Scorpio Bulkers Inc. Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2019 and Declares a Quarterly Dividend


MONACO, April 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scorpio Bulkers Inc. (NYSE: SALT) (“Scorpio Bulkers”, or the “Company”), today reported its results for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

The Company also announced that on April 26, 2019, its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share on the Company’s common shares.

Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018

For the first quarter of 2019, the Company’s GAAP net loss was $3.5 million, or $0.05 loss per diluted share, including:

  • an approximately $15.0 million non-cash gain and cash dividend income of $0.5 million, or $0.23 earnings per diluted share, from the Company’s equity investment in Scorpio Tankers Inc.; and

  • a write-down of assets held for sale of approximately $7.5 million, or $0.11 loss per diluted share, related to the sale of the SBI Electra and SBI Flamenco.

For the same period in 2018, the Company’s GAAP net loss was $5.8 million, or $0.08 loss per diluted share.

Total vessel revenues for the first quarter of 2019 were $50.4 million, compared to $54.3 million for the same period in 2018. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018 were $25.3 million and $20.4 million, respectively (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures below).

For the first quarter of 2019, the Company’s adjusted net income was $4.0 million, or $0.06 adjusted earnings per diluted share, which excludes the impact of the write-down of assets held for sale of $7.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2019 was $32.8 million. There were no such non-GAAP adjustments to net income in the first quarter of 2018 (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures below).

TCE Revenue

TCE Revenue Earned during the First Quarter of 2019

  • Our Kamsarmax fleet earned $11,176 per day
  • Our Ultramax fleet earned $9,177 per day

Voyages Fixed thus far for the Second Quarter of 2019

  • Kamsarmax fleet: approximately $10,487 per day for 42% of the days
  • Ultramax fleet: approximately $9,488 per day for 48% of the days

Cash and Cash Equivalents

As of April 26, 2019, the Company had approximately $57.9 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Recent Significant Events

Vessel Sales

In March 2019, the Company entered into agreements with unaffiliated third parties to sell the SBI Electra and SBI Flamenco, two 2015 Chinese built Kamsarmax vessels, for approximately $48.0 million in aggregate. Delivery of the vessels is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2019. As a result, the Company recorded a write down of approximately $7.5 million in the first quarter of 2019.  The Company will also write off approximately $0.4 million of deferred finance costs in the second quarter of 2019 when paying off the existing debt.

Dividend

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors declared and the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share totaling approximately $1.4 million.

On April 26, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share, payable on or about May 31, 2019, to all shareholders of record as of May 15, 2019. As of April 26, 2019, 71,217,258 shares were outstanding.

Debt

CMBFL Lease Financing

In March 2019, the Company agreed to sell and leaseback three Ultramax vessels (SBI Pegasus, SBI Subaru and SBI Ursa) and four Kamsarmax vessels (SBI Lambada, SBI Macarena, SBI Carioca and SBI Capoeira) from CMB Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. Upon completion, which is estimated to take place in the second quarter of 2019, the Company’s liquidity is expected to increase by up to $57.2 million in aggregate, comprising of up to $45.4 million upon closing after the repayment of outstanding debt and an additional tranche of up to $11.8 million for installation of exhaust gas cleaning systems (“scrubbers”) on the seven vessels. As part of the agreements, the Company will bareboat charter-in the vessels for a period of seven years. In addition, the Company has purchase options beginning after the end of the third year of each agreement.  There is also a purchase option for each vessel upon the expiration of each agreement.

Upon the closing of this financing, approximately $74.8 million of existing debt is expected to be prepaid and approximately $1.3 million of deferred financing costs are expected to be written off on the $330.0 Million Credit Facility.

$21.4 Million Lease Financing - SBI Samba

On April 15, 2019, the Company closed a financing transaction with an unaffiliated third party involving the sale and leaseback of the SBI Samba, a 2015 Japanese built Kamsarmax vessel, for consideration of $21.4 million. As part of the transaction, the Company has agreed to make payments of $6,850 per day under a five-year bareboat charter agreement with the buyer. The transaction also provides the Company with the option to repurchase the vessel beginning on the third anniversary of the sale until the end of the bareboat charter agreement.

$42.0 Million Credit Facility

During April 2019, the Company prepaid approximately $14.1 million of its $42.0 Million Credit Facility and wrote off approximately $0.8 million of deferred financing costs as the SBI Samba is now financed by the $21.4 Million Lease Financing - SBI Samba.

$45.0 Million Lease Financing - SBI Virgo and SBI Libra

In April 2019, the Company entered into a financing transaction with an unaffiliated third party involving the sale and leaseback of the SBI Virgo and SBI Libra, two 2017 Chinese built Ultramax vessels, for consideration of $21.0 million each. Upon completion, which is estimated to take place in the second quarter of 2019, the Company’s liquidity is expected to increase by up to $17.0 million in aggregate, comprising of $14.0 million upon closing after the repayment of outstanding debt and an additional tranche of up to $3.0 million for the installation of scrubbers on both vessels. As part of the agreements, the Company has agreed to bareboat charter-in the vessels for a period of 11 years and will have purchase options beginning after the end of the fourth year of each agreement.

Upon the closing of this financing, approximately $27.6 million of existing debt is expected to be prepaid and approximately $0.4 million of deferred financing costs are expected to be written off on the $85.5 Million Credit Facility

AVIC Lease Financing

In April 2019, the Company agreed to sell and leaseback six Ultramax vessels (SBI Antares, SBI Bravo, SBI Hydra, SBI Leo, SBI Lyra and SBI Maia) to AVIC International Leasing Co., Ltd. Upon completion, which is estimated to take place in the second quarter of 2019, the Company’s liquidity is expected to increase by up to $62.4 million in aggregate, comprising of up to $52.6 million upon closing after the repayment of outstanding debt and an additional tranche of up to $9.8 million for the installation of scrubbers on the six vessels. As part of the agreements, the Company will bareboat charter-in the vessels for a period of eight years and will have purchase options beginning after the end of the second year of each agreement as well as upon the expiration of each agreement.

Upon the closing of this financing, approximately $61.9 million of existing debt is expected to be prepaid and approximately $0.7 million of deferred financing costs are expected to be written off on the $330.0 Million Credit Facility.

Scrubber Financings

In addition to the scrubber financing available under the CMBFL Lease Financing, the $45.0 Million Lease Financing - SBI Virgo and SBI Libra and the AVIC Lease Financing, the Company reached agreements with certain lenders to increase certain existing credit facilities by up to $46.0 million in the aggregate to finance the installation of scrubbers on certain of its vessels. The additional amounts will be drawn upon the installation of the scrubbers on the respective vessels, are structured as upsizings of existing credit facilities, and have loan margins matching the loan margins on the respective existing credit facilities.

These financing arrangements will be subject to conditions precedent and the execution of definitive documentation.

Debt Overview

The Company’s outstanding debt balances, gross of unamortized deferred financing costs as of March 31, 2019 and April 26, 2019, are as follows (dollars in thousands):

  As of
March 31, 2019
 As of April 26,
2019
 As of April 26,
2019
       
Credit Facility Amount Outstanding Amount
Committed (1)
Senior Notes $73,625  $73,625  $ 
$330 Million Credit Facility (2) 136,669  136,669   
$42 Million Credit Facility 14,105     
$12.5 Million Credit Facility 9,204  9,204   
$27.3 Million Credit Facility 9,008  9,008   
$85.5 Million Credit Facility (2) 77,340  77,340  5,712 
$38.7 Million Credit Facility 34,200  34,200  4,260 
$12.8 Million Credit Facility 12,325  12,325  1,398 
$30.0 Million Credit Facility 28,864  28,864  2,585 
$60.0 Million Credit Facility (2) 57,594  57,594  2,862 
$184.0 Million Credit Facility 176,458  176,458  17,448 
$34.0 Million Credit Facility 33,393  33,393  3,000 
$90.0 Million Credit Facility 88,025  88,025  8,706 
$19.6 Million Lease Financing - SBI Rumba 17,799  17,697   
$19.0 Million Lease Financing - SBI Tango 18,166  18,071   
$19.0 Million Lease Financing - SBI Echo 18,212  18,121   
$20.5 Million Lease Financing - SBI Hermes 19,991  19,888   
$21.4 Million Lease Financing - SBI Samba   21,287   
CMBFL Lease Financing     133,904 
$45.0 Million Lease Financing - SBI Virgo & SBI Libra     45,000 
AVIC Lease Financing     125,460 
Total $824,978  $831,769  $350,335 
  1. Includes the maximum loan amount available for the installation of scrubbers following upsizes of certain credit facilities. These financing arrangements will be subject to conditions precedent and the execution of definitive documentation.
  2. These facilities are expected to be paid down in part or fully upon the closing of the CMBFL Lease Financing, $45.0 Million Lease Financing - SBI Virgo & SBI Libra, the AVIC Lease Financing and the sale of the SBI Flamenco and SBI Electra.

The Company’s projected quarterly debt repayments on its bank loans and senior notes and bareboat charter payments on its finance leases through 2020 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

   Principal on
Bank Loans and
Senior Notes
 Finance Leases Total (1)
 Q2 2019 (2) (3)  204,177   10,518   214,695 
 Q3 2019 (4)  83,476   11,293   94,769 
 Q4 2019  10,910   11,469   22,379 
 Q1 2020  10,827   11,398   22,225 
 Q2 2020  11,875   11,667   23,542 
 Q3 2020  11,339   11,949   23,288 
 Q4 2020 (5)  20,136   11,847   31,983 
 Total $352,740  $80,141  $432,881 
  1. Includes estimated repayments on the upsizings of certain credit facilities for the installation of scrubbers, for which the timing of the drawdowns and repayment schedules set forth are estimates only and may vary as the timing of the related installations finalize.
  2. Relates to payments expected to be made from April 27, 2019 to June 30, 2019.
  3. Includes (i) the repayment of $28.7 million of the $60.0 Million Credit Facility upon the closing of the sale of the SBI Flamenco and SBI Electra, (ii) the repayment of the $330.0 Million Credit Facility in full upon the closing of the CMBFL and AVIC Lease Financings and (iii) the repayment of $27.6 million of the $85.5 Million Credit Facility upon the closing of the $45.0 Million Lease Financing - SBI Virgo & SBI Libra.
  4. Includes $73.6 million repayment of Senior Notes due at maturity.
  5. Includes $8.0 million repayment of $12.5 Million Credit Facility due at maturity.

IMO 2020

The Company’s projected schedule and estimated payments for the installation of scrubbers on all the vessels in the Company’s fleet is as follows (dollars in thousands):

   Number of Vessels by Type Estimated
Payments (1)
 
   Ultramax Kamsarmax  
 Q2 2019 (2)   3  8,790  
 Q3 2019 9  1  17,228  
 Q4 2019 1  4  22,819  
 Q1 2020 11  1  26,042  
 Q2 2020 9  4  21,588  
 Q3 2020 4  4  16,239  
 Q4 2020 3    6,501  
 Q1 2021     1,457  
 Total 37  17  $120,664  
  1. Includes estimated cash payments for scrubbers that are due in advance of the scheduled service and may be scheduled to occur in quarters prior to the actual installation. In addition to these installment payments, these amounts also include estimates of the installation costs of such systems. The timing of the payments set forth are estimates only and may vary as the timing of the related installations finalize.
  2. Relates to payments expected to be made from April 27, 2019 to June 30, 2019.

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

For the first quarter of 2019, the Company’s GAAP net loss was $3.5 million, or $0.05 loss per diluted share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $5.8 million, or $0.08 loss per diluted share, in the same period in 2018.  Results for the first quarter of 2019 include a non-cash gain of approximately $15.0 million and cash dividend income of $0.5 million, or $0.23 earnings per diluted share, from the Company’s equity investment in Scorpio Tankers Inc. and charges of approximately $7.5 million related to the write down of the SBI Electra and SBI Flamenco, which were classified as held for sale. EBITDA for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018 were $25.3 million and $20.4 million, respectively (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures below).

For the first quarter of 2019, the Company’s adjusted net income was $4.0 million, or $0.06 adjusted earnings per diluted share, which excludes the impact of the write-down of assets held for sale of $7.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2019 was $32.8 million. There were no such non-GAAP adjustments to net income in the first quarter of 2018 (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures below).

Total vessel revenues for the first quarter of 2019 were $50.4 million compared to $54.3 million in the first quarter of 2018. The Company’s TCE revenue (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures below) for the first quarter of 2019 was $50.2 million, a decrease of $3.8 million from the prior year period. Lower activity during the first quarter of 2019 in both the Atlantic and Pacific, coupled with poor sentiment due to the severe disruptions of iron ore export capacity in Brazil and Australia resulted in lower revenues for both the Ultramax and Kamsarmax operations. Coal and mineral imports into Europe from the Atlantic declined due to lower industrial activity, higher natural gas consumption and mild temperatures. The continuation of Chinese coal import restrictions from Australia along with high stockpiles due to the mild winter and reduced industrial activity kept demand down, as did Chinese grain import restrictions from Canada.  These factors resulted in lower rates across the Pacific. The Company was able to offset a portion of the impact of the decreased activity through the time charters it entered into in the third and fourth quarters of 2018.

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were $56.6 million, including the write-down of assets held for sale of $7.5 million, compared to $49.8 million in the first quarter of 2018.

Ultramax Operations

 Three Months Ended March 31,    
Dollars in thousands2019 2018 Change % Change
TCE Revenue:       
Vessel revenue$31,282  $33,330  $(2,048) (6)
Voyage expenses61  128  (67) (52)
TCE Revenue$31,221  $33,202  $(1,981) (6)
Operating expenses:       
Vessel operating costs17,637  17,236  401  2 
Charterhire expense870  915  (45) (5)
Vessel depreciation9,197  9,190  7   
General and administrative expense1,027  1,073  (46) (4)
Total operating expenses$28,731  $28,414  $317  1 
Operating income$2,490  $4,788  $(2,298) (48)

Vessel revenue for the Company’s Ultramax Operations decreased to $31.3 million for the first quarter of 2019 from $33.3 million in the prior year period. Import restrictions and the levels of existing coal stockpiles reduced demand, resulting in lower rates earned by the Ultramax Operations.

TCE revenue (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures below) for the Company’s Ultramax Operations was $31.2 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to $33.2 million for the prior year period.  During both periods, the Company’s Ultramax fleet consisted of a day-weighted average of 37 vessels owned or finance leased and one vessel time chartered in. TCE revenue per day was $9,177 and $9,757 for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 Three Months Ended
March 31,
    
Ultramax Operations:2019 2018 Change % Change
TCE Revenue (in thousands)$31,221  $33,202  $(1,981) (6)
TCE Revenue / Day$9,177  $9,757  $(580) (6)
Revenue Days3,402  3,403  (1)  

The Company’s Ultramax Operations vessel operating costs were $17.6 million for the first quarter of 2019 including approximately $1.0 million of takeover costs and contingency expenses compared with vessel operating costs of $17.2 million in the prior year, relating to the 37 vessels owned or finance leased on average during both periods. Daily operating costs excluding takeover costs and contingency expenses for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018 were $5,005 and $4,909, respectively. Daily operating costs for the first quarter of 2019 increased from the first quarter of 2018 due primarily to the timing of store purchases.

Charterhire expense for the Company’s Ultramax Operations was approximately $0.9 million for both the first quarters of 2019 and 2018 and relates to the vessel time chartered-in at $10,125 per day.

Ultramax Operations depreciation remained flat at $9.2 million quarter over quarter as the Company’s weighted average vessels owned or finance leased was 37 in both periods.

General and administrative expense for the Company’s Ultramax Operations, which consists primarily of administrative service fees, which are incurred on a per vessel per day basis, and bank charges, which are incurred based on the number of transactions, was $1.0 million for the first quarter of 2019 and $1.1 million in the prior year period.

Kamsarmax Operations

 Three Months Ended March 31,    
Dollars in thousands2019 2018 Change % Change
TCE Revenue:       
Vessel revenue$19,069  $20,923  $(1,854) (9)
Voyage expenses47  68  (21) (31)
TCE Revenue$19,022  $20,855  $(1,833) (9)
Operating expenses:       
Vessel operating costs8,633  8,571  62  1 
Charterhire expense109  90  19  21 
Vessel depreciation4,722  4,678  44  1 
General and administrative expense288  507  (219) (43)
Loss / write down on assets held for sale7,509    7,509   
Total operating expenses$21,261  $13,846  $7,415  54 
Operating (loss) income$(2,239) $7,009  $(9,248) (132)

Vessel revenue for the Company’s Kamsarmax Operations decreased to $19.1 million in the first quarter of 2019 from $20.9 million in the prior year period.  Vessel revenues earned by the Kamsarmax Operations were negatively impacted by disruptions to iron ore exports from Brazil and Australia, due to the flooding caused by the collapse of a Vale mining dam in Brazil and weather, respectively, as well as reduced coal imports to China and Europe due to the mild winter.

TCE revenue (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures) for the Company’s Kamsarmax Operations was $19.0 million for the first quarter of 2019 associated with a day-weighted average of 19 vessels owned or finance leased, compared to $20.9 million for the prior year period associated with a day-weighted average of 18 vessels owned or finance leased. TCE revenue per day was $11,176 and $12,881 for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 Three Months Ended March 31,    
Kamsarmax Operations:2019 2018 Change % Change
TCE Revenue (in thousands)$19,022  $20,855  $(1,833) (9)
TCE Revenue / Day$11,176  $12,881  $(1,705) (13)
Revenue Days1,702  1,619  83  5 

Kamsarmax Operations vessel operating costs were $8.6 million for both the first quarters of 2019 and 2018 and related to 19 and 18 vessels owned or finance leased on average, respectively, during the periods. Daily operating costs excluding takeover costs and contingency expenses for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018 were $5,111 and $5,172, respectively. While vessel operating expenses remained flat from period to period, the number of vessels increased due to the addition of the SBI Lynx which was delivered in the third quarter of 2018.

While the Company did not time charter-in any Kamsarmax vessels in the first quarter of either 2019 or 2018, it had a profit and loss sharing agreement with a third party related to one Kamsarmax vessel, for which it recorded its share of the losses.  The profit and loss sharing agreement expired in the first quarter of 2019.

Kamsarmax Operations depreciation was $4.7 million in both the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, as the Company’s weighted average vessels owned were 19 and 18 in the same periods.

General and administrative expense for the Company’s Kamsarmax Operations was $0.3 million and $0.5 million for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.  The expense consists primarily of administrative services fees, which are incurred on a per vessel per day basis, and bank charges, which are incurred based on the number of transactions.

During the first quarter of 2019, a write down on assets held for sale of $7.5 million related to the sale of the SBI Electra and SBI Flamenco was recorded.

Corporate

Certain general and administrative expenses the Company incurs, as well as all of its financial expenses and investment income or losses are not attributable to a specific segment. Accordingly, these costs are not allocated to the Company’s segments. These general and administrative expenses, including compensation, audit, legal and other professional fees, as well as the costs of being a public company, such as director fees, were $6.5 million and $7.3 million in the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The quarter over quarter decrease is due primarily to decreases in compensation.

The Company recorded a non-cash gain of approximately $15.0 million for the first quarter of 2019 and a cash dividend of $0.5 million on its equity investment in Scorpio Tankers Inc.

Financial expenses, net increased to $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2019 from $10.2 million in the prior year period due to higher levels of debt and LIBOR rates, as well as a decrease in the value of the interest rate caps. In the second quarter of 2019 it is expected that approximately $3.6 million of deferred financing costs will be written off related to vessel sales and debt refinancings under the new sale and leaseback transactions.

Scorpio Bulkers Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

  Unaudited 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2019 2018 
Revenue:     
Vessel revenue $50,351  $54,253  
Operating expenses:     
Voyage expenses 108  196  
Vessel operating costs 26,270  25,806  
Charterhire expense 979  1,005  
Vessel depreciation 13,919  13,868  
General and administrative expenses 7,829  8,910  
Loss / write down on assets held for sale 7,509    
Total operating expenses 56,614  49,785  
Operating (loss) income (6,263) 4,468  
Other income (expense):     
Interest income 344  214  
Income from equity investment 15,503    
Foreign exchange loss (4) (87) 
Financial expense, net (13,049) (10,367) 
Total other income (expense) 2,794  (10,240) 
Net loss $(3,469) $(5,772) 
      
Loss per share:     
Basic $(0.05) $(0.08) 
Diluted $(0.05) $(0.08) 
      
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding 67,464  72,702  
Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding 67,464  72,702  



Scorpio Bulkers Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)

  Unaudited  
  March 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
Assets    
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $50,821  $67,495 
Accounts receivable 8,520  10,290 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 6,925  6,314 
Total current assets 66,266  84,099 
Non-current assets    
Vessels, net 1,443,674  1,507,918 
Equity method investment 107,243  92,281 
Assets held for sale 47,140   
Deferred financing costs, net 3,522  3,706 
Other assets 21,078  15,822 
Total non-current assets 1,622,657  1,619,727 
Total assets $1,688,923  $1,703,826 
     
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity    
Current liabilities    
Bank loans, net $60,910  $60,310 
Capital lease obligations 4,642  4,594 
Senior Notes, net 73,383  73,253 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 14,250  14,457 
Total current liabilities 153,185  152,614 
Non-current liabilities    
Bank loans, net 606,599  621,179 
Capital lease obligations 68,105  69,229 
Other liabilities 2,948   
Total non-current liabilities 677,652  690,408 
Total liabilities 830,837  843,022 
Shareholders’ equity    
Preferred shares, $0.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; no shares
issued or outstanding
    
Common shares, $0.01 par value per share; authorized 212,500,000 shares
as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018; issued and outstanding
71,217,258 shares as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018
 796  796 
Paid-in capital 1,748,399  1,747,648 
Common shares held in treasury, at cost; 8,567,846 shares at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (56,720) (56,720)
Accumulated deficit (834,389) (830,920)
Total shareholders’ equity 858,086  860,804 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $1,688,923  $1,703,826 

Scorpio Bulkers Inc. and Subsidiaries
Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)

  For the Three Months Ended March 31,
  2019 2018
Operating activities    
Net loss $(3,469) $(5,772)
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by    
operating activities:    
Restricted share amortization 2,175  2,125 
Vessel depreciation 13,919  13,868 
Amortization of deferred financing costs 1,270  1,482 
Loss / write-down on assets held for sale 6,649   
Net unrealized losses on investments (14,962)  
Dividend income on equity investment (541)  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable 1,770  (1,349)
Increase (decrease) in prepaid expenses and other assets 50  (635)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses (2,316) 1,405 
Net cash provided by operating activities 4,545  11,124 
Investing activities    
Dividend income on equity investment 541   
Drydock and scrubber payments (4,325)  
Payments for vessels and vessels under construction   (3,166)
Net cash used in investing activities (3,784) (3,166)
Financing activities    
Repayments of long-term debt (16,011) (13,431)
Common shares repurchased   (8,645)
Dividends paid (1,424) (1,542)
Debt issue costs paid   (87)
Net cash used in financing activities (17,435) (23,705)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (16,674) (15,747)
Cash at cash equivalents, beginning of period 67,495  68,535 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $50,821  $52,788 

Scorpio Bulkers Inc. and Subsidiaries
Other Operating Data (unaudited)

  Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2019 2018 
Time charter equivalent revenue ($000’s) (1):     
Vessel revenue $50,351  $54,253  
Voyage expenses (108) (196) 
Time charter equivalent revenue $50,243  $54,057  
Time charter equivalent revenue attributable to:     
Kamsarmax $19,022  $20,855  
Ultramax 31,221  33,202  
  $50,243  $54,057  
Revenue days:     
Kamsarmax 1,702  1,619  
Ultramax 3,402  3,403  
Combined 5,104  5,022  
TCE per revenue day (1):     
Kamsarmax $11,176  $12,881  
Ultramax $9,177  $9,757  
Combined $9,844  $10,764  
  1. The Company defines Time Charter Equivalent (TCE) revenue as vessel revenues less voyage expenses.  Such TCE revenue, divided by the number of the Company’s available days during the period, or revenue days, is TCE per revenue day, which is consistent with industry standards.  TCE per revenue day is a common shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare daily earnings generated by vessels on time charters with daily earnings generated by vessels on voyage charters, because charter hire rates for vessels on voyage charters are generally not expressed in per-day amounts while charter hire rates for vessels on time charters generally are expressed in such amounts.

    The Company reports TCE revenue, a non-GAAP financial measure, because (i) the Company believes it provides additional meaningful information in conjunction with vessel revenues and voyage expenses, the most directly comparable U.S.-GAAP measure, (ii) it assists the Company’s management in making decisions regarding the deployment and use of its vessels and in evaluating their financial performance, (iii) it is a standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a shipping company’s performance irrespective of changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot charters, time charters and bareboat charters) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods, and (iv) the Company believes that it presents useful information to investors. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures below.

Fleet List as of April 26, 2019

Vessel Name Year Built  DWT  Vessel Type
SBI Samba 2015 84,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Rumba 2015 84,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Capoeira 2015 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Electra * 2015 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Carioca 2015 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Conga 2015 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Flamenco * 2015 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Bolero 2015 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Sousta 2016 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Rock 2016 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Lambada 2016 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Reggae 2016 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Zumba 2016 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Macarena 2016 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Parapara 2017 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Mazurka 2017 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Swing 2017 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Jive 2017 82,000  Kamsarmax
SBI Lynx 2018 82,000  Kamsarmax
Total Kamsarmax   1,562,000   
       
SBI Antares 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Athena 2015 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Bravo 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Leo 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Echo 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Lyra 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Tango 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Maia 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Hydra 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Subaru 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Pegasus 2015 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Ursa 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Thalia 2015 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Cronos 2015 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Orion 2015 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Achilles 2016 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Hercules 2016 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Perseus 2016 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Hermes 2016 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Zeus 2016 60,200  Ultramax
SBI Hera 2016 60,200  Ultramax
SBI Hyperion 2016 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Tethys 2016 61,000  Ultramax
SBI Phoebe 2016 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Poseidon 2016 60,200  Ultramax
SBI Apollo 2016 60,200  Ultramax
SBI Samson 2017 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Phoenix 2017 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Gemini 2015 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Libra 2017 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Puma 2014 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Jaguar 2014 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Cougar 2015 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Aries 2015 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Taurus 2015 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Pisces 2016 64,000  Ultramax
SBI Virgo 2017 64,000  Ultramax
Total Ultramax   2,307,800   
Total Owned or Finance Leased Vessels DWT 3,869,800   

*  During the first quarter of 2019, we agreed to sell the SBI Electra and SBI Flamenco.  The vessels are expected to be delivered to the buyer in June 2019.

Time chartered-in vessels

The Company currently time charters-in one Ultramax vessel. The terms of the contract are summarized as follows:

Vessel Type Year Built DWT Country of Build Daily Base
Rate
 Earliest Expiry
Ultramax 2017 62,100  Japan $10,125  30-Sep-19 (1)
Total TC DWT   62,100         
  1. This vessel is time chartered-in for 22 to 24 months at the Company’s option at $10,125 per day. The Company has the option to extend this time charter for one year at $10,885 per day. The vessel was delivered to the Company in September 2017.

Conference Call on Results:

A conference call to discuss the Company’s results will be held today, April 29, 2019, at 9:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time / 3:00 PM Central European Summer Time.  Those wishing to listen to the call should dial 1 (866) 219-5268 (U.S.) or 1 (703) 736-7424 (International) at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call to ensure connection. The conference participant passcode is 7433317.

There will also be a simultaneous live webcast over the internet, through the Scorpio Bulkers Inc. website www.scorpiobulkers.com.  Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

Webcast URL: https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/wrgkuy2x

About Scorpio Bulkers Inc.

Scorpio Bulkers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of dry bulk commodities.  Upon the completion of the pending sale of two Kamsarmax vessels, Scorpio Bulkers Inc. will have an operating fleet of 55 vessels consisting of 54 wholly-owned or finance leased drybulk vessels (including 17 Kamsarmax vessels and 37 Ultramax vessels), and one time chartered-in Ultramax vessel. The Company’s owned and finance leased fleet will have a total carrying capacity of approximately 3.7 million dwt and all of the Company’s owned vessels will have carrying capacities of greater than 60,000 dwt. Additional information about the Company is available on the Company’s website www.scorpiobulkers.com, which is not a part of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company’s financial information presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., (“GAAP”), management uses certain “non-GAAP financial measures” as such term is defined in Regulation G promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s operating performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are included in, or excluded from, the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Management believes the presentation of these measures provides investors with greater transparency and supplemental data relating to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, and therefore a more complete understanding of factors affecting its business than GAAP measures alone. In addition, management believes the presentation of these matters is useful to investors for period-to-period comparison of results as the items may reflect certain unique and/or non-operating items such as asset sales, write-offs, contract termination costs or items outside of management’s control.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), adjusted net income and related per share amounts, as well as adjusted EBITDA and TCE Revenue are non-GAAP financial measures that the Company believes provide investors with a means of evaluating and understanding how the Company’s management evaluates the Company’s operating performance.  These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, as substitutes for, nor superior to financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.  Please see below for reconciliations of EBITDA, adjusted net income and related per share amounts, and adjusted EBITDA.  Please see “Other Operating Data” for a reconciliation of TCE revenue.

EBITDA (unaudited)

  Three Months Ended March 31,
 In thousands2019 2018
 Net loss$(3,469) $(5,772)
 Add Back:   
 Net interest expense11,436   8,671 
 Depreciation and amortization (1)17,363  $17,475 
 EBITDA$25,330   20,374 

(1) Includes depreciation, amortization of deferred financing costs and restricted share amortization.

Adjusted net income (unaudited)

   Three Months Ended
March 31,
 In thousands, except per share data 2019
   Amount Per share
 Net loss $(3,469) $(0.05)
 Adjustments:    
 Loss / write down on assets held for sale 7,509  0.11 
 Total adjustments $7,509  $0.11 
 Adjusted net income $4,040  $0.06 

Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited)

   Three Months Ended
March 31,
 In thousands 2019
 Net loss $(3,469)
 Impact of adjustments 7,509 
 Adjusted net income 4,040 
 Add Back:  
 Net interest expense 11,436 
 Depreciation and amortization (1) 17,363 
 Adjusted EBITDA $32,839 

                                                (1) Includes depreciation, amortization of deferred financing costs and restricted share amortization.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements.  The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “pending” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with us, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk vessel capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing (including for capital expenditures) and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, fluctuations in the value of our investments, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.


            

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