KNOT Offshore Partners Q2 2025 Earnings Report

KNOT Offshore Partners EPS Results

• Actual EPS: $0.20
• Consensus EPS: $0.17
• Beat/Miss: Beat by +$0.03
• One Year Ago EPS: N/A

KNOT Offshore Partners Revenue Results

• Actual Revenue: $87.06 million
• Expected Revenue: $81.17 million
• Beat/Miss: Beat by +$5.89 million
• YoY Revenue Growth: N/A

KNOT Offshore Partners Announcement Details

• Quarter: Q2 2025
• Date: 9/25/2025
• Time: Before Market Opens
• Conference Call Date: Friday, September 26, 2025
• Conference Call Time: 9:30AM ET

KNOT Offshore Partners (NYSE:KNOP) is a publicly traded limited partnership formed in 2013 to own and operate shuttle tankers under long‐term charters in the offshore oil industry. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol KNOP, the partnership specializes in the transportation of crude oil from offshore production facilities to onshore refineries. Its fleet comprises moderne shuttle tankers equipped with dynamic positioning systems, enabling safe transfer operations in harsh weather and sea conditions.

The partnership’s vessels primarily serve fields in the North Sea, Brazil and West Africa, where they operate under multi‐year contracts with major energy producers. These shuttle tankers are tailored to meet stringent environmental and safety regulations, featuring double hull construction and advanced navigation systems. Through fixed‐rate and minimum‐volume charter agreements, KNOT Offshore Partners LP seeks to provide stable cash flows and maintain high utilization across its fleet.

KNOT Offshore Partners LP is managed by KNOT Offshore GP AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers (KNOT), itself a joint venture between the Knutsen Group and Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK). The general partner oversees all commercial and technical management, including crewing, maintenance and compliance with international maritime standards. The board of directors and executive leadership draw on decades of combined experience in offshore shipping and project management to guide the partnership’s growth strategy.

Since its initial public offering in 2013, KNOT Offshore Partners LP has focused on selective fleet expansion and strategic fleet renewal to enhance operational efficiency and environmental performance. The partnership continues to explore opportunities for growth through additional long‐term charters and potential acquisitions of modern shuttle tankers. By leveraging its affiliation with established industry players, KNOT Offshore Partners LP aims to maintain a leading position in the global shuttle tanker segment.

KNOT Offshore Partners Q2 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 revenues of $87.1 million, operating income of $22.2 million, net income of $6.8 million, adjusted EBITDA of $51.6 million, and $104 million in available liquidity with 96.8% fleet utilization, plus a $0.026 per unit distribution.
• Positive Sentiment: Completed a $32 million sale-leaseback of Toba Connexion and acquired Dakin Connexion with a seven-year charter, financing the purchase without tapping cash reserves.
• Positive Sentiment: Launched a $10 million unit buyback program, repurchasing 226,000 common units at an average price of $7.24, reflecting management’s view of a significant valuation discount.
• Positive Sentiment: Extended charter backlog to $895 million (2.6 years average), reduced fleet average age to 9.7 years, and secured 89% vessel coverage for 2026.
• Negative Sentiment: Forward-looking statements are subject to significant uncertainty and actual results may differ materially, underscoring market and operational risks in this long-cycle charter business model.

Presentation

[Operator]

Good morning and thank you all for attending the KNOT Offshore Partners Second Quarter 2025 earnings call. My name is Bria, and I will be your moderator for today. All lines will be muted during the presentation portion of the call, with an opportunity for questions and answers at the end. I would now like to pass this conference over to your host, our CEO, Derek Lowe. Thank you. You may proceed, Derek.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Thank you, Bria, and good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Derek Lowe, and I'm the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer of KNOT Offshore Partners LP. Welcome to the partnership's earnings call for the second quarter of 2025. Our website is knotoffshorepartners.com, and you can find the earnings release there along with this presentation. On slide two, you will find guidance on the inclusion of forward-looking statements in today's presentation. These are made in good faith and reflect management's current views, known and unknown risks, and are based on assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainty and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements, and the partnership does not have or undertake the duty to update such forward-looking statements made as of the date of this presentation.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

For further information, please consult our SEC filings, especially in relation to our annual and quarterly results. Today's presentation also includes certain non-U.S. GAAP measures, and our earnings release includes a reconciliation of these to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. On slide three, we have the Q2 financial and operational headlines. Revenues were $87.1 million, operating income $22.2 million, and net income $6.8 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $51.6 million, and as of June 30, 2025, we had $104 million in available liquidity, made up of $66.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, plus $38.5 million in undrawn capacity on our credit facilities. That available liquidity was $4 million higher than at March 31. We operated with full utilization, taking into account the start of two dry dockings, which amounts to 96.8% utilization overall.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Following the end of Q2, we declared a cash distribution of $0.026 per common unit, which was paid in August. On to slide four for developments during Q2. Through a combination of new chartering, charterers exercising options, and good maneuvering by our chartering team, we made good progress in extending our charter coverage and maximizing the value of charters we already have. The Brazil Connexion is scheduled to go on charter to Equinor next month. With that in mind, we've been able to extend the redelivery timing for Petrol Rio to minimize any downtime between charters. Repsol Sinopec exercised their option to extend the Racao Connexion through June 2028, and Windsor Connexion commenced operations with ExxonMobil on June 4th, following completion of scheduled dry docking. On slide five, we have developments subsequent to quarter end, some of which you will likely have seen in our early July update.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

On September 16th, 2025, we refinanced Toba Connexion with a sale and leaseback that netted $32 million in cash. We also purchased the Dakin Connexion from our sponsor with a $95 million combination of cash and debt. The cash component of that was approximately $25 million, so that was $7 million less than the net proceeds released from the Toba Connexion refinancing. The Dakin Connexion is on time charter with PetroChina in Brazil through until July 2027, with KNOT guaranteeing the day rate until 2032 on the same basis as if PetroChina had exercised its options through to that time.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

We were also pleased to have reached a point in the recovery for KNOT Offshore Partners LP and the wider shuttle tanker market where we deemed it prudent to increase our discretionary allocation of capital to include unit buybacks on the premise that the units traded at a significant discount to what we believed to be any reasonable valuation for the partnership and its prospects. We have been active under our $10 million authorization, repurchasing 226,000 common units at an aggregate cost of $1.64 million, which is an average price of $7.24 per common unit. On slide six, we provide an overview of the Dakin Connexion purchase.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

I've covered most of the highlights here already, but the strategic and commercial implications of such a dropdown transaction include an increased pipeline of long-term contracts, fleet growth, reduced average fleet age, and continued development of our fleet in the most in-demand shuttle tanker asset class. This is a high-quality vessel and contract for us to welcome into the partnership. When taken in conjunction with the sale and leaseback of the Toba Connexion, we're very pleased to have been able to achieve growth without any draw on the cash in hand, but instead to have obtained additional liquidity from the debt portfolio. Turning to slide seven for a high-level summary of developments, the shuttle tanker market is tightening in both Brazil and at long last to a degree in the North Sea as well.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

In either case, driven by Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) startups and ramp-ups, seven of these projects were a long time coming, and it's been encouraging to see them up and running, driving shuttle tanker demand growth. We've extended our backlog as of June 30, 2025, to $895 million of fixed contracts, averaging 2.6 years, and rather more if all options are exercised. At June 30, our fleet of 18 vessels had an average age of 10.1 years. With the addition of our 19th vessel just a couple of days thereafter, the average age reduced to 9.7 years. We're continuing to repay debt at $95 million or more per year, which we think is prudent with a depreciating asset base.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Debt paydown also produces flexibility and optionality to take on leverage elsewhere to enable an accretive allocation of capital, as with the recent sale and leaseback and dropdown, which was accompanied by the initiation of the $10 million buyback program. We appreciate that ours is a business where the timelines and contract durations are long, and thus the financial impact of chartering typically arrives quite some time later, materially behind an upturn in sentiment or spot market activity. That being said, it's clear that after a lengthy period defined by the COVID era cutbacks at energy majors, we're increasingly building positive momentum and taking actions on multiple fronts for the benefit of unit holders now and well into the future.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Over slides nine to 12, we provide the financials for Q2, for which the headlines are revenues of $87.1 million, operating income $22.2 million, net income $6.8 million, adjusted EBITDA $51.6 million, and availability at quarter end of $104.8 million, made up of $66.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, plus $38.5 million in undrawn capacity on our credit facilities. That's $4 million higher available liquidity than at the end of Q1. On slide 13 is our debt maturity profile, which has been updated to reflect the Toba Connexion sale and leaseback, the NTT Revolver refinancing, and the July 2 Dakin Connexion acquisition. Notably, the average margin on our debt was 2.23% over so far.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

While nothing can be taken for granted, the positive momentum for both KNOT Offshore Partners LP and the wider sector means that we feel quite confident about these maturities in the years ahead, particularly after seamlessly addressing similar maturities in recent years amid materially less rosy market conditions. Moreover, we may have select opportunities to raise liquidity as we did with the Toba Connexion, though any such action will be contingent on conditions at the time. Moving on to slide 15 and our charter portfolio, I've covered most of the updates here, but I believe it's a useful resource for investors looking to track the primary movements where change can occur in a highly stable portfolio of cash flows. That is when charters turn over and when there are dry docks that will cause off-hire and incurrence of CapEx costs.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Based on current charter rates, we believe charterers' options are likely to be taken up given the strength of the charter market. As such, upcoming points of particular relevance are the Forte Leyva and Recife, which operate in Brazil and are coming open in early and mid-2026, respectively. On slide 16, you can see our strong coverage through the coming quarters, some charterers' options that market conditions suggest have a good likelihood of being exercised, and a small amount of open time. In all, we have 89% of vessel time in 2026 covered by fixed contracts. On slide 17, you can see the dropdown inventory held at the sponsor. As we have said, we believe that growth on attractive terms that benefit the partnership is a central plank of our strategy, alongside sustainable payments to unitholders.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

We operate a fleet of depreciating assets, where replenishment with younger vessels over time and on the right terms is an imperative of the business, not to mention the basis for returns to unitholders. On slides 18 to 20, we include again some commentary from Petrobras, who continue their strong offshore production growth, particularly in the shuttle tanker service fields, and doing so rapidly ahead of schedule and through the deployment of assets with a decades-long use profile. From the shuttle tanker owners' perspective, there is a lot to like about what Petrobras is saying, and importantly, in what they're putting into action.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Crucially, it's this trackable and measurable activity, including numerous additional Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units that have already been funded but are expected to come online in the years ahead, that gives us comfort that the shuttle tanker demand should readily absorb the current order book. Further, we believe that the current order book still trends towards a medium-term shortage of shuttle tankers when set against the forthcoming production. To summarize on slide 21, we had strong utilization and financial results for the quarter while securing additional charter cover and paying a quarterly distribution. We subsequently purchased a vessel with seven years of charter cover. We refinanced a vessel to release liquidity in excess of the cash we paid for the acquisition. We refinanced the first of our two $25 million revolvers, and we initiated our $10 million unit buyback program.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Looking at our near-term priorities on slide 22, we focused, as ever, on safe operation and maintaining high scheduled operational utilization. We aim to continue growth in earnings visibility and liquidity through vessel chartering out into the immediate term, and we aim to deploy incremental capital opportunistically towards a combination of accretive growth and returns of capital to unit holders. With that, I'll hand the call back to Briga for any questions. Thank you.

[Operator]

Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question during this time, please press star, followed by the number one on your telephone keypad. If you change your mind and would like to remove your question, you can do so by pressing star, followed by the number two. As a reminder, that is star, followed by one, to register for any questions. We'll pause here briefly whilst questions are registered. The first question we have on the phone lines comes from the line of Liam Burke with B. Riley Securities. Please go ahead when you're ready.

[Liam Burke, Managing Director at B. Riley Financial]

Thank you. Hey, Derek, how are you today?

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Good, thanks, Liam. How are you?

[Liam Burke, Managing Director at B. Riley Financial]

I'm just fine, thank you. On the Dakin Connexion, I know you've got customary closing events prior to taking delivery, but could you give us a sense as to when you'd expect to take delivery on that vessel?

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

On the Dakin Connexion, we took delivery on the day we announced it, the 2nd of July.

[Liam Burke, Managing Director at B. Riley Financial]

Oh, okay, because it said the customary closings. Okay, great. The second question I had was on the dropdowns. There are four additional vessels. You made the closing of the Dakin Connexion in a very shareholder-friendly manner. Do you anticipate to be able to continue to do that?

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

I mean, we think it's unitholder-friendly whenever we do these transactions on accretive terms. Were you alluding to the funding for the equity component in the transaction?

[Liam Burke, Managing Director at B. Riley Financial]

There are four currently available in addition to the, you know, then you have the new build. What I was getting at is, I mean, you were able to add one more vessel quite easily in a very shareholder-friendly manner. I guess more or less, do you have a sense of timing based on your financial financing flexibility and your desire to grow the fleet?

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Sure. We don't have a particular sense of timing. We respond to vessels that are offered to us when that happens and on the basis of the terms that are offered and can be negotiated. We don't have a particular timing in mind. Part of that is obviously our financial capacity to fund any cash component that's required in a transaction. You can also see our debt schedule, what is coming up at different times, and the opportunities they can present for potential re-leveraging or release of some sort. The Toba Connexion sale and leaseback would be a good example of how release can happen.

[Liam Burke, Managing Director at B. Riley Financial]

Great. Thank you, Derek.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Thanks, Liam.

[Operator]

Thank you. Thank you. Just as a quick reminder, if you would like to ask any further questions, you can do so by pressing star, followed by one on your telephone keypads now. Just as a reminder, that is star, followed by one, to ask any questions. One final reminder, if you would like to ask a question, please press star, followed by one on your telephone keypads now. We have a question from Climent Molins with Value Investor's Edge on the line. Please go ahead.

[Climent Molins, Head - Shipping Research at Value Investor's Edge]

Hi. Thank you for taking my questions. I wanted to ask about the older Windsor Connexion, the Forte Leyva, and the Recife. Could you talk a bit about how contracting discussions with potential customers compare relative to your more modern tonnage? Is there maybe any appetite to dispose of these vessels over the coming years?

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Our business model relates to operating vessels rather than trading them. I do appreciate we have engaged in vessel swaps in the past, but that was actually so that we could gear up our ownership, if anything, rather than dispose. When we have active contracting discussions with our clients all the time about our vessels, I don't think I can expand on how those are going in any individual case for commercial reasons, but we certainly are actively discussing those vessels with our clients.

[Climent Molins, Head - Shipping Research at Value Investor's Edge]

Makes sense. You've been clear that your near-term priority is to continue expanding the fleet. Could you talk a bit on how you plan to mix that with potential distribution increases in the medium term?

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Sure. Fleet growth through acquisition is partly relating to growth, and the most important element of growth there is in the charter schedule, because it's only through that that we can generate income in the medium to longer term. It also helps with rejuvenating the fleet, which contributes to that as well. Returns to unit holders and deployments of capital to dropdowns, we think both of those at the same time are good deployments of capital, and we don't see them as necessarily competing with each other. I mean, they're both news capital, but if you look at the orders of magnitude that are involved, the buyback program, for example, is planned to use rather less than even a single vessel if you look at just a year's worth of the buyback program. We think they're both necessary in the interests of unit holders in the medium to longer term.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

For example, on fleet rejuvenation, which we think is particularly important, with 18 vessels as of the end of June and then obviously 19 shortly after that, the vessel age, average age in early July was down to, I think, 9.7 years. That is the age that we had earlier in the year. Just simply the passage of time with the fleet the size that we have means that acquisitions are required to keep the fleet rejuvenated and to keep that average age down.

[Climent Molins, Head - Shipping Research at Value Investor's Edge]

That's helpful. That's everything from me. Thank you for taking my questions.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Thank you. Thanks.

[Operator]

Thank you. Just one final reminder, if you would like to ask any further questions, you can do so now by pressing star, followed by the number one on your telephone keypad. I can confirm that does conclude the question and answer session today, and I would like to hand it back to Derek for some final closing comments.

[Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO at KNOT Offshore Partners]

Thank you again for joining this earnings call for KNOT Offshore Partners second quarter in 2025. I look forward to speaking with you again following the third quarter results.

[Operator]

Thank you all for joining the KNOT Offshore Partners second quarter 2025 earnings call. I can confirm today's call has now concluded. Thank you all for your participation, and you may now disconnect. Please enjoy the rest of your day.

Participants

Executives

• Derek Lowe, CEO & CFO

Analysts

• Climent Molins, Head - Shipping Research at Value Investor's Edge
• Liam Burke, Managing Director at B. Riley Financial