Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with
Superior Offshore International, Inc, a subsea construction and commercial diving services company, to acquire the Superior Achiever, a T-22 class DP-3 new generation multi-purpose support vessel and related owner-furnished equipment, currently under construction at Merwede Shipyard in Holland with an anticipated fourth quarter 2008 delivery. Merwede Shipyard is also building for Hornbeck the HOS Iron Horse, a T-22 class DP-3 MPSV of the same design, with an expected fourth quarter 2009 delivery.
With the pending acquisition of the Superior Achiever, the Company's MPSV program now consists of four vessels. The closing with Superior is subject to customary conditions, including third party consents, and is expected to occur on or before January 21, 2008. Hornbeck has also agreed to a five-year time charter with Superior for the Superior Achiever or another acceptable vessel at a dayrate commensurate with the Company's target investment parameters. Superior will have the option to terminate the charter with 90-days' advance notice at the end of each sequential six-month period within the term. The definitive agreement also provides that Hornbeck and Superior will agree to negotiate in good faith toward the establishment of a non-exclusive joint marketing and cooperation agreement and that the parties will endeavor to seek mutually beneficial business opportunities utilizing their complementary resources.