Teekay Tankers Ltd. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results

HAMILTON, BERMUDA--(Marketwired - May 14, 2015) - Teekay Tankers Ltd. (Teekay Tankers or the Company) (TNK) today reported adjusted net income attributable to its shareholders (1) (as detailed in Appendix A to this release) of $39.0 million, or $0.34 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to $16.9 million, or $0.20 per share, for the same period in the prior year. The increase is primarily due to stronger spot tanker rates in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in the prior year, an increase in fleet size due to the acquisition of four LR2 product tankers and one Aframax tanker in the first quarter of 2015 and the addition of 10 in-chartered vessels delivered during 2014. Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders excludes a number of specific items that had the net effect of increasing net income attributable to shareholders by $9.6 million, or $0.11 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2014 as detailed in Appendix A to this release. Including these items, the Company reported, on a GAAP basis, net income attributable to its shareholders of $39.0 million, or $0.34 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to $26.4 million, or $0.31 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. Net revenues(3) were $100.0 million and $60.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company generated $53.0 million, or $0.46 per share, of Free Cash Flow(2), compared to $31.7 million, or $0.35 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2014 due to higher average spot rates earned and an increase in fleet size. On April 2, 2015, Teekay Tankers declared a dividend of $0.03 per share for the first quarter of 2015, which was paid on April 30, 2015 to all shareholders of record on April 17, 2015. Since the Company's inception, it has declared dividends in 30 consecutive quarters.

"The Company experienced the strongest quarter in six years with free cash flow of $53 million, or $0.46 per share, resulting in an annualized free cash flow yield of 32 percent based on the average share price during the first quarter," commented Kevin Mackay, Chief Executive Officer of Teekay Tankers.

"Over the past four months, crude spot tanker rates have achieved the highest average levels since the strong winter market of 2008," Mr. Mackay continued. "The continued strength in the tanker market reflects the strong tanker market fundamentals on the back of a shrinking mid-size tanker fleet, increased crude oil trade volumes and growing global oil demand. Low global oil prices, high crude oil supply, and seasonal factors such as increased oil demand and winter weather delays, have provided further support to the crude tanker market during the first quarter. Crude spot tanker rates have remained counter-seasonally strong into the second quarter of 2015 due to record-high Saudi Arabian oil production and a relatively light refinery maintenance schedule as refiners continue to take advantage of positive margins."