Form 6-K Global Ship Lease, Inc. For: Mar 31

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of March 2021

Commission File Number:  001-34153

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F [X]       Form 40-F [  ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): [  ].

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): [  ].

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

Attached to this Report on Form 6-K (this “Report”) as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the press release of Global Ship Lease, Inc. (the “Company”), dated March 4, 2021, reporting the Company’s financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020.

Attached to this Report as Exhibit 99.2 is a copy of the press release of the Company, dated March 5, 2021, announcing that the Company declared a quarterly dividend on its 8.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Shares.

SIGNATURES

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

Investor and Media Contacts:

The IGB Group

Bryan Degnan

646-673-9701

or

Leon Berman

212-477-8438

Global Ship Lease Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2020

LONDON, ENGLAND — March 4, 2021 - Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE: GSL) (the “Company,” “Global Ship Lease” or “GSL”), a containership charter owner, announced today its unaudited results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020.

Full Year 2020 and Year To Date 2021 Highlights

- Reported operating revenue of $70.0 million for the fourth quarter 2020. Operating revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $282.8 million.

- Reported net income available to common shareholders of $10.8 million for the fourth quarter 2020 after $0.5 million premium paid on the redemption in December 2020 of $28.0 million of our 9.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (“2022 Notes”), giving normalized net income⁽³⁾ of $11.3 million. For the year ended December 31, 2020, net income available to common shareholders was $37.6 million, after a non-cash impairment charge of $8.5 million, $0.2 million loss on sale of two ships and $2.8 million premium paid on the redemption in February 2020 of $46.0 million and in December 2020 of $28.0 million of our 2022 Notes, giving normalized net income⁽³⁾ of $49.1 million.

- Generated $38.8 million of Adjusted EBITDA⁽³⁾ for the fourth quarter 2020. Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $161.7 million.

- During the fourth quarter of 2020, raised a further $11.9 million net proceeds under our ATM program for our 8.75% Series B Preferred Shares (“Series B Preferred Shares”), for total net proceeds in 2020 of $18.7 million. During the period from January 1, 2021 through March 3, 2021, a further $6.5 million net proceeds was raised under the ATM program for Series B Preferred Shares.

- During the fourth quarter of 2020, raised a further $0.8 million net proceeds under our ATM program for our 8.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 (“2024 Notes”) for total net proceeds in 2020 of $19.7 million. During the period from January 1, 2021 through March 3, 2021, a further $12.9 million net proceeds was raised under the ATM program for the 2024 Notes.

- On January 7, 2021, entered into a new $236.2 million senior secured loan facility with Hayfin Capital Management, LLP (the “New Hayfin Facility”), which was fully drawn on January 19, 2021.  The proceeds, together with cash on hand, were used to complete on January 20, 2021 the full optional redemption of our outstanding 2022 Notes.

- On January 12, 2021, announced that our Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per Class A common share, with effect from the first quarter of 2021.

- On January 12, 2021, Moody’s upgraded our Corporate Family Rating and the issue rating of our 2022 Notes to B2 / Positive from B3 / Positive. On December 9, 2020, S&P upgraded the issue rating of our 2022 Notes to BB- from B+.

- On January 20, 2021, upon the redemption in full of our 2022 Notes, the 250,000 Series C Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares held by KEP VI (Newco Marine) Ltd. and KIA VIII (Newco Marine) Ltd., both affiliates of Kelso & Company, a U.S. private equity firm, were converted into 12,955,188 of our Class A common shares.

- On January 26, 2021, closed our fully underwritten public offering of 5,400,000 Class A common shares, at a public offering price of $13.00 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $70.2 million. The underwriters exercised, in part, their 30-day option to purchase on February 17, 2021 an additional 141,959 Class A common shares (together, the “January 2021 Equity Offering”). The aggregate net proceeds, after underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses, were approximately $67.8 million.

- On February 9, 2021, announced that we had agreed to purchase from and charter back to Maersk Line, seven 6,000 TEU Post-Panamax containerships with an average age of approximately 20 years for an aggregate purchase price of $116.0 million. On completion of short charters on two of these vessels, all seven ships will be chartered to Maersk Line for a minimum firm period of 36 months each, followed by two one-year extensions at charterer’s option. The vessels are expected to generate aggregate Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $95.0 million over the average firm period of 3.1 years.  If all options are exercised, the vessels are expected to generate approximately $126.0 million of Adjusted EBITDA. The vessels are scheduled for phased delivery during the second and third quarters of 2021.

- Since October 1, 2020, agreed twelve charter extensions and new charters for our existing fleet, adding approximately $198.3 million of contracted revenues and $138.6 million of expected aggregate Adjusted EBITDA. The charters were for four 2,200 – 2,800 TEU feeder ships, four 5,100 TEU Panamaxes, three 5,900 – 6,800 TEU Post-Panamaxes, and one of our Eco-9,000s. Charter durations ranged from approximately 10 months to over three years, with shorter durations for the smaller ships and longer for the larger ships. Rates were up significantly against previous open market fixtures. Since July 1, 2020, when the market began to rebound, and excluding the seven vessels we have contracted to purchase, we have agreed a total of 22 new charters or extensions and added approximately $264.5 million of contracted revenues and $176.8 million of expected aggregate Adjusted EBITDA. 

George Youroukos, Executive Chairman of Global Ship Lease, stated, “Through the second half of 2020 and into early 2021, Global Ship Lease has taken decisive action in a uniquely strong market in ways that will benefit the Company for years to come. As our liner operator customers have increasingly found themselves short of containership capacity in the rapid rebound of demand, severe port congestion particularly on the US West Coast and in China, and the already tight vessel supply that preceded the onset of COVID-19, we have been able to secure and extend charters across our fleet of low slot cost, high reefer capacity, fuel efficient containerships at rates and durations well beyond what has been available in recent years.”

“On the back of these dramatic chartering successes, and supplemented by our deleveraging efforts, and game-changing capacity discipline by the liner companies, we were able to achieve the major goal of refinancing our 2022 Notes on dramatically improved terms. Eliminating the restrictive covenants that had previously limited our ability to pursue the full range of attractive market opportunities or to share the proceeds of those efforts with our shareholders, we moved quickly to initiate a sustainable quarterly dividend of $0.12 for our Class A Common Shares and announced an agreement to add a further seven vessels to our fleet in a transaction that will be immediately accretive, with strong downside protection and adding approximately $19 million to annual net income, based on today’s LIBOR, representing an increase of nearly 40% compared to normalized net income for the year ended December 31, 2020.”

“As we now move through a period of the year that typically sees the most pronounced seasonal weakness in our industry, we continue to see a highly supportive environment.  This is driven by both a sustained high level of containership demand and a restricted near term supply of ships, reinforced for the mid term by a negligible orderbook for mid-sized and smaller vessels, constrained in part by uncertainty over future fuel and propulsion technologies.  These factors point to highly supportive supply side fundamentals through the medium term. With an improved financial foundation, a highly in-demand fleet, and substantial momentum in unlocking value for our shareholders, we believe that GSL is well placed to continue executing our accretive growth strategy and taking full opportunity of the attractive opportunities ahead of us.”

Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, commented, “The successful refinancing of our 2022 Notes earlier in 2021 is yet another step to further strengthen our balance sheet and is also a highly significant unlocking event in and of itself. By extending maturity from 2022 to 2026, eliminating incurrence covenants, and reducing annual cash debt service by up to $15 million, the refinancing provides us with a materially enhanced free cashflow profile and the flexibility to allocate that cashflow in a way that best creates long-term value for our shareholders. Following our initiation of a dividend on our Class A common shares and a successful equity offering that facilitates our ability to pursue further accretive growth, we are as financially strong as we have been at any point in our history.”

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA – UNAUDITED

(thousands of U.S. dollars)

(1) Operating Revenue is net of address commissions which represents a discount provided directly to a charterer based on a fixed percentage of the agreed upon charter rate. Brokerage commissions are included in “Time charter and voyage expenses”.

(2) Net Income available to common shareholders.

(3) Adjusted EBITDA and Normalized Net Income are non-U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) financial measures, as explained further in this press release, and are considered by Global Ship Lease to be a useful measure of its performance. For reconciliations of these non-U.S. GAAP financial measure to net income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, please see “Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Revenue and Utilization

Revenue from fixed-rate, mainly long-term, time-charters was $70.0 million in the three months ended December 31, 2020, up $2.4 million (or 3.6%) on revenue of $67.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase is principally due to a 10.7% increase in operating days from the addition of five vessels since October 1, 2019, together with increased revenue on renewals at higher rates from MSC Qingdao, Orca, Agios Dimitrios and MSC Tianjin partially offset by decreases in revenue on renewals at lower rates from GSL Chateau d’If, CMA CGM Alcazar, Anthea Y, Maira, Nicolas and Maira XL. There were 3,956 ownership days in the quarter, an increase of 4.0% on 3,804 in the fourth quarter 2019. The 128 days of offhire for dry-dockings in the three months ended December 31, 2020 were mainly attributable to four regulatory dry-dockings, one of which remained in progress at December 31, 2020. With 26 days idle time for GSL Chateau d’If and GSL Ningbo between charters and 16 days of unplanned offhire days, utilization was 95.7%. In the comparative period of 2019, there were 195 days of offhire for five regulatory dry-dockings, with extended completion times due to congestion in shipyards. With 114 days idle time for GSL Matisse, Manet and Dolphin II prior to their delivery to their new charterers and 75 days of unplanned offhire, including 45 days for repairs to the stern tube of one ship, utilization for the fourth quarter 2019 was 89.9%.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, revenue was $282.8 million, up $21.7 million (or 8.3%) on revenue of $261.1 million in the comparative period, mainly due to an increase of 10.4% in operating days from the addition of two vessels during the second and third quarter of 2019 and five vessels since October 1, 2019, together with increased revenue from MSC Tianjin, Alexandra, Alexis, Olivia I, Kristina and Katherine as the charters for these ships were renewed at increased rates, partially offset by a decrease in revenue from GSL Matisse and Utrillo (both sold in July 2020) and La Tour and Manet, as their charters were renewed at lower rates.

The table below shows fleet utilization for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

As of December 31, 2020, one dry-docking for regulatory requirements was in progress. In 2021, we anticipate 10 further dry-dockings, for regulatory requirements.

Vessel Operating Expenses

Vessel operating expenses, which primarily include costs of crew, lubricating oil, repairs, maintenance, insurance and technical management fees, were up 13.1% to $27.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, compared to $24.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase of $3.2 million was mainly due to 152 or 4.0% additional ownership days as a result of the acquisition of five vessels since October 1, 2019, all of which are Post-Panamax with higher daily operating expenses less the operating expenses of GSL Matisse and Utrillo (both sold in July 2020), resulting in $1.6 million net additional operating expenses and $1.9 million due to catch-up on reduced expenses earlier in the year as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and delays on crew replacement and delivery of spares. The average cost per ownership day in the quarter was $7,006, compared to $6,436 for the prior year period, up $570 per day, or 8.9%.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, vessel operating expenses were $102.8 million, or an average of $6,410 per day, compared to $87.8 million, or $6,128 per day, in the comparative period, an increase of $282 per ownership day, or 4.6%. The absolute increase and increase in vessel operating expenses per day are mainly due to the reasons noted above.

Time Charter and Voyage Expenses

Time charter and voyage expenses comprise mainly commission paid to ship brokers, the cost of bunker fuel for owner’s account when a ship is off-hire or idle and miscellaneous owner’s costs associated with a ship’s voyage. Time charter and voyage expenses were $2.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, compared to $3.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The decrease is mainly due to the decrease in idle days and unplanned off hire days resulting in lower costs for bunker fuel for owner’s account.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, time charter and voyage expenses were $11.1 million, compared to $9.0 million in the comparative period with the increase being mainly due to the fact that a number of our legacy ships have completed their initial sale-leaseback charters with CMA CGM or OOCL, which did not include brokerage commission and were subsequently employed on new charters obtained with the assistance of a broker, thereby incurring such commissions. Further, there was an increase in bunker costs for GSL Matisse and Utrillo (both vessels were sold during July 2020) and Julie and GSL Christen during idle time.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization for the three-month period ended December 31, 2020 was $12.0 million, compared to $11.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.  The increase was mainly due to the addition of five vessels since October 1, 2019 offset by the sale of GSL Matisse and Utrillo in July 2020.

Depreciation for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $47.0 million, compared to $43.9 million in the comparative period, with the increase being due to the reasons noted above.

Loss on sale of vessels - vessel impairment losses

Two 1999-built, 2,200 TEU feeder ships, GSL Matisse and Utrillo, were sold in July 2020 resulting in a loss of $0.2 million. As of March 31, 2020, we had an expectation that the vessels would be sold before the end of their previously estimated useful life, and as a result performed an impairment test of these two asset groups and an impairment charge of $7.6 million was recognized. An additional impairment charge of $0.9 million was recognized on these two vessels in the three months ended June 30, 2020 for a total of $8.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. No impairment charges were recognized in the prior year.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $2.0 million in the three months ended December 31, 2020, compared to $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The average general and administrative expense per ownership day for the three-month period ended December 31, 2020 was $498, compared to $455 in the comparative period, an increase of $43 or 9.5%. The increase was mainly due to increased legal and auditing fees in relation to a corporate structure reorganization.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, general and administrative expenses were $8.4 million, compared to $8.8 million in the comparative period. The average general and administrative expense per ownership day for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $520, compared to $615 in the comparative period, a decrease of $95 or 15.4%.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA was $38.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, up from $37.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, with the net increase being mainly due to the addition of five vessels since October 1, 2019.

Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $161.7 million, compared to $157.0 million for the comparative period, with the net increase being due to the addition of vessels.

Interest Expense and Interest Income

Debt as at December 31, 2020 totaled $781.9 million, comprising $233.4 million of indebtedness on our 2022 Notes, collateralized by 16 vessels in the legacy GSL fleet, $488.7 million other secured debt collateralized by our other vessels and $59.8 million of unsecured indebtedness on our Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”). As of December 31, 2020, five of our vessels were unencumbered.

Debt as at December 31, 2019 totaled $912.8 million, comprising $322.7 million of indebtedness under our 2022 Notes, $12.1 million of indebtedness under the Citi secured term loan, both cross collateralized by 18 ships in the legacy GSL fleet, $538.3 million of bank debt collateralized by the rest of the fleet and $39.8 million of indebtedness under our 2024 Notes. Three vessels were unencumbered as at December 31, 2019.

Interest and other finance expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2020 were $14.8 million, a decrease of $3.7 million, or 20.0%, on the interest and other finance expenses for the fourth quarter of 2019 of $18.5 million. The decrease is mainly due to lower outstanding principal during fourth quarter of 2020 and the decrease in LIBOR, offset by $0.5 million premium paid on the annual redemption of $28.0 million of our 2022 Notes in December 2020.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, interest expense was $65.4 million, compared to $75.0 million for the comparative period, with the decrease mainly for the reasons noted above offset by $2.3 million premium paid on the optional redemption of $46.0 million of our 2022 Notes in the first quarter of 2020 and the $0.5 million premium paid on the annual redemption of $28.0 million of our 2022 Notes in December of 2020.

Interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2020 was $0.1 million, compared to $0.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 with the decrease being due to lower deposit interest rates.

Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $1.0 million, compared to $1.8 million for the comparative period.

Other Income/(Expenses), Net

Other income, net was $0.9 million in the three months ended December 31, 2020, compared to an expense, net of $0.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Other income, net was $1.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to income, net of $1.5 million in the comparative period.

Taxation

Taxation for the three months ended December 31, 2020 was a credit of $1,000, compared to a charge of $43,000 in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Taxation for the year ended December 31, 2020 was a charge of $49,000, compared to $3,000 charge in the comparative period.

Earnings Allocated to Preferred Shares

Net Income Available to Common Shareholders

Net income available to common shareholders for the three months ended December 31, 2020 was $10.8 million, after $0.5 million premium paid on the redemption of $28.0 million of our 2022 Notes in December 2020, compared to $8.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, after $0.3 million premium paid on the redemption $17.3 million of our 2022 Notes in December 2019.

Net income available to common shareholders was $37.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, after a non-cash impairment charge of $8.5 million, $0.2 million loss on sale of two ships, $2.3 million premium paid on the redemption of $46.0 million of our 2022 Notes in February 2020 and $0.5 million premium paid on the redemption of $28.0 million of our 2022 Notes in December 2020, compared to $36.8 million in the comparative period.

Normalized net income for the three months ended December 31, 2020, was $11.3 million, before the $0.5 million premium paid on the redemption of $28.0 million of our 2022 Notes in December 2020. Normalized net income in the comparative period was $8.3 million, before the $0.3 million premium paid on the redemption $17.3 million of our 2022 Notes in December 2019.  For the year ended December 31, 2020, normalized net income was $49.1 million, before the non-cash impairment charge of $8.5 million, $2.8 million premium paid on the redemptions of 2022 Notes and $0.2 million loss on sale of the two ships. Normalized net income in the comparative period was $37.1 million, before the $0.3 million premium paid on the redemption $17.3 million of our 2022 Notes in December 2019.

Fleet

The following table provides information about our on-the-water fleet of 43 ships. The table includes charters agreed up to March 3, 2021.

(1) Modern design, high reefer capacity, fuel-efficient vessel.

(2)  Charter at $23,500 per day to 4Q20; thereafter direct continuation at a rate of $38,000 per day.

(3) Charter to 1Q21 at $24,990 per day; thereafter direct continuation at a rate of $31,650 per day.

(4) Charter to MSC Tianjin at $23,000 per day through 1Q21; thereafter at $19,000 per day, due to cancellation of scrubber installation. MSC Qingdao has a scrubber installed, and will continue to trade at a rate of $23,000 per day.

(5) Charter with Maersk at a rate of $18,000 per day to November 2020, with a new charter to MSC commencing thereafter at a rate of $22,500 per day and with median expiry 2Q23.

(6) GSL Eleni delivered 2Q2019 and is chartered for five years; GSL Kalliopi (delivered 4Q19) and GSL Grania (delivered 3Q19) are chartered for three years plus two successive periods of one year at the option of the charterer. During the option periods the charter rates for GSL Kalliopi and GSL Grania are $18,900 per day and $17,750 per day respectively.

(7) GSL Christen commenced a new charter with Maersk in 3Q20, with escalating charter rates: the rate for the first four months is $12,250 per day, after which it climbs to $14,000 per day until mid-March 2021, and thereafter increases to $15,000 per day. On expiry of the charter in May 2021, GSL Christen will be chartered to a leading liner operator at a rate expected to generate Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $22.5 million through to the median expiry of the charter in 4Q2023;

(8) GSL Vinia and GSL Christel Elisabeth delivered in 4Q19, and are contracted on 52 – 60 months charters.

(9) 12-month extension at charterer’s option callable in 2Q22, at an increased rate of $20,000 per day.

(10) A package agreement with ZIM, for direct charter extensions on two 5,900 TEU ships: Ian H, at a rate of $32,500 per day from May 2021 to 3Q2024, and Dimitris Y, at a rate expected to generate approximately $11.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA over the median term of the charter, from May 2022 to 2Q2024.

(11) Charter with Sea-Lead at a rate of $7,000 per day to January 2021, with a new charter to OOCL to commence thereafter at a rate of $24,500 per day and with median expiry 1Q22.

(12) Charter with Maersk at a rate of $10,000 per day ending in 2Q21. On expiry of the charter in April 2021, Orca I will be chartered to a leading liner operator at a rate expected to generate Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $15.0 million through to the median expiry of the charter in 3Q2024; thereafter the charterer has the option to charter the vessel for a further 12-14 months at the same rate.

(13) CMA CGM Alcazar chartered to CMA CGM at $33,750 per day (the original sale & leaseback rate agreed in 2008) to October 2020; thereafter charter extended to 4Q21, assuming median redelivery, at a rate of $16,000 per day. GSL Chateau d'If (formerly CMA CGM Chateau d'If) chartered to CMA CGM at $33,750 per day to October 2020; thereafter a new charter agreed with Hapag-Lloyd to 4Q21, assuming median delivery, at a rate of $14,500 per day.

(14) New charter agreed with ZIM, on scheduled completion of GSL Valerie's drydocking at end-October 2020, at an average rate of $12,825 per day, assuming median duration of the charter to 4Q21.

(15) Charter with MSC to November 2020, at which time the vessel was dry-docked. Thereafter, in January 2021, Maira was chartered to Hapag-Lloyd at an average rate of $14,260 per day, with median expiry in 1Q23;

(16) Charter with MSC to December 2020, at which time the vessel was dry-docked. Thereafter, in January 2021, Nikolas was chartered to CMA CGM at a rate of $16,000 per day, with median expiry in 1Q23;

(17) Charter with Sea-Lead at a rate of $7,750 per day to January 2021, extended thereafter at a rate of $12,850 per day and with median expiry 4Q21.

(18) Charter to October 2020 at a rate of $8,000 per day; thereafter extended to 3Q21, with a new rate of $9,400 per day.

(19) Charter to October 2020 at a rate of $9,800 per day; thereafter extended to 3Q21, assuming median charter term, with a new rate of $9,300 per day.

The following table provides information about the seven ships that we have contracted to purchase as announced on February 9, 2021 and which are scheduled to deliver during the second and third quarters of 2021. Contract cover for each vessel is for a firm period of at least three years from the date each vessel is delivered, with charterers holding two one year extension options thereafter. During the firm periods of cover the charters are expected to generate aggregate annualized Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $29.0 million.

Conference Call and Webcast

Global Ship Lease will hold a conference call to discuss the Company's results for the three months ended December 31, 2021 today, Thursday March 4, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. There are two ways to access the conference call:

(1) Dial-in: (877) 445-2556 or (908) 982-4670; Passcode: 4539656

Please dial in at least 10 minutes prior to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time to ensure a prompt start to the call.

(2) Live Internet webcast and slide presentation: http://www.globalshiplease.com

If you are unable to participate at this time, a replay of the call will be available through Saturday, March 20, 2021 at (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406. Enter the code 4539656 to access the audio replay. The webcast will also be archived on the Company’s website: http://www.globalshiplease.com.

Annual Report on Form 20-F

The Company’s Annual Report for 2019 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on April 2, 2020. A copy of the report can be found under the Investor Relations section (Annual Reports) of the Company’s website at http://www.globalshiplease.com or on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.  Shareholders may request a hard copy of the audited financial statements free of charge by contacting the Company at [email protected] or by writing to Global Ship Lease, Inc, care of Global Ship Lease Services Limited, 25 Wilton Road, London SW1V ILW.

About Global Ship Lease

Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures

A.	Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest income and expense, earnings allocated to preferred shares, income taxes, depreciation and amortization of drydocking costs, gains or losses on the sale of vessels and impairment losses.  Adjusted EBITDA is a non-U.S. GAAP quantitative measure used to assist in the assessment of the Company's ability to generate cash from its operations.  We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. Adjusted EBITDA is not defined in U.S. GAAP and should not be considered to be an alternative to net income or any other financial metric required by such accounting principles. Our use of Adjusted EBITDA may vary from the use of similarly titled measures by others in our industry.

ADJUSTED EBITDA - UNAUDITED

(thousands of U.S. dollars)

			Three				Three
			months				months				Year				Year
			ended				ended				ended				ended
			December 31,				December 31,				December 31,				December 31,
			2020				2019				2020				2019
Net income available to Common Shareholders				10,752				7,961				37,568				36,757
Adjust:	Depreciation and amortization			12,008				11,028				46,978				43,912
	Impairment charges			-				-				8,497				-
	Loss on sale of vessels			-				-				244				-
	Interest income			(59	)			(593	)			(956	)			(1,791	)
	Interest expense			14,821				18,510				65,354				74,994
	Income tax			(1	)			43				49				3
	Earnings allocated to preferred shares			1,248				785				3,995				3,081
Adjusted EBITDA				38,769				37,734				161,729				156,956

B.	Normalized net income

Normalized net income represents net income available to common shareholders adjusted for impairment charges, the premium paid on redemption of our 2022 Notes and gains/losses on sale of vessels. Normalized net income is a non-U.S. GAAP quantitative measure which we believe will assist investors and analysts who often adjust reported net loss for items that do not affect operating performance or operating cash generated. Normalized net income is not defined in U.S. GAAP and should not be considered to be an alternate to net income or any other financial metric required by such accounting principles.  Our use of Normalized net income may vary from the use of similarly titled measures by others in our industry.

NORMALIZED NET INCOME

(thousands of U.S. dollars)

			Three				Three
			months				months				Year				Year
			ended				ended				ended				ended
			December 31,				December 31,				December 31,				December 31,
			2020				2019				2020				2019
Net income available to Common Shareholders				10,752				7,961				37,568				36,757
Adjust:	Impairment charges			-				-				8,497				-
	Loss on sale of vessels			-				-				244				-
	Premium paid on redemption of 2022 Notes			560				346				2,831				346
Normalized net income				11,312				8,307				49,140				37,103

Safe Harbor Statement

This communication contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide Global Ship Lease's current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements include statements about Global Ship Lease's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. Words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," “should,” "project," "will" or similar words or phrases, or the negatives of those words or phrases, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that may be incorrect, and Global Ship Lease cannot assure you that these projections included in these forward-looking statements will come to pass. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.

The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Global Ship Lease's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements for many reasons specifically as described in Global Ship Lease's filings with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this communication. Global Ship Lease undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this communication or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should, however, review the factors and risks Global Ship Lease describes in the reports it will file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this communication.

Global Ship Lease, Inc.

Interim Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

Global Ship Lease, Inc.

Interim Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars except share data)

Global Ship Lease, Inc.

Interim Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

Investor and Media Contact:

         The IGB Group

Bryan Degnan

646-673-9701

or

         Leon Berman

         212-477-8438

Global Ship Lease Declares Quarterly Dividend on its 8.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Shares

LONDON, March 5, 2021 – Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE: GSL) (the “Company”) announced today that the Company’s Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.546875 per depositary share, each representing a 1/100^th interest in a share of  its 8.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Shares (the “Series B Preferred Shares”) (NYSE:GSLPrB). The dividend represents payment for the period from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021 and will be paid on April 1, 2021 to all Series B Preferred Shareholders of record as of March 25, 2021.

About Global Ship Lease

Adjusted to include all charters agreed, and ships acquired or divested, up to March 3, 2021, the average remaining term of the Company’s charters at December 31, 2020, to the mid-point of redelivery, including options under the Company’s control, was 2.5 years on a TEU-weighted basis. Contracted revenue on the same basis was $892.5 million. Contracted revenue was $1,051.4 million, including options under charterers’ control and with latest redelivery date, representing a weighted average remaining term of 3.1 years.