Global Ship Lease has received reaffirmed credit ratings from Moody’s Investors Service and Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA), with Moody’s also upgrading the company’s outlook from stable to positive.
Moody’s maintained Global Ship Lease’s Ba2 Corporate Family Rating while revising the outlook upward, reflecting confidence in the company’s financial profile and strategic direction.
KBRA reaffirmed the company’s BB+ corporate rating with a stable outlook and also maintained the BBB investment-grade rating for Global Ship Lease’s 5.69% Senior Secured Notes due 2027.
According to the rating agencies, the company’s strong credit metrics, low leverage, contracted revenue base and solid position in the containership leasing market—particularly in the midsized and smaller vessel segments—were key factors supporting the ratings.
The agencies also cited Global Ship Lease’s resilient operating performance during periods of market disruption, as well as its experienced management team, high fleet utilization, versatile fleet and disciplined growth strategy.
Moody’s further highlighted the company’s recent fleet renewal programme, including orders for newbuild vessels backed by long-term charter contracts, alongside the sale of older assets while maintaining a strong balance sheet.
Thomas Lister, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, said: “We are pleased to see our credit ratings affirmed and outlook upgraded by leading credit agencies. We believe these ratings reflect the significant strength of our fortress balance sheet and charter coverage while also acknowledging the benefits of our decision to order newbuildings with long-term charters attached and to divest some of our older, non-core assets on attractive terms.”
He added that the company intends to continue pursuing a disciplined capital allocation strategy focused on selective fleet renewal, shareholder returns and long-term value creation.
