Press Releases
Euroseas Ltd. Enters into Agreement to Sell Series B Convertible Perpetual Preferred Shares, Raising $29 Million in Net Proceeds
Maroussi, Athens, Greece - January 27, 2014 - Euroseas Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESEA) (the "Company") announced today that it entered into an agreement to sell 25,000 shares of its Series B Convertible Perpetual Preferred Shares ("Series B Preferred Shares") to a fund managed by Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC ("TCP") and 5,700 shares to Preferred Friends Investment Company Inc, an affiliate of the Company, for expected net proceeds of approximately $29 million. The Company intends to use the proceeds for the acquisition of vessels and general corporate purposes. The transaction is expected to close by January 29, 2014. RMK Maritime acted as an advisor to the Company in the transaction.
Aristides Pittas, CEO of Euroseas, commented: "We are pleased to welcome an institutional investor of the caliber of TCP as an investor to Euroseas. This fundraising is part of our strategy to make investments in dry cargo vessels at what we believe is an opportune time in the market cycle and to renew our fleet as evidenced by the newbuilding orders for 2 Ultramax bulkers we recently placed. We believe that raising funds through the sale of our Series B Preferred Shares is advantageous for our shareholders at this point in time and we look forward to continuing growing Euroseas with the support of TCP and the rest of our shareholders."
The Series B Preferred Shares will pay dividends (in cash or in-kind at the option of the Company, subject to certain exceptions) during the first five years at a rate of 0% or 5%, depending on the trading price of the Company's common stock. In addition, if a cash dividend is paid on the Company's common stock during such time, then if the dividend paid on the Series B Preferred Shares is 5%, the holders of Series B Preferred Shares shall receive such dividend in cash and shall also receive an additional cash dividend in an amount equal to 40% of the common stock dividend it would have received on an as-converted basis. If, however, the dividend on the Series B Preferred Shares is 0%, then the holders of Series B Preferred Shares shall receive a cash dividend equal to the greater of 100% of the common stock dividend it would have received on an as-converted basis, and 5%. If a cash dividend is paid on the Company's common stock after the first five years, the holders of Series B Preferred Shares shall receive an additional cash dividend in an amount equal to 40% of the common stock dividend it would have received on an as-converted basis. The dividend rate will increase to 12% in years six and seven and to 14% thereafter. The Series B Preferred Shares can be converted at the option of their holders at any time, and at the option of the Company only if certain share price and liquidity milestones are met. Each Series B Preferred Share is convertible into common stock at an initial conversion price of $1.45 (subject to adjustment, including upon a default). The Series B Preferred Shares are redeemable in cash by the Company at any time after the fifth anniversary of the original issue date. Holders of the Series B Preferred Shares may require the Company to redeem their shares only upon the occurrence of certain corporate events.
Subject to certain ownership thresholds, holders of Series B Preferred Shares have the right to appoint one director to the Company's board of directors and TCP also has consent rights over certain corporate actions. In addition, the holders of Series B Preferred Shares will vote as one class with the Company's common stock on all matters on which shareholders are entitled to vote, with each Series B Preferred Share having a number of votes equal to 50% of the numbers of shares of common stock of the Company into which such Series B Preferred Share would be convertible on the applicable record date. The terms of the Series B Preferred Shares, including the rights, preferences and privileges of such shares are set forth in full in the Statement of Designation of the Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series B Convertible Perpetual Preferred Shares of the Company (the "Statement of Designation") filed with the Registrar of Corporations of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. A copy of the Statement of Designation has also been filed with the SEC and is available on EDGAR.
About Euroseas Ltd.
Euroseas Ltd. was formed on May 5, 2005 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to consolidate the ship owning interests of the Pittas family of Athens, Greece, which has been in the shipping business over the past 136 years. Euroseas trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker ESEA since January 31, 2007.
Euroseas operates in the dry cargo, drybulk and container shipping markets. Euroseas' operations are managed by Eurobulk Ltd., an ISO 9001:2008 certified affiliated ship management company, which is responsible for the day-to-day commercial and technical management and operations of the vessels. Euroseas employs its vessels on spot and period charters and through pool arrangements.
Euroseas has a fleet of 14 vessels, including 3 Panamax drybulk carriers and 1 Handymax drybulk carrier, 3 Intermediate size containerships, 5 Handy size containerships and 2 Feeder containerships. Euroseas 4 drybulk carriers have a total cargo capacity of 262,074 dwt, and its 10 containerships have a cargo capacity of 17,587 teus.
About Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC
Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC ("TCP") is a Los Angeles-based alternative investment management firm focused on performing credit and special situations for middle-market companies. Since its founding, TCP has invested more than $11.9 billion in over 280 companies. For more information, please visit: www.tennenbaumcapital.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and the Company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy; including our expected joint venture and vessel acquisitions and time charters. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to changes in the demand for drybulk vessels and containerships, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
Visit our website www.euroseas.gr
Company Contact
Tasos Aslidis
Chief Financial Officer
Euroseas Ltd.
11 Canterbury Lane,
Watchung, NJ 07069
Tel. (908) 301-9091
E-mail: aha@euroseas.gr
Investor Relations / Financial Media
Nicolas Bornozis
President
Capital Link, Inc.
230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536
New York, NY 10169
Tel. (212) 661-7566
E-mail: euroseas@capitallink.com