Austal Completes Sale of Surplus Asset

Austal Limited has sold the land and infrastructure at its former satellite service base at Henderson has been executed and settled.

Under the sale agreement with AME Offshore Solutions, Austal has received $21 million for the surplus asset, in line with the announcement made to the market on 3 December 2013.

Net proceeds from the sale of approximately $17 million will be used to further pay down infrastructure-related debt.

Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said in addition to using the proceeds to pay down debt, the sale will enable Austal to continue delivering on a number of ongoing operational and financial benefits.

“Our strategy at Henderson has been to increase staff and asset utilisation to improve efficiencies, flexibility, and knowledge sharing to drive greater profitability at the shipyard,” Mr Bellamy said.

“Since consolidating the shipbuilding and service facilities in April 2013 we have increasingly seen these benefits flow through.

“With the sale of the former service base now complete, our sole focus at Henderson is the ongoing delivery of the Cape Class Patrol Boat program and service contracts, while developing our pipeline for variant-style defence vessels to sustain the shipyard.”

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Austal, January 20, 2014