Golar LNG signs sale-and-leaseback deal with Cosco Shipping Development
Hong Kong-listed Cosco Shipping Development (CSDC), the financing arm of China Cosco Shipping, has entered into a 10-year sale and leaseback agreement with LNG carrier operator Golar LNG.
Under the agreement, CSDC will acquire 160,000 cu m LNG carrier Golar Crystal from Golar LNG for $187m and Golar LNG will charter the vessel back from CSDC for a period of 10 years.
The upfront hire and principle hire in the contract is $75m and $62m respectively, and the variable hire has yet to be calculated.
CSDC transformed from container line China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) into an integrated financial services platform after the merger between Cosco Group and China Shipping Group. The company said the agreement would facilitate the expansion of the group’s ship leasing business and enhance the profitability of the group.