Star Bulk Acquires 11 Dry Bulkers
Greece-based global ship manager of seaborne transportation Star Bulk Carriers Corporation has entered into an en bloc definitive agreement with entities controlled by Delphin Shipping to acquire eleven operating dry bulk vessels.
The company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes said in a press release that the acquisition of bulkers from Delphin, an entity affiliated with Kelso & Company, is for an aggregate purchase price of $139.5 million, payable in the form of a) $80.0 million in cash and b) 4.503 million common shares of Star Bulk.
Star Bulk Carriers has secured exhaust gas cleaning systems (“EGCS” or “Scrubbers”) for all of the Vessels with attractive delivery dates.
The cash portion of the Purchase Price will be financed through proceeds of a new seven-year capital lease of up to $93.6 million with China Merchants Bank Leasing, and an additional tranche of $15.0 million for financing of Scrubbers, thus offering approx. $9.0 million of additional liquidity for Star Bulk.
The Vessel Acquisition, which is expected to be consummated in June 2019, remains subject to the execution of definitive finance agreements and customary closing conditions. The technical management of the 11 vessels will remain with an entity affiliated with Technomar, while commercial management will be taken over by Star Bulk.
As a result of the contemplated transaction, entities affiliated with Kelso are expected to own approximately 4.6% of the outstanding common shares of the Company. After giving effect to the Vessel Acquisition, Star Bulk will have a fleet of 120 vessels on a fully delivered basis, aggregate cargo-carrying capacity of approximately 13.1 million deadweight tons and vessels with an average age of 7.8 years.
