Rubico Inc., a global provider of shipping transportation services specializing in the ownership of vessels, announced it has entered into a letter of intent (the “LOI”) for the potential acquisition from Top Ships Inc., a related party controlled by Rubico’s controlling shareholder, of a shipowning company (“SPV”) that is party to a shipbuilding agreement with Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited for the construction of a high specification MR chemical/product oil tanker (the “Newbuilding Tanker”) to be delivered in Q2 2029. The SPV has entered into a time charter agreement with Trafigura Maritime Logistics Pte. Ltd. at a minimum fixed duration of 7 years at a time charter rate of $18,750 per day and is also party to a lease financing agreement with a Chinese Lessor for 85% of the shipbuilding price starting from the 1st instalment on a pro-rata basis without any asset cover requirement for the duration of the time charter.
The Company will make an advance cash payment of $0.3 million that will be credited against the acquisition price of the SPV or refunded to the extent the Company does not elect to purchase the SPV. The exclusivity period under the LOI will expire on July 31, 2026. Up to that date the Company will conduct a due diligence process and evaluation of the potential transaction taking into account market conditions and other factors, and there can be no assurance that the potential transaction will be consummated. A special independent committee composed of independent members of the Company’s board of directors will negotiate and approve any potential acquisition pursuant to the LOI.