Safe Bulkers agrees to novation of Japanese panamax and sale of kamsarmax

Each vessel is scheduled to be delivered in 1Q17. The two transactions were evaluated and approved by a Special Committee of the company’s Board of Directors. This committee was wholly comprised of independent members of the Board and advised by independent counsel.

The Special Committee obtained two appraisals from independent third party brokers for each newbuild vessel and negotiated the terms of each transaction. The higher of the two appraisals obtained from the independent third party brokers was US$21.5 million for Hull No. S835 and US$24.5 million for Hull No. 1551; or US$46 million in the aggregate. The remaining capital expenditure requirements of the company in respect of Hull No. S835 and Hull No. 1551 were US$48.2 million in the aggregate. The difference of US$2.2 million between the aggregate vessel valuations and the remaining aggregate capital expenditure requirements with respect to the newbuilds, as well as the commission of 1% of the contract price payable to the related party management company with respect to each of the newbuilds, have been waived in favour of the company.

Through these transactions, the company will substantially preserve its liquidity position and avoid the need to incur additional indebtedness. As a result of the transactions described above, the company will record an aggregate non-cash impairment loss of US$16.6 million in 3Q16, which represents installments already paid in respect of Hull No. S835 and Hull No. 1551.

Dr Loukas Barmparis, President of the company, said: “Consistent with our efforts to preserve liquidity through arrangements with our commercial lenders and maintenance of a lean operational profile, these transactions have allowed the company to continue to minimise its cash outflows for capital expenditures. Of the four newbuild vessels that were previously on the company’s orderbook, we have been able to finance one newbuild vessel through the issuance of preferred equity securities and we now have entered into arrangements to sell or novate two additional newbuild vessels, thus substantially preserving the Company’s liquidity position.”

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/shipping/07102016/safe-bulkers-agrees-to-novation-japanese-panamax-and-sale-of-kamsarmax/