ABOUT US
Foreguard Shipping is a young, dynamic and entrepreneurial company with a passion for the maritime industry.
Founded in 2016, Foreguard Shipping owns and operates a diversified fleet of 5 high-quality, oceangoing vessels and a small portfolio of other investments in the maritime industry.
Foreguard Shipping is financed by a variety of capital providers, focusing on operating and finance leases as well as traditional ship finance. Optimising the capital structure is a key focus of the business and a differentiator in current challenging markets.
The Foreguard Shipping team comprises experienced shipping professionals with expertise across shipping, finance, legal and restructuring disciplines.
We partner with world class ship managers, operators and commercial managers to provide safe, efficient and optimised performance.
NEWS
Foreguard Shipping refinances its chemical tanker fleet
January - October, 2022
Foreguard Shipping has effectively refinanced its chemical tanker fleet of 4 vessels through innovative sale and charterback deals. These deals were structured with the support of Korean shipowners backed by Korean financial institutions.
With the fleet previously funded by a combination of senior secured loan and JOLCOs, this deal will insulate the business from the rising cost of financing, future capex exposure and opex inflation.
Alan Hatton, Managing Director commented that:
“Foreguard Shipping was a platform build to provide its stakeholders with operational leverage and the ability to benefit from what we see to be as improving markets. This series of transactions with valued partners, gives Foreguard four vessels on long term TCs with purchase options, at rates that should provide excellent earning potential on the vessels for the duration of their charters”
Foreguard Shipping sells EPIC Bali and EPIC Borneo
September 04, 2019
Foreguard Shipping has successfully divested its two gas carriers. Epic Gas declared purchase options with respect to two 7,200 cbm LPG vessels it had chartered since 2014.
The vessels were funded by AGC Equity Partners, after Foreguard successfully directly refinanced the vessels in early 2018. The charters were profitable, but the purchase price was at an attractive level that ensures a strong return for Foreguard Shipping, effectively equivalent to the value of the remaining charter and final purchase option price.
This follows Foreguard Shipping's successful strategic exit from the multi-gas / ethylene sector. it sold two 2008 built 10,000 cbm vessels to Lauritzen Kosan in 2016 for USD 57m en bloc.
Alan Hatton, Managing Director commented that:
"Foreguard Shipping values the relationships it builds with partners, managers, charterers and financiers. We are very pleased to have concluded a mutually beneficial project with Epic Gas and AGC Equity Partners. We look forward to maintaining old and building new relationships, and to deploying further capital together with valued partners with respect to future projects."
Foreguard Shipping refinances JBU Sapphire
January 17, 2019
Foreguard Shipping refinanced one of its four stainless-steel chemical tankers, the JBU Sapphire. The 2009 built vessel remains employed by Chembulk until 2020. The financing counterpart was Venus Partners. The structure was debt financed by JA Mitsui Leasing and has a three-year tenor, differing from traditional, long-term JOLCO structures. The deal gives Foreguard Shipping a valuable future purchase option at the end of the charter.
Foreguard Shipping refinances JBU Opal with innovative, short-tenor JOLCO
August 09, 2018
Foreguard Shipping refinanced one of its four stainless-steel chemical tankers, the JBU Opal. The 2009 built vessel remains employed by Chembulk until 2020. The financing counterpart was Mercury Partners. The structure was debt financed by Tokushima Bank and has a three-year tenor, differing from traditional, long-term JOLCO structures. The deal gives Foreguard Shipping a valuable future purchase option at the end of the charter.
Foreguard Shipping refinances EPIC Bali and EPIC Borneo
February 13, 2018
Foreguard completed the successful refinancing of two bareboat chartered vessels. The ships, EPIC Bali and EPIC Borneo, two 7,000 CBM fully-pressurised LPG carriers were acquired by Foreguard from CION Investments (formerly ICON investments) and then Foreguard entered into a sale and leaseback transaction with AGC Capital’s Maritime Yield Fund. The vessels remain on charter to EPIC until 2022 and the deal improves Foreguard’s financial performance throughout the tenor of the charter.
OUR FLEET
PAST FLEET
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MANAGING DIRECTOR
Alan was named Young Person Of The Year 2016 at the 9th Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia, and also named in Lloyds List Next Generation 2015 as one of “Shipping’s Rising Stars”.
Prior to becoming Managing Director of Foreguard Shipping, Alan was CEO and the Executive member of the Board of Directors of FSL Trust Management, the Trustee-Manager of FSL Trust, a Singapore-listed shipping trust. He was responsible for the turnaround of FSL Trust from August 2013 to early 2017.
During his tenure at FSL Trust, the total unitholder return was over 93%, representing an IRR for investors in excess of 20% per annum, despite the back drop of challenging shipping markets.
Prior to FSL, Alan was CEO of a privately-owned product tanker business (since May 2007) and previously a M&A/corporate finance banker at Lazard and Dresdner Kleinwort.
Alan holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the London School of Economics.
CONTACT US
Address
12 Blair Rd
Singapore 089912
Phone
+65 6801 4560