Diana Shipping Inc., a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, today announced that it has amended its existing loan agreement to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Diana Containerships Inc., which is a guarantor of the loan, dated as of May 20, 2013.
Diana Containerships Inc. is a former wholly-owned subsidiary of Diana Shipping, of which Diana Shipping currently owns approximately 25.7% of the issued and outstanding common shares. The amendment to the Loan was unanimously approved by the independent directors of Diana Shipping.
Pursuant to the terms of the amendment, the repayment of all outstanding principal amounts shall be deferred until the later of the repayment or prepayment in full by Diana Containerships Inc. of the principal amount of US$8,851,000 under its US$148 million loan agreement with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc dated September 10, 2015, whose repayment is scheduled to commence on March 15, 2019 and be completed not later than June 15, 2021, and September 15, 2018. The amendment will also change the borrower under the Loan to another wholly-owned subsidiary of Diana Containerships Inc., and provide for an increase of the interest rate for the period between September 12, 2016 and December 31, 2018 to 3.35% per annum over USD LIBOR.
About Diana Shipping
Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of dry bulk vessels. Diana Shipping’s vessels are employed primarily on medium to long-term time charters and transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes.