NAT Posts 1Q 2013 Results
During the first quarter of 2013, NAT acquired another Suezmax tanker, built to top specifications and launched this year. We expect the ship to be delivered to us by June 15, bringing our total fleet to 21 ships. In April, NAT completed an equity offering, with net proceeds of $102.2 million. The same month, the Board declared a dividend of $0.16 per share for 1Q 2013, identical to the dividend for 4Q 2012. The tanker market remains challenging, though there are underlying signs of improvement. The orderbook for Suezmax tankers is shrinking and should have a positive impact on the tanker market rates in the future. The Imarex index, which measures the average daily rate for leasing a ship, was $12,466 for 1Q2013, approximately at the same level of what our operating fleet attained.
Nordic American Tankers Acquires Scandic American Shares
Nordic American Tankers Ltd. ("NAT") Completes Acquisition of Scandic American Shipping Ltd., the Business Manager of NAT. On December 17, 2012 NAT (NYSE: NAT) announced that it had acquired 100% of the shares of Scandic American Shipping Ltd. ("Scandic"), its management company since 2004. This transaction has now been completed. The Company acquired Scandic from a company controlled by Herbjørn Hansson, NAT's Chairman and CEO, and his closest family. As part of the consideration payable to the seller, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,910,112 common shares of the Company, which are subject to a one-year lock up agreement. Following this transaction, Mr. Hansson and members of his family own about 5.6% or 3.1 million shares of the Company's outstanding shares. Mr.
