Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. - Quarter Report: 2014 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

________________

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014

OR

For the transition period from               to

_______________

Commission File Number 001–33831

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 785–2500

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

YES   X            NO

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

YES   X            NO

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated Filer           Accelerated Filer           Non-accelerated Filer          Smaller reporting company  X  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

YES ___        NO   X  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

YES   X            NO

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, 38,045,081 shares outstanding as of November 14, 2014.

Part 1 : FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 : Financial Statements

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION) 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC.

  (DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Note 1. Basis of Presentation and General Information

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company", “we” or “our”). The Company is engaged in the ocean transportation of dry bulk cargoes worldwide through the ownership, chartering and operation of dry-bulk vessels. The Company's fleet is comprised of Supramax and Handymax dry bulk carriers and the Company operates its business in one business segment.

The Company is a holding company incorporated in 2005 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and is the sole owner of all of the outstanding shares or limited liability company interests of its subsidiaries. The primary activity of each of the subsidiaries, other than the Company’s management subsidiaries, is the ownership of a vessel. The operations of the vessels are managed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Eagle Shipping International (USA) LLC, a Republic of the Marshall Islands limited liability company.

As of September 30, 2014, the Company owned and operated a modern fleet of 45 oceangoing vessels comprised of 43 Supramax and 2 Handymax vessels with a combined carrying capacity of 2,451,259 dwt and an average age of approximately 7.4 years.

The following table represents certain information about the Company's charterers that individually accounted for more than 10% of the Company's gross charter revenue during the periods indicated:

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which apply to interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. They should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2014.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that management considers necessary for a fair statement of its consolidated financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The significant estimates and assumptions of the Company are stock-based compensation, the useful lives of fixed assets and intangibles, depreciation and amortization, the allowances for bad debt, and the fair value of derivatives and warrants.

Bankruptcy Filing

On March 19, 2014, the Company received waivers for the violation of the maximum leverage ratio covenant under its Credit Agreement (As defined in note 8, below) as of December 31, 2013 and the expected violation of the maximum leverage ratio and minimum interest coverage ratio covenants at March 31, 2014 (as amended, the “Waivers”). The Waivers were extended through August 5, 2014, subject to certain conditions and the satisfaction of certain milestones. Given the uncertainty as to whether the Company would be able to comply with the terms of the Waivers within the time frames provided, the Company concluded that there was substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern until such time the Company was able to demonstrate that it had sufficient cash flows to meet its ongoing needs. To address this risk of being able to continue as a going concern, the Company undertook negotiations with its lenders to provide longer term covenant relief or to restructure its balance sheet and capital structure. The financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern.

On August 6, 2014, the Company entered into a restructuring support agreement (the “Restructuring Support Agreement”) with lenders constituting the “Majority Lenders” (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement) under its Credit Agreement (the “Consenting Lenders”), which contemplated a plan of reorganization through a balance sheet restructuring of the Company’s obligations upon the terms specified therein. On the same day, the Company filed a voluntary prepackaged case (the “Prepackaged Case”) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court). The Prepackaged Case was filed only in respect of the parent company, Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc., but not any of its subsidiaries. Through the Prepackaged Case, the Company sought to implement a balance sheet restructuring pursuant to the terms of its prepackaged plan of reorganization filed with the Court (the “Plan”). The Company continued to operate its business as a “debtor in possession” under the jurisdiction of the Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Court.

The commencement of the Prepackaged Case constituted an event of default that accelerated the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement, subject to an automatic stay of any action to collect, assert or recover a claim against the Company and the application of the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.

As part of the Prepackaged Case, the Company obtained debtor-in-possession financing (the “DIP Loan Facility”), as further described below, pursuant to authorization from the Court. The Company funded its ongoing operations during the pendency of the Prepackaged Case through available borrowings under the DIP Loan Facility as well as cash generated from operations.

Subsequent to the filing of the Prepackaged Case, the Company received approval from the Court to continue using its existing cash management system and to pay or otherwise honor certain pre-petition obligations generally designed to stabilize the Company’s operations, such as certain employee wages, salaries and benefits, certain taxes and fees, customer obligations, obligations to logistics providers and pre-petition amounts owed to certain critical vendors. The Company continued to honor payments to vendors and other providers in the ordinary course of business for goods and services received after the filing date of the Prepackaged Case. The Company retained legal and financial professionals to advise the Company in connection with the Prepackaged Case and certain other professionals to provide services and advice in the ordinary course of business.

On September 22, 2014, the Court entered an order (the “Confirmation Order”) confirming the Plan. On October 15, 2014 (the “Effective Date”), the Company completed its balance sheet restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 through a series of transactions contemplated by the Plan, and the Plan became effective pursuant to its terms. 

Key components of the Plan included:

The Plan also provided for certain releases of various parties by certain holders of claims against and equity interests in the Company. 

Exit Financing Facility

On October 9, 2014, Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc., as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into the Exit Financing Facility with certain lenders (the “Exit Lenders”). The Exit Financing Facility is in the amount of $275 million, including a $50 million undrawn revolving credit facility, and matures on October 15, 2019. Amounts drawn under the Exit Financing Facility bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a margin (the “Margin”) ranging between 3.50% and 4.00% per annum. The revolving credit facility is subject to an annual commitment fee of 40% of the Margin. The Exit Financing Facility is described further in Note 8 below.

Registration Rights Agreement

On the Effective Date, and in accordance with the Plan, the Company entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with certain parties that received shares of New Eagle Common Stock under the Plan. The Registration Rights Agreement provided such parties with demand and piggyback registration rights.

New Eagle Equity Warrant Agreement

On the Effective Date, and in accordance with the Plan, the New Eagle Equity Warrants were issued pursuant to the terms of the New Eagle Equity Warrant Agreement. Each New Eagle Equity Warrant has a 7-year term (commencing on the Effective Date) and are exercisable for one share of New Eagle Common Stock (subject to adjustment as set forth in the New Eagle Equity Warrant Agreement and dilution by the Management Incentive Program). The New Eagle Equity Warrants are exercisable at an exercise price of $27.82 per share (subject to adjustment as set forth in the New Eagle Equity Warrant Agreement). The New Eagle Equity Warrant Agreement contains customary anti-dilution adjustments in the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, dividend or other distributions (including, but not limited to, cash dividends), or business combination transaction.

Liquidity 

As further described in Note 8, under the Credit Agreement, the Company had financial covenants that began in 2013 and became increasingly restrictive each quarter. The covenants were primarily driven by the calculation of Credit Agreement EBITDA for the trailing twelve month periods, which is driven by charter hire rates. The Company met all of its covenants in 2013, other than the maximum leverage ratio at December 31, 2013. That ratio was exceeded primarily due to a recognized loss of $8.2 million on the Company’s shares of Korea Line Corporation (“KLC”) during the fourth quarter of 2013, as further described under “Note 6 investment - Korea Line Corporation”. The Company failed to meet both the maximum leverage ratio covenant and the minimum interest coverage ratio covenant at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014, and expected to fail both at their respective compliance measurement dates until the date of emergence from bankruptcy.

On March 19, 2014, the Company received waivers for the violation of the maximum leverage ratio covenant as of December 31, 2013 and the violation of the maximum leverage ratio and minimum interest coverage ratio covenants at March 31, 2014, from the Consenting Lenders. Under the terms of the Waivers, the Consenting Lenders agreed to waive until June 30, 2014 certain potential events of default, subject to the Company's compliance with the terms, conditions and milestones as set forth in the Waiver, including a milestone requiring the Company and the Consenting Lenders to (i) agree on terms of a restructuring of the obligations outstanding under the Credit Agreement and (ii) execute a binding restructuring support agreement or similar agreement documenting such agreed-upon terms, by April 15, 2014.

On April 15, 2014, April 30, 2014, May, 15, 2014, May 31, 2014, June 5, 2014, June 27, 2014, and July 15, 2014, the Company and the Consenting Lenders entered into a successive series of amendments to the Waivers extending the term of the Waivers and postponing the milestones thereunder through August 5, 2014.

As consideration for the Consenting Lenders’ agreement to enter into the June 5, 2014 amendment (“Amendment No. 5”) to the Waivers and extend the milestone referred to above, Amendment No. 5 provided for a one-time forbearance fee payable to each Lender entering into Amendment No. 5 (the “Forbearance Fee”), the form of which to be determined by the Company, and the payment of which to be deferred, in accordance with the terms of Amendment No. 5.  In addition, Amendment No. 5 provided that following the request of either the Company or the majority of the holders of the warrants to purchase common stock of the Company (the “Warrants”) issued under the Warrant Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2012, between the Company and the other parties thereto (the “Warrant Agreement”), the Company and Lenders constituting a majority of the holders of the Warrants would amend certain of the provisions of the Warrant Agreement to eliminate the conditions restricting the exercise of the Warrants then outstanding, such that the Warrants would be immediately exercisable.  Upon the entry into such amendment, the Forbearance Fee would be forfeited.

Subsequently, the Company determined that it would not make the scheduled June 30, 2014 interest payment under the Credit Agreement, and the Consenting Lenders agreed, pursuant to the June 27, 2014 amendment to the Waivers (“Amendment No. 6”), to forbear from exercising any rights or remedies with respect to this otherwise due interest payment until the termination of the forbearance period afforded by the Waivers. Interest was to continue to accrue on the unpaid interest payment during the period of forbearance at the penalty rate specified in the Credit Agreement.

On July 2, 2014, the Company and certain of the lenders under its Credit Agreement (such lenders constituting “Majority Holders” under the Warrant Agreement (as defined below)), entered into Amendment No. 1 to Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Amendment”), to amend certain of the terms of the Warrant Agreement, under which the Company issued the Warrants. One-third of the Warrants were exercisable immediately on the issue date thereof, the next third of the Warrants were exercisable when the price of the Company's common stock reached $10.00 per share (subject to certain customary adjustments in the event of stock splits, reverse stock splits and certain distributions to all holders of common stock) or when certain other events occurred (the “Trigger Price B Warrants”), and the last third of the warrants were exercisable when the price of the Company's common stock reached $12.00 per share (subject to the aforementioned adjustments) or when certain other events occurred (the “Trigger Price C Warrants”). The Warrant Amendment eliminated the conditions restricting the exercise of the Trigger Price B Warrants and the Trigger Price C Warrants held by lenders under the Credit Agreement (collectively, the “Lender Warrants”), including the minimum share price conditions described above, such that all such Lender Warrants were immediately exercisable. The Warrant Amendment also included a prohibition on the trade or transfer by any such lender of its Warrants, or shares of common stock received upon exercise thereof, except in connection with a transfer of such lender’s loans under the Credit Agreement, for so long as the Waivers, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time, or any successor agreement thereto, were in effect. In accordance with the terms of Amendment No. 5, the Forbearance Fee was forfeited by the Consenting Lenders contemporaneously with the entry into the Warrant Amendment.

On August 6, 2014, the Company and each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries entered into the Restructuring Support Agreement referenced above with the Consenting Lenders. 

Accounting Guidance

The Company was required to apply Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 852, Reorganizations , effective on August 6, 2014, which is applicable to companies in Chapter 11, which generally does not change the manner in which financial statements are prepared. However, it does require that the financial statements for periods subsequent to the filing of the Prepackaged Case distinguish transactions and events that are directly associated with the reorganization from the ongoing operations of the business. Revenues, expenses, realized gains and losses, and provisions for losses that can be directly associated with the reorganization and restructuring of the business must be reported separately as Reorganization items in the consolidated statements of operations beginning in the quarter ending September 30, 2014. The balance sheet must distinguish pre-petition Liabilities subject to compromise from both those pre-petition liabilities that are not subject to compromise and from post-petition liabilities. The Company has evaluated creditors’ claims for other claims that may also have priority over unsecured creditors. Liabilities that may be affected by a plan of reorganization must be reported at the amounts expected to be approved by the Bankruptcy Court, even if they may be settled for lesser amounts as a result of the plan or reorganization.  In addition, cash used by reorganization items in the consolidated statements of cash flows are disclosed in Note 3 – Cash Flow Information.

In connection with the emergence from the Prepackaged Case, the Company believes it will qualify for fresh-start accounting.   Upon adoption of fresh-start accounting, the Company’s  assets and liabilities will be recorded at their value as of the fresh-start reporting date or emergence date. The fair values of the Company’s assets and liabilities as of that date may differ materially from the recorded values of its assets and liabilities as reflected in its historical consolidated financial statements.  In addition, the Company’s adoptions of fresh-start accounting may materially affect its results of operations following the fresh-start reporting dates, as the Company will have a new basis in its assets and liabilities.  Consequently, the Company’s historical financial statements may not be reliable indicators of its financial condition and results of operations for any period after it adopts fresh-start accounting. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of the fresh-start accounting on its consolidated financial statements. See Note 15 — Subsequent Events for a further discussion of fresh-start accounting.

Note 2. New Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the FASB issued an update Accounting Standards Update for Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, Presentation of Financial Statements, and Property Plant and Equipment. Under this new guidance only disposals that represent a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on the entity’s results and operations would qualify as discontinued operations. In addition, the new guidance expands the disclosure requirements for disposals that meet the definition of a discontinued operation and requires entities to disclose information about disposals of individually significant components that do not meet the definition of discontinued operations. The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2014. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein, and shall be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-13, "Measuring the Financial Assets and the Financial Liabilities of a Consolidated Collateralized Financing Entity." This ASU is intended to provide guidance for situations in which the fair value of the financial assets of a collateralized financing entity differ from the fair value of its financial liabilities. The provisions of this ASU are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, "Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern." This ASU establishes specific guidance to an organization's management on their responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about the organization's ability to continue as a going concern. The provisions of this ASU are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

Note 3. Cash Flow Information

The operating activities section of the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, includes reorganization expenses in the amount of $15,483,981 (refer to Note 10), of which $12,376,774 was paid through September 30, 2014 and $3,107,207 is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Note 4. Accounts receivable, net

Accounts receivable consist of the following:

Note 5. Vessels

Vessel and Vessel Improvements

At September 30, 2014, the Company’s operating fleet consisted of 45 dry bulk vessels.

Vessel and vessel improvements:

Note 6. Investment

Korea Line Corporation

Since 2007 the Company has had a chartering agreement with Korea Line Corporation (“KLC”). KLC experienced financial troubles beginning in 2011 and failed to meet its contractual obligations to the Company. Since 2011, KLC and the Company had modified the terms of its charter agreement a number of times; however, KLC continued to experience financial difficulties. In the first quarter of 2013, a comprehensive termination agreement between the Company and KLC became effective, as the settlement effectively terminated the charters with KLC. The Company received a cash payment of $10.3 million; released $3.5 million of bunker liabilities to KLC; released an aggregate $3.6 million balance related to KLC deferred revenue; released a $10.1 million balance related to the KLC unamortized fair value of charters below and above contract value; received KLC shares valued at $5.9 million; and received a note receivable valued at $2.7 million. The total aggregate consideration related to the KLC termination agreement was $36.1 million of which the Company recorded revenue associated with the termination of $32.8 million, related to amounts previously owed but not recognized, and a termination gain of $3.3 million.

On May 9, 2013 the 538,751 additional KLC common shares were issued to the Company and were released from the Korean Securities Depository on November 11, 2013. These shares replaced the note receivable recorded pursuant to the January 3, 2013, termination agreement. The fair market value of the shares upon issuance was in excess of the fair value of the receivable. As a result, we recorded an incremental gain of $25.6 million in the second quarter of 2013. Subsequent to June 30, 2013, the Company received payment on the remaining note receivable.

As of December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2014, the Company’s sole remaining interest in KLC is an investment in capital stock.

The KLC investment is designated as Available For Sale (“AFS”) and is reported at its fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”). The fair value of KLC shares are determined from the market price as quoted on the Korean Stock Exchange and by converting the South-Korean Won (”KRW”) extended value into USD with the exchange rate applicable on date of conversion. The Company reviews the investment in KLC for impairment on quarterly basis.

As of March 31, 2013, September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, the change in the fair value of our KLC investment was considered as other-than-temporary, and therefore the Company recorded non-cash impairment losses of $3.0 million, $7.3 million and $8.2 million, respectively, in other expenses in the first, third and fourth quarters of 2013, respectively.

The fair value of the KLC investments subsequent to September 30, 2014, has been recovered and increased in value. During the nine month period, the KLC shares were volatile and at times valued above and below the Company's book value. Therefore, the Company concluded that as of March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014, the change in the fair value of the KLC investment is “temporary,” and the Company recorded an unrealized loss of $2.1 million as of March 31, 2014, an unrealized gain of $1.4 million as of June 30, 2014 and an unrealized gain of $0.3 million as of September 30, 2014 in shareholders’ equity as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. No impairment charges were recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

The following table represents KLC capital stock which is recorded at fair value:

Note 7. Liabilities Subject to Compromise

As a result of the filing of the Prepackaged Case on August 6, 2014, the payment of pre-petition indebtedness is subject to compromise or other treatment under a plan of reorganization. Generally, actions to enforce or otherwise effect payment of pre-bankruptcy filing liabilities are stayed. Although payment of pre-petition claims generally is not permitted, the Court granted the Company authority to pay certain pre-petition claims in designated categories and subject to certain terms and conditions. This relief generally was designed to preserve the value of the Company’s businesses and assets.  Among other things, the Court authorized the Company to pay certain pre-petition claims relating to employee wages and benefits, customers, vendors, and suppliers in the ordinary course of business.

The Company has been paying and intends to continue to pay undisputed post-petition claims in the ordinary course of business. With respect to pre-petition claims, the Company has notified all known claimants of the deadline to file a proof of claim with the Court. The Company’s Liabilities subject to compromise represent the Company’s current estimate of claims expected to be allowed by the Court.

Pre-petition liabilities that are subject to compromise are required to be reported at the amounts expected to be allowed, even if they may be settled for lesser amounts. The amounts currently classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise” may be subject to future adjustments depending on Court actions, further developments with respect to disputed claims, determinations of the secured status of certain claims, the values of any collateral securing such claims, or other events. Management expects that certain amounts currently classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise” may in fact be paid in the ordinary course as they come due. Any resulting changes in classification will be reflected in subsequent financial statements.

As of September 30, 2014, based on the Company’s current estimate of claims expected to be allowed by the Court, Liabilities subject to compromise consist of the following:

Note 8. Debt

Current debt consists of the following:

The Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

On June 20, 2012, the Company entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to its credit facility agreement, dated as of October 19, 2007, as amended (the “Credit Agreement”), which, among other things, (i) permanently waives any purported defaults or events of defaults that were the subject of a temporary waiver under the Sixth Amendatory and Commercial Framework Implementation Agreement (the "Sixth Amendment") to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 19, 2007, including any alleged events of default arising from any purported breach of the minimum adjusted net worth covenant that occurred as a result of any failure to maintain the required adjusted net worth; (ii) converts the $1,129,478,741 outstanding under the revolving credit facility into a term loan; (iii) sets the maturity date as December 31, 2015, and, subject to the Company's satisfaction of certain conditions, including a collateral coverage ratio at December 31, 2015 of less than 80%, provides an option to the Company to further extend the maturity date by an additional 18 months to June 30, 2017 (the "Termination Date"); (iv) requires no mandatory repayments of principal until the Termination Date, other than a quarterly sweep of cash on hand in excess of $20,000,000 and upon the sale of vessels, additional financings or future equity raises by the Company. All amounts outstanding under the term loan were to bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin that would include a payment-in-kind ("PIK") component. The initial cash margin of 3.50% and PIK margin of 2.50% can be reduced on the basis of reduced leverage and proceeds from future equity raises by the Company.

The Credit Agreement also provided for a new Liquidity Facility in the aggregate amount of $20,000,000, which permits the purchase or sale of vessels within certain parameters, permits the management of third party vessels and provides that all capitalized interest will be evidenced in the form of PIK loans, which will mature on the Termination Date.  On the Termination Date, the Company may elect to either (i) repay the PIK loans in cash; or (ii) convert the PIK loans into shares of cumulative convertible preferred stock, par value $10.00 per share. As of September 30, 2014, the outstanding amount of the term loan was $1,129,478,741, the amount of the PIK loans was $62,423,569 and no amount was drawn on the Liquidity Facility.

In addition, the Credit Agreement replaced the previously existing financial covenants and substituted them with new covenants, which requires the Company to (i) maintain a maximum leverage ratio of the term loan indebtedness, excluding the PIK loans, to Credit Agreement EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) on a trailing four quarter basis, commencing in the quarterly period ending September 30, 2013, of 13.9:1, December 31, 2013, of 12.3:1, March 31, 2014 of 10.6:1, June 30, 2014 of 9.2:1, September 30, 2014 of 8.5:1, December 31, 2014 of 8.1:1, March 31, 2015 of 7.8:1, June 30, 2015 of 7.6:1, September 30, 2015 of 7.5:1, and December 31, 2015 of 7.3:1 and, should the Termination Date be extended under the Company’s option, further declining in intervals to 6.2:1 for the quarterly period ending March 31, 2017; (ii) maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio of Credit Agreement EBITDA to cash interest expenses on a trailing four quarter basis, expressed as a percentage, commencing in the quarterly period ending June 30, 2013, of 130%, September 30, 2013, of 140%, December 31, 2013, of 160%, March 31, 2014 of 180%, June 30, 2014 of 200%, September 30, 2014 of 210%, December 31, 2014 of 220%, March 31, 2015 of 220%, June 30, 2015 of 220%, September 30, 2015 of 220%, and December 31, 2015 of 220% and, should the Termination Date be extended, further escalating in intervals to 230% for the quarterly period ending March 31, 2017; (iii) maintain free cash with the agent in one or more accounts in an amount equal to $500,000 per vessel owned directly or indirectly by the Company, provided that the unutilized amount of the liquidity facility shall be deemed to constitute free cash for these purposes; and (iv) maintain a maximum collateral coverage ratio, commencing in the quarterly period ending September 30, 2014, of 100% of the term loan indebtedness and any related swap exposure, declining in intervals to 80% for the quarterly period ending December 31, 2015 and, should the Termination Date be extended, further declining in intervals to 70% for the quarterly period ending March 31, 2017. Refer to Note 1 - General Information- Liquidity for further information regarding compliance with our covenants.

In connection with the Credit Agreement, the Company entered into a Warrant Agreement, dated June 20, 2012, pursuant to which the Company issued 3,148,584 warrants convertible on a cashless basis into shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 (the "Warrant Shares"), at a strike price of $0.01 per share of common stock. One-third of the warrants are exercisable immediately, the next third of the warrants are exercisable when the price of the Company's common stock reaches $10.00 per share and the last third of the warrants are exercisable when the price of the Company's common stock reaches $12.00 per share. Unexercised warrants will expire on June 20, 2022. The Company determined the relative fair value of the Warrant Shares at $7.2 million using the Monte Carlo simulation which was performed, and the mean value was selected. The assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulation were the underlying stock price of $2.98, risk-free rate of 1.64%, expected volatility of 79.3%, expected term of 10 years and expected dividend yield of 0%. The fair value of the warrants was recorded as deferred financing cost and amortized over the life of the term loan agreement.

On July 2, 2014, the Company and certain of the Company’s lenders under the Credit Agreement entered into the Warrant Amendment to amend certain of the terms of the Warrant Agreement. The Warrant Amendment eliminated the conditions restricting the exercise of the Trigger Price B Warrants and the Trigger Price C Warrants held by lenders under the Credit Agreement, including the minimum share price conditions described above, such that all such Lender Warrants were immediately exercisable. The Warrant Amendment also included a prohibition on the trade or transfer by any such lender of its Warrants, or shares of common stock received upon exercise thereof, except in connection with a transfer of such lender’s loans under the Credit Agreement, for so long as the Waivers, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time, or any successor agreement thereto, were in effect. Refer to Note 1–General Information- Liquidity for additional information. The Company valued the Warrant Amendment and determined that there is no incremental change in fair value due to the modification. The Company determined the relative fair value of the Warrants before the modification by using the Monte Carlo simulation which was performed, and the mean value was selected. The assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulation were the underlying stock price of $2.88, risk-free rate of 1.33%, expected volatility of 83.3%, expected term of 7.9 years and expected dividend yield of 0%. The fair value of the Warrants the day after the modification is based on $2.88 share price further discounted after factoring in restrictions under the Warrant Amendment.  

 The Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement were secured by a first priority mortgage on each of the vessels in its fleet, and by a first assignment of all freights, earnings, insurances and requisition compensation relating to its vessels. The Credit Agreement also limited the Company’s ability to create liens on its assets in favour of other parties.

For the three months ended September 30, 2014, the interest expense included 2% default interest on the unpaid interest as of June 30, 2014 and 6% interest on the DIP facility post-bankruptcy filing in addition to facility term loan interest at 3.5% margin over Libor. Interest expense ceased being accrued as of August 6, 2014 except for the Debtor-In-Possession interest.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, interest rates on the outstanding debt ranged from 3.73% to 8.23%, including a margin of 3.50% over LIBOR. The weighted average effective interest rate was 2.94%.

Interest Expense, inclusive of the PIK loans and DIP loans, consisted of:

The Bankruptcy Code generally provides guidance that specifically limits postpetition interest accruals on secured debt and allows accrual only when the collateral securing the claims exceeds the principal amount of the debt and any accrued interest. As these criteria were not met, the Company ceased to accrue interest on the Term and PIK Loans as of August 6, 2014, with the exception of the interest on Debtor-In-Possession loan facility. As a result, during the bankruptcy proceedings, interest in the amount of $14,844,413 was not accrued for the period from August 6, 2014 through September 30, 2014. Interest paid, exclusive of the PIK loans, in the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $10,714,117 and $36,124,215, respectively. The Company did not make the scheduled June 30, 2014 interest payment or any other payment subsequent to this date. Interest payments under the Credit Agreement, and the Consenting Lenders agreed, pursuant to Amendment No. 6, to forbear from exercising any rights or remedies with respect to this otherwise due interest payment until the termination of the forbearance period afforded by the Waiver. Interest continued to accrue on the unpaid interest payment during the period of forbearance at the penalty rate specified in the Credit Agreement. The commencement of the Prepackaged Case constituted an event of default that accelerated the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement, subject to an automatic stay of any action to collect, assert or recover a claim against the Company and the application of the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, see Note 1 above.

Consent and Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement

On August 6, 2014, the Company entered into Consent and Amendment No. 1 (the “Credit Agreement Amendment”) to its Credit Agreement to facilitate the Company’s entry into the DIP Loan Facility (described below) and associated security agreement, pledge agreement and ship mortgages, and the granting of first-priority liens on all assets of the Company and the Guarantors (as defined below), subject to certain exceptions, and to amend the definition of “Security Period” in the Credit Agreement, the General Security Agreement, and the Pledge Agreement (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement).

Senior Secured Debtor-in-Possession Term Loan Agreement

On August 8, 2014, the Court entered an interim order (the “Interim Order”) authorizing the Company’s entry into the DIP Loan Facility. Following the entry of the Interim Order, on August 8, 2014, the Company entered into a senior secured debtor-in-possession term loan agreement (the “DIP Loan Facility”) among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors from time to time party thereto (the “Guarantors”), the lenders party thereto (the “DIP Lenders”), Wilmington Trust (London) Limited, as DIP Agent and Security Trustee (the “DIP Security Trustee”) and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, as Sole Bookrunner and Sole Lead Arranger.

The DIP Loan Facility has a nine-month term, subject to a three month extension at the option of the Company (the “Extension Option”) provided no default or Event of Default has occurred thereunder and upon payment by the Company of an extension fee to the DIP Lenders equal to 0.75% of each DIP Lender’s commitment thereunder, unless prior to the end of such nine month period, the Plan is confirmed pursuant to an order entered by the Court, in which case, the DIP Loan Facility will terminate on the date of such confirmation. The amount committed and made available under the DIP Loan Facility is $50 million, of which $25 million is available following the entry of the Interim Order. On September 19, 2014, the Court entered an order approving the DIP Loan Facility on a final basis.

The DIP Loan Facility bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin of (i) 5.00% or (ii) upon the exercise of the Extension Option, 7.00%. The DIP Loan Facility has a minimum liquidity covenant of $22.5 million and a maximum capital expenditures covenant, each tested as of the end of each fiscal monthly period, and a budget compliance covenant tested on a rolling four-week look-back basis, commencing with the four-week period ending August 29, 2014 and on each four week anniversary of such date.

The DIP Loan Facility is secured by first-priority liens on all assets of the Company and the Guarantors for the benefit of the secured parties thereunder (the “DIP Loan Secured Parties”), except for such assets as otherwise provided for in the Court order related to the DIP Loan Facility, and subject to certain exceptions and permitted liens.

Discharge

On the Effective Date, and in accordance with the Plan, the Credit Agreement was terminated and all liens and mortgages related thereto were released as part of the Plan, and the DIP Loan Facility was repaid in full and all liens and mortgages related thereto were released.

Exit Financing Facility

On October 9, 2014, the Company entered into the Exit Financing Facility with the Exit Lenders. The Exit Financing Facility is in the amount of $275 million, including a $50 million undrawn revolving credit facility, and matures on October 15, 2019. Amounts drawn under the Exit Financing Facility bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a margin (the “Margin”) ranging between 3.50% and 4.00% per annum. The revolving credit facility is subject to an annual commitment fee of 40% of the Margin.

The Company’s obligations under the Exit Financing Facility will be secured by a first priority mortgage on each of the vessels in its fleet and such other vessels that it may from time to time include with the approval of the Exit Lenders, a first assignment of its earnings account, its liquidity account and its vessel-owning subsidiaries’ earnings accounts, a first assignment of all charters (having a term which may exceed 18 months), freights, earnings, insurances, requisition compensation and management agreements with respect to the vessels and a first priority pledge of the membership interests of each of its vessel-owning subsidiaries. The Company may grant additional security to the Exit Lenders from time to time in the future.

The Exit Financing Facility contains financial covenants requiring the Company, among other things, to ensure that: the aggregate market value of the vessels in the Company’s fleet at all times does not fall below between 150% and 165% of the aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding under the Exit Financing Facility; the total financial indebtedness of the Company and all of its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis divided by the sum of (i) the total shareholders’ equity for the Company and all of its subsidiaries (minus goodwill and other non-tangible items) and (ii) the total financial indebtedness of the Company and all of its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, shall not be more than 0.65; the aggregate of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ EBITDA will not be less than 2.5x of the aggregate amount of interest incurred and net amounts payable under interest rate hedging arrangements during the relevant particular period; and the Company maintains a minimum liquidity of not less than the greater of (i) $20,000,000 and (ii) $500,000 per vessel in the Company’s fleet. In addition, the Exit Financing Facility also imposes operating restrictions on the Company including limiting the Company’s ability to, among other things: pay dividends; incur additional indebtedness; create liens on assets; acquire and sell capital assets (including vessels); merge or consolidate with, or transfer all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to, another person; enter into a new line of business. The Company shall repay the Term Loan in 20 equal consecutive quarterly repayment instalments each in an amount of U.S. $3,906,250. The first instalment of the Term Loan shall be repaid on the date falling three months after the First Drawdown Date and the last such instalment on the Maturity Date

The Exit Financing Facility also includes customary events of default, including those relating to a failure to pay principal or interest, a breach of covenant, representation or warranty, a cross-default to other indebtedness and non-compliance with security documents. Further, there would be a default if any event occurs or circumstances arise in light of which, in the Exit Lenders’ judgment, there is significant risk that the Company is or would become insolvent. The Company is not permitted to pay dividends if there is a default or a breach of a loan covenant under the Exit Financing Facility or if the payment of the dividends would result in a default or breach of a loan covenant. Indebtedness under the Exit Financing Facility may also be accelerated if the Company experiences a change of control.

Note 9. Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

Interest-Rate Swaps

Historically, the Company entered into interest rate swaps to effectively convert a portion of its debt from a floating to a fixed-rate basis. Under these swap contracts, exclusive of applicable margins, the Company pays fixed rate interest and receives floating-rate interest amounts based on three-month LIBOR settings. The swaps are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any open positions and no fair value for interest rate swaps is reflected in the accompanying balance sheets.

Forward freight agreements, bunker swaps and freight derivatives

The Company trades in forward freight agreements (“FFAs”), bunker swaps and freight derivatives markets, with the objective of utilizing these markets as economic hedging instruments that reduce the risk of specific vessels to changes in the freight market and/or bunker costs. The Company’s FFAs, bunker swaps and freight derivatives have not qualified for hedge accounting treatment. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any open positions and no fair value for derivative instruments is reflected in the accompanying balance sheets.

Tabular disclosure of derivatives location

No portion of the cash flow hedges shown below was ineffective during the period ended September 30, 2014. The effect of cash flow hedging relationships on the balance sheets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and the statement of operations for the periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:

The effect of derivative instruments on statements of operations:

Cash Collateral Disclosures

The Company does not offset fair value amounts recognized for derivatives by the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral. The amount of collateral to be posted is defined by the terms of the respective master agreement executed with counterparties or exchanges and is required when agreed upon threshold limits are exceeded. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had no outstanding amounts paid as collateral related to the derivative fair value positions.

Fair Value Measurements

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash—the carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheet for interest-bearing deposits approximate their fair value due to their short-term nature thereof.

Debt—the carrying amounts of borrowings under the DIP Loan Facility and revolving credit agreement approximate their fair value, due to the variable interest rate nature thereof.

Interest rate swaps—the fair value of interest rate swaps (used for hedging purposes) is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the swaps at the reporting date.

Forward freight agreements (FFAs)—the fair value of FFAs is determined based on quoted rates.

Freight and bunker derivative instruments—the fair value of freight and bunker derivative contracts is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the option contracts at the reporting date.

Bunker swaps—the fair value of bunker swaps is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the swaps at the reporting date.

Investment— include our available-for-sale securities that are traded in active market internationally. The fair value is measured by using closing stock price from active market.

The Company defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and provides disclosures about fair value measurements. The fair value hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements is as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Our Level 1 non-derivatives include cash, money-market accounts, restricted cash accounts and investment.

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable. Our Level 2 non-derivatives include our DIP Loan Facility and term loan account.

Level 3 – Inputs that are unobservable (for example cash flow modeling inputs based on assumptions).

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

Note 10. Reorganization Items-Net

Reorganization items, net represent amounts incurred and recovered subsequent to the bankruptcy filing as a direct result of the filing of the Prepackaged Case and are comprised of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014:

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, there were no items netted with the reorganization items.

The Company paid $5,065,530 and $12,376,774 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

Refer to Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and General Information for information concerning the Prepackaged Case.

The Company is involved in legal proceedings and may become involved in other legal matters arising in the ordinary course of its business. The Company evaluates these legal matters on a case-by-case basis to make a determination as to the impact, if any, on its business, liquidity, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

Vessel Technical Management Contract

The Company has technical management agreements for certain of its vessels with independent technical managers. The Company paid average monthly technical management fees of $10,708 and $10,315 per vessel during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Other Commitments

On July 28, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement to charter-in a 37,000 dwt newbuilding Japanese vessel that was delivered in October 2014 for seven years with an option for an additional one year. The hire rate for the first to seventh year is $13,500 per day and $13,750 per day for the eighth year option. The Company has options to purchase the vessel starting at the end of the fifth year.

Refer to Note 1 - General Information- Bankruptcy Filing for further information regarding our voluntary Prepackaged Case filed under the Bankruptcy Code with the Court.

Note 12. Related Party Transactions

On August 4, 2009, the Company entered into a management agreement (the "Management Agreement") with Delphin Shipping LLC ("Delphin"), a Marshall Islands limited liability company affiliated with Kelso Investment Associates VII, KEP VI, LLC and the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Sophocles Zoullas.  Delphin was formed for the purpose of acquiring and operating dry bulk and other vessels. Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Company provides commercial and technical supervisory vessel management services to dry bulk vessels acquired by Delphin for a fixed monthly management fee based on a sliding scale. Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, the Company has been granted an opportunity to acquire for its own account any dry bulk vessel that Delphin proposes to acquire.  The Company has also been granted a right of first refusal on any dry bulk charter opportunity, other than a renewal of an existing charter for a Delphin-owned vessel that the Company reasonably deems suitable for a Company-owned vessel.  The Management Agreement also provides the Company a right of first offer on the sale of any dry bulk vessel by Delphin. The term of the Management Agreement is one year and is renewable for successive one year terms at the option of Delphin.

Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Company contracted to provide commercial and technical supervisory management services for Delphin vessels for a monthly fee of $15,834 for the first 10 vessels, $11,667 for the second 10 vessels and $8,750 for the third 10 vessels. Construction of the first vessel commenced in December 2010. Total management fees for the periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $1,635,066 and $1,635,066 respectively. The advanced balance received from Delphin on account for the management of its vessels as of September 30, 2014 amounted to $863,015. The total reimbursable expenses for the periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $181,595 and $224,274 respectively. The balance due from Delphin as of September 30, 2014 amounted to $1,695. The balance due mainly consists of reimbursable expenses.

On the Effective Date, the Management Agreement was amended and restated (as so amended and restated, the “Amended Management Agreement”). Under the Amended Management Agreement, the Company will continue to supply technical vessel management supervision services and commercial vessel management services to Delphin and vessel owning subsidiaries of Delphin. Such services will continue to be provided for dry bulk vessels owned by Delphin. The nature of the technical vessel management services and the commercial vessel management services to be provided by the Company are set forth in the Amended Management Agreement. The technical management fee under the Amended Management Agreement shall be $700 per vessel per day. The commercial management fee shall be 1.25% of charter hire; provided, however, that no commercial management fee shall be payable with respect to charter hire that is earned while a vessel is a member of a pool and with respect to which a fee is paid to the pool manager.

The Amended Management Agreement contains an acknowledgement that the Company may have a conflict in pursuing charter opportunities for Delphin’s vessels and provides a means for dealing which such conflict. The initial term of the Amended Management Agreement is one year from the Effective Date. The Amended Management Agreement is thereafter renewable for successive one year terms at the option of Delphin. The Amended Management Agreement also contains certain termination events in favor of each of Delphin and the Company.

Note 13. Loss Per Common Share

The computation of basic net loss per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Weighted average shares outstanding for the period ended September 30, 2014, includes the weighted average underlying Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the 615,997 warrants at the exercise price of $0.01 per share. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company has given effect to the issuance of these warrants in computing basic net loss per share because the underlying shares are issuable for little or no cash consideration. Diluted net loss per share gives effect to stock options and restricted stock units using the treasury stock method, unless the impact is anti-dilutive. Diluted net loss per share as of September 30, 2014, does not include 123,667 restricted stock units and 1,727,667 stock options as their effect was anti-dilutive. Diluted net loss per share as of September 30, 2013, does not include 303,664 restricted stock units and 1,908,371 stock options as their effect was anti-dilutive.

Note 14. Stock Incentive Plans

2011 Equity Incentive Plan. In November 2011, our shareholders approved the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”) for the purpose of affording an incentive to eligible persons. The 2011 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of equity based awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents, unrestricted stock, other equity based or equity related awards, and/or performance compensation awards based on or relating to the Company's common shares to eligible non-employee directors, officers, employees or consultants. The 2011 Plan is administered by a compensation committee or such other committee of the Company's board of directors. An aggregate of 5.9 million of the Company's common shares have been authorized for issuance under the 2011 Plan. The shares reserved for issuance under the 2011 Plan did not adjust in accordance with the 1 for 4 reverse stock split that occur in May 2012. However, the 2011 Plan was approved by shareholders subject to the Company’s confirmation in the proxy materials relating to the approval of the 2011 Plan that no options granted under the plan would, in the aggregate, exceed 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis on the date the options first become exercisable.

2009 Equity Incentive Plan. In May 2009, our shareholders approved the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”) for the purpose of affording an incentive to eligible persons. The 2009 Plan provides for the grant of equity based awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents, unrestricted stock, other equity based or equity related awards, and/or performance compensation awards based on or relating to the Company’s common shares to eligible non-employee directors, officers, employees or consultants. The 2009 Plan is administered by a compensation committee or such other committee of the Company’s board of directors. A maximum of 1.05 million of the Company’s common shares have been authorized for issuance under the 2009 Plan, which have been adjusted in accordance with the one-for-four reverse stock split effective on May 22, 2012.

As of September 30, 2014, RSUs covering a total of 123,667 of the Company’s shares are outstanding. The restricted stock units (“RSUs”) vest ratably between three to five years. These RSUs also entitle the participant to receive a dividend equivalent payment on the unvested portion of the underlying shares granted under the award, each time the Company pays a dividend to the Company’s shareholders. The dividend equivalent rights on the unvested RSUs are forfeited upon termination of employment. The Company is amortizing to non-cash compensation expense the fair value of the non-vested restricted stock at the grant date. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the amortization charge was $394,968 and $3,494,528, respectively.

As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, options covering 1,727,667 of the Company’s common shares are outstanding with exercise prices ranging from $3.34 to $87.52 per share (the market prices at dates of grants). The options granted to the independent non-employee directors vested and became exercisable on the grant dates. The options granted to members of its management under the 2005 Plan and 2009 Plan vest and become exercisable over three years. The options granted to members of its management under the 2011 Plan vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date. All options expire between five to ten years from the date of grant. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company has recorded a non-cash compensation charge from stock options of $370,371 and $833,650, respectively.

The non-cash compensation expenses recorded by the Company and included in General and Administrative Expenses are as follows:

On the Effective Date, in accordance with the Plan, the Company adopted the post-emergence Management Incentive Program, which provides for the distribution of New Eagle MIP Primary Equity in the form of shares of New Eagle Common Stock, and New Eagle MIP Options, to the participating senior management and other employees of the reorganized Company. The New Eagle MIP Primary Equity is subject to vesting, but the holder thereof is entitled to receive all dividends paid with respect to such shares as if such New Eagle MIP Primary Equity had vested on the grant date (subject to forfeiture by the holder in the event that such grant is terminated prior to vesting unless the administrator of the Management Incentive Program determines otherwise). The New Eagle MIP Options will contain adjustment provisions to reflect any transaction involving shares of New Eagle Common Stock, including as a result of any dividend, recapitalization, or stock split, so as to prevent any diminution or enlargement of the holder’s rights under the award.

On the Effective Date, the Company granted to its Chief Executive Officer, 540,540 shares of New Eagle MIP Primary Equity and New Eagle MIP Options exercisable for 675,676 shares at an exercise price of $18 and 810,811 shares at an exercise price of $25.25 on the Effective Date under the Management Incentive Program.

Note 15. Subsequent Events

Under ASC 852, Reorganizations, fresh-start accounting is required upon emergence from Chapter 11 if (i) the value of the assets of the emerging entity immediately before the date of confirmation is less than the total of all post-petition liabilities and allowed claims; and (ii) holders of existing voting shares immediately before confirmation receive less than 50% of the voting shares of the emerging entity.

The value of the assets of the Company immediately before the date of confirmation is expected to be less than the total of all post-petition liabilities and allowed claims.  Additionally, the holders of the existing voting shares immediately before the Effective Date held less than 50% of the voting shares of the emerging entity.

On the Effective Date, the company successfully emerged from bankruptcy with its exit financing being in place. The Company will adopt fresh-start accounting as of the Effective Date. Adopting fresh-start accounting results in a new reporting entity with no beginning retained earnings or deficit. The cancellation of all existing shares outstanding on the Effective Date and issuance of new shares of the reorganized entity caused a related change of control of the Company under ASC 852. Fresh-start accounting also requires that the reporting entity allocate the reorganization value to its assets and liabilities in relation to their fair values upon emergence from Chapter 11. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of the fresh-start accounting on its consolidated financial statements. The Company’s financial advisor performed a valuation of the reorganized Company dated as of July 15, 2014.  According to the valuation, which was included in the Disclosure Statement related to the Plan, the post-confirmation estimated enterprise value of the Company to be in a range between $850 million and $950 million. Given the approximately $225 million of debt projected to be on the balance sheet of the Company under the Exit Financing Facility on the Effective Date, the implied equity value of the Company was estimated at approximately $625 million to $725 million. As further described in Notes 1 and 14 above, on the Effective Date, the Company cancelled its existing equity interests, issued 37,500,000 new shares of common stock to its existing equity holders and lenders under its Credit Agreement, and established a new management incentive program.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

The following is a discussion of the Company's financial condition and results of operation for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. This section should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report and the notes to those financial statements and the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes to those financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, which were included in our Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2014.

This discussion contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided for under these sections. These statements may include words such as “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding our ability to enter into a Restructuring transaction. The foregoing is not a complete list of all forward-looking statements we make. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations and observations with respect to future events and financial performance. Where we express an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, our forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected, or implied by those forward-looking statements. The principal factors that affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows include charter market rates, which have declined significantly from historic highs, periods of charter hire, vessel operating expenses and voyage costs, which are incurred primarily in U.S. dollars, depreciation expenses, which are a function of the cost of our vessels, significant vessel improvement costs and our vessels' estimated useful lives, and financing costs related to our indebtedness. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward looking statements as a result of certain factors which could include the following: (i) changes in demand in the dry bulk market, including, without limitation, changes in production of, or demand for, commodities and bulk cargoes, generally or in particular regions; (ii) greater than anticipated levels of dry bulk vessel newbuilding orders or lower than anticipated rates of dry bulk vessel scrapping; (iii) changes in rules and regulations applicable to the dry bulk industry, including, without limitation, legislation adopted by international bodies or organizations such as the International Maritime Organization and the European Union or by individual countries; (iv) actions taken by regulatory authorities; (v) changes in trading patterns significantly impacting overall dry bulk tonnage requirements; (vi) changes in the typical seasonal variations in dry bulk charter rates; (vii) changes in the cost of other modes of bulk commodity transportation; (viii) changes in general domestic and international political conditions; (ix) changes in the condition of the Company's vessels or applicable maintenance or regulatory standards (which may affect, among other things, our anticipated drydocking costs); (x) significant deteriorations in charter hire rates from current levels or the inability of the Company to achieve its cost-cutting measures, (xi) the outcome of legal proceedings in which we are involved; (xii) the Company’s ability to meet current operating needs, including its ability to maintain contracts that are critical to its operation, to obtain and maintain acceptable terms with its vendors, customers, and service providers and to retain key executives, managers, and employees; (xiii) the Company’s ability to maintain adequate liquidity to fund operations; (xiv) the sufficiency of the Exit Financing Facility for the Company’s liquidity needs; (xv) the Company’s ability in the future to arrange and consummate financing or sale transactions or to access capital; (xvi) the effects of changes in the Company’s credit ratings; (xvii) the timing and realization of the recoveries of assets and the payments of claims and the amount of expenses projected to recognize such recoveries and reconcile such claims; and (xviii) other factors listed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This discussion also includes statistical data regarding world dry bulk fleet and orderbook and fleet age. We generated some of this data internally, and some were obtained from independent industry publications and reports that we believe to be reliable. We have not independently verified this data nor sought the consent of any organizations to refer to their reports in this Quarterly Report. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Overview

Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (the "Company", "we", "us", or "our"), incorporated under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the "Marshall Islands") and headquartered in New York City, is engaged primarily in the ocean transportation of a broad range of major and minor bulk cargoes, including iron ore, coal, grain, cement and fertilizer, along worldwide shipping routes. We operate in the Handymax sector of the dry bulk industry, with particular emphasis on the Supramax class of vessels. We own one of the largest fleets of Supramax dry bulk vessels in the world. Supramax dry bulk vessels range in size from 50,000 to 60,000 deadweight tons, or dwt. These vessels have the cargo loading and unloading flexibility of on-board cranes while offering cargo carrying capacities approaching that of Panamax dry bulk vessels, which range in size from 60,000 to 100,000 dwt and must rely on port facilities to load and offload their cargoes. We believe that the cargo handling flexibility and cargo carrying capacity of the Supramax class vessels make them attractive to charterers.

As of September 30, 2014, we owned and operated a modern fleet of 45 oceangoing vessels comprised of 43 Supramax and 2 Handymax vessels with a combined carrying capacity of 2,451,259 dwt and an average age of approximately 7.4 years.

Each of our vessels is owned by us through a separate wholly-owned Republic of the Marshall Islands limited liability company.

Bankruptcy Filing

On March 19, 2014, the Company received waivers for the violation of the maximum leverage ratio covenant under its Credit Agreement (as defined below) as of December 31, 2013 and the expected violation of the maximum leverage ratio and minimum interest coverage ratio covenants at March 31, 2014 (as amended, the “Waivers”). The Waivers were extended through August 5, 2014, subject to certain conditions and the satisfaction of certain milestones. Given the uncertainty as to whether the Company would be able to comply with the terms of the Waivers within the time frames provided, the Company concluded that there was substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern until such time the Company was able to demonstrate that it had sufficient cash flows to meet its ongoing needs. To address this risk of being able to continue as a going concern, the Company undertook negotiations with its lenders to provide longer term covenant relief or to restructure its balance sheet and capital structure. The financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern.

On August 6, 2014, the Company entered into a restructuring support agreement (the “Restructuring Support Agreement”) with lenders constituting the “Majority Lenders” (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement) under its Credit Agreement (the “Consenting Lenders”), which contemplated a plan of reorganization through a balance sheet restructuring of the Company’s obligations upon the terms specified therein. On the same day, the Company filed a voluntary prepackaged case (the “Prepackaged Case”) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court). The Prepackaged Case was filed only in respect of the parent company, Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc., but not any of its subsidiaries. Through the Prepackaged Case, the Company sought to implement a balance sheet restructuring pursuant to the terms of its prepackaged plan of reorganization filed with the Court (the “Plan”). The Company continued to operate its business as a “debtor in possession” under the jurisdiction of the Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Court.

The commencement of the Prepackaged Case constituted an event of default that accelerated the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement, subject to an automatic stay of any action to collect, assert or recover a claim against the Company and the application of the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.

As part of the Prepackaged Case, the Company obtained debtor-in-possession financing (the “DIP Loan Facility”), as further described below, pursuant to authorization from the Court. The Company funded its ongoing operations during the pendency of the Prepackaged Case through available borrowings under the DIP Loan Facility as well as cash generated from operations.

Subsequent to the filing of the Prepackaged Case, the Company received approval from the Court to continue using its existing cash management system and to pay or otherwise honor certain pre-petition obligations generally designed to stabilize the Company’s operations, such as certain employee wages, salaries and benefits, certain taxes and fees, customer obligations, obligations to logistics providers and pre-petition amounts owed to certain critical vendors. The Company continued to honor payments to vendors and other providers in the ordinary course of business for goods and services received after the filing date of the Prepackaged Case. The Company retained legal and financial professionals to advise the Company in connection with the Prepackaged Case and certain other professionals to provide services and advice in the ordinary course of business.

On September 22, 2014, the Court entered an order (the “Confirmation Order”) confirming the Plan. Capitalized terms used but not defined below shall have the meanings given to them in the Plan. On October 15, 2014 (the “Effective Date”), the Company completed its balance sheet restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 through a series of transactions contemplated by the Plan, and the Plan became effective pursuant to its terms. 

Key components of the Plan included:

The Plan also provided for certain releases of various parties by certain holders of claims against and equity interests in the Company. 

Exit Financing Facility

On October 9, 2014, Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc., as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into the Exit Financing Facility with certain lenders (the “Exit Lenders”). The Exit Financing Facility is in the amount of $275 million, including a $50 million undrawn revolving credit facility, and matures on October 15, 2019. Amounts drawn under the Exit Financing Facility bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a margin (the “Margin”) ranging between 3.50% and 4.00% per annum. The revolving credit facility is subject to an annual commitment fee of 40% of the Margin. The Exit Financing Facility is described further in Note 8.

Registration Rights Agreement

On the Effective Date, and in accordance with the Plan, the Company entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with certain parties that received shares of New Eagle Common Stock under the Plan. The Registration Rights Agreement provided such parties with demand and piggyback registration rights.

New Eagle Equity Warrant Agreement

On the Effective Date, and in accordance with the Plan, the New Eagle Equity Warrants were issued pursuant to the terms of the New Eagle Equity Warrant Agreement. Each New Eagle Equity Warrant has a 7-year term (commencing on the Effective Date) and are exercisable for one share of New Eagle Common Stock (subject to adjustment as set forth in the New Eagle Equity Warrant Agreement and dilution by the Management Incentive Program). The New Eagle Equity Warrants are exercisable at an exercise price of $27.82 per share (subject to adjustment as set forth in the New Eagle Equity Warrant Agreement). The New Eagle Equity Warrant Agreement contains customary anti-dilution adjustments in the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, dividend or other distributions (including, but not limited to, cash dividends), or business combination transaction.

Credit Agreement Waivers and Entry into Restructuring Support Agreement

As further described in Note 8, under the Credit Agreement, the Company had financial covenants that began in 2013 and became increasingly restrictive each quarter. The covenants were primarily driven by the calculation of Credit Agreement EBITDA for the trailing twelve month periods, which is driven by charter hire rates. The Company met all of its covenants in 2013, other than the maximum leverage ratio at December 31, 2013. That ratio was exceeded primarily due to a recognized loss of $8.2 million on the Company’s shares of Korea Line Corporation (“KLC”) during the fourth quarter of 2013, as further described under “Note 6- Investment - Korea Line Corporation”. The Company failed to meet both the maximum leverage ratio covenant and the minimum interest coverage ratio covenant at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014, and expected to fail both at their respective compliance measurement dates until the date of emergence from bankruptcy.

On March 19, 2014, the Company received waivers for the violation of the maximum leverage ratio covenant as of December 31, 2013 and the violation of the maximum leverage ratio and minimum interest coverage ratio covenants at March 31, 2014, from the Consenting Lenders. Under the terms of the Waivers, the Consenting Lenders agreed to waive until June 30, 2014 certain potential events of default, subject to the Company's compliance with the terms, conditions and milestones as set forth in the Waiver, including a milestone requiring the Company and the Consenting Lenders to (i) agree on terms of a restructuring of the obligations outstanding under the Credit Agreement and (ii) execute a binding restructuring support agreement or similar agreement documenting such agreed-upon terms, by April 15, 2014.

 On April 15, 2014, April 30, 2014, May, 15, 2014, May 31, 2014, June 5, 2014, June 27, 2014, and July 15, 2014, the Company and the Consenting Lenders entered into a successive series of amendments to the Waivers extending the term of the Waivers and postponing the milestones thereunder through August 5, 2014.

As consideration for the Consenting Lenders’ agreement to enter into the June 5, 2014 amendment (“Amendment No. 5”) to the Waivers and extend the milestone referred to above, Amendment No. 5 provided for a one-time forbearance fee payable to each Lender entering into Amendment No. 5 (the “Forbearance Fee”), the form of which to be determined by the Company, and the payment of which to be deferred, in accordance with the terms of Amendment No. 5.  In addition, Amendment No. 5 provided that following the request of either the Company or the majority of the holders of the warrants to purchase common stock of the Company (the “Warrants”) issued under the Warrant Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2012, between the Company and the other parties thereto (the “Warrant Agreement”), the Company and Lenders constituting a majority of the holders of the Warrants would amend certain of the provisions of the Warrant Agreement to eliminate the conditions restricting the exercise of the Warrants then outstanding, such that the Warrants would be immediately exercisable.  Upon the entry into such amendment, the Forbearance Fee would be forfeited.

Subsequently, the Company determined that it would not make the scheduled June 30, 2014 interest payment under the Credit Agreement, and the Consenting Lenders agreed, pursuant to the June 27, 2014 amendment to the Waivers (“Amendment No. 6”), to forbear from exercising any rights or remedies with respect to this otherwise due interest payment until the termination of the forbearance period afforded by the Waivers. Interest was to continue to accrue on the unpaid interest payment during the period of forbearance at the penalty rate specified in the Credit Agreement.

On July 2, 2014, the Company and certain of the lenders under its Credit Agreement (such lenders constituting “Majority Holders” under the Warrant Agreement (as defined below)), entered into Amendment No. 1 to Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Amendment”), to amend certain of the terms of the Warrant Agreement, under which the Company issued the Warrants. One-third of the Warrants were exercisable immediately on the issue date thereof, the next third of the Warrants were exercisable when the price of the Company's common stock reached $10.00 per share (subject to certain customary adjustments in the event of stock splits, reverse stock splits and certain distributions to all holders of common stock) or when certain other events occurred (the “Trigger Price B Warrants”), and the last third of the warrants were exercisable when the price of the Company's common stock reached $12.00 per share (subject to the aforementioned adjustments) or when certain other events occurred (the “Trigger Price C Warrants”). The Warrant Amendment eliminated the conditions restricting the exercise of the Trigger Price B Warrants and the Trigger Price C Warrants held by lenders under the Credit Agreement (collectively, the “Lender Warrants”), including the minimum share price conditions described above, such that all such Lender Warrants were immediately exercisable. The Warrant Amendment also included a prohibition on the trade or transfer by any such lender of its Warrants, or shares of common stock received upon exercise thereof, except in connection with a transfer of such lender’s loans under the Credit Agreement, for so long as the Waivers, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time, or any successor agreement thereto, were in effect. In accordance with the terms of Amendment No. 5, the Forbearance Fee was forfeited by the Consenting Lenders contemporaneously with the entry into the Warrant Amendment.

On August 6, 2014, the Company and each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries entered into the Restructuring Support Agreement referenced above with the Consenting Lenders. 

Korea Line Corporation 

Since 2007 the Company has had a chartering agreement with Korea Line Corporation (“KLC”). KLC experienced financial troubles beginning in 2011 and failed to meet its contractual obligations to the Company. Since 2011, KLC and the Company had modified the terms of its charter agreement a number of times; however, KLC continued to experience financial difficulties. In the first quarter of 2013, a comprehensive termination agreement between the Company and KLC became effective, as the settlement effectively terminated the charters with KLC. The Company received a cash payment of $10.3 million; released $3.5 million of bunker liabilities to KLC; released an aggregate $3.6 million balance related to KLC deferred revenue; released a $10.1 million balance related to the KLC unamortized fair value of charters below and above contract value; received KLC shares valued at $5.9 million; and received a note receivable valued at $2.7 million. The total aggregate consideration related to the KLC termination agreement was $36.1 million of which the Company recorded revenue associated with the termination of $32.8 million, related to amounts previously owed but not recognized, and a termination gain of $3.3 million.

On May 9, 2013 the 538,751 additional KLC common shares were issued to the Company and were released from the Korean Securities Depository on November 11, 2013. These shares replaced the note receivable recorded pursuant to the January 3, 2013, termination agreement. The fair market value of the shares upon issuance was in excess of the fair value of the receivable. As a result, we recorded an incremental gain of $25.6 million in the second quarter of 2013. Subsequent to June 30, 2013, the Company received payment on the remaining note receivable.

As of December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2014, the Company’s sole remaining interest in KLC is an investment in capital stock.

The KLC investment is designated as Available For Sale (“AFS”) and is reported at its fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”). The fair value of KLC shares are determined from the market price as quoted on the Korean Stock Exchange and by converting the South-Korean Won (”KRW”) extended value into USD with the exchange rate applicable on date of conversion. The Company reviews the investment in KLC for impairment on quarterly basis.

As of March 31, 2013, September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, the change in the fair value of our KLC investment was considered as other-than-temporary, and therefore the Company recorded non-cash impairment losses of $3.0 million, $7.3 million and $8.2 million, respectively, in other expenses in the first, third and fourth quarters of 2013, respectively.

The fair value of the KLC investments subsequent to September 30, 2014, has been recovered and increased in value. During the nine month period, the KLC shares were volatile and at times valued above and below the Company's book value. Therefore, the Company concluded that as of March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014, the change in the fair value of the KLC investment is “temporary,” and the Company recorded an unrealized loss of $2.1 million as of March 31, 2014, an unrealized gain of $1.4 million as of June 30, 2014 and an unrealized gain of $0.3 million as of September 30, 2014 in shareholders’ equity as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. No impairment charges were recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

Corporate Information

We maintain our principal executive offices at 477 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022. Our telephone number at that address is (212) 785-2500. Our website address is www.eagleships.com. Information contained on or accessible through our website does not constitute part of this Quarterly Report.

Strategy

Our financial performance is based on the following key elements of our business strategy:

Under a pool arrangement, the vessels operate under a time charter agreement with the Pool Manager. The members of the pool share in the revenue generated by the entire group of vessels in the pool, and the pool may operate either in the Time Charter or in the spot market in which case the cost of the bunkers and port costs are borne by the Pool and the net pool revenue is distributed as time charter hire to each Participant. To the extent the vessels are operated in the spot market, they are subject to the fluctuations of the spot market. The operating costs including crews, maintenance and insurance are typically paid by the owner of the vessel.

We believe that this structure provides significant visibility to our future financial results and allows us to take advantage of the relatively stable cash flows and high utilization rates that are associated with medium-term time charters, while at the same time providing us with the revenue upside potential from the index-linked or short-term time charters or voyage charters or pool charters. We regularly monitor the dry bulk shipping market and based on market conditions we may consider taking advantage of long-term charter rates.

Information on our Fleet

We have employed all of our vessels in our operating fleet on time and voyage charters. The following table represents certain information about our revenue earning charters with respect to our operating fleet as of September 30, 2014:

Fleet Management

The management of our fleet includes the following functions:

Commercial and Strategic Management

We carry out the commercial and strategic management of our fleet through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Eagle Shipping International (USA) LLC, a Republic of the Marshall Islands limited liability company that maintains its principal executive offices in New York City, and Eagle Bulk Pte. Ltd, a Singapore company. We currently have a total of sixty-nine shore based personnel, including our senior management team and our office staff, who either directly or through these subsidiaries, provides the following services:

•     commercial operations and technical supervision;

•     safety monitoring;

•     vessel acquisition; and

•     financial, accounting and information technology services.

Amendment to Delphin Management Agreement

The Company, as Manager, and Delphin Shipping LLC (“Delphin”) were previously parties to a vessel management agreement pursuant to which the Company provided vessel technical management supervision services and vessel commercial management services to Delphin (the “Management Agreement”). On October 15, 2014, the Management Agreement was amended and restated (as so amended and restated, the “Amended Management Agreement”). Under the Amended Management Agreement, the Company will continue to supply vessel technical vessel management supervision services and commercial vessel management services to Delphin and vessel owning subsidiaries of Delphin. Such services will continue to be provided for dry bulk vessels owned by Delphin. The nature of the technical vessel management services and the commercial vessel management services to be provided by the Company are set forth in the Amended Management Agreement. The technical management fee under the Amended Management Agreement shall be $700 per vessel per day. The commercial management fee shall be 1.25% of charter hire; provided, however, that no commercial management fee shall be payable with respect to charter hire that is earned while a vessel is a member of a pool and with respect to which a fee is paid to the pool manager.

The Amended Management Agreement contains an acknowledgement that the Company may have a conflict in pursuing charter opportunities for Delphin’s vessels and provides a means for dealing which such conflict. The initial term of the Amended Management Agreement is one year from the Effective Date. The Amended Management Agreement is thereafter renewable for successive one year terms at the option of Delphin. The Amended Management Agreement also contains certain termination events in favor of each of Delphin and the Company.

Technical Management

We established in-house technical management capabilities, through which we provide technical management services to a majority of our vessels, in addition to establishing a vessel management bench-mark with an unaffiliated third party technical manager, V Ships Management Ltd., which is one of the world's largest providers of independent ship management and related services that manage a portion of our fleet. We review the performance of the technical manager on an annual basis and may add or change technical managers. During the 2013 fiscal year we transferred all the vessels historically managed by Anglo Eastern International Ltd. to our in-house technical management.

Technical management includes managing day-to-day vessel operations, performing general vessel maintenance, ensuring regulatory and classification society compliance, supervising the maintenance and general efficiency of vessels, arranging our hire of qualified officers and crew, arranging and supervising drydocking and repairs, purchasing supplies, spare parts and new equipment for vessels, appointing supervisors and technical consultants and providing technical support. Our technical managers also manage and process all crew insurance claims. Our technical managers maintain records of all costs and expenditures incurred in connection with their services that are available for our review on a daily basis. Our technical managers are members of marine contracting associations which arrange bulk purchasing thereby enabling us to benefit from economies of scale.

Our third-party technical manager is paid a fixed management fee for each vessel in our operating fleet for the technical management services provided. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the technical management fee averaged $10,708 and $10,315 per vessel per month, respectively. Management fees paid to our third-party technical manager is recorded under Vessel Expenses.

Value of Assets and Cash Requirements

The market value of our fleet may be below book value when market conditions are weak and exceed book value when markets conditions are strong. Customary with industry practice, we may consider asset redeployment which at times may include the sale of vessels at less than their book value. The Company’s results of operations and cash flow may be significantly affected by future charter markets.

Critical Accounting Policies

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our interim unaudited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the rules and regulations of the SEC which apply to interim financial statements. The preparation of those financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues, expenses and fair value of derivative and warrants and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.

Critical accounting policies are those that reflect significant judgments of uncertainties and potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. As the discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our interim unaudited consolidated financial statements, they do not include all of the information on critical accounting policies normally included in consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, a detailed description of these critical accounting policies should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes from the “Critical Accounting Policies” previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2014.

Vessel Lives and Impairment

The carrying value of each of our vessels represents its original cost at the time it was delivered or purchased less depreciation. We depreciate our dry bulk vessels on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, estimated to be 28 years from date of initial delivery from the shipyard to the original owner. Depreciation is based on cost less the estimated residual salvage value. Salvage, or scrap, value is based upon a vessel's lightweight tonnage ("lwt") multiplied by a scrap rate. We use a scrap rate of $150 per lwt, to compute each vessel's salvage value.

The carrying values of the Company's vessels may not represent their fair market value at any point in time since the market prices of second-hand vessels tend to fluctuate with changes in charter rates and the cost of newbuildings. Historically, both charter rates and vessel values tend to be cyclical. We evaluate the carrying amounts and periods over which long-lived assets are depreciated to determine if events have occurred which would require modification to their carrying values or useful lives. In evaluating useful lives and carrying values of long-lived assets, we review certain indicators of potential impairment, such as undiscounted projected operating cash flows, vessel sales and purchases, business plans and overall market conditions.

During the past few years, the market values of vessels have experienced particular volatility, with substantial declines in many vessel classes.  As a result, the charter-free market value, or basic market value, of certain of our vessels may have declined below those vessels’ carrying value. When indicators of impairment are present and our estimate of undiscounted future cash flows for any vessel is lower than the vessel’s carrying value, the carrying value is written down, by recording a charge to operations, to the vessel’s fair market value if the fair market value is lower than the vessel’s carrying value. Management will continue to monitor developments in charter rates in the markets in which it participates with respect to the expectation of future rates over an extended period of time that are utilized in the analyses.

In the event that an impairment were to occur, we would determine the fair value of the related asset and record a charge to operations calculated by comparing the asset's carrying value to the estimated fair value. We estimate fair value primarily through the use of third party valuations performed on an individual vessel basis. Such valuation is not necessarily the same as the amount any vessel may bring upon sale, which may be more or less, and should not be relied upon as such. Significant operating or cash flow losses that typically precede a bankruptcy filing would often trigger an impairment assessment of the long-lived assets. The cash flow forecasts used to test for recoverability is the first step of the impairment test of long-lived assets. If the carrying amount of an asset group is recoverable (i.e., passes step one), the entity is precluded from recognizing an impairment charge, even if the fair value of the asset group, or any individual asset within the group, is less than its carrying amount.

We believe that as of September 30, 2014, each of our vessels has a basic market value below its carrying value, and this aggregate difference represents the approximate analysis of the amount by which we believe we would have to reduce our net income if we sold all of such vessels in the current environment, on industry standard terms, in cash transactions, and to a willing buyer where we are not under any compulsion to sell, and where the buyer is not under any compulsion to buy. We believe that the aggregate carrying value of our vessels as of September 30, 2014 exceeds their aggregate basic charter-free market value by approximately $740 million.

Following its emergence from bankruptcy, the Company will record the effects of its reorganization plan and adopt ‘fresh-start’ accounting as of the Effective Date, whereby its balance sheet items will be adjusted to their fair values. The fair value of the vessels will be determined based upon appraisals obtained from independent ship brokerage firms.

Use of Estimates: The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The significant estimates and assumptions of the Company are stock-based compensation, the useful lives of fixed assets and intangibles, depreciation and amortization, the allowances for bad debt, and the fair value of derivative and warrants.

Results of Operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

We believe that the measures for analyzing future trends in our results of operations consist of the following: