#Ardmore – Ardmore Shipping Corporation has recently announced that it has signed a commitment letter for a new $172 million credit facility with ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Nordea Bank Finland Plc, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (SEB).
The company which has its financial headquarters based in Mahon, Co. Cork, are to use the proceeds from the new facility which are expected to finance up to 65% of the purchase price of eight vessels on order from the company's current fleet.
The facility will be an amortizing senior term loan and available for borrowing until April 2016 with a final maturity date in January 2021. The covenants and other conditions are consistent with those of the Company's existing credit facilities. The terms include an accordion option whereby, subject to lenders approval, Ardmore may request to increase the facility to finance the acquisition of additional vessels.
Anthony Gurnee, Ardmore's CEO commented: "We appreciate the support of these leading banks and are pleased to have secured this financing commitment to fund the expansion of our modern fleet of product and chemical tankers. With this commitment, we will have successfully financed the majority of the vessels on order in our current fleet well ahead of their deliveries scheduled for late 2014 and 2015. We are also delighted to further expand the relationship with ABN AMRO and welcome Nordea and SEB to the Ardmore banking team. We look forward to working with them on this and future transactions".
"Additionally, we are in advanced discussions with a number of leading shipping banks on credit facilities related to our remaining two vessels on order and the Ardmore Seamariner and expect to finalize those agreements in the near term. At that time, we believe Ardmore will have secured debt financing for its entire current fleet, including all vessels in operation and all vessels on order."
