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Long-Term Debt
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Long-Term Debt  
Long-Term Debt

9. Long‑Term Debt

 

Description of our Debt Obligations

 

2015 Debt Facility

 

In March 2015, we entered into a $758 million debt financing facility with four separate tranches (collectively, with the amendment described below, the “2015 Debt Facility”). Commercial debt financing (“Commercial Financing”) of $249 million was provided by ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC (“ABN”); ING Bank N.V., London Branch, ("ING"); DVB Bank SE ("DVB"); Citibank N.A., London Branch (“Citi”); and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New York Branch, ("CBA") (collectively the "Commercial Lenders"), while the Export Import Bank of Korea ("KEXIM") directly provided $204 million of financing (“KEXIM Direct Financing”). The remaining $305 million of financing was provided under tranches guaranteed by KEXIM of $202 million (“KEXIM Guaranteed”) and insured by the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation ("K-sure") of $103 million (“K-sure Insured”). Financing under the KEXIM guaranteed and K-sure insured tranches are provided by certain Commercial Lenders; Deutsche Bank AG; and Santander Bank, N.A. The debt financing is secured by, among other things, sixteen of our ECO VLGCs, and represents a loan-to-contract cost ratio before fees of approximately 55%.

 

The 2015 Debt Facility contains various covenants providing for, among other things, maintenance of certain financial ratios and certain limitations on payment of dividends, investments, acquisitions and indebtedness. A commitment fee was payable on the average daily unused amount under the 2015 Debt Facility of 40% of the margin on each tranche. Certain terms of the borrowings under each tranche of the 2015 Debt Facility are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate at 

 

 

    

 

    

Term

 

Interest Rate Description(1)

 

March 31, 2018(2)

 

Tranche 1

 

Commercial Financing

 

7

years

 

London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin(4)

 

5.04

%

Tranche 2

 

KEXIM Direct Financing

 

12

years(3)

 

LIBOR plus a margin of 2.45%

 

4.74

%

Tranche 3

 

KEXIM Guaranteed

 

12

years(3)

 

LIBOR plus a margin of 1.40%

 

3.69

%

Tranche 4

 

K-sure Insured

 

12

years(3)

 

LIBOR plus a margin of 1.50%

 

3.79

%

 


(1)

The interest rate of the 2015 Debt Facility on Tranche 1 is determined in accordance with the agreement as three or six month LIBOR plus the applicable margin and the interest rate on Tranches 2, 3 and 4 is determined in accordance with the agreement as three month LIBOR plus the applicable margin for the respective tranches.

 

(2)

The set LIBOR rate in effect as of March 31, 2018 was 2.29%.

 

(3)

The KEXIM Direct Financing, KEXIM Guaranteed, and K-Sure tranches have put options to call for the prepayment on the final payment date of the Commercial Financing tranche subject to specific notifications and commitments for refinancing/renewal of the Commercial Financing tranche.

 

(4)

The Commercial Financing tranche margin over LIBOR is 2.75% and is reduced to 2.50% if 50% or more but less than 75% of the vessels financed in the 2015 Debt Facility are employed under time charters as defined in the agreement and to 2.25% if 75% or more of the vessels financed in the 2015 Debt Facility are employed under time charters as defined in the agreement. As of March 31, 2018, the set margin was 2.75%.

 

The 2015 Debt Facility is secured by, among other things, (i) first priority Bahamian mortgages on the vessels financed; (ii) first priority assignments of all of the financed vessels’ insurances, earnings, requisition compensation, and management agreements; (iii) first priority security interests in respect of all issued shares or limited liability company interests of the borrowers and vessel-owning guarantors; (iv) first priority charter assignments of all of the financed vessels’ long-term charters; (v) assignments of the interests of any ship manager in the insurances of the financed vessels; (vi) an assignment by the borrower of any bank, deposit or certificate of deposit opened in accordance with the facility; and (vii) a guaranty by the Company guaranteeing the obligations of the borrower and other guarantors under the facility agreement. The 2015 Debt Facility further provides that the facility is to be secured by assignments of the borrower’s rights under any hedging contracts in connection with the facility but such assignments have not been entered into at this time.

 

The 2015 Debt Facility also contains customary covenants that require us to maintain adequate insurance coverage, properly maintain the vessels and to obtain the lender’s prior consent before changes are made to the flag, class or management of the vessels, or entry into a new line of business. The loan facility includes customary events of default, including those relating to a failure to pay principal or interest, breaches of covenants, representations and warranties, a cross-default to certain other debt obligations and non-compliance with security documents, and customary restrictions from paying dividends if an event of default has occurred and is continuing, or if an event of default would result therefrom.

 

On May 31, 2017, we entered into an agreement to amend the 2015 Debt Facility (the “2015 Debt Facility Amendment”). The 2015 Debt Facility Amendment includes the relaxation of certain covenants under the debt financing facility; the release of $26.8 million of restricted cash as of the date of the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment that was applied towards the next two debt principal payments, interest and certain fees; and certain other modifications, including an expanded definition of the components of consolidated liquidity to include all cash held in accounts by Helios LPG Pool LLC attributable to the vessels owned directly or indirectly by us. Fees related to the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment totaled approximately $1.1 million.

 

The following financial covenants, some of which were relaxed under the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment, are the most restrictive from the 2015 Debt Facility with which the Company is required to comply, calculated on a consolidated basis, determined and defined according to the provisions of the loan agreement:

 

·

The ratio of current assets and long-term restricted cash divided by current liabilities, excluding current portion of long-term debt, shall always be greater than 1.00;

 

·

Maintain minimum shareholders’ equity at all times equal to the aggregate of (i) $400,000,000, (ii) 50% of any new equity raised after loan agreement date and (iii) 25% of the positive net income for the immediately preceding financial year;

 

·

Minimum interest coverage ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated net interest expense must be maintained greater than or equal to (i) 1.25 at all times prior to and through March 31, 2018, (ii) 1.50 at all times from April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019, and (iii) 2.50 at all times thereafter; and

 

·

The ratio of consolidated net debt to consolidated total capitalization shall not exceed 0.60 to 1.00;

 

·

Fair market value of the mortgaged ships plus any additional security over the outstanding loan balance shall be at least (i) 125% at all times prior to and through March 31, 2018, (ii) 130% at all times from April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019, (iii) 135% at all times thereafter.

 

 

The following negative covenant was added under the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment:

 

·

Restrictions on dividends and stock repurchases until the earlier of (i) an Approved Equity Offering (defined below) and (ii) the second anniversary of the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment Date; and

 

 

The 2015 Debt Facility Amendment also includes a provision for the reduction of the minimum balance held as restricted cash. The minimum balance of the restricted cash deposited under the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment is or was:

 

·

the lesser of $18.0 million and $1.0 million per mortgaged vessel under the 2015 Debt Facility at all times from the date of the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment (“2015 Debt Facility Amendment Date”) through six months after the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment Date;

 

·

the lesser of $29.0 million and $1.6 million per mortgaged vessel under the 2015 Debt Facility at all times from six months from the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment Date through the first anniversary of the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment Date;

 

·

the lesser of $40.0 million and $2.2 million per mortgaged vessel under the 2015 Debt Facility at all times thereafter; and   

 

·

if we complete a common stock offering of at least $50.0 million, including fees (an “Approved Equity Offering”), the restricted cash shall be calculated as an amount at least equal to 5% of the total principal of the 2015 Debt Facility outstanding, but at no time less than the lesser of $20.0 million and $1.1 million per mortgaged vessel under the 2015 Debt Facility.

 

The 2015 Debt Facility permits the lenders to accelerate the indebtedness if, without the prior written consent of the lenders, (i) one-third of our common shares are owned by any shareholder other than certain entities, directors or officers listed in the agreement; (ii) there are certain changes to our board of directors; or (iii) Mr. John C. Hadjipateras ceases to serve on our board of directors.

 

Royal Bank of Scotland plc. (“RBS”) secured bank debt

 

We assumed the debt obligations associated with the financing of the vessels that were acquired through the acquisition of CJNP LPG Transport LLC, CMNL LPG Transport LLC, and CNML LPG Transport LLC. The prior loan arrangements associated with those vessels required approval from the lenders to sell the vessels and agreement from the lenders to transfer the borrowings to another party. As a consequence, the Company and the lender negotiated new borrowing terms in connection with this transaction. The new terms are described below. The total borrowings outstanding immediately prior to the debt modification and immediately after remained the same.

 

CJNP LPG Transport LLC, CMNL LPG Transport LLC, CNML LPG Transport LLC, and Corsair LPG Transport LLC as joint and several borrowers (Borrowers), and Dorian LPG Ltd. as parent guarantor entered into a loan facility of $135,224,500 (the “RBS Loan Facility”), which replaced the prior borrowing arrangements of our predecessor companies. The RBS Loan Facility was divided into three tranches associated with each of the Captain John NP,  Captain Markos NL and the Captain Nicholas ML, respectively.

 

We repaid in full the RBS Loan Facility at 96% of the then outstanding principal amount using proceeds from a bridge loan agreement entered into on June 8, 2017. Refer to “2017 Bridge Loan” below for further details.

 

2017 Bridge Loan

 

On June 8, 2017, we entered into a $97.0 million bridge loan agreement (the “2017 Bridge Loan”) with DNB Capital LLC. The principal amount of the 2017 Bridge Loan was due on or before August 8, 2018 (the “Original Maturity Date”) and initially accrued interest on the outstanding principal amount at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.50% for the period ended December 7, 2017; LIBOR plus 4.50% for the period from December 8 until March 7, 2018; LIBOR plus 6.50% for the period March 8, 2018 until June 7, 2018, and LIBOR plus 8.50% from June 8, 2018 until the Original Maturity Date.

 

The proceeds of the 2017 Bridge Loan were used to repay in full the RBS Loan Facility at 96% of the then outstanding principal amount. The remaining proceeds were used to pay accrued interest, legal, arrangement and advisory fees related to the 2017 Bridge Loan. As part of this transaction, $6.0 million of cash previously restricted under the RBS Loan Facility was released as unrestricted cash for use in operations.

 

The 2017 Bridge Loan was initially secured by, among other things, (i) first priority mortgages on the four VLGCs that were financed under the RBS Loan Facility, (ii) first assignments of all freights, earnings and insurances relating to these four VLGCs, and (iii) pledges of membership interests of the borrowers.

 

On November 7, 2017, we prepaid $30.1 million of the 2017 Bridge Loan’s then outstanding principal with proceeds from the Corsair Japanese Financing (defined below) and the security interests related to the Corsair were released under the facility. Refer to “Corsair Japanese Financing” below for further details.

 

On December 8, 2017, we entered into an agreement to amend the Original Maturity Date and margin on the 2017 Bridge Loan for a fee of $0.2 million. The remaining outstanding principal amount of the 2017 Bridge Loan is due on or before December 31, 2018 (the “Amended Maturity Date”) and accrues interest on the outstanding principal amount at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.50% for the period ending March 31, 2018; LIBOR plus 6.50% for the period April 1, 2018 until June 30, 2018, and LIBOR plus 8.50% from July 1, 2018 until the Amended Maturity Date. 

 

On June 4, 2018, we prepaid $22.3 million of the 2017 Bridge Loan’s then outstanding principal using cash on hand prior to the closing of the CJNP Japanese Financing (defined below). On June 20, 2018, we prepaid the remaining 2017 Bridge Loan’s outstanding principal of $44.6 million ($21.2 million related to the Captain Nicholas ML and $23.4 million related to the Captain Markos NL) using cash on hand prior to the closing of the CMNL Japanese Financing (defined below) and the CNML Japanese Financing (defined below). See Note 23 below for more information.

 

Corsair Japanese Financing

 

On November 7, 2017, we refinanced a 2014-built VLGC, the Corsair, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement (“Corsair Japanese Financing”). In connection therewith, we transferred the Corsair to the buyer for $65.0 million and, as part of the agreement, Corsair LPG Transport LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, bareboat chartered the vessel back for a period of 12 years, with purchase options from the end of year 2 onwards through a mandatory buyout by 2029. We continue to technically manage, commercially charter, and operate the Corsair. We received $52.0 million in cash as part of the transaction with $13.0 million to be retained by the buyer as a deposit (the “Corsair Deposit”), which can be used by us towards the repurchase of the vessel either pursuant to an early buyout option or at the end of the 12-year bareboat charter term. The refinancing proceeds of $52.0 million were used to prepay $30.1 million of the 2017 Bridge Loan’s then outstanding principal amount. The remaining proceeds were used to pay legal fees associated with this transaction and for general corporate purposes. The Corsair Japanese Financing is treated as a financing transaction and the VLGC continues to be recorded as an asset on our balance sheet. This debt financing has a fixed interest rate of 4.9%, not including financing costs of $0.1 million, monthly broker commission fees of 1.25% over the 12-year term on interest and principal payments made, broker commission fees of 1% of the purchase option price excluding the Corsair Deposit, and a monthly fixed straight-line principal obligation of approximately $0.3 million over the 12-year term with a balloon payment of $13.0 million.

Concorde Japanese Financing

 

On January 31, 2018, we refinanced a 2015-built VLGC, the Concorde, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement. In connection therewith, we transferred the Concorde to the buyer for $70.0 million and, as part of the agreement, Concorde LPG Transport LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, bareboat chartered the vessel back for a period of 13 years, with purchase options from the end of year 3 onwards through a mandatory buyout by 2031. We continue to technically manage, commercially charter, and operate the Concorde. We received $56.0 million in cash as part of the transaction with $14.0 million to be retained by the buyer as a deposit (the “Concorde Deposit”), which can be used by us towards the repurchase of the vessel either pursuant to an early buyout option or at the end of the 13-year bareboat charter term. The refinancing proceeds of $56.0 million were used to prepay $35.1 million of the 2015 Debt Facility’s then outstanding principal amount. Pursuant to the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment and in conjunction with this prepayment, $1.6 million of restricted cash was released under the 2015 Debt Facility. The remaining proceeds were, or will be, used to pay legal fees associated with this transaction and for general corporate purposes. This transaction is treated as a financing transaction and the Concorde continues to be recorded as an asset on our balance sheet. This debt financing has a fixed interest rate of 4.9%, not including estimated financing costs of $0.1 million, monthly broker commission fees of 1.25% over the 13-year term on interest and principal payments made, broker commission fees of 1% of an exercised purchase option excluding the Concorde Deposit, and a monthly fixed straight-line principal obligation of approximately $0.3 million over the 13-year term with a balloon payment of $14.0 million. 

 

Corvette Japanese Financing

 

On March 16, 2018, we refinanced a 2015-built VLGC, the Corvette, pursuant to a memorandum of agreement and a bareboat charter agreement. In connection therewith, we transferred the Corvette to the buyer for $70.0 million and, as part of the agreement, Corvette LPG Transport LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, bareboat chartered the vessel back for a period of 13 years, with purchase options from the end of year 3 onwards through a mandatory buyout by 2031. We continue to technically manage, commercially charter, and operate the Corvette. We received $56.0 million in cash as part of the transaction with $14.0 million to be retained by the buyer as a deposit (the “Corvette Deposit”), which can be used by us towards the repurchase of the vessel either pursuant to an early buyout option or at the end of the 13-year bareboat charter term. The refinancing proceeds of $56.0 million were used to prepay $33.7 million of the 2015 Debt Facility’s then outstanding principal amount. Pursuant to the 2015 Debt Facility Amendment and in conjunction with this prepayment, $1.6 million of restricted cash was released under the 2015 Debt Facility. The remaining proceeds were, or will be, used to pay legal fees associated with this transaction and for general corporate purposes. This transaction is treated as a financing transaction and the Corvette continues to be recorded as an asset on our balance sheet. This debt financing has a fixed interest rate of 4.9%, not including estimated financing costs of $0.1 million, monthly broker commission fees of 1.25% over the 13-year term on interest and principal payments made, broker commission fees of 1% of an exercised purchase option excluding the Corvette Deposit, and a monthly fixed straight-line principal obligation of approximately $0.3 million over the 13-year term with a balloon payment of $14.0 million. 

 

Debt Obligations

 

The table below presents our debt obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RBS Loan Facility

    

March 31, 2018

    

March 31, 2017

 

Tranche A

 

$

 —

 

$

34,000,000

 

Tranche B

 

 

 —

 

 

25,570,000

 

Tranche C

 

 

 —

 

 

40,312,500

 

Total RBS Loan Facility

 

$

 —

 

$

99,882,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 Bridge Loan

 

$

66,940,405

 

$

 —

 

Corsair Japanese Financing

 

$

50,645,833

 

$

 —

 

Concorde Japanese Financing

 

$

55,192,308

 

$

 —

 

Corvette Japanese Financing

 

$

55,730,769

 

$

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015 Debt Facility

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial Financing

 

$

187,989,229

 

$

227,512,277

 

KEXIM Direct Financing

 

 

141,004,162

 

 

175,773,718

 

KEXIM Guaranteed

 

 

145,348,064

 

 

177,680,534

 

K-sure Insured

 

 

72,313,416

 

 

89,253,699

 

Total 2015 Debt Facility

 

$

546,654,871

 

$

670,220,228

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total debt obligations

 

$

775,164,186

 

$

770,102,728

 

Less: deferred financing fees

 

 

16,061,034

 

 

20,138,480

 

Debt obligations—net of deferred financing fees

 

$

759,103,152

 

$

749,964,248

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presented as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

65,067,569

 

$

65,978,785

 

Long-term debt—net of current portion and deferred financing fees

 

 

694,035,583

 

 

683,985,463

 

Total

 

$

759,103,152

 

$

749,964,248

 

 

Deferred Financing Fees

 

The analysis and movement of deferred financing fees is presented in the table below: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Financing

 

 

 

costs

 

Balance, April 1, 2016

 

$

23,748,116

 

Additions

 

 

99,785

 

Amortization

 

 

(3,709,421)

 

Balance, March 31, 2017

 

$

20,138,480

 

Additions

 

 

3,255,859

 

Amortization

 

 

(7,506,509)

 

Gain on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

173,204

 

Balance, March 31, 2018

 

$

16,061,034

 

 

Additions represent financing costs associated with the 2015 Debt Facility, 2017 Bridge Loan, Corsair Japanese Financing, Concorde Japanese Financing, and Corvette Japanese Financing for the years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, which have been deferred and are amortized over the life of the respective agreements and are included as part of interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Future Cash Payments for Debt

 

The minimum annual principal payments, in accordance with the loan agreements, required to be made after March 31, 2018 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Year ending March 31:

    

    

 

2019

$

65,067,569

 

2020

 

63,968,442

 

2021

 

63,968,442

 

2022

 

202,751,210

 

2023

 

51,666,827

 

Thereafter

 

327,741,696

 

Total

$

775,164,186