AS Tallink Grupp Unaudited Consolidated Interim Report Q3 2023

The Q3 2023 results of AS Tallink Grupp will be introduced at an Investor Webinar held today at 12:00 (EEST). To participate, please join via the following link; we kindly ask participants to provide their questions latest by 11:00 am by email to: [email protected]. Further details are available in a previously published announcement.

In the third quarter (1 July – 30 September) of the 2023 financial year, AS Tallink Grupp and its subsidiaries (the Group) carried 1 775 821 passengers, which is 6.2% less than in the third quarter of 2022. The number of cargo units transported decreased by 26.1% compared to the same period a year ago. The Group's unaudited consolidated revenue amounted to EUR 240.7 million (EUR 255.6 million in Q3 2022), down by 5.8% year-on-year. Unaudited EBITDA was EUR 82.1 million (EUR 67.7 million in Q3 2022) and the unaudited net profit for the period was EUR 48.7 million (EUR 37.9 million in Q3 2022), up by 21.3% and 28.5%, respectively.

The following operational factors impacted the Group's revenue and operating results in the third quarter of 2023:

• The volume of cargo and passenger transportation was impacted by less vessels in operations due to chartering and by 17% less trips made compared to the same period a year ago.
• The demand was also impacted by low consumer confidence levels, and weak economic environment in all Group's core markets but also by global geopolitical instability.
• As at the end of the quarter the Group operated 15 vessels including 2 shuttle vessels, 2 cargo vessels and 4 cruise ferries as well as 5 vessels that were chartered out (3 vessels on long-term and 2 vessels on short-term charter). During the quarter, 2 charter agreements ended. The charter agreement of the Group's vessel Romantika was terminated in September 2023 prior to the agreement's expiration date. The short-term charter agreement of the cruise ferry Victoria I ended in July 2023.
• The planned dry docking of the cruise ferry Baltic Queen for 12 days in September 2023.
• The Group operated 3 hotels in Tallinn and 1 in Riga.
• Declining global fuel prices and the optimal fleet size had a positive impact on the Group's cost base. However, while the fuel prices have dropped the fuel transportation cost component has increased.
• The Group's net debt to EBITDA ratio was down to 2.7 as at 30 September 2023 compared to 3.1 as at 30 June 2023.
• The Group continues to focus on cost efficiency from previously implemented measures and retaining profitable operations on its core routes.
• The Group regularly monitors the developments on its core routes including the capacity of each route and continues to look for new chartering options for vessels not used on the main routes and to work on extending the existing chartering agreements.

Sales and Results by Segments
In the third quarter of 2023, the Group's total revenue decreased by EUR 14.9 million to EUR 240.7 million compared to EUR 255.6 million in the third quarter of 2022. 

Revenue from route operations (core business) amounted to EUR 195.7 million, which is EUR 15.1 million less than in the third quarter of 2022. The segment result from route operations (core business) amounted to EUR 55.0 million compared to EUR 39.1 million in the third quarter of 2022.

The number of passengers carried on the Estonia-Finland route decreased by 0.6% year-on-year. The number of transported cargo units decreased by 27.0%. While the revenue from the Estonia-Finland route decreased by EUR 7.1 million to EUR 86.4 million, the segment result improved by EUR 5.6 million to EUR 32.3 million. The decline in passenger numbers, cargo volumes and revenue were mostly driven by less vessels in operations and less trips made compared to the same period a year ago. In the third quarter of 2023, the segment reflects the operations of two shuttle vessels, compared to two shuttle vessels and one cruise ferry in the third quarter of 2022. The cruise ferry Silja Europa stopped operating on the Estonia-Finland route in August 2022 due to a charter agreement. During the third quarter of 2022, the Tallinn-Helsinki route was operated by the shuttle vessels Megastar and Oscar Wilde (formerly Star). The shuttle vessel Oscar Wilde stopped operating the route in May 2023 due to a charter agreement. In the third quarter of 2023, a route was operated by shuttle vessel Megastar and a new shuttle vessel MyStar that was launched to the Tallinn-Helsinki route in December 2022.

In the third quarter of 2023, the year-on-year decrease in the number of passengers on Finland-Sweden routes was 18.1%. The number of transported cargo units decreased by 41.0%. The routes' revenue decreased by EUR 10.0 million to EUR 83.7 million while the segment result improved by EUR 8.0 million to EUR 18.9 million, year-on-year. The decline in passenger numbers, cargo volumes and revenue were mostly driven by less vessels in operations and less trips made compared to the same period a year ago. In the third quarter of 2023, the segment reflects the operations of one cruise ferry on Turku-Stockholm/Kapellskär routes and two cruise ferries on the Helsinki-Stockholm route. The cruise ferry Galaxy I stopped operating on the Turku-Stockholm route from September 2022 due to a charter agreement.

On Estonia-Sweden routes the number of carried passengers increased by 5.3% while the number of transported cargo units decreased by 1.1% compared to the third quarter of 2022. The revenue of Estonia-Sweden routes increased by EUR 2.0 million to EUR 25.5 million and segment result improved by EUR 2.3 million to EUR 3.9 million, year-on-year. Estonia-Sweden routes reflect the operation of two cargo vessels on the Paldiski-Kapellskär route and one cruise ferry on the Tallinn-Stockholm route.

Revenue from the segment Other increased by a total of EUR 0.6 million and amounted to EUR 47.4 million. The segment result declined year-on-year by EUR 5.2 million amounting to EUR 12.2 million. As at the end of third quarter 2023, the Group had 5 vessels on charter including 3 on long-term and 2 on short-term charter. During the quarter, the charter agreements of 2 vessels ended. The agreement for chartering out the cruise ferry Romantika, signed in March 2022, was terminated on 1 September 2023. The cruise ferry Victoria I, the charter agreement of which ended in July, started operating the Tallinn-Helsinki route on 12 October 2023.

In the third quarter of 2023, long-term charters included:

• The vessel Atlantic Vision was chartered to Canada in November 2008. The current agreement has been signed until May 2024 with an extension option for another 12 months.
• The shuttle vessel Oscar Wilde (formerly Star) was chartered out from 5 May 2023 for 20 months with the option of extending the charter by 2+2 year and the option of purchasing the shuttle.
• The cruise ferry Isabelle has been on long-term charter since 1 July 2023 and the charter agreement includes a purchase option.

In the third quarter of 2023, short-term charters included:

• The cruise ferry Galaxy I was chartered out in September 2022. In September 2023, the agreement was extended for six months until April 2024.
• The cruise ferry Silja Europa was chartered out in August 2022. In October 2023, the charter agreement was extended until the end of 2024.

Earnings
In the third quarter of 2023, the Group's gross profit improved by EUR 11.6 million to EUR 77.7 million compared to EUR 66.0 million in the third quarter of 2022. EBITDA improved by EUR 14.4 million and amounted to EUR 82.1 million.

Amortisation and depreciation expense increased by EUR 1.5 million to EUR 25.2 million compared to the third quarter of the financial year 2022.

As a result of increased interest rates and increased financing obligations related to the shuttle-vessel Mystar, net finance costs increased by EUR 2.1 million year-on-year to EUR 8.4 million in the third quarter of 2023.

The Group's unaudited net profit for third quarter 2023 was EUR 48.7 million or EUR 0.065 per share compared to a EUR 37.9 million or EUR 0.051 per share in Q3 2022.

Investments
The Group's investments in the third quarter of 2023 amounted to EUR 6.1 million.

Majority of the investments were related to the maintenance and repair works of the vessels. The cruise ferry Victoria I was prepared for operating a 22-hour cruise service between Tallinn and Helsinki from October 2023.

During the planned docking of the cruise ferry Baltic Queen both technical works as well as interior upgrades were carried out. The ferry's propellers were re-bladed to enhance the speed of the ferry and to make the ferry more energy efficient. The expected fuel-saving from the re-blading is more than 13%. Additionally, the graphite paint was piloted on the cruise ferry Baltic Queen for hull painting to significantly reduce the water resistance of the vessel's hull and thus increase the vessel's efficiency. 

Financial Position
At the end of the third quarter 2023, the Group's net debt amounted to EUR 620.4 million, a decrease of EUR 44.5 million compared to the end of second quarter of 2023. The net debt to EBITDA ratio was 2.7 at the reporting date (3.1 as at 30 June 2023).

As at 30 September 2023, the Group's cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 64.4 million (EUR 57.6 million as at 30 June 2023) and the Group had EUR 135.0 million in unused credit lines (EUR 135.0 million as at 30 June 2023). The total liquidity buffer (cash, cash equivalents and unused credit facilities) amounted to EUR 199.4 million (EUR 192.6 million as at 30 June 2023). In the third quarter of 2023, the Group repaid loans in the total amount of EUR 30.9 million compared to EUR 105.3 million in the second quarter of 2023. The current trade and other payables amounted to EUR 83.6 million (EUR 96.3 million as at 30 June 2023).

Dividends
In 2018, the Group adopted a dividend policy subject to which dividends of a minimum amount of
EUR 0.05 per share would be paid if the economic performance enables it.

Due to continued global uncertainties the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on 13 June 2023 decided not to pay dividends for the financial year 2022.

Results of the first 9 months of 2023
In the first 9 months (1 January – 30 September) of the 2023 financial year, the Group carried 4.4 million passengers which is 4.8% more compared to the same period last year. The Group's unaudited revenue for the period increased by 13.0% and amounted to EUR 641.6 million. Unaudited EBITDA for the first 9 months was EUR 177.7 million (EUR 85.4 million in January-September 2022) and unaudited net profit was EUR 76.7 million (net loss of EUR 2.8 million in January-September 2022).

The financial result of the first 9 months of 2023 was impacted by the following factors:

• The volume of cargo and passenger transportation was impacted by less vessels available due to chartering of vessels resulting in 12% less trips made compared to the same period a year ago. 
• The chartering of vessels supporting the stability of cash flows.
• Planned maintenance works of 57 days which affected both the Finland-Sweden segment's first quarter and the Estonia-Sweden segment's third quarter passenger and cargo levels as well as the financial result.
• Repayment of long-term loans in the amount of EUR 155.5 million compared to EUR 71.0 million in 9 months 2022.
• The lower operating cost base compared to the same period in 2022 arising from chartering of vessels but also lower global fuel costs.

Key Figures

1 Alternative performance measures based on ESMA guidelines are disclosed in the Alternative Performance Measures section of this Interim Report.
2 Does not include additions to right-of-use assets.

EBITDA: result from operating activities before net financial items, share of profit of equity-accounted investees, taxes, depreciation and amortization
EBIT: result from operating activities
Earnings/loss per share: net profit or loss/ 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 profit/loss margin: gross profit / net sales
EBITDA margin: EBITDA / net sales
EBIT margin: EBIT / net sales
Net profit/loss margin: net profit or loss / net sales
Capital expenditure: additions to property, plant and equipment – additions to right-of-use assets + additions to intangible assets
ROA: earnings before net financial items, taxes 12-months trailing / average total assets
ROE: net profit 12-months trailing / average shareholders' equity
ROCE: earnings before net financial items, taxes 12-months trailing / (total assets – current liabilities (average for the period))
Net debt: interest-bearing liabilities less cash and cash equivalents
Net debt to EBITDA: net debt / EBITDA 12-months trailing

Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income

Consolidated statement of financial position

 Consolidated statement of cash flows

Anneli Simm
Investor Relations Manager

AS Tallink Grupp
Sadama 5
10111 Tallinn, Estonia
E-mail [email protected]

Attachments

• Tallink Grupp 2023 Q3 ENG
• Tallink Grupp 2023 Q3 Financial Data
• AS Tallink Grupp Q3 2023 Presentation