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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-201354

 

This preliminary prospectus supplement relates to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted and they are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 14, 2016

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated January 2, 2015)

20,000,000 Common Shares

 

Scorpio Bulkers Inc.

We are offering 20,000,000 of our common shares pursuant to this prospectus supplement. Scorpio Services Holding Limited has expressed an interest to purchase common shares at the public offering price with a value of at least $15 million.

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “SALT.” On June 13, 2016, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the NYSE was $3.50 per share.

Investing in our common shares involves risks. You should carefully consider each of the factors described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement, on page 6 of the accompanying base prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, before you make any investment in our common shares.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

		PER SHARE				TOTAL
Public Offering Price			$				$
Underwriting Discounts(1)			$				$
Proceeds to Us (Before Expenses)			$				$

 

(1)	See “Underwriting” for additional information about underwriter compensation.

We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional common shares from us on the same terms and conditions as set forth above. If the underwriters exercise the option in full, the total underwriting discounts will be $         , and the total proceeds to us before expenses will be $         .

The underwriters are offering the common shares as set forth in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Underwriting.” Delivery of the common shares will be made on or about                     , 2016.

 

 

Sole Bookrunner and Joint Lead Manager

Clarksons Platou Securities

Joint Lead Managers

 

BTIG		Pareto Securities		Stifel

Prospectus Supplement dated                     , 2016

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT			S-ii
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS			S-iii
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY			S-1
THE OFFERING			S-6
RISK FACTORS			S-7
USE OF PROCEEDS			S-8
CAPITALIZATION			S-9
DILUTION			S-10
INDUSTRY AND MARKET CONDITIONS			S-11
TAX CONSIDERATIONS			S-30
UNDERWRITING			S-31
EXPENSES			S-36
LEGAL MATTERS			S-37
EXPERTS			S-37
INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA			S-37
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION			S-37

Base Prospectus

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY			1
RISK FACTORS			6
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS			7
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			9
USE OF PROCEEDS			10
CAPITALIZATION			11
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK			12
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES			13
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			14
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT			16
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS			17
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			18
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			24
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS			33
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS			34
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS			35
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS			36
EXPENSES			37
LEGAL MATTERS			38
EXPERTS			38
INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA			38
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION			39

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IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering of common shares and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the base prospectus. The second part, the base prospectus, gives more general information about securities we may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer only to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts combined, and when we refer to the accompanying prospectus, we are referring to the base prospectus.

If the description of this offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated into each by reference include important information about us, the common shares being offered and other information you should know before investing. You should read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus together with additional information described under the heading, “Where You Can Find Additional Information” before investing in our common shares.

We prepare our financial statements, including all of the financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, in U.S. dollars and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. We have a fiscal year end of December 31.

We have authorized only the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may give you. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, our common shares only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in or incorporated by reference in this document is accurate only as of the date such information was issued, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or any sale of our common shares.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

We desire to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this cautionary statement in connection therewith. This document and any other written or oral statements made by the Company or on its behalf may include forward-looking statements, which reflect its current views with respect to future events and financial performance. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. This document includes assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events. These statements are intended as “forward-looking statements.” We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events may and often do vary from actual results and the differences can be material. When used in this document, the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “could” and similar expressions or phrases may identify forward-looking statements.

All statements in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated into each by reference that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, such matters as:

 

•

our future operating or financial results;

 

•

statements about planned, pending or recent acquisitions, business strategy and expected capital spending or operating expenses, including drydocking, surveys, upgrades and insurance costs;

 

•

the strength of world economies;

 

•

stability of Europe and the Euro;

 

•

fluctuations in interest rates and foreign exchange rates;

 

•

changes in the supply of drybulk vessels, including when caused by newbuilding vessel orders and older vessel scrapping levels;

 

•

general drybulk shipping market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values;

 

•

changes in demand in the drybulk shipping industry, including the market for our vessels;

 

•

changes in the value of our existing vessels and proposed newbuildings, which may impact the amount of available borrowings under our secured credit facilities;

 

•

changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry docking and insurance costs;

 

•

changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities;

 

•

potential liability from pending or future litigation;

 

•

general domestic and international political conditions;

 

•

potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events;

 

•

our ability to procure or have access to financing, our liquidity and the adequacy of cash flows for our operations;

 

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•

our continued borrowing availability under our debt agreements and compliance with the covenants contained therein;

 

•

our ability to successfully employ our existing and newbuilding drybulk vessels;

 

•

our ability to fund future capital expenditures and investments in the construction, acquisition and refurbishment of our vessels (including the amount and nature thereof and the timing of completion thereof, the delivery and commencement of operations dates, expected downtime and lost revenue);

 

•

risks associated with vessel construction;

 

•

potential exposure or loss from investment in derivative instruments;

 

•

potential conflicts of interest involving members of our board and senior management;

 

•

our expectations regarding the availability of vessel acquisitions and our ability to complete acquisition transactions planned;

 

•

vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hire; and

 

•

statements about drybulk shipping market trends, charter rates and factors affecting supply and demand.

We have based these statements on assumptions and analyses formed by applying our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. All future written and verbal forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We undertake no obligation, and specifically decline any obligation, except as required by law, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, and the documents incorporated into each by reference might not occur.

Please see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference for a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties and for other risks and uncertainties. These factors and the other risk factors described in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated into each by reference are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. Consequently, there can be no assurance that actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment in our common shares, you should carefully consider the risk factors and all of the other information included in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated into each by reference, including those in “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Commission on March 1, 2016, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the Commission after the date of this prospectus supplement and that are incorporated by reference herein. Please see the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information—Information Incorporated by Reference.” The occurrence of one or more of those risk factors could adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Risks Related to This Offering and Ownership of Our Common Shares

Investors may experience significant dilution as a result of this offering and future offerings.

Additional sales of our common shares, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of our common shares. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.

Based on the offer and sale of 20,000,000 common shares in this offering, on an as-adjusted basis, as of June 10, 2016, we would have 69,713,980 common shares outstanding, which would have represented an increase of approximately 41% in our issued and outstanding common shares. Purchasers of the common shares we sell, as well as our existing shareholders, will experience significant dilution if we sell shares at prices significantly below the price at which they invested.

The market price of our common shares could drop significantly if the holders of our shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through future offerings of our common shares or other securities. In the future, we may also issue our securities in connection with investments or acquisitions. The amount of our common shares issued in connection with an investment or acquisition could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding common shares. Any issuance of additional securities in connection with investments or acquisitions may result in additional dilution to you. In addition, we may offer additional common shares in the future, whether or not in connection with investments or acquisitions, which may result in additional significant dilution.

For additional information, see the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Dilution.”

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds of approximately $             million from this offering assuming the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common shares is not exercised, and approximately $             million if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common shares is exercised in full, in each case after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We intend to use all of the net proceeds of this offering of our common shares for general corporate purposes.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of March 31, 2016, on:

 

•

an actual basis;

 

•

an as adjusted basis to give effect to (a) $48.8 million of installments paid for vessels under construction and (b) principal repayments of $21.0 million on credit facilities and borrowings of $38.3 million, during the period from April 1, 2016 to June 14, 2016; and

 

•

an as further adjusted basis to give effect to this offering.

There have been no other significant adjustments to our capitalization since March 31, 2016, as so adjusted.

You should read the information below together with the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Use of Proceeds,” as well as the consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2015, included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Commission on March 1, 2016, and our Report on Form 6-K containing our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto for the three months ended March 31, 2016, filed with the Commission on June 14, 2016, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

		As of March 31, 2016
In thousands of U.S. dollars		Actual				As Adjusted				As Further Adjusted
Cash and Cash Equivalents		$	230,185			$	176,711			$
Current debt:
Bank loans			24,491				3,774
Non-current debt:
Bank loans, net			398,275				436,260
Senior Notes			71,802				71,802
Total debt		$	494,568			$	511,836			$
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred Stock		$	—			$	—			$
Common Stock			497				497
Paid-in capital			1,632,955				1,632,955
Accumulated deficit			(691,921	)			(691,921	)
Total shareholders’ equity		$	941,531			$	941,531			$
Total capitalization		$	1,436,099			$	1,453,367			$

 

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DILUTION

Dilution or accretion is the amount by which the offering price paid by the purchasers of our common shares in this offering will differ from the net tangible book value per common share after the offering. The net tangible book value is equal to the amount of our total tangible assets (total assets less intangible assets) less total liabilities. The historical net tangible book value and the as adjusted⁽¹⁾ net tangible book value as of March 31, 2016 were $941.5 million in total and $18.94 per share for the number of shares of the existing shareholders at that date.

The as further adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2016 would have been $             , or $             per common share after the issuance and sale by us of 20,000,000 common shares at $             per share in this offering, after deducting estimated expenses related to this offering. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $             per share to the existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $             per share to new investors.

The following table illustrates the pro forma per share dilution and increase in net tangible book value as of March 31, 2016:

 

Public offering price per common share		$
As adjusted net tangible book value per share before this offering		$	18.94
Increase in as adjusted net tangible book value attributable to new investors in this offering		$
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering		$
Dilution per share to new investors		$

The following table summarizes, as of March 31, 2016, on an as adjusted basis for this public offering, the difference between the number of common shares acquired from us, the total amount paid and the average price per share paid by the existing shareholders and the number of common shares acquired from us, the total amount paid and average price per share paid by you as a new investor in this offering, based upon the public offering price of $         per share.

 

		As Adjusted Shares Outstanding(1)								Total Consideration								Average Price Per Share
		Number				Percent				Amount (in USD Thousands)				Percent
Existing shareholders			49,713,980					%		$	1,642,798					%		$	33.04
New investors(*)								%		$						%		$
Total							100	%		$					100	%		$

 

(*)	Before deducting estimated expenses of this offering of $         million.

(1)	The “as adjusted” amounts give effect to the adjustments further described in the section entitled “Capitalization” on page S-9 of this prospectus supplement.

 

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INDUSTRY AND MARKET CONDITIONS

The Drybulk Shipping Industry

Except as otherwise indicated, the statistical information and industry and market data contained in this section (the DATA) is based on or derived from statistical information and industry and market data collated and prepared by SSY Consultancy & Research Ltd, or SSY. The data is based on SSY’s review of such statistical information and market data available at the time (including internal surveys and sources, independent financial information, independent external industry publications, reports or other publicly available information). Due to the incomplete nature of the statistical information and market data available, SSY has had to make some estimates where necessary when preparing the data. The data is subject to change and may differ from similar assessments obtained from other analysts of shipping markets. While reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of the data, SSY has not undertaken any independent verification of the information and market data obtained from published sources.

Industry Overview

Drybulk shipping mainly comprises the shipment of minerals, such as iron ore and coal, other industrial raw materials and various agricultural products. Of these, the major cargoes are iron ore, coal and grain. The remaining minor bulk cargoes include steel products, bauxite/alumina, nickel ore, cement, petroleum coke, forest products, fertilizers and non-grain agricultural products, such as sugar.

Charterers in the drybulk shipping industry range from cargo owners (such as mining companies and grain houses) to end-users (such as steel producers and power utilities) and also include a number of different trading companies and ship operators.

In 2015 total international seaborne drybulk trade is estimated to have reached a new annual record of over 4.18 billion tonnes. This was up by a marginal 0.2% from 2014 and by an estimated 26.2% from the 2010 level. With the exception of 2009 when the global economy was in recession, seaborne drybulk trade has recorded positive annual growth in every year since 1998. While the 2015 trade estimates may be subject to revision, as final trade statistics become available, estimates outlined in the table below indicate that last year’s marginal increase in total seaborne trade was unevenly distributed between the various cargo types and well below the compound annual average growth rate, or CAGR, for the five years to 2015.

World Seaborne Drybulk Trade

(Million Tonnes)

 

Cargo/Year		2010				2011				2012				2013				2014				2015				2010-15% Growth				CAGR
Major Bulks			2,327				2,467				2,609				2,823				2,993				2,983				28	%			5	%
Iron Ore			1,036				1,107				1,138				1,256				1,391				1,411				36	%			6	%
Coal			960				1,022				1,118				1,198				1,179				1,122				17	%			3	%
Grains			332				338				353				369				423				450				35	%			6	%
Minor Bulks			9,90				1,078				1,119				1,178				1,186				1,203				22	%			4	%
Total			3,317				3,545				3,728				4,001				4,178				4,186				26	%			5	%

 

Totals

may not add up due to rounding

Cargo Types

Iron ore: The key raw material for steelmaking, iron ore trade surged on the back of unprecedented Chinese import demand to be the single largest seaborne drybulk cargo, with

 

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annual volumes expanding more than three-fold between 2000 and 2014 to 1,391 million tonnes, or Mt. Last year saw the sequence of annual increases extended to 14 years, but at the slowest rate over the entire period with an estimated 1.5% rise to 1,411 Mt. This was achieved in spite of a decrease in world steel production, lifting the 2015 annual iron ore trade volume 36.3% above the corresponding total in 2010. In addition to China, which as described elsewhere in this section, has become the dominant importer accounting for approximately two-thirds of seaborne imports in 2015, the main import markets for iron ore are Japan, Western Europe and South Korea. Exports are dominated by Australia and Brazil, which together account for over 80% of the seaborne market with a large majority of their cargoes carried by Capesize vessels given the favorable unit economies. This market share has increased from 71% in 2010, mainly due to the introduction of additional Australian export capacity. Other iron ore exporters include Canada, India, South Africa and West Africa.

Government trade statistics for the first quarter of 2016 showed that combined iron ore exports from Australia and Brazil were 5.3% higher than in the same period last year, but 8.8% below the fourth quarter of 2015.

Coal: At an estimated 1,122 million tonnes in 2015, global seaborne coal trade declined by almost 5.0% from its 2014 level and represented a second consecutive year of decline. This contrasted with a CAGR of 3% for the entire five-year period from 2010 to 2015. Coal trade is comprised of two main categories: (1) steam coal (which is chiefly used for electricity generation, but also by industrial users, such as the cement industry) and (2) coking coal (a key input for blast furnace steelmaking). Both categories experienced lower trade volumes in 2015.

Although the import market for coal has been traditionally dominated by import demand from Japan and Western Europe, the last decade has seen China and India emerge as key importers of both categories of coal. The leading exporter of coking coal is Australia, followed by the United States and Canada. Indonesia is the largest exporter of steam coal, ahead of Australia, the former Soviet Union, Colombia, South Africa and the United States.

Between 2005 and 2013, China was transformed from a major steam coal exporting nation to the single largest importer, such was the strength of the country’s domestic demand for power generation. In 2014, however, China recorded its first annual decline in steam coal imports since 2008, against the background of an oversupplied domestic coal market and government intervention to restrict imports. The rate of decline quickened in 2015, against a background of declining domestic demand, but China was still the world’s third largest importer of coking and steam coal. India was the single largest importer in 2015, even though its annual volumes experienced a net decline after five to ten years of rapid growth. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, together with Western Europe, remain major import markets, while Latin America and South East Asia have grown in importance as coal import generators. Although investments in new port facilities enabled the participation of Capesize vessels in the Asia-led coal trade growth during the period from 2010 to 2013, it has chiefly benefitted demand for Panamax and Handymax vessels.

Available trade data for the first quarter of 2016 indicate a further decline in seaborne coal movements with, for example, combined exports from Australia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, South Africa and the United States down by approximately 7% from the same period in 2015.

Grains: Seaborne grain trade is comprised of wheat, coarse grains (corn, barley, oats, rye and sorghum) and soybeans/meal, which together totaled an estimated new record of 450 Mt in 2015. This was up by 6.4% on 2014 and close to the CAGR for 2010 to 2015. In addition, the grain trades remain an important source of freight market volatility due to both the seasonality of export flows and year-on-year variations in crop surpluses and deficits.

 

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Soy is the largest of the three main categories of grain trade with Brazil, the United States and Argentina as the leading export countries. The principal markets are in Europe and Far East Asia with China being the world’s single largest soybean importer. Shipments are dominated by Panamax and Handymax vessels. Wheat and coarse grains are also primarily carried by mid-size vessels with the United States, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and the European Union the main exporting regions. In addition to Far East Asia and Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America are all significant import markets.

Trade data for the main exporting regions indicate that their combined shipments of wheat, coarse grains and soy for the first quarter of 2016 were approximately 13.1% higher than in the same period last year and close to the existing quarterly peak in the final quarter of 2015.

Minor Bulks: A diversity of cargo types are covered under this heading with different sets of demand drivers. Nevertheless, together at approximately 1.2 billion tonnes per annum these trades represent a major source of employment for the smaller Handysize and Handymax vessels. Several minor bulk cargoes, including steel products, suffered an especially severe decline in trade volumes during the global financial crisis, but steel trade volumes subsequently rebounded to record levels and supported an estimated new high for total minor bulk cargoes in 2015. Recent growth in world steel trade was led by surging steel exports from China, which totaled 112.4 Mt in 2015, compared with 62.3 Mt in 2013.

Despite increased moves by key importing regions to protect domestic steel markets against imports, China’s steel exports continued to show positive year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2016.

Another key development in the minor bulk trades over recent years has been the loss of Indonesian bauxite and nickel ore cargoes, following the government’s restrictions on exports of unprocessed mineral ores from January 2014. From a combined 121 Mt in 2013, Indonesian exports of these two cargoes were zero in 2015. The absence of Indonesian supplies, together with limited alternative cargoes from other sources, has been a restraint on minor bulk trade. Bauxite trade did benefit from a sharp increase in exports from Malaysia in 2015, but in early 2016 the Malaysian government announced a temporary suspension of domestic bauxite mining, which has since been extended to July 2016. This has turned the focus of Chinese importers towards longer haul bauxite supplies in the Atlantic and, particularly, West Africa.

The estimated CAGR for minor bulk trade volumes for the period from 2010 to 2015 was 4%.

Demand for Drybulk Shipping

Drybulk trade is a function of levels of (a) economic activity, (b) the industrialization/urbanization of developing countries, (c) population growth (plus changes in dietary habits) and (d) regional shifts in cargo supply/demand balances, which can occur, for example, due to the development of new export/import capacity or depletion/development of mineral reserves. The distances shipped chiefly reflect regional commodity surpluses and deficits. Generally, the more concentrated the sources of cargo supply, the greater the average distance shipped.

Ship demand is determined by the overall volumes of cargo moved and the distance that these are shipped, or tonne-mile demand, as well as changes in vessel efficiency. These changes may be caused by such factors as (1) vessel speed (which will change in response to movements in fuel costs and freight market earnings); (2) port delays (which have been a common occurrence in the last 15 years as inland and port logistics in several key export areas struggled to meet surging global demand) and (3) laden to ballast ratios, or how much time

 

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vessels spend sailing empty on re-positioning voyages. (Ballasting has also been on the increase over the last 10 to 15 years due to the widening imbalance in cargo flows between the Atlantic and Pacific Basins.)

World seaborne drybulk trade followed a steady underlying upward trend during the 1980s and 1990s. CAGR in the major drybulk cargoes over this period was an estimated 2.5%, before accelerating sharply to 6.3% during the period from 2000 to 2009 and being sustained at an estimated 5.8% between 2010 and 2015.

The growth in drybulk trade volumes in the 15 years preceding 2014 was primarily due to the rapid industrialization and urbanization of China. From approximately 130 Mt in 2000, Chinese drybulk imports had increased more than ten-fold by 2014, as illustrated in the accompanying chart. Such an expansion was facilitated by investments in new mining and port facilities in key exporting areas around the world in response to Chinese-driven rises in commodity prices from 2004 to 2011.

The table below provides a more detailed comparison of China’s drybulk imports from 2010 to 2015, and shows a net decline from 2014 to 2015. This was the first annual decline in aggregate volumes since 1998 and was primarily due to sharp reductions in coal imports. By contrast, Chinese imports of iron ore and grain both rose to new annual records in 2015. The table’s final column shows the annualized total for 2016 based on China’s customs data for January to April. Although the resulting volume is below the annual total for 2015, with iron ore the only category to show positive import growth, this is partly due to seasonal factors.

Iron ore has been the leading source of growth in Chinese drybulk imports over the last five to six years. The 334 Mt increase in iron ore imports between 2010 and 2015 reflected not only increases in domestic steel production (and, therefore, iron ore consumption) to meet the needs of an industrializing and urbanizing economy, as well as record exports of steel products, but also the substitution of higher-quality imported iron ore for lower-quality domestic supplies. In 2015, when Chinese steel production recorded a net decline, import growth was driven entirely by the displacement of domestically-mined iron ore with imports accounting for a large majority of Chinese iron ore consumption.

Growth in China’s iron ore trades has mainly been to the benefit of Capesize vessels, or hauling cargoes from West Australia and Brazil. Australia and Indonesia are the primary sources of Chinese coal imports, while in the grain trades increased Chinese demand for soybeans from Latin America and the United States has boosted tonne-mile demand for Panamax and Supramax vessels.

Indonesia had been the dominant supplier of bauxite and nickel ore to China until January 2014’s export restrictions. With Chinese buyers struggling to find alternative supplies from elsewhere, the country’s annual nickel ore imports fell to 35.2 Mt in 2015 from a peak of 71.2 Mt in 2013 and were subject to further year-on-year decline for January to April 2016. By contrast, after declining from 71.6 Mt in 2013 to 36.5 Mt in 2014, China’s bauxite imports rebounded to 56.1 Mt in 2015.

 

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Chinese Drybulk Imports (Million Tonnes)

 

		2010				2014				2015				CAGR				2016a***
Iron Ore			619.1				932.9				953.3				+9	%			976.5
Coal*			185.1				291.4				204.2				+2	%			201.8
Bauxite/Alumina			34.5				41.8				60.8				+12	%			58.1
Grains			62.1				90.6				114.4				+13	%			94.7
Other**			126.4				181.2				168.5				+6	%			143.0
Total of Above			1027.2				1537.9				1501.2				+8	%			1474.1

 

*	Includes lignite, which is excluded from SSY’s estimates for seaborne coal trade and categorized as a minor bulk. ** Includes mineral ores (such as nickel), pulp/woodchip/logs and petroleum coke.*** Annualized on basis of January to April imports. Source: Chinese Customs

Outside of China, most of the additional growth in drybulk cargo import demand during the past five years has been generated by other Asian economies. For example, Indian coal imports are estimated to have risen from 110 Mt in 2010 to 224 Mt in 2014, reflecting the strength of demand from electricity generators and the cement and steel industries. Annual imports in 2015 were marginally lower, at an estimated 221 Mt, chiefly due to increases in India’s domestic coal production. Although India has added several Capesize coal import terminals in recent years, a majority of the coal cargoes arriving in the country are shipped by Supramax, Panamax and Kamsarmax vessels. More established Asian import markets, such as Japan and South Korea, have also contributed to the region’s import growth with their combined imports of coal and iron ore increasing by an estimated 36 Mt between 2010 and 2015.

In contrast, European mineral imports have staged only a partial recovery from their cyclical lows in 2009 and have remained below their 2007 totals, partly due to persistently slow economic growth in the Eurozone, but also policy-driven changes in the region’s energy mix away from coal. Consequently, Far East Asia’s share of world seaborne major bulk imports is estimated to have climbed above 75% from approximately 60% in the middle of the last decade and 50% to 55% in 2000.

 

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As a result, the fastest drybulk trade growth has been seen within the Pacific Basin, which has been supplemented by increases in front-haul trade from the Atlantic to the Pacific (chiefly iron ore on Capesize vessels and grains on Panamaxes and Supramaxes).

 

 

 

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Fleet

The cargoes outlined above are predominantly carried by drybulk carriers of more than 10,000 dwt. Drybulk carriers are single-decked ships that transport dry cargoes in “bulk” form, that is loose within cargo holds, rather than in bags, crates or on pallets. As of the end of May 2016, the total fleet of 10,000+ dwt drybulk carriers numbered approximately 10,289 vessels of 768.9 million deadweight tonnes, or Mdwt.

This fleet is divided into four principal size segments: Handysize (10-39,999 dwt), Handymax (40-64,999 dwt), Panamax (65-99,999 dwt) and Capesize (100,000+dwt). Aside from size, the main distinction between drybulk vessel types is whether they are geared (that is, equipped with cranes for loading/discharge) or gearless. The main characteristics of these four vessel types are summarized below, while the accompanying table summarizes the current structure of the fleet by age and size. It shows that in terms of deadweight capacity, the Capesize sector is the largest with 40.1% of the end of May 2016 total, followed by Panamaxes at 25.3%, Handymaxes at 23.2% and Handysizes at 11.4%.

Handysize (10,000-39,999dwt): These ships carry the widest range of cargoes of any drybulk size segment and are the most dependent on the minor bulks for employment. They are usually equipped with cargo-handling gear (cranes or derricks) and are widely used on routes to and from draft-restricted ports that (a) cannot receive larger ships and (b) often lack their own land-based cargo-handling equipment. Many such loading or discharge facilities are located in the developing nations. Due to the limited economies of scale that these vessels offer, compared to larger tonnage vessels, many of these ships are extensively employed on intra-regional, shorter-haul trades. Special designs of ship are associated with the carriage of such cargoes as steel products and logs, or open-hatch and log-fitted vessels; while some variants also exist in terms of cargo-handling equipment, such as grab-fitted tonnage possessing scoops that facilitate unloading of certain cargo types.

Handymax (40,000-64,999dwt): This segment of the drybulk carrier fleet contains three distinct sub-categories – the traditional Handymax size (40,000-49,999dwt), the Supramax size (50,000-59,999dwt) and the Ultramax size (60,000-64,999 dwt). There are some Ultramax newbuilding designs of above 65,000 dwt, but as these are much fewer in number than existing gearless vessels of 65-69.9 kdwt, they currently fall in SSY’s Panamax size range. Despite their increased size, these vessels retain a high degree of trading flexibility as their cargo gear enables them to load and/or discharge at ports with limited facilities. They are more widely deployed on longer-haul routes than Handysizes (due to the greater scale economies that they offer). Whereas the traditional Handymax types have gained market share from the sub-40,000 dwt fleet of Handysizes over the past 20 years, the new generation of Supramax and Ultramax vessels are also competing for business on Panamax routes (such as grains from Latin America).

Panamax (65,000-99,999 dwt): The strict definition of a Panamax bulk carrier is a ship able to transit the Panama Canal fully laden. However, in recent years this definition has become blurred as (1) only a minority of the vessels in this size range pass through the Panama Canal in any 12-month period and (2) shipyards have developed new designs in anticipation of the Panama Canal’s expanded dimensions from 2016 onwards. At present, the Panama Canal can accommodate ships of maximum beam, or extreme vessel breadth, of 32.3 metres, maximum length overall (LOA) of 294.1m and maximum draft of 12m tropical fresh water, or TFW. After the enlargement, which is scheduled to be operational from late June 2016, these limits will increase to 49m beam, 366m LOA and 15.2m TFW draft. For these reasons our fleet definition stretches from 65,000 to 99,999 dwt, encompassing three main sub-types: traditional Panamaxes (70,000-79,999 dwt), Kamsarmaxes (82,000 to 83,000 dwt, which are currently the largest bulk carrier to

 

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transit the Panama Canal fully laden) and post-Panamaxes (85,000-99,999 dwt). The baseload demand for these vessel types is provided by coal and grain cargoes, although they also participate in a number of other trades (including iron ore, bauxite and fertilizers). Only a small minority of vessels in this size range are equipped with cargo gear as most of the ports served have well developed cargo loading or discharge terminals.

Capesize (100,000+dwt): These ships are almost exclusively deployed in the iron ore and coal trades, which benefit most from their scale economies. There are three main sub-types: small Capes (100-119,999 dwt), standard Capes (160-209,999 dwt, which are mainly concentrated between 170,000 dwt and 180,000 dwt, but also include Newcastlemaxes of 200-209,999 dwt) and Very Large Ore Carriers (220,000 dwt and above).

Drybulk Carrier Fleet by Size/Age (Million Dwt):

As of End-of-May 2016

 

Built/Dwt		10-39,999				40-64,999				65-99,999				100,000+				Total
Pre-1992			6.4				4.6				3.0				3.2				17.2
1992-96			5.2				8.5				8.0				20.3				42.0
1997-01			8.0				14.7				23.9				15.5				61.9
2002-06			8.3				22.5				27.7				35.1				93.7
2007-11			29.4				61.9				55.9				124.8				271.6
2012-16			30.2				66.5				75.7				110.1				282.5
Total Fleet			87.5				178.7				194.2				308.6				768.9
Avg. Age			10Yrs				8 Yrs				8 Yrs				7 Yrs				9 Yrs

 

Totals

may not add up due to rounding

Ownership

Unlike other specialist areas of the world shipping fleet, ownership in the drybulk segment is highly fragmented, with SSY’s database showing approximately 2,000 different owners. The largest 50 owners account for approximately 34% of the fleet in terms of deadweight carrying capacity, but this includes a large number of Chinese-flagged vessels that will trade on domestic as well as international routes.

While such analysis will tend to understate levels of market concentration, due to the operation of vessel pools and chartered in fleets, the drybulk segment is sufficiently competitive to ensure that vessel spot market earnings are extremely responsive to fluctuations in the supply/demand balance globally and regionally.

Supply of Drybulk Shipping

The supply of drybulk carriers is fundamentally determined by the delivery of new vessels from the world’s shipbuilding industry and the removal of older vessels, mainly through demolition.

Newbuilding deliveries not only reflect the demand from ship owners for new tonnage, but also available shipyard capacity. Following a sharp upswing in demand for new vessels in all of the main sectors of the commercial shipping industry during the last decade, and an accompanying rise in shipbuilding prices to record levels in 2007 to 2008, there was a massive China-led expansion in world shipbuilding capacity. In the case of the drybulk sector, annual

 

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newbuilding deliveries surged from 24.4 Mdwt in 2008 (and an average of 19.1 Mdwt p.a. in 2000 to 2007 inclusive) to 44.3 Mdwt in 2009, 79.5 Mdwt in 2010 and a peak of 100.0 Mdwt in 2012.

The resulting impact on freight market balances and vessel earnings, as described elsewhere in this section, led to sharply-reduced levels of drybulk carrier ordering in 2011 and 2012, which started to be reflected in a slower pace of newbuilding deliveries in 2013 at an estimated 61.6 Mdwt. The slowdown was maintained in 2014, when the annual total for newbuilding deliveries of 47.7 Mdwt was the lowest since 2009.

There was, however, a revival in drybulk carrier newbuilding investments during 2013, which continued into 2014 and reversed the downward trend in the newbuilding orderbook. These orders were focused on new, more fuel- efficient ship designs, for which shipyard descriptions offer significantly lower fuel consumption compared with existing vessels through a combination of new technology main engines and refinements of hull forms.

The rising costs of bunker fuels over the period 2004 to 2012 are illustrated in the accompanying chart, which is based on the Supramax vessel specifications used by the Baltic Exchange (that is, 30 tonnes of 380cst fuel oil per day at 14.0 knots laden/14.5 knots ballast) and estimated bunker prices in Singapore. This shows an increase at sea, at full speed, from approximately $5,400 per day in 2004 to approximately $20,000 per day in 2012. Reflecting the general decline in world oil prices, there has been a sharp reduction in bunker fuel costs since September 2014. In the case of our Supramax example, the annual average fell to approximately $8,700 per day in 2015 and for the period January to May 2016 the corresponding average was approximately $5,500 per day. SSY would also stress that (1) there is a wide variance in individual vessel fuel consumptions, even within the same size segments, and (2) that, as described earlier in this section, vessels have been operating at slower speeds in order to lower their daily fuel consumption and costs.

Reflecting the increased ordering of more fuel efficient vessels, there was a small net rise in drybulk carrier newbuilding deliveries in 2015 to 48.6 Mdwt. At an estimated 24.6 Mdwt in January to May 2016, total deliveries were ahead of their corresponding 2015 level of approximately 22.9 Mdwt.

Since 2014, there has been a general reduction in new drybulk carrier ordering, in response to the deterioration in freight market conditions, which is reflected in a declining newbuilding orderbook.

The accompanying table summarizes the confirmed drybulk carrier orderbook as of the end of May 2016, by vessel size and scheduled year of delivery. These delivery dates can be subject to delay with actual deliveries in recent years significantly lagging scheduled totals. For example, 2015 deliveries were an estimated 39% below the scheduled total as of January 1^st 2015, which compared with a corresponding average rate of slippage from scheduled delivery dates in the previous five years of approximately 30.5%. At an estimated 102.0 Mdwt, the total tonnage on order as of the end of May 2016 represented approximately 13.3% of the existing fleet. This compared with an estimated 15.7% as of the end of 2015, which was the lowest year-end share since 2003 and compared with year-end highs of 56.5% in 2007, 57.2% in 2009 and 67.3% in 2008, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

 

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Drybulk Carrier Newbuilding Orderbook by Size Range (Million Dwt):

As of End-of-May 2016

 

Delivery		10-39,999				40-64,999				65-99,999				100,000+				Total
2016			4.1				14.7				10.7				22.7				52.2
2017			3.5				7.8				8.6				9.4				29.3
2018			0.9				1.9				2.1				7.7				12.6
2019+			0.5				0.5				0.3				6.5				7.9
Total			8.9				25.0				21.7				46.3				102.0
% of Fleet			10.2	%			14.0	%			11.2	%			15.0	%			13.3	%

 

Totals

may not add up due to rounding

 

 

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Typically drybulk carriers are scrapped between the ages of 25 and 30 years, but the removal of vessels of 20-24 years are common during periods of freight market weakness, and there have also been examples from the fleet’s 15-19-year old component (especially in the larger sizes). In 2015, the average age of Handysize vessels scrapped was 29 years, for Handymax it was 27 years, for Panamax it was 22 years and for Capesize vessels it was 21 years. From January to May 2016 the corresponding averages were 29 years for Handysize, 23 years for Handymax, 21 years for Panamax and 20 years for Capesize. However, demolition is not simply a function of the fleet’s age profile. Several factors will influence an owner’s decision on whether to scrap older vessels, notably (1) actual and anticipated returns from the charter market, (2) the relative running costs of the vessel, (3) prospective expenditure at classification society surveys and (4) the second-hand re-sale value (that is, whether it provides a premium to scrap). For much of the period of 2000 to 2009, returns from the drybulk charter markets supported continued investment in vessel life extension, and scrapping volumes fell to minimal levels. This, however, ensured an accumulation of older tonnage in the fleet and, as a result, demolition proved extremely responsive to a deterioration in freight market conditions. For instance, deletions from the drybulk fleet rose from 3.6 Mdwt in 2008 to 14.7 Mdwt in 2009 and a new annual record of 35.4 Mdwt in 2012. Deletions dropped to an estimated annual total of 22.4 Mdwt in 2013 and were followed by a further decrease to 15.8 Mdwt in 2014. However, 2015 saw a sharp rebound in drybulk carrier demolition activity with total annual deletions of 29.8 Mdwt.

As the accompanying chart illustrates, historically high levels of ship demolition contributed to a marked slowdown in the rate of drybulk carrier net fleet growth last year, to 2.5% from 4.5% in 2014, 5.8% in 2013 and an average of 12.7% p.a. in 2009-12. The slowdown has continued into 2016 with net fleet growth in the total drybulk carrier fleet of approximately 0.4% in the first five months of the year.

 

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Demolition has also contributed to the uneven development of drybulk carrier fleet supply over the past five to six years. In particular, the removal of elderly Handysize vessels, combined with the relatively modest newbuilding program in this sector compared with the other sizes, ensured that the 10,000-39,999 dwt fleet grew at an estimated CAGR of 1.8% between 2010 and 2015, compared with 7.8% for 40,000-64,999 dwt Handymaxes, 9.7% for 65,000-99,999 dwt Panamaxes and 8.0% for 100,000+ dwt Capes. As a result, the Handysize sector’s share of total dwt capacity fell from an estimated 14.9% as of the end of 2010 to 11.3% as of the end of 2015. By contrast, the share accounted for by 65,000-99,999 dwt Panamaxes increased from 23.0% to 25.4% over the same period. The 100,000+ dwt Capesize sector also increased its share over the same period, from 39.5% to 40.4%, while the 40,000-64,999 dwt Handymax sector recorded a modest rise, from 22.6% to 22.9%.

Despite the increased levels of demolition in recent years, there remained approximately 17.2 Mdwt of ships aged 25 years or older in the drybulk carrier fleet as of the end of May 2016 with a further 42.0 Mdwt aged 20 to 24 years and 61.9 Mdwt aged 15-20 years. The highest concentration of vessels 20+ years old was in the Handysize sector, accounting for 13.2% of dwt capacity in this size range as of the end of May 2016, compared with 7.4% of Handymaxes, 5.7% of Panamaxes and 7.6% of Capesizes.

 

Charter Market & Freight Rates

The chartering of drybulk vessels can take several different forms, the most typical of which are summarized below.

a) Single voyage (“spot”) charter

This involves the hire of a vessel for just one stipulated voyage, carrying a designated quantity of a named commodity. For most such charters, an individual ship is specified that will carry out the voyage to be undertaken. The terms of the agreement between the charterer and vessel owner usually define the port (or ports) of cargo loading and discharge, the dates between

 

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which the cargo is to be loaded, and the cargo-handling terms. The vessel owner will receive from the charterer a mutually agreed-upon payment (normally quoted as a US$ per ton freight rate). In return, the ship owner pays all voyage expenses (such as the costs of fuel consumed on the voyage, plus port expenses), all operating costs (such as insurance and crewing of the vessel), and capital expenses (such as the servicing of any mortgage debt on the ship).

b) Contract of affreightment, or COA

Under a COA, the vessel owner and charterer agree to terms for the carriage of a designated volume of a given commodity on a specified route (or routes), with such shipments being carried out on a regular basis. The agreement does not normally identify an individual ship that will be used to fulfil its terms, but includes more general specifications on the vessels to be used (such as maximum age). Under the terms of a COA, freight is normally paid on a mutually agreed-upon US$ per ton basis, with the vessel owner then meeting all voyage, operating and capital costs incurred in the execution of such a charter.

c) Time charter

Under a time charter, the charterer takes the ship on hire for either (1) a trip between designated delivery and re-delivery positions or (2) for a designated period (for example, 12 months). The freight rate agreed upon between the ship owner and charterer is in terms of a daily hire rate (in US dollars), rather than as a US$ per ton figure. For longer term period charters, this may escalate at a rate mutually agreed upon between vessel owner and charterer. Under the terms of such charters, the vessel owner meets the ship’s operating and capital costs, with the charterer paying all variable voyage expenses (mainly fuel costs, plus port and canal dues). In addition, and unless otherwise stipulated in the charter agreement, the period charterer is able to trade the vessel to and from whichever loading and discharge ports that they choose, carrying whichever cargoes they prefer.

d) Bareboat charter

Under a bareboat charter, the vessel owner effectively relinquishes control of their ship to the charterer (usually for a period of several years). The ship owner receives an agreed-upon level of remuneration (which may again escalate at a mutually agreed-upon rate) for the duration of the charter, and remains responsible for the vessel’s capital costs. In return, the charterer assumes total control of the vessel, thereby becoming responsible for operating the ship and meeting all costs of such operation (such as crewing, repairs and maintenance), as well as the direct voyage expenses incurred (such as fuel costs and port expenses) when it is trading.

Freight Rates

Freight rates are determined by the balance of tonnage demand and tonnage supply. Primarily as the result of record newbuilding deliveries, fleet utilization rates have dropped sharply from the peak levels of 2007, as illustrated by movements in key freight market indicators.

Given the diversity of routes and cargoes traded by the drybulk fleet, freight market measures tend to focus on average worldwide spot earnings (expressed in US$ per day). The most recognized of these measures are published on a daily basis by the Baltic Exchange in London. In addition to global averages for standard designs of Handysize (28,000 dwt), Supramax (52,454 dwt), Panamax (74,000 dwt) and Capesize (180,000dwt) vessels, together with a number of component routes, the Baltic Exchange also publishes a daily composite Index for the entire drybulk market (the BDI or Baltic Exchange Dry Index).

 

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From its all-time high of almost 12,000 points in May 2008, just prior to the global financial crisis, the BDI fell to below 700 points in December of the same year. After partial recovery in 2009, negative pressure on freight markets returned under the weight of sustained fleet supply growth. At 920 points in 2012, the BDI’s annual average was a 26-year low. The corresponding 2013 level was 1,206 points and included the highest quarterly average for two years in the fourth quarter of 2013 (1,854 points) against the background of sharply-reduced fleet supply growth and new peaks for drybulk trade.

Volatility remained a feature of drybulk spot markets in 2014 with the BDI ranging between 2,113 and 723 points, but its annual average of 1,105 points was below the corresponding 2013 level. Spot market weakness intensified in 2015, chiefly due to the sharp slowdown in drybulk trade growth, with the BDI’s annual average of 718 points the lowest since 1986. This was followed by new daily (290 points) and monthly (307 points) lows in February 2016, when weak global steel production, disruptions to cargo availability and lower bunker prices, together with negative seasonal factors, all contributed to the further weakening in the freight market. From these record lows, the BDI did rebound to 715 points during April and averaged 620 points in May, which was the highest monthly average since October 2015.

The first of the accompanying charts traces developments in representative 12-month charter rates for the four main sizes from January 2002 to the end of May 2016, encompassing the all-time highs in vessel earnings and the subsequent slump in rates. The second chart looks in more detail at developments since the beginning of 2010. It shows the Capesize-led rebound from mid-2013 to the first quarter of 2014 and subsequent slide to the depressed levels in the first quarter of 2016. These assessments are based on existing modern (that is, under 10 years of age) vessels. Within these individual size ranges, period rates will vary according to such factors as vessel age, size, fuel consumption and yard of build.

 

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Although both charts show the extent to which vessel earnings in the different size ranges move broadly in tandem, they also highlight that the sharpness of market rises and falls vary in degree. Those size groups that carry the narrowest range of cargoes—or those employed on the least number of routes—tend to experience the greatest variations in charter rates. Hence, in the drybulk shipping sector, earnings of Capesizes have been prone to fluctuate to a far greater degree than those of smaller vessels (with their greater trading versatility, assisted by the cargo gear on these vessel types).

 

 

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Asset Values

In addition to the global balance between the demand for new vessels and available shipbuilding capacity, newbuilding prices are also influenced by changes in vessel construction costs, due to such factors as movements in steel plate prices or exchange rates against the United States dollar in key shipbuilding nations (principally China, Japan and South Korea).

Panamax bulk carrier newbuilding prices in Japan peaked at $56 million in the third quarter of 2008 and subsequently fell to $29 million in the final quarter of 2012. By the end of 2013 Japanese prices had climbed to a 38-month high of $35 million, chiefly as the result of recovering newbuilding demand, and remained at similar levels through much of 2014. However, they entered a downward trend in 2015 and by May 2016 had declined to $25.0 million, which equals the lowest level for Japanese Panamax newbuilding prices since 2003.

Second-hand values are primarily shaped by actual and anticipated earnings, newbuilding replacement costs (which are relevant for modern vessels) and residual scrap value (more relevant for older units). To an extent, prices are also influenced by the availability and cost of ship financing, as this will help to determine whether investors are able to realize their demand for new or second-hand vessels.

The accompanying charts compare the development of representative newbuilding, five-year old and ten-year old second-hand prices for Handysize, Handymax, Panamax and Capesize vessels since 2002. Individual vessel prices will vary according to such factors as specific size, age, cargo gear, yard of build and fuel consumption. Following the pattern of the charter markets, prices peaked between mid-2007 and mid-2008. Such was the shortage of shipbuilding capacity during that period—with a lengthening lead time between contracting and delivery—that demand for existing vessels with prompt delivery briefly created the abnormal situation where second-hand vessels were priced at a premium to newbuildings.

 

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Consequently, the percentage decline in second-hand prices between 2008 and 2012 was more severe than for newbuildings. Prices showed a firmer trend from the beginning of 2013 to March 2014, when five-year old values rose by an average of approximately 50%, led by a 60-70% increase in Capesize prices. The onset of generally weaker spot and period charter rates began to erode second-hand values during the latter months of 2014, and downward pressure intensified during 2015 and into 2016, sharply reducing prices. By the end of February 2016, Panamax five-year old prices of approximately $11.0 million were at their lowest since the 1980s, before moving up to approximately $13.8 million by the end of May.

 

 

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TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Please see the section entitled “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Commission on March 1, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference. For purposes of this prospectus supplement, the tax disclosure applies only to persons that own common shares solely by reason of this offering.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement, the underwriters named below have severally agreed to purchase from us the following respective number of common shares at a public offering price less the underwriting discounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement.

 

Underwriters		Number of Shares
Clarksons Platou Securities, Inc.
BTIG, LLC
Pareto Securities Inc.
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
Total			20,000,000

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to purchase the common shares offered hereby are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters will purchase all of the common shares offered by this prospectus supplement.

The underwriters propose to offer the common shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. If all the common shares are not sold at the public offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and may offer common shares from time to time for sale in negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, subject to receipt and acceptance by it and subject to its right to reject any order in whole or in part.

We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable not later than 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional common shares at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. To the extent that the underwriters exercise this option, each of the underwriters will become obligated, subject to conditions, to purchase approximately the same percentage of these additional common shares as the number of common shares to be purchased by it in the above table bears to the total number of common shares offered by this prospectus supplement. We will be obligated, pursuant to the option, to sell these additional common shares to the underwriters to the extent the option is exercised.

Our common shares are listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “SALT”.

The underwriting discounts and commissions per share are equal to the public offering price per common share less the amount paid by the underwriters to us per common share. The underwriting discounts and commissions are     % of the initial public offering price. We have agreed to pay the underwriters the following discounts and commissions, assuming either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares:

 

Total Fees

Fee per share

Without Exercise of Option to  Purchase Additional Shares

With Full Exercise of Option to  Purchase Additional Shares

Discounts and commissions paid by us(1)

$

$

$

 

(1)	The underwriters will not receive an underwriting discount on the sale of          common shares sold to Scorpio Services Holding Limited

 

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In addition, we estimate that our share of the total expenses of this offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $         . We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses, as set forth in the underwriting agreement, including legal fees incurred in the qualification of the offering with FINRA, in an amount of up to $        , which amount is deemed by FINRA to be underwriting compensation.

Other than as required to satisfy the payment of certain tax obligations, each of our executive officers and directors and Scorpio Services Holding Limited have agreed not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition of any common shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common shares or derivatives of our common shares owned by these persons prior to this offering or common shares issuable upon exercise of options or warrants held by these persons for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement without the prior written consent of Clarksons Platou Securities, Inc. This consent may be given at any time without public notice except in limited circumstances. We have entered into a similar agreement with Clarksons Platou Securities, Inc. for a period of 90 days. There are no agreements between Clarksons Platou Securities, Inc. and any of our shareholders or affiliates releasing them from these lock-up agreements prior to the expiration of the lock-up periods described above.

The underwriters may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the other underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representative of the underwriters has repurchased shares sold by or for the account of that underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions may have the effect of preventing or slowing a decline in the market price of our common shares. Additionally, these purchases, along with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of our common shares. As a result, the price of our common shares may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

A prospectus in electronic format is being made available on an Internet web site maintained by the lead underwriter of this offering and may be made available on web sites maintained by other underwriters. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter’s web site and any information contained in any other web site maintained by an underwriter is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which the prospectus forms a part.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

Clarksons Platou Securities AS is not a U.S. registered broker-dealer and, therefore, intends to participate in the offering outside of the United States and, to the extent that the offering by Clarksons Platou Securities AS is within the United States, Clarksons Platou Securities AS will offer to and place common shares with investors through Clarksons Platou Securities, Inc., an affiliated U.S. broker-dealer. The activities of Clarksons Platou Securities AS in the United States will be effected only to the extent permitted by Rule 15a-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

 

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Pareto Securities AS is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and therefore may not make sales of any shares in the United States or to U.S. persons except in compliance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations. To the extent that Pareto Securities AS intends to effect sales of the shares in the United States, it will do so only through its U.S. registered broker-dealer, Pareto Securities Inc. or one or more U.S. registered broker-dealers or otherwise as permitted by applicable U.S. law.

Notice to Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State) an offer to the public of any common shares which are the subject of this offering contemplated by this prospectus may not be made in that Relevant Member State other than the offers contemplated in the prospectus once the prospectus has been approved by the competent authority in such Member State and published and passported in accordance with the Prospectus Directive as implemented in the Relevant Member State except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of any common shares may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:

 

•

to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

 

•

to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;

 

•

by the underwriters to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or

 

•

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of common shares shall result in a requirement for the publication by the Issuer or any underwriter of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any common shares in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any common shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any common shares, as the same may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

Notice to Investors in the United Kingdom

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that (i) it has not offered or sold and, prior to the expiration of the period of six months from the closing date of this offering, will not offer or sell any common shares to persons in the United Kingdom except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995; (ii) it has complied with and will comply with

 

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all applicable provisions of the Financial Services Act 1986 with respect to anything done by it in relation to the shares of our common stock in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and (iii) it has only issued or passed on and will only issue or pass on in the United Kingdom, any document received by it in connection with the issue of the shares of our common stock to a person who is of a kind described in Article 11(3) of the Financial Services Act 1986 (Investment Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1996 or is a person to whom such document may otherwise lawfully be issued or passed on.

Notice to Investors in Canada

This document constitutes an “exempt offering document” as defined in and for the purposes of applicable Canadian securities laws. No prospectus has been filed with any securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada in connection with the offer and sale of the shares. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or in any way passed upon this document or on the merits of the shares and any representation to the contrary is an offence.

Canadian investors are advised that this document has been prepared in reliance on section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”). Pursuant to section 3A.3 of NI 33-105, this document is exempt from the requirement that the Company and the underwriters provide Canadian investors with certain conflicts of interest disclosure pertaining to “connected issuer” and/or “related issuer” relationships that may exist between the Company and the underwriters as would otherwise be required pursuant to subsection 2.1(1) of NI 33-105.

Resale Restrictions

The offer and sale of the shares in Canada is being made on a private placement basis only and is exempt from the requirement that the Company prepares and files a prospectus under applicable Canadian securities laws. Any resale of shares acquired by a Canadian investor in this offering must be made in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, which may vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made in accordance with Canadian prospectus and registration requirements, a statutory exemption from the prospectus and registration requirements, in a transaction exempt from the prospectus and registration requirements or otherwise under a discretionary exemption from the prospectus and registration requirements granted by the applicable local Canadian securities regulatory authority. These resale restrictions may under certain circumstances apply to resales of the shares outside of Canada.

Representations of Purchasers

Each Canadian investor who purchases the shares will be deemed to have represented to the Company, the underwriters and to each dealer from whom a purchase confirmation is received, as applicable, that the investor (i) is purchasing as principal, or is deemed to be purchasing as principal in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, for investment only and not with a view to resale or redistribution; (ii) is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or, in Ontario, as such term is defined in section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario); and (iii) is a “permitted client” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.

 

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Taxation and Eligibility for Investment

Any discussion of taxation and related matters contained within this document does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a Canadian investor when deciding to purchase the shares and, in particular, does not address any Canadian tax considerations. No representation or warranty is hereby made as to the tax consequences to a resident, or deemed resident, of Canada of an investment in the shares or with respect to the eligibility of the shares for investment by such investor under relevant Canadian federal and provincial legislation and regulations.

Rights of Action for Damages or Rescission

Securities legislation in certain of the Canadian jurisdictions provides certain purchasers of securities pursuant to an offering memorandum, including where the distribution involves an “eligible foreign security” as such term is defined in Ontario Securities Commission Rule 45-501 Ontario Prospectus and Registration Exemptions and in Multilateral Instrument 45-107 Listing Representation and Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Exemptions, as applicable, with a remedy for damages or rescission, or both, in addition to any other rights they may have at law, where the offering memorandum, or other offering document that constitutes an offering memorandum, and any amendment thereto, contains a “misrepresentation” as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. These remedies, or notice with respect to these remedies, must be exercised or delivered, as the case may be, by the purchaser within the time limits prescribed under, and are subject to limitations and defences under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. In addition, these remedies are in addition to and without derogation from any other right or remedy available at law to the investor.

Language of Documents

Upon receipt of this document, each Canadian investor hereby confirms that it has expressly requested that all documents evidencing or relating in any way to the sale of the securities described herein (including for greater certainty any purchase confirmation or any notice) be drawn up in the English language only. Par la réception de ce document, chaque investisseur canadien confirme par les présentes qu’il a expressément exigé que tous les documents faisant foi ou se rapportant de quelque manière que ce soit à la vente des valeurs mobilières décrites aux présentes (incluant, pour plus de certitude, toute confirmation d’achat ou tout avis) soient rédigés en anglais seulement.

 

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EXPENSES

The following are the estimated expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, all of which will be paid by us.

 

Commission Registration Fee		$	*
NYSE Supplemental Listing Fee		$	10,000
Printing and Engraving Expenses		$	50,000
Legal Fees and Expenses		$	125,000
Accountants’ Fees and Expenses		$	30,000
Miscellaneous Costs		$
Total		$

 

*

The Commission Registration Fee of $76,502, covering all of the securities being offered under the registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-201354) filed with the Commission with an effective date of January 15, 2015, of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, was previously paid. We allocate the cost of this fee on an approximately pro-rata basis with each offering.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the common shares offered hereby and other matters relating to Marshall Islands and United States law will be passed upon for us by Seward & Kissel LLP, One Battery Park Plaza, New York, New York 10004. The underwriters have been represented in connection with this offering by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, New York, New York 10004.

EXPERTS

The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for the period from March 20, 2013 (date of inception) to December 31, 2013 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

The discussions contained under the heading “Industry and Market Conditions” have been reviewed by SSY Consultancy & Research Ltd., or SSY, which has confirmed to us that it believes such discussions accurately describe the international drybulk shipping market as of the date of this prospectus supplement.

The statistical and graphical information incorporated by reference into this prospectus has been compiled by SSY from its database and other industry sources. SSY compiles and publishes data for the benefit of its clients. In connection therewith, SSY has advised that (i) certain information in SSY’s database is derived from estimates or subjective judgments, (ii) the information in the databases of other maritime data collection agencies may differ from the information in SSY’s database and (iii) while SSY has taken reasonable care in the compilation of the statistical and graphical information and believes it to be accurate and correct, data compilation is subject to limited audit and validation procedures.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, we filed a registration statement on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-201354) relating to the securities offered by this prospectus supplement with the Commission. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are parts of that registration statement, which includes additional information.

Government Filings

We file annual and special reports with the Commission. You may read and copy any document that we file and obtain copies at prescribed rates from the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling 1 (800) SEC-0330. The Commission maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission. Our filings are also available on our website at http://www.scorpiobulkers.com. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus.

 

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Information Incorporated by Reference

The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those filed documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement, and information that we file later with the Commission prior to the termination of this offering will also be considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and will automatically update and supersede previously filed information, including information contained in this document.

We hereby incorporate by reference the document listed below and certain future filings made with the Commission under Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act:

 

•

Our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Commission on March 1, 2016, containing our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015;

 

•

Our Report on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on March 11, 2016 (announcing the purchase of shares by Scorpio Services Holding Limited), March 23, 2016 (announcing the purchase of shares by Mr. Robert Bugbee), May 12, 2016 (announcing credit facility amendments and prepayments), June 3, 2016 (announcing results of the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders and effectiveness of the increase in authorized share capital) and June 10, 2016 (announcing the appointment of Filippo Lauro as the Vice President of the Company); and

 

•

Our Report on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on June 14, 2016, containing our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F that we file with the Commission and certain current reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the Commission after the date of this prospectus supplement (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) until we file a post-effective amendment indicating that the offering of the securities made by this prospectus supplement has been terminated. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus.

We have authorized only the information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may give you. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement as well as the information we previously filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates of those documents only. Our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

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You may request a free copy of the above mentioned filing or any subsequent filing we incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement by writing or telephoning us at the following addresses:

 

MONACO		NEW YORK
9, Boulevard Charles III, MC 98000 Monaco   Tel: (011) 377-9798-5716		150 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10155   Tel: (212) 542-1616

Information Provided by the Company

We will furnish holders of our common shares with annual reports containing audited financial statements and a report by our independent registered public accounting firm. The audited financial statements will be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As a “foreign private issuer,” we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders. While we furnish proxy statements to shareholders in accordance with the rules of the NYSE, those proxy statements do not conform to Schedule 14A of the proxy rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. In addition, as a “foreign private issuer,” our officers and directors are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act relating to short swing profit reporting and liability.

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

$500,000,000

Common shares, preferred shares, debt securities,

warrants, rights, purchase contracts, and units

and

up to 83,348,978 of our common shares

offered by the selling shareholders

 

SCORPIO BULKERS INC.

 

 

Through this prospectus, we may periodically offer:

 

(1)

our common shares,

 

(2)

our preferred shares,

 

(3)

our debt securities,

 

(4)

our warrants,

 

(5)

our rights,

 

(6)

our purchase contracts, and

 

(7)

our units.

We may also offer securities of the types listed above that are convertible or exchangeable into one or more of the securities listed above.

The aggregate offering price of all securities issued and sold by us under this prospectus may not exceed $500,000,000. The securities issued under this prospectus may be offered directly or through underwriters, agents or dealers. The names of any underwriters, agents or dealers will be included in a supplement to this prospectus.

In addition, the selling shareholders, who will be named in a prospectus supplement, may sell in one or more offerings pursuant to this registration statement up to an aggregate of 83,348,978 of our common shares. The selling shareholders may sell any or all of these common shares on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in privately negotiated transactions at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. Information on these selling shareholders will be described in a prospectus supplement and the times and manner in which they may offer and sell our common shares will be described in a prospectus supplement under the sections entitled “Selling Shareholders” and “Plan of Distribution” set forth therein. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common shares by the selling shareholders.

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SALT” and our 7.50% senior notes due 2019 are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SLTB.”

 

 

An investment in these securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of this prospectus, and other risk factors contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is January 2, 2015.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY			1
RISK FACTORS			6
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS			7
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			9
USE OF PROCEEDS			10
CAPITALIZATION			11
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK			12
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES			13
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			14
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT			16
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS			17
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			18
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			24
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS			33
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS			34
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS			35
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS			36
EXPENSES			37
LEGAL MATTERS			38
EXPERTS			38
INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA			38
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION			39

Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “dollars” and “$” in this prospectus are to, and amounts presented in, United States dollars and financial information presented in this prospectus that is derived from financial statements incorporated by reference is prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, using a shelf registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may sell the common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and units described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $500,000,000. In addition, the selling shareholders may sell in one or more offerings pursuant to this registration statement up to 83,348,978 of our common shares. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or the selling shareholders may offer. We will provide updated information if required whenever we or the selling shareholders offer our securities pursuant to this prospectus. This may include a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the offered securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement. Before purchasing any securities, you should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below.

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement we filed with the Commission and do not contain all the information in the registration statement. Forms of the indenture and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are filed as exhibits to the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. For further information about us or the securities offered hereby, you should refer to the registration statement, which you can obtain from the Commission as described below under “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

(i)

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You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We will not make any offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

(ii)

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1

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2

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3

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4

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5

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment in our securities, you should carefully consider all of the information included in this prospectus, the risk factors and all of the other information included in any prospectus supplement and the documents that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including those in “Item 3—Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the Commission on April 2, 2014, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the Commission after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information—Information Incorporated by Reference.” The occurrence of one or more of those risk factors could adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors relevant to such securities in the prospectus supplement.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Matters discussed in this prospectus may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

We desire to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. This document and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “may,” “should,” “expect” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this document are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to important factors and matters discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include:

 

•

the strength of world economies;

 

•

fluctuations in interest rates;

 

•

general drybulk market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values;

 

•

changes in demand in the drybulk shipping industry, including the market for our vessels;

 

•

changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry docking and insurance costs;

 

•

changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities;

 

•

potential liability from pending or future litigation;

 

•

general domestic and international political conditions;

 

•

potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events;

 

•

the availability of financing and refinancing;

 

•

vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hire;

 

•

other important factors described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6; and

 

•

other important factors described from time to time in the reports we file with the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange.

We caution readers of this prospectus and any prospectus supplement not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. We undertake no obligation, and specifically decline any obligation, except as required by law, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this prospectus might not occur.

 

7

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These factors and the other risk factors described in this prospectus are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. Consequently, there can be no assurance that actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us. These forward looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance, and actual results and future developments may vary materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and for the period from March 20, 2013 (date of inception) to December 31, 2013.

 

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014				Period from March 20, 2013 (date of inception) to December 31, 2013
(Dollars in Thousands)
Earnings:
Net loss		$	(44,567	)		$	(6,307	)
Plus: Fixed charges (calculated below)			16,489				—
Earnings Available to Cover Fixed Charges		$	(28,078	)		$	(6,307	)
Fixed charges:
Interest component of rent (1)		$	16,489			$	—
Fixed charges		$	16,489			$	—
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges			*				*

 

(1)	Represents one-third of charterhire expense, which is the proportion deemed representative of the interest factor.

*	For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and for the period from March 20, 2013 (date of inception) to December 31, 2013, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $44,567 and $6,307, respectively.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we specify otherwise in any prospectus supplement, we may use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus for capital expenditures, repayment of indebtedness, working capital, to make vessel or other acquisitions or for general corporate purposes or combination thereof.

We will not receive any proceeds from any sales of our securities by the selling shareholders.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

A prospectus supplement or report on Form 6-K incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement of which this prospectus is a part will include information relating to our capitalization.

 

11

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

Our common shares have traded on the New York Stock Exchange since December 12, 2013 under the symbol “SALT.” In addition, during the period from July 3, 2013 through July 31, 2014, our common shares traded on the Norwegian OTC under the symbol “SALT.” The following table sets forth the high and low prices for our common shares for the periods indicated, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange and the Norwegian OTC, respectively. On December 30, 2014, the exchange rate between the Norwegian Kroner and the U.S. dollar was NOK7.4297 to one U.S. dollar, based on the Bloomberg Composite Rate in effect on that date.

 

		NYSE								Norwegian OTC List
		High (US$)				Low (US$)				High     (US$)				Low     (US$)
For the Fiscal Year Ended:
December 31, 2014			10.73				1.76				10.21	**			9.57	**
December 31, 2013			10.18	*			9.04	*			10.05				7.95
		NYSE								Norwegian OTC List
		High (US$)				Low (US$)				High     (US$)				Low     (US$)
For the Quarter Ended:
December 31, 2014			6.08				1.76				—				—
September 30, 2014			9.09				5.75					***				***
June 30, 2014			10.33				8.30					***				***
March 31, 2014			10.73				9.09				10.21				9.57
December 31, 2013			10.18	*			9.04	*			10.05				7.95
		NYSE								Norwegian OTC List
		High (US$)				Low (US$)				High (US$)				Low (US$)
For the Month:
December 2014			3.29				1.76				—				—
November 2014			4.95				3.27				—				—
October 2014			6.08				4.00				—				—
September 2014			8.26				5.75				—				—
August 2014			8.26				7.56				—				—
July 2014			9.09				7.59					***				***

 

*	Period for the NYSE begins on December 12, 2013.

**	Period for the Norwegian OTC List ends on July 31, 2014.

***	There were no reported trades on the Norwegian OTC List for the period indicated.

 

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SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

We are organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands as a corporation. The Marshall Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides protections for investors to a significantly lesser extent.

Most of our directors and officers and those of our subsidiaries are residents of countries other than the United States. Substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets and a substantial portion of the assets of our directors and officers are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for United States investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us, our directors or officers, or our subsidiaries or to realize against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. However, we have expressly submitted to the jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts sitting in the City of New York for the purpose of any suit, action or proceeding arising under the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. The Trust Company of the Marshall Islands, Inc., Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Island, Ajeltake Road, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960, as our registered agent, can accept service of process on our behalf in any such action.

In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Marshall Islands would (1) recognize or enforce against us or our directors or officers judgments of courts of the United States based on civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws; or (2) impose liabilities against us or our directors and officers in original actions brought in the Marshall Islands, based on these laws.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We or the selling shareholders may sell or distribute the securities included in this prospectus through underwriters, through agents, to dealers, in private transactions, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.

In addition, we or the selling shareholders may sell some or all of our securities included in this prospectus through:

 

•

a block trade in which a broker-dealer may resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;

 

•

purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; or

 

•

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; or

 

•

trading plans entered into by the selling shareholders pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of their securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans.

In addition, we or the selling shareholders may enter into option or other types of transactions that require us or them to deliver our securities to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the securities under this prospectus. We or the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with respect to our securities. For example, we or the selling shareholders may:

 

•

enter into transactions involving short sales of our common shares by broker-dealers;

 

•

sell common shares short and deliver the shares to close out short positions;

 

•

enter into option or other types of transactions that require us or the selling shareholders to deliver common shares to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the common shares under this prospectus; or

 

•

loan or pledge the common shares to a broker-dealer, who may sell the loaned shares or, in the event of default, sell the pledged shares.

We or the selling shareholders may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or the selling shareholders or borrowed from us, the selling shareholders or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us or the selling shareholders in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we or the selling shareholders may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

The selling shareholders and any broker-dealers or other persons acting on our behalf or on the behalf of the selling shareholders that participate with us or the selling shareholders in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters and any commissions received or profit realized by them on the resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. As a result, we have informed the selling shareholders that Regulation M, promulgated under the Exchange Act, may apply to sales by

 

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the selling shareholders in the market. The selling shareholders may agree to indemnify any broker, dealer or agent that participates in transactions involving the sale of our common shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

As of the date of this prospectus, we are not a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding between any broker or dealer and us with respect to the offer or sale of the securities pursuant to this prospectus.

At the time that any particular offering of securities is made, to the extent required by the Securities Act, a prospectus supplement will be distributed, setting forth the terms of the offering, including the aggregate number of securities being offered, the purchase price of the securities, the initial offering price of the securities, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other items constituting compensation from us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. Furthermore, we, our executive officers, our directors and the selling shareholders may agree, subject to certain exemptions, that for a certain period from the date of the prospectus supplement under which the securities are offered, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of an underwriter, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of our common shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares. However, an underwriter, in its sole discretion, may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice. We expect an underwriter to exclude from these lock-up agreements, securities exercised and/or sold pursuant to trading plans entered into by the selling shareholders pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of their securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans.

Underwriters or agents could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an at-the-market offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on or through the New York Stock Exchange, the existing trading market for our common shares, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

We will bear costs relating to the securities offered and sold by us under this Registration Statement.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our common shares for (i) owners of more than five percent of our common shares and (ii) our directors and officers, of which we are aware as of the date of this prospectus.

 

Name		No. of Shares				% Owned (1)
Monarch Alternative Capital LP (2)(8)			25,270,600				14.0	%
Galahad Securities Limited			20,878,167				11.6	%
Avenue Capital Management II, L.P. (3)(8)			14,161,040				7.9	%
Avenue Europe International Management, L.P. (3)(8)			2,372,887				1.3	%
York Capital Management Global Advisors, LLC (4)(8)			10,659,000				5.9	%
BlueMountain Capital Management LLC (5)(8)			9,924,606				5.5	%
Blue Mountain Credit Alternatives Master Fund L.P. (8)			7,124,536				4.0	%
Scorpio Services Holding Limited			5,493,893				3.0	%
Directors and executive officers as a group (7)			5,074,675				2.8	%

 

(1)	Calculated based on 180,299,695 common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2014.

(2)	This information is derived from Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on December 24, 2014.

(3)	This information is derived from Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on November 25, 2014. Each of Avenue Capital Management II, L.P. and Avenue Europe International Management, L.P. is an investment advisor to, and holds such common shares for the benefit of, various funds.

(4)	This information is derived from Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2014.

(5)	This information is derived from Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on September 12, 2014.

(6)	This information is derived from Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on October 17, 2014.

(7)	Emanuele Lauro, our Director and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Bugbee, our Director and President, and Cameron Mackey, our Chief Operating Officer, own 10%, 10% and 7% of Scorpio Services Holdings Limited, respectively.

(8)	Includes common shares held by funds managed thereby.

 

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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

The selling shareholders, who will be named in a prospectus supplement, may offer and sell from time to time pursuant to this registration statement, an aggregate of up to 83,348,978 of our common shares that were previously acquired in our November 2014 Private Placement, other private transactions, or in open market transactions. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common shares by the selling shareholders.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a description of the material terms of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws. Copies of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Purpose

Our purpose, as stated in our amended and restated articles of incorporation, is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the BCA. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws do not impose any limitations on the ownership rights of our shareholders.

Authorized Capital Stock

Under our amended and restated articles of incorporation our authorized capital stock consists of 450,000,000 common shares, par value $0.01 per share, of which 180,299,695 common shares were issued and outstanding as of the date of this prospectus, and 50,000,000 preferred shares, par value $0.01 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding.

Share History

On March 20, 2013, we issued 1,500 common shares to SSH in connection with our initial capitalization.

Between July 1, 2013 and July 16, 2013, we issued and sold 31,250,000 common shares (including 1,500 common shares issued in connection with our formation), par value $0.01 per share, for net proceeds of $242.8 million; on September 24, 2013, we issued and sold an additional 33,400,000 common shares for net proceeds of $290.2 million; and on October 31, 2013, we issued and sold an additional 32,590,411 common shares for net proceeds of $291.0 million. These common shares were initially sold in offshore transactions to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act and in the United States to “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in, and in reliance on Rule 144A of the Securities Act. We refer to these three equity private placements collectively as the “Norwegian Private Placements.”

In December 2013, we completed our underwritten initial public offering of 31,300,000 common shares at $9.75 per share, and in January 2014, the underwriters in the initial public offering exercised their option to purchase an additional 4,695,000 common shares. In February 2014, we completed our offer to exchange unregistered common shares that were previously issued in the Norwegian Private Placements (other than the common shares owned by affiliates of us) for common shares that were registered under the Securities Act, which we refer to as the Exchange Offer. Upon completion of the Exchange Offer, holders of 95,766,779 unregistered common shares validly tendered their shares in exchange for such registered common shares, representing a participation rate of 99.7%.

During the third quarter of 2014, we issued an aggregate of 52,394 common shares to SSH pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement in connection with the delivery of two vessels to us.

On November 20, 2014, we issued and sold an aggregate of 40,000,000 common shares to SSH, certain of our executive officers, and certain institutional investors in a private offering.

Common Shares

Each outstanding common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred shares, holders of common shares are entitled to receive ratably all dividends, if any, declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. Upon our dissolution or liquidation or the sale of all or substantially all of

 

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our assets, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of our common shares are entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution. Holders of common shares do not have conversion, redemption or pre-emptive rights to subscribe to any of our securities. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common shares are subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred shares, which we may issue in the future.

Preferred Shares

Our amended and restated articles of incorporation authorize our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:

 

•

the designation of the series;

 

•

the number of shares of the series;

 

•

the preferences and relative, participating, option or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series; and

 

•

the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series.

Directors

Our directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote. There is no provision for cumulative voting.

Our amended and restated bylaws require our board of directors to consist of at least one member. Upon the completion of this offering, our board of directors will consist of five members. Our amended and restated bylaws may be amended by the vote of a majority of our entire board of directors.

Directors are elected annually on a staggered basis, and each shall serve for a three year term and until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, except in the event of his death, resignation, removal, or the earlier termination of his term of office. Our board of directors has the authority to fix the amounts which shall be payable to the members of the board of directors for attendance at any meeting or for services rendered to us.

Shareholder Meetings

Under our amended and restated bylaws, annual meetings of shareholders will be held at a time and place selected by our board of directors. The meetings may be held in or outside of the Marshall Islands. Special meetings may be called at any time by a majority of our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors, an officer of the Company who is also a director or a majority of the shares then outstanding and eligible to vote. Our board of directors may set a record date between 15 and 60 days before the date of any meeting to determine the shareholders that will be eligible to receive notice and vote at the meeting. One or more shareholders representing at least one-third of the total voting rights of our total issued and outstanding shares present in person or by proxy at a shareholder meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of the meeting.

Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment

Under the BCA, our shareholders have the right to dissent from various corporate actions, including any merger or consolidation and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets not made in the usual course of our business, and receive payment of the fair value of their shares. In the event of any further amendment of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, a shareholder also has the right to dissent and receive payment for his or her shares if the amendment alters certain rights in respect of those shares. The dissenting shareholder must follow the procedures set forth in the BCA to receive payment. In the event that we and any dissenting shareholder

 

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fail to agree on a price for the common shares, the BCA procedures involve, among other things, the institution of proceedings in the high court of the Republic of The Marshall Islands or in any appropriate court in any jurisdiction in which our shares are primarily traded on a local or national securities exchange.

Shareholders’ Derivative Actions

Under the BCA, any of our shareholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the shareholder bringing the action is a holder of common shares both at the time the derivative action is commenced and at the time of the transaction to which the action relates.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

The BCA authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their shareholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws include a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions taken as a director to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by law. We are also expressly authorized to advance certain expenses (including attorney’s fees and disbursements and court costs) to our directors and officers and carry directors’ and officers’ insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification provisions and this insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.

Anti-takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Several provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws, which are summarized below, may have anti-takeover effects. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, lessen our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize shareholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these anti-takeover provisions, which are summarized below, could also discourage, delay or prevent (1) the merger or acquisition of us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise that a shareholder may consider in its best interest and (2) the removal of incumbent officers and directors.

Blank check preferred stock

Under the terms of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, our board of directors has authority, without any further vote or action by our shareholders, to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of blank check preferred

 

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stock. Our board of directors may issue preferred shares on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of us or the removal of our management and might harm the market price of our common shares. We have no current plans to issue any preferred shares.

Election and removal of directors

Our amended and restated articles of incorporation prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors. Our amended and restated bylaws require parties other than the board of directors to give advance written notice of nominations for the election of directors. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation also provide that our directors may be removed for cause upon the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote for those directors. These provisions may discourage, delay or prevent the removal of incumbent officers and directors.

Limited actions by shareholders

Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our shareholders must be effected at an annual or special meeting of shareholders or by the unanimous written consent of our shareholders. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that, unless otherwise prescribed by law, only a majority of our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors or an officer of the Company who is also a director may call special meetings of our shareholders and the business transacted at the special meeting is limited to the purposes stated in the notice. Accordingly, a shareholder will be prevented from calling a special meeting for shareholder consideration of a proposal unless scheduled by our board of directors and shareholder consideration of a proposal may be delayed until the next annual meeting.

Advance notice requirements for shareholder proposals and director nominations

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that shareholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of shareholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary. Generally, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 150 days nor more than 180 days prior to the one year anniversary of the immediately preceding annual meeting of shareholders. Our amended and restated bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a shareholder’s notice. These provisions may impede shareholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of shareholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of shareholders.

Classified board of directors

As described above, our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide for the division of our board of directors into three classes of directors, with each class as nearly equal in number as possible, serving staggered three year terms beginning on the expiration of the initial term for each class. Accordingly, approximately one-third of our board of directors will be elected each year. This classified board provision could discourage a third party from making a tender offer for our shares or attempting to obtain control of us. It could also delay shareholders who do not agree with the policies of our board of directors from removing a majority of our board of directors for two years.

Business combinations

Although the BCA does not contain specific provisions regarding “business combinations” between companies organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands and “interested shareholders,” we have included these provisions in our amended and restated articles of incorporation. Specifically, our amended and restated articles of incorporation prohibit us from engaging in a “business combination” with certain persons for three years following the date the person becomes an interested shareholder. Interested shareholders generally include:

 

•

any person who is the beneficial owner of 15% or more of our outstanding voting shares; or

 

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•

any person who is our affiliate or associate and who held 15% or more of our outstanding voting shares at any time within three years before the date on which the person’s status as an interested shareholder is determined, and the affiliates and associates of such person.

Subject to certain exceptions, a business combination includes, among other things:

 

•

certain mergers or consolidations of us or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of ours;

 

•

any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of our assets or of any subsidiary of ours having an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all of our assets, determined on a combined basis, or the aggregate value of all of our outstanding shares;

 

•

certain transactions that result in the issuance or transfer by us of any shares of ours to the interested shareholder;

 

•

any transaction involving us or any of our subsidiaries that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of any class or series of stock, or securities convertible into any class or series of stock, of ours or any such subsidiary that is owned directly or indirectly by the interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder; and

 

•

any receipt by the interested shareholder of the benefit directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder) of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through us.

These provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation do not apply to a business combination if:

 

•

before a person became an interested shareholder, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction in which the shareholder became an interested shareholder;

 

•

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of our voting shares outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, other than certain excluded shares;

 

•

at or following the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding voting shares that is not owned by the interest shareholder;

 

•

the shareholder was or became an interested shareholder prior to the closing of this offering;

 

•

a shareholder became an interested shareholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divested itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the shareholder ceased to be an interested shareholder; and (ii) would not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a business combination between us and such shareholder, have been an interested shareholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or

 

•

the business combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required under our amended and restated articles of incorporation which (i) constitutes one of the transactions described in the following sentence; (ii) is with or by a person who either was not an interested shareholder during the previous three years or who became an interested shareholder with the approval of the board; and (iii) is approved or not opposed by a majority of the members of the board of directors then in office (but not less than one) who were directors prior to any person becoming an interested shareholder during the previous three years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors.

 

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The proposed transactions referred to in the preceding sentence are limited to:

 

•

a merger or consolidation of us (except for a merger in respect of which, pursuant to the BCA, no vote of our shareholders is required);

 

•

a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of us or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of ours (other than to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary or to us) having an aggregate market value equal to 50% or more of either the aggregate market value of all of our assets determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares; or

 

•

a proposed tender or exchange offer for 50% or more of our outstanding voting shares.

Registration Rights

We have agreed to register for resale up to 10,863,500 of our common shares purchased in one of the Norwegian Private Placements within 30 days of the request of the holder made at any time after the earlier of the closing of our initial public offering or the commencement of our Exchange Offer.

We have also entered into a registration rights agreement with the purchasers in the November 2014 Private Placement, pursuant to which we have agreed to register for resale 40,000,000 of our common shares purchased in our November 2014 Private Placement, plus the common shares held by the purchasers in that offering as of the date of the registration rights agreement. The common shares to be registered for the selling shareholders under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part are being registered pursuant to the registration rights agreement.

Transfer Agent

The registrar and transfer agent for our common shares is Computershare Inc.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, under one or more indentures, each dated as of a date on or prior to the issuance of the debt securities to which it relates. We may issue senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities pursuant to separate indentures, a senior indenture and a subordinated indenture, respectively, in each case between us and the trustee named in the indenture. These indentures will be filed either as exhibits to an amendment to this Registration Statement, or as an exhibit to an Exchange Act report that will be incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement or a prospectus supplement. We will refer to any or all of these reports as “subsequent filings.” The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, are sometimes referred to individually as an “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” Each indenture will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act. The aggregate principal amount of debt securities which may be issued under each indenture will be unlimited and each indenture will contain the specific terms of any series of debt securities or provide that those terms must be set forth in or determined pursuant to, an authorizing resolution, as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement, and/or a supplemental indenture, if any, relating to such series.

The following description of the terms of the debt securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions. The statements below are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable indenture. The specific terms of any debt securities that we may offer, including any modifications of, or additions to, the general terms described below as well as any applicable material U.S. federal income tax considerations concerning the ownership of such debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or supplemental indenture. Accordingly, for a complete description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, the general description of the debt securities set forth below should be read in conjunction with the applicable prospectus supplement and indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

General

Neither indenture limits the amount of debt securities which may be issued, and each indenture provides that debt securities may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount from time to time. The debt securities may be issued in one or more series. The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank in parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Each series of subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and subordinated to all present and future senior indebtedness of debt securities will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

You should read the subsequent filings relating to the particular series of debt securities for the following terms of the offered debt securities:

 

•

the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations;

 

•

the issue price, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount;

 

•

the maturity date;

 

•

the interest rate per annum, if any;

 

•

if the offered debt securities provide for interest payments, the date from which interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be payable, the date on which payment of interest will commence and the regular record dates for interest payment dates;

 

•

any optional or mandatory sinking fund provisions or conversion or exchangeability provisions;

 

•

the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the offered debt securities may be optionally redeemed or must be mandatorily redeemed and any other terms and provisions of optional or mandatory redemptions;

 

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•

if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which offered debt securities of the series will be issuable;

 

•

if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of offered debt securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy;

 

•

any events of default not set forth in this prospectus;

 

•

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which principal, premium and interest will be payable, if other than the currency of the United States of America;

 

•

if principal, premium or interest is payable, at our election or at the election of any holder, in a currency other than that in which the offered debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election may be made;

 

•

whether interest will be payable in cash or additional securities at our or the holder’s option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;

 

•

if denominated in a currency or currencies other than the currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of holders of those debt securities under the applicable indenture;

 

•

if the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method based on a coin or currency other than that in which the offered debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the manner in which the amounts will be determined;

 

•

any restrictive covenants or other material terms relating to the offered debt securities, which may not be inconsistent with the applicable indenture;

 

•

whether the offered debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates in registered form;

 

•

any terms with respect to subordination;

 

•

any listing on any securities exchange or quotation system;

 

•

additional provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the offered debt securities; and

 

•

the applicability of any guarantees.

Unless otherwise indicated in subsequent filings with the Commission relating to the indenture, principal, premium and interest will be payable and the debt securities will be transferable at the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee. Unless other arrangements are made or set forth in subsequent filings or a supplemental indenture, principal, premium and interest will be paid by checks mailed to the holders at their registered addresses.

Unless otherwise indicated in subsequent filings with the Commission, the debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with these debt securities.

Some or all of the debt securities may be issued as discounted debt securities, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates, to be sold at a substantial discount below the stated principal amount. United States federal income consequences and other special considerations applicable to any discounted securities will be described in subsequent filings with the Commission relating to those securities.

We refer you to applicable subsequent filings with respect to any deletions or additions or modifications from the description contained in this prospectus.

 

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Senior Debt

We may issue senior debt securities under a senior debt indenture. These senior debt securities would rank on an equal basis with all our other unsecured debt except subordinated debt.

Senior debt means:

 

•

the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other amounts owing in respect of our indebtedness for money borrowed and indebtedness evidenced by securities, notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments issued by us, including the senior debt securities or letters of credit;

 

•

all capitalized lease obligations;

 

•

all hedging obligations;

 

•

all obligations representing the deferred purchase price of property; and

 

•

all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of obligations of the type referred to above;

but senior debt does not include:

 

•

subordinated debt securities; and

 

•

any indebtedness that by its terms is subordinated to, or ranks on an equal basis with, our subordinated debt securities.

Subordinated Debt

We may issue subordinated debt securities under a subordinated debt indenture. Subordinated debt would rank subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the subordinated debt indenture, to all our senior debt (both secured and unsecured).

In general, the holders of all senior debt are first entitled to receive payment of the full amount unpaid on senior debt before the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive a payment on account of the principal or interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities in certain events.

If we default in the payment of any principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any senior debt when it becomes due and payable after any applicable grace period, then, unless and until the default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, we cannot make a payment on account of or redeem or otherwise acquire the subordinated debt securities.

If there is any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or other similar proceeding relating to us or our property, then all senior debt must be paid in full before any payment may be made to any holders of subordinated debt securities.

Furthermore, if we default in the payment of the principal of and accrued interest on any subordinated debt securities that is declared due and payable upon an event of default under the subordinated debt indenture, holders of all our senior debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full in cash before holders of such subordinated debt can receive any payments.

Covenants

Any series of offered debt securities may have covenants in addition to or differing from those included in the applicable indenture which will be described in subsequent filings prepared in connection with the offering of such securities, limiting or restricting, among other things:

 

•

the ability of us or our subsidiaries to incur either secured or unsecured debt, or both;

 

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•

the ability to make certain payments, dividends, redemptions or repurchases;

 

•

our ability to create dividend and other payment restrictions affecting our subsidiaries;

 

•

our ability to make investments;

 

•

mergers and consolidations by us or our subsidiaries;

 

•

sales of assets by us;

 

•

our ability to enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

•

our ability to incur liens; and

 

•

sale and leaseback transactions.

Modification of the Indentures

Each indenture and the rights of the respective holders may be modified by us only with the consent of holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series under the respective indenture affected by the modification, taken together as a class. But no modification that:

(1) changes the amount of securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2) reduces the rate of or changes the interest payment time on any security or alters its redemption provisions (other than any alteration to any such section which would not materially adversely affect the legal rights of any holder under the indenture) or the price at which we are required to offer to purchase the securities;

(3) reduces the principal or changes the maturity of any security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;

(4) waives a default or event of default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any security (except a rescission of acceleration of the securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(5) makes the principal of or interest, if any, on any security payable in any currency other than that stated in the security;

(6) makes any change with respect to holders’ rights to receive principal and interest, the terms pursuant to which defaults can be waived, certain modifications affecting shareholders or certain currency-related issues; or

(7) waives a redemption payment with respect to any security or change any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of any securities;

will be effective against any holder without his consent. Other terms as specified in subsequent filings may be modified without the consent of the holders.

Events of Default

Each indenture defines an event of default for the debt securities of any series as being any one of the following events:

 

•

default in any payment of interest when due which continues for 30 days;

 

•

default in any payment of principal or premium when due;

 

•

default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due;

 

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•

default in the performance of any covenant in the debt securities or the applicable indenture which continues for 60 days after we receive notice of the default;

 

•

default under a bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for borrowed money by us or our subsidiaries (to the extent we are directly responsible or liable therefor) having a principal amount in excess of a minimum amount set forth in the applicable subsequent filing, whether such indebtedness now exists or is hereafter created, which default shall have resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled or cured within 30 days after we receive notice of the default; and

 

•

events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.

An event of default of one series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities.

There may be such other or different events of default as described in an applicable subsequent filing with respect to any class or series of offered debt securities.

In case an event of default occurs and continues for the debt securities of any series, the applicable trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities then outstanding of that series may declare the principal and accrued but unpaid interest of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable. Any event of default for the debt securities of any series which has been cured may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding.

Each indenture requires us to file annually after debt securities are issued under that indenture with the applicable trustee a written statement signed by two of our officers as to the absence of material defaults under the terms of that indenture. Each indenture provides that the applicable trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any default if it considers it in the interest of the holders to do so, except notice of a default in payment of principal, premium or interest.

Subject to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default occurs and continues, each indenture provides that the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under that indenture at the request, order or direction of holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to these provisions for indemnification and the rights of the trustee, each indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series then outstanding have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee as long as the exercise of that right does not conflict with any law or the indenture.

Defeasance and Discharge

The terms of each indenture provide us with the option to be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities issued thereunder upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money or U.S. government obligations, or both, which through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal, premium and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities on the stated maturity of the payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture governing the debt securities. This right may only be exercised if, among other things, we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the effect that such a discharge will not be deemed, or result in, a taxable event with respect to holders. This discharge would not apply to our obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust.

 

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Defeasance of Certain Covenants

The terms of the debt securities provide us with the right to omit complying with specified covenants and that specified events of default described in a subsequent filing will not apply. In order to exercise this right, we will be required to deposit with the trustee money or U.S. government obligations, or both, which through the payment of interest and principal will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities on the stated maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture governing such debt securities. We will also be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the IRS a ruling to the effect that the deposit and related covenant defeasance will not cause the holders of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.

A subsequent filing may further describe the provisions, if any, of any particular series of offered debt securities permitting a discharge defeasance.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository identified in an applicable subsequent filing and registered in the name of the depository or a nominee for the depository. In such a case, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series to be represented by the global security or securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive certificated form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository for the global security to a nominee of the depository or by a nominee of the depository to the depository or another nominee of the depository or by the depository or any nominee to a successor depository for that series or a nominee of the successor depository and except in the circumstances described in an applicable subsequent filing.

We expect that the following provisions will apply to depository arrangements for any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a global security. Any additional or different terms of the depository arrangement will be described in an applicable subsequent filing.

Upon the issuance of any global security, and the deposit of that global security with or on behalf of the depository for the global security, the depository will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the principal amounts of the debt securities represented by that global security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with the depository or its nominee. The accounts to be credited will be designated by the underwriters or agents engaging in the distribution of the debt securities or by us, if the debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participating institutions or persons that may hold interest through such participating institutions. Ownership of beneficial interests by participating institutions in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of the beneficial interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depository for the global security or by its nominee. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security by persons that hold through participating institutions will be shown on, and the transfer of the beneficial interests within the participating institutions will be effected only through, records maintained by those participating institutions. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. The foregoing limitations and such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the global securities.

So long as the depository for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that global security, the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable subsequent filing and except as specified below, owners of beneficial interests in the global security will not be entitled to have debt securities of the series represented by the global security

 

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registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities of the series in certificated form and will not be considered the holders thereof for any purposes under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in the global security must rely on the procedures of the depository and, if such person is not a participating institution, on the procedures of the participating institution through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.

The depository may grant proxies and otherwise authorize participating institutions to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture. We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or any owner of a beneficial interest in the global security desires to give any notice or take any action a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, the depository would authorize the participating institutions to give the notice or take the action, and participating institutions would authorize beneficial owners owning through such participating institutions to give the notice or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

Unless otherwise specified in applicable subsequent filings, payments of principal, premium and interest on debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository or its nominee will be made by us to the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security.

We expect that the depository for any debt securities represented by a global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest, will credit participating institutions’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of the depository. We also expect that payments by participating institutions to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through those participating institutions will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in street names, and will be the responsibility of those participating institutions. None of us, the trustees or any agent of ours or the trustees will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable subsequent filings, a global security of any series will be exchangeable for certificated debt securities of the same series only if:

 

•

the depository for such global securities notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository or such depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor depository is not appointed by us within 90 days after we receive the notice or become aware of the ineligibility;

 

•

we in our sole discretion determine that the global securities shall be exchangeable for certificated debt securities; or

 

•

there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series.

Upon any exchange, owners of beneficial interests in the global security or securities will be entitled to physical delivery of individual debt securities in certificated form of like tenor and terms equal in principal amount to their beneficial interests, and to have the debt securities in certificated form registered in the names of the beneficial owners, which names are expected to be provided by the depository’s relevant participating institutions to the applicable trustee.

In the event that the Depository Trust Company, or DTC, acts as depository for the global securities of any series, the global securities will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s partnership nominee.

 

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DTC is a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, a limited-purpose trust company under New York State banking law and a registered clearing agency with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission. Established in 1973, DTC was created to reduce costs and provide clearing and settlement efficiencies by immobilizing securities and making “book-entry” changes to ownership of the securities. DTC provides securities movements for the net settlements of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, or NSCC, and settlement for institutional trades (which typically involve money and securities transfers between custodian banks and broker/dealers), as well as money market instruments.

DTC is a subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Company, or DTCC. DTCC is a holding company established in 1999 to combine DTC and NSCC. DTCC, through its subsidiaries, provides clearing, settlement and information services for equities, corporate and municipal bonds, government and mortgage backed securities, money market instruments and over the-counter derivatives. In addition, DTCC is a leading processor of mutual funds and insurance transactions, linking funds and carriers with their distribution networks. DTCC’s customer base extends to thousands of companies within the global financial services industry. DTCC serves brokers, dealers, institutional investors, banks, trust companies, mutual fund companies, insurance carriers, hedge funds and other financial intermediaries—either directly or through correspondent relationships.

DTCC is industry-owned by its customers who are members of the financial community, such as banks, broker/dealers, mutual funds and other financial institutions. DTCC operates on an at-cost basis, returning excess revenue from transaction fees to its member firms. All services provided by DTC are regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The 2014 DTCC Board of Directors is composed of 19 directors serving one-year terms. Thirteen directors are representatives of clearing agency participants, including international broker/dealers, custodian and clearing banks, and investment institutions; of these, two directors are designated by DTCC’s preferred shareholders, which are NYSE Euronext and FINRA. Three directors are from non-participants. The remaining three are the chairman, chief executive officer and president, and chief operating officer of DTCC. All of the Board members except those designated by the preferred shareholders are elected annually.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, the debt securities may be registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of the debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. will effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participating institutions to whose accounts debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participating institutions remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Delivery of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participating institutions, by direct participating institutions to indirect participating institutions, and by direct participating institutions and indirect participating institutions to beneficial owners of debt securities are governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. consents or votes with respect to the debt securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails a proxy to the issuer as soon as possible after the record date. The proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participating institution to whose accounts the debt securities are credited on the record date.

If applicable, redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the debt securities of a series represented by global securities are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participating institutions in that issue to be redeemed.

To the extent that any debt securities provide for repayment or repurchase at the option of the holders thereof, a beneficial owner shall give notice of any option to elect to have its interest in the global security repaid

 

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by us, through its participating institution, to the applicable trustee, and shall effect delivery of the interest in a global security by causing the direct participating institution to transfer the direct participating institution’s interest in the global security or securities representing the interest, on DTC’s records, to the applicable trustee. The requirement for physical delivery of debt securities in connection with a demand for repayment or repurchase will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in the global security or securities representing the debt securities are transferred by direct participating institutions on DTC’s records.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository for the debt securities at any time. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not appointed, debt security certificates are required to be printed and delivered as described above.

We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through the securities depository. In that event, debt security certificates will be printed and delivered as described above.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for its accuracy.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase any of our debt or equity securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

 

•

the title of such warrants;

 

•

the aggregate number of such warrants;

 

•

the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;

 

•

the number and type of our securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;

 

•

the price at which our securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;

 

•

the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

 

•

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

•

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security;

 

•

if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

•

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

•

if applicable, a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations; and

 

•

any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

We may issue rights to purchase our equity securities. These rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered by this prospectus and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the rights in the rights offering. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter will purchase any securities that remain unsubscribed for upon completion of the rights offering.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any rights will describe the terms of the offered rights, including, where applicable, the following:

 

•

the exercise price for the rights;

 

•

the number of rights issued to each stockholder;

 

•

the extent to which the rights are transferable;

 

•

any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights;

 

•

the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

 

•

the amount of rights outstanding;

 

•

the extent to which the rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and

 

•

the material terms of any standby underwriting arrangement entered into by us in connection with the rights offering.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable rights certificate or rights agreement, which will be filed with the Commission if we offer rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any rights certificate or rights agreement if we offer rights, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information” of this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable rights certificate, the applicable rights agreement and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of any of our debt or equity securities issued by us.

Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the securities otherwise deliverable, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions, provisions relating to U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.

The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under the indenture.

The purchase contracts will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any principles thereof relating to conflicts of law that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, preferred shares, common shares or any combination of such securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:

 

•

the terms of the units and of the purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, preferred shares and common shares comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately;

 

•

a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units;

 

•

if applicable, a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and

 

•

a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units.

 

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EXPENSES

The following are the estimated expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, all of which will be paid by us.

 

SEC registration fee		$	76,502
FINRA fees		$	101,450
Legal fees and expenses		$		*
Accounting fees and expenses		$		*
NYSE Supplemental Listing Fee		$		*
Miscellaneous		$		*
Total		$		*

 

*	To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this registration statement.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Seward & Kissel LLP, New York, New York, with respect to matters of the law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and with respect to matters of United States and New York law.

EXPERTS

The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the period from March 20, 2013 (date of inception) to December 31, 2013 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

The industry-related discussions contained in the section “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Industry Market Conditions” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference, have been reviewed by SSY Consultancy & Research Ltd., or SSY, which has confirmed to us that it believes such discussions accurately describe the international drybulk shipping market as of the date thereof.

The statistical and graphical information incorporated by reference into this prospectus has been compiled by SSY from its database and other industry sources. SSY compiles and publishes data for the benefit of its clients. In connection therewith, SSY has advised that (i) certain information in SSY’s database is derived from estimates or subjective judgments, (ii) the information in the databases of other maritime data collection agencies may differ from the information in SSY’s database and (iii) while SSY has taken reasonable care in the compilation of the statistical and graphical information and believes it to be accurate and correct, data compilation is subject to limited audit and validation procedures.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

As required by the Securities Act, we filed a registration statement relating to the securities offered by this prospectus with the Commission. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement, which includes additional information.

Government Filings

We file annual and special reports with the Commission. You may read and copy any document that we file and obtain copies at prescribed rates from the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling 1 (800) SEC-0330. The Commission maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission. Our filings are also available on our website at http://www.scorpiobulkers.com. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.

Information Incorporated by Reference

The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those filed documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the Commission prior to the termination of this offering will also be considered to be part of this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede previously filed information, including information contained in this document.

We hereby incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the Commission under Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

•

Our Report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on January 2, 2015, which contains our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014;

 

•

Our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the Commission on April 2, 2014, containing our audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for which those statements have been filed; and

 

•

Form 8-A12B, filed with the Commission on December 10, 2013, registering our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and any amendment filed thereto.

We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F that we file with the Commission and certain reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the Commission after the date of this prospectus (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) until we file a post-effective amendment indicating that the offering of the securities made by this prospectus has been terminated. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not, and any underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement as well as the information we previously filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of those documents only. Our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

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You may request a free copy of the above mentioned filing or any subsequent filing we incorporated by reference to this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Scorpio Bulkers Inc.

9, Boulevard Charles III

MC 98000 Monaco

(011) 377 9798 5716

Information Provided by the Company

We will furnish holders of our common shares with annual reports containing audited financial statements and a report by our independent registered public accounting firm. The audited financial statements will be prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. As a “foreign private issuer,” we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders. While we furnish proxy statements to shareholders in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, those proxy statements do not conform to Schedule 14A of the proxy rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. In addition, as a “foreign private issuer,” our officers and directors are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act relating to short swing profit reporting and liability.

 

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20,000,000 Common Shares

 

Scorpio Bulkers Inc.

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

                , 2016

 

 

Clarksons Platou Securities

BTIG

Pareto Securities

Stifel