WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
DIANA SHIPPING INC.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Attached to this Report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 99.1 is a press release dated July 26, 2024 of Diana Shipping Inc., (the "Company") announcing the signing and drawdown of a US$167.3 million term loan facility with Nordea Bank to refinance two existing loan facilities.
The information contained in this Report on Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by reference into the Company's registration statements on Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-256791 and 333-266999) that were filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and became effective on July 9, 2021 and September 16, 2022, respectively.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | | | | Corporate Contact: |
| | | | | Ioannis Zafirakis |
| | | | | Director, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Treasurer and Secretary |
| | | | | Telephone: + 30-210-9470-100 |
| | | | | Email: izafirakis@dianashippinginc.com |
| | | | | Website: www.dianashippinginc.com |
| | | | | X: @Dianaship |
| For Immediate Release |
| | | | | Investor and Media Relations: |
| | | | | Edward Nebb |
| | | | | Comm-Counsellors, LLC |
| | | | | Telephone: + 1-203-972-8350 |
| | | | | Email: enebb@optonline.net |
DIANA SHIPPING INC. ANNOUNCES SIGNING AND DRAWDOWN OF
A US$167.3 MILLION TERM LOAN FACILITY WITH NORDEA BANK
TO REFINANCE TWO EXISTING TERM LOAN FACILITIES WITH NORDEA
ATHENS, GREECE, July 26, 2024 – Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), (the “Company”), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership and bareboat charter-in of dry bulk vessels, today announced the successful signing of a US$167.3 million six-year secured term loan facility with Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge on July 25, 2024. The full amount was drawn down immediately.
The new loan maturing in July 2030 is secured by ten vessels. The proceeds have been utilized to refinance two of the Company’s existing loan facilities with Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge: one for US$149.3 million and the other for US$18.0 million, originally maturing in October 2027 and June 2028, respectively. These loans were previously secured by twelve vessels. As part of this refinancing, two of the Company’s mortgaged vessels have been released.
This strategic financial move underscores the Company’s commitment to optimizing its capital structure and enhancing operational flexibility.
Upon completion of the previously announced sale of m/v Houston, Diana Shipping Inc.’s fleet will consist of 38 dry bulk vessels: 4 Newcastlemax, 8 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 6 Kamsarmax, 6 Panamax and 9 Ultramax. The Company also expects to take delivery of two methanol dual fuel new-building Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels by the second half of 2027 and the first half of 2028, respectively. As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Company’s fleet including the m/v Houston and excluding the two vessels not yet delivered, is approximately 4.4 million dwt with a weighted average age of 10.98 years. A table describing the current Diana Shipping Inc. fleet can be found on the Company’s website, www.dianashippinginc.com. Information contained on the Company’s website does not constitute a part of this press release.
About the Company
Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership and bareboat charter-in of dry bulk vessels. The Company’s vessels are employed primarily on short to medium-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.
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.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, Company management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Company’s records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies that are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Company’s control, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Company’s view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in the Company’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Company’s vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, including risks associated with the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and related sanctions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, including the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
