Nordea Bank Finland Plc News

Scorpio Tankers Inc. announced that it has received a commitment for a loan facility up to $300 million from ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Nordea Bank Finland plc, acting through its New York branch, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB. The loan facility will be used to refinance the existing indebtedness on 16 MR product tankers, has a final maturity of five years from the first drawdown date and bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.5 percent per annum. The loan facility will be comprised of a term loan up to $200 million and a revolver up to $100 million, and the availability can be used to finance up to 60 percent of the fair market value of the respective vessels. The loan facility is subject to customary conditions precedent and the execution of definitive documentation.

Ardmore Shipping Corporation says it has signed agreements to upsize its existing senior loan facility with ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Nordea Bank Finland Plc, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB ("SEB"). The total amount available under the facility has been increased by $53 million to $225 million. Ardmore explain that the proceeds from the expanded facility will be used to finance up to 65% of the purchase price of three recent vessel acquisitions. The facility will be an amortizing senior term loan with final maturity in early 2021. The covenants and other conditions are consistent with the original facility. "Furthermore, we are in late-stage discussions with a leading shipping bank on a credit facility for the Ardmore Seamariner and expect to finalize this agreement in the near term.

Greek drybulk cargo ship owner, Paragon Shipping, informs it has entered into a firm commitment with a European bank syndicate to partly finance up to 60 % of the market value of their two new Ultamax newbuilds due to be delivered in 2015. The new $120.0 million senior secured amortizing credit facility is with a syndicate of banks led by Nordea Bank Finland PLC. Paragon adds that the six-year facility is subject to the execution of definitive documentation and completes the financing for their Ultramax newbuilding program…

Greece's Paragon Shipping Inc. obtains a $69-million credit facility with China Development Bank  to partially finance its two 4,800 TEU containerships currently under construction. The two container ships on order are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2014, and the company has granted an option to its subsidiary, Box Ships Inc., until its initial public offering in 2011, to acquire the vessels at any time prior to their delivery to Paragon Shipping. The CDB Credit Facility, which is available for drawdown upon the delivery of the vessels subject to certain contingencies and conditions, will be used to finance the lower of 60% of the construction cost of the vessels, or 80% of the vessels' market value at delivery. The facility matures ten years after the drawdown date.

Diana Shipping Inc. signs MOU to buy a new-building bulk ship from a third party; subsidiaries negotiate term loan facilities. The new-building Kamsarmax dry bulk carrier, to be named Myrto of 82,131 dwt, was built by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Japan, and the purchase price is US$26.5-million. The vessel is expected to be delivered to Diana Shipping at the end of January 2013. Separately, the Company also announced that it signed, through two separate wholly owned subsidiaries, a term loan facility with Nordea Bank Finland Plc, London Branch, and has completed the drawdown of US$20-million. The purpose of this facility is to partially finance the acquisition costs of the two newly built Post-Panamax dry bulk carriers…

New York - General Maritime Corporation announced that it had reached an agreement on a modified plan of reorganization with the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and their investment entities and holders of more than 40 percent of the Company's Senior Notes. The Modified Plan is also supported by 66-2/3 percent of the Company's key senior lenders, including its bank group, led by Nordea Bank Finland plc., New York Branch as administrative agent. The Modified Plan will allow for a consensual reorganization of the Company, substantially deleverage the Company's balance sheet, provide a greater recovery to unsecured creditors, and position the Company to be a financially stronger, competitive global enterprise.

Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX) took delivery of the newly-built m/v "Los Angeles", a Newcastlemax dry bulk carrier of 206,104 dwt that was contracted in April 2010. As previously announced, the m/v "Los Angeles" is chartered to EDF Trading Ltd., London, at a  gross rate of US$18,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a minimum forty-six (46) to a maximum fifty (50) month period. The charter is expected to commence tomorrow. This employment is anticipated to generate approximately $24.8m of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the charter. Separately, the Company also announced that on February 7, 2012, it completed the drawdown of $16.125m from a term loan facility with Nordea Bank Finland Plc, London Branch, through a wholly owned subsidiary.

General Maritime Corporation (NYSE: GMR) announced today that it has completed the syndication of an Amendment of its 2005 revolving credit facility of $550 million and $200 million payment-in-kind toggle floating rate secured notes ("Secured Notes") with Oaktree Capital Management L.P. ("Oaktree"). Together, the Secured Notes and the amended revolving credit facility are expected to enable the Company to improve its liquidity and operational flexibility, while reducing its near-term cash requirements.

Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG) ("Scorpio Tankers" or the "Company") announced today that the Company executed a credit facility with Nordea Bank Finland plc, acting through its New York branch, DnB NOR Bank ASA, acting through its New York branch, and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. for a senior secured term loan facility of up to $150 million and filed a shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 2011 Credit Facility will be used to finance 50% of the two 2008 built 51,000 DWT product tankers that the Company agreed to acquire last week. The aggregate purchase price for the vessels is $70.0 million. The vessels are charter free and are scheduled to be delivered to the Company in the first half of May 2011.

Crude Carriers Corp. (NYSE: CRU) reported its financial results and declared a cash dividend of $0.50 per share for the second quarter ended June 30th, 2010. These results are based on 267 total fleet available days due to the staggered delivery schedule of the vessels to the company during the quarter. Had all five vessels that comprised the company’s fleet at the end of June 2010 been delivered at the beginning of the quarter, total fleet available days would have been 455. On March 17 2010, Crude Carriers completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) of 13.5 million common shares at $19.00 per share, raising net proceeds of approximately…

General Maritime Corporation (NYSE:GMR) reported its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010. The company recorded a net loss of $14.3 million or $0.25 basic and $0.25 diluted loss per share for the three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to net income of $7.3 million or $0.13 basic and $0.13 diluted earnings per share for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The decrease in net income was primarily the result of an 18.1% decrease in TCE to $22,633 per day for the three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to $27,649 per day for the prior year period, as well as an $11.2 million increase in net interest expense to $19.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to $7.8 million for the prior year period.

DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS), a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk cargoes and off-shore contract drilling oil services, announced that it has reached final agreement and received formal approval from Nordea Bank Finland Plc, DnB NOR Bank ASA and HSH Nordbank AG regarding the previously announced covenant waiver in connection with the $800m Primelead facility consistent with the terms previously announced on February 9, 2009. George Economou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, “We are delighted to have reached a definitive agreement with the three lenders on the Primelead facility. This agreement is a testament of the support of Nordea Bank Finland Plc, DnB NOR Bank ASA and HSH Nordbank AG to DryShips.

DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS), a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk cargoes and off-shore contract drilling oil services, announced on Feb. 9 that it has reached preliminary agreement with Nordea Bank Finland Plc to obtain a covenant waiver in connection with the $800m Primelead facility, which was used to partially finance the acquisition of Ocean Rig ASA. As of today, the outstanding loan amount under the facility is $650m. In accordance with the main terms of the waiver: (i) the company will pay a restructuring fee of 0.15% on the outstanding loan amount under the facility plus an amount equal to 1.00% per annum on the loan outstanding for the period from January 9…

Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. (NYSE: EXM) and Quintana Maritime Limited (NASDAQ: QMAR) jointly announced that at a special meeting of Quintana’s shareholders held April 14, 2008, Quintana’s shareholders voted to approve the merger agreement pursuant to which Excel will acquire Quintana. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each issued and outstanding share of Quintana common stock will be converted into the right to receive (i) $13.00 in cash and (ii) 0.4084 Excel Class A common shares. The 0.4084 exchange ratio will be reduced to reflect the $0.31 dividend paid by Quintana to its shareholders on March 7, 2008, in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement. Excel and Quintana expect the merger to close on or about April 15, 2008.