As Predicted, Warrant Program a Success

Today, Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation announced the successful completion of its warrant program. Of the total public warrants, 76.13% were exercised, exceeding the minimum threshold of 75%, thereby allowing the exercise of the private warrants. The final tally showed 19,262,006 public warrants were exercised of which 19,246,056 were exercised on a cashless basis and 15,950 were exercised by payment of the $5.65 cash exercise price.

As a result of the successful conclusion of the program, Navios Maritime Holdings (“Navios”) and Angeliki Frangou will exercise 13,835,000 of the privately issue warrants for cash. The remaining 90,000 private warrants will also be exercised of which 75,000 will be done on a cashless basis.

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Cool Reception – Navios Extends Offer

With only 38% of the outstanding public warrants tendered (2% for cash) as of the close of business Monday, Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation announced a five day extension of the program and amended its terms to waive the condition that at least 15% of the outstanding warrants be exercised for cash. The requirement that at least 75% of the 25.3 million outstanding public warrants be exercised remains in place.

This threshold is also condition to the exercise of the warrants held by Navios Maritime Holdings (“Navios”) and Ms. Angeliki Frangou, who agreed to exercise on a cash basis a combined 13.84 million warrants with an aggregate cash exercise price of approximately $78.2 million. These proceeds together with those from the exercise of the public warrants on a cash basis were to be used to fund the acquisition of the seven VLCCs. In the event there is a cash shortfall as a result of the waiver of the 15% cash exercise condition, the parent company has agreed to provide additional financing to Navios Acquisition in the form of short-term debt priced at Navios’ average unsecured borrowing rate.
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When a Good Reputation is an Impediment

The SPAC is an ideal tool for an acquisition. Investors express confidence in management granting a “hunting license” for a business within one or more industries in the form of IPO cash proceeds. Once the target is identified, the investors vote on whether to approve the combination, with a majority of shareholders required to approve the transaction and not more than 39% voting to cash out. Until the vote, the proceeds from the IPO are invested in U.S. Treasuries.  In return for his money, the investor get a share of common equity and upside in the form of a warrant.

No one understands this structure better than Navios Maritime Holdings, which was acquired in 2005 by Ms. Angeliki Frangou through a SPAC.  Navios Maritime Acquisition (“NNA”), a SPAC formed in June 2008, was an encore performance. In this instance, the company had two years to find an acquisition within the marine or marine logistics industries.  The company was deliberate in their review of opportunities, given the uncertainty in the market and price discovery that was ongoing   Ultimately, the company secured a distressed deal within the tanker sector whereby the Company committed to invest $457.7 million for eleven product tankers and two chemical tankers. The Company and Ms. Frangou evidenced their strong belief in and commitment to the deal by agreeing to buy, respectively, $45 million and $15 million of shares.

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Paying the Bill

Ms. Angeliki Frangou and her team will search everywhere for funding, leaving no opportunity unturned. And certainly no one is more creative. To pay for Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation’s recent purchase of VLCCs, the company announced, last week, that it would give the holders of the 25.3 million outstanding warrants issued in the initial public offering (“Public Warrants”) a limited opportunity to acquire shares at a reduced price. The offer is coupled with a consent solicitation accelerating Navios Maritime Holdings ability to exercise certain warrants on identical terms.
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Navios Navy Adds Battleships

Irrepressible, the navy known as Navios last week acquired through its tanker subsidiary, Navios Maritime Acquisition (“Acquisition”), a fleet of seven VLCCs from Fred Cheng’s Shinyo International Group Limited. The aggregate purchase price was $587 million and the acquisition was done as a securities purchase agreement primarily to allow for the assumption of debt. The transaction will be financed with bank debt of $453 million, representing approximately 78% of the purchase price, with cash of $123 million (21%) and through the issuance of $11 million of Acquisition’s shares to the seller. In effect, third parties are funding approximately 80% of the purchase price, a remarkable achievement these days.

The seven vessels to be acquired include six on the water and one newbuilding to be delivered in a year’s time. The fleet has an average age of 8.6 years and a remaining charter term of 8.8 years with an average charter rate of $40,440 net per day. Most importantly, the newbuilding and the recently delivered vessel, the most expensive, are chartered for 15 years. There is also upside with five of the seven charters including profit sharing.
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Markets In Disarray

The equity markets can best be described as volatile, although that characterization may be kind, as they seem to be heading in one direction only. Two companies, Ridgebury Tankers and Navios Maritime Acquisition have braved the onslaught but we suspect would have preferred a better choice of timing. Unlike the preceding IPO offerings, Crude Carriers and Scorpio Tankers, that took place earlier this year, Ridgebury is not the master of its fate. Specifically, its vessels are on option from a third party seller, Teekay, as opposed to an affiliated party, which implies certain time limitations. Despite the switchover from the Gemini to Heidmar pool, they remain on the road for a second week. As a firm believer in no news is good news, we remain hopeful that Bob Burke and his team along with Jefferies will be successful.

Clearly, Ms. Angeliki Frangou leads a charmed life or is an extraordinary negotiator. Despite the uncertain markets and a preliminary vote that was largely against the acquisition of a tanker fleet of 11 product carriers and 2 chemical tankers, shareholders of Navios Maritime Acquisition approved the transaction on Tuesday thereby avoiding the necessity of Navios Maritime Holdings becoming the owner/operator of the tonnage. According to Chris Wetherbee of FBR Capital Markets, the company was able to secure a 60% plus one majority vote from shareholders, but expects Navios’ ownership stake will likely be higher than its 33% target, as it likely purchased shares from dissidents. With three public companies under her purview, Ms. Frangou is approaching Peter G’s record of four. We are in awe of the capacity of these two industry leaders to manage successfully these distinct companies in different sectors with distinctly different shareholders.
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A Book Review

While it will never be a best seller, Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation’s (“NMAC”) proxy statement makes a cogent argument for shareholder approval of the pending transaction for the acquisition of 11 newbuilding product tankers (four LR1s and seven MR2s) and two chemical tankers with an option to acquire two further LR1 product tankers. The acquisition cost is $457.7 million of which $334.3 million will be financed with debt. Included in the $344.3 million in debt facilities is a $52 million loan facility, which is in advance stages of negotiation, but, unlike the rest, not yet committed. The balance of the purchase price will be funded from the $250.8 million of proceeds of the initial public offering of 25.3 million units, including 3.3 million units issued upon the exercise of the over-allotment option. Invested in Treasuries, the cash position of the trust account stood at $251.5 as of year-end. The actual cash availability is uncertain however as unit holders can vote against the acquisition and exercise their conversion rights.
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With 2 Months to Spare

Today, Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation, the SPAC formed by Navios Maritime Holdings (“Navios”) back in June 2008, announced that it had agreed to acquire a 13 vessel fleet, consisting of 11 product tankers (4 LR1s and 7 MR2s) and 2 chemical tankers for an aggregate purchase price of $457.7 million. The company also has options to purchase two additional LR1s for $40.5 million each. The purchase price will be paid from cash ($123.4 million) and $343 million of bank financing consisting of a three term loans aggregating $277 million and a $57 million revolving credit facility. The high leverage also leaves excess cash remaining for growth from the original $220 million raised. The company’s rationale for the purchase is its belief that the assets are being acquired near their inflation adjusted historic low prices and the anticipated increased demand for products as the global recession eases.
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All Eyes Are On Genmar

We know that General Maritime’s dynamic duo, Messrs Georgiopoulos and Pribor are on the road marketing their $300 million senior unsecured notes offering due in 2017 and so, while they are busy selling we thought we would take a read of the high yield market.

Earlier this week, Navios Maritime Holdings closed its successful $400 million private offering of first priority ship mortgage notes due in 2017. Rated BB-/Ba3, the coupon on the notes was 8.875% and was priced to yield 9.125%. The company escrowed $105 million of the proceeds to provide additional financing to complete the purchase of two new vessels with the balance used to repay existing credit facilities.
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On the Road Again

On Monday, Navios Maritime Holdings (“Navios”) announced that it and, its wholly-owned finance subsidiary, Navios Maritime Finance (US) Inc. intend to offer, through a 144A private placement, $375 million of first priority ship mortgage notes due in 2017, subject to market conditions.

This marks Navios’ second entry into the high yield market having issued previously 9 1/2% Senior Notes due in 2014 in December 2006. The new notes will in fact be guaranteed by all of the subsidiaries that guarantee the existing notes, so, in fact, the new notes will be secured by first mortgages on 15 drybulk vessels aggregating approximately 1.1 million DWT.

Net proceeds will be used to repay borrowings under Navios’ existing credit facilities as well as to provide financing to complete the acquisition of two new vessels expected to be delivered in late 2009 and early 2010. Both of these vessels will then become part of the collateral package.

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