Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc
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t 2010 al Repor Annu ing Inc. ing Inc. ulk Shipp ulk Shipp gle B gle B Ea Ea aE B elg pihS klu .cnIgi unA ropeR la 012 t Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a leading global owner of Supramax dry bulk vessels that range in size from 50,000 to 60,000 deadweight tons. We transport a broad range of major and minor bulk cargoes, including iron ore, coal, grain, cement and fertilizer, along worldwide shipping routes. Financial Highlights In thousands, except per share 2010 2009 2008 Financial Summary: Revenues $ 265,036 $ 192,574 $ 185,425 EBITDA (a) 148,663 121,239 127,683 Net Income 26,845 33,287 61,633 Depreciation and Amortization 62,945 44,329 33,949 Net cash from operating activities 94,340 90,525 109,536 Vessels, at Depreciated Cost 1,509,798 1,010,610 874,675 Total Assets 1,896,573 1,608,203 1,362,176 Shareholders’ Equity 669,087 619,729 471,427 Share and Per Share Data: Basic Income per Share $ 0.43 $ 0.60 $ 1.32 Diluted Income per Share $ 0.43 $ 0.60 $ 1.31 Cash Dividend Declared per Share — — $ 2.00 Shares Outstanding at December 31 62,560 62,127 47,031 Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding 62,417 55,923 46,889 Other Data: Number of Vessels (b) 46 47 47 Average age of On-the-Water Fleet (in years) 5 6 6 (a) As defined in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K (b) Includes vessels contracted for construction To Our Shareholders: 2010 was a transformational year for Eagle Bulk Shipping, as we grew our fleet by 46% amid ongoing volatility in the global shipping markets. Throughout, we maintained the hallmarks of our five years as a public company: stellar operating performance; profitability; and the continued build-out of the Eagle Bulk brand as among the finest in the dry bulk sector of the shipping industry. I am proud to share the following highlights from our performance during the past year: • Gross time charter and freight revenues of $278.5 million. Fleet utilization rate was unchanged at 99.6%. • Net Income of $26.8 million or $0.43 per share (based on a weighted average of 62,417,247 diluted shares outstanding for the year). • EBITDA, as adjusted for exceptional items under the terms of the Company’s credit agreement, was $148.7 million for the 2010. Eagle Bulk’s Expanded Global Shipping Fleet This performance occurred against the backdrop of one of the industry’s most successful new building programs, which in 2010 included delivery of 12 new vessels. This growth has increased Eagle Bulk’s vessel-owned days – a key barometer for generating revenue –to 12,958 from just above 2,000 when the Company went public in 2005. Our fully-delivered fleet by 2012 will number 46 vessels, representing a very impressive cumulative annual growth rate, or CAGR, in vessel-owned days of over 25%. While the numbers themselves are impressive, Eagle Bulk’s fleet growth carries significant strategic benefits as well. The first pertains to chartering flexibility, as our larger scale allowed us to become more opportunistic in our chartering during 2010. Throughout the year, we implemented a more dynamic and balanced approach between long-term fixed time charters, short-term fixed time charters, spot market charters and index-based charters. In addition to our long-term time charters, during the first four months of the year, we placed four vessels on charters linked to the Baltic Supramax Index (“BSI”) and fixed an additional four vessels on short-term charters. This opportunistic, revenue-maximizing chartering strategy would not have been feasible without the scale of a larger fleet. The second strategic benefit of a larger fleet is that it has enabled us to strengthen and deepen relationships with industrial end users and other commercial interests. During 2010, we sought to leverage these assets by launching Eagle Bulk Pte, Ltd., a freight trading operation that will allow us to monetize the market insight and intelligence that comes from operating a global shipping fleet. In support of this effort, we opened a new office in Singapore and have assembled a strong, deeply experienced team. We believe the benefits from our trading group’s activities will become manifest in 2011 and beyond. Eagle Bulk’s Fleet and Management Team: Distinct Competitive Advantages In prior years, I have discussed what I believe are Eagle Bulk’s distinct competitive advantages. While our growing fleet is certainly one of them, the shipping business is about much more than size. The details are – and always will be – critically important. Any detailed discussion concerning Eagle Bulk begins with the specific attributes of our asset class, the Supramax vessel. We have long advocated for the superiority and versatility of the Supramax, which due to its size is ideal for being able to berth at most ports around the world while carrying so-called minor bulks that the larger vessels cannot economically transport. Onboard cranes allow for these vessels to load and discharge without requiring the use of onshore equipment – another key advantage in the developing markets served by Eagle Bulk. As a result of these positive attributes, Supramax vessels outperformed their larger peers in the dry bulk industry on a percentage basis, the Panamax and Capesize vessels during 2010 with spot rates averaging 40% higher than industry forecasts. This all yields an important conclusion: with one of the largest Supramax fleets in the world and with an average fleet age of just 4.6 years, Eagle Bulk is extremely well positioned to capture revenue opportunities derived from the full spectrum of commodities, including the minor bulks that carried much of the market in 2010. A second competitive advantage is the strength and experience of the Eagle Bulk management team. If the markets have taught us anything over the past few years, it is that volatility is the new norm. Adroit, skillful management of commercial relationships takes on added importance in these environments, and we are proud of our track record in good times and challenging ones. The Eagle Bulk brand and operating record has been instrumental in building our new Singapore office and local presence in the Pacific market. Market Discussion A year ago, many in the industry were projecting healthy growth in seaborne trade demand for the important dry bulk categories on the back of robust growth in the so-called BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and Asia. Except for iron ore, which still increased by a solid 9.3% in 2010, actual growth rates for the remaining categories all came in higher than expected. The largest positive surprises were in coal and grains, although growth in the protected minor bulk trade reached an impressive 12.1% as well. Market dislocations that weakened the market at the end of 2010 and early 2011, including heavy flooding in Australia, the Korea Lines restructuring, restrictions on Indonesian coal exports, and most recently the tsunami in Japan, should continue to abate over the next several quarters with a corresponding positive impact on the global demand equation. The big story in 2010 from a market perspective, however, was the impact of growing vessel supply. The reality of the sub-Panamax market was consistent with our view all along: slippage and cancellations for the geared class of vessels totaled over 40%. We believe these slippage and cancellation rates will continue into 2011. Vessel scrapping has also accelerated as a result of the weaker freight market over the last six months: over 1.5 million deadweight tons has been scrapped in January alone, representing 25% of the total for 2010. These trends – orderbook slippage/cancellation and accelerated scrapping – will help to manage the new supply of vessels entering into the market. Looking Ahead to 2011 As I look forward, I believe we are entering a new phase in our corporate story. As we complete our newbuilding program, Eagle Bulk is strongly positioned in the marketplace with a young, highly versatile fleet at our disposal and market fundamentals that are increasingly favoring the minor bulk trades. Our advantages are only amplified by our commercial trading capabilities, which yield market insight that enhances our chartering abilities. We thank you for your support in 2010 and look forward to reporting on our progress throughout 2011. Respectfully, Sophocles N. Zoullas Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer On The Water Our Fleet Ship’s Cargo Gear Vessel Deadweight Tons (DWT) Year Built Length (m) Cranes Grabs Nighthawk 57,809 2011 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Thrush 53,297 2011 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Martin 57,809 2010 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Kingfisher 57,776 2010 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Jay 57,802 2010 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Ibis Bulker 57,775 2010 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Grebe Bulker 57,809 2010 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Gannet Bulker 57,809 2010 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Imperial Eagle 55,989 2010 190 m 4 x 30 Tons 4 x 12.5 m3 Avocet 53,462 2010 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Thrasher 53,360 2010 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Golden Eagle 55,989 2010 190 m 4 x 30 Tons 4 x 12.5 m3 Egret Bulker 57,809 2010 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Crane 57,809 2010 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Canary 57,809 2009 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Bittern 57,809 2009 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Stellar Eagle 55,989 2009 190 m 4 x 30 Tons 4 x 12.5 m3 Crested Eagle 55,989 2009 190 m 4 x 30 Tons 4 x 12.5 m3 Crowned Eagle 55,940 2008 190 m 4 x 30 Tons 4 x 12.5 m3 Woodstar 53,390 2008 190 m 4 x 35 Tons 4 x 14.0 m3 Wren 53,349 2008 190 m 4 x 35 Tons