|
Following the issuance of the shares, Knightsbridge will have 49.1 million shares outstanding. Knightsbridge expects to have ten Capesizes on the water by the end of September 2014 and in addition four newbuildings delivering in 2015. Knightsbridge's strategic plan is to grow its Capesize fleet and its cash flow per share as the drybulk market recovers. The Knightsbridge Board of Directors will consider acquiring further Capesize vessels from the market as well as from Frontline 2012. Frontline 2012 has further 25 shipbuilding contracts for fuel efficient Capesizes with deliveries expected to take place between Q3 2014 and Q3 2016, distributed with five vessels in 2014, 14 vessels in 2015 and six vessels in 2016. Commenting on the transaction, Ola Lorentzon, Chief Executive Officer of Knightsbridge, stated: "The purchase by Knightsbridge of the six Capesize vessels will help us in developing the leading New York listed Capesize owner. We believe that acquiring these vessels will greatly benefit our shareholders through additional scale and reduced fleet age and we believe it will increase our opportunity to benefit from a dry bulk market recovery. We will seek to have a moderate debt level per vessel and favorable amortization profile, with the ambition to create a structure that allows for high distribution capacity. Needless to say, it is a major step for the Company." The Chairman of Frontline 2012, John Fredriksen, said: "We are very pleased to be able to enter into a transaction with Knightsbridge, which is in line with our strategic plan of creating pure plays in different shipping segments through consolidation, divestments and spin offs." Knightsbridge Tankers Limited press release |