HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ardmore Shipping Corporation (NYSE: ASC) ("Ardmore" or the "Company") today announced that the Company has taken delivery of the first three of six MR product / chemical tankers that it agreed to acquire in June 2016. The Ardmore Endurance, Ardmore Explorer and Ardmore Engineer are 49,500 deadweight tonne Eco-Design IMO 2/3 MR product / chemical tankers constructed by STX Offshore and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Korea in 2013, 2014 and 2014, respectively. The vessels delivered on August 31, 2016, September 7, 2016 and September 12, 2016, respectively, and are currently employed in the spot market.
The Company also announced that it has completed debt financing for its recent acquisition of six vessels. Four of the vessels are being financed through a new $71.3 million senior debt facility with ABN AMRO. The facility is an amortizing senior term loan with a final maturity date in 2023. The covenants and other conditions are consistent with those of the Company's existing credit facilities.
The remaining two vessels have been added to the existing credit facility with ABN AMRO and DVB Bank, which was completed in January 2016. The facility has been upsized by $36.6 million, and NIBC Bank has agreed to join ABN AMRO and DVB Bank as lenders under the facility. The upsized portion is in two tranches to coincide with the delivery of the two vessels, and the new tranches will mature in 2023. The covenants and other conditions are consistent with the original facility.
The Company further announced that it has agreed to sell the 2005-built, 29,000 deadweight tonne Eco-Mod product / chemical tanker Ardmore Centurion for a price of $15.7 million. The vessel is expected to deliver to the buyer in late September 2016.
Anthony Gurnee, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"We are pleased to welcome these high-quality, modern MR product / chemical tankers to Ardmore's operating fleet. Alongside the three additional vessels that are scheduled to deliver to Ardmore in the coming weeks, these recent acquisitions will expand our long-term earnings power, enhance our cost efficiency and lower our breakeven costs. We also appreciate the support of ABN AMRO, DVB Bank, and NIBC Bank in providing bank financing for all of our newly acquired vessels."
About Ardmore Shipping Corporation
Ardmore owns and operates a fleet of mid-size product and chemical tankers ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 deadweight tonnes. The Company provides seaborne transportation of petroleum products and chemicals worldwide to oil majors, national oil companies, oil and chemical traders, and chemical companies, with its modern, fuel-efficient fleet of tankers.
Ardmore's core strategy centers around operating a modern, high-quality fleet of product and chemical tankers, building key long-term commercial relationships, and maintaining its cost advantage in assets, operations and overhead, while creating significant synergies and economies of scale as the Company grows. Ardmore provides its services to customers through voyage charters, commercial pools and time charters and enjoys close working relationships with key commercial and technical management partners.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements, including statements about: the Company's future financing activities, including the timing and terms of share repurchases and the Company's plans regarding capital raising. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome to be materially different. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, changes in the Company's capital requirements and those discussed in Ardmore's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Ardmore undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements unless required to do so under the securities laws.
Investor Relations Enquiries:
The IGB Group
Mr. Leon Berman
Tel: 212-477-8438
Fax: 212-477-8636
Email: lberman@igbir.com
Or
Mr. Bryan Degnan
The IGB Group
Tel: 646-673-9701
Email: bdegnan@igbir.com
SOURCE Ardmore Shipping Corporation
Mr Leon Berman, The IGB Group
Tel: +1 212-477-8438 Fax: +1 212-477-8636
Email: lberman@igbir.com