GENERAL MARITIME CORPORATION ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT
TO ACQUIRE TWO MODERN AFRAMAX VESSELS
New York, New York, May 12, 2008 - General Maritime Corporation (NYSE: GMR) today
announced that it has agreed to acquire two 2002-built double hull Aframax vessels from
Euronav NV or its affiliates for an aggregate purchase price of $137 million. The Company
expects to take delivery of the two double hull vessels, subject to customary closing conditions,
between July and October 2008. General Maritime plans to finance the acquisition through
borrowings under its $900 million revolving credit facility and cash from operations.
Peter C. Georgiopoulos, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, “General
Maritime has capitalized on an attractive opportunity to grow our double hull fleet in a manner
that meets our return criteria, expands our earnings power and strengthens our high quality fleet.
Based on Clarkson’s 10 year spot Aframax average, we expect this acquisition to provide
General Maritime with a mid double-digit return. The acquisition also further improves the age
profile of the Company’s fully double hull fleet reducing the age of the Aframax fleet by over a
year. During a time when we continue to provide shareholders with sizeable dividends, we intend
to seek additional opportunities to create shareholder value. In continuing to pursue this
important objective, we intend to focus on areas that have served shareholders well through the
years.”
About General Maritime Corporation
General Maritime Corporation is a provider of international seaborne crude oil transportation
services principally within the Atlantic basin which includes ports in the Caribbean, South and
Central America, the United States, West Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe and the North Sea.
We also currently operate tankers in other regions including the Black Sea and Far East. General
Maritime Corporation currently owns and operates a fleet of 21 tankers. After the delivery of the
two recently acquired Aframax vessels, General Maritime will own a fleet of 23 tankers – twelve
Aframax, and eleven Suezmax tankers with a total carrying capacity of approximately 2.9
million dwt.
General Maritime Corp. press release
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