Box Ships Inc : Paragon Shipping Enters Into A $69 Million Credit Facility With China Development Bank And Amends Its Credit Facility With Nordea.

ATHENS, Greece, May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Paragon Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ: PRGN) ("Paragon Shipping" or the "Company"), a global shipping transportation company specializing in drybulk cargoes, announced today that it has signed an agreement for a $69 million credit facility with China Development Bank ("CDB Credit Facility") to partially finance its two 4,800 TEU containerships currently under construction, that are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2014. The Company has granted an option to Box Ships Inc. (NYSE : TEU), a subsidiary of the Company until its initial public offering in 2011, to acquire the vessels at any time prior to their delivery to Paragon Shipping.

The CDB Credit Facility, which is available for drawdown upon the delivery of the vessels subject to certain contingencies and conditions, will be used to finance the lower of 60% of the construction cost of the vessels, or 80% of the vessels' market value at delivery. The facility matures ten years after the drawdown date. Under the terms of the credit facility, amounts borrowed will bear interest at LIBOR, plus a margin of 4.00%. The financial covenants and other conditions contained in the CDB Credit Facility are similar to the ones contained in the Company's existing credit facilities. In addition, this facility can be freely transferred to Box Ships Inc. if Box Ships decides to declare its option to acquire these vessels before their delivery.

In addition, the Company has agreed with the syndicate led by Nordea Bank Finland Plc ("Nordea"), subject to definitive documentation, to remove the condition precedent under which drawdown of the loan is subject to the prepayment of the Company's loan outstanding to Box Ships Inc. from our syndicated secured loan facility entered into between the Company and Nordea, as Agent.

Commenting on the developments, our Chairman and CEO, Michael Bodouroglou stated, "We are very pleased to start a new relationship with China Development Bank, and appreciate the continuous support of our existing lenders."

About Paragon Shipping
Paragon Shipping is an international shipping company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands with executive offices in Athens, Greece, specializing in the transportation of drybulk cargoes. The Company's current fleet consists of thirteen drybulk vessels with a total carrying capacity of 816,472 dwt. In addition, the Company's current newbuilding program consists of one Handysize drybulk carrier that is scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2013 and two 4,800 TEU containerships that are scheduled to be delivered in 2014. Paragon Shipping has granted Box Ships Inc., an affiliated company, the option to acquire its two containerships under construction.