TOP Tankers Announces Sale and Leaseback of Two Handymax Tankers

TOP Tankers Inc (Nasdaq: TOPT) announced the sale and immediate leaseback of the handymax tankers M/T Restless and M/T Sovereign. The vessels have been leased back under seven-year bareboat charters, with TOP Tankers performing the operational and commercial management of the vessels. The vessels will continue their employment under time charter contracts with Vitol and Glencore for the remaining period of two and four years, respectively, under those contracts. The Company expects to generate a gain of approximately $7.0 million as a result of the sale/leaseback transactions, which will be amortized over the seven-year bareboat charter period. The Company believes that the bareboat charters will qualify as operating leases under U.S. GAAP. Evangelos J. Pistiolis, President and CEO of TOP Tankers Inc commented, "The sale and charter back of the M/T Restless and the M/T Sovereign should further strengthen our balance sheet and enhance our ability to pursue further acquisition opportunities in the second-hand tanker market."