IPO Analysis: Paragon Shipping Could Deliver The Strongest Yield In Its Sector

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

28 Sep 2007

On August 9, Bill Simpson wrote an analysis of Paragon Shipping (PRGN). In its debut August 9, Paragon's initial public offering priced at $16 per share, the low end of the anticipated price range. Friday the stock closed at $16.59.The text of Mr. Simpson's original writeup follows:  Paragon Shipping plans on offering 10.3 million shares at a range of $16-$18. UBS and Morgan Stanley are lead managing the deal, Cantor Fitzgerald and Dahlman Rose are co-managing. Post ipo PRGN will have 26 million shares outstanding for a market cap of $442 million on a pricing of $17. IPO proceeds will be used to assist in purchasing PRGN's fleet. Chairman and CEO Michael Bodouroglou will own 20% of PRGN post-ipo.  We are a recently formed company incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands in April 2006 to provide drybulk shipping services worldwide. We acquired our current fleet of three Handymax and three Panamax drybulk carriers, which we refer to as our initial fleet, in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the beginning of 2007. PRGN's initial fleet of six drybulk vessels achieved daily time charter equivalent rates of $24,080 the first quarter of 2007. All six are currently employed under fixed rate time charters with an average remaining term of 19.6 months as of June 30, 2007. In addition to the initial fleet, PRGN has agreed to purchase an additional three drybulk vessels. These three have existing charters with an average remaining term of 28.1 months as of June 30, 2007. PRGN plans to distribute cash flows quarterly to shareholders. Based on projections, the initial dividend is expected to be $0.4744 quarterly. Annualized that will be $1.90. On pricing of $17, PRGN would yield a very strong 11.2%. A quick glance at annual yields of similar public companies based on most recent quarterly payout: (OCNF) 9.7%; (DSX) 8%; (DRYS) 1.5%; (EXM) 2.7%; (EGLE) 7.3%; (GNK) 4.8%; (QMAR) 7%. Some of the public dry bulk shippers distribute bulk of cash flows to shareholders, some utilize cash flows to grow. PRGN on a mid-range pricing would be the strongest yielding public drybulk shipper, it would appear. This strong dividend makes the deal work. PRGN has three time charters expiring over the next few months. They've already rechartered each at substantially higher rates than the previous charters. CEO and Chairman Michael Bodouroglou will also act as Fleet Manager through another company he owns and operates. Fleet management fees appear as if they'll be approximately $2.2 million annually.  Average age of the combined fleet is 7.8 years. Dry Bulk cargo consists of iron ore, coal and grains as well as fertilizers, forest products and essentially any non-liquid, non-container cargo. Dry bulk cargo accounts for 33% of world seaborne trade with coal and ion ore combining for 51% of all dry bulk cargo. The dry bulk cargo sector has grown an average of 5% annually this decade.  Dry bulk rates exploded in late 2003 and hit all-time highs the second half of 2004. New shipbuilds had slowed to a crawl during the worldwide economic slowdown in 2001-2002 and there just were not enough vessels in use in 2003/2004 to handle the demand boom from China/India coupled with a worldwide economic activity pick-up. Since, the sector has seen a sharp rise in new vessel construction much of which has begun to come on-line the past 2 years. The result has been a move off the highs for the dry bulk spot rate market. Worldwide demand, however, has continued to remain strong and while dry bulk rates are not at their record levels, they have been in a fairly tight range the past two years at historically strong levels. The big risk in the shipping sector is a worldwide economic slowdown just as heavy supply of new shipbuilds come on-line. The big risk here is that there is a global economic slowdown at just about the time PRGN's charters expire. If that is the case, PRGN may struggle to replace their vessels at a price near current charter rates. Also, as this sector is notoriously cyclical, new shipbuilds tend to increase dramatically during periods of strong rates. That is occurring currently. As of 4/30/07, drybulk newbuilding orders had been placed for an aggregate of more than 20.0% of the existing global drybulk fleet, with deliveries expected during the next 36 months. This is a classic boom/bust sector with a few of the public companies in the sector managed by those that went bankrupt during the last cycle trough. PRGN will have a bit of debt on the books post ipo, $126 million worth. 1 1/2 X's book value. As PRGN plans on distributing nearly all quarterly cash flows to shareholders, cash flow here is what to look at, not earnings. PRGN forecasts approximately $85 million in revenues their first year public. Based on current charter rates, PRGN anticipates $45-$50 million in distributable cash flows. The initial yield makes this deal work. Keep in mind while the yield is strong, this a classic boom/bust sector currently enjoying a boom time. Recommend due to the 11.1% initial yield on a pricing of $16.