FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
B+H OCEAN CARRIERS AUTHORIZES STOCK REPURCHASE AND REFINANCES LOAN FACILITY
The Company also announced that it had received a commitment to refinance its $102,000,000 term loan facility and replace it with a $138,000,000 revolving term loan facility, subject to completion of definitive documentation and closing. The additional funds would be applied toward the financing of the Company’s recent acquisition of M/V ROGER M JONES and the acquisition of M/T CHALLENGE EXPRESS (to be renamed SAGAMORE) scheduled for delivery within 2005. The Company said its borrowing cost (for the new loan and for its other loan) had been significantly reduced. It also said that it had negotiated a suspension of the Loan-to-Value covenant for the next three years reflecting the fixed rate employment of its vessels. The Company expects to complete the refinancing by the end of October, 2005, subject to the usual risks of finalizing definitive documentation and closing.
About B+H Ocean Carriers Ltd.
The
Company is engaged in the business of owning and operating product tankers
and combination carriers. The Company intends to continue its vessel acquisition
program to expand its presence in its two current sectors of the tanker market:
combination carriers capable of transporting both wet and dry bulk cargoes,
and refined petroleum product carriers; however, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to purchase any of such vessels on favorable
terms or at all. The Company currently owns a fleet of six
Certain statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” and words of similar import, constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases, regarding the Company’s financial and business prospects. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the Company’s Annual Report and filings with the Securities and Exchange Committee. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained or incorporation by reference herein to reflect future events or developments.
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For further information, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20F, access the Company’s website: www.bhocean.com
Company Contact: John LeFrere
917.225.2800