Full speed ahead for Seaspan targeting a US$ 105 mio preferred offering

Seaspan is continuing its aggressive expansion plans and looks to use the new funds from this offering for further vessel acquisitions. It has been mulling an giant order of 20 units of 14.000 teu vessels at South Korea’s STX Offshore & Shipbuilding yard. The offering is priced like a junk bond with accrued dividends of 9.5% per year.

Seaspan last ordered vessels in 2007. Its fleet currently numbers 55 containerships with 12 newbuildings due for delivery by April 2012. Since the 2008 meltdown, Seaspan held on to its orderbook and made strenuous effort to take delivery all tonnage as ordered. They covered these new units with period employment from Chinese Coscon and CSCL, which now comprises 70% of their total revenue.

Two months ago, Seaspan signalled its intention for up to 22 post-panamaxes of 10,000 teu at China’s Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in a deal worth up to US $2.1 bn. But the company will only firm up orders once it has long-term charters in place.

Seaspan's bottom line only recently turned back into the black. The company said it made US$ 50,55 mio to 31 March on a net basis, from a loss of US$ 36,61 mio in the same three months of 2010.

The company future is intimately tied to insatiable Chinese demand with the strategy of its now almost legendary CEO Jerry Wang.