Tallink Grupp
Half Year financial report

AS Tallink Grupp Unaudited Consolidated Interim Report Q2 2021

In the second quarter (1 April – 30 June) of the 2021 financial year, Tallink Grupp AS and its subsidiaries (the Group) carried 427 767 passengers, which is 10.2% more than in the second quarter last year. The number of cargo units transported increased by 6.0% in the same comparison. The Group’s unaudited consolidated revenue increased by 32.5% or EUR 21.1 million to a total of EUR 86.1 million. Unaudited EBITDA was EUR 4.4 million (EUR 2.4 million in Q2 2020) and unaudited net loss was EUR 24.3 million (net loss of EUR 27.4 million in Q2 2020).

In the second quarter, the Group’s operations and operating results were strongly influenced by the COVID-19 situation, restrictions on international travel and communications advising against travelling by state authorities. The operational factors impacting results were following:

• during the quarter 2 shuttle vessels, 3 cargo vessels, 4 cruise ferries and effectively one hotel were operating in limited capacity;
• short-term charter of Silja Europa in June;
• COVID-related restrictions imposed by state authorities;
• operations of 5 vessels and effectively 3 hotels were suspended due to imposed travel restrictions;
• significant increase in the global fuel prices;
• preparation costs for starting employment of four vessels from July 2021 onward;
• cost savings from previously implemented measures.
  
  

To enhance travelling and contribute to resolving the COVID-19 crisis, from the second quarter the Group offers the opportunity for passengers to perform COVID-19 antigen testing and get vaccine shots on board the Tallinn-Helsinki shuttle ferries.

Operations during the quarter
Given the uncertainty regarding the duration of the crisis and the course of the post-crisis recovery with progress of vaccinations, the business environment has remained challenging.
In the current situation, the focus has remained on costs and cash flow management to ensure the sustainability of the Group’s core business.

Cruise ferry Silja Europa was chartered out in the beginning of June. Cruise ferry Silja Serenade started operating on Tallinn-Helsinki and Helsinki-Mariehamn routes in June. Starting from 23 June, the cruise ferry Silja Europa operates on Tallinn-Helsinki route.

Operations of Tallinn-Stockholm route vessels, Baltic Queen and Victoria I, Riga-Stockholm route vessels, Romantika and Isabelle, and Helsinki-Stockholm route vessel, Silja Symphony, were suspended. Tallink City Hotel renovation was completed in June and the hotel was reopened on 30 June. Tallink Spa & Conference Hotel and Tallink Express Hotel operated in very limited capacity. Tallink Hotel Riga has remained closed since October 2020 and will not be opened in 2021.

Estonia-Finland routes’ shuttle vessels Megastar and Star, cargo vessel Seawind, Paldiski-Kapellskär route cargo vessels Regal Star and Sailor, and Turku-Stockholm route cruise ferries Baltic Princess and Galaxy continued operating to ensure international movement of cargo. Operations, particularly Estonia-Finland route, were impacted negatively by continuous traveling restrictions imposed by Finnish Government.

Sales and segments
In the second quarter of 2021, the Group’s total revenue increased by EUR 21.1 million to EUR 86.1 million. Total revenue in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019 was EUR 65.0 million and EUR 256.1 million, respectively.

Revenue from route operations (core business) increased by EUR 9.7 million to EUR 66.1 million. The passenger operations and segment results on all routes were significantly affected by the COVID-19 situation and imposed travel restrictions.

The number of passengers carried on the Estonia-Finland routes increased by 4.1% compared to last year. The number of transported cargo units increased by 7.9%. Estonia-Finland routes’ revenue increased by EUR 7.5 million to EUR 41.1 million. The segment result increased by EUR 2.6 million to EUR 0.2 million. The segment reflects operations of two shuttle vessels, a cargo vessel and two cruise ferries in June.

The number of passengers carried on the Finland-Sweden routes increased by 52.3%. The number of transported cargo units decreased by 8.2%. The route’s revenue increased by EUR 2.6 million to EUR 18.8 million and the segment result improved by 37.6% or EUR 6.9 million to EUR -11.5 million. The segment reflects Turku-Stockholm operations and expenses of suspended Helsinki-Stockholm route cruise ferries. The results do not reflect EUR 4.7 million government assistance related to operation of Turku-Stockholm route (mainly for personnel expenses and variable costs).

On Estonia-Sweden routes’ the number of passengers carried increased by 17.8%. The number of transported cargo units increased by 28.2%. Estonia-Sweden routes’ revenue increased by EUR 0.9 million to EUR 6.1 million and the segment result improved by 12.1% to EUR -4.3 million. Estonia-Sweden route reflects operation of two cargo vessels and expenses of two suspended cruise ferries.

The Latvia-Sweden route operations were suspended in the second quarter. The EUR -3.5 million segment results reflects the expenses of the two suspended cruise ferries.

Revenue from the segment other increased by a total of EUR 11.3 million and amounted to EUR 20.0 million. The increase was mainly driven by various retail activities and charter revenue.

Earnings
In the second quarter of 2021, the Group’s gross profit improved by EUR 13.2 million compared to the same period last year, amounting to EUR -8.7 million. EBITDA increased by EUR 1.9 million and amounted to EUR 4.4 million.

Despite continuously strict travelling restrictions, lower impact from support measures and government assistance, increasing fuel prices and expenses made in preparation for employment of vessels from July 2021 onward, the increase in EBITDA compared to last year, was achieved due to previously taken steps to reduce the cost base and increase efficiency.

The Group used temporary salary support measures offered by Estonian government which reduced personnel expenses by EUR 3.9 million. In the second quarter of last year, the impact of comparable salary support measure amounted to EUR 10.5 million. In addition, government assistance from Group’s home markets amounted to EUR 6.1 million (EUR 16.1 million in second quarter of 2020).

During the quarter, there was a reduction in ships’ fairway dues in Estonia amounting to EUR 0.6 million. The reduction is valid until the end of 2021. The exemption from ships’ fairway dues in the second quarter of 2020 amounted to EUR 1.1 million.

In comparison with the second quarter of 2020 the combined impact of government assistance and support measures was EUR 17.1 million lower.

Amortisation and depreciation expense decreased by EUR 1.4 million to EUR 23.8 million compared to last year.

Net finance costs increased by EUR 0.6 million compared to the second quarter last year. The change includes an increase of EUR 0.8 million in interest expense and gain of EUR 0.2 million from foreign exchange differences.

The Group’s unaudited net loss for the second quarter of 2021 was EUR 24.3 million or EUR 0.036 per share compared to a net loss of EUR 27.4 million or EUR 0.041 per share in 2020 and net profit of EUR 14.9 million or EUR 0.022 per share in 2019.

Results of the first 6 months of 2021
In the first 6 months (1 January – 30 June) of the 2021 financial year the Group carried 0.7 million passengers which is 64.4% less compared to the same period last year. The Group’s unaudited revenue for the period decreased by 36.4% and amounted to EUR 139.8 million. Unaudited EBITDA for the first 6 months was EUR -1.9 million (EUR 1.2 million, 6 months 2020) and unaudited net loss was EUR 58.8 million (EUR 57.6 million, 6 months 2020).

The financial result of the first 6 months of 2021 was impacted by suspension of operations of vessels and hotels due to the COVID-19 situation and travel restrictions as well as increase in global fuel prices.

Investments
The Group’s investments in second quarter of 2021 amounted to EUR 3.1 million.

Due to the changed economic environment and suspension of vessel operations, ship-related investments were kept to minimum and only critical maintenance and repair works were performed.

Investments were also made in the development of the online booking and sales systems as well as other administrative systems and in relation to the opening of Burger King restaurants.

Dividends
Due to a deteriorated operating environment after the reporting date and considering the Company’s long-term interests, the Supervisory Board proposed not to pay dividends, which was approved by the shareholders on annual general meeting on 15 June 2021.

Financial position
At the end of the second quarter 2021, the Group’s net debt had increased by EUR 112.9 million to EUR 706.7 million compared to the end of the second quarter 2020.

In order to relieve the liquidity issues caused by the COVID-19 situation, Group entities were allowed to postpone tax payments in 2020 and 2021 by home markets tax boards. The postponed tax liabilities amounted to EUR 8.0 million at the end of the quarter and have different settlement dates over the coming years.

As at 30 June 2021, the Group’s cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 37.8 million (EUR 21.9 million at 30 June 2020) and the Group had EUR 78.9 million in unused credit lines (EUR 83.0 million at 30 June 2020). The total liquidity buffer (cash, cash equivalents and unused credit facilities) amounted to EUR 116.7 million (EUR 104.9 million at 30 June 2020). In addition, the Group had undrawn part of EUR 90.0 million of the EUR 100.0 million working capital loan from Nordic Investment Bank, as at the reporting date. At the same time, the current trade and other payables amounted to EUR 88.9 million (EUR 87.0 million at 30 June 2020).

By the end of the quarter, the Group agreed with financial institutions on the amendment and the prolongation of the waivers of financial covenants and the postponement of principal payments under existing loan agreements. From the second quarter of 2021 until the end of first quarter of 2022 repayments in the total amount of EUR 82.1 million are deferred and added to the last payment of each respective loan facility. The deferrals for the 2021 financial year amount to EUR 67.4 million.

Personnel
As at 30 June 2021, the Group had 4 352 employees (6 545 at 30 June 2020). The number of employees includes 215 employees on maternity leave. 

Due to the COVID-19 situation the following changes regarding personnel were effective in the second quarter of 2021:

• majority of the Finnish personnel were on unpaid leave, except the staff on duty on vessels; by the end of the quarter, the number of personnel on unpaid leave decreased due to the preparations for starting operations;
• workload reduced to 20% for a large percentage of Swedish employees and up to 80% of salary remunerated by the Swedish Government.

In the second quarter of 2021, staff costs amounted to EUR 25.6 million (EUR 28.0 million in 2020), which is an 8.3% decrease compared to the same period last year. The staff costs were impacted by salary support in a total amount of EUR 3.9 million (EUR 10.5 million paid in April-June 2020) from the government of Estonia, paid directly to employees in April and May. In the second quarter of 2020 the salary expenses were lowered by temporary reduction of workload and remuneration to 70% for all Estonian staff for three months and for all Latvian staff for two months. This measure was not in place in the second quarter of 2021. Salary support paid by the government of Sweden amounted to EUR 2.8 million (EUR 5.3 million in 2020) and is recognised as other operating income.

Economic Environment
The Group considers Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Latvia its home markets with the most exposure to the economic and travel restriction developments in Finland. The Group has also high exposure to the economic and travel restriction developments in Estonia and Sweden. In the second quarter of 2021, the Group’s economic environment was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions related to international travelling.

The consumer confidence for Finnish and Swedish consumers improved by the end of the quarter, however, the overall demand in passenger traffic remained very low due to hindrances in travelling. The international travel restrictions and reduced air traffic has effectively meant absence of demand from the customers from outside our home markets since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state-level travelling and border-crossing restrictions effectively allowed to offer only international cargo operations to and from Sweden.

In the second quarter, the cargo market fared better relative to the passenger business, supported by the recovering business confidence on all home markets. Yet the market conditions regarding price competition remained challenging resulting in a stagnant development in the average revenue per unit compared to the previous year.

Measured in euros the global fuel prices increased, on average, by 107% in the second quarter of 2021 compared to last year’s low base. The annual increase in the effective prices for the Group was lower due to fuel price agreements with the price fixed above the market level effective a year ago. Increase in the fuel prices was the main cause of the Group’s overall fuel cost increasing by 32% compared to the same period last year.

The European Union, Finland and Sweden, made strong progress with the vaccination process in the second quarter and at the reporting date it can be estimated that the level of protection against COVID-19 among the adult population in Finland and Sweden has reached about 80% (either vaccinated with at least one shot or recovered from COVID-19). Despite a good start, the vaccination pace in Estonia remained slow in the quarter with the level of immunized adult population estimated to have reached only around 65%.

For the foreseeable future, the key risk has to do with global and regional developments with the COVID-19 situation, progress of vaccinations and related restrictions on travel and other economic activities, its economic damage and its impact on local and international trade.

Events in Q2
Extensions of the term of office and addition to the Management Board
In April, the Supervisory Board of AS Tallink Grupp extended the term of office of the Group’s Chief Executive Officer Paavo Nõgene by three years and extended the term of office of Management Board Member Lembit Kitter until the end of 2021. The Supervisory Board appointed Margus Schults as the new and additional member to the Group’s Management Board from 29 April 2021.

Short-term charter agreements
In the beginning of June, Silja Europa was on a short-term charter in the United Kingdom to accommodate Devon and Cornwall police officers involved in the G7 event.

In late June, the Group and Tanger MED Port Authority S.A., a Moroccan state-owned company, signed short-term time-charter agreements for the vessels Victoria I and Romantika. The vessels will operate on international shipping routes between Morocco and France and between Morocco and Italy in July-September 2021.

Changes in AS Tallink Grupp’s loan agreements
The Group and its lending banks signed amendments to loan facility agreements whereby the loan principal repayments were rescheduled and waivers of selected financial covenants were agreed. The loans' final maturities remained unchanged. Repayments in the total amount of EUR 82.1 million are deferred and added to the last payment of each respective loan facility.

Opening of Burger King restaurant in Latvia
In June 2021, third Burger King restaurant was opened in Latvia. By the end of second quarter, the Group operated 10 Burger King restaurants.

Completion of renovation and reopening of Tallink City Hotel
The renovation of Tallink City Hotel was completed and the hotel was reopened on 30 June 2021.

Events after the reporting period and outlook
Christening of the new LNG shuttle vessel MyStar
The new LNG shuttle vessel MyStar will be christened according to the traditions of shipbuilding in Rauma shipyard on 12 August 2021. The godmother of the new vessel will be the President of the Republic of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid.

Opening of Burger King restaurants
The Group continues preparations for opening additional Burger King restaurants in 2021. In the second half of the year altogether six new Burger King restaurants are planned to be opened in Latvia and Lithuania.

Short-term outlook of vaccination against COVID-19
At the date of the report nearly 69% of the adult population of European Union (EU) had received at least one vaccine dose which still needs to improve to reach the EU vaccination program target of having 70% of the entire EU adult population vaccinated by summer 2021. Depending on the pace of the continuation of vaccination and natural infections, the pandemic might be controlled by the end 2021 in Europe, according to EU.

Earnings
The Group’s earnings are not generated evenly throughout the year. The summer period is the high season in the Group’s operations. In management’s opinion and based on prior experience most of the Group’s earnings are generated during the summer (June-August). However, this year, dependent on situation with the vaccinations and cross-border travelling, the period may extend to autumn.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation the earnings outlook is uncertain and continues to be strongly affected by external factors such as the progress of vaccination, states’ decisions regarding the timing of the lifting of travel restrictions and allowing passenger traffic as well as the duration of the recovery period. Management expects the passenger traffic between Estonia and Finland to recover rapidly after the restrictions and authorities’ advice against travelling have been lifted.

Research and development projects
Tallink Grupp AS does not have any substantial ongoing research and development projects. The Group is continuously seeking opportunities for expanding its operations in order to improve its results.

The Group is continuously looking for innovative ways to upgrade the ships and passenger area technology to improve its overall performance through modern solutions. The most recent technical projects are focusing on the solutions for reduction of the ships CO2 footprint.

Risks
The Group’s business, financial position and operating results could be materially affected by various risks. These risks are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently believe are immaterial or unlikely, could also impair our business. The order of presentation of the risk factors below is not intended to be an indication of the probability of their occurrence or of their potential effect on our business.

• COVID-19 situation and developments
• Governmental restrictions on business activities
• Accidents, disasters
• Macroeconomic developments
• Changes in laws and regulations
• Relations with trade unions
• Increase in the fuel prices and interest rates
• Market and customer behaviour

Key Figures

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

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

Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income

Consolidated statement of financial position

Consolidated statement of cash flows

Joonas Joost
Financial director

AS Tallink Grupp
Sadama 5
10111 Tallinn, Estonia
E-mail joonas.joost@tallink.ee

Attachments

• Tallink Grupp 2021 Q2 ENG
• Tallink Grupp 2021 Q2 Financial Data
• Tallink Grupp 2021 Q2 Presentation