Wells Fargo Securities News

Global trade tensions have captured headlines in recent months, as the imposition of a series of tariffs and counter-tariffs by various global trade counterparts has raised questions about the possibility of a trade war. Such development could potentially have an impact on global trade flows, and, consequently, the companies which facilitate international movement of goods.Though the situation is still developing and the final impact is uncertain, Gregory Draco, the Chief U.S. Economist at Oxford, predicted in July that the tariffs would create an 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent drag on U.S. GDP.

Port of Corpus Christi successfully priced and sold $216.2 million of Senior Lien Revenue Bonds. These bonds will be used for both the deepening and widening of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel as well as upcoming capital projects within the Port.Wells Fargo Securities acted as Lead Manager of a syndicate of underwriters including JP Morgan, Citigroup, and Frost Bank.“We are pleased with the level of interest the institutional investment community demonstrated for both series of our bonds.” said Sean Strawbridge, CEO of the Port of Corpus Christi. “This round of funding will help the Port of Corpus Christi further progress our ambitious…

US manufacturer of recreational boats Malibu Boats has announced the pricing of the follow-on offering of 2,000,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock at a price to the public of $25.25 per share. The offering is expected to close on or about August 14, 2017, subject to customary conditions. The Company has granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional 300,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock. If exercised, all additional shares will be offered at the public offering price per share of Class A Common Stock in the offering. The Company intends to use all of the net proceeds from this offering to repay amounts outstanding on the term loans of Malibu Boats, LLC, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary.

Diana Shipping, a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels,  announced that it has priced its previously announced underwritten public offering of 17,500,000 common shares, par value US$0.01 per share, at a price of US$4.00 per share. The Company has granted the underwriters an over-allotment option for a period of 30 days from the closing of this offering to purchase up to an additional 2,625,000 shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts. As part of the offering, entities affiliated with Simeon Palios, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, executive officers and certain directors, have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 5,500,000 common shares at the public offering price.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Camber Corporation and formed a new operating division, HII Technical Solutions. The new division will be led by Andy Green, who will serve as an executive vice president of HII and president of HII Technical Solutions, reporting directly to HII President and CEO Mike Petters. “The acquisition of Camber and the consolidation of our existing service businesses into a dedicated division provides the breadth and scale necessary to successfully pursue numerous growth opportunities,” Petters said. “Camber brings a broad array of capabilities to the HII team, and we are excited about the possibilities of growing the combined businesses.

International accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens says the shipping industry must adopt a transparent, proactive approach to corporate governance or else risk exposure to business and reputational damage. Corporate governance in shipping has been in sharp focus recently, particularly following publication of the research by Wells Fargo Securities into Shipping’s Corporate Governance War. Robert Noye-Allen, a partner in the Moore Stephens Governance Risk & Assurance team, says, “Businesses in today’s shipping industry are expected to fully comprehend the implications of inadequate management of conflict of interest arrangements, and to recognise the importance of independent directorship.

U.S. import prices fell in February for an eighth straight month, weighed down by declining costs for petroleum and a range of other goods, but the pace of decline is slowing as the dollar's rally fades and oil prices stabilize. The Labor Department said on Friday import prices slipped 0.3 percent last month after a 1.0 percent decrease in January. Import prices have decreased in 18 of the last 20 months, reflecting a robust dollar and plunging oil prices. They were down 6.1 percent in the 12 months through February, the smallest year-on-year drop since December 2014.

Wells Fargo Securities says that headwinds face global shipping industry and the continued overcapacity means freight rate gains are less likely to stick. "Given the continued overcapacity headwinds and easing containerized trade demand, we believe these freight rate gains are less likely to stick, and we expect rates to remain under pressure as we approach the slack winter season, particularly following a muted peak season," says a report from Wells Fargo Securities, written by Michael Webber that appeared in the Forbes. Container Freight Rates Get Boost Amid November General Rate Increases, Will They Stick? Last week, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) increased by 41.1% wk/wk (week-over-week) to $759/TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit)…

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, spiralled downwards to its lowest level in nearly three decades as rates for all the four vessel types continued to flounder. The overall index, which gauges the cost of shipping resources including iron ore, cement, grain, coal and fertiliser, was down 34 points, or 5.11 percent, at 632 points, the lowest since August 1986. The index is also seen by investors as an indicator of global industrial activity. Brokers said the dry bulk market was expected remain in the doldrums due to weak commodity demand at present especially from top global importer China.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., DNB Markets, Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers in connection with the offering. The final prospectus supplement and related prospectus for this offering may be obtained on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or from underwriter representatives.

Transocean Partners LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company formed by Transocean Ltd., has announced  the pricing of its initial public offering of 17,500,000 common units representing limited liability company interests at $22.00 per unit. All of the common units are being offered by Transocean Partners Holdings Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Transocean Ltd. Transocean Partners Holdings Limited has also granted the underwriters of the offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,625,000 common units.

GasLog Partners LP, an international owner, operator and manager of LNG carriers, today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 9,660,000 common units representing limited partner interests (the “common units”), including 1,260,000 common units issued upon the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional units. The public offering price was $21.00 per common unit. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering expenses, were approximately $186 million. The proceeds from the offering were used principally to reduce indebtedness and for general partnership purposes, with the remainder distributed to GasLog Ltd. (“GasLog”) (NYSE:GLOG).

Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ARP) announced today that it has priced a public offering of 13,500,000 common units representing limited partner interests at an offering price of $19.90 per unit. The underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,025,000 common units. ARP intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund a portion of its previously-announced acquisition of oil assets in the Rangely Field in NW Colorado. Prior to funding the pending acquisition, ARP may use some or all of the net proceeds for general partnership purposes, which may include repayment of outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility. Wells Fargo Securities, Deutsche Bank Securities, Morgan Stanley, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, J.P.

LNG carrier owners and operators, GasLog Partners LP, inform it has priced its initial public offering of 8,400,000 common units representing limited partner interests at $21.00 per common unit. The common units will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on May 7, 2014 under the ticker symbol “GLOP”. The offering is expected to close on May 12, 2014. The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,260,000 additional common units from the MLP at the initial public offering price. GasLog will retain 1,422,358 of the MLP’s common units if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units is not exercised or will retain 162…

Class A common stock. The oil and natural gas company filed confidentially with U.S regulators for the proposed IPO in December. Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs & Co, J.P. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in a preliminary prospectus on Friday. Southeastern New Mexico. The filing did not reveal how many shares the company planned to sell or their expected price. proceeds from the offering to reduce debt and for general corporate purposes. The amount of money a company says it plans to raise in its first IPO filing is used to calculate registration fees. final size of the IPO could be different.

Greece-based chemical transportation company Stalwart Tankers Inc has postponed its U.S. IPO plans due to "market conditions," an underwriter told Reuters. The company filed with U.S. regulators in February to raise up to $100 million in an IPO of its common stock. Stalwart Tankers later said it expected to price its IPO of 12.5 million common shares at between $11 and $13 per share. The decision to postpone the IPO comes on the heels of Greece returning to the bond market on Thursday…

Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. (TEN) plans to offer its common shares in a public offering. The Company says it plans to use the net proceeds of the offering to finance the growth and modernization of its fleet, and for general corporate purposes. Entities affiliated with the Tsakos Holdings Foundation, which is the Company’s largest shareholder, have indicated their intention to purchase 500,000 of the common shares sold in the offering. The Company intends to grant the underwriters…

StealthGas Inc., has increased the size of its stock offering, & will sell 10-million shares at $10 each using the proceeds towards purchase of 5 ships. The gross proceeds from the offering before the underwriting discount and other offering expenses are $100,000,000. An entity controlled by the family of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer has agreed to purchase 500,000 of the shares sold in the offering. The Company has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 shares of common stock. The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to partially fund the acquisition of five vessels…

StealthGas Inc. announced an underwritten public offering of 8,000,000 shares of its common stock pursuant to the Company's effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. An entity controlled by the family of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer has indicated its intention to purchase approximately 5% of the shares offered in the offering. In connection with the offering, the Company intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,200,000 additional shares of its common stock. The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to partially fund the acquisition of five vessels…

Company announces offering of $650 million senior secured term loan. Commercial Barge Line Company  announced results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2012. For the year, the Company reported total revenues of $811.6 million and Adjusted EBITDAR of $232.1 million. Compared to 2011 results, revenues declined $41.4 million, or 4.9%, while Adjusted EBITDAR improved by $57.8 million, or 33.2%. For the quarter, total revenues were $207.9 million compared to $244.5 million in 2011 and Adjusted EBITDAR was $62.8 million compared to $60.3 million in 2011. Commenting on the results, Mark Knoy, President and Chief Executive Officer…

Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. (NYSE: TOO) announced that it plans to offer 5,600,000 common units, representing limited partner interests, in a public offering. Teekay Offshore expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional 840,000 common units to cover over-allotments, if any. The Partnership expects to use the net proceeds from the public offering for general partnership purposes, including funding the acquisitions of vessels that Teekay Corporation has offered or may offer to it. Pending the application of funds for these purposes, the partnership expects to repay a portion of its outstanding debt under its revolving credit facilities. Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.

Crude Carriers Corp. announced that it has priced its initial public offering of 13,500,000 common shares at $19 per share. The underwriters have an option to purchase up to an additional 2,025,000 common shares to cover overallotments. Crude Carriers Corp. will use substantially all the proceeds from the offering, together with a $40m capital contribution from Crude Carriers Investments Corp., to acquire one 2006-built high specification Suezmax vessel from Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. at a price of $71.3m and two newbuilt very large crude carrier (VLCC) tankers for $96.5m each upon their delivery from the yard. The company’s common shares will trade on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CRU.