OSLO, Norway--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA (OSE:AKPS) is pleased to announce the planned establishment of Philly Tankers AS, a Norwegian limited liability company, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Philly Tankers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together “Philly Tankers”). Philly Tankers has successfully secured equity commitments necessary to finance the purchase of two product tankers from AKPS with deliveries in 2016 and 2017 (the “Transaction”), and will have a post-money market capitalization of USD 127.5 million. Together with best-in-class partners, Philly Tankers will operate and charter the vessels in the Jones Act market.
“We are delighted to see so much interest in Philly Tankers. The company offers pure-play exposure to an increasingly strong market and is targeting growth through a combination of newbuilds, acquisitions of existing vessels, and potentially through market consolidation,” says Kristian Rokke, Chairman of AKPS. “There are two key trends currently shaping the Jones Act market – the tight oil revolution, which has increased demand for product tankers, and a surge in containership orders, which has constrained shipyard capacity. Philly Tankers is well positioned to benefit from the effects of these trends by offering customers modern tonnage in a supply constrained market, as well as reliable operations and substantially improved fuel-efficiency versus the existing fleet.”
As part of the Transaction, AKPS will invest USD 58.5 million for 54% of the shares, which AKPS expects to fund through existing cash and proceeds from operations. The remaining sponsors will invest USD 59.0 million for 46% of the shares at a subscription price of USD 1,000.00 per share.
AKPS and Philly Tankers, through their U.S. subsidiaries, will enter into binding shipbuilding contracts for the first two product tankers, designated as AKPS Hulls 025-026. The total contract value is approximately USD 250 million, excluding construction period financing, initial owner expenses, G&A, and transaction costs. The anticipated profitability of the shipbuilding project for AKPS is in-line with previous guidance for AKPS Hulls 021-030. An option agreement will also be signed for two identical product tankers with deliveries in 2017, designated as AKPS Hulls 027-028, on substantially the same terms and conditions as AKPS Hulls 025-026.
The vessels will be 50,000 dwt product tankers based on a proven Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) design that incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features, flexible cargo capability, and the latest regulatory requirements. The vessels will be constructed with consideration for the use of LNG for propulsion in the future. The vessels will be identical to the vessels currently under construction at AKPS that will be included in the AKPS-Crowley joint venture.
Philly Tankers expects to hire a best-in-class technical operator prior to delivery of the first vessel to arrange for maintenance and crewing of the vessels, and to ensure that the vessels satisfy all regulatory requirements, among other things. Philly Tankers has a number of attractive options for commercial management and will consider all its alternatives when seeking and arranging employment for the vessels.
Prior to delivery of the first vessel, Philly Tankers will have an ownership and corporate structure that is fully compliant with all applicable Jones Act requirements. Philly Tankers will explore value-enhancing initiatives such as the establishment of a Master Limited Partnership. Philly Tankers will have a Board of Directors comprised of independent and investor-designated members. Philly Tankers will initially list its shares on the Norwegian OTC, with a target of a U.S. listing by mid-2016.
Closing of the Transaction remains subject to satisfaction of customary conditions precedent, including the execution and delivery of satisfactory definitive documentation, and the approval by the general meeting of American Shipping Company of its participation in the Transaction. It is expected the Transaction will be closed in mid-July 2014.
Arctic Securities and Pareto Securities have acted as Joint Lead Managers for the Transaction. Advokatfirmaet BA-HR DA and Blank Rome LLP have acted as legal adviser to AKPS in connection with the private placement. Wiersholm has acted as the legal adviser to the Joint Lead Managers.
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is a leading U.S. commercial shipyard constructing vessels for operation in the Jones Act market. It possesses a state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility and has earned a reputation as the preferred provider of oceangoing merchant vessels with a track record of delivering quality ships. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and is majority-owned by Converto Capital Fund, which in turn is majority-owned by Aker ASA. Aker is a Norwegian industrial investment company that creates value through active ownership. Aker's investment portfolio is concentrated on key Norwegian industries that are international in scope: oil and gas, fisheries and biotechnology, and marine assets. Aker's industrial holdings comprise ownership interests in Aker Solutions, Kvaerner, Det norske oljeselskap, Aker BioMarine, Ocean Yield and Havfisk.
Important information about this release
This information is subject to disclosure under the Norwegian Securities Act, Section 5-12.
This release includes and is based, inter alia, on forward-looking information and statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about global economic conditions, the economic conditions of the regions and industries that are major markets for Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA and its subsidiaries and affiliates (the "Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Group") lines of business. These expectations, estimates, and projections are generally identifiable by statements containing words such as "expects”, "believes”, "estimates" or similar expressions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expectations include, among others, economic and market conditions in the geographic areas and industries that are or will be major markets for the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Group’s businesses, oil prices, market acceptance of new products and services, changes in governmental regulations, interest rates, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and such other factors as may be discussed from time to time.
Although Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA believes that its expectations and the information in this press release were based upon reasonable assumptions at the time when they were made, it can give no assurance that those expectations will be achieved or that the actual results will be as set out in this press release. Neither Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA nor any other company within the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Group is making any representation or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information in the press release, and neither Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA, any other company within the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Group nor any of their directors, officers or employees will have any liability to you or any other persons resulting from your use of the information in the press release.
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or statements in the press release, other than what is required by law.
