Hoegh LNG suspends dividends and cuts costs

Norway’s Hoegh LNG will stop paying dividends to investors as part of a move in reducing costs due to the uncertain environment caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Hoegh’s board has decided to suspend dividends, bonus scheme for executive management and onshore personnel until further notice, the floating LNG player said on Monday.

The cost-saving plan will focus on overhead and vessel operating costs, targeting $9 to $11 million in savings for 2020, compared with the company’s original plans and budgets for this year.

The estimated effect includes the elimination of bonus and other costs, as well as deferring costs, scheduled maintenance and projects to subsequent periods, Hoegh LNG said.

About one-third of the estimated effect relates to costs being postponed to 2021.

In addition, chairman of Hoegh LNG’s board Morten W. Høegh and director Leif O. Høegh have waived their board remuneration for 2019, payable in 2020.

Morten W. Høegh also waived the board remuneration payable by Höegh LNG Partners.

“The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the company’s operations and business outlook will be continuously monitored and evaluated, and further cost reduction and liquidity preservation measures could be implemented at future dates,” Hoegh LNG said.

New credit facility

Hoegh LNG has executed and signed a new revolving credit facility, up to $80 million worth, which was announced in January this year.

The facility is provided by three of the company’s relationship banks, and $65 million of the facility amount is earmarked for repaying the company’s HLNG02 bond loan which matures in June 2020.

The remaining part of the facility will be used for general corporate purposes, according to Hoegh LNG.