TORM plc

Thank you for standing by. My name is Janine and I will be your conference operator for today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to TORM third quarter 2026 earnings call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. To ask a question, please press star one and to withdraw your question, please press star one again. I would now like to turn the call over to Jacob Meldgaard, the Chief Executive Officer. Please go ahead.

Thank you and welcome to everyone joining us here today. As we addressed last time, we believe the one-form platform is fundamental to understanding how we create value. So by integrating our commercial, technical and operational capabilities, We can make decisions quickly and optimize the value of each vessel throughout its lifecycle. For us, this is not simply about replacing vessels at a certain age. Through disciplined maintenance, we preserve the quality and commercial flexibility of our fleet, giving us the option to retain well-performing vessels for longer when that creates more value. At the same time, We actively buy and sell vessels and invest in the fleet when we see attractive opportunities. The objective is to maximize the earnings and value of each vessel throughout the cycle. This approach is supported by our commercial performance. From 2023 through 2025, our MR fleet generated more than USD 200 million of additional CC earnings compared with the peer average. We have continued to outperform during 2026. Finally, strong operating performance generates cash, which allows us to balance attractive shareholder distributions with disciplined investments in the fleet. That combination of operational performance, active fleet management and disciplined capital allocation is at the core of the One Torn model. Turning to slide four. You can see how that approach has translated into both fleet investment and shareholder returns. Since the end of 2022, we have expanded the fleet from 78 to 95 vessels, while also building a significant pipeline of future deliveries. Importantly, while some of our peers have taken a different approach, we have deliberately maintained more vessels on the water over the past year. In a strong freight market, This has allowed us to capture more of the economic value from our existing fleet rather than accelerating disposals simply because of age. And we have done this while returning substantial cash to shareholders. Since 2023, Tormat distributed US$17.45 per share in dividends. We've also used the equity market selectively when it made sense, including issuing shares as part of the consideration for Vessel Acquisitions. In total, approximately 20 million shares have been issued over the period, helping us capture attractive fleet investment opportunities. So our approach is not to choose between distributions and investment. It is about allocating capital dynamically, maximizing the value of the existing fleet, returning cash to shareholders, and investing when we see opportunities to strengthen future earnings capacity. And that brings us naturally to the third quarter, where we continued to actually manage both the existing fleet and our future delivery pipeline. I'll turn to slide five. During the third quarter, we generated CCE earnings of US$353 million, compared with US$236 million in the third quarter of last year. EBITDA was US$274 million, Compared with US dollar 152 million, one net profit reached US dollar 199 million compared with US dollar 78 million a year ago. These results came after an exceptional second quarter and demonstrated that earnings remained at very strong levels throughout the third quarter. We also continued to actually manage the existing fleet. During the quarter, we sold the 2007 built LR-1 and the 2008 built MR TORM Laura. Following these divestments, our fleet comprises 95 vessels underwater. At the same time, we continue to advance our fleet renewal and growth program. Following the acquisition of six MR resale vessels during the second quarter and our previously announced order for six MR new buildings, we exercised options for an additional two MR new buildings during the third quarter. After end quarter, we agreed to invest in eight LR2 new buildings through a 50-50 joint venture and secured options for an additional two MR new buildings. Taken together, these investments give us a significant pipeline of future fleet deliveries through 2030, supporting both the ongoing renewal of the fleet and our future earnings capacity. So when we look at the quarter, there are really two messages. The existing TORM platform continues to generate very strong earnings and cash flow. And second, we continue to actually manage and invest in the fleet with a focus on future earnings and long-term shareholder value. Let me now turn to the market environment supporting those earnings. And here, please turn to slide number seven. The product-hanger market remains exceptionally Thank you very much. Thank you. In a crude tanker market where rates have reached exceptionally high levels, lifting sentiment and earnings across the broader tanker sector. This is reflected in our commercial performance, where our fourth quarter bookings secured to date average US$78,000 per day across vessel classes, demonstrating our ability to capture value in a rapidly strengthening market. At the same time, The historical ranges on this slide also remind us that shipping remains a highly cyclical and volatile industry. Market conditions can change quickly, which makes commercial flexibility increasingly important. Turning to slide 8, if we step back from product angles and look at the broader oil market, the key element here is that Persian Gulf crude exports are recovering towards pre-conflict levels. That matters because crude flows are the starting point of the entire value chain. While it may take longer for the Middle East clean product flows to return to pre-war levels, improved feedstock availability globally enables refineries in other regions to increase utilization and ultimately export more clean products. In that sense, product exports could represent the next leg of the recovery. And importantly, These additional volumes would enter a product tanker market that is already tight and generating attractive earnings. At the same time, operational inefficiencies in the Persian Gulf continue to constrain effective vessel availability. So we potentially have additional cargo demand entering a market where effective vessel supply is already constrained. And that brings us directly to the next slide, to slide nine. Where here we see the other side of the equation, effective business supply. One point we have highlighted repeatedly is that headline fleet growth figures overstate the actual supply available to the clean product tanker market. This slide is a good illustration of that dynamic. While the nominal product tanker fleet has grown by around 7% year to date, the fleet actively trading clean products has actually contracted by roughly 4%. The reason is straightforward. A growing number of LR2s have migrated into dirty trades, effectively removing capacity from the CPP market. In fact, despite significant new building deliveries this year, there are fewer LR2s trading clean products today than at the start of the year. So the important metric is not simply how many vessels are being delivered, it is how much effective capacity is actually available to the clean market. Turning to slide 10, the longer-term supply picture is also more nuanced than the headline order book suggests. New building deliveries need to be considered against the significant amount of existing capacity that will require replacement over time, as well as vessels that are currently unavailable to mainstream trades. This is particularly visible in the combined LO2 and Afromax segment, where more than a quarter of the fleet is currently sanctioned and The key takeaway here is that fleet replacement remains a powerful balancing mechanism. When combined with the reduced availability of sanctioned vessels, effective fleet growth appears considerably lower than the headline order book could indicate. Turning to slide 11, the final point is what the market could look like as the current disruption eventually normalizes. As inventories have been drawn down, replenishment of strategic and commercial stocks could become a meaningful source of incremental demand. We estimate that inventory rebuilding alone could increase global oil trade volumes by roughly 1-2% over the next 12 months. Importantly, product anchor fundamentals were already strong before the disruption. Effective fleet growth remains constrained, while demand continues to be supported We therefore do not view the reopening of this trade as the end of the story. Rather, it marks the beginning of a new adjustment phase that can continue to support tanker demand. To conclude, while the current geopolitical environment continues to support trade markets, our constructive view does not rely on disruption. Whenever tensions in the Middle East begin to ease, We believe the underlying fundamentals will remain supportive, with resilient trade activity, inventory rebuilding and constrained effective tonnage supply. This includes EU sanctions against Russia, which we believe will continue to support longer trading distances and tonnage miles for the foreseeable future. At the same time, the current environment highlights the importance of adaptability, a strong balance sheet and operational execution. These are core strengths of TORM and position us well to capture opportunities, navigate volatility and create value across market cycles. With that, I'll hand it over to Kim, who will take us through thoughts.

Thank you, Jacob. Turning to slide 13, the third quarter delivered another very strong financial performance with earnings significantly ahead of the same period last year. TGE earnings reached USD 353 million up from USD 236 million in Q3 2025. This was translated into EVDA of USD 274 million and net profit of USD 199 million compared with USD 152 million and USD 78 million respectively a year ago. On a feed-wide basis, we achieved an average TGE rate of approximately USD 40,100 per day compared with approximately USD 31,000 per day in the same quarter last year. Performance was strong across the fleet, with LR2s earning around USD 52,600 per day, LR1s around USD 38,700 and EMRs around USD 36,100 per day. While earnings came down from the exceptionally strong second quarter, Q3 continued to demonstrate the significant earnings power of our platform, supported by a strong product anchor market and solid commercial performance. Operating expenses were US$7,894 per day, mainly driven by higher crew change expenses and consumable costs. Overall, Q3 represents another quarter of strong earnings and cash generation, leaving TORM in a strong financial position. And with that, let us turn to the development in RTG earnings and EBITDA. Turning to slide 14, this chart puts the third quarter performance into perspective over the past five quarters. While earnings moderated from the exceptionally strong second quarter EBDA of USD 274 million remained materially above the same quarter last year, demonstrating continued earnings strength of the one-term platform. That strong earnings generation continues to translate into significant shareholder returns, which brings us to slide 15. Net profit for the third quarter was USD 199 million compared with USD 78 million in the same quarter last year. Basic earnings per share increased to USD 1.94 from USD 0.79 a year ago. Based on these results, the Board has approved an interim dividend of USD 1.35 per share, more than double the USD 0.62 per share distributed for the same quarter last year. This represents a total cash distribution to shareholders of USD 138 million. In determining the distribution, the board has taken a prudent approach to capital allocation while maintaining a payout ratio of 78%. This reflects the significant new building pipeline ahead of us and our objectives of preserving financial capacity to fund these investments, while maintaining a strong balance sheet and healthy liquidity. This allows us to invest from a position of financial strength, which brings me to our balance sheet on slide 16. Net interest bearing debt. was approximately USD 697 million, while our net Loan-to-Value ratio stood at 25.9% at the end of the quarter. Importantly, our Loan-to-Value calculation already reflects the new building investments we have committed to, both directly and in the joint venture setup. Once an investment is agreed, we include both the committed CAPEX and the corresponding value on the vessel in the calculation. At the end of the quarter, this includes approximately USD 650 million of committed new building CAPEX bringing total loans and commitments to approximately USD 1.3 billion. This is measured against total vessel values of approximately USD 5 billion, which similarly include the value of the vessels under construction. So the 25.9% loans to value already incorporates our committed new building program and demonstrates that we continue to have significant asset bagging and financial flexibility. Finally, as shown on the right hand side, our debt maturity profile remains well spread over the coming years, including the US dollar 200 million bond maturing in 2029. Please turn to slide 17 for our financial outlook, where strong freight, environment and our high level of coverage provides good visibility for the remainder of the year. Our freight coverage for the fourth quarter provides further evidence of the exceptional market strength. For LR2s, we have covered 656 spot days at approximately USD 185,000 per day, contributing to average LR2 coverage for approximately USD 112,000 per day. Overall coverage is very strong for LR2s at approximately USD 106,000 per day and MRs at approximately USD 60,000 per day. Importantly, this shows that the strength extends across our fleet and is not solely a two-story. Based on this strong coverage and our expectations for the continued market strength throughout the remainder of the fourth quarter, we are raising the low end of our full-year TCE guidance by 50 million USD. We now expect full-year TCE of USD 1.75 to 1.9 billion compared with USD 1.7 to 1.9 billion following our guidance upgrade in October. We are also raising the lower end of our EBITDA guidance by 50 million USD with full year EBITDA now expected at USD 1.35 to 1.5 billion compared with USD 1.3 to 1.5 billion previously. And with that, I will hand it back to the operator for questions.