To view the PDF file, sign up for a MySharenet subscription.

GRINDROD SHIPPING HOLDINGS LIMITED - Grindrod Shipping Holdings Ltd. announces further extension of IVS Bulk JV, Fleet updates, new funding opportunities

Release Date: 28/06/2019 07:30
Code(s): GSH     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Grindrod Shipping Holdings Ltd. announces further extension of IVS Bulk JV, Fleet updates, new funding opportunities

GRINDROD SHIPPING HOLDINGS LTD.
ABBREVIATED NAME: GRINSHIP
Registered in Singapore with registration number 201731497H
JSE Share code: GSH
ISIN: SG9999019087
Primary listing on NASDAQ Global Select Market
Secondary listing on the JSE Main Board



Grindrod Shipping Holdings Ltd. Announces Further Extension of IVS Bulk JV, Fleet Updates
and New Funding Opportunities


Grindrod Shipping Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRIN) (JSE: GSH) (“Grindrod Shipping” or "Company" or “it” or
“we”), a global provider of maritime transportation services in the drybulk and product tanker sectors, announced
a number of transactions for the purpose of modernizing its fleet and increasing its financial flexibility and
liquidity.


On June 3, 2019, the Company took delivery of the IVS Phoenix, a Japanese-built eco ultramax drybulk carrier
newbuilding. As previously disclosed, the vessel has been chartered-in from its owner for a minimum period of
three years with options to extend for up to two additional years, at Grindrod Shipping’s election.


On June 13, 2019, Grindrod Shipping and its joint venture partners agreed to the further extension of the
termination date of the IVS Bulk joint venture from June 30, 2019 to September 30, 2019. The Company remains
in discussions with its joint venture partners regarding strategic alternatives for IVS Bulk.


On June 20, 2019, the Company sold a portion of the loan it had provided to one of its joint ventures. The sale
was at par and provided approximately $7.5 million of cash to the Company.


Grindrod Shipping also recently entered into a sale and leaseback transaction with a Japanese shipowner relating
to the 2010-built handysize drybulk carrier, IVS Knot, for a cash amount of $13.0 million (before commissions
but net of charter pre-payments). The Company will bareboat charter the vessel back for a period of up to 11
years and has the right, but not the obligation, to acquire the vessel from the end of the second year of the charter,
with the new owner having the right, but not the obligation, to sell the vessel to the Company at the end of the 11
year charter period. The IVS Knot previously constituted part of the security package for our $100.0 million senior
secured credit facility and was released from the security package in connection with the closing of the sale and
leaseback transaction. At closing, the sale generated approximately $6.3 million of cash for the Company after
settling the debt associated with the vessel. The transaction closed on June 26, 2019.
The previously announced sale of the IVS Kawana was concluded, with the vessel delivering to the new owner
on April 30, 2019. We still expect the Umgeni to deliver to the new owner by June 30, 2019.


Martyn Wade, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, commented:


“We are delighted to have recently taken delivery of the IVS Phoenix and concluding the sale and leaseback of
the IVS Knot, which represents a new source of funding for the Company. The sale and leaseback transaction
adds a new dimension to our longstanding relationship and status within the Japanese market and we believe this
affords the Company the potential to leverage this further. Through the IVS Knot and the sale of the joint venture
loan Grindrod Shipping has strengthened its liquidity by approximately $13.8 million without divesting control
of any core assets.”




About Grindrod Shipping Holdings Ltd.


Grindrod Shipping owns and operates a diversified fleet of owned and long-term and short-term chartered-in
drybulk vessels and product tankers. The drybulk business, which operates under the brand “Island View
Shipping” (“IVS”) includes a fleet of 17 handysize drybulk carriers and 13 supramax/ultramax drybulk carriers
on the water with four ultramax drybulk carriers under construction in Japan due be delivered in 2019 and 2020.
The tanker business, which operates under the brand “Unicorn Shipping” (“Unicorn”) includes a fleet of seven
medium range tankers and three small tankers (including the Umgeni). The Company is based in Singapore, with
offices in London, Durban, Tokyo, Cape Town and Rotterdam. Grindrod Shipping is listed on NASDAQ under
the ticker “GRIN” and on the JSE under the ticker “GSH”.



Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. The United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking
statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. The
Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The forward-
looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, including, without limitation,
Grindrod Shipping management's examination of historical trends, data contained in the Company's records and
other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable


                                                     2
when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which
are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Company's control, the Company cannot assure you that
it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-
looking statements. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the term loan facility described above will be
obtained on the terms described or ultimately entered into. These risks and uncertainties include, among others,
those discussed in Grindrod Shipping's public filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission,
or SEC. Except as required by law, Grindrod Shipping undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any
revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release
or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.




 Company Contact:                                           Investor Relations / Media Contact:
 Martyn Wade / Stephen Griffiths                            Nicolas Bornozis / Judit Csepregi
 CEO / CFO                                                  Capital Link, Inc.
 Grindrod Shipping Holdings Ltd.                            230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536
 200 Cantonment Road, #03-01 Southpoint                     New York, N.Y. 10169
 Singapore, 089763                                          Tel.: (212) 661-7566
 Email: ir@grindrodshipping.com                             Fax: (212) 661-7526
 Website: www.grinshipping.com                              Email: grindrod@capitallink.com


By order of the Board

28 June 2019

Sponsor: Grindrod Bank Limited




                                                        3

Date: 28/06/2019 07:30:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). 
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
 the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, 
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
 information disseminated through SENS.

Share This Story