Chiquita Completes Sale of Ships

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. has completed the previously announced sale of its 12 refrigerated cargo vessels for $227m. The cash proceeds from the transaction are being used to repay approximately $170m of debt, and the remainder will be retained for general corporate purposes, including growth investments or future debt repayments. The ships have been chartered back from an alliance formed by Eastwind Maritime Inc. and NYKLauritzenCool AB. The parties also entered a long-term strategic agreement in which the alliance will serve as Chiquita's preferred supplier in ocean shipping to and from Europe and North America.