Monaco-based dry bulk shipping company Scorpio Bulkers is planning to offer, issue and sell 10 million shares of its common stock, par value USD 0.01 per share.

The net proceeds of the sale, to be undertaken through an underwritten public offering, are expected to be used for general corporate purposes, "which may include the expansion of the company's fleet," Scorpio Bulkers said.

Furthermore, the underwriters would be granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1.5 million common shares.

Morgan Stanley is acting as sole book-running manager in the Offering, Clarksons Platou Securities is acting as lead manager, and Seaport Global Securities is acting as co-manager.

On the back of an improvement in dry bulk rates, Scorpio Bulkers managed to cut its net loss for the period ended September 30. For the third quarter of 2017 the company's GAAP net loss was USD 10.7 million, compared to a GAAP net loss of USD 21.3 million reported in the same period a year earlier.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the company's GAAP net loss stood at USD 58.7 million, against a GAAP net loss of USD 104.3 million for the prior year period.

The company's Board of Directors has also declared a quarterly cash dividend of USD 0.02 per share.