To complete the transition from oil services company to owner, the Oslo-listed outfit says it will need to cut ties to its seismic data library, Iranian library PC 2000.
"GTB has been advised by its bankers that it will be difficult for the company to raise new equity capital in the international equity markets with Iranian assets on the balance sheet," it wrote in a filing with the Oslo bourse.
"The library has a book value of zero which reflects that assets and services relating to Iran are under international boycott and is presently difficult to sell."
As TradeWinds reported in July, GTB, which is headed by former BW Gas boss Jan Haakon Pettersen, splashed $50.5m to buy its first ship, the 4,414-teu YM Portland (ex-Amaranta, built 2003).
GTB on Monday said it has taken delivery of the vessel, and told investors that it is currently eying "various shipping investment opportunities" that are similar in structure to the YM Portland transaction, which involves a time charter to Taiwan’s Yang Ming Lines until August-November 2019 at a rate of $26,400 per day,
Ultimately, GTB says it is looking to acquire between ten and 15 containerships, and hopes to finance deals with the help of Chinese lenders.
