Hallo alerseits,
Oceania Cruises hat bekannt gegeben, daß man die Schiffe REGATTA, INSIGNIA und NAUTICA nunmehr käuflich, für insgesamt 375 Millionen USD, von CruiseInvest LLC übernommen hat. Das bestehende Management bleibt nach wie vor in den bewährten Händen von V-Ships, das Catering bleibt bei der Apollo-Tochter ICS.
Wegen der sehr guten Auslastung (bereits 72 % für 2007 verkauft, 30% für 2008) wird jetzt auch intensiv über eine Flottenexpandierung (Neubauten) nachgedacht.
anbei die offizielle Pressemitteilung auf Englisch:
OCEANIA CRUISES PARTNERS WITH UBS SECURITIES AND LEHMAN BROTHERS
Completes $400 Million Bank Debt Offering
Miami, FL, November 14, 2006 — Oceania Cruises announced it has successfully completed a $400 million bank debt offering. UBS Securities and Lehman Brothers acted as financial advisors for the transaction and underwrote the credit facilities with a syndicate of leading North American and European financial institutions. The credit facilities consist of a $300 million six-year term loan, a $75 million seven-year term loan, and a $25 million five-year revolving credit facility The proceeds of the credit facilities were used to fund the acquisition of Oceania Cruises’ three, 684-guest vessels, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, from Cruiseinvest LLC. The vessels, previously operated under long-term lease agreements, have been purchased for a total cost of $375 million.
Oceania Cruises will now assume full ownership and management responsibilities for each of the vessels and no changes will be made to the current operations onboard. The renowned ship management firm V.Ships Leisure of Monte Carlo remains as marine and technical managers for the fleet, and ICS, a subsidiary of Miami-based Apollo Ship Chandlers, will continue to provide hotel services for the fleet.
Since its inception in 2002, Oceania Cruises has grown from a start-up company with one ship and fewer than 50 employees, to a three-ship fleet with 2,052 berths, 165 shore-side staff and more than 2,000 crew members worldwide. From 2003 to 2006, available berths quadrupled yet yields per guest increased by 41% during this time period and occupancy levels remained consistently close to capacity. The company has a high degree of earnings visibility, with more than 72% of the available occupancy for 2007 and 30% of the available occupancy for 2008 having already been booked as of October 2006.
“To reach this milestone in such a short period of time, from start-up to owning our vessels in less than four years, is a momentous occasion and a tremendous achievement for the entire team at Oceania Cruises. It also reflects the extremely positive outlook that the world’s leading financial institutions have for Oceania Cruises due to the success of our business model, a talented management team, and superior product,” stated Frank Del Rio, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises.
“By acquiring the vessels, the company expects to significantly reduce overall capital expenditures and carrying costs of operating the vessels, which will have a positive effect on EBITDA going forward. Taking ownership of our vessels and the recently executed credit facility have perfectly positioned Oceania Cruises to enter its next phase of growth. With our enhanced financial performance and flexibility, we can now focus on fleet expansion which will enable us to offer our world-class product to a wider audience of discerning consumers and travel agents,” stated Del Rio.
About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises is the world’s only upper-premium cruise line. Featuring a fleet of intimate and luxurious 684-guest ships, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, Oceania Cruises sails to the most alluring ports in Europe, China and the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Combining the finest cuisine at sea, exceptional personalized service, luxurious accommodations and extraordinary value, Oceania Cruises is setting a new, worldwide standard for luxury cruising.