Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.
(NYSE:OSG) announced today that it agreed to sell seven tankers to Double Hull Tankers, Inc. (DHT) in connection with DHT's initial
public offering announced earlier today. In consideration, Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG) will receive $412.6 million in cash and 14 million shares of DHT common stock, representing a 47 percent equity stake in the new tanker concern. The total proceeds to OSG value the transaction at $580.6 million, net of fees and expenses. OSG will time charter the vessels from DHT for periods of five to six and one-half years with various renewal options up to an aggregate of five to eight years depending on the vessel. The transaction is immediately accretive to earnings.
The sale of the vessels underscores OSG's strategy of actively managing the balance between owned and chartered-in vessels in its fleet. The transaction will help OSG achieve its stated goal of returning to leverage ratios and liquidity levels that existed prior to the early-2005 acquisition of Stelmar Shipping Ltd. for $1.35 billion.
OSG expects to book a gain on the sale and charter back of these vessels in excess of $230 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. The gain will be deferred for accounting purposes and recognized as a reduction of time charter hire expense over the charter periods. The proceeds of the sale will be used to reduce debt. OSG plans to provide further guidance on the financial impact of the transaction for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2006 when it
reports third quarter 2005 earnings on November 3, 2005.
The vessels sold to DHT include three VLCC and four Aframax tankers -- all core ships in the OSG fleet -- representing 928,600 and 413,800 deadweight tons, respectively (see additional information below). OSG will
time charter these modern vessels from DHT for terms through October 2010 and April 2012, with extension options that run up to 14 and one-half years.