Fri 10 Jul 2009, 07:34 GMT

Vopak announces agreement for EUR 110 million growth capital


Investors agree to participate in cumulative financing preference shares program.



Royal Vopak (Vopak) has announced that it has reached agreement with a group of investors on their participation in a renewed cumulative financing preference shares program of EUR 110 million. The proceeds of the renewed program will be used to finance the further expansion of the company.

Four out of the five investors in the existing program, ASR Nederland, Delta Lloyd, HAL Investments, and ING AM Insurance Companies, have agreed to participate in this renewed program.

In connection with this transaction, an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders will be convened on 27 August 2009 to approve the proposed changes to the existing cumulative financing preference shares program with effect from 31 August 2009 whereby:

* The outstanding amount will be increased with EUR 84 million to EUR 110 million;

* The dividend percentage will be set at 7.45% (current dividend percentage is 4.73%) and will be reset every five years;

* The aggregate voting rights on the renewed cumulative financing preference shares program will be determined taking into account the Dutch Corporate Governance Code, but in no event will exceed the aggregate voting rights attached to the existing cumulative financing preference shares program;

* Other terms and conditions will be included to reflect current market standards;

* The cumulative financing preference shares (‘Preference Shares’) will continue to qualify as equity under the current IFRS standards.

The increase of the outstanding amount from EUR 26 million to EUR 110 million will be effectuated partly by the issuance of new Preference Shares and partly by an increase in the paid in share premium account for the Preference Shares. The non participating investor in the existing program will be taken out by Vopak as part of the transaction. As a result of the transaction the number of outstanding Preference Shares will increase to approximately 20.7 million.

As is the case under the terms of the existing cumulative financing preference shares program, Vopak will have the option to repay a certain percentage of the outstanding amount of Preference Shares on a yearly basis as well as the option to redeem all outstanding Preference Shares on the occasion of a dividend reset.

Commenting on developments, Jack de Kreij, CFO and member of the Executive Board: ‘Vopak continues its growth strategy, supported by a strong balance sheet, financial flexibility and good access to debt-funding. Vopak’s ordinary shareholders have recently contributed to this strategy by having 73% accepting stock dividends instead of expressly requesting payment in cash. Now we are also pleased to announce that four out of the five current holders of cumulative financing preference shares have agreed to participate in a renewed cumulative financing preference shares program of EUR 110 million.’

ING acted as financial advisor to the company for the transaction.


Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) logo. MTF issues safety management guidelines for methanol-fuelled ships  

New MTF report offers recommendations for developing and strengthening safety management systems for methanol as a fuel.

Kapitan Dranitsyn icebreaker. European shipowners call for permanent EU ETS derogations for islands, outermost regions and ice-classed vessels  

ECSA urges the European Commission to extend maritime ETS exemptions beyond 2030 ahead of directive revision.

Global Maritime Forum logo. Compliance pooling could help unlock investment in zero-emission marine fuels, says Getting to Zero Coalition  

A new insight brief argues pooling models must evolve to support long-term e-fuels offtake.

Levante LNG and Legend of the Seas STS bunkering operation. Peninsula performs maiden bio-LNG delivery in Cádiz  

Bunker firm has now supplied all three of Royal Caribbean Group’s Icon-class vessels with bio-LNG.

Shawn Ho, Oilmar. Oilmar appoints Shawn Ho as senior manager for business development and bunker trading in Singapore  

Marine fuel seller hires experienced industry professional to bolster its Singapore operations.

Island Horizon vessel. Island Oil expands fleet with acquisition of two tankers for Mediterranean operations  

Island Polaris and Island Horizon join bunker firm's fleet of vessels.

Meera naming ceremony. Naming ceremony held for LPG dual-fuel ammonia carrier  

VLAC Meera named during event held in China on 10 July.

IMO Council 137th session IMO adopts Singapore-led resolution on protection of shipping lanes  

Thirty co-sponsors back a resolution reaffirming navigational rights under international law.

TT-Line Green Ship 2.0 illustration. TT-Line orders second LNG-hybrid battery ferry for Baltic Sea operations  

German ferry operator doubles down on LNG-hybrid technology with a second next-generation newbuild.

CMA CGM Notre Dame and Gas Agility ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering operation. CMA CGM Notre Dame receives first European bio-LNG bunkering during Rotterdam maiden call  

LNG-powered container ship takes on bio-LNG derived from agricultural waste.