Excelerate Energy Delivers Strong Second Quarter 2023 Results

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Aug 09, 2023

Excelerate Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EE) (the “Company” or “Excelerate”) today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Reported Net Income of $29.6 million for the second quarter
  • Reported Adjusted EBITDA of $88.6 million for the second quarter
  • Secured contracts to sell four spot LNG cargos into Bangladesh in 2023, two delivered in the second quarter
  • Commenced seasonal regasification services at the Bahia Blanca GasPort in Argentina in May 2023
  • Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.025 per share, payable on September 7, 2023

CEO COMMENT

“The strong financial results we delivered in the second quarter of 2023 are a testament to the steady performance of our core regasification business and the demand for FSRUs around the world. With global markets continuing to emphasize the need for energy security, the value of our services has never been greater,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Steven Kobos. “I am proud of the great work the Excelerate team is doing every day to provide essential regasification services and develop integrated LNG solutions for customers across our global footprint.

“We remain committed to building a company that is known for generating predictable earnings and cash flows while providing opportunistic upside from LNG and gas sales. We are confident this balanced approach is the right strategy to drive growth and maximize value for our shareholders.”

SECOND QUARTER 2023 FINANCIAL RESULTS

For the three months ended

June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

(in millions, except per share amounts)

2023

2023

2022

Revenues

$

432.4

$

211.1

$

622.9

Operating Income

$

53.7

$

49.6

$

39.3

Net Income (Loss)

$

29.6

$

30.7

$

(4.0

)

Adjusted Net Income (1)

$

29.6

$

32.7

$

20.4

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

$

88.6

$

79.9

$

66.5

Earnings (Loss) Per Share (diluted)

$

0.23

$

0.26

$

(0.08

)

(1)

See the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measure in the section titled "Non-GAAP Reconciliation" below.

Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2023 increased over the prior year second quarter primarily due to higher rates on charters in Finland and Argentina, a contract extension at a higher rate in the UAE, and lower operating lease expense resulting from the acquisition of the FSRU Sequoia. The increase in Net Income was also driven by the early extinguishment of the FSRU Excellence finance lease liability as part of the vessel acquisition in 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA increased sequentially primarily due to a full quarter of operations for the FSRU Excelsior following the completion of its scheduled drydock in the first quarter, lower operating lease expense for the Sequoia, and two spot LNG cargo sales into Bangladesh.

KEY COMMERCIAL UPDATES

Bangladesh

In the second quarter of 2023, Excelerate delivered two spot LNG cargos into Bangladesh. Year-to-date, Excelerate has secured four Bangladesh spot LNG cargo tenders, equating to approximately 250,000 tons of LNG. The third and fourth cargos are expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2023.

Argentina

In May 2023, the FSRU Excelsior commenced seasonal regasification services at the Bahia Blanca GasPort terminal in Argentina. The Excelsior is expected to provide regasification services for the duration of the Argentine winter season. The FSRU Excelsior will return to the Germany charter in the third quarter of 2023.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of June 30, 2023, Excelerate had $462 million in cash and cash equivalents, $80.9 million of letters of credit issued and no outstanding borrowings under its $350 million revolving credit facility.

On August 3, 2023, Excelerate’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend equal to $0.025 per share of Class A common stock, which will be paid on September 7, 2023, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 23, 2023.

2023 FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

Excelerate is narrowing its full year 2023 guidance range. The Company now expects Adjusted EBITDA to range between $325 million and $335 million for the full year 2023. Maintenance capex for 2023 is expected to range between $20 million and $30 million.

Actual results may differ materially from the Company’s outlook as a result of, among other things, the factors described under “Forward-Looking Statements” below.

INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

The Excelerate management team will host a conference call for investors and analysts at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 a.m. Central Time) on Thursday, August 10, 2023. Investors are invited to access a live webcast of the conference call via the Investor Relations page on the Company’s website at www.excelerateenergy.com. An archived replay of the call and a copy of the presentation will be on the website following the call.

ABOUT EXCELERATE ENERGY

Excelerate Energy, Inc. is a U.S.-based LNG company located in The Woodlands, Texas. Excelerate is changing the way the world accesses cleaner forms of energy by providing integrated services along the LNG value chain with an objective of delivering rapid-to-market and reliable LNG solutions to customers. The Company offers a full range of flexible regasification services from FSRUs to infrastructure development to LNG supply. Excelerate has offices in Abu Dhabi, Antwerp, Boston, Buenos Aires, Chattogram, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Helsinki, Manila, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, and Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.excelerateenergy.com.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Company reports financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Included in this press release are certain financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP. They are designed to supplement, and not substitute, Excelerate’s financial information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP measures as defined by Excelerate may not be comparable to similar non-GAAP measures presented by other companies. The presentation of such measures, which may include adjustments to exclude non-recurring items, should not be construed as an inference that Excelerate’s future results, cash flows or leverage will be unaffected by other nonrecurring items. Management believes that the following non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with additional useful information in evaluating the Company's performance and valuation. See the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measure, including those measures presented as part of the Company’s 2023 Financial Outlook, in the section titled “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” below.

Adjusted Gross Margin

We use Adjusted Gross Margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, which we define as revenues less direct cost of sales and operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, to measure our operational financial performance. Management believes Adjusted Gross Margin is useful because it provides insight on profitability and true operating performance excluding the implications of the historical cost basis of our assets. Our computation of Adjusted Gross Margin may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this information.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure included as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it is a useful indicator of our operating performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, accretion, non-cash long-term incentive compensation expense and items such as charges and non-recurring expenses that management does not consider as part of assessing ongoing operating performance. In the first quarter of 2023, we revised the definition of Adjusted EBITDA to adjust for the impact of non-cash accretion expense, which results in a metric that is consistent with how management will review performance going forward. Management believes accretion expense does not directly reflect our ongoing operating performance.

Adjusted Net Income

The Company uses Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP financial measure, which it defines as net income plus the early extinguishment of lease liability related to the acquisition of the Excellence vessel, the non-cash write-off of deferred financing costs related to our prior credit agreement, and restructuring, transition and transaction expenses. Management believes Adjusted Net Income is useful because it provides insight on profitability excluding the impact of non-recurring charges related to our IPO.

The Company adjusts net income for the items listed above to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within its industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of the Company's operating performance or liquidity. These measures have limitations as certain excluded items are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDA. The Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income should not be construed as an inference that its results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. The Company's computations of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. For the foregoing reasons, each of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income has significant limitations which affect its use as an indicator of its profitability and valuation, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this information.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, about Excelerate Energy, Inc. (“Excelerate,” and together with its subsidiaries “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”) and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans, expansion plans and strategy, economic conditions, both generally and in particular in the regions in which we operate or plan to operate, and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “consider,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “shall,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions.

You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this press release primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and operating results. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described under “Risk Factors” in Excelerate’s Annual Report on Form 10‐K for the year ended December 31, 2022, our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and those identified in this press release, including, but not limited to, the following: customers’ contract termination rights or failure to perform their contractual obligations; risks and technical complexities inherent in operating the Company’s floating storage and regasification units (“FSRUs”) and other infrastructure assets; unforeseen delays, cancellations, expenses or other complications in developing the Company’s projects; regasification terminal or other facility failures; the Company’s need for substantial capital expenditures to maintain or replace FSRUs, terminals or other associated assets; reliance on third parties, including engineering, procurement and construction contractors; officer and crew shortages; the Company’s ability to maintain customer and supplier relationships and to source new suppliers; the Company’s ability to connect with third-party infrastructure; the Company’s ability to purchase or receive delivery of sufficient quantities of liquified natural gas (“LNG”) to satisfy contractual obligations and exposure to commodity price risk; changes in the demand for and price of LNG; the competitive market for LNG regasification services and fluctuations in hire rates for FSRUs; community and political group resistance to existing and new LNG and natural gas infrastructure due to concerns about the environment, safety and terrorism; access to financing sources on favorable terms; the Company’s debt level and finance lease liabilities that could limit its flexibility to obtain additional financing or refinance existing debt; catastrophic events, political tensions, conflicts and wars (such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war), health crises and pandemics; volatility of the global financial markets and uncertain economic conditions, including the impact of increased inflation and related governmental monetary policies; our ability to pay dividends on our Class A common stock; and the other risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions or judgments about future events that may or may not be correct or necessarily take place and that are by their nature subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are outside the control of Excelerate. The occurrence of any such factors, events or circumstances would significantly alter the results set forth in these statements.

Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. For example, the current global economic uncertainty and geopolitical climate, including the Russia-Ukraine war, may give rise to risks that are currently unknown or amplify the risks associated with many of the foregoing events or factors. The results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this press release. While we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.

The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments.

Excelerate Energy, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

For the three months ended

June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

2023

2023

2022

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Revenues

FSRU and terminal services

$

125,462

$

118,577

$

110,072

Gas sales

306,910

92,479

512,857

Total revenues

432,372

211,056

622,929

Operating expenses

Cost of revenue and vessel operating expenses

48,664

58,792

58,673

Direct cost of gas sales

277,693

55,185

485,023

Depreciation and amortization

30,772

25,193

24,296

Selling, general and administrative expenses

21,563

22,317

13,064

Restructuring, transition and transaction expenses

2,582

Total operating expenses

378,692

161,487

583,638

Operating income

53,680

49,569

39,291

Other income (expense)

Interest expense

(13,479

)

(11,955

)

(7,800

)

Interest expense – related party

(3,593

)

(3,592

)

(5,493

)

Earnings from equity method investment

392

416

732

Early extinguishment of lease liability on vessel acquisition

(21,834

)

Other income (expense), net

2,268

3,904

(1,086

)

Income before income taxes

39,268

38,342

3,810

Provision for income taxes

(9,712

)

(7,603

)

(7,800

)

Net income (loss)

29,556

30,739

(3,990

)

Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest

23,588

23,895

(831

)

Less net loss attributable to non-controlling interest – ENE Onshore

(181

)

Less pre-IPO net loss attributable to EELP

(947

)

Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders

$

5,968

$

6,844

$

(2,031

)

Net income (loss) per common share – basic

$

0.23

$

0.26

$

(0.08

)

Net income (loss) per common share – diluted

$

0.23

$

0.26

$

(0.08

)

Weighted average shares outstanding – basic

26,254,167

26,254,167

26,254,167

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted

26,266,312

26,269,862

26,254,167

Excelerate Energy, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30, 2023

December 31, 2022

(Unaudited)

ASSETS

(In thousands)

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

462,001

$

516,659

Current portion of restricted cash

2,638

2,614

Accounts receivable, net

145,608

82,289