Euroseas Ltd. Announces New Charters For Three Vessels And Conversion Of $1.875m Loan From Affiliate To Common Equity

ATHENS, Greece, Nov. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euroseas Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESEA, the “Company” or “Euroseas”), an owner and operator of container carrier vessels and provider of seaborne transportation for containerized cargoes, announced today the extension of the charter of its container vessels M/V “EM Astoria” and new time charter contracts for its container vessels M/V “Evridiki G” and M/V “Aegean Express”. Specifically:

• M/V “EM Astoria”, a 2,778 teu vessel built in 2004, was extended for a period of between twelve and fourteen months in charterers’ option, at a daily rate of $18,650. The new rate will commence on December 15, 2020.
• M/V “Evridiki G”, a 2,556 teu vessel built in 2001, entered into a new time charter contract for a period of between twelve and thirteen months in charterers’ option, at a daily rate of $15,500. The new rate will commence around December 5, 2020.
• M/V “Aegean Express”, a 1,439 teu vessel built in 1997, entered into a new time charter contract for a period of between fifteen and sixteen months in charterers’ option, at a daily rate of $11,500. The new charter will commence on December 27, 2020.
  
  

Furthermore, the Company announced that COLBY TRADING LTD (“Colby”), an affiliate of Euroseas’ CEO, elected to convert into shares of common stock the outstanding amount of a loan it provided to the Company on September 30, 2019; the conversion price was the lowest closing price over the fifteen business days prior to the conversion notice as per the terms of the loan. As result of the conversion, Euroseas issued 702,247 shares to Colby for the outstanding loan amount of $1.875 million.

Aristides Pittas, Chairman and CEO of Euroseas commented: “We are very pleased to announce the new charter arrangements for three of our vessels providing employment for longer than a year period for each of them. The three vessels are expected to make EBITDA contribution of about $7.5 million during 2021 under their new charters which would be more than four times their EBITDA contribution during the last twelve months.

“Both the rate of the charters – which is near the highest levels of the last ten years – and the duration of the contracts are indicative of the strength of the market during the recent months. If the present market levels continue and we are able to renew or replace the charters of the remaining of our vessels, as they expire, at similar levels, we should see a significant contribution to our earnings and profitability.

“While risks - both geopolitical and economic - abound, we are optimistic that the demand-supply balance in the containership market over the next couple of years will be supportive of strong charter rates. Our optimism is based on the fact that a very low fleet orderbook, the lowest in more than 20 years in percentage terms, is combined with increased expectations for control of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery and healthy growth of containerized trade. The recent conversion of a loan from an affiliate of our main shareholders into equity is representative of the increased confidence in the prospects of the market and our company.”

About Euroseas Ltd.

Euroseas Ltd. was formed on May 5, 2005 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to consolidate the ship owning interests of the Pittas family of Athens, Greece, which has been in the shipping business over the past 140 years. Euroseas trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker ESEA. 



Euroseas operates in the container shipping market. Euroseas' operations are managed by Eurobulk Ltd., an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified affiliated ship management company, which is responsible for the day-to-day commercial and technical management and operations of the vessels. Euroseas employs its vessels on spot and period charters and through pool arrangements. 

The Company has a fleet of 14 vessels, including 9 Feeder containerships and 5 Intermediate Container carriers. Euroseas 14 containerships have a cargo capacity of 42,281 teu.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and the Company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy; including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to changes in the demand for containerships, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. 

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