Seaspan Acquires Greater China Intermodal Investments LLC

• Solidifies Seaspan’s Industry-Leading Position as Largest Independent Containership Owner Operator
• Acquisition Increases Seaspan’s Fleet Exposure in 10,000 TEU and 14,000 TEU Eco-Class Vessels
• Transaction Significantly Accretive to Seaspan’s Earnings per Share
• Fairfax Financial to Invest an Additional $250 Million in 5.5% Debentures and Warrants, Increasing Total Fairfax Investment in Seaspan to $500 Million

Seaspan Corporation (Seaspan) (NYSE:SSW), the world’s largest independent containership owner operator, announced today that it has acquired the remaining 89% it did not own of Greater China Intermodal Investments LLC (GCI) from affiliates of The Carlyle Group (Carlyle) and the minority owners of GCI.

This acquisition solidifies Seaspan’s industry-leading position as the world’s largest independent containership owner operator, and highlights Seaspan’s strength and ability to achieve sustained growth and drive consolidation in the fragmented containership sector. By expanding Seaspan’s fleet and deepening its customer relationships, Seaspan is well-positioned to offer its customers, the world’s leading container liners, enhanced service and capabilities.

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 Chief Executive Officer of Seaspan, stated, "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 high quality 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 the second quarter of 2018. 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.  

The Combined Fleet of SSW and GCI

Citi acted as financial advisor to Seaspan. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. served as financial adviser to GCI.

Fairfax Financial Holdings Investment

Seaspan also announced that Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, through certain subsidiaries (collectively, "Fairfax"), has entered into definitive agreements for an additional $250 million investment in Seaspan Debentures (the "Debentures") and Warrants (the "Warrants"). The $250 million investment will be funded in January 2019. Fairfax’s investment is on substantively the same terms as Fairfax’s February 14, 2018 investment (as disclosed in Seaspan’s 2017 20-F).

The term of the Debentures and Warrants will be seven years from the expected funding date of January 2019. The Debentures are a 5.5% interest bearing security, which will be guaranteed by certain of Seaspan’s subsidiaries. Seaspan will have the right to redeem the Debentures at face value plus all accrued but unpaid interest at any time after the fifth anniversary of issuance. Seaspan has also agreed to issue 38,461,539 Warrants, each exercisable into one Class A common share of Seaspan at $6.50 per share, subject to adjustment. Seaspan can elect to require early exercise of the warrants, at any time after the fourth anniversary of closing, if the volume weighted average price of Seaspan’s common shares, averaged over a 20-day period, equals or exceeds $13.00 per share, subject to adjustment.

David Sokol, Chairman of Seaspan’s Board of Directors, said, "We are very pleased to announce the expansion of our partnership with Prem Watsa-led Fairfax through this investment. Fairfax has an exceptional investment track record and reputation for creating shareholder value. We believe this investment is a validation of Seaspan’s industry-leading platform and has been instrumental in facilitating our acquisition of GCI."

Mr. Sokol continued, "The acquisition of GCI has always been strategically compelling for Seaspan. We now have the right team in place to execute on this opportunity, as well as strong support from both Fairfax and the Washington family. Under Bing’s leadership, Seaspan is growing its fleet with high-quality young vessels and building a platform for growth, while taking actions to create shareholder value for many years to come."

Prem Watsa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax, said, "We are delighted to grow our partnership with the Seaspan team. Building an even greater relationship with a company guided by proven leaders like David Sokol and Bing Chen, and sponsored by the experienced and successful Dennis Washington, represents a tremendous opportunity for Fairfax. We are very excited to continue supporting Seaspan in the execution of its long-term vision."

Larry Simkins, a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Seaspan and President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of The Washington Companies, commented, "As Seaspan’s largest shareholder, the Washington family is thrilled with Seaspan’s rapid progress under David’s oversight as Chairman and Bing’s leadership as CEO. We remain committed to supporting Seaspan’s future growth and look forward to benefiting as the market continues to recover and this management team capitalizes on increasingly attractive opportunities around the globe."

Source: Seaspan