Shipping : Grindrod Shipping announces closing of IVS Bulk acquisition, IVS Pinehurst charter extension
Grindrod Shipping Holdings Ltd. (“Grindrod Shipping”), a global provider of maritime transportation services predominantly in the dry bulk sector, announced the following transactions. The previously announced acquisition of the remaining 31.14% equity stake in its IVS Bulk joint venture (“IVS Bulk”) and concurrent redemption of the IVS Bulk preference shares were concluded on September 1, 2021.
The Company elected to close on the acquisition utilizing cash on hand but still intends to complete the $23 million upsizing of one of its exiting IVS Bulk credit facilities by September 30, 2021, to replace the working capital used to fund the transaction. The Company has received credit committee approval from its lenders and is in the process of completing definitive documentation, although there is no assurance that the financing will be completed as contemplated.
The Company has exercised its option to extend the firm charter-in period of the 2015-built Supramax dry bulk vessel IVS Pinehurst for 11 to 13 months at a pre-agreed fixed rate, starting from approximately January 3, 2022. The Company retains the existing purchase option to acquire the vessel at a fixed price up to the end of the charter-in period.
Pursuant to the Company’s previously approved share repurchase authority granted by shareholders at the last Annual General Meeting on May 20, 2021, the Company has acquired a combined total of 91,871 ordinary shares in the open market on NASDAQ and the JSE over the period from August 24, 2021, to August 30, 2021.
The repurchased shares were acquired at an average price per share of $14.87, or ZAR 218.15 based on an assumed ZAR/USD exchange rate of 14.67, before costs. The timing and amount of any repurchases are in the sole discretion of the Company and depend on legal requirements, market conditions, stock price, alternative uses of capital, and other factors.
Repurchases of ordinary shares may take place in privately negotiated transactions and/or open market transactions. The repurchase authority expires at the next Annual General Meeting, unless renewed or varied or revoked by the shareholders in a general meeting, and may be suspended or terminated by the Company at any time without prior notice
Martyn Wade, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are very pleased to announce the completion of the acquisition of the remaining shares in IVS Bulk and 100% ownership of all the owned vessels in the Grindrod Shipping fleet. We would like to thank the team at Bain Capital Credit for their strong partnership over the past eight years in IVS Bulk and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”
About Grindrod Shipping Holdings Ltd.
Grindrod Shipping operates a fleet of owned and long-term and short-term chartered-in dry bulk vessels predominantly in the handysize and supramax/UltraMax segments. The dry bulk business, which operates under the brand “Island View Shipping” (“IVS”), includes a Core Fleet of 31 vessels consisting of 15 handysize dry bulk carriers and 16 supramax/Ultramax dry bulk carriers.
The Company also owns one medium-range product tanker on a bareboat charter. 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”.
