2. Private equity in the shipping
market
In this difficult shipping context, many private equity
funds have seized the opportunity created by tight
credit markets and historically low vessel values to
invest in ships and shipping companies.
Private equity interest in shipping had started rather
slowly, with many funds sensing an opportunity but
waiting to make their investments at the bottom of
the market cycle. The sector, with its cyclical and
volatile charter rates markets, is not a typical private
equity target. Private equity investors consider that the
volatility and downside risks of the sector have made
it unattractive. However, recent developments, such
as the drop in asset prices, the range of investment
opportunities and portfolio sales, the scarcity of
available finance and the belief that the market has
hit bottom, have enticed many private equity firms
to enter the market. According to estimates, private
equity investments in the industry accounted for about
2 per cent of the shipping companies’ enterprise value
in 2013. This amount could double by the end of
2014 if alternative funding markets remain unavailable
(Financial Times, 2013b).
Private equity investment in the shipping industry
Private equity funds vary greatly in size and investment
objectives. Some private equity funds look for long-term
returns; others seek to make high returns on short-or
medium-term investments (three to seven years). The
latter have been the main force attracting private equity
funds to the shipping sector, which is cyclical and has
expectations for recovery and long-term growth.
Private equity generally consists of making
investments in equities of non-listed companies.
Besides capital, the investors become active owners
and would usually provide the companies with
strategic and managerial support to create value and
resell at a higher price. Value creation in private equity
is primarily based on achieving increased growth and
operational efficiency in acquired companies. The
type of investments can include a number of different
structures, as follows:
• Direct equity or investment in companies;
• Bridge financing and mezzanine financing for
shipping companies needing short-term liquidity;
• Debtor in possession, which entails buying the
debt of operators or buying portfolios of vessels;
• Sale-leaseback transactions, which entail vessel
sales of shipping companies to leasing companies,
a large cash inflow and leasing the vessel back
from the leasing company in order to maintain
operations;
• Joint ventures formed to acquire, manage and sell
shipping businesses.
The overall objective is to sell these investments and
generate above-market returns once the market
rebounds. In the context of shipping, private equity
2. Private equity in the shipping
market
In this difficult shipping context, many private equity
funds have seized the opportunity created by tight
credit markets and historically low vessel values to
invest in ships and shipping companies.
Private equity interest in shipping had started rather
slowly, with many funds sensing an opportunity but
waiting to make their investments at the bottom of
the market cycle. The sector, with its cyclical and
volatile charter rates markets, is not a typical private
equity target. Private equity investors consider that the
volatility and downside risks of the sector have made
it unattractive. However, recent developments, such
as the drop in asset prices, the range of investment
opportunities and portfolio sales, the scarcity of
available finance and the belief that the market has
hit bottom, have enticed many private equity firms
to enter the market. According to estimates, private
equity investments in the industry accounted for about
2 per cent of the shipping companies’ enterprise value
in 2013. This amount could double by the end of
2014 if alternative funding markets remain unavailable
(Financial Times, 2013b).
Private equity investment in the shipping industry
Private equity funds vary greatly in size and investment
objectives. Some private equity funds look for long-term
returns; others seek to make high returns on short-or
medium-term investments (three to seven years). The
latter have been the main force attracting private equity
funds to the shipping sector, which is cyclical and has
expectations for recovery and long-term growth.
Private equity generally consists of making
investments in equities of non-listed companies.
Besides capital, the investors become active owners
and would usually provide the companies with
strategic and managerial support to create value and
resell at a higher price. Value creation in private equity
is primarily based on achieving increased growth and
operational efficiency in acquired companies. The
type of investments can include a number of different
structures, as follows:
• Direct equity or investment in companies;
• Bridge financing and mezzanine financing for
shipping companies needing short-term liquidity;
• Debtor in possession, which entails buying the
debt of operators or buying portfolios of vessels;
• Sale-leaseback transactions, which entail vessel
sales of shipping companies to leasing companies,
a large cash inflow and leasing the vessel back
from the leasing company in order to maintain
operations;
• Joint ventures formed to acquire, manage and sell
shipping businesses.
The overall objective is to sell these investments and
generate above-market returns once the market
rebounds. In the context of shipping, private equity
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