Maersk Lng News

Milbank represented Meridian Spirit ApS, as issuer, in a $195 million bond refinancing for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker vessel, the Meridian Spirit. Meridian Spirit ApS is a special purpose company owned by Teekay LNG Partners LP and Marubeni Corporation. Moody’s rated the 17-year private placement Baa1 based on the Meridian Spirit’s charter with Total’s Norwegian subsidiary, which is ongoing up to 2030. Proceeds from the issuance will refinance a portion of the bridge debt that the two sponsors utilized when they acquired the six-vessel Maersk LNG fleet in February 2012. The Meridian Spirit was built by Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries and has a storage capacity of 165,500 cubic meters of LNG.

Maersk delivered a profit of USD 4.0bn (USD 3.4bn), which was slightly higher than the latest announced outlook of around USD 3.7bn expressed on November 9, 2012. The return on invested capital (ROIC) was 8.8% (8.3%). Profit was positively affected by the settlement of an Algerian tax dispute in Q1 of USD 899m combined with improved volumes, rates and unit costs for Maersk Line. Profit was negatively affected by a decline in Maersk Oil’s share of production and impairment losses of net USD 405m of which USD 268m related to Maersk Tankers in Q3. Divestment gains were USD 636m (USD 890m) with the divestment of two FPSOs, Maersk LNG and Maersk Equipment Service as the largest transactions. Revenue decreased slightly to USD 59.0bn (USD 60.2bn).

The sale of all shares in Maersk LNG to Malt LNG Holdings ApS, a company jointly owned by Teekay LNG Operating LLC and Marubeni Corporation has been finalised. Under the terms of Maersk LNG's two partnerships with Société Generale and Qatar Shipping Company, each owning an LNG vessel, the sale of Maersk LNG triggered pre-emption rights to Maersk LNG's partnership shares. These pre-emption rights have been exercised by these two limited partners acquiring Maersk LNG's 26 percent…

Revenue for the period increased by 9% to $29.9bn $27.4bn), primarily due to higher oil prices and container volumes. Profit for the period was 8% higher at $2.7bn $2.5bn), positively affected by divestment gain from sale of Netto Foodstores Limited, UK of $0.7bn. The Group’s ROIC was 12.8% (12.8%).. "Thanks to the good performance of our terminals and oil related businesses, the Group has delivered a satisfactory result for the first half-year. As we anticipated at the start of the year, the shipping market has been difficult, due to growing capacity, and we expect the slow economic growth and market volatility to continue for the coming quarters.

Revenue for the period increased by 10% to USD 14.5bn (USD 13.2bn), primarily due to higher container freight rates, container volumes and oil prices. The profit for the period increased by 82% to USD 1.2bn (USD 0.6bn) and was driven by better operational performance in most business units. The Group’s ROIC increased to 11.7% (7.6%). "We have had a good start to the year and are very satisfied with the results. Our businesses have performed very well, even as tanker rates have remained low and container rates have been decreasing during the period.

Wärtsilä has signed a long term service agreement with Maersk LNG. The agreement includes maintenance planning, condition & performance monitoring, co-ordination and supply of technical services, parts and service work for five 165,000 cum LNG vessels equipped with Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines over a five year period. "For Maersk LNG, this service agreement means improved levels of certainty regarding servicing of the main engines on our LNG vessels. With this monitoring system in place, maintenance work can be proactive," said Claus H. Thomsen, Director, Maersk LNG.