Performance Shipping Inc. Announces Acceptance of a Signed Offer Letter From Piraeus Bank S.A.

Rhea-AI Summary

Performance Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ: PSHG) announced plans to secure a new amortizing term loan facility of up to US$31.5 million with Piraeus Bank S.A. Proceeds will refinance an existing term loan for the M/T P. Fos and M/T P. Kikuma and partially fund the acquisition of a fifth Aframax tanker. The facility will incur an interest rate of LIBOR + 2.85%, and repayments will be made in 16 quarterly installments. Additionally, an amendment to reduce quarterly payments on a separate US$28.1 million term loan has been approved.

Positive

• Securing a new amortizing term loan facility of up to US$31.5 million indicates strong financial relationships.
• Proceeds will help acquire a fifth Aframax tanker, enhancing fleet capabilities.
• Reduced quarterly installments on existing loans will lower daily cash breakeven, potentially facilitating dividend payments.

Negative

• None.

ATHENS, Greece, Nov. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Performance Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ: PSHG), (the “Company”), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of tankers, today announced that it has accepted an offer letter whereby it intends to enter into an agreement for a new amortizing term loan facility of up to US$31.5 million with Piraeus Bank S.A. (the “Facility”) through three separate wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. This Facility is subject to the completion of customary closing conditions and the execution of a final loan agreement by the Company and its lenders. Proceeds from the Facility will be used to refinance an existing term loan facility for the M/T P. Fos and M/T P. Kikuma with Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge, through a first advance of up to US$22.5 million and to partially finance the acquisition of a fifth Aframax tanker vessel through a second advance of up to US$9.0 million. This Facility shall bear interest at the rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 2.85% per annum.

Assuming that the Company draws down the entire amount available under both advances, the Facility will be repayable in sixteen (16) quarterly installments of US$1.1 million, and concurrent with the sixteenth quarterly installment, within four years from the drawdown date, the Company will owe a balloon payment of US$13.9 million.

Separately, the Company has obtained approval from Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge to amend the existing credit facility, reducing the quarterly installments on the remaining US$28.1 million term loan secured by the M/T Blue Moon and M/T Briolette.     

Commenting on the term loan facility, Mr. Andreas Michalopoulos, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, stated:

“We are pleased to have agreed on the main terms for a new amortizing term loan facility of up to US$31.5 million with Piraeus Bank S.A. This is the second term loan facility that the Company has procured since its exclusive fleet deployment in the tanker sector and a testament to its strong relationships with commercial banks. This facility paves the way for the acquisition of our fifth Aframax tanker and the reduction of our quarterly installments to reduce our daily vessel cash breakeven, thus further facilitating the payment of dividends pursuant to our variable dividend policy. Upon drawdown of the facility and acquisition of the fifth Aframax tanker, we expect to comply with our stated financial leverage policy of net debt upon incurrence being below 35.0% of our fleet value.”

About the Company

Performance Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of four Aframax tankers. The Company's current fleet of tanker vessels is employed primarily on short to medium term charters with leading energy companies and traders.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for our vessels, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, the length and severity of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its impact on the demand for seaborne transportation of petroleum and other types of products, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

FAQ

What is the new loan facility amount announced by Performance Shipping (PSHG)?

Performance Shipping announced a new loan facility of up to US$31.5 million.

Who is providing the new loan facility for PSHG?

The new loan facility is being provided by Piraeus Bank S.A.

What is the purpose of the loan facility for PSHG?

The loan facility will refinance an existing loan and partially finance the acquisition of a fifth Aframax tanker.

What is the interest rate associated with the new loan for PSHG?

The loan facility will incur an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 2.85%.

How will the loan repayments be structured for PSHG?

The facility will be repayable in sixteen quarterly installments of US$1.1 million.