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Monaco - February 04, 2015 Scorpio Bulkers Inc. (NYSE: SALT) (the "Company") announced today that it has reached agreements with a shipyard in South Korea to modify existing newbuilding contracts for three Capesize Vessels. The three contracts, two for vessels scheduled for delivery within the first quarter of 2016 and one for a vessel scheduled for delivery within the second quarter of 2016, will now provide for the construction of three LR1 product tankers, two of which will be scheduled for delivery within the second quarter of 2017 and one within the third quarter of 2017. As a result, the Company will incur a loss of approximately $22 million relating to writing down the contracts to their estimated fair market value. Also, upon completion of customary documentation, the LR1 contracts will be re-classified on the balance sheet as assets held for sale. Should the contracts be sold for their current fair market value, the estimated future cash obligations of the Company will be reduced by approximately $60 million. The Company has no plans for any further contract conversions. Scorpio Tankers Inc., a related party, has informed the Company that it will not purchase the LR1 vessels. About Scorpio Bulkers Inc. Scorpio Bulkers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of dry bulk commodities. Scorpio Bulkers Inc. currently owns five dry bulk vessels (two Ultramax and three Kamsarmax vessels), time charters-in 17 dry bulk vessels (one Handymax, one Ultramax, three Supramax, three Panamax, six Kamsarmax and three Post-Panamax vessels) and has contracted for 68 dry bulk vessels consisting of 27 Ultramax, 19 Kamsarmax and 22 Capesize vessels from shipyards in Japan, South Korea, China and Romania. The Company also has six LR2 tankers under construction from shipyards in South Korea and Romania, four of which the company has agreed to sell and two of which are held for sale. Upon final delivery of all of the vessels, the owned fleet is expected to have a total carrying capacity of approximately 7.5 million deadweight tonnes. Additional information about the Company is available on the Company's website www.scorpiobulkers.com, which is not a part of this press release. Scorpio Bulkers Inc. press release |
