 8, 2023 the Partnership concluded the sale of M/V Cape Agamenon generating gross proceeds from the sale of approximately $22.4 million.

Market Commentary Update

LNG market

The LNG/C market continues to experience solid growth. Term charter rates have remained firm with recent fixtures reported around $100,000 per day for 2-strokes, while the winter seasonal effect on the spot market seems to be more muted this year. While current rates are lower than last year, the year-to-date average is still higher compared to 2022. LNG trade is expanding steadily, with a projected tonne-mile growth rate of 3.5% in 2023, while latest projections see LNG/C fleet capacity growth of 9.5% in 2024 compared with tonne-mile trade growth projections of 4.9%.

Container market

The container shipping markets remains significantly below the highs witnessed in 2021-2022, as a result of declining demand, reduced port congestion and expansion of the shipping fleet. Consequently, spot freight rates have displayed varying trends across different routes over the course of the year, but, on average, they have fallen by approximately 80% from their peak in early 2022, returning to levels reminiscent of the pre-COVID era. Moreover, the vessel charter rate index experienced renewed softening in the third quarter of 2023 following some gains in the previous quarter and by August, it had declined by about 80% from early 2022 levels, although it remained approximately 55% above the pre-COVID trend.

The outlook for the remainder of 2023 and for 2024 suggests that container shipping markets are likely to continue to experience pressure due to declining demand and increased vessel supply.

Conference Call and Webcast

Today, November 13, 2023, the Partnership will host an interactive conference call at 9:00 am Eastern Time to discuss the financial results.

Conference Call Details

Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: +1 877 405 1226 (US Toll-Free Dial In) or +1 201 689 7823 (US and Standard International Dial In). Please quote “Capital Product Partners” to the operator and/or conference ID 13742392. Click here for additional participant International Toll-Free access numbers.

Alternatively, participants can register for the call using the “call me” option for a faster connection to join the conference call. You can enter your phone number and let the system call you right away. Click here for the “call me” option.

Slides and Audio Webcast

There will also be a live, and then archived, webcast of the conference call and accompanying slides, available through the Partnership’s website. To listen to the archived audio file, visit our website http://ir.capitalpplp.com/ and click on Webcasts & Presentations under our Investor Relations page. Participants in the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

About Capital Product Partners L.P.

Capital Product Partners L.P. (NASDAQ: CPLP), a Marshall Islands master limited partnership, is an international owner of ocean-going vessels. CPLP currently owns 22 vessels, including seven latest generation LNG/Cs, 12 Neo-Panamax container vessels and three Panamax container vessels.

For more information about the Partnership, please visit: www.capitalpplp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including, among other things, the expected financial performance of CPLP’s business, CPLP’s ability to pursue growth opportunities, CPLP’s expectations or objectives regarding future distributions, unit repurchases, market, vessel deliveries and charter rate expectations, and, in particular, the expected effects of recent vessel acquisitions on the financial condition and operations of CPLP and the container and LNG industries in general, are forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the stated or forecasted results to be materially different from those anticipated. For a discussion of factors that could materially affect the outcome of forward-looking statements and other risks and uncertainties, see “Risk Factors” in CPLP’s annual report filed with the SEC on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed on April 26, 2023. Unless required by law, CPLP expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether because of future events, new information, a change in its views or expectations, to conform them to actual results or otherwise. CPLP does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

CPLP-F
Contact Details:
Capital GP L.L.C.
Jerry Kalogiratos
CEO
Tel. +30 (210) 4584 950
E-mail: j.kalogiratos@capitalpplp.com

Capital GP L.L.C.
Nikos Kalapotharakos
CFO
Tel. +30 (210) 4584 950
E-mail: n.kalapotharakos@capitalmaritime.com

Investor Relations / Media
Nicolas Bornozis
Capital Link, Inc. (New York)
Tel. +1-212-661-7566
E-mail: cplp@capitallink.com
Source: Capital Product Partners L.P.

Capital Product Partners L.P.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands of United States Dollars, except for number of units and earnings per unit)

Capital Product Partners L.P.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands of United States Dollars)

Capital Product Partners L.P.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands of United States Dollars)

Appendix A – Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure
(In thousands of U.S. Dollars)

Description of Non-GAAP Financial Measure – Operating Surplus
Operating Surplus represents net income adjusted for depreciation and amortization expense, exchange differences on bonds, cash and cash equivalents exchange differences, change in fair value of derivatives, impairment, amortization / accretion of above / below market acquired charters and straight-line revenue adjustments.
Operating Surplus is a quantitative measure used in the publicly traded partnership investment community to assist in evaluating a partnership’s financial performance and ability to make quarterly cash distributions. Operating Surplus is not required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and should not be considered a substitute for net income, cash flow from operating activities and other operations or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP or as a measure of profitability or liquidity. Our calculation of Operating Surplus may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. The table below reconciles Operating Surplus to net income for the following periods:

_________________________

1 Depreciation, amortization, unrealized Bonds exchange differences and change in fair value of derivatives line item includes the following components:

• Vessel depreciation and amortization;
• Deferred financing costs and equity compensation plan amortization;
• Unrealized cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash exchange differences;
• Unrealized bonds exchange differences; and
• Change in fair value of derivatives.