Table:
| (in millions): |  | Year ended December 31, |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 2019 | 2018 | Increase / (Decrease) |
| Construction | $ 75.7 | $ 60.9 | $  14.8 |
| Marine Services | 30.7 | 32.7 | (2.0) |
| Energy | 17.0 | 5.5 | 11.5 |
| Telecommunications | 3.4 | 5.3 | (1.9) |
| Total Core Operating Subsidiaries | 126.8 | 104.4 | 22.4 |
| Life Sciences | (11.8) | (14.9) | 3.1 |
| Broadcasting | (6.3) | (16.9) | 10.6 |
| Other and Eliminations | — | (2.2) | 2.2 |
| Total Early Stage and Other | (18.1) | (34.0) | 15.9 |
| Non-Operating Corporate | (17.9) | (25.9) | 8.0 |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ 90.8 | $ 44.5 | $ 46.3 |
Paragraphs:
Construction: Net income from our Construction segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $3.0 million to $24.7 million from $27.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Adjusted EBITDA from our Construction segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $14.8 million to $75.7 million from $60.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was driven by the acquisition of GrayWolf.
Marine Services: Net income (loss) from our Marine Services segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $2.9 million to a loss of $2.6 million from income of $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Adjusted EBITDA from our Marine Services segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $2.0 million to $30.7 million from $32.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was driven by a decline in income from equity method investees, due to HMN driven by lower revenues on large turnkey projects underway than in the comparable period, and losses at SBSS from a loss contingency related to ongoing legal disputes and lower vessel utilization.
Largely offsetting these losses was higher gross profit as a result of improved profitability from telecom maintenance zones and project work in the offshore power and offshore renewables end markets, as well as the benefit of improved vessel utilization. Additionally, the comparable period was impacted by higher than expected costs on a certain offshore power construction project that were not repeated in the current period.
Energy: Net income (loss) from our Energy segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased by $5.1 million to income of $4.2 million from a loss of $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Adjusted EBITDA from our Energy segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $11.5 million to $17.0 million from $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by the AFTC recognized in the fourth quarter of 2019 attributable to 2018 and 2019 and higher volume-related revenues from the recent acquisition of the ampCNG stations and growth in CNG sales volumes. The increase was also driven by Partially offsetting these increases were higher selling, general and administrative expenses as a result of the acquisition of the ampCNG stations.
Telecommunications: Net income (loss) from our Telecommunications segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased by $6.0 million to a loss of $1.4 million from income of $4.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Adjusted EBITDA from our Telecommunications segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $1.9 million to $3.4 million from $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to both a decline in revenue and the contracting of call termination margin as a result of the continued decline in the international long distance market, partially offset by a decrease in compensation expense due to headcount decreases and reductions in bad debt expense.
Life Sciences: Net income (loss) from our Life Sciences segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $65.4 million to a loss of $0.2 million from income of $65.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Adjusted EBITDA loss from our Life Sciences segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $3.1 million to $11.8 million from $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA loss was primarily driven by comparably fewer expenses at the Pansend holding company, which incurred additional compensation expense in the prior period related to the performance of the segment. The decrease was also due to a reduction in costs associated BeneVir, which was sold in the second quarter of 2018.
Broadcasting: Net loss from our Broadcasting segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $16.0 million to $18.5 million from $34.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Adjusted EBITDA loss from our Broadcasting segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $10.6 million to $6.3 million from $16.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA loss was primarily driven by the reduction in costs as the segment exited certain local markets which were unprofitable at Network, partially offset by higher overhead expenses associated with the growth of the Broadcast stations subsequent to the prior year.
Non-operating Corporate: Net loss from our Non-operating Corporate segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $5.7 million to $87.6 million from $81.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Adjusted EBITDA loss from our Non-operating Corporate segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased $8.0 million to $17.9 million from $25.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA loss was primarily attributable to reductions in bonus expense and other general and administrative expenses as previously described.
Question:
What caused the decrease in adjusted EBITDA?
Answer: The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was driven by a decline in income from equity method investees, due to HMN driven by lower revenues on large turnkey projects underway than in the comparable period, and losses at SBSS from a loss contingency related to ongoing legal disputes and lower vessel utilization.