Seaspan Acquires Greater China Intermodal Investments



Seaspan acquired the remaining 89% it did not own of Greater China Intermodal Investments from affiliates of The Carlyle Group and the minority owners of GCI.

This acquisition solidifies Seaspan’s position as the world’s largest independent containership owner operator.

The implied enterprise value of GCI is approximately $1.6 billion, including assumed third party net debt of approximately $1.0 billion and $140 million of future vessel payments. The consideration to selling shareholders will be cash of approximately $330 million and a $50 million issuance of Seaspan Series D preferred shares. Seaspan financed the cash consideration with cash from its balance sheet and a $16 million reinvestment by the Washington family in Seaspan common equity. Seaspan has also closed on a $100 million secured credit facility from Citi.

Bing Chen, president and CEO of Seaspan, said, “This significantly accretive acquisition materially increases our contracted future revenues and enhances our ability to provide our customers with modern, state-of-the-art containerships. With GCI’s fleet now under our ownership, we are strengthening our partnerships with customers and enhancing our scalable integrated platform for sustained growth and future consolidation. As the container shipping industry is beginning to show signs of a recovery, we are taking decisive actions to capitalize on compelling opportunities in our market.”

GCI’s fleet of 18 modern containerships is comprised of 10,000 TEU and 14,000 TEU eco-class vessels, representing a total of 204,000 TEU. Of these 18 vessels, there are currently 16 on-the-water vessels with the remaining two newbuild vessels scheduled for delivery during Q2/18. Seaspan has been involved in the design, construction, delivery and operations of all 18 of GCI’s vessels since inception. All of these vessels are sister ships to Seaspan’s current fleet. Given Seaspan’s operating history of GCI’s fleet, there is no operational integration risk.

GCI’s current fleet will contribute approximately $1.3 billion towards Seaspan’s contracted future revenues, increasing Seaspan’s total contracted future revenues to approximately $5.6 billion. In calendar year 2019, with an 18 vessel fleet, GCI is expected to generate $185 million to $200 million in annual EBITDA.


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