Costamare Inc. Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2023


MONACO, Feb. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costamare Inc. (“Costamare” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CMRE) today reported unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter (“Q4 2023”) and year ended December 31, 2023.

I. PROFITABILITY AND LIQUIDITY

  • FY 2023 Net Income available to common stockholders of $354.7 million ($2.95 per share).
  • FY 2023 Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders1 of $249.0 million ($2.07 per share).
  • Q4 2023 Net Income available to common stockholders of $96.6 million ($0.82 per share).
  • Q4 2023 Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders1 of $80.0 million ($0.68 per share).
  • 2023 Year-end liquidity2 of $989.0 million.

II. DRY BULK OPERATING PLATFORM

  • Costamare Bulkers Inc. (“CBI”) has currently fixed a fleet of 51 dry bulk vessels on period charters, consisting of:
    • 32 Newcastlemax/ Capesize vessels.
    • 19 Kamsarmax vessels.
  • Majority of the fixed fleet is on index linked charter-in agreements, consisting of:
    • 26 charters for Newcastlemax/ Capesize vessels that are index linked.
    • 9 charters for Kamsarmax vessels that are index linked.
  • Average remaining tenor for the Newcastlemax/ Capesize and Kamsarmax chartered-in fleet of 13 and 6 months, respectively.

III. LEASE FINANCING PLATFORM

  • Controlling interest in Neptune Maritime Leasing Limited (“NML”).
  • Company’s current investment in NML of $123.2 million.
  • Growing leasing platform, having funded 23 shipping assets as of the date of this press release, for a total amount of approximately $250 million, on the back of what we believe is a healthy pipeline.

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1
Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and respective per share figures are non-GAAP measures and should not be used in isolation or as substitutes for Costamare’s financial results presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). For the definition and reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, please refer to Exhibit I.
2 Including our share of cash amounting to $0.4 million held by vessel owning-companies set-up pursuant to the Framework Deed dated May 15, 2013, as amended and restated from time to time (the “Framework Deed”), between the Company and York Capital Management Global Advisors LLC and an affiliated fund (collectively, “York Capital”), margin deposits relating to our forward freight agreements (“FFAs”) and bunker swaps of $13.7 million, short term investments in U.S. Treasury Bills amounting to $17.5 million and $132.2 million of available undrawn funds from two hunting license facilities as of December 31, 2023.

IV. SALE AND PURCHASE ACTIVITY

Vessel Disposals

  • Conclusion of the sale of the following dry bulk vessels:
 -m/v Peace built in 2006 with a 55,709 DWT capacity.
 -m/v Pride built in 2006 with a 55,705 DWT capacity.
 -m/v Manzanillo built in 2010 with a 34,426 DWT capacity.
 -m/v Progress built in 2011 with a 32,400 DWT capacity.
 -m/v Cetus built in 2010 with a 32,527 DWT capacity.
 Net sale proceeds after debt prepayment amounted to $32.9 million.
  
  • Agreement for the sale of the following dry bulk vessels:
 -m/v Merida built in 2012 with a 56,670 DWT capacity (expected conclusion of sale within Q1 2024).
 -m/v Konstantinos built in 2012 with a 32,178 DWT capacity (expected conclusion of sale within Q1 2024).
 -m/v Adventure built in 2011 with a 33,755 DWT capacity (expected conclusion of sale within Q1 2024)3.
 -m/v Alliance built in 2012 with a 33,751 DWT capacity (expected conclusion of sale by Q2 2024)3.
 Estimated net sale proceeds from the vessels agreed to be sold after debt prepayment of $25.8 million.

Vessel/ Equity Interest Acquisitions

  • Conclusion of the acquisition of the 51% equity interest in the company owning the 2001-built, 1,550 TEU capacity containership, Arkadia in December 2023. Prior to the conclusion of this acquisition, the Company already owned 49% equity interest with the remaining 51% owned by York Capital.
  • Agreement for the acquisition of the 2011-built, 180,643 DWT capacity dry bulk vessel, Iron Miracle (tbr. Miracle) (expected conclusion within Q1 2024).

V. NEW DEBT FINANCING

  • Conclusion of a new financing in the form of a hunting license facility with a European financial institution for the financing of the acquisition of containerships and dry bulk vessels. More specifically:
      - Committed amount of up to $60 million.
      - Drawdown availability until Q2 2025.
      - Loan tenor of six years following each respective drawdown.
  • No meaningful debt maturities until 2026.

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3 Subject to final documentation.

VI. OWNED FLEET CHARTER UPDATE4 - FULLY EMPLOYED CONTAINERSHIP FLEET FOR 2024

  • 95% and 78% of the containership fleet5 fixed for 2024 and 2025, respectively.
  • Contracted revenues for the containership fleet of approximately $2.5 billion with a TEU-weighted duration of 3.6 years6.
  • Entered into more than 40 chartering agreements for the owned dry bulk fleet since Q3 2023 earnings release.

VII. DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENTS – SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

  • On January 2, 2024, the Company declared a dividend of $0.115 per share on the common stock, which was paid on February 7, 2024, to holders of record of common stock as of January 22, 2024.
  • On January 2, 2024, the Company declared a dividend of $0.476563 per share on the Series B Preferred Stock, $0.531250 per share on the Series C Preferred Stock, $0.546875 per share on the Series D Preferred Stock and $0.554688 per share on the Series E Preferred Stock, which were all paid on January 16, 2024 to holders of record as of January 12, 2024.
  • Available funds remaining under the share repurchase program of $30 million for common shares and $150 million for preferred shares.

Mr. Gregory Zikos, Chief Financial Officer of Costamare Inc., commented:

“2023 has been a growth year for Costamare. The Company had revenues of $1.5 billion and generated Net Income of about $350 million. Liquidity stood at around $1 billion as of year-end.

Following our strategic decision in 2021 to enter into the dry bulk sector at an opportune time in the cycle, we grew during 2023 our newly established trading platform to an operator managing a fleet of 51 dry bulk vessels. Having invested $200 million in the new venture, we have a long-term commitment to the sector whose fundamentals we view positively.

Regarding Neptune Maritime Leasing, the platform has been steadily growing on a prudent basis throughout 2023, having now concluded leasing transactions for 23 ships with a total value of about $250 million. We are committed to growing further the leasing business on the back of a healthy pipeline extending over the coming quarters.

On the owned dry bulk fleet side, we are executing our strategy to renew the dry bulk fleet and increase its average size. During the year we took the decision to dispose of 12 smaller sized vessels and agreed to acquire three capesize and one ultramax vessel. Subject to market conditions, our goal is to continue our expansion in the dry market.

On the containership market, recent events have been contributing positively to the supply and demand dynamics, pushing up box and charter rates. These recent developments are mitigating the effects of oversupply in the containership market, as tonnage is expected to remain tight at least until the Chinese New Year. We have proactively secured employment for 95% and 78% of our open days for 2024 and 2025 respectively, putting our contracted revenues for container vessels at $2.5 billion with a remaining time charter duration of 3.6 years.”

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4 Please refer to the Containership Fleet List table for additional information on vessel employment details for our containership fleet.
5 Calculated on a TEU basis.
6 As of February 6, 2024.

Financial Summary

          
  Year ended December 31, Three-month period
ended December 31,
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)  2022    2023   2022   2023 
         
          
Voyage revenue $1,113,859   $1,502,491  $265,431  $490,523 
Accrued charter revenue (1) $(2,631)  $3,293  $(3,413) $(1,222)
Amortization of time-charter assumed $198   $(197) $50  $(56)
Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis (2) $1,111,426   $1,505,587  $262,068  $489,245 
Income from investments in leaseback vessels  -   $8,915   -  $4,324 
          
Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders (3) $405,274   $249,006  $74,837  $79,981 
Weighted Average number of shares  122,964,358    120,299,172   121,983,112   118,042,187 
Adjusted Earnings per share (3) $3.30   $2.07  $0.61  $0.68 
          
Net Income $554,692   $381,019  $194,176  $104,675 
Net Income available to common stockholders $523,887   $354,681  $186,672  $96,586 
Weighted Average number of shares  122,964,358    120,299,172   121,983,112   118,042,187 
Earnings per share $4.26   $2.95  $1.53  $0.82 


(1) Accrued charter revenue represents the difference between cash received during the period and revenue recognized on a straight-line basis. In the early years of a charter with escalating charter rates, voyage revenue will exceed cash received during the period and during the last years of such charter cash received will exceed revenue recognized on a straight-line basis. The reverse is true for charters with descending rates.
(2) Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis represents Voyage revenue after adjusting for non-cash “Accrued charter revenue” recorded under charters with escalating charter rates. However, Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis is not a recognized measurement under U.S. GAAP. We believe that the presentation of Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis is useful to investors because it presents the charter revenue for the relevant period based on the then current daily charter rates. The increases or decreases in daily charter rates under our charter party agreements of our fleet are described in the notes to the “Fleet List” tables below.
(3) Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and Adjusted Earnings per Share are non-GAAP measures. Refer to the reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Share.

Non-GAAP Measures

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures used in managing the business may provide users of these financial measures additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures can provide additional meaningful reflection of underlying trends of the business because they provide a comparison of historical information that excludes certain items that impact the overall comparability. Management also uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating the Company’s performance. The tables below set out supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the three-month and the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, voyage revenue or net income as determined in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures include (i) Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis (reconciled above), (ii) Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and (iii) Adjusted Earnings per Share.

Exhibit I
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and Adjusted Earnings per Share

  Year-ended
December 31,
 Three-month period ended
December 31,
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data) 2022
 2023 2022 2023
            
Net Income$554,692 $381,019 $194,176 $104,675 
Earnings allocated to Preferred Stock (31,068) (31,068) (7,767) (7,767)
Non-Controlling Interest 263  4,730  263  (322)
Net Income available to common stockholders 523,887  354,681  186,672  96,586 
Accrued charter revenue (2,631) 3,293  (3,413) (1,222)
General and administrative expenses - non-cash component 7,089  5,850  1,388  1,556 
Amortization of time-charter assumed 198  (197) 50  (56)
Realized (gain) / loss on Euro/USD forward contracts (1) 2,323  (729) 517  (193)
Vessels’ impairment loss 1,691  434  1,691  205 
(Gain) / loss on sale of vessels, net (126,336) (112,220) (105,086) 971 
Loss on vessels held for sale -  2,305  -  2,305 
Loss on sale of vessels, net, by jointly owned companies with York Capital included in equity gain on investments (1) -  493  -  - 
Non-recurring, non-cash write-off of loan deferred financing costs 3,309  1,484  914  45 
Gain on derivative instruments, excluding realized (gain)/loss on derivative instruments (1) (2,698) (4,801) (5,332) (18,629)
Non-recurring payments for loan cancellation fees 1,032  -  26  - 
Other non-cash items (2,590) (1,587) (2,590) (1,587)
Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders$405,274 $249,006 $74,837 $79,981 
Adjusted Earnings per Share$3.30 $2.07 $0.61 $0.68 
Weighted average number of shares 122,964,358  120,299,172  121,983,112  118,042,187 


Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and Adjusted Earnings per Share represent Net Income after earnings allocated to preferred stock and Non-Controlling Interest, but before non-cash “Accrued charter revenue” recorded under charters with escalating or descending charter rates, amortization of time-charter assumed, loss on vessels held for sale, realized (gain) / loss on Euro/USD forward contracts, vessels’ impairment loss, (gain) / loss on sale of vessels, net, loss on sale of vessels, net, by jointly owned companies with York Capital included in equity gain on investments, non-recurring, non-cash write-off of loan deferred financing costs, general and administrative expenses - non-cash component, gain on derivative instruments, excluding realized (gain)/loss on derivative instruments, non-recurring payments for loan cancellation fees and other non-cash items. “Accrued charter revenue” is attributed to the timing difference between the revenue recognition and the cash collection. However, Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and Adjusted Earnings per Share are not recognized measurements under U.S. GAAP. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and Adjusted Earnings per Share are useful to investors because they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. We also believe that Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and Adjusted Earnings per Share are useful in evaluating our ability to service additional debt and make capital expenditures. In addition, we believe that Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and Adjusted Earnings per Share are useful in evaluating our operating performance and liquidity position compared to that of other companies in our industry because the calculation of Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and Adjusted Earnings per Share generally eliminates the effects of the accounting effects of capital expenditures and acquisitions, certain hedging instruments and other accounting treatments, items which may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance and liquidity. In evaluating Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and Adjusted Earnings per Share, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders and Adjusted Earnings per Share should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.

(1) Items to consider for comparability include gains and charges. Gains positively impacting Net Income available to common stockholders are reflected as deductions to Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders. Charges negatively impacting Net Income available to common stockholders are reflected as increases to Adjusted Net Income available to common stockholders.

 

Results of Operations

Three-month period ended December 31, 2023 compared to the three-month period ended December 31, 2022

During the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had an average of 111.6 and 114.7 vessels, respectively, in our owned fleet. In addition, during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, through our dry bulk operating platform Costamare Bulkers Inc. (“CBI”), we chartered-in an average of 63.3 third-party dry bulk vessels. As of February 6, 2024, CBI has chartered-in 51 dry bulk vessels on period charters.

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, we sold the dry bulk vessels Peace, Pride and Cetus with an aggregate DWT of 143,941 and the container vessel Oakland with a TEU capacity of 4,890.

Furthermore, during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, we acquired the 51% equity interest of York Capital of the 2001-built, 1,550 TEU capacity containership Arkadia and as a result we obtained 100% of the equity interest in the vessel.

Up to December 31, 2023, we have invested in Neptune Maritime Leasing Limited (“NML”) the amount of $119.6 million. During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, NML is included in our consolidated financial statements.

In the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our fleet ownership days totaled 10,267 and 10,552 days, respectively. Ownership days are one of the primary drivers of voyage revenue and vessels’ operating expenses and represent the aggregate number of days in a period during which each vessel in our fleet is owned.

Consolidated Financial Results and Vessels’ Operational Data(1)

 (Expressed in millions of U.S. dollars,
except percentages)

 Three-month period ended December 31, Change

 Percentage
Change
 2022 2023  
   
         
Voyage revenue$265.4 $490.5 $225.1  84.8%
Income from investments in leaseback vessels -  4.3  4.3  n.m.
Voyage expenses (15.1) (90.0) 74.9  n.m.
Charter-in hire expenses -  (166.3) 166.3  n.m.
Voyage expenses – related parties (3.7) (3.7) -  n.m.
Vessels’ operating expenses (70.9) (64.0) (6.9) (9.7%)
General and administrative expenses (3.1) (3.9) 0.8  25.8%
Management and agency fees – related parties (13.9) (12.3) (1.6) (11.5%)
General and administrative expenses - non-cash component (1.4) (1.5) 0.1  7.1%
Amortization of dry-docking and special survey costs (4.0) (5.3) 1.3  32.5%
Depreciation (41.7) (41.8) 0.1  0.2%
Gain / (loss) on sale of vessels, net 105.1  (1.0) (106.1) n.m.
Loss on vessels held for sale -  (2.3) 2.3  n.m.
Vessels’ impairment loss (1.7) (0.2) (1.5) (88.2%)
Foreign exchange gains 2.7  3.9  1.2  44.4%
Interest income 4.9  6.9  2.0  40.8%
Interest and finance costs (35.8) (34.4) (1.4) (3.9%)
Income from equity method investments 0.7  0.1  (0.6) (85.7%)
Other 1.4  1.2  (0.2) (14.3%)
Gain on derivative instruments, net 5.3  24.5  19.2  n.m.
Net Income$194.2 $104.7    
         
(Expressed in millions of U.S. dollars,
except percentages)

 Three-month period ended December 31, Change

 Percentage
Change
 2022  2023   
         
Voyage revenue$265.4 $490.5 $225.1  84.8%
Accrued charter revenue (3.4) (1.2) 2.2  64.7%
Amortization of time-charter assumed 0.1  (0.1) (0.2) n.m.
Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis (1)$262.1 $489.2 $227.1  86.6%
         
Vessels’ operational data

 Three-month period ended December 31,   Percentage
Change
 2022 2023 Change 
         
Average number of vessels 114.7 111.6  (3.1) (2.7%)
Ownership days 10,552 10,267  (285) (2.7%)
Number of vessels under dry-docking and special survey 7 7  -   


(1)
Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis is not a recognized measurement under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Refer to “Consolidated Financial Results and Vessels’ Operational Data” above for the reconciliation of Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis.

Voyage Revenue

Voyage revenue increased by 84.8%, or $225.1 million, to $490.5 million during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, from $265.4 million during the three-month period ended December 31, 2022. The increase is mainly attributable to (i) revenue earned by CBI, which has been fully operational since the first quarter of 2023 and (ii) increased charter rates in certain of our container vessels; partly off-set by decreased charter rates in certain of our dry bulk vessels and by revenue not earned by six container vessels and six dry bulk vessels that were sold during the fourth quarter of 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2023.

Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis (which eliminates non-cash “Accrued charter revenue”) increased by 86.6%, or $227.1 million, to $489.2 million during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, from $262.1 million during the three-month period ended December 31, 2022. Accrued charter revenue for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was a negative amount of $1.2 million and a negative amount of $3.4 million, respectively.

Income from investments in leaseback vessels

Income from investments in leaseback vessels was $4.3 million for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023. Income from investments in leaseback vessels was earned from NML’s operations during the fourth quarter of 2023. NML acquires, owns and bareboat charters out vessels through its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Voyage Expenses

Voyage expenses were $90.0 million and $15.1 million for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Voyage expenses increased, period over period, mainly due to the operations of CBI which has been fully operational since the first quarter of 2023. Voyage expenses mainly include (i) fuel consumption mainly related to dry bulk vessels, (ii) third-party commissions, (iii) port expenses and (iv) canal tolls.

Charter-in Hire Expenses

Charter-in hire expenses were $166.3 million and nil for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Charter-in hire expenses are expenses relating to chartering-in of third-party dry bulk vessels under charter agreements through CBI.

Voyage Expenses – related parties

Voyage expenses – related parties were $3.7 million each of the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Voyage expenses – related parties represent (i) fees of 1.25%, in the aggregate, on voyage revenues earned by our owned fleet charged by a related manager and a related service provider and (ii) charter brokerage fees (in respect of our container vessels) payable to two related charter brokerage companies for an amount of approximately $0.4 million and $0.4 million, in the aggregate, for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Vessels’ Operating Expenses

Vessels’ operating expenses, which also include the realized gain/(loss) under derivative contracts entered into in relation to foreign currency exposure, were $64.0 million and $70.9 million during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Daily vessels’ operating expenses were $6,231 and $6,719 for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Daily operating expenses are calculated as vessels’ operating expenses for the period over the ownership days of the period.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $3.9 million and $3.1 million during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and include amounts of $0.67 million and $0.67 million, respectively, that were paid to a related service provider.

Management and Agency Fees – related parties

Management fees charged by our related managers were $11.7 million and $11.1 million during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Furthermore, during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, agency fees of $0.6 million and $2.8 million, respectively, were charged by our related agency companies, respectively, in connection with the operations of CBI.

General and Administrative Expenses - non-cash component

General and administrative expenses - non-cash component for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023 amounted to $1.5 million, representing the value of the shares issued to a related service provider on December 29, 2023. General and administrative expenses - non-cash component for the three-month period ended December 31, 2022 amounted to $1.4 million, representing the value of the shares issued to a related service provider on December 30, 2022.

Amortization of Dry-Docking and Special Survey Costs

Amortization of deferred dry-docking and special survey costs was $5.3 million and $4.0 million during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, five vessels underwent and completed their dry-docking and special survey and two vessels were in the process of completing their dry-docking and special survey. During the three-month period ended December 31, 2022, two vessels underwent and completed their dry-docking and special survey and five vessels were in the process of completing their dry-docking and special survey.

Depreciation

Depreciation expense for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $41.8 million and $41.7 million, respectively.

Gain / (Loss) on Sale of Vessels, net

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, we recorded a net loss of $1.0 million from the sale of the dry bulk vessels Peace, Pride and Cetus and the sale of the container vessel Oakland, which was classified as a vessel held for sale as of September 30, 2023. During the three-month period ended December 31, 2022, we recorded a gain of $105.1 million from the sale of the container vessels Sealand Michigan, Sealand Illinois and York, each of which was classified as a vessel held for sale as of September 30, 2022 (initially classified as vessels held for sale as of December 31, 2021).

Vessels Held for Sale

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, we recorded a loss on vessels held for sale of $2.3 million representing the expected loss from the sale of the dry bulk vessels Konstantinos and Progress during the next twelve-month period. Furthermore, during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, the dry bulk vessels Manzanillo and Adventure were each classified as a vessel held for sale but no loss on vessels held for sale was recorded, since each vessel’s estimated fair value less costs to sell exceeded each vessel’s carrying value. As of December 31, 2022, the container vessels Sealand Washington and Maersk Kalamata (each of which was initially classified as a vessel held for sale during the first quarter of 2022) continued to be classified as vessels held for sale. No loss on vessels held for sale was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2022, since each vessel’s fair value less cost to sell exceeded each vessel’s carrying value.

Vessels’ Impairment Loss

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, we recorded an impairment loss in relation to one of our dry bulk vessels in the amount of $0.2 million. During the three-month period ended December 31, 2022, we recorded an impairment loss in relation to four of our dry bulk vessels in the amount of $1.7 million, in the aggregate.

Interest Income

Interest income amounted to $6.9 million and $4.9 million for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Interest and Finance Costs

Interest and finance costs were $34.4 million and $35.8 million during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decrease is mainly attributable to the decreased interest expense due to lower average loan balance during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023 compared to the three-month period ended December 31, 2022.

Income from Equity Method Investments

Income from equity method investments for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $0.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively, representing our share of the gain in jointly owned companies set up pursuant to the Framework Deed. During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023 we acquired the 51% equity interest of York Capital of the 2001-built, 1,550 TEU capacity containership Arkadia and as a result we obtained 100% of the equity interest in the vessel. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 two and five companies, respectively, were jointly owned pursuant to the Framework Deed out of which nil and four companies, respectively, owned container vessels.

Gain on Derivative Instruments, net

As of December 31, 2023, we hold derivative financial instruments that qualify for hedge accounting and derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting. The change in the fair value of each derivative instrument that qualifies for hedge accounting is recorded in “Other Comprehensive Income” (“OCI”). The change in the fair value of each derivative instrument that does not qualify for hedge accounting is recorded in the consolidated statements of income.

As of December 31, 2023, the fair value of these instruments, in aggregate, amounted to a net asset of $47.7 million. During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, a net loss of $23.3 million has been included in OCI and a net gain of $24.5 million has been included in Gain on Derivative Instruments, net.

Cash Flows
Three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

Condensed cash flows Three-month period ended December 31,
(Expressed in millions of U.S. dollars)  2022   2023 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $124.4  $152.9 
Net Cash Provided by / (Used in) Investing Activities $81.9  $(33.3)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities $(110.6) $(101.0)


Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash flows provided by operating activities for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, increased by $28.5 million to $152.9 million, from $124.4 million for the three-month period ended December 31, 2022. The increase is mainly attributable to the favorable change in working capital position, excluding the current portion of long-term debt and the accrued charter revenue (representing the difference between cash received in that period and revenue recognized on a straight-line basis), to the decreased payments for interest (including interest derivatives net receipts) during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023 compared to the three-month period ended December 31, 2022 and to the decreased dry-docking and special survey costs during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023 compared to the three-month period ended December 31, 2022; partly offset by the decreased net cash from operations during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023 compared to the three-month period ended December 31, 2022.

Net Cash Provided by / (Used in) Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $33.3 million in the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, which mainly consisted of (i) an advance payment for the acquisition of the secondhand dry bulk vessel Iron Miracle (tbr. Miracle), (ii) payments for upgrades for certain of our container and dry bulk vessels, (iii) payments for net investments into which NML entered and (iv) payments for the purchase of short-term investments in US Treasury Bills; partly offset by the proceeds we received from the sale of one container vessel and three dry bulk vessels.

Net cash provided by investing activities was $81.9 million in the three-month period ended December 31, 2022, which mainly consisted of proceeds we received from (i) the sale of three container vessels and (ii) the maturity of part of our short-term investments in US Treasury Bills; partly off-set by payments for the purchase of short-term investments in US Treasury Bills and payments for upgrades for certain of our container and dry bulk vessels.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $101.0 million in the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, which mainly consisted of (a) $88.0 million net payments relating to our debt financing agreements and finance lease liability agreement (including proceeds of $12 million we received from one debt financing agreement), (b) $9.3 million we paid for dividends to holders of our common stock for the third quarter of 2023 and (c) $0.9 million we paid for dividends to holders of our 7.625% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”), $2.1 million we paid for dividends to holders of our 8.500% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”), $2.2 million we paid for dividends to holders of our 8.75% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series D Preferred Stock”) and $2.5 million we paid for dividends to holders of our 8.875% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series E Preferred Stock”) for the period from July 15, 2023 to October 14, 2023.

Net cash used in financing activities was $110.6 million in the three-month period ended December 31, 2022, which mainly consisted of (a) $95.3 million net payments relating to our debt financing agreements (including proceeds of $197.9 million we received from three of our debt financing agreements), (b) $10.0 million we paid for dividends to holders of our common stock for the third quarter of 2022 and (c) $0.9 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series B Preferred Stock, $2.1 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series C Preferred Stock, $2.2 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series D Preferred Stock and $2.5 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series E Preferred Stock for the period from July 15, 2022 to October 14, 2022.
Results of Operations

Year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022

During the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had an average of 111.4 and 116.7 vessels, respectively, in our owned fleet. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2023, through CBI we chartered-in an average of 43.1 third-party dry bulk vessels. As of February 6, 2024, CBI has chartered-in 51 dry bulk vessels on period charters.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, we (i) sold our 49% equity interest in the company owning the 2018-built, 3,800 TEU capacity containership, Polar Argentina to York Capital, (ii) acquired the 51% equity interest of York Capital of the 2018-built, 3,800 TEU capacity containership Polar Brasil and as a result we obtained 100% of the equity interest in the vessel and (iii) we acquired the 51% equity interest of York Capital of the 2001-built, 1,550 TEU capacity containership Arkadia and as a result we obtained 100% of the equity interest in the vessel.

In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2023, we acquired the secondhand dry bulk vessels Enna, Dorado and Arya with an aggregate DWT of 417,241 and we sold the container vessels Maersk Kalamata, Sealand Washington and Oakland with an aggregate TEU capacity of 18,182 and the dry bulk vessels Miner, Taibo, Comity, Peace, Pride and Cetus with an aggregate DWT of 248,655.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, we acquired (i) the secondhand container vessel Dyros with a TEU capacity of 4,578 and (ii) the secondhand dry bulk vessels Oracle, Libra and Norma with an aggregate DWT of 172,717. Furthermore, in the year ended December 31, 2022, we sold the container vessels Messini, Sealand Michigan, Sealand Illinois and York with an aggregate TEU capacity of 22,402, and the dry bulk vessel Thunder, with DWT of 57,334.

Up to December 31, 2023, we have invested in NML the amount of $119.6 million. NML is included in our consolidated financial statements.

In the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our fleet ownership days totaled 40,652 and 42,595 days, respectively. Ownership days are one of the primary drivers of voyage revenue and vessels’ operating expenses and represent the aggregate number of days in a period during which each vessel in our fleet is owned.

Consolidated Financial Results and Vessels’ Operational Data(1)

 (Expressed in millions of U.S. dollars,
except percentages)

 Year
ended December 31,
 
Change
 Percentage
Change
 2022 2023   
       
         
Voyage revenue$1,113.9 $1,502.5 $388.6  34.9%
Income from investments in lease back vessels -  8.9  8.9  n.m.
Voyage expenses (49.1) (275.9) 226.8  n.m.
Charter-in hire expenses -  (340.9) 340.9  n.m.
Voyage expenses – related parties (15.4) (14.0) (1.4) (9.1%)
Vessels’ operating expenses (269.2) (258.1) (11.1) (4.1%)
General and administrative expenses (12.4) (18.4) 6.0  48.4%
Management and agency fees – related parties (46.7) (56.3) 9.6  20.6%
General and administrative expenses – non-cash component (7.1) (5.8) (1.3) (18.3%)
Amortization of dry-docking and special survey costs (13.5) (19.8) 6.3  46.7%
Depreciation (166.0) (166.3) 0.3  0.2%
Gain on sale of vessels, net 126.3  112.2  (14.1) (11.2%)
Loss on vessels held for sale -  (2.3) 2.3  n.m.
Vessels’ impairment loss (1.7) (0.4) (1.3) (76.5%)
Foreign exchange gains 3.2  2.6  (0.6) (18.8%)
Interest income 5.9  32.4  26.5  n.m.
Interest and finance costs (122.2) (144.4) 22.2  18.2%
Income from equity method investments 2.3  0.8  (1.5) (65.2%)
Other 3.7  6.9  3.2  86.5%
Gain on derivative instruments, net 2.7  17.3  14.6  n.m.
Net Income$554.7 $381.0    
         
(Expressed in millions of U.S. dollars,
except percentages)

 Year
ended December 31,
 Change

 Percentage

Change
 2022
 2023  
         
Voyage revenue$1,113.9 $1,502.5 $388.6  34.9%
Accrued charter revenue (2.6) 3.3  5.9  n.m.
Amortization of time-charter assumed 0.2  (0.2) (0.4) n.m.
Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis (1)$1,111.5 $1,505.6 $394.1  35.5%
         
Vessels’ operational data

 Year
ended December 31,
   Percentage
Change
 2022 2023 Change 
         
Average number of vessels 116.7 111.4  (5.3) (4.5%)
Ownership days 42,595 40,652  (1,943) (4.6%)
Number of vessels under dry-docking and special survey 23 25  2   


(1)
Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis is not a recognized measurement under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Refer to “Consolidated Financial Results and Vessels’ Operational Data” above for the reconciliation of Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis.

Voyage Revenue

Voyage revenue increased by 34.9%, or $388.6 million, to $1,502.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, from $1,113.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase is mainly attributable to (i) revenue earned by CBI, which has been fully operational since the first quarter of 2023 and (ii) increased charter rates in certain of our container vessels; partly off-set by decreased charter rates in certain of our dry bulk vessels and by revenue not earned by seven container vessels and seven dry bulk vessels sold during 2022 and 2023.

Voyage revenue adjusted on a cash basis (which eliminates non-cash “Accrued charter revenue”) increased by 35.5%, or $394.1 million, to $1,505.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, from $1,111.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. Accrued charter revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was a positive amount of $3.3 million and a negative amount of $2.6 million, respectively.

Income from investments in leaseback vessels

Income from investments in leaseback vessels was $8.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Income from investments in leaseback vessels was earned from NML’s operations since the second quarter of 2023. NML acquires, owns and bareboat charters out vessels through its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Voyage Expenses

Voyage expenses were $275.9 million and $49.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Voyage expenses increased, period over period, mainly due to the operations of CBI which was fully operational during the year ended December 31, 2023. Voyage expenses mainly include (i) fuel consumption mainly related to dry bulk vessels, (ii) third-party commissions, (iii) port expenses and (iv) canal tolls.

Charter-in Hire Expenses

Charter-in hire expenses were $340.9 million and nil for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Charter-in hire expenses are expenses relating to chartering-in of third-party dry bulk vessels under charter agreements through CBI.

Voyage Expenses – related parties

Voyage expenses – related parties were $14.0 million and $15.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Voyage expenses – related parties represent (i) fees of 1.25%, in the aggregate, on voyage revenues earned by our owned fleet charged by a related manager and a related service provider and (ii) charter brokerage fees (in respect of our container vessels) payable to two related charter brokerage companies for an amount of approximately $1.4 million and $1.5 million, in the aggregate, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Vessels’ Operating Expenses

Vessels’ operating expenses, which also include the realized gain/(loss) under derivative contracts entered into in relation to foreign currency exposure, were $258.1 million and $269.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Daily vessels’ operating expenses were $6,349 and $6,321 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Daily operating expenses are calculated as vessels’ operating expenses for the period over the ownership days of the period.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $18.4 million and $12.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and include amounts of $2.7 million and $2.7 million, respectively, that were paid to a related service provider.

Management and Agency Fees – related parties

Management fees charged by our related managers were $44.6 million and $43.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Furthermore, during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, agency fees of $11.7 million and $2.8 million, respectively, were charged by related agency companies, respectively, in connection with the operations of CBI.

General and Administrative Expenses – non-cash component

General and administrative expenses – non-cash component for the year ended December 31, 2023 amounted to $5.8 million, representing the value of the shares issued to a related service provider on March 30, 2023, June 30, 2023, September 29, 2023 and December 29, 2023. General and administrative expenses – non-cash component for the year ended December 31, 2022 amounted to $7.1 million, representing the value of the shares issued to a related service provider on March 30, 2022, on June 30, 2022, on September 30, 2022 and on December 30, 2022.

Amortization of Dry-Docking and Special Survey Costs

Amortization of deferred dry-docking and special survey costs was $19.8 million and $13.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2023, 23 vessels underwent and completed their dry-docking and special survey and two vessels were in the process of completing their dry-docking and special survey. During the year ended December 31, 2022, 18 vessels underwent and completed their dry-docking and special survey and five vessels were in the process of completing their dry-docking and special survey.

Depreciation

Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $166.3 million and $166.0 million, respectively.

Gain on Sale of Vessels, net

During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded an aggregate net gain of $112.2 million from (i) the sale of the container vessel Oakland, which was classified as a vessel held for sale as of September 30, 2023, (ii) the sale of the container vessels Maersk Kalamata and Sealand Washington, each of which was classified as a vessel held for sale as of December 31, 2022 (initially classified as vessels held for sale as of March 31, 2022), (iii) the sale of the dry bulk vessel Taibo, which was classified as a vessel held for sale as of March 31, 2023, (iv) the sale of the dry bulk vessels Peace, Pride, Cetus, Miner and Comity and (v) the result of the accounting classification of the container vessels Vela and Vulpecula as “Net investment in Sale type lease (Vessels)”. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded an aggregate gain of $126.3 million from the sale of the container vessels Messini, Sealand Michigan, Sealand Illinois and York (vessels each classified as held for sale during the fourth quarter of 2021) and the dry bulk vessel Thunder (a vessel classified as held for sale during the first quarter of 2022).

Vessels Held for Sale

During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded a loss on vessels held for sale of $2.3 million, representing the expected loss from the sale of the dry bulk vessels Konstantinos and Progress during the next twelve-month period. Furthermore, during the year ended December 31, 2023, the dry bulk vessels Manzanillo and Adventure were classified as vessels held for sale but no loss on vessels held for sale was recorded, since each vessel’s estimated fair value less costs to sell exceeded each vessel’s carrying value. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the container vessels Sealand Washington and Maersk Kalamata were classified as vessels held for sale. No loss on vessels held for sale was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2022, since each vessel’s fair value less cost to sell exceeded each vessel’s carrying value.

Vessels’ Impairment Loss

During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded an impairment loss in relation to two of our dry bulk vessels in the amount of $0.4 million in the aggregate. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded an impairment loss in relation to four of our dry bulk vessels in the amount of $1.7 million, in the aggregate.

Interest Income

Interest income amounted to $32.4 million and $5.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Interest and Finance Costs

Interest and finance costs were $144.4 million and $122.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase is mainly attributable to the increased interest expense due to increased financing costs during the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.

Income from Equity Method Investments

Income from equity method investments for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $0.8 million and $2.3 million, respectively, representing our share of the income in jointly owned companies set up pursuant to the Framework Deed. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we (i) sold our 49% equity interest in the company owning the 2018-built, 3,800 TEU capacity containership, Polar Argentina to York Capital, (ii) acquired the 51% equity interest of York Capital of the 2018-built, 3,800 TEU capacity containership Polar Brasil and as result we acquired the 100% equity interest in the vessel and (iii) acquired the 51% equity interest of York Capital of the 2001-built, 1,550 TEU capacity containership Arkadia and as a result we obtained 100% of the equity interest in the vessel. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, two and five companies, respectively, were jointly owned pursuant to the Framework Deed out of which nil and four companies, respectively, owned container vessels.

Gain on Derivative Instruments, net

As of December 31, 2023, we hold derivative financial instruments that qualify for hedge accounting and derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting. The change in the fair value of each derivative instrument that qualifies for hedge accounting is recorded in “Other Comprehensive Income” (“OCI”). The change in the fair value of each derivative instrument that does not qualify for hedge accounting is recorded in the consolidated statements of income.

As of December 31, 2023, the fair value of these instruments, in aggregate, amounted to a net asset of $47.7 million. During the year ended December 31, 2023, a net loss of $25.0 million has been included in OCI and a gain of $17.3 million has been included in Gain on Derivative Instruments, net.

Cash Flows
Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

Condensed cash flows Year ended December 31,
(Expressed in millions of U.S. dollars)  2022   2023 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $581.6  $331.4 
Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities $42.5  $79.1 
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities $(166.1) $(396.8)


Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash flows provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, decreased by $250.2 million to $331.4 million, from $581.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease is mainly attributable to the decreased net cash from operations, to the unfavorable change in working capital position, excluding the current portion of long-term debt and the accrued charter revenue (representing the difference between cash received in that period and revenue recognized on a straight-line basis), to the increased payments for interest (including interest derivatives net receipts) during the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 and to the increased dry-docking and special survey costs during the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.

Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities

Net cash provided by investing activities was $79.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2023, which mainly consisted of proceeds we received from (i) the sale of the container vessels Sealand Washington, Maersk Kalamata and Oakland and the dry bulk vessels Miner, Taibo, Comity, Peace, Pride and Cetus and (ii) the maturity of our short-term investments in US Treasury Bills; partly off-set by payments for the purchase of short-term investments in US Treasury Bills, payments for upgrades for certain of our container and dry bulk vessels, payments for the acquisition of the secondhand dry bulk vessels Enna, Dorado and Arya, an advance payment for the acquisition of the secondhand dry bulk vessel Iron Miracle (tbr. Miracle) and payments for net investments into which NML entered.

Net cash provided by investing activities was $42.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2022, which mainly consisted of proceeds we received from (i) the sale of four container vessels and one dry bulk vessel and (ii) the maturity of part of our short-term investments in US Treasury Bills; partly off-set by (i) payments for the acquisition of two secondhand dry bulk vessels, (ii) settlement payment for the delivery of one secondhand dry bulk vessel, (iii) payments for the purchase of short-term investments in US Treasury Bills and (iv) payments for upgrades for certain of our container and dry bulk vessels.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $396.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2023, which mainly consisted of (a) $256.0 million net payments relating to our debt financing agreements and finance lease liability agreement (including proceeds of $576.2 million we received from eight debt financing agreements), (b) $60.0 million we paid for the re-purchase of 6.3 million of our common shares, (c) $39.1 million we paid for dividends to holders of our common stock for the fourth quarter of 2022, the first quarter of 2023, the second quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2023 and (d) $3.8 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series B Preferred Stock, $8.5 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series C Preferred Stock, $8.7 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series D Preferred Stock and $10.2 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series E Preferred Stock for the periods from October 15, 2022 to January 14, 2023, January 15, 2023 to April 14, 2023, April 15, 2023 to July 14, 2023 and July 15, 2023 to October 14, 2023.

Net cash used in financing activities was $166.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2022, which mainly consisted of (a) $30.0 million net proceeds relating to our debt financing agreements (including proceeds of $1,014.3 million we received from our debt financing agreements), (b) $60.1 million we paid for the re-purchase of 4.7 million of our common shares, (c) $88.4 million we paid for dividends to holders of our common stock for the fourth quarter of 2021, the first quarter of 2022, the second quarter of 2022 and the third quarter of 2022 (including a special dividend paid to holders of our common stock of $46.7 million for the first quarter of 2022) and (d) $3.8 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series B Preferred Stock, $8.5 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series C Preferred Stock, $8.7 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series D Preferred Stock and $10.2 million we paid for dividends to holders of our Series E Preferred Stock for the periods from October 15, 2021 to January 14, 2022, January 15, 2022 to April 14, 2022, April 15, 2022 to July 14, 2022 and July 15, 2022 to October 14, 2022.

Liquidity and Unencumbered Vessels

Cash and cash equivalents

As of December 31, 2023, we had Cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) of $825.2 million, $17.5 million invested in short-dated US Treasury Bills (short-term investments) and $13.7 million margin deposits in relation to our FFAs and bunker swaps. Furthermore, as of December 31, 2023, our liquidity stood at approximately $989 million including (a) our share of cash amounting to $0.4 million held in joint venture companies set up pursuant to the Framework Deed and (b) $132.2 million of available undrawn funds from two hunting license facilities.

Debt-free vessels

As of February 6, 2024, the following vessels were free of debt.


Unencumbered Vessels
(Refer to Fleet list for full details)

Vessel Name  Year
Built
 TEU / DWT
Capacity
Containerships    
KURE 1996 7,403
MAERSK KOWLOON 2005 7,471
ETOILE 2005 2,556
MICHIGAN 2008 1,300
ARKADIA 2001 1,550
Dry Bulk Vessels    
KONSTANTINOS 2012 32,178


Conference Call details:

On February 7, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. EST, Costamare’s management team will hold a conference call to discuss the financial results. Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 1-844-887-9405 (from the US), 0808-238-9064 (from the UK) or +1-412-317-9258 (from outside the US and the UK). Please quote “Costamare”. A replay of the conference call will be available until February 14, 2024. The United States replay number is +1-877-344-7529; the standard international replay number is +1-412-317-0088; and the access code required for the replay is: 3254175.

Live webcast:
There will also be a simultaneous live webcast over the Internet, through the Costamare Inc. website (www.costamare.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

About Costamare Inc.

Costamare Inc. is one of the world’s leading owners and providers of containerships and dry bulk vessels for charter. The Company has 50 years of history in the international shipping industry and a fleet of 68 containerships, with a total capacity of approximately 513,000 TEU and 41 dry bulk vessels with a total capacity of approximately 2,719,000 DWT (including four vessels that we have agreed to sell and one vessel we have agreed to acquire). The Company also has a dry bulk operating platform which charters in/out dry bulk vessels, enters into contracts of affreightment, forward freight agreements and may also utilize hedging solutions. The Company participates in a leasing business that provides financing to third-party owners. The Company’s common stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “CMRE”, “CMRE PR B”, “CMRE PR C”, “CMRE PR D” and “CMRE PR E”, respectively.

Forward-Looking Statements

This earnings release contains “forward-looking statements”. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “believe”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “project”, “forecast”, “plan”, “potential”, “may”, “should”, “could”, “expect” and similar expressions. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only Costamare’s belief regarding future results, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Costamare’s control. It is possible that actual results may differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could affect future results, see the discussion in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-34934) under the caption “Risk Factors”.

Company Contacts:

Gregory Zikos – Chief Financial Officer
Konstantinos Tsakalidis – Business Development

Costamare Inc., Monaco
Tel: (+377) 93 25 09 40
Email: ir@costamare.com

Containership Fleet List

The table below provides additional information, as of February 6, 2024, about our fleet of containerships and those vessels subject to sale and leaseback agreements. Each vessel is a cellular containership, meaning it is a dedicated container vessel.

 Vessel NameChartererYear
Built
Capacity
(TEU)
Current Daily
Charter Rate
(1)
(U.S. dollars)
Expiration of
Charter
(2)
1TRITONEvergreen201614,424(*)March 2026
2TITAN(i)Evergreen201614,424(*)April 2026
3TALOS(i)Evergreen201614,424(*)July 2026
4TAURUS(i)Evergreen201614,424(*)August 2026
5THESEUS(i)Evergreen201614,424(*)August 2026
6YM TRIUMPH(i)Yang Ming202012,690(*)May 2030
7YM TRUTH(i)Yang Ming202012,690(*)May 2030
8YM TOTALITY(i)Yang Ming202012,690(*)July 2030
9YM TARGET(i)Yang Ming202112,690(*)November 2030
10YM TIPTOP(i)Yang Ming202112,690(*)March 2031
11CAPE AKRITASMSC201611,01033,000August 2031
12CAPE TAINAROMSC201711,01033,000April 2031
13CAPE KORTIAMSC201711,01033,000August 2031
14CAPE SOUNIOMSC201711,01033,000April 2031
15CAPE ARTEMISIOHapag Lloyd/(*)201711,01036,650/(*) March 2030(3)
16ZIM SHANGHAIZIM20069,46972,700July 2025
17ZIM YANTIANZIM20069,46972,700June 2025
18YANTIANCOSCO20069,469(*)April 2026
19COSCO HELLASCOSCO20069,469(*)July 2026
20BEIJINGCOSCO20069,46939,600/(*)June 2026(4)
21MSC AZOVMSC20149,40335,300December 2026
22MSC AMALFIMSC20149,40346,300March 2027(5)
23MSC AJACCIOMSC20149,40335,300February 2027
24MSC ATHENSMSC20138,82735,300January 2026
25MSC ATHOSMSC20138,82735,300February 2026
26VALORHapag Lloyd/(*)20138,82732,400/(*)April 2030(6)
27VALUEHapag Lloyd/(*)20138,82732,400/(*)April 2030(7)
28VALIANTHapag Lloyd/(*)20138,82732,400/(*)June 2030(8)
29VALENCEHapag Lloyd/(*)20138,82732,400/(*)July 2030(9)
30VANTAGEHapag Lloyd/(*)20138,82732,400/(*)September 2030(10)
31NAVARINOMSC/(*)20108,53131,000/(*)March 2029(11)
32KLEVENMSC19968,04441,500November 2026
33KOTKAMSC19968,04441,500December 2026
34MAERSK KOWLOONMaersk20057,47118,500August 2025
35KUREMSC19967,40341,500July 2026
36METHONIMaersk20036,72446,500August 2026
37PORTO CHELIMaersk20016,71230,075June 2026
38ZIM TAMPAZIM20006,64845,000July 2025
39ZIM VIETNAMZIM20036,64453,000October 2025
40ZIM AMERICAZIM20036,64453,000October 2025
41ARIES(*)20046,49258,500March 2026
42ARGUS(*)20046,49258,500April 2026
43PORTO KAGIOMaersk20025,90828,822June 2026
44GLEN CANYONZIM20065,64262,500June 2025
45PORTO GERMENOMaersk20025,57028,822June 2026
46LEONIDIOMaersk20144,95714,200December 2024(12)
47KYPARISSIAMaersk20144,95714,200November 2024(12)
48MEGALOPOLISMaersk20134,95713,500July 2025(13)
49MARATHOPOLISMaersk20134,95713,500July 2025(13)
50GIALOVAZIM20094,57825,500April 2024
51DYROSMaersk20084,57822,750February 2025(14)
52NORFOLK (*)20094,259 (*)March 2025
53VULPECULAZIM20104,25843,250
(on average)
May 2028(15)
54VOLANSHapag Lloyd20104,25821,750June 2024
55VIRGOMaersk20094,25830,200March 2025(16)
56VELAZIM20094,25843,250
(on average)
April 2028(17)
57ANDROUSA(*)20104,256(*)May 2024
58NEOKASTROCMA CGM20114,17839,000February 2027
59ULSANMaersk20024,13234,730January 2026
60POLAR BRASIL (i)Maersk20183,80019,700January 2025(18)
61LAKONIACOSCO20042,58626,500March 2025
62SCORPIUSHapag Lloyd20072,57217,750May 2024
63ETOILE(*)20052,556 (*)June 2026
64AREOPOLISCOSCO20002,47426,500April 2025
65ARKADIASwire Shipping20011,55014,250March 2024
66MICHIGAN(*)20081,300(*)October 2025
67TRADER(*)/(*)20081,300(*)/(*)October 2026(19)
68LUEBECKMSC/(*)20011,07815,000/(*)April 2026(20)


(1)Daily charter rates are gross, unless stated otherwise. Amounts set out for current daily charter rate are the amounts contained in the charter contracts.
(2)Charter terms and expiration dates are based on the earliest date charters (unless otherwise noted) could expire.
(3)Cape Artemisio is currently chartered to Hapag Lloyd at a daily rate of $36,650 until March 12, 2025, at the earliest. Upon redelivery of the vessel from Hapag Lloyd, the vessel will commence a new charter with a leading liner company for a period of 60 to 64 months at an undisclosed rate.
(4)Beijing will earn a daily rate of $39,600 until March 1, 2024. From the aforementioned date until the expiry of the charter, the vessel will earn an undisclosed rate.
(5)This charter rate will be earned by MSC Amalfi until March 16, 2024. From the aforementioned date until the expiry of the charter, the daily rate will be $35,300.
(6)Valor is currently chartered to Hapag Lloyd at a daily rate of $32,400 until April 3, 2025, at the earliest. Upon redelivery of the vessel from Hapag Lloyd, the vessel will commence a new charter with a leading liner company for a period of 60 to 64 months at an undisclosed rate.
(7)Value is currently chartered to Hapag Lloyd at a daily rate of $32,400 until April 25, 2025, at the earliest. Upon redelivery of the vessel from Hapag Lloyd, the vessel will commence a new charter with a leading liner company for a period of 60 to 64 months at an undisclosed rate.
(8)Valiant is currently chartered to Hapag Lloyd at a daily rate of $32,400 until June 5, 2025, at the earliest. Upon redelivery of the vessel from Hapag Lloyd, the vessel will commence a new charter with a leading liner company for a period of 60 to 64 months at an undisclosed rate.
(9)Valence is currently chartered to Hapag Lloyd at a daily rate of $32,400 until July 3, 2025, at the earliest. Upon redelivery of the vessel from Hapag Lloyd, the vessel will commence a new charter with a leading liner company for a period of 60 to 64 months at an undisclosed rate.
(10)Vantage is currently chartered to Hapag Lloyd at a daily rate of $32,400 until September 8, 2025, at the earliest. Upon redelivery of the vessel from Hapag Lloyd, the vessel will commence a new charter with a leading liner company for a period of 60 to 64 months at an undisclosed rate.
(11)Navarino is currently chartered to MSC at a daily rate of $31,000 until March 1, 2025, at the earliest. Upon redelivery of the vessel from MSC, the vessel will commence a new charter with a leading liner company for a period of 48 to 52 months at an undisclosed rate.
(12)Charterer has the option to extend the current time charter for an additional period of 12 to 24 months at a daily rate of $17,000.
(13)Charterer has the option to extend the current time charter for an additional period of approximately 24 months at a daily rate of $14,500.
(14)The daily charter rate of $22,750 will be earned by Dyros until March 16, 2024. From the aforementioned date until the expiry of the charter, the daily rate will be $17,500.
(15)Vulpecula is currently chartered to ZIM under a charterparty agreement which commenced in May 2023. The tenor of the charter is for a period of 60 to 64 months at a daily rate of $43,250, on average. For this charter, the daily rate will be $99,000 for the first 12 month period, $91,250 for the second 12 month period, $10,000 for the third 12 month period and $8,000 for the remaining duration of the charter.
(16)The daily charter rate of $30,200 will be earned by Virgo until February 19, 2024. From the aforementioned date until the expiry of the charter, the daily rate will be $21,500.
(17)Vela is currently chartered to ZIM under a charterparty agreement which commenced in April 2023. The tenor of the charter is for a period of 60 to 64 months at a daily rate of $43,250, on average. For this charter, the daily rate will be $99,000 for the first 12 month period, $91,250 for the second 12 month period, $10,000 for the third 12 month period and $8,000 for the remaining duration of the charter.
(18)Charterer has the option to extend the current time charter for three additional one-year periods at a daily rate of $21,000.
(19)Trader is currently chartered at an undisclosed rate until October 1, 2024, at the earliest. Upon redelivery of the vessel from its current charterer, the vessel will commence a new charter with a leading liner company for a period of 24 to 26 months at an undisclosed rate.
(20)Luebeck is currently chartered to MSC at a daily rate of $15,000 until April 2024, at the earliest. Upon redelivery of the vessel from MSC, the vessel will commence a new charter with a leading liner company for a period of 24 to 26 months at an undisclosed rate.
  
(i)Denotes vessels subject to a sale and leaseback transaction.
  
(*)Denotes charterer’s identity and/or current daily charter rates and/or charter expiration dates, which are treated as confidential.
  

Dry Bulk Vessel Fleet List

The tables below provide information, as of February 6, 2024 about our fleet of dry bulk vessels, including the four vessels that we have agreed to sell and one vessel we have agreed to acquire.

 Vessel NameYear
Built
Capacity
(DWT)
1IRON MIRACLE (tbr. MIRACLE)(i)2011180,643
2DORADO2011179,842
3ENNA2011175,975
4AEOLIAN201283,478
5GRENETA201082,166
6HYDRUS201181,601
7PHOENIX201281,569
8BUILDER201281,541
9FARMER201281,541
10SAUVAN201079,700
11ROSE200876,619
12MERCHIA201563,800
13SEABIRD201663,553
14DAWN201863,530
15ORION201563,473
16DAMON201263,227
17ARYA201361,424
18TITAN I200958,090
19ERACLE201258,018
20PYTHIAS201058,018
21NORMA201058,018
22ORACLE200957,970
23CURACAO201157,937
24URUGUAY201157,937
25ATHENA201257,809
26SERENA201057,266
27LIBRA201056,729
28PEGASUS201156,726
29MERIDA(ii)201256,670
30CLARA200856,557
31BERMONDI200955,469
32VERITY201237,163
33PARITY201237,152
34ACUITY201137,149
35EQUITY201337,071
36DISCOVERY201237,019
37BERNIS201134,627
38ADVENTURE(ii)201133,755
39ALLIANCE(ii)201233,751
40KONSTANTINOS(ii)201232,178
41RESOURCE201031,776


(i) Denotes vessel that we have agreed to acquire.
(ii) Denotes vessels that we have agreed to sell.


Consolidated Statements of Income

  Years ended December 31, Three-months ended December 31,
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
 2022 2023 2022 2023
         
  (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
REVENUES:        
Voyage revenue$1,113,859 $1,502,491 $265,431 $490,523 
Income from investments in leaseback vessels -  8,915  -  4,324 
Total revenues$1,113,859 $1,511,406 $265,431 $494,847 
         
EXPENSES:        
Voyage expenses (49,069) (275,856) (15,055) (90,005)
Charter-in hire expenses -  (340,926) -  (166,256)
Voyage expenses – related parties (15,418) (13,993) (3,692) (3,731)
Vessels’ operating expenses (269,231) (258,088) (70,901) (63,978)
General and administrative expenses (12,440) (18,366) (3,150) (3,907)
Management and agency fees – related parties (46,735) (56,254) (13,867) (12,304)
General and administrative expenses – non-cash component (7,089) (5,850) (1,388) (1,556)
Amortization of dry-docking and special survey costs (13,486) (19,782) (4,027) (5,310)
Depreciation (165,998) (166,340) (41,762) (41,774)
Gain on sale of vessels, net 126,336  112,220  105,086  (971)
Loss on vessels held for sale -  (2,305) -  (2,305)
Vessels’ impairment loss (1,691) (434) (1,691) (205)
Foreign exchange gains 3,208  2,576  2,653  3,860 
Operating income$662,246 $468,008 $217,637 $106,405 
         
OTHER INCOME / (EXPENSES):        
Interest income$5,956 $32,447 $4,863 $6,903 
Interest and finance costs (122,233) (144,429) (35,789) (34,406)
Income from equity method investments 2,296  764  703  75 
Other 3,729  6,941  1,430  1,231 
Gain on derivative instruments, net 2,698  17,288  5,332  24,467 
Total other expenses$(107,554)$(86,989)$(23,461)$(1,730)
Net Income$554,692 $381,019 $194,176 $104,675 
Earnings allocated to Preferred Stock (31,068) (31,068) (7,767) (7,767)
Net (income) / loss attributable to the non-controlling interest 263  4,730  263  (322)
Net Income available to common stockholders$523,887 $354,681 $186,672 $96,586 
         
         
Earnings per common share, basic and diluted$4.26 $2.95 $1.53 $0.82 
Weighted average number of shares, basic and diluted 122,964,358  120,299,172  121,983,112  118,042,187 


COSTAMARE INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) As of December 31, 2022 As of December 31, 2023
ASSETS (Audited) (Unaudited)
CURRENT ASSETS:    
Cash and cash equivalents$718,049 $745,544 
Restricted cash 9,768  10,645 
Margin deposits -  13,748 
Short-term investments 120,014  17,492 
Investment in leaseback vessels, current -  27,362 
Net investment in sales type lease (Vessels), current -  22,620 
Accounts receivable 26,943  50,684 
Inventories 28,039  61,266 
Due from related parties 3,838  4,119 
Fair value of derivatives 25,660  33,310 
Insurance claims receivable 5,410  18,458 
Vessels held for sale 55,195  40,307 
Time-charter assumed 199  405 
Accrued charter revenue 10,885  9,752 
Prepayments and other 10,622  61,949 
Total current assets$1,014,622 $1,117,661 
FIXED ASSETS, NET:    
Vessels and advances, net 3,666,861  3,446,797 
Total fixed assets, net$3,666,861 $3,446,797 
NON-CURRENT ASSETS:    
Equity method investments$20,971 $552 
Investment in leaseback vessels, non-current -  191,674 
Deferred charges, net 55,035  72,801 
Finance leases, right-of-use assets (Vessels) -  39,211 
Net investment in sales type lease (Vessels), non-current -  19,482 
Operating leases, right-of-use assets -  284,398 
Accounts receivable, non-current 5,261  5,586 
Restricted cash 83,741  69,015 
Fair value of derivatives, non-current 37,643  28,639 
Accrued charter revenue, non-current 11,627  10,937 
Time-charter assumed, non-current 468  269 
Total assets$4,896,229 $5,287,022 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY    
CURRENT LIABILITIES:    
Current portion of long-term debt$320,114 $347,027 
Finance lease liability -  2,684 
Operating lease liabilities, current portion -  160,993 
Accounts payable 18,155  46,769 
Due to related parties 2,332  3,172 
Accrued liabilities 51,551  39,521 
Unearned revenue 25,227  52,177 
Fair value of derivatives 2,255  3,050 
Other current liabilities 3,456  7,377 
Total current liabilities$423,090 $662,770 
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES     
Long-term debt, net of current portion$2,264,507 $1,999,193 
Finance lease liability, net of current portion -  23,877 
Operating lease liabilities, non-current portion -  114,063 
Fair value of derivatives, net of current portion 13,655  11,194 
Unearned revenue, net of current portion 34,540  27,352 
Other non-current liabilities -  9,184 
Total non-current liabilities$2,312,702 $2,184,863 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES    
Temporary equity – Redeemable non-controlling interest in subsidiary$3,487 $629 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:    
Preferred stock$- $- 
Common stock 12  13 
Treasury stock (60,095) (120,095)
Additional paid-in capital 1,423,954  1,435,294 
Retained earnings 746,658  1,045,932 
Accumulated other comprehensive income 46,421  21,387 
Total Costamare Inc. stockholders’ equity$2,156,950 $2,382,531 
Non-controlling interest -  56,229 
Total stockholders’ equity 2,156,950  2,438,760 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$4,896,229 $5,287,022