Greek J/V to Acquire HSH Debtors' Fleet

Navios Maritime Holdings & Navios Maritime Acquisition Corp. in J/V sign LOI to buy 10 ships from debtors of HSH Nordbank.

The new Joint Venture company, named Navios JV,  has executed a binding letter of intent to acquire ten vessels, composed of five product tankers and five container vessels with an average age of 5.5 years from debtors of HSH Nordbank AG.

Angeliki Frangou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Navios Holdings and Navios Acquisition stated, "Working closely with HSH over the past year, we devised a program whereby vessels can be removed from insolvency and placed into a stable situation. In so doing, we are leveraging Navios' economies of scale and superior technical and commercial management to everyone's betterment. HSH and Navios are committed to their excellent working relationship and look forward to doing similar deals in near future."

Angeliki Frangou continued, "Navios is acquiring a significant fleet at historically low values with favorable economics. Navios enjoys a 12.7% annual preferred return on its $10 million investment as well as a preferred return of this investment upon the sale of vessels. Thereafter, 20% of cash flow from operations or sales will be paid to Navios until the HSH's subordinated loan is repaid. Once HSH's loan has been satisfied, Navios will receive 100% of any excess."

It is anticipated that the Navios JV will not be consolidated into Navios Holdings or Navios Acquisition. The transaction is subject to a number of conditions, and no assurance can be provided that the transaction will be concluded as contemplated, if at all. However, each party has agreed to reimburse a portion of the other's expenses if the party does not conclude the transaction under certain circumstances.

It is estimated that the purchase price to be paid to HSH will consist of $130 million in cash and the assumption of a Subordinated HSH Participating Loan.