Ship owner and operator GoodBulk informed that it expects to exercise the options to buy six more Capesize vessels for a price of USD 134.2 million.

The latest development comes on the back of the company’s rights offering, which closed on December 20, 2017.

The rights offering of common shares at a subscription price of USD 15.23 per share, directed towards existing eligible shareholders in the company as per December 12, 2017, resulted in received subscriptions for a total of 1,828,952 common shares constituting USD 27.85 million in demand. Of these,1,680,441 shares will be allocated, raising gross proceeds of USD 25.59 million.

GoodBulk said that the additional Capesizes are expected to be funded by a combination of cash on hand, availability under existing and new credit facilities, and issuance of USD 80.4 million of new shares, including 3,727,513 shares to be issued to funds managed by CarVal Investors, and the 1,680,441 offer shares in the rights offering. Net debt as a percentage of gross asset value is expected to remain below 30%.

The units are scheduled to be handed over to their new owner n the first quarter of 2018. Upon delivery of the agreed ships, GoodBulk will control a fleet of 25 dry bulk vessels consisting of 22 Capesize vessels, 1 Panamax and 2 Supramax ships.

The company will issue 494,131 offer shares in the first settlement, with 1,186,310 offer shares expected to be issued in subsequent settlements, to coincide with vessel acquisition closings.

In late October, GoodBulk signed a deal to purchase 7 to 13 Capesizes from entities managed by CarVal Investors.

At the time, the company said that funds managed by CarVal Investors will receive up to 10.5 million common shares in GoodBulk for the initial 7 vessels, with USD 61 million of existing borrowings expected to be refinanced under GoodBulk credit facilities.