ATHENS, Greece, June 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Performance Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ:DCIX), (the "Company"), today announced that it has agreed to acquire two entities, which have signed contracts to purchase two 2011-built Aframax tanker vessels from an unaffiliated third party seller for a total purchase price of US$60.0 million. The transaction was unanimously approved by the disinterested members of the board of directors of the Company.

The Company will acquire the two entities affiliated with the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Symeon Palios, for an aggregate purchase price of US$10.0 million, which will be paid in common shares of the Company at a per share price of US$1.05, which is equal to the undiscounted closing price of the common stock on the NASDAQ stock exchange on June 7, 2019. The US$10.0 million purchase price of the two entities is equal to the deposit previously paid to the vessels' seller by the affiliates of the Company's Chairman. The balance of the purchase price payable under the contracts is expected to be funded through cash on hand and bank financing. The first vessel delivery is expected in the third quarter of this year and the second in the fourth quarter.

Commenting on the transaction, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated: 

"I am excited to be able to offer this attractive opportunity to purchase high-specification Aframax tankers to the Company at what I believe is a favourable time in the tanker industry cycle. The acquisition of these vessels represents an important step in the Company's diversification from the container industry into other areas of the shipping sector. The sale of these contracts for common shares of the Company reflects my view that now is an attractive time to invest in the Company as it starts to rebuild its fleet."

Following the closing of this transaction, the Company will have 36,277,660 common shares and another 2,000 Series B-2 Preferred Shares issued and outstanding. Upon completion of the above-mentioned entities' acquisition, the Company will own 4 unencumbered containerships, 2 contracts to purchase 2 Aframax tanker vessels, for which US$10.0 million have been paid as deposit, plus approximately US$17.0 million of cash.   

About the Company

Performance Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of vessels. The Company's current fleet of vessels are employed primarily on time charters with leading liner companies carrying containerized cargo along worldwide shipping routes. 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

Investor and Media Relations:
Edward Nebb
Comm-Counsellors, LLC
Telephone: +1-203-972-8350
Email: [email protected]