Performance Shipping Inc., a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of tanker vessels, today announced that it has entered into an agreement for a new amortizing term loan facility of up to approximately US$31.9 million with Piraeus Bank S.A. (the “Facility”) through two separate wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. Proceeds from the Facility will be used to refinance approximately US$7.3 million of the existing term loan facility with Piraeus Bank S.A. secured by the M/T P. Yanbu and to partially finance the previously-announced acquisition of the Company’s sixth Aframax tanker vessel, to be renamed M/T P. Sophia, through a second advance of up to approximately US$24.6 million.
The Facility shall bear interest at the rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 2.70% per annum. Based on the amount expected to be drawn down under both advances, the Facility will be repayable in twenty consecutive quarterly installments of US$0.8 million each, and a balloon installment of US$15.9 million payable concurrent with the twentieth quarterly installment. The Facility will be secured by, among other things, a guarantee of the Company and first priority mortgages over the M/T P. Yanbu and M/T P. Sophia.
Commenting on the Facility, Andreas Michalopoulos, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are very pleased to announce the entry into this new term loan facility with Piraeus Bank at attractive terms to complete funding for the acquisition of M/T P. Sophia. With the financing of the acquisition of our sixth Aframax tanker now secured, we are well-positioned to capitalize on the current favorable tanker charter market with spot charter rates for Aframax tankers quoted at approximately $28,000 and strong fundamentals going forward. We expect to take delivery of the M/T P. Sophia as early as next week and look forward to generating strong cashflows with our expanded fleet.”
Source: Hellenic Shipping News
