DESSC

Deep Sea Supply and BTG Pactual establish a Joint Venture in Brazil

• DESS sells 15 vessels to the Joint Venture
• Joint Venture acquires 6 newbuildings

Deep Sea Supply Plc ("DESS") and BTG Pactual Oil & Gás Participações S.A. ("BTG Pactual") are pleased to announce that they have agreed to enter into a joint venture (the "Joint Venture") for the ownership and operation of Platform Supply Vessels ("PSVs") and Anchor Handling Tug and Supply Vessels ("AHTS") in Brazil.

The Joint Venture will be owned 50/50 by BTG Pactual and DESS and will initially own and operate a fleet of 15 vessels.  The Joint Venture will also acquire 6 large PSVs currently under construction with Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group ("Sinopacific") and will look to acquire additional PSVs and AHTS.

By implementing the Joint Venture, the parties will combine DESS' knowledge and experience within the offshore supply industry with BTG Pactual's local presence, and further develop its position as a large player in the Brazilian market through the Joint Venture. "We see big advantages in developing the business in Brazil together with a strong, local partner and we consider BTG Pactual an excellent strategic partner." says Finn Amund Norbye, CEO of DESS.

The Acquisition

BTG Pactual will purchase a 50% ownership interest in each of Deep Sea Supply Navegação Marítima Ltda. ("Deep Sea Navegação") and Deep Sea Supply Serviços Marítimos Ltda ("Deep Sea Serviços") from DESS. Deep Sea Navegação and Deep Sea Serviços have an organization of 20 Brazilian employees conducting among others the chartering and the technical and crew management of DESS' fleet of vessels operating in Brazil from offices in Rio and Macaé. Deep Sea Navegação furthermore owns the 2012 built PSV "Sea Brasil" of 4,700 d.w.t. recently delivered from STX Offshore do Brasil and has the local "EBN" license to operate and charter vessels in the Brazilian market. 

Further, DESS will transfer 9 AHTS and 5 PSVs to the Joint Venture. In exchange, the Joint Venture will make a cash payment equal to the equity value of the vessels and will take over the vessels' current financing.

The Joint Venture will acquire 6 large PSVs currently under construction at Sinopacific. The PSVs, which are expected to be delivered in 2013, are of Ulstein PX 105 design with a size of 4,700 d.w.t. and are well suited for operation in the Brazilian market, especially with regard to pre-salt operations. The vessels will be acquired from PSV Holding Inc., an affiliate to Hemen Holding Ltd., the largest shareholder of DESS. PSV Holding Inc. will be responsible for the completion of each vessel including supervision costs. Both Joint Venture partners will pay in cash at the closing of the Joint Venture transaction an equity portion of the financing of these vessels and the Joint Venture will work to secure necessary bank financing for the vessels prior to their delivery.