Business Description
We were incorporated on April 23, 2004 under the name “Adventure Holdings
S.A.” pursuant to the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to
serve as the parent holding company of our ship-owning entities. On April 27,
2005, we changed our name to “FreeSeas Inc.”
We became a public reporting company on December 15, 2005, when we completed
a merger with Trinity Partners Acquisition Company Inc., or Trinity, a blank
check company formed to serve as a vehicle to complete a business combination
with an operating business, in which we were the surviving corporation. At the
time of the merger we owned three drybulk carriers. We currently own six vessels,
each of which is owned through a separate wholly owned subsidiary.
Our common stock currently trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the trading
symbol “FREE”.
Our principal executive offices are located at 10, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street
(Panepistimiou Ave.), 10671, Athens, Greece and our telephone number is 011-30-210-452-8770.
Grow and optimize our fleet. We aim to grow our fleet in order to take advantage
of the cyclical downturn of the dry-bulk market ahead of its expected cyclical
improvement. A larger and well diversified fleet in terms of operational deployment
is expected to provide optimal return on capital. We are focused on deploying
our capital to optimize return on capital including through the disposal of
assets that require disproportionate amounts of capital for maintenance or upgrading
to continue generating income, and replace them with assets that have technical
and commercial specifications allowing them to immediately yield income to the
bottom line.
Focus on Handysize and Handymax carriers with a view to expanding into other
asset classes. Our existing fleet of drybulk carriers consists of Handysize
and Handymax vessels. Given the relatively low number of Handysize drybulk vessels
on order, and a relatively great number of Handysize drybulk vessels at an age
of 20 years or older, we believe there will be continued demand for such vessels.
Handysize vessels are typically shallow-drafted and equipped with onboard cranes.
This makes them more versatile and able to access a wider range of loading and
discharging ports than larger ships that are unable to service many ports due
to their size or the lack of local port infrastructure. Many countries in the
Asia Pacific region, including China, as well as countries in Africa and South
America, have shallow ports. We believe that our vessels, and any Handysize
or Handymax that we may acquire, should enable us to transport a wider variety
of cargoes and to pursue a greater number of chartering opportunities than if
we owned larger drybulk vessels. Handysize vessels have also historically achieved
greater charter rate stability than larger drybulk vessels. The recent market
downturn has particularly affected the value of larger asset classes creating
the potential for relatively greater capital appreciation and operational leverage
as the market recovers. We shall also consider pursuing investments in larger
asset classes in order to take advantage of all available opportunities as they
arise.
Build on our experience in operating older vessels. Our experience in managing
older vessels provides us with the flexibility to make investments in older
vessels, a segment where little or no financing is available from traditional
capital sources, and often superior return on capital can be achieved compared
to high capital modern vessels.
Build upon our strategic relationships. We intend to continue to build upon
our extensive experience and relationships with ship brokers, financial institutions,
industrial partners and commodity traders. We use these relationships to identify
chartering and acquisition opportunities and gain access to sources of additional
financing, industry contacts and market intelligence. In addition, our relationships
and experience with insurers and technical service providers, spares suppliers
and repair shipyards position us optimally for the competitive operation of
a versatile fleet with heavy employment commitments and demanding technical
requirements.