Athens, Greece, November 4, 2013 -
FreeSeas Inc.
(
Nasdaq CM: FREE) (
"FreeSeas'' or
the "
Company"), a transporter of dry-bulk cargoes
through the ownership and operation of a fleet of six Handysize
vessels and one Handymax vessel, announced today that it has
entered into a definitive agreement with Crede CG III, Ltd. (the
"Investor"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Crede Capital Group, LLC,
for an investment of $10 million through the private placement of
two series of zero-dividend convertible preferred stock
(collectively, the "Preferred Stock") and Series A and B Warrants
(collectively, the "Warrants"), subject to certain terms and
conditions.
Mr. Ion G. Varouxakis, Chairman, President and
CEO, commented: "The agreement, which follows our recently
announced elimination of approximately $30 million of indebtedness,
provides the Company with the capital necessary to help further
strengthen its balance sheet and position itself to grow its fleet,
generating future income and earnings growth. Most importantly,
this agreement also marks the beginning of a special relationship
with Crede, a leading institutional investor. We look forward with
excitement at the period ahead of us."
At the first closing (the "Initial Closing"),
which is expected to occur on November 5, 2013, the Investor will
purchase for $1.5 million 15,000 shares of Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred Stock"), together with the
Warrants. The Series B Preferred Stock will be convertible
into shares of the Company's common stock at the lower of (i) $0.40
and (ii) the closing bid price of the Company's common stock on the
first (1st) trading day immediately following the effective date of
the Registration Statement described below.
The Series A Warrants will be initially
exercisable for 25,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock at
an initial exercise price of $0.52 per share and will have a 5-year
term. The Series B Warrants will be initially exercisable for
12,500,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an initial
exercise price of $0.52 per share and will expire on the earlier to
occur of (1) 90 days after the effective date of the Registration
Statement and (2) the one year anniversary of the Initial
Closing.
Two trading days after the Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), and subject to the satisfaction of other
customary closing conditions, the Company will sell to the Investor
85,000 shares of the Company's Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(the "Series C Preferred Stock") for $8.5 million. The Series C
Preferred Stock to be issued will be convertible into the Company's
common stock at the same price at which the Series B Preferred
Stock is convertible.
The Investor may exercise the Warrants by paying
cash for the shares of the Company's common stock or by exchanging
the Warrants for shares of the Company's common stock having a
value equal to the Black-Scholes value set forth therein. In the
event that the Company's common stock trades at or above $0.65 for
a period of 20 consecutive trading days, the average daily dollar
volume of the Company's common stock equals at least $1 million
during such period and various equity conditions are also satisfied
during such period, the Company may, at its election, require the
Investor to exercise the Warrants for cash.
The convertibility of the Preferred Stock and
the exercisability of the Warrants each may be limited if, upon
conversion or exercise (as the case may be), the holder thereof or
any of its affiliates would beneficially own more than 9.9% of the
Company's common stock. The Preferred Stock and the Warrants
contain customary weighted-average anti-dilution protection.
Simultaneously with the Initial Closing, the
Company will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with the
Investor, pursuant to which the Company will be required to file a
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") with the SEC,
within 20 days of the Initial Closing, to register for resale by
the Investor the common stock underlying the Preferred Stock and
the Warrants issued and to be issued to the Investor. The Company
shall pay $22,500 per month for each month that the Registration
Statement is not declared effective 90 days after the Initial
Closing, but such penalties such cease after six months if the
Investor is eligible to sell shares under Rule 144 without
restriction.
In addition, the Company will reimburse the
Investor for legal expenses incurred by it or its affiliates in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the transaction
documents in an amount equal to $75,000. In addition, the Company
will also pay to the Investor non-refundable amounts equal to
$75,000 upon occurrence of the Initial Closing and $425,000 upon
occurrence of the second closing, in each case, as an unallocated
expense reimbursement.
The Investor has the right to participate on the
same terms as other investors, up to 25% of the amount of any
subsequent financing the Company enters into, for a period of (i)
one year from the second closing or (ii) if parties' obligations to
consummate the second closing are terminated pursuant to Section 8
of the Purchase Agreement, then (A) one year from the Initial
Closing if the Company is not in material breach of its obligations
under the transaction documents at the time of such termination or
(B) two years from the Initial Closing if the Company is in
material breach of its obligations under the transaction documents
at the time of such termination. Such prohibition will not apply to
issuances pursuant to acquisitions, joint ventures, license
arrangements, leasing arrangements, employee compensation and the
like.
The foregoing descriptions of the transaction
and the transaction documents are not complete and are subject to
and qualified in their entirety by reference to the transaction
documents, all of which are filed as exhibits to, and more fully
described in, a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K being
filed with the SEC currently herewith.
The securities to be sold and issuable upon
conversion or exercise thereof have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act"), or any
state securities laws, and unless so registered, the securities may
not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an
exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws. The securities will be sold to an accredited
investor pursuant to Rule 506 promulgated under Regulation D of the
Securities Act.
About FreeSeas Inc.
FreeSeas Inc. is a Marshall Islands corporation
with principal offices in Athens, Greece. FreeSeas is engaged in
the transportation of drybulk cargoes through the ownership and
operation of drybulk carriers. Currently, it has a fleet of
Handysize and Handymax vessels. FreeSeas' common stock trades on
the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol FREE. Risks and
uncertainties are described in reports filed by FreeSeas Inc. with
the SEC, which can be obtained free of charge on the SEC's website
at http://www.sec.gov. For more information about FreeSeas Inc.,
please visit the corporate website, www.freeseas.gr.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) concerning future events and the Company's growth
strategy and measures to implement such strategy. Words such as
''expects,'' ''intends,'' ''plans,'' ''believes,'' ''anticipates,''
''hopes,'' ''estimates,'' and variations of such words and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in
such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be
given that such expectations will prove to be correct. These
statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a
number of assumptions and estimates, which are inherently subject
to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are
beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially include, but are not limited to, changes in the demand
for dry bulk vessels; competitive factors in the market in which
the Company operates; risks associated with operations outside the
United States; and other factors listed from time to time in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to
release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's
expectations with respect thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
CONTACT: FreeSeas Inc.
Alexandros Mylonas, Chief Financial Officer
011-30-210-45-28-770
Fax: 011-30-210-429-10-10
info@freeseas.gr
www.freeseas.gr
Freeseas (NASDAQ:FREEZ)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Nov 2024 bis Dez 2024
Freeseas (NASDAQ:FREEZ)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Dez 2023 bis Dez 2024