Other Long-Term Liabilities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]

Other Long-Term Liabilities

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

In September 2019, the Company entered into an LLC agreement for the formation of Nordic Bulk Partners LLC (“NBP”), that, at inception is owned 75% by the Company and 25% by an independent third party. NBP was established for the purpose of constructing and owning four new-build ice class post panamax vessels. During the construction phase of the vessel, the third party has committed to contribute additional funding and ultimately own 50% of NBP at the time of delivery of the new-build ice class post panamax vessels. The agreement contains both put and call option provisions. Accordingly, the Company may be obligated, pursuant to the put option, or entitled pursuant to the call option, to purchase the third party's interest in NBP beginning any time after September 2026. The put option and call option are at fixed prices which are not significantly different from each other, starting at $4.0 million per vessel on the fourth anniversary from completion and delivery of each vessel and declining to $3.7 million per vessel on or after the seventh anniversary from completion and delivery of each vessel. If neither put nor call option is exercised, the Company is obligated to purchase the vessels from NBP at a fixed price. Pursuant to ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, the Company has recorded the third party's interest in NBP of $5.1 million in Long term liabilities - Other at September 30, 2020. Earnings attributable to the third party’s interest in NBP are recorded in Interest expense, net, which resulted in additional interest expenses of $76,496 and $104,662, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

On September 28, 2020, the Company acquired an additional one-third equity interest in its partially-owned consolidated subsidiary NBHC from its shareholders. The Company owned a one-third of equity interest of NBHC, a joint-venture formed in October 2012 for the purpose of owning Bulk Nordic Odyssey Ltd. (“Bulk Odyssey”) and Bulk Nordic Orion Ltd. (“Bulk Orion”) and to invest in additional vessels through its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The acquisition increases the Company’s equity interest in NBHC to 66.7%. The purchase price of the equity interest was $22.5 million, including a $15.0 million cash payment upon closing and $7.5 million of deferred consideration, at a three-month LIBOR plus 3.5%, in three equal installments of $2.5 million due on the first, second, and third anniversaries of September 28, 2020. The deferred consideration is recorded in "Other current liabilities" and "Long-term liabilities - other" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2020. NBHC will continue to be a consolidated entity in the Company’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to ASC 810-10. The portion of NBHC not owned by the Company will continue to be recognized as non-controlling interest in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.