Ardmore Shipping Refinances Four Vessels

Ardmore Shipping Corporation has announced that it has signed agreements for the refinancing of four vessels.

Two of Ardmore's subsidiaries have signed agreements for a sale and leaseback of the Ardmore Dauntless and Ardmore Defender, two 2015 built 37,000 Dwt Eco-design IMO 2 products and chemical tankers, with Ocean Yield ASA (Ocean Yield).  

The lease agreements are for a period of 12 years and the Company has options to repurchase each vessel at various stages prior to maturity. The other terms and conditions are in line with Ardmore's existing debt facilities.

Additionally, two of Ardmore's other subsidiaries have signed agreements for the sale and leaseback of the Ardmore Explorer and Ardmore Encounter, two 2014 built 50,000 Dwt Eco-design MR tankers, with a top tier Asian Financier. The lease agreements are for a period of seven years and the Company has options to repurchase each vessel at various stages prior to maturity. The other terms and conditions are in line with Ardmore's existing debt facilities.

Both transactions are expected to fund in October 2018 and result in cash proceeds to the Company of $19.7 million in the aggregate, net of fees and the repayment of senior debt secured by the vessels.

Anthony Gurnee, Ardmore's Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are pleased to have signed agreements for the refinancing of these vessels on favorable terms and conditions. These transactions highlight Ardmore's strong financial relationships and our ability to identify opportunities to strengthen our balance sheet and position the company for further opportunistic growth."

Ardmore owns and operates a fleet of MR product and chemical tankers ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 deadweight tonnes. Ardmore 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 mid-size tankers.