GoodBulk’s planned initial public offering appeared to have all the hallmarks of a nailed-on success. An ambitious, young and growing company headed by a charismatic leadership team, all underpinned by dry bulk shipping’s recovery story.

The biggest question seemed to be not whether it could raise fresh cash from investors to be the first US shipping IPO since 2015, but how much cash could it raise? The company had its eyes on $140m.