Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. - Quarter Report: 2016 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

________________

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016

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: (203) 276–8100

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  X         Non-accelerated Filer           Smaller reporting company      

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 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 45,713,023 shares outstanding as of May 10, 2016.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1 : FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 : Financial Statements

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)

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

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

(UNAUDITED)

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

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

(UNAUDITED)

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

 EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

(UNAUDITED) 

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

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

(UNAUDITED)

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

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

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 March 31, 2016 and 2015. This section should be read in conjunction with the condensed 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, 2015, which were included in our Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2016.

This discussion contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of 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. 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 new building 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, including, without limitation, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control; (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 proceeding in which we are involved; and 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., is a Marshall Islands corporation headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. We own one of the largest fleets of Supramax dry bulk vessels in the world. Supramax dry bulk are vessels which are constructed with on-board cranes, ranging in size from approximately 50,000 to 65,000 dwt and considered a sub-category of the Handymax segment; typically defined as 40,000-65,000 dwt. We transport a broad range of major and minor bulk cargoes, including but not limited to coal, grain, ore, pet coke, cement and fertilizer, along worldwide shipping routes. As of March 31, 2016, we owned and operated a modern fleet of 43 Supramax and 1 Handymax dry bulk vessels. We also charter-in a 37,000 dwt newbuilding Japanese vessel that was delivered in October 2014 for seven years with an option for one additional year.

We are focused on maintaining a high quality fleet that is concentrated primarily in one vessel type – Supramax dry bulk carriers. 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 72,000 to 83,000 dwt and 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 cargo interests and vessel charterers. The 44 vessels in our operating fleet, with an aggregate carrying capacity of 2,404,064 deadweight tons, have an average age of 8.7 years as of March 31, 2016. 

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

Corporate Reorganization and Refinancing

On March 30, 2016, we entered into a contribution agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) with a newly-formed wholly-owned subsidiary, Eagle Shipping LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands (“Eagle Shipping”) pursuant to which the Company transferred, assigned and contributed to Eagle Shipping, and Eagle Shipping received, accepted and assumed, all of the tangible and intangible assets of the Company (other than the membership interests in Eagle Shipping owned by the Company and certain deposit accounts held by the Company, which deposit account balances were transferred) and all of the liabilities of the Company (the “Contribution”), including all of the Company’s rights and obligations under the Exit Financing Facility. Immediately following the Contribution, Eagle Shipping became the direct parent company of each of the Company’s previously directly-owned subsidiaries. The Contribution was part of the transactions contemplated by the agreements also entered into on March 30, 2016 and described below, which transactions were consummated on March 30, 2016, after the fulfillment of certain conditions precedent.

First Lien Facility

On March 30, 2016, Eagle Shipping, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries that are guarantors under the Exit Financing Facility, as guarantors, entered into an Amended and Restated First Lien Loan Agreement (the “A&R First Lien Loan Agreement”) with the lenders thereunder (the “First Lien Lenders”) and ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC, as agent and security trustee for the lenders. The A&R First Lien Loan Agreement amends and restates the Exit Financing Facility in its entirety, providing for Eagle Shipping to be the borrower in the place of the Company, and further provides for a waiver of any and all events of default occurring as a result of the voluntary OFAC Disclosure (as defined in Note 6 “Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Proceedings” to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report). The A&R First Lien Loan Agreement provides for a term loan outstanding as of March 30, 2016, in the amount of $201,468,750 as well as a $50,000,000 revolving credit facility, of which $10,000,000 was undrawn prior to the refinancing (the term loan, together with the revolving credit facility, the “First Lien Facility”). The First Lien Facility matures on October 15, 2019. An aggregate fee of $600,000 was paid to the Agent and First Lien Lenders in connection with the First Lien Facility.

As of March 31, 2016 our total availability in the revolving credit facility under the First Lien Facility was $40,158,500.  

Eagle Shipping’s obligations under the First Lien Facility are secured by a first priority mortgage on each of the vessels currently in the Company’s fleet and such other vessels that it may from time to time include with the approval of the First Lien Lenders, a first assignment of its earnings account, its liquidity account and its vessel-owning subsidiaries’ earnings accounts, a first assignment of all charters with terms that 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 Eagle Shipping’s vessel-owning subsidiaries. In the future, Eagle Shipping may grant additional security to the lenders from time to time.

The First Lien Facility contains financial covenants requiring Eagle Shipping, among other things, to ensure that the aggregate market value of the vessels in the Company’s fleet (plus the value of certain additional collateral) at all times on or after July 1, 2017 does not fall below 100% in the third and fourth quarters of 2017, 110% in 2018 and 120% in 2019 of the aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding (subject to certain adjustments) under the First Lien Facility and maintain minimum liquidity of not less than the greater of (i) $8,140,000 and (ii) $185,000 per vessel in the Company’s fleet. In addition, the First Lien Facility also imposes operating restrictions on Eagle Shipping including limiting Eagle Shipping’s ability to, among other things: pay dividends; incur additional indebtedness; create liens on assets; acquire and sell capital assets (including vessels); and merge or consolidate with, or transfer all or substantially all of Eagle Shipping’s assets to, another person. Upon entering into the First Lien Facility, Eagle Shipping made a principal payment with respect to the term loan of $11,718,750. For the fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2018 and the fiscal years ending December 31, 2017 and 2018, Eagle Shipping is obligated to repay the First Lien Facility semi-annually in an amount equal to 75% of Eagle Shipping’s excess cash flow for the preceding semi-annual period, as defined in the First Lien Facility, subject to a cap of such mandatory prepayments of $15,625,000 in any fiscal year. Thereafter, Eagle Shipping will make payments of $3,906,250 on January 15, 2019, April 15, 2019, and July 15, 2019, and a final balloon payment equal to the remaining amount outstanding under the First Lien Facility on October 15, 2019.

The First Lien 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 First Lien Lenders’ judgment, there is significant risk that Eagle Shipping is or would become insolvent. Eagle Shipping is not permitted to pay dividends. Indebtedness under the First Lien Facility may also be accelerated if Eagle Shipping experiences a change of control.

Second Lien Facility

On March 30, 2016, Eagle Shipping, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into a Second Lien Loan Agreement (the “Second Lien Loan Agreement”) with certain lenders (the “Second Lien Lenders”) and Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB as agent for the Second Lien Lenders (the “Second Lien Agent”). The Second Lien Lenders include certain of the Company’s existing shareholders as well as other investors. The Second Lien Loan Agreement provides for a term loan in the amount of $60,000,000 (the “Second Lien Facility”), and matures on January 14, 2020 (91 days after the original stated maturity of the First Lien Facility). The term loan under the Second Lien Facility bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 14.00% per annum (with a 1.0% LIBOR floor) or the Base Rate (as defined in the Second Lien Loan Agreement) plus 13.00% per annum, paid in kind quarterly in arrears. The Company used the proceeds from the Second Lien Facility to pay down amounts outstanding in respect of the revolving credit facility under the Exit Financing Facility, pay three quarters of amortization payments under the Exit Financing Facility, pay transaction fees in connection with the entry into the A&R First Lien Loan Agreement and the Second Lien Loan Agreement, and add cash to the balance sheet, which cash would be deposited in an account subject to the security interest and control of the First Lien Lenders and the Second Lien Lenders.

Eagle Shipping’s obligations under the Second Lien Facility are secured by a second priority lien on the same collateral securing Eagle Shipping’s obligations under the First Lien Facility, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined below). Eagle Shipping may grant additional security to the Second Lien Lenders from time to time in the future, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

The Second Lien Facility contains financial covenants substantially similar to those in the First Lien Facility, subject to standard cushions, requiring Eagle Shipping, among other things, to ensure that the aggregate market value of the vessels in the Company’s fleet (plus the value of certain additional collateral) at all times on or after July 1, 2017 does not fall below 100% in the third and fourth quarters of 2017, 110% in 2018 and 120% in 2019 of the aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding (subject to certain adjustments) under the Second Lien Facility (provided that Eagle Shipping will not be required to comply with such covenant until the First Lien Facility has been paid in full) and to maintain a minimum liquidity of not less than the greater of (i) $6,512,000 and (ii) $148,000 per vessel in Eagle Shipping’s fleet. In addition, the Second Lien Facility also imposes operating restrictions on Eagle Shipping including limiting Eagle Shipping’s ability to, among other things: pay dividends; incur additional indebtedness; create liens on assets; acquire and sell capital assets (including vessels); and merge or consolidate with, or transfer all or substantially all of Eagle Shipping’s assets to, another person. Eagle Shipping may not prepay the Second Lien Facility while amounts or commitments under the First Lien Facility remain outstanding.

The Second Lien 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 Second Lien Lenders’ judgment, there is significant risk that Eagle Shipping is or would become insolvent. Eagle Shipping is not permitted to pay dividends. Indebtedness under the Second Lien Facility may also be accelerated if Eagle Shipping experiences a change of control.

In connection with the entry into the Second Lien Loan Agreement, on March 30, 2016, the Company issued up to 344,587,536 shares of common stock to the Second Lien Lenders pro rata based on their participation in the Second Lien Facility, which Second Lien Lenders will receive shares equivalent to 90% of the outstanding common stock of the Company after such issuance. The issuance of the shares of common stock is being made pursuant to the exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

In a first step, the Company issued and delivered 7,425,519 shares of common stock, representing approximately 19.4% of the Company’s pre-transaction amount of outstanding shares of common stock, to the Second Lien Lenders (the “Initial Share Issuance”). In a second step and subject to certain approvals by our shareholders, the Company will issue and deliver up to an additional 335,192,945 shares of common stock, representing more than 20% of the Company’s current share count, to the Second Lien Lenders (the “Additional Share Issuance”) and an additional 1,969,072 shares of common stock, to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer who participated as Second Lien Lenders (the “Director and Officer Issuance”). On May 3, 2016, the Company filed a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC in connection with a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders to vote on the Additional Share Issuance, the Director and Officer Issuance, an increase in the amount of authorized shares of common stock, and a reverse stock split.

Intercreditor Agreement

Concurrently with Eagle Shipping’s entry into the A&R First Lien Loan Agreement and the Second Lien Loan Agreement, and in connection with the granting of security interest in the collateral under those agreements, Eagle Shipping entered into an Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2016 (the “Intercreditor Agreement”) among Eagle Shipping, the First Lien Agent and the Second Lien Agent. The Intercreditor Agreement governs the relative rights and priorities of the secured parties in respect of liens on the assets of Eagle Shipping and its subsidiaries securing the First Lien Facility and the Second Lien Facility.

Corporate Information

We maintain our principal executive offices at 300 First Stamford Place, 5^th Floor, Stamford, Connecticut 06902. Our telephone number at that address is (203) 876-8100. 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:

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.

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 March 31, 2016:

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 of Eagle Shipping, Eagle Shipping International (USA) LLC, Marshall Islands limited liability company that maintains its principal executive offices in Stamford, Connecticut and Eagle Bulk Pte. Ltd, a Singapore company. We currently have a total of seventy one shore based personnel, including our senior management team and our office staff, who either directly or through these subsidiaries, provides the following services:

Technical Management

The technical management of a small portion of our fleet is provided by our unaffiliated third party technical manager, V.Ships Limited, that we believe is one of the world's largest providers of independent ship management and related services. We have 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 V.Ships Limited, the external technical manager. On August 24, 2015, the Company provided three months’ notice to V. Ships Limited to terminate the technical management contract. We are in the process of transferring all of our vessels to in-house technical management. As of March 31, 2016, there are three vessels managed by V. Ships to be transferred to in-house management during the second quarter of 2016.

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.

The Company paid average monthly technical management fees of $10,140 and $11,042 per vessel during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively which is included in General and Administrative expenses.

Value of Assets and Cash Requirements

The replacement costs of comparable new vessels may be above or below the book value of our fleet. 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 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, 2015, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2016.

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 useful lives of fixed assets, the period of amortization, asset impairment, and the fair value of warrants and stock-based compensation. 

Results of Operations for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:

Fleet Data

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

In order to understand our discussion of our results of operations, it is important to understand the meaning of the following terms used in our analysis and the factors that influence our results of operations.

•                Ownership days:  We define ownership days as the aggregate number of days in a period during which each vessel in our fleet has been owned by us. Ownership days are an indicator of the size of our fleet over a period and affect both the amount of revenues and the amount of expenses that we record during a period.  

•                Chartered-in under operating lease days: We define chartered-in under operating lease days as the aggregate number of days in a period during which we chartered-in vessels. Periodically, the Company charters in vessels on a single trip basis.

•                Available days: We define available days as the number of our ownership days less the aggregate number of days that our vessels are off-hire due to vessel familiarization upon acquisition, scheduled repairs or repairs under guarantee, vessel upgrades or special surveys and the aggregate amount of time that we spend positioning our vessels. The shipping industry uses available days to measure the number of days in a period during which vessels should be capable of generating revenues. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, the Company completed drydocking of five vessels of which two started in 2015.During the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, the Company completed drydocking of five vessels, while three other vessels were still in drydocking as of March 31, 2015.

•                Operating days: We define operating days as the number of available days in a period less the aggregate number of days that our vessels are off-hire due to any reason, including unforeseen circumstances. The shipping industry uses operating days to measure the aggregate number of days in a period during which vessels actually generate revenues.

•                Fleet utilization: We calculate fleet utilization by dividing the number of our operating days during a period by the number of our available days during the period. The shipping industry uses fleet utilization to measure a company's efficiency in finding suitable employment for its vessels and minimizing the amount of days that its vessels are off-hire for reasons other than scheduled repairs or repairs under guarantee, vessel upgrades, special surveys or vessel positioning. Our fleet continues to perform at high utilization rates.

Revenues

Our revenues are derived from time and voyage charters. As is common in the shipping industry, we pay commissions ranging from 1.25% to 5.50% of the total daily charter hire rate of each charter to unaffiliated ship brokers associated with the charterers, depending on the number of brokers involved with arranging the charter.

Net time and voyage charter revenues in the quarter ended March 31, 2016 were $21,278,288 compared with $26,331,166 recorded in the comparable quarter in 2015. The decrease in revenue is attributable to lower time charter hire rates in the first quarter of 2016.

Voyage Expenses

To the extent that we employ our vessels on voyage charters, we will incur expenses that include bunkers, port charges, canal tolls, cargo handling operations, as these expenses are borne by the vessel owner on voyage charters. Bunkers, port charges, and canal toll expenses primarily increase in periods during which vessels are employed on voyage charters because these expenses are for vessels account. Voyage expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016 were $9,244,047, compared to $5,182,175 in the comparable quarter in 2015. The increase is mainly attributable to an increase in the number of freight voyages in the current quarter compared to the prior year.

Vessel Expenses

Vessel expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016 were $20,480,635 compared to $20,448,706 in the comparable quarter in 2015.

Vessel operating expenses include crew wages and related costs, the cost of insurance, expenses relating to repairs and maintenance, the cost of spares and consumable stores and related inventory, tonnage taxes, pre-operating costs associated with the delivery of acquired vessels including providing the newly acquired vessels with initial provisions and stores, other miscellaneous expenses.

Other factors beyond our control, some of which may affect the shipping industry in general, may cause vessel operating expenses to increase, including, for instance, developments relating to market prices for crew, insurance and petroleum-based lubricants and supplies.

Depreciation and Amortization

For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, total depreciation and amortization expense was $9,396,701 and $10,557,171, respectively. Total depreciation and amortization expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016 includes $8,902,929 of vessel and other fixed assets depreciation and $493,772 relating to the amortization of deferred drydocking costs.  Comparable amounts for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 were $10,271,775 of vessel and other fixed assets depreciation and $285,396 of amortization of deferred drydocking costs. The decrease in depreciation expense is attributable to the sale of Kite in the second quarter of 2015 and lower book value of vessels subsequent to the impairment charge of $50,872,734 recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The cost of all vessels is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the expected useful life of each vessel. Depreciation is based on the cost of the vessel less its estimated residual value. We estimate the useful life of our vessels to be 25 years from the date of initial delivery from the shipyard to the original owner. Furthermore, we estimate the residual values of our vessels to be $300 per lightweight ton, which we believe is common in the dry bulk shipping industry. Drydocking relates to our regularly scheduled maintenance program necessary to preserve the quality of our vessels as well as to comply with international shipping standards and environmental laws and regulations. Management anticipates that vessels are to be drydocked every two and a half years for vessels older than 15 years and every five years for vessels younger than 15 years, accordingly, these expenses are deferred and amortized over that period. 

General and Administrative Expenses

Our general and administrative expenses include onshore vessel administration related expenses such as legal and professional expenses and administrative and other expenses including payroll and expenses relating to our executive officers and office staff, office rent and expenses, technical management fees , directors’ fees, and directors and officers insurance. General and administrative expenses also include non-cash compensation expenses. 

General and administrative expenses for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016, and 2015, were $5,331,343 and $6,435,003, respectively. These general and administrative expenses include a non-cash compensation component of $826,613 and $1,884,452, for 2016 and 2015 respectively. The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016 is primarily attributable to lower stock based compensation in the first quarter of 2016.

Refinancing Expenses

Refinancing charges for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 were $5,634,260 and none respectively. These costs primarily relate to the professional fees incurred in connection with the refinancing transaction which was closed on March 30, 2016.

Effects of Inflation

We do not believe that inflation has had or is likely, in the foreseeable future, to have a significant impact on vessel operating expenses, drydocking expenses or general and administrative expenses.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash used in operating activities during the three-month period ended March 31, 2016 was $19,494,868, compared with net cash used in operating activities of $9,636,748 during the corresponding three-month period ended March 31, 2015. The increase is primarily due to lower charter rates and professional fees with regard to the refinancing transaction.

Net cash used in investing activities during the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, was $508,792, compared with $742,014 during the corresponding three-month period ended March 31, 2015.

Net cash provided by financing activities during the three-month period ended March 31, 2016 was $11,876,073 compared to net cash used in financing activities of $5,191,756 during the corresponding three-month period ended March 31, 2015. The increase in financing activities is due to $60,000,000 received from our Second Lien Loan facility offset by repayment of $15,625,000 of our term loan and $30,158,500 of our revolver loan. The Company also paid $2,340,427 in deferred financing costs.

As of March 31, 2016, our cash balance was $16,768,574, compared to a cash balance of $24,896,161 at December 31, 2015. Also recorded as Restricted Cash is an amount of $141,161, which collateralizes letters of credit relating to our office leases. 

As of March 31, 2016 our total availability in the revolving credit facility under the First Lien Facility was $40,158,500.

At March 31, 2016, the Company’s debt consisted of $199,591,500 in term loans, net of $5,999,913 debt discount and deferred financing costs and the Second Lien Facility of $60,000,000 net of $204,519 deferred financing costs.

Liquidity

As a result of the very challenging market conditions in the dry bulk shipping sector in recent years, the Company has incurred significant losses since 2012, and negative operating cash flow since 2013.  In 2014, the Company filed for bankruptcy and emerged from bankruptcy in October 2014.  Since emerging from bankruptcy, the Company has continued to incur significant losses.  The rate environment continues to be low, and the Company had certain events of default under its credit facility for which its lenders agreed to forbearance agreements pursuant to a forbearance agreement, as amended regarding such defaults. In March 2016, the Company completed the refinancing discussed below, which mitigated the liquidity issues facing the Company. After the refinancing, the Company’s credit line as part of the First Lien Facility, as defined herein, will be available for working capital needs of the Company. However, the drybulk sector continues to experience significant challenges and shipping rates have been very low. There are no assurances that the level of liquidity will be adequate to continue to fund the Company’s operating needs, particularly if the dry bulk rate environment continues to operate at historically low levels.  If such low rates continue, the Company may be required to sell vessels, or to raise additional funds, although there is no assurance that the sale of any vessels or financing will be available on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all.

First Lien Facility

On March 30, 2016, Eagle Shipping, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries that are guarantors under the Exit Financing Facility, as guarantors, entered into an Amended and Restated First Lien Loan Agreement (the “A&R First Lien Loan Agreement”) with the lenders thereunder (the “First Lien Lenders”) and ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC, as agent and security trustee for the lenders. The A&R First Lien Loan Agreement amends and restates the Exit Financing Facility in its entirety, providing for Eagle Shipping to be the borrower in the place of the Company, and further provides for a waiver of any and all events of default occurring as a result of the voluntary OFAC Disclosure. The A&R First Lien Loan Agreement provides for a term loan outstanding as of March 30, 2016, in the amount of $201,468,750 as well as a $50,000,000 revolving credit facility, of which $10,000,000 was undrawn prior to the refinancing (the term loan, together with the revolving credit facility, the “First Lien Facility”). The First Lien Facility matures on October 15, 2019. An aggregate fee of $600,000 was paid to the Agent and First Lien Lenders in connection with the First Lien Facility.

As of March 31, 2016 our total availability under the revolving credit facility included in the First Lien Facility was $40,158,500.

Eagle Shipping’s obligations under the First Lien Facility are secured by a first priority mortgage on each of the vessels currently in the Company’s fleet and such other vessels that it may from time to time include with the approval of the First Lien Lenders, a first assignment of its earnings account, its liquidity account and its vessel-owning subsidiaries’ earnings accounts, a first assignment of all charters with terms that 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 Eagle Shipping’s vessel-owning subsidiaries. In the future, Eagle Shipping may grant additional security to the lenders from time to time.

The First Lien Facility contains financial covenants requiring Eagle Shipping, among other things, to ensure that the aggregate market value of the vessels in the Company’s fleet (plus the value of certain additional collateral) at all times on or after July 1, 2017 does not fall below 100% in the third and fourth quarters of 2017, 110% in 2018 and 120% in 2019 of the aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding (subject to certain adjustments) under the First Lien Facility and maintain minimum liquidity of not less than the greater of (i) $8,140,000 and (ii) $185,000 per vessel in the Company’s fleet. In addition, the First Lien Facility also imposes operating restrictions on Eagle Shipping including limiting Eagle Shipping’s ability to, among other things: pay dividends; incur additional indebtedness; create liens on assets; acquire and sell capital assets (including vessels); and merge or consolidate with, or transfer all or substantially all of Eagle Shipping’s assets to, another person. Upon entering into the First Lien Facility, Eagle Shipping made a principal payment with respect to the term loan of $11,718,750. For the fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2018 and the fiscal years ending December 31, 2017 and 2018, Eagle Shipping is obligated to repay the First Lien Facility semi-annually in an amount equal to 75% of Eagle Shipping’s excess cash flow for the preceding semi-annual period, as defined in the First Lien Facility, subject to a cap of such mandatory prepayments of $15,625,000 in any fiscal year. Thereafter, Eagle Shipping will make payments of $3,906,250 on January 15, 2019, April 15, 2019, and July 15, 2019, and a final balloon payment equal to the remaining amount outstanding under the First Lien Facility on October 15, 2019.

The First Lien 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 First Lien Lenders’ judgment, there is significant risk that Eagle Shipping is or would become insolvent. Eagle Shipping is not permitted to pay dividends. Indebtedness under the First Lien Facility may also be accelerated if Eagle Shipping experiences a change of control.

Second Lien Facility

On March 30, 2016, Eagle Shipping, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into a Second Lien Loan Agreement (the “Second Lien Loan Agreement”) with certain lenders (the “Second Lien Lenders”) and Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB as agent for the Second Lien Lenders (the “Second Lien Agent”). The Second Lien Lenders include certain of the Company’s existing shareholders as well as other investors. The Second Lien Loan Agreement provides for a term loan in the amount of $60,000,000 (the “Second Lien Facility”), and matures on January 14, 2020 (91 days after the original stated maturity of the First Lien Facility). The term loan under the Second Lien Facility bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 14.00% per annum (with a 1.0% LIBOR floor) or the Base Rate (as defined in the Second Lien Loan Agreement) plus 13.00% per annum, paid in kind quarterly in arrears. The Company used the proceeds from the Second Lien Facility to pay down amounts outstanding in respect of the revolving credit facility under the Exit Financing Facility, pay three quarters of amortization payments under the Exit Financing Facility, pay transaction fees in connection with the entry into the A&R First Lien Loan Agreement and the Second Lien Loan Agreement, and add cash to the balance sheet, which cash would be deposited in an account subject to the security interest and control of the First Lien Lenders and the Second Lien Lenders.

Eagle Shipping’s obligations under the Second Lien Facility are secured by a second priority lien on the same collateral securing Eagle Shipping’s obligations under the First Lien Facility, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined below). Eagle Shipping may grant additional security to the Second Lien Lenders from time to time in the future, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

The Second Lien Facility contains financial covenants substantially similar to those in the First Lien Facility, subject to standard cushions, requiring Eagle Shipping, among other things, to ensure that the aggregate market value of the vessels in the Company’s fleet (plus the value of certain additional collateral) at all times on or after July 1, 2017 does not fall below 100% in the third and fourth quarters of 2017, 110% in 2018 and 120% in 2019 of the aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding (subject to certain adjustments) under the Second Lien Facility (provided that Eagle Shipping will not be required to comply with such covenant until the First Lien Facility has been paid in full) and to maintain a minimum liquidity of not less than the greater of (i) $6,512,000 and (ii) $148,000 per vessel in Eagle Shipping’s fleet. In addition, the Second Lien Facility also imposes operating restrictions on Eagle Shipping including limiting Eagle Shipping’s ability to, among other things: pay dividends; incur additional indebtedness; create liens on assets; acquire and sell capital assets (including vessels); and merge or consolidate with, or transfer all or substantially all of Eagle Shipping’s assets to, another person. Eagle Shipping may not prepay the Second Lien Facility while amounts or commitments under the First Lien Facility remain outstanding.

The Second Lien 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 Second Lien Lenders’ judgment, there is significant risk that Eagle Shipping is or would become insolvent. Eagle Shipping is not permitted to pay dividends. Indebtedness under the Second Lien Facility may also be accelerated if Eagle Shipping experiences a change of control.

In connection with the entry into the Second Lien Loan Agreement, on March 30, 2016, the Company plan to issue up to 344,587,536 shares of common stock to the Second Lien Lenders pro rata based on their participation in the Second Lien Facility, which Second Lien Lenders will receive shares equivalent to 90% of the outstanding common stock of the Company after such issuance. The issuance of the shares of common stock is being made pursuant to the exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act .

In a first step, the Company issued and delivered 7,425,519 shares of common stock as part of the Initial Share Issuance, representing approximately 19.4% of the Company’s pre-transaction amount of outstanding shares of common stock, to the Second Lien Lenders. In a second step and subject to certain approvals by our shareholders, the Company will issue and deliver up to an additional 335,192,945 shares of common stock as part of the Additional Share Issuance, representing more than 20% of the Company’s current share count, to the Second Lien Lenders and an additional 1,969,072 shares of common stock, to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer who participated as Second Lien Lenders as part of the Director and Officer Issuance. On May 3, 2016 the Company filed a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC in connection with a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders to vote on the Additional Share Issuance, the Director and Officer Issuance, an increase in the amount of authorized shares of common stock, and a reverse stock split.

Intercreditor Agreement

Concurrently with Eagle Shipping’s entry into the A&R First Lien Loan Agreement and the Second Lien Loan Agreement, and in connection with the granting of security interest in the collateral under those agreements, Eagle Shipping entered into an Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2016 (the “Intercreditor Agreement”) among Eagle Shipping, the First Lien Agent and the Second Lien Agent. The Intercreditor Agreement governs the relative rights and priorities of the secured parties in respect of liens on the assets of Eagle Shipping and its subsidiaries securing the First Lien Facility and the Second Lien Facility.

Capital Expenditures

Our capital expenditures relate to the purchase of vessels and capital improvements to our vessels which are expected to enhance the revenue earning capabilities and safety of these vessels.

In addition to acquisitions that we may undertake in future periods, the other major capital expenditures include funding the Company's program of regularly scheduled drydocking necessary to comply with international shipping standards and environmental laws and regulations. Although the Company has some flexibility regarding the timing of its dry docking, the costs are relatively predictable. The Company anticipates that vessels are to be drydocked every five years for vessels younger than 15 years and every two and a half years for vessels older than 15 years, accordingly, these expenses are deferred and amortized over that period. Funding of these requirements is anticipated to be met with cash from operations. We anticipate that this process of recertification will require us to reposition these vessels from a discharge port to shipyard facilities, which will reduce our available days and operating days during that period.

Drydocking costs incurred are deferred and amortized to expense on a straight-line basis over the period through the date of the next scheduled drydocking for those vessels. In the three months ended March 31, 2016, three of our vessels were drydocked, and we incurred $1,276,178 in drydocking related costs. In the three months ended March 31, 2015, five of our vessels were drydocked, three other vessels were still in drydock as of March 31, 2015 and we incurred $3,060,384 in drydocking related costs. The following table represents certain information about the estimated costs for anticipated vessel drydockings in the next four quarters, along with the anticipated off-hire days:

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Other Contingencies

We refer you to Note 6 “Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Proceedings” to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report for a discussion of our contingencies related to claim litigation. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur in these matters, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our business, liquidity, results of operations, financial position and cash flows in the period in which the ruling occurs. The potential impact from legal proceedings on our business, liquidity, results of operations, financial position and cash flows, could change in the future.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no material changes from the market risk disclosure set forth in the section entitled “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2016.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

As of March 31, 2016, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective and were operating at a reasonable assurance level as of March 31, 2016.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls.

The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1 - Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we are involved in various disputes and litigation matters that arise in the ordinary course of our business, principally personal injury and property casualty claims. Those claims, even if lacking merit, could result in the expenditure by us of significant financial and managerial resources. Information about legal proceedings is set forth in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 1A – Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the “Risk Factors” previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2016.

Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

During the period covered by this report, the Company sold securities without registration under the Securities Act, as previously disclosed on a Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 3 - Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

Item 5 - Other Information  

None.

Item 6 – Exhibits

EXHIBIT INDEX

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

EAGLE BULK SHIPPING INC.

By: /s/ Gary Vogel

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gary Vogel

Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer of the registrant)

Date: May 10, 2016

By: /s/ Adir Katzav

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Adir Katzav

Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer of the registrant)

Date: May 10, 2016

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