SBBA - Scorpio Tankers Inc. Announces Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2020 and Declaration of a Quarterly Dividend

MONACO, Feb. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG) ("Scorpio Tankers" or the "Company") today reported its results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share on the Company’s common stock.

Results for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

For the three months ended December 31, 2020, the Company had a net loss of $76.3 million, or $1.41 basic and diluted loss per share. For the three months ended December 31, 2020, the Company had an adjusted net loss (see Non-IFRS Measures section below) of $56.6 million, or $1.04 basic and diluted loss per share, which excludes from the net loss (i) $2.8 million, or $0.05 per basic and diluted share, of losses recorded on the extinguishment of debt during the period, which resulted from the refinancing of certain credit facilities and lease financing arrangements, and (ii) impairment charges of $16.8 million, or $0.31 per basic and diluted share.

For the three months ended December 31, 2019, the Company had net income of $12.0 million, or $0.22 basic and $0.21 diluted earnings per share. For the three months ended December 31, 2019, the Company’s adjusted net income (see Non-IFRS Measures section below) was $12.8 million, or $0.23 basic and diluted earnings per share, which excludes from net income a $0.7 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, write-off of deferred financing fees.

Results for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company had net income of $94.1 million, or $1.72 basic and $1.67 diluted earnings per share. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company had an adjusted net income (see Non-IFRS Measures section below) of $114.0 million, or $2.09 basic and $2.02 diluted earnings per share, which excludes from net income (i) a $1.0 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted share, gain recorded on the Company's repurchase of its Convertible Notes due 2022 during the third quarter of 2020, (ii) $4.1 million, or $0.07 per basic and diluted share, of losses recorded on the extinguishment of debt during the year, which resulted from the refinancing of certain credit facilities and lease financing arrangements, and (iii) impairment charges of $16.8 million, or $0.31 per basic and $0.30 per diluted share.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company had a net loss of $48.5 million, or $0.97 basic and diluted loss per share. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company’s adjusted net loss (see Non-IFRS Measures section below) was $47.0 million, or $0.94 basic and diluted loss per share, which excludes from the net loss a $1.5 million, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share, write-off of deferred financing fees.

Declaration of Dividend

On February 17, 2021, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per common share, payable on or about March 15, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of March 2, 2021 (the record date). As of February 17, 2021, there were 58,093,147 common shares of the Company outstanding.

Summary of Fourth Quarter and Other Recent Significant Events

• Below is a summary of the average daily Time Charter Equivalent ("TCE") revenue (see Non-IFRS Measures section below) and duration of contracted pool voyages and time charters for the Company's vessels thus far in the first quarter of 2021 as of the date hereof (See footnotes to "Other operating data" table below for the definition of daily TCE revenue):
  
  

• Below is a summary of the average daily TCE revenue earned by the Company's vessels in each of the pools during the fourth quarter of 2020:

• In January 2021, the Company entered into a note distribution agreement with B. Riley Securities, Inc., as sales agent, pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, up to $75.0 million of additional aggregate principal amount of its 7.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025 (the "Senior Notes due 2025"). Since its inception, the Company has issued $7.6 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes due 2025 under the program, resulting in $7.4 million in aggregate net proceeds (net of underwriters commissions and expenses). See “Distribution Agreement of Additional Senior Notes due 2025” below for additional information.
• The Company has committed financing to increase liquidity by approximately $20.8 million, consisting of:
  • $18.9 million from the refinancing of two vessels (after the repayment of existing debt).
  • $1.9 million from the drawdown of financing for a scrubber that has been previously paid for and installed (i.e. there are no additional payments needed in order to drawdown these funds).
  • All of the above funds are expected to be drawn down before the end of the first quarter of 2021.
• The Company is also in discussions with financial institutions to further increase liquidity by up to $61.2 million in connection with the refinancing of 15 vessels.
• In addition to the above, the Company has $20.0 million of additional liquidity available (after the repayment of existing debt) from previously announced financings that have been committed. These drawdowns are expected to occur at varying points in the future as these financings are tied to scrubber installations on the Company’s vessels.
• The Company has $204.1 million in cash and cash equivalents as of February 17, 2021.
• The Company recorded an aggregate impairment charge to certain of its vessels and goodwill of $16.8 million as of December 31, 2020. Under IFRS, impairment losses are calculated as the excess of a vessel’s carrying amount over its recoverable amount. Recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s (i) fair value less costs to sell and (ii) value in use. Value in use is determined by discounting the estimated future cash flows of each vessel to their present value using a discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the asset. At December 31, 2020, the Company’s value in use calculations for certain of the MRs in its fleet were below their carrying amounts which resulted in an impairment charge of $14.2 million. The recoverable amount of goodwill is tested in a similar manner, and the Company’s testing of the carrying value of its goodwill relating to its LR1 reportable segment (which arose from the Company’s acquisition of Navig8 Product Tankers Inc. in 2017), resulted in an additional impairment charge of $2.6 million.

Distribution Agreement of Additional Senior Notes due 2025

In January 2021, the Company entered into a note distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with B. Riley Securities, Inc., as sales agent (the “Agent”), under which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, up to an additional $75.0 million aggregate principal amount of its Senior Notes due 2025 (the "Additional Notes").

Any Additional Notes sold will be issued under the Indenture pursuant to which the Company previously issued $28.1 million aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes due 2025 on May 29, 2020 (the "Initial Notes"). The Additional Notes will have the same terms as (other than date of issuance), form a single series of debt securities with and have the same CUSIP number and be fungible with, the Initial Notes immediately upon issuance, including for purposes of notices, consents, waivers, amendments and any other action permitted under the Indenture. The Senior Notes due 2025 are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol "SBBA."

Sales of the Additional Notes may be made over a period of time, and from time to time, through the Agent, in transactions involving an offering of the Senior Notes due 2025 into the existing trading market at prevailing market prices.

Since inception of this program, the Company has sold 302,566 Additional Notes for aggregate net proceeds (net of underwriting commissions and expenses) of $7.4 million.

Diluted Weighted Number of Shares

The computation of earnings or loss per share is determined by taking into consideration the potentially dilutive shares arising from (i) the Company’s equity incentive plan, and (ii) the Company’s Convertible Notes due 2022. These potentially dilutive shares are excluded from the computation of earnings or loss per share to the extent they are anti-dilutive.

The impact of the Convertible Notes due 2022 on earnings or loss per share is computed using the if-converted method. Under this method, the Company first includes the potentially dilutive impact of restricted shares issued under the Company’s equity incentive plan, and then assumes that its Convertible Notes due 2022, which were issued in May and July 2018, were converted into common shares at the beginning of each period. The if-converted method also assumes that the interest and non-cash amortization expense associated with these notes of $2.9 million and $13.9 million, during the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, respectively, were not incurred. Conversion is not assumed if the results of this calculation are anti-dilutive.

The Company's basic weighted average number of shares outstanding were 54,265,313 for the three months ended December 31, 2020. There were 55,117,113 weighted average shares outstanding including the potentially dilutive impact of restricted shares, and 59,100,976 weighted average shares outstanding under the if-converted method. Since the Company was in a net loss position, the potentially dilutive shares arising from both the Company’s restricted shares, and under the if-converted method, were anti-dilutive for purposes of calculating the loss per share. Accordingly, basic weighted average shares outstanding were used to calculate both basic and diluted loss per share for this period.

The Company's basic weighted average number of shares outstanding were 54,665,898 for the year ended December 31, 2020. There were 56,392,311 weighted average shares outstanding including the potentially dilutive impact of restricted shares, and 61,182,447 weighted average shares outstanding under the if-converted method. The calculation of diluted earnings per share for this period was calculated by including the potentially dilutive impact of restricted shares. The calculation of diluted earnings per share under the if-converted method was anti-dilutive on the basis that under this computation, the interest and non-cash amortization expense associated with these notes of $13.9 million is assumed to have not been incurred.

COVID-19

Since the beginning of calendar year 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 has spread throughout the world and has resulted in numerous actions taken by governments and governmental agencies in an attempt to mitigate the spread of the virus. These measures have resulted in a significant reduction in global economic activity and volatility in the global financial and commodities markets (including oil).

Initially, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sharp reduction of economic activity and a corresponding reduction in the global demand for oil and refined petroleum products. This period of time was marked by extreme volatility in the oil markets and the development of a steep contango in the prices of oil and refined petroleum products. Consequently, an abundance of arbitrage and floating storage opportunities opened up, which resulted in record increases in spot TCE rates during the second quarter of 2020. These market dynamics led to a build up of global oil and refined petroleum product inventories. In June 2020, the underlying oil markets stabilized and global economies began to recover, albeit at a slow pace. These conditions led to the gradual unwinding of excess inventories and thus a reduction in spot TCE rates. Spot TCE rates have remained subdued ever since, as the continuation of the unwinding of inventories, coupled with tepid demand for oil, have had an adverse impact on the demand for our vessels.

We expect that the COVID-19 virus will continue to cause volatility in the commodities markets. The scale and duration of these circumstances is unknowable but could have a material impact on our earnings, cash flow and financial condition in 2021. An estimate of the impact on our results of operations and financial condition cannot be made at this time.

$250 Million Securities Repurchase Program

In September 2020, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a Securities Repurchase Program to purchase up to an aggregate of $250 million of the Company's securities which, in addition to its common shares, currently consist of its Senior Notes due 2025 (NYSE: SBBA), which were issued in May 2020, and Convertible Notes due 2022, which were issued in May and July 2018. No securities have been repurchased under this program since its inception through the date of this press release.

Conference Call

The Company has scheduled a conference call on February 18, 2021 at 8:30 AM Eastern Standard Time and 2:30 PM Central European Time. The dial-in information is as follows:

US Dial-In Number: 1 (855) 861-2416
International Dial-In Number: 1 (703) 736-7422
Conference ID: 3055659

Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time. The information provided on the teleconference is only accurate at the time of the conference call, and the Company will take no responsibility for providing updated information.

There will also be a simultaneous live webcast over the internet, through the Scorpio Tankers Inc. website www.scorpiotankers.com . Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

Webcast URL: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gp5u9drq

Current Liquidity

As of February 17, 2021, the Company had $204.1 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents.

Drydock, Scrubber and Ballast Water Treatment Update

Set forth below is a table summarizing the drydock, scrubber and ballast water treatment system activity that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2020 and that is in progress as of January 1, 2021:

⁽¹⁾ Aggregate costs for vessels completed in the quarter represent the total costs incurred, some of which may have been incurred in prior periods. Aggregate costs for vessels in progress as of January 1, 2021 represent the total costs incurred through that date, some of which may have been incurred in prior periods.

Set forth below are the estimated expected payments to be made for the Company's drydocks, ballast water treatment system installations, and scrubber installations through 2021 (which also include actual payments made during the fourth quarter of 2020 and through February 17, 2021):

⁽¹⁾ Includes estimated cash payments for drydocks, ballast water treatment system installations and scrubber installations.  These amounts include installment payments that are due in advance of the scheduled service and may be scheduled to occur in quarters prior to the actual installation. In addition to these installment payments, these amounts also include estimates of the installation costs of such systems.  The timing of the payments set forth are estimates only and may vary as the timing of the related drydocks and installations finalize.

⁽²⁾ Based upon the commitments received to date, which include the remaining availability under certain financing transactions that have been previously announced, the Company expects to raise approximately $21.9 million of aggregate additional liquidity to finance the purchase and installations of scrubbers (after the repayment of existing debt) once all of the agreements are closed and drawn.  These drawdowns are expected to occur at varying points in the future as these financings are tied to scrubber installations on the Company’s vessels.

Set forth below are the estimated expected number of ships and estimated expected off-hire days for the Company's drydocks, ballast water treatment system installations, and scrubber installations ⁽¹⁾ :

⁽¹⁾ The number of vessels in these tables reflect a certain amount of overlap where certain vessels are expected to be drydocked and have ballast water treatment systems and/or scrubbers installed simultaneously.  Additionally, the timing set forth may vary as drydock, ballast water treatment system installation and scrubber installation times are finalized.
⁽²⁾ Represents the number of vessels scheduled to commence drydock, ballast water treatment system, and/or scrubber installations during the period. It does not include vessels that commenced work in prior periods but will be completed in the subsequent period.
⁽³⁾ Represents total estimated off-hire days during the period, including vessels that commenced work in a previous period.

Debt

Set forth below is a summary of the Company’s outstanding indebtedness as of the dates presented:

⁽¹⁾ In December 2020, the Company drew down $23.7 million from its 2019 DNB / GIEK Credit Facility to refinance the existing indebtedness on an LR2 product tanker, STI Condotti , which was previously financed under the KEXIM Credit Facility. The Company repaid $15.9 million on the KEXIM Credit Facility as part of this transaction. The 2019 DNB / GIEK Credit Facility matures in July 2024, bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.5% per annum, and is expected to be repaid in equal quarterly installments of approximately $1.8 million per quarter in aggregate (which includes this, and previous drawdowns), with a balloon payment due at maturity.

⁽²⁾ In December 2020, the Company drew down $9.6 million from its BNPP Sinosure Credit Facility to partially finance the purchase of scrubbers on five vessels. This borrowing is collateralized by a Handymax product tanker, STI Hackney , which was previously financed under the KEXIM Credit Facility. The Company repaid $9.9 million on the KEXIM Credit Facility as part of this transaction.

A total of $101.5 million has been drawn and there is $32.6 million of remaining availability under the BNPP Sinosure Credit Facility. Each drawdown is split evenly into two facilities, (i) a commercial facility (the "Commercial Facility"), and (ii) a Sinosure facility (the "Sinosure Facility"), which is being funded by the lenders under the Commercial Facility and insured by the China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation ("Sinosure").  The BNPP Sinosure Credit Facility is split into 70 tranches each of which represent the lesser of 85% of the purchase and installation price of 70 scrubbers, or $1.9 million per scrubber (not to exceed 65% of the fair market value of the collateral vessels). The Sinosure Facility and the Commercial Facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.80% and 2.80% per annum, respectively. The Sinosure Facility is expected to be repaid in 10 equal semi-annual installments, and the Commercial Facility is expected to be repaid at the final maturity date of the facility, or October 2025.

In January 2021, the Company signed an agreement to extend the availability period under this loan facility to June 15, 2022 from March 15, 2021.

⁽³⁾ In October and November 2020, the Company drew down an aggregate of $71.8 million from its 2020 $225.0 Million Credit Facility to refinance the existing debt on three LR2 product tankers, STI Nautilus , STI Guard , and STI Gallantry , all of which were previously financed under the CSSC Lease Financing arrangement. The Company repaid $81.7 million on the CSSC Lease Financing and CSSC Scrubber Lease Financing arrangements, in addition to a $1.6 million prepayment fee as part of these transactions during the three months ended December 31, 2020.

The remaining availability of $2.2 million under the 2020 $225.0 Million Credit Facility to partially finance the purchase and installation of scrubbers on two LR2s was terminated in December 2020. This facility has a final maturity of five years from the closing date of the loan, bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin, and is expected to be repaid in equal quarterly installments of approximately $5.3 million per quarter, in aggregate, with a balloon payment due at maturity.

⁽⁴⁾ In February 2021, the Company drew down $21.0 million on a term loan facility with a European financial institution. The proceeds of this loan facility were used to refinance the outstanding debt on an LR2 product tanker, STI Madison , that was previously financed under our KEXIM Credit Facility. The Company repaid $15.9 million on the KEXIM Credit Facility in January 2021 upon its maturity. The loan facility has a final maturity of December 2022, bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.65% per annum, and is expected to be repaid in equal quarterly installments of approximately $0.6 million, with a balloon payment due upon maturity. The remaining terms and conditions, including financial covenants, are similar to those set forth in the Company's existing credit facilities.

⁽⁵⁾ In December 2020, the Company drew down $4.6 million from the upsized portion of the AVIC Lease Financing arrangement to partially finance the purchase and installation of scrubbers on three vessels, one MR and two LR2s, that are currently part of this arrangement. The upsized portion of the lease financing has a final maturity of three years after the first drawdown, bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 4.20% per annum and will be repaid in quarterly principal payments of approximately $0.4 million, in aggregate, for all three vessels.

⁽⁶⁾ In November 2020, the Company closed on the sale and leaseback of two vessels, STI Galata and STI La Boca , to Taiping & Sinopec Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. ("2020 TSFL Lease Financing") for aggregate proceeds of $47.3 million. The Company repaid the outstanding indebtedness of $29.3 million related to these vessels on the 2017 Credit Facility as part of these transactions.

Under the 2020 TSFL Lease Financing arrangement, each vessel is subject to a seven year bareboat charter agreement. The lease financings bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 3.2% per annum and are scheduled to be repaid in equal quarterly repayments of approximately $0.4 million per vessel. The lease arrangement contains purchase options to re-acquire each of the subject vessels beginning on the third anniversary date from the delivery date of the respective vessel, with a purchase obligation upon the expiration of each lease.

This transaction is being accounted for as a financing transaction under IFRS 9 as the transaction does not qualify as a ‘sale’ under IFRS 15 given the Company’s right to repurchase the asset during the lease period. Accordingly, no gain or loss is recorded, and the Company will continue to recognize the vessel as an asset and recognize a financial liability (i.e. debt) for the consideration received (similar to the Company’s other sale and leaseback transactions).

⁽⁷⁾ In November and December 2020, the Company closed on the sale and leaseback of four vessels, STI Donald C Trauscht, STI Esles II , STI San Telmo , and STI Jardins with SPDB Financial Leasing Co., Ltd for aggregate proceeds of $96.5 million (the "2020 SPDB-FL Lease Financing"). The Company repaid the outstanding indebtedness of $62.9 million related to these vessels on the 2017 Credit Facility as part of these transactions. In connection with these repayments, approximately $5.0 million was released from restricted cash that was previously held in a debt service reserve account under the terms and conditions of the 2017 Credit Facility.

Under the 2020 SPDB-FL Lease Financing arrangements, STI Donald C Trauscht and STI San Telmo , are subject to seven-year bareboat charter agreements, and STI Esles II and STI Jardins are subject to eight-year bareboat charter agreements. The lease financings bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin and are scheduled to be repaid in equal quarterly repayments of approximately $0.4 million per vessel. Each agreement contains purchase options to re-acquire each of the subject vessels beginning on the third anniversary date from the delivery date of the respective vessel, with a purchase obligation upon the expiration of each lease.

This transaction is being accounted for as a financing transaction under IFRS 9 as the transaction does not qualify as a ‘sale’ under IFRS 15 given the Company’s right to repurchase the asset during the lease period. Accordingly, no gain or loss is recorded, and the Company will continue to recognize the vessel as an asset and recognize a financial liability (i.e. debt) for the consideration received (similar to the Company’s other sale and leaseback transactions).

⁽⁸⁾ In February 2021, the Company closed on the sale and leaseback of two vessels, STI Memphis and STI Soho, with AVIC International Leasing Co., Ltd. for aggregate proceeds of $44.2 million (the "2021 AVIC Lease Financing"). The Company repaid the outstanding indebtedness of $30.0 million related to these vessels on the 2018 NIBC Credit Facility as part of these transactions.

Under the 2021 AVIC Lease Financing, STI Memphis and STI Soho , are subject to nine-year bareboat charter agreements. The lease financings bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 3.45% per annum and are scheduled to be repaid in equal quarterly repayments of approximately $0.4 million per vessel. Each agreement contains purchase options to re-acquire each of the subject vessels beginning on the second anniversary date from the delivery date of the respective vessel, with a purchase obligation upon the expiration of each lease.

⁽⁹⁾ In January 2021, the Company entered into a distribution agreement with the Agent, under which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, up to an additional $75.0 million aggregate principal amount Additional Notes. The Additional Notes will have the same terms as (other than date of issuance), form a single series of debt securities with and have the same CUSIP number and be fungible with, the Initial Notes immediately upon issuance. Sales of the Additional Notes may be made over a period of time, and from time to time, through the Agent, in transactions involving an offering of the Senior Notes due 2025 into the existing trading market at prevailing market prices. Since its inception, the Company has issued $7.6 million aggregate principal amount of Additional Notes under the program, resulting in $7.4 million in aggregate net proceeds, (net of underwriters commissions and expenses).

⁽¹⁰⁾ Activity in 2021 includes drawdowns to partially finance the purchase and installation of scrubbers on certain vessels in the amounts of: (i) $2.1 million under the ING Credit Facility; (ii) $3.8 million under the BCFL Lease Financing (LR2s); (iii) $5.8 million under the BCFL Lease Financing (MRs); (iv) $1.9 million under the $116.0 Million Lease Financing; and (v) $10.0 million under the China Huarong Lease Financing.

Set forth below are the estimated expected future principal repayments on the Company's outstanding indebtedness as of December 31, 2020, which includes principal amounts due under the Company's secured credit facilities, Convertible Notes due 2022, lease financing arrangements, Senior Notes due 2025, and lease liabilities under IFRS 16 (which also include actual payments made during the fourth quarter of 2020 and through February 17, 2021):

⁽¹⁾ Amounts represent the principal payments due on the Company’s outstanding indebtedness as of December 31, 2020 and do not incorporate the impact of any of the Company’s new financing initiatives which have not closed as of that date.

⁽²⁾ Repayments include (i) the maturity of the Company's KEXIM Credit Facility for $15.9 million, which was refinanced in February 2021 as part of the 2021 $21.0 Million Credit Facility, and (ii) $30.0 million on the NIBC Credit Facility, which was refinanced in February 2021 as part of the 2021 AVIC Lease Financing.

⁽³⁾ Repayments include the maturities of two tranches on the ING Credit Facility for $28.8 million. The Company has received a commitment to refinance this facility within the first quarter of 2021.

⁽⁴⁾ Repayments include the maturity of the outstanding debt related to one vessel under the Citi/K-Sure Credit Facility of $19.3 million.

⁽⁵⁾ Repayments include the maturity of the outstanding debt related to (i) three vessels under the Citi/K-Sure Credit Facility of $57.6 million in aggregate, (ii) the Company's Convertible Notes due 2022 of $151.2 million, and (iii) six vessels under the ING Credit Facility for $76.7 million in aggregate.

⁽⁶⁾ Repayments include the maturity of the outstanding debt related to one vessel under the ABN AMRO/K-Sure Credit Facility of $18.4 million.

⁽⁷⁾ Repayments include the maturity of the outstanding debt related to (i) one vessel under the ABN AMRO/K-Sure Credit Facility of $17.2 million and (ii) one vessel under the Credit Agricole Credit Facility of $16.5 million

Explanation of Variances on the Fourth Quarter of 2020 Financial Results Compared to the Fourth Quarter of 2019

For the three months ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded a net loss of $76.3 million compared to net income of $12.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. The following were the significant changes between the two periods:

• TCE revenue , a Non-IFRS measure, is vessel revenues less voyage expenses (including bunkers and port charges). TCE revenue is included herein because it is a standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a shipping company's performance irrespective of changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot voyages, time charters, and pool charters), and it provides useful information to investors and management. The following table sets forth TCE revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
  
  

• TCE revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2020 decreased by $81.1 million to $138.0 million, from $219.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. Overall average TCE revenue per day decreased to $11,608 per day during the three months ended December 31, 2020, from $19,910 per day during the three months ended December 31, 2019. Given the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, market fundamentals underlying TCE revenue during these periods differed significantly.
  • TCE revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2020 reflected the adverse market conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for crude and refined petroleum products remained low during this period as most countries throughout the world continued to implement restrictive policies in an effort to control the spread of the virus, particularly as a second wave of infections took hold. These headwinds were exacerbated by the continued unwinding of excess inventories that built up in the first half of 2020.
  • TCE revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2019 reflected a favorable shift in supply and demand dynamics driven by the January 1, 2020 implementation date of the International Maritime Organization’s (“IMO”) low sulfur emissions standards. The implementation of these standards impacted the trade flows of both crude and refined petroleum products which, combined with favorable supply and demand dynamics at the time, resulted in strengthening spot market TCE rates across all of the Company’s operating segments during the fourth quarter of 2019.
• Vessel operating costs for the three months ended December 31, 2020 remained consistent, increasing slightly by $1.4 million to $86.8 million, from $85.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. Vessel operating costs were impacted by a net increase of one average vessel for the three months ended December 31, 2020 when compared to the three months ended December 31, 2019. This net increase was due to the delivery of four vessels that were previously under construction (three MRs in the first quarter of 2020 and one MR in September 2020), offset by the redelivery of three Handymax vessels upon the expiration of their bareboat charters in the second and third quarters of 2020.
  
  Vessel operating costs per day also remained consistent, increasing slightly to $6,987 per day for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from $6,928 per day for the three months ended December 31, 2019.

• Depreciation expense - owned or sale leaseback vessels for the three months ended December 31, 2020 increased by $3.5 million to $49.9 million, from $46.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. The increase was due to the Company's drydock, scrubber and ballast water treatment system installations that have taken place over the preceding 12-month period. While the Company has completed most of its scrubber and ballast water treatment installations over the past two years, depreciation expense in future periods is expected to increase, albeit at a lower rate, as the Company continues the installation of ballast water treatment systems and/or scrubbers on certain remaining vessels in 2021 and beyond. The Company expects to depreciate the majority of the cost of this equipment over each vessel's remaining useful life.
• Depreciation expense - right of use assets for the three months ended December 31, 2020 remained consistent, decreasing slightly by $0.1 million to $12.6 million from $12.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. Depreciation expense - right of use assets reflects the straight-line depreciation expense recorded under IFRS 16 - Leases. Right of use asset depreciation expense was impacted by the delivery of four vessels that were previously under construction (three MRs in the first quarter of 2020 and one MR in September 2020), offset by the redelivery of three Handymax vessels upon the expiration of their bareboat charters in the second and third quarters of 2020. The Company had four LR2s, 18 MRs, and four Handymax vessels that were accounted for under IFRS 16 - Leases during the three months ended December 31, 2020. The right of use asset depreciation for these vessels is approximately $0.2 million per MR and Handymax per month, and $0.3 million per LR2 per month. The leases on the four Handymax vessels are scheduled to expire in March 2021.
• Impairment - At December 31, 2020, the Company reviewed the carrying amount of its vessels to determine whether there was an indication that these assets had suffered an impairment. As part of this assessment, the Company determined that impairment indicators existed as a result of the adverse market conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. An indicator of impairment prompts the Company to perform a calculation of the potentially impaired vessel’s value in use in order to appropriately determine the “higher of” its value in use and its fair value less costs to sell (market value). The higher of the two values is then determined to be the vessel’s recoverable amount.
  
  Under IFRS, impairment losses are calculated as the excess of a vessel’s carrying amount over its recoverable amount. Value in use is determined by discounting the estimated future cash flows of each vessel to its present value using a discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the asset. At December 31, 2020, the Company’s value in use calculations for certain of the MRs in its fleet were below their carrying amounts, which resulted in an aggregate impairment charge of $14.2 million. The recoverable amount of goodwill is tested in a similar manner by estimating the future cash flows of the reportable segments to which the goodwill is allocated. The Company’s assessment of the carrying value of its goodwill that was allocated to its LR1 reportable segment, which arose from its acquisition of Navig8 Product Tankers Inc. in 2017, resulted in an additional impairment charge of $2.6 million.
  

• General and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2020, decreased by $1.4 million to $14.3 million, from $15.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. This decrease was due to an overall reduction in costs during the three months ended December 31, 2020, including reductions in restricted stock amortization and compensation expenses.
• Financial expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2020 decreased by $11.4 million to $35.9 million, from $47.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by significant decreases in LIBOR rates, which underpin all of the Company's variable rate borrowings, and which have collapsed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scorpio Tankers Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income or Loss
(unaudited)

⁽¹⁾ The computation of diluted loss per share for the three months ended December 31, 2020 excludes the effect of potentially dilutive unvested shares of restricted stock and the Convertible Notes due 2022 because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. The computation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes the effect of potentially dilutive unvested shares of restricted stock but excludes the effect of the Convertible Notes due 2022 under the if-converted method because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

The computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended December 31, 2019 includes the effect of potentially dilutive unvested shares of restricted stock but excludes the effect of the Convertible Notes due 2022 under the if-converted method because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. The computation of diluted loss per share for the year ended December 31, 2019 excludes the effect of potentially dilutive unvested shares of restricted stock and the Convertible Notes due 2022 because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Scorpio Tankers Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)

Scorpio Tankers Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)

Scorpio Tankers Inc. and Subsidiaries
Other operating data for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
(unaudited)

Fleet list as of February 17, 2021

Dividend Policy

The declaration and payment of dividends is subject at all times to the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. The timing and the amount of dividends, if any, depends on the Company's earnings, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, fleet renewal and expansion, restrictions in loan agreements, the provisions of Marshall Islands law affecting the payment of dividends and other factors.

The Company's dividends paid during 2019 and 2020 were as follows:

On February 17, 2021, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per common share, payable on or about March 15, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of March 2, 2021 (the record date). As of February 17, 2021, there were 58,093,147 common shares of the Company outstanding.

$250 Million Securities Repurchase Program

In May 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a Securities Repurchase Program to purchase up to an aggregate of $250 million of the Company's securities which, in addition to its common shares, currently consist of its Senior Notes due 2025 (NYSE: SBBA), which were issued in May 2020, and Convertible Notes due 2022, which were issued in May and July 2018.

• Between July 1, 2020 and September 7, 2020, the Company repurchased $52.3 million face value of its Convertible Notes due 2022 at an average price of $894.12 per $1,000 principal amount, or $46.7 million.
• In September 2020, the Company acquired an aggregate of 1,170,000 of its common shares at an average price of $11.18 per share for a total of $13.1 million. The repurchased shares are being held as treasury shares.

In September 2020, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a new Securities Repurchase Program to purchase up to an aggregate of $250 million of the Company's securities. The aforementioned repurchases of common stock and convertible notes were executed under the previous securities repurchase program which has since been terminated. No securities have been repurchased under the new program since its inception through the date of this press release.

At the Market Offering Program

In November 2019, the Company entered into an “at the market” offering program (the "ATM Program") pursuant to which it may sell up to $100 million of its common shares, par value $0.01 per share. As part of the ATM Program, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement dated November 7, 2019 (the “Sales Agreement”), with BTIG, LLC, as sales agent (the "Equity ATM Agent"). In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, the Company may offer and sell its common shares from time to time through the Equity ATM Agent by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NYSE at market prices, in block transactions, or as otherwise agreed upon by the Equity ATM Agent and the Company.

In June 2020, the Company sold an aggregate of 137,067 of its common shares at an average price of $18.79 per share for aggregate net proceeds of $2.6 million. No additional sales have been made under this program and there is $97.4 million of remaining availability under the ATM Program as of February 17, 2021.

About Scorpio Tankers Inc.

Scorpio Tankers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of petroleum products worldwide. Scorpio Tankers Inc. currently owns, finance leases or bareboat charters-in 135 product tankers (42 LR2 tankers, 12 LR1 tankers, 63 MR tankers and 18 Handymax tankers) with an average age of 5.2 years. Additional information about the Company is available at the Company's website www.scorpiotankers.com , which is not a part of this press release.

Non-IFRS Measures

Reconciliation of IFRS Financial Information to Non-IFRS Financial Information

This press release describes time charter equivalent revenue, or TCE revenue, adjusted net income or loss, and adjusted EBITDA, which are not measures prepared in accordance with IFRS ("Non-IFRS" measures). The Non-IFRS measures are presented in this press release as we believe that they provide investors and other users of our financial statements, such as our lenders, with a means of evaluating and understanding how the Company's management evaluates the Company's operating performance. These Non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation from, as substitutes for, or superior to financial measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The Company believes that the presentation of TCE revenue, adjusted net income or loss with adjusted earnings per share, basic and diluted, and adjusted EBITDA are useful to investors or other users of our financial statements, such as our lenders, because they facilitate the comparability and the evaluation of companies in the Company’s industry. In addition, the Company believes that TCE revenue, adjusted net income or loss with adjusted earnings per share, basic and diluted, and adjusted EBITDA are useful in evaluating its operating performance compared to that of other companies in the Company’s industry. The Company’s definitions of TCE revenue, adjusted net income or loss with adjusted earnings per share, basic and diluted, and adjusted EBITDA may not be the same as reported by other companies in the shipping industry or other industries.

TCE revenue, on a historical basis, is reconciled above in the section entitled "Explanation of Variances on the Fourth Quarter of 2020 Financial Results Compared to the Fourth Quarter of 2019". The Company has not provided a reconciliation of forward-looking TCE revenue because the most directly comparable IFRS measure on a forward-looking basis is not available to the Company without unreasonable effort.

Reconciliation of Net (Loss) / Income to Adjusted Net (Loss) / Income

(1) Summation differences due to rounding

Reconciliation of Net (Loss) / Income to Adjusted EBITDA

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward?looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward?looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward?looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "target," "project," "likely," "may," "will," "would," "could" and similar expressions identify forward?looking statements.

The forward?looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Company’s records and other data available from third parties. Although management believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Company’s control, there can be no assurance that the Company will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. The Company undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, except as required by law, to publicly update or revise any forward?looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Company’s view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward?looking statements include unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, length and severity of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including its effect on demand for petroleum products and the transportation thereof, expansion and growth of the Company’s operations, risks relating to the integration of assets or operations of entities that it has or may in the future acquire and the possibility that the anticipated synergies and other benefits of such acquisitions may not be realized within expected timeframes or at all, the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with the Company, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in the Company’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Company’s vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off?hires, and other factors. Please see the Company's filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of certain of these and other risks and uncertainties.

Scorpio Tankers Inc.
212-542-1616