Disposal of five debt-free container vessels, for an expected book gain of $118.4 million
Proceeds to be used to pay down debt and for general corporate purposes
Further progress in pivot toward full focus on gas transportation solutions
Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp. (“CCEC”, “we” or “us”), an international owner of ocean-going vessels, is pleased to announce it has entered into five memoranda of agreement for the sale of five container sister vessels: the M/V Hyundai Prestige, the M/V Hyundai Premium, the M/V Hyundai Paramount, the M/V Hyundai Privilege and the M/V Hyundai Platinum, (each 63,010 DWT/ 5,023 TEU, container vessel, built 2013, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., S. Korea) to a third party. The vessels are expected to be delivered to their new owners progressively between November 2024 and January 2025.
The total expected book gain from the sale is estimated at $118.4 million. All five vessels are debt-free, and the cash proceeds will be used to pay down debt and for general corporate purposes. The divestment of container assets is fully consistent with the strategy outlined in November 2023 to pivot the company toward gas transportation.
Management have moved methodically but opportunistically to leverage the recent upturn in container market dynamics to generate value for our shareholders. The company retains some container market exposure via three 13,300 TEU container vessels, which we will continue to manage strategically for future value creation, as the economic cycle develops. Shareholders will continue to benefit from the cash flows from these vessels, secured from long-term time charters to 2032 and 2033, with options extending to 2038 and 2039.
Mr. Jerry Kalogiratos, our Chief Executive Officer, said: “With our recent name and ticker change, recognition of the substantial change in company focus, CCEC has, with this accretive sale of five container vessels, delivered further significant progress on our business refocus. With 12 latest generation LNG carriers currently on the water plus the delivery of an additional six LNG carriers and 10 LPG/Ammonia/LCO2 carriers between the first quarter of 2026 and the third quarter of 2027, we expect to become the largest U.S.-listed LNG shipping company and will offer our industrial customers a full range of transportation solutions. Our recent conversion to a traditional corporate structure is intended to position the company as an attractive investment opportunity in the equity capital markets.”