DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP
|
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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Republic of the Marshall Islands
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(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
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23, Rue Basse, 98000 Monaco
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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Michael Gregos
23, Rue Basse, 98000 Monaco
Tel. +377 99996445
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(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person
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Common units representing limited partnership interests
6.25% Senior Notes Due 2019
9.00% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
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New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
|
||||
Title of class
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Name of exchange on which registered
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[_] Yes
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[X] No
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[_] Yes
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[X] No
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[X] Yes
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[_] No
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[X] Yes
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[_] No
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Large accelerated filer [_]
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Accelerated filer [X]
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Non-accelerated filer [_]
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Smaller reporting company [_]
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Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the Registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
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[X] U.S. GAAP
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[_] International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board
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[_] Other
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If "Other" has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which
financial statement item the Registrant has elected to follow.
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[_] Item 17
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[_] Item 18
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[_] Yes
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[X] No
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· | LNG market trends, including charter rates, factors affecting supply and demand, and opportunities for the profitable operations of LNG carriers; |
· | our anticipated growth strategies; |
· | the effect of a worldwide economic slowdown; |
· | potential turmoil in the global financial markets; |
· | fluctuations in currencies and interest rates; |
· | general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values; |
· | changes in our operating expenses, including drydocking and insurance costs and bunker prices; |
· | forecasts of our ability to make cash distributions on the units or any increases in our cash distributions; |
· | our future financial condition or results of operations and our future revenues and expenses; |
· | the repayment of debt and settling of interest rate swaps (if any); |
· | our ability to make additional borrowings and to access debt and equity markets; |
· | planned capital expenditures and availability of capital resources to fund capital expenditures; |
· | our ability to maintain long-term relationships with major LNG traders; |
· | our ability to leverage our Sponsor's relationships and reputation in the shipping industry; |
· | our ability to realize the expected benefits from our vessel acquisitions; |
· | our ability to purchase vessels from our Sponsor and other parties in the future, including the Optional Vessels (defined later); |
· | our continued ability to enter into long-term time charters; |
· | our ability to maximize the use of our vessels, including the re-deployment or disposition of vessels no longer under long-term time charters; |
· | future purchase prices of newbuildings and secondhand vessels and timely deliveries of such vessels; |
· | our ability to compete successfully for future chartering opportunities and newbuilding opportunities (if any); |
· | acceptance of a vessel by its charterer; |
· | termination dates and extensions of charters; |
· | the expected cost of, and our ability to comply with, governmental regulations, maritime self-regulatory organization standards, as well as standard regulations imposed by our charterers applicable to our business; |
· | availability of skilled labor, vessel crews and management; |
· | our anticipated incremental general and administrative expenses as a publicly traded limited partnership and our fees and expenses payable under the fleet management agreements and the administrative services agreement with our Manager; |
· | the anticipated taxation of our Partnership and distributions to our unitholders; |
· | estimated future maintenance and replacement capital expenditures; |
· | our ability to retain key employees; |
· | charterers' increasing emphasis on environmental and safety concerns; |
· | potential liability from any pending or future litigation; |
· | potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, political events, piracy or acts by terrorists; |
· | future sales of our common units in the public market; |
· | our business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations; and |
· | other factors detailed in this Annual Report and from time to time in our periodic reports. |
PART I.
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5
|
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ITEM 1.
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IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
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5
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ITEM 2.
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OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
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5
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ITEM 3.
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KEY INFORMATION
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5
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ITEM 4.
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INFORMATION ON THE PARTNERSHIP
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42
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ITEM 4A.
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UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
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74
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ITEM 5.
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OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
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74
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ITEM 6.
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DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
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91
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ITEM 7.
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MAJOR UNITHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
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95
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ITEM 8.
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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105
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ITEM 9.
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THE OFFER AND LISTING.
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108
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ITEM 10.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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110
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ITEM 11.
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QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
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119
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ITEM 12.
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
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121
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PART II
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121
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ITEM 13.
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DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
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121
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ITEM 14.
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MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
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121
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ITEM 15.
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CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
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121
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ITEM 16.
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[RESERVED]
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123
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ITEM 16A.
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AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
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123
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ITEM 16B.
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CODE OF ETHICS
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123
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ITEM 16C.
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PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
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123
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ITEM 16D.
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EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
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124
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ITEM 16E.
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PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
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124
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ITEM 16F.
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CHANGE IN REGISTRANTS' CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
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124
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ITEM 16G.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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124
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ITEM 16H.
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MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
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125
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PART III
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125
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ITEM 17.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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125
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ITEM 18.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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125
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ITEM 19.
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EXHIBITS
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125
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ITEM 1. | IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS |
ITEM 2. | OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE |
ITEM 3. | KEY INFORMATION |
Year Ended December 31,
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||||||||||||||||||||
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||||||||||||
Statement of Income Data
|
(In thousands of Dollars, except for unit per unit data )
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Voyage revenues
|
$
|
145,202
|
$
|
107,088
|
$
|
85,679
|
$
|
77,498
|
$
|
52,547
|
||||||||||
Voyage expenses- including related party (1)
|
(2,804
|
)
|
(2,273
|
)
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(1,686
|
)
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(3,468
|
)
|
(1,353
|
)
|
||||||||||
Vessel operating expenses
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(23,244
|
)
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(16,813
|
)
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(11,909
|
)
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(15,722
|
)
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(11,350
|
)
|
||||||||||
General and administrative expenses- including related party
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(1,805
|
)
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(1,951
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)
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(387
|
)
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(278
|
)
|
(54
|
)
|
||||||||||
Management fees
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(4,870
|
)
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(3,566
|
)
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(2,737
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)
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(2,638
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)
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(2,529
|
)
|
||||||||||
Depreciation
|
(24,387
|
)
|
(17,822
|
)
|
(13,579
|
)
|
(13,616
|
)
|
(13,579
|
)
|
||||||||||
Dry-docking and special survey costs
|
-
|
-
|
-
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(2,109
|
)
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
Operating income
|
$
|
88,092
|
$
|
64,663
|
$
|
55,381
|
$
|
39,667
|
$
|
23,682
|
||||||||||
Interest income
|
35
|
221
|
-
|
1
|
4
|
|||||||||||||||
Interest and finance costs
|
(27,974
|
)
|
(14,524
|
)
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(9,732
|
)
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(9,576
|
)
|
(3,977
|
)
|
||||||||||
Loss on derivative financial instruments
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-
|
-
|
-
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(196
|
)
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(824
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Other, net
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(103
|
)
|
201
|
(29
|
)
|
(60
|
)
|
(65
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Net Income
|
$
|
60,050
|
$
|
50,561
|
$
|
45,620
|
$
|
29,836
|
$
|
18,820
|
||||||||||
Earnings per Unit (basic and diluted):
|
Common Unit (basic and diluted) | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.58 | $ | 2.95 | $ | 1.37 | $ | 0.87 | ||||||||||
Weighted average number of units outstanding (basic and diluted):
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Common units
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20,505,000
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17,964,288
|
7,729,521
|
6,735,000
|
6,735,000
|
|||||||||||||||
Cash distributions declared and paid per common unit
|
$
|
1.69
|
$
|
1.29
|
(2)
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|||||||||
Balance Sheet Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Total current assets
|
$
|
25,814
|
$
|
14,348
|
$
|
7,606
|
$
|
8,981
|
$
|
3,453
|
||||||||||
Vessels, net
|
1,036,157
|
839,883
|
453,175
|
466,754
|
480,370
|
|||||||||||||||
Total assets
|
1,108,103
|
887,376
|
488,735
|
476,275
|
484,363
|
|||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities
|
51,353
|
33,249
|
14,903
|
398,434
|
439,024
|
|||||||||||||||
Total long term debt, including current portion, gross of deferred financing fees
|
688,333
|
575,000
|
219,585
|
380,715
|
402,189
|
|||||||||||||||
Total partners' equity
|
367,838
|
297,698
|
257,699
|
75,175
|
45,339
|
|||||||||||||||
Cash Flow Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
$
|
96,944
|
$
|
76,443
|
$
|
44,204
|
$
|
27,902
|
$
|
28,974
|
||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(205,045
|
)
|
(404,530
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||
Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activities
|
120,445
|
334,359
|
(38,527
|
)
|
(27,902
|
)
|
(28,974
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Fleet Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Number of vessels at the end of the year
|
6
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
|||||||||||||||
Average number of vessels in operation (3)
|
5.0
|
3.8
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
|||||||||||||||
Average age of vessels in operation at end of year (years)
|
5.4
|
5.0
|
6.4
|
5.4
|
4.4
|
|||||||||||||||
Available days (4)
|
1,836
|
1,384
|
1,095
|
1,056
|
1,095
|
|||||||||||||||
Time Charter Equivalent (in US dollars) (5)
|
$
|
77,559
|
$
|
75,733
|
$
|
76,706
|
$
|
70
,
104
|
$
|
46,753
|
||||||||||
Fleet utilization (6)
|
99
|
%
|
100
|
%
|
100
|
%
|
99.5
|
%
|
99.5
|
%
|
||||||||||
Other Financial Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (7)
|
$
|
113,202
|
$
|
84,751
|
$
|
64,749
|
$
|
55,889
|
$
|
37,196
|
(1)
|
Voyage expenses include commissions of 1.25% paid to our Manager and third-party ship brokers.
|
(2)
|
Includes a prorated quarterly distribution for the period beginning on November 18, 2013 and ending on December 31, 2013 that was declared on January 31, 2013 and paid on February 14, 2014. The cash distribution for the fourth quarter of 2014 of $0.4225 per unit was approved on January 14, 2014 and paid on February 12, 2015 to all unitholders of record as of February 5, 2015.
|
(3)
|
Represents the number of vessels that constituted our Fleet for the relevant year, as measured by the sum of the number of days each vessel was a part of our Fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in the period.
|
(4)
|
Available days are the total number of calendar days our vessels were in our possession during a period, less the total number of scheduled off-hire days during the period associated with major repairs, or drydockings.
|
(5)
|
Time charter equivalent rates, or TCE rates, is a measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel. For time charters, this is calculated by dividing total voyage revenues, less any voyage expenses, by the number of Available days during that period. Under a time charter, the charterer pays substantially all of the vessel voyage related expenses. However, we may incur voyage related expenses when positioning or repositioning vessels before or after the period of a time charter, during periods of commercial waiting time or while off-hire during dry-docking or due to other unforeseen circumstances. The TCE rate is not a measure of financial performance under U.S. GAAP (non-GAAP measure), and should not be considered as an alternative to voyage revenues, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. However, TCE rate is standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a company's performance and assists our management in making decisions regarding the deployment and use of our vessels and in evaluating their financial performance. Our calculation of TCE rates may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. The following table reflects the calculation of our TCE rates for the periods presented (amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for TCE rates, which are expressed in U.S. dollars and Available days):
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands of Dollars)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||||||||||||
Voyage revenues
|
$
|
145,202
|
$
|
107,088
|
$
|
85,679
|
$
|
77,498
|
$
|
52,547
|
||||||||||
Voyage expenses
|
(2,804
|
)
|
(2,273
|
)
|
(1,686
|
)
|
(3,468
|
)
|
(1,353
|
)
|
||||||||||
Time charter equivalent revenues
|
142,398
|
104,815
|
83,993
|
74,030
|
51,194
|
|||||||||||||||
Total Available days
|
1,836
|
1,384
|
1,095
|
1,056
|
1,095
|
|||||||||||||||
Time charter equivalent (TCE) rate
|
$
|
77,559
|
$
|
75,733
|
$
|
76,706
|
$
|
70,104
|
$
|
46,753
|
(6)
|
We calculate fleet utilization by dividing the number of our revenue earning days, which are the total number of Available days of our vessels net of unscheduled off-hire days, during a period, by the number of our Available days during that period. The shipping industry uses fleet utilization to measure a company's efficiency in finding employment for its vessels and minimizing the amount of days that its vessels are offhire for reasons other than scheduled off-hires for vessel upgrades, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
|
(7)
|
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest and finance costs, net of interest income, gains/losses on derivative financial instruments (if any), taxes (when incurred), depreciation and amortization (when incurred) and significant non-recurring items, such as accelerated time charter amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is used as a supplemental financial measure by management and external users of financial statements, such as investors, to assess our operating performance. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA assists our management and investors by providing useful information that increases the comparability of our performance operating from period to period and against the operating performance of other companies in our industry that provide Adjusted EBITDA information. This increased comparability is achieved by excluding the potentially disparate effects between periods or companies of interest, other financial items, depreciation and amortization and taxes, which items are affected by various and possibly changing financing methods, capital structure and historical cost basis and which items may significantly affect net income between periods. We believe that including Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of operating performance benefits investors in (a) selecting between investing in us and other investment alternatives and (b) monitoring our ongoing financial and operational strength in assessing whether to continue to hold common units.
|
Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under U.S. GAAP, does not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and these measures may vary among other companies. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA as presented below may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, for the periods presented:
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation to Net Income
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income
|
$
|
60,050
|
$
|
50,561
|
$
|
45,620
|
$
|
29,836
|
$
|
18,820
|
||||||||||
Net interest and finance costs
(1)
|
27,939
|
14,303
|
9,732
|
9,771
|
4,797
|
|||||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
24,387
|
17,822
|
13,579
|
13,616
|
13,579
|
|||||||||||||||
Non- recurring expense from accelerated time charter amortization
|
-
|
908
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
Amortization of fair value of acquired time charter
|
218
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
Charter hire amortization and other non-cash revenue adjustments
|
608
|
1,157
|
(4,182
|
)
|
2,666
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA
|
$
|
113,202
|
$
|
84,751
|
$
|
64,749
|
$
|
55,889
|
$
|
37,196
|
· | the vessel suffers a total loss or is damaged beyond repair; |
· | we default on our obligations under the charter, including prolonged periods of vessel off-hire; |
· | war or hostilities significantly disrupt the free trade of the vessel; |
· | the vessel is requisitioned by any governmental authority; or |
· | a prolonged force majeure event occurs, such as war or political unrest, which prevents the chartering of the vessel. |
· | the rates we obtain from our charters; |
· | the level of our operating costs, such as the cost of crews and insurance; |
· | the continued availability of natural gas production; |
· | demand for LNG; |
· | supply of LNG carriers; |
· | prevailing global and regional economic and political conditions; |
· | currency exchange rate fluctuations; and |
· | the effect of governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards on the conduct of our business. |
· | the level of capital expenditures we make, including for maintaining or replacing vessels, building new vessels, acquiring secondhand vessels and complying with regulations; |
· | the number of unscheduled off-hire days for our Fleet and the timing of, and number of days required for, scheduled drydocking of our vessels; |
· | our debt service requirements and restrictions on distributions contained in our debt instruments; |
· | the level of debt we will incur to fund future acquisitions, including the Optional Vessels that we have the right (but not the obligation) to acquire from our Sponsor, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Omnibus Agreement (defined below). See "Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions"; |
· | fluctuations in interest rates; |
· | fluctuations in our working capital needs; |
· | variable tax rates; |
· | our ability to make, and the level of, working capital borrowings; |
· | the performance of our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute cash to us; and |
· | the amount of any cash reserves established by our Board of Directors. |
· | size, age, technical specifications and condition of the ship; |
· | efficiency of ship operation; |
· | LNG shipping experience and quality of ship operations; |
· | shipping industry relationships and reputation for customer service; |
· | technical ability and reputation for operation of highly specialized ships; |
· | quality and experience of officers and crew; |
· | safety record; |
· | the ability to finance ships at competitive rates and financial stability generally; |
· | relationships with shipyards and the ability to get suitable berths; |
· | construction management experience, including the ability to obtain on-time delivery of new ships according to customer specifications; and |
· | competitiveness of the bid in terms of overall price. |
· | fail to realize anticipated benefits, such as new customer relationships, cost-savings or cash flow enhancements; |
· | be unable to hire, train or retain qualified shore and seafaring personnel to manage and operate our growing business and fleet; |
· | decrease our liquidity by using a significant portion of our available cash or borrowing capacity to finance acquisitions; |
· | significantly increase our interest expense or financial leverage if we incur additional debt to finance acquisitions; |
· | incur or assume unanticipated liabilities, losses or costs associated with the business or vessels acquired; or |
· | incur other significant charges, such as impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets, asset devaluation or restructuring charges. |
· | obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes on favorable terms, or at all; |
· | make distributions to unitholders when an event of default exists, as applicable; |
· | incur additional indebtedness, create liens or issue guarantees; |
· | charter our vessels or change the terms of our existing charter agreements; |
· | sell, transfer or lease our assets or vessels or the shares of our vessel-owning subsidiaries; |
· | make investments and capital expenditures; |
· | reduce our partners' capital; and |
· | undergo a change in ownership or Manager. |
· | provides that our General Partner may make determinations or take or decline to take actions without regard to our or our unitholders' interests. Our General Partner may consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and it has no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting us, our affiliates or our unitholders. Decisions made by our General Partner will be made by its sole owner. Specifically, our General Partner may decide to exercise its right to make a determination to receive common units in exchange for resetting the target distribution levels related to the incentive distribution rights, call right, pre-emptive rights or registration rights, consent or withhold consent to any merger or consolidation of the Partnership, appoint certain of our directors or vote for the election of any director, vote or refrain from voting on amendments to our Partnership Agreement that require a vote of the outstanding units, voluntarily withdraw from the Partnership, transfer (to the extent permitted under our Partnership Agreement) or refrain from transferring its units, the general partner interest or incentive distribution rights or vote upon the dissolution of the Partnership; |
· | provides that our directors and officers are entitled to make other decisions in "good faith," meaning they reasonably believe that the decision is in our best interests; |
· | generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not approved by our conflicts committee of our Board of Directors and not involving a vote of unitholders must be on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third-parties or be "fair and reasonable" to us and that, in determining whether a transaction or resolution is "fair and reasonable," our Board of Directors may consider the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly advantageous or beneficial to us; and |
· | provides that neither our General Partner nor our officers or our directors will be liable for monetary damages to us, our members or assignees for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that our General Partner, our directors or officers or those other persons engaged in actual fraud or willful misconduct. |
· | The unitholders are unable to remove our General Partner without its consent because our General Partner and its affiliates, including our Sponsor, own sufficient units to be able to prevent its removal. The vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of all outstanding common and subordinated units voting together as a single class is required to remove our General Partner. Our Sponsor owns 610,000 of our common units and all of our subordinated units, representing approximately 43.9% of the outstanding common and subordinated units. |
· | If our General Partner is removed without "cause" during the subordination period and units held by our General Partner and our Sponsor are not voted in favor of that removal, all remaining subordinated units will automatically convert into common units, any existing arrearages on the common units will be extinguished, and our General Partner will have the right to convert its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for those interests based on the fair market value of those interests at the time. A removal of our General Partner under these circumstances would adversely affect the common units by prematurely eliminating their distribution and liquidation preference over the subordinated units, which would otherwise have continued until we had met certain distribution and performance tests. Any conversion of our General Partner's interest or incentive distribution rights would be dilutive to existing unitholders. Furthermore, any cash payment in lieu of such conversion could be prohibitively expensive. "Cause" is narrowly defined to mean that a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding our General Partner liable for actual fraud or willful or wanton misconduct. Cause does not include most cases of charges of poor business decisions, such as charges of poor management of our business by the directors appointed by our General Partner, so the removal of our General Partner because of the unitholders' dissatisfaction with our General Partner's decisions in this regard would most likely result in the termination of the subordination period. |
· | Common unitholders are entitled to elect only three of the five members of our Board of Directors. Our General Partner in its sole discretion appoints the remaining two directors. |
· | Election of the three directors elected by unitholders is staggered, meaning that the members of only one of three classes of our elected directors are selected each year. In addition, the directors appointed by our General Partner serve for terms determined by our General Partner. |
· | Our Partnership Agreement contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings of unitholders, to nominate directors and to acquire information about our operations as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders' ability to influence the manner or direction of management. |
· | Unitholders' voting rights are further restricted by the Partnership Agreement provision providing that if any person or group owns beneficially more than 4.9% of any class of units then outstanding, any such units owned by that person or group in excess of 4.9% may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes (except for purposes of nominating a person for election to our board), determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under our Partnership Agreement, unless required by law. The voting rights of any such unitholders in excess of 4.9% will effectively be redistributed pro rata among the other common unitholders holding less than 4.9% of the voting power of all classes of units entitled to vote. Our General Partner, its affiliates and persons who acquired common units with the prior approval of our Board of Directors are not be subject to this 4.9% limitation except with respect to voting their common units in the election of the elected directors. |
· | There are no restrictions in our Partnership Agreement on our ability to issue additional equity securities. |
· | renew existing charters upon their expiration; |
· | obtain new charters; |
· | successfully interact with shipyards; |
· | obtain financing on commercially acceptable terms; |
· | maintain access to capital under the Sponsor credit facility; or |
· | maintain satisfactory relationships with suppliers and other third-parties. |
· | the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales; |
· | cash expenditures; |
· | borrowings; |
· | estimates of maintenance and replacement capital expenditures; |
· | the issuance of additional units; And |
· | the creation, reduction or increase of reserves in any quarter. |
· | enabling our General Partner or its affiliates to receive distributions on any subordinated units held by them or the incentive distribution rights; or |
· | hastening the expiration of the subordination period. |
· | increases in interest rates or other events that may affect the availability of sufficient financing for LNG projects on commercially reasonable terms; |
· | increases in the cost of natural gas derived from LNG relative to the cost of natural gas generally; |
· | increases in the production levels of low-cost natural gas in domestic natural gas consuming markets, which could further depress prices for natural gas in those markets and make LNG uneconomical; |
· | increases in the production of natural gas in areas linked by pipelines to consuming areas, the extension of existing, or the development of new pipeline systems in markets we may serve, or the conversion of existing non-natural gas pipelines to natural gas pipelines in those markets; |
· | decreases in the consumption of natural gas due to increases in its price, decreases in the price of alternative energy sources or other factors making consumption of natural gas less attractive; |
· | any significant explosion, spill or other incident involving an LNG facility or carrier; |
· | infrastructure constraints such as delays in the construction of liquefaction facilities, the inability of project owners or operators to obtain governmental approvals to construct or operate LNG facilities, as well as community or political action group resistance to new LNG infrastructure due to concerns about the environment, safety and terrorism; |
· | labor or political unrest or military conflicts affecting existing or proposed areas of LNG production or regasification; |
· | decreases in the price of LNG, which might decrease the expected returns relating to investments in LNG projects; |
· | new taxes or regulations affecting LNG production or liquefaction that make LNG production less attractive; or |
· | negative global or regional economic or political conditions, particularly in LNG consuming regions, which could reduce energy consumption or its growth. |
· | worldwide demand for natural gas; |
· | the cost of exploration, development, production, transportation and distribution of natural gas; |
· | expectations regarding future energy prices for both natural gas and other sources of energy; |
· | the level of worldwide LNG production and exports; |
· | government laws and regulations, including but not limited to environmental protection laws and regulations; |
· | local and international political, economic and weather conditions; |
· | political and military conflicts; and |
· | the availability and cost of alternative energy sources, including alternate sources of natural gas in gas importing and consuming countries. |
· | prevailing economic conditions in the natural gas and energy markets; |
· | a substantial or extended decline in demand for LNG; |
· | increases in the supply of vessel capacity; |
· | the size and age of a vessel; and |
· | the cost of retrofitting or modifying secondhand vessels, as a result of technological advances in vessel design or equipment, changes in applicable environmental or other regulations or standards, customer requirements or otherwise. |
· | marine disasters; |
· | piracy; |
· | environmental accidents; |
· | bad weather; |
· | mechanical failures; |
· | grounding, fire, explosions and collisions; |
· | human error; and |
· | war and terrorism. |
· | death or injury to persons, loss of property or environmental damage; |
· | delays or failure in the delivery of cargo; |
· | loss of revenues from or termination of charter contracts; |
· | governmental fines, penalties or restrictions on conducting business; |
· | spills, pollution and the liability associated with the same; |
· | higher insurance rates; and |
· | damage to our reputation and customer relationships generally. |
· | our payment of cash distributions to our unitholders; |
· | actual or anticipated fluctuations in quarterly and annual results; |
· | fluctuations in the seaborne transportation industry, including fluctuations in the LNG carrier market; |
· | mergers and strategic alliances in the shipping industry; |
· | changes in governmental regulations or maritime self-regulatory organization standards; |
· | shortfalls in our operating results from levels forecasted by securities analysts; announcements concerning us or our competitors; |
· | the failure of securities analysts to publish research about us, or analysts making changes in their financial estimates; |
· | general economic conditions; |
· | terrorist acts; |
· | future sales of our units or other securities; |
· | investors' perception of us and the LNG shipping industry; |
· | the general state of the securities market; and |
· | other developments affecting us, our industry or our competitors. |
· | arise out of or relate in any way to the Partnership Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of the Partnership Agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among limited partners or of limited partners to us, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the limited partners or us); |
· | are brought in a derivative manner on our behalf; |
· | assert a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of us or our General Partner, or owed by our General Partner, to us or the limited partners; |
· | assert a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Partnership Act; or |
· | assert a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine |
· | our existing unitholders' proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease; |
· | the distribution amount payable per unit on our common units may be lower; |
· | the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding common unit may be diminished; and |
· | the market price of our common units may decline. |
· | neither our Partnership Agreement nor any other agreement requires our Sponsor or our General Partner or their respective affiliates to pursue a business strategy that favors us or utilizes our assets, and their officers and directors have a fiduciary duty to make decisions in the best interests of their respective unitholders, which may be contrary to our interests; |
· | our Partnership Agreement provides that our General Partner may make determinations or take or decline to take actions without regard to our or our unitholders' interests. Specifically, our General Partner may exercise its call right, pre-emptive rights, registration rights or right to make a determination to receive common units in exchange for resetting the target distribution levels related to the incentive distribution rights, consent or withhold consent to any merger or consolidation of the Partnership, appoint certain directors or vote for the election of any director, vote or refrain from voting on amendments to our Partnership Agreement that require a vote of the outstanding units, voluntarily withdraw from the Partnership, transfer (to the extent permitted under our Partnership Agreement) or refrain from transferring its units, the General Partner interest or incentive distribution rights or vote upon the dissolution of the Partnership; |
· | our General Partner and our directors and officers have limited their liabilities and any fiduciary duties they may have under the laws of the Marshall Islands, while also restricting the remedies available to our unitholders, and, as a result of purchasing common units, unitholders are treated as having agreed to the modified standard of fiduciary duties and to certain actions that may be taken by the General Partner and our directors and officers, all as set forth in the Partnership Agreement; |
· | our General Partner and our Manager are entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable costs incurred by them and their respective affiliates for our benefit; our Partnership Agreement does not restrict us from paying our General Partner and our Manager or their respective affiliates for any services rendered to us on terms that are fair and reasonable or entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on our behalf; |
· | our General Partner may exercise its right to call and purchase our common units if it and its affiliates own more than 80% of our common units; and is not obligated to obtain a fairness opinion regarding the value of the common units to be repurchased by it upon the exercise of its limited call right. |
· | Although a majority of our directors are elected by common unitholders, our General Partner will likely have substantial influence on decisions made by our Board of Directors. |
· | on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third-parties; or |
· | "fair and reasonable" to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us). |
ITEM 4. | INFORMATION ON THE PARTNERSHIP |
· | optimal sizing with a carrying capacity of between approximately 150,000 and 155,000 cbm (which is a medium- to large-size class of LNG carrier) that maximizes operational flexibility as such vessel is compatible with most existing LNG terminals around the world; |
· | the vessels in our Fleet consist of two series of sister vessels, which are vessels built at the same shipyard, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., that share (i) a near-identical hull and superstructure layout, (ii) similar displacement, and (iii) roughly comparable features and equipment; |
· | utilization of a membrane containment system that uses insulation built directly into the hull of the vessel with a membrane covering inside the tanks designed to maintain integrity and that uses the vessel's hull to directly support the pressure of the LNG cargo, which we refer to as a "membrane containment system" (see "—The International Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Shipping Industry—The LNG Fleet" for a description of the types of LNG containment systems); and |
· | double-hull construction, based on the current LNG shipping industry standard. |
Vessel Name
|
Shipyard*
|
Year
Built |
Capacity
(cbm) |
Ice
Class |
Flag
State |
Charterer
|
Charter
Commencement Date |
Earliest
Charter Expiration |
Latest Charter
Expiration Including Non-Exercised Options |
Clean Energy
|
HHI
|
2007
|
149,700
|
No
|
Marshall Islands
|
BG Group
|
February 2012
|
April 2017
|
May 2017
|
Ob River
|
HHI
|
2007
|
149,700
|
Yes
|
Marshall Islands
|
Gazprom
Gazprom
|
September 2012
April 2018
|
April 2018
March 2028
|
May 2018
(1)
May 2028
(2)
|
Amur River
|
HHI
|
2008
|
149,700
|
Yes
|
Marshall Islands
|
Gazprom
|
June 2015
|
June 2028
|
August 2028
|
Arctic Aurora
|
HHI
|
2013
|
155,000
|
Yes
|
Malta
|
Statoil
|
August 2013
|
July 2018
|
Renewal Options
(3)
|
Yenisei River
|
HHI
|
2013
|
155,000
|
Yes
|
Marshall Islands
|
Gazprom
Yamal
|
July 2013
2019 (estimated)
|
July 2018
2034
|
August 2018
2049
(4)
|
Lena River
|
HHI
|
2013
|
155,000
|
Yes
|
Marshall Islands
|
Gazprom
Yamal
|
October 2013
2019-2020
(estimated) |
September 2018
2034/2035
|
October 2018
2049/2050(4)
|
*
|
As used in this Annual Report, "HHI" refers to the shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.
|
(1)
|
On March 23, 2016, Gazprom extended the term of the existing charter, on substantially identical terms, until May 2018.
|
(2)
|
On March 24, 2016, we entered into a new long-term charter with Gazprom for the
Ob River
, for a firm charter duration of 10 years. This charter is expected to commence upon expiration of the current Gazprom charter for the
Ob River
.
|
(3)
|
Statoil may renew its charter for consecutive additional one-year periods each year following the initial five year period.
|
(4)
|
The
Yenisei River
and the
Lena River
are each contracted to commence employment between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020 under long-term time charter contracts for the Yamal LNG Project, each with an initial term of 15 years, which may be extended by three consecutive periods of five years each. Each of these time charter contracts is subject to important conditions, which, if not satisfied, may result in their cancellation before charter term commences or early termination. Please see "—Our Chartering Strategy and Charterers" for additional information.
|
Vessel Name
|
Shipyard
|
Delivery
Date |
Capacity
Cbm |
Ice
Class |
Charter
Commencement |
Pool / Charterer
|
Earliest
Charter Expiration |
||||||||
Initial Optional Vessels:
|
|||||||||||||||
Clean Ocean
(1)
|
HHI
|
Q2-2014
|
162,000
|
Yes
|
Q2 2015
|
Cheniere & Yamal
|
2035
|
||||||||
Clean Planet
(2)
|
HHI
|
Q3-2014
|
162,000
|
Yes
|
2019
|
Cool Pool & Yamal
|
2034
|
||||||||
Clean Horizon
(2)
|
HHI
|
Q3-2015
|
162,000
|
Yes
|
2019
|
Cool Pool & Yamal
|
2034
|
||||||||
Clean Vision
(2)
|
HHI
|
Q1-2016
|
162,000
|
Yes
|
2019
|
Cool Pool & Yamal
|
2034
|
||||||||
Additional Optional Vessels
*
:
|
|||||||||||||||
Hull No.2421
(3)
|
DSME
|
Q4-2017
|
172,410
|
Yes
|
2017
|
Yamal
|
Q4-2045
|
||||||||
Hull No.2422
(3)
|
DSME
|
Q4-2017
|
172,410
|
Yes
|
2017
|
Yamal
|
Q4-2045
|
||||||||
Hull No.2427
(3)
|
DSME
|
Q1-2019
|
172,410
|
Yes
|
2019
|
Yamal
|
Q4-2045
|
||||||||
Hull No.2428
(3)
|
DSME
|
Q1-2019
|
172,410
|
Yes
|
2019
|
Yamal
|
Q4-2045
|
||||||||
Hull No.2429
(3)
|
DSME
|
Q1-2019
|
172,410
|
Yes
|
2019
|
Yamal
|
Q4-2045
|
* | Our Sponsor directly or indirectly owns a 49.0% interest in these vessels. |
(1) | Following the expiration of the time charter with Cheniere, this vessel is contracted to be employed under a long term time charter for the Yamal LNG project, for a period of 15 years, which may be extended by three consecutive five-year optional periods. |
(2) | Vessel is contracted to commence employment within 2019 under long term charters for the Yamal LNG Project for an initial term of 15 years, which may be extended by three consecutive periods of five years each. |
(3) | Upon its delivery from the shipyard, vessel will operate under a fixed rate time charter contract for the Yamal LNG Project until December 31, 2045, plus extension options. |
· | Bay and Gulf of Bothnia, Gulf of Finland - Finnish-Swedish Ice Class Rules (FSICR) |
· | Gulf of Finland (Russian territorial waters) - Russian Maritime Register (RMR) Ice Class Rules |
· | Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi Seas - Russian Maritime Register (RMR) Ice Class Rules |
· | Beaufort Sea, Baffin Bay, etc. - Canadian Arctic Shipping Pollution Prevention Rules (CASPPR) |
· | RMR Ice Class Rules |
Class
|
Standard
|
1A Super (1AS)
|
Design notional level ice thickness of 1.0m. For extreme harsh ice conditions.
|
1A
|
Design notional level ice thickness of 0.8m. For harsh ice conditions.
|
1B
|
Design notional level ice thickness of 0.6m. For medium ice conditions.
|
1C
|
Design notional level ice thickness of 0.4m. For mild ice conditions.
|
· | Ice class merchant vessels (compliant with the FSICR for navigation in the northern Baltic); |
· | Fairway navigation channels; and |
· | Ice breaker assistance. |
· | reduced level of sea ice has extended the summer shipping season in the Arctic and is making some areas easy to navigate; |
· | increase in mineral resource development activities in the Arctic; |
· | commodity demand growth in Asian economies; |
· | technological developments which have made NSR a more feasible shipping route than in the past; and |
· | chronic political problems in the Middle East, piracy in North Africa and non-transparent commercial disputes over the Suez in Egypt. |
· | The Moss Rosenberg spherical system, which was designed in the 1970s and is used by a large portion of the existing LNG fleet. In this system, multiple self-supporting, spherical tanks are built independent of the carrier and arranged inside its hull. |
· | The Gaz Transport membrane system, which is built inside the carrier and consists of insulation between thin primary and secondary barriers. The membrane is designed to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction without overstressing the membrane. |
· | LNG projects are expensive and typically involve an integrated chain of dedicated facilities. Accordingly, the overall success of an LNG project depends heavily on long-term planning and coordination of project activities, including marine transportation. |
· | LNG carriers are expensive to build, and the cash-flow from long-term fixed-rate charters supports vessel financing. |
· | natural resource damages and related assessment costs; |
· | real and personal property damages; |
· | net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, profits or earnings capacity; |
· | net cost of public services necessitated by a spill response, such as protection from fire, safety or health hazards; and |
· | loss of subsistence use of natural resources. |
· | on-board installation of automatic identification systems to provide a means for the automatic transmission of safety-related information from among similarly equipped ships and shore stations, including information on a ship's identity, position, course, speed and navigational status; |
· | on-board installation of ship security alert systems, which do not sound on the vessel but only alerts the authorities on shore; |
· | the development of vessel security plans; |
· | ship identification number to be permanently marked on a vessel's hull; |
· | a continuous synopsis record kept onboard showing a vessel's history including, the name of the ship and of the state whose flag the ship is entitled to fly, the date on which the ship was registered with that state, the ship's identification number, the port at which the ship is registered and the name of the registered owner(s) and their registered address; and |
· | compliance with flag state security certification requirements. |
ITEM 4A. | UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS |
ITEM 5. | OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS |
· | Ownership days. The number of vessels in our Fleet is a key factor in determining the level of our revenues. Aggregate expenses also increase as the size of our Fleet increases; |
· | Charter rates. Our revenue is dependent on the charter rates we are able to obtain on our vessels. Charter rates on our vessels are based primarily on demand for and supply of LNG carrier capacity at the time we enter into the charters for our vessels, which is influenced by demand and supply for natural gas and in particular LNG as well as the supply of LNG carriers available for employment. The charter rates we obtain are also dependent on whether we employ our vessels under multi-year charters or charters with initial terms of less than two years. The vessels in our Fleet are currently employed under multiyear time charters with staggered maturities, which will make us less susceptible to cyclical fluctuations in charter rates than vessels operated on charters of less than two years. However, we will be exposed to fluctuations in prevailing charter rates when we seek to re-charter our vessels upon the expiry of their respective current charters and when we seek to charter vessels that we may acquire in the future; |
· | Utilization of our Fleet. Historically, our Fleet has had a limited number of unscheduled off-hire days. However, an increase in annual off-hire days would reduce our utilization. The efficiency with which suitable employment is secured, the ability to minimize off-hire days and the amount of time spent positioning vessels also affects our results of operations. If the utilization pattern of our Fleet changes, our financial results would be affected; |
· | Daily operating expenses. The level of our vessel operating expenses, including crewing costs, insurance and maintenance costs. Our ability to control our vessel operating expenses also affects our financial results. These expenses include commission expenses, crew wages and related costs, the cost of insurance, expenses for repairs and maintenance, the cost of spares and consumable stores, lubricating oil costs, tonnage taxes and other miscellaneous expenses. In addition, factors beyond our control, such as developments relating to market premiums for insurance and the value of the U.S. dollar compared to currencies in which certain of our expenses, primarily crew wages, are paid, can cause our vessel operating expenses to increase; |
· | Our ability to exercise the options to purchase the Optional Vessels; |
· | The timely delivery of the vessels we may acquire in the future; |
· | Our ability to maintain solid working relationships with our existing charterers and our ability to increase the number of our charterers through the development of new working relationships; |
· | The performance of our charterer's obligations under their charter agreements; |
· | The effective and efficient technical management of the vessels under our management agreements; |
· | Our ability to obtain acceptable debt financing to fund our capital commitments; |
· | The ability of our Sponsor to fund its capital commitments and take delivery of the Optional Vessels under construction; |
· | Our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals and to satisfy technical, health, safety and compliance standards that meet our charterer's requirements; |
· | Economic, regulatory, political and governmental conditions that affect shipping and the LNG industry, which includes changes in the number of new LNG importing countries and regions, as well as structural LNG market changes impacting LNG supply that may allow greater flexibility and competition of other energy sources with global LNG use; |
· | Our ability to successfully employ our vessels at economically attractive rates, as our charters expire or are otherwise terminated; |
· | Our access to capital required to acquire additional ships and/or to implement our business strategy; |
· | Our level of debt, the related interest expense and the timing of required payments of principal; |
· | The level of our general and administrative expenses, including salaries and costs of consultants; |
· | Our charterer's right for early termination of the charters under certain circumstances; |
· | Performance of our counterparties and our charterer's ability to make charter payments to us; and |
· | The level of any distribution on all classes of our units. |
Carrying Value (in millions of US dollars)
|
||||||||||||||||
Vessel
|
Capacity
(cbm) |
Year Built/
Purchased |
December 31,
2015 |
December 31,
2014 |
||||||||||||
Clean Energy
|
149,700
|
2007
|
$
|
138.6
|
$
|
143.1
|
||||||||||
Ob River
|
149,700
|
2007
|
138.5
|
142.9
|
||||||||||||
Amur River
|
149,700
|
2008
|
149.0
|
153.6
|
||||||||||||
Arctic Aurora
|
155,000
|
2014
|
201.5
|
206.7
|
||||||||||||
Yenisei River
|
155,000
|
2014
|
188.7
|
193.6
|
||||||||||||
Lena River
|
155,000
|
2015
|
219.9
|
-
|
||||||||||||
TOTAL
|
914,100
|
$
|
1,036.2
|
$
|
839.9
|
· | reports by industry analysts and data providers that focus on our industry and related dynamics affecting vessel values; |
· | news and industry reports of similar vessel sales; |
· | news and industry reports of sales of vessels that are not similar to our vessels where we have made certain adjustments in an attempt to derive information that can be used as part of our estimates; |
· | approximate market values for our vessels or similar vessels that we have received from shipbrokers, whether solicited or unsolicited, or that shipbrokers have generally disseminated; |
· | vessel sale prices and values of which we are aware through both formal and informal communications with ship-owners, shipbrokers, industry analysts and various other shipping industry participants and observers. |
· | a maximum ratio of total consolidated liabilities of the Partnership's consolidated market value adjusted total assets; |
· | a minimum interest coverage ratio; |
· | certain levels of consolidated minimum liquidity; |
· | a maximum ratio expressed as a percentage of total borrowings to total book assets; |
· | a certain minimum net worth level; |
· | a minimum asset coverage ratio, being the ratio of the aggregate of the vessels' market values and the net realizable value of any additional security over the outstanding amount of the facility; and |
· | hull and machinery and war risks insurance equal to the greater of (i) 120% of the outstanding borrowings under this facility and (ii) the market value of the collateral vessels. |
· | maintain certain minimum liquidity levels on a per vessel basis; and |
· |
to maintain and transfer funds to a cash collateral reserve account for each vessel to the extent that each vessel remains under its current time charterparty or until the expiry thereof and one of the borrowing entities does not enter into a replacement or subsequent time charter contract with a minimum firm term until the credit facility maturity date at a minimum specified daily time charter rate per day. To the extent a borrowing entity enters into such a charterparty, the funds will be released from each vessel's reserve account.
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
2015
|
2014
|
|||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
$
|
96,944
|
$
|
76,443
|
||||
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(205,045
|
)
|
(404,530
|
)
|
||||
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
120,445
|
334,359
|
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
11,949
|
5,677
|
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$
|
24,293
|
$
|
11,949
|
Payments due by period
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Obligations
|
Total
|
Less than
1 year |
1-3 years
|
3-5 years
|
More
than 5 years |
|||||||||||||||
(in thousands of Dollars)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Long Term Debt
|
$
|
688,333
|
$
|
28,333
|
$
|
56,667
|
$
|
398,333
|
$
|
205,000
|
||||||||||
Interest on long term debt (1)
|
125,887
|
30,468
|
57,906
|
35,690
|
1,823
|
|||||||||||||||
Management Fees & commissions payable to the Manager (2)
|
39,681
|
8,232
|
15,347
|
13,897
|
2,205
|
|||||||||||||||
Executive Services fee (3)
|
1,690
|
587
|
1,103
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||
Administrative Services fee (4)
|
40
|
40
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
855,631
|
$
|
67,660
|
$
|
131,023
|
$
|
447,920
|
$
|
209,028
|
(1)
|
Our long-term bank debt outstanding as of December 31, 2015 bears variable interest at a margin over LIBOR. The calculation of interest payments has been made assuming interest rates based on the 3-month period LIBOR, the LIBOR specific to our loan agreements as of December 31, 2015 and our applicable margin rate.
|
(2)
|
Under the terms of the Management Agreements, we currently pay a management fee of $2,732 per day which is subject to an annual increase of 3% and further annual increases to reflect material unforeseen costs increases of providing the management services, by an amount to be agreed between us and our Manager, which amount will be reviewed and approved by our conflicts committee. The Management Agreements also provide for commissions of 1.25% of charter-hire revenues arranged by the Manager. The agreements will terminate automatically after a change of control of the applicable shipping subsidiary and/or of the owner's ultimate parent, in which case an amount equal to fees of at the least 36 months and not more than 60 months, will become payable to the Manager.
|
(3)
|
On March 21, 2014, we entered into the Executive Services Agreement with our Manager, with retroactive effect to the date of the closing of our IPO, pursuant to which our Manager provides us with the services of our executive officers, who report directly to our Board of Directors. Under the Executive Services Agreement, our Manager is entitled to an executive services fee of €538,000 per annum, for the initial five year term, payable in equal monthly installments. The agreement has an initial term of five years and will automatically be renewed for successive five year terms unless terminated earlier. The calculation of the contractual services fee set forth in the table above assumes an exchange rate of €1.000 to $1.0906, the EURO/USD exchange rate as of December 31, 2015 and does not include any incentive compensation which our Board of Directors may agree to pay.
|
(4)
|
On December 30, 2014 and effective as of the IPO closing date, we entered into the Administrative Services Agreement with our Manager, pursuant to which the Partnership is provided with certain financial, accounting, reporting, secretarial and information technology services, for a monthly fee of $10,000, plus expenses, payable in quarterly installments. The Agreement can be terminated upon 120 days' notice granted either by the Partnership's Board or by the Manager as per the provisions of the agreement.
|
ITEM 6. | DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES |
ITEM 7. | MAJOR UNITHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
Common Units
Beneficially Owned
|
Subordinated Units
Beneficially Owned
|
Percentage of Total
Common and
Subordinated Units
|
||||||||||||||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
Number
|
Percent
|
Number
|
Percent
|
Beneficially Owned
|
|||||||||||||||
Dynagas Holding Ltd.
(1)
|
610,000
|
3.0
|
%
|
14,985,000
|
100
|
%
|
43.9
|
%
|
||||||||||||
Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP
(2)
|
3,928,533
|
19.2
|
%
|
—
|
—
|
11.1
|
%
|
|||||||||||||
Clearbridge Investments, LLC
(3)
|
1,235,900
|
6.0
|
%
|
—
|
—
|
3.5
|
%
|
|||||||||||||
Zimmer Partners, LP
(4)
|
1,177,668
|
5.7
|
%
|
—
|
—
|
3.3
|
%
|
|||||||||||||
All executives, officers and directors as a group
(5)
|
*
|
*
|
—
|
—
|
*
|
(1)
|
Dynagas Holding Ltd. is beneficially owned by the Prokopiou Family, including George Prokopiou and his daughters Elisavet Prokopiou, Johanna Prokopiou, Marina Kalliope Prokopiou, and Maria Eleni Prokopiou, which collectively have a business address at 23, Rue Basse, 98000 Monaco.
|
(2)
|
Based on information contained in the Schedule 13G/A that was filed with the SEC on January 11, 2016 by Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP and the other reporting persons named therein.
|
(3)
|
Based on information contained in the Schedule 13G that was filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016 by Clearbridge Investments, LLC.
|
(4)
|
Based on information contained in the Schedule 13G/A that was filed with the SEC on January 23, 2015 by
Zimmer Partners, LP, and includes ownership information of other reporting persons therein.
|
(5)
|
Neither any member of our Board of Directors or executive officer individually, nor all of them taken as a group, hold more than 1% of our outstanding common units apart from Mr. George Prokopiou, whose ownership interests are separately presented in the above table.
|
(1) | acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Non-Four-Year LNG carriers; |
(2) | (i) acquiring or owning one or more Four-Year LNG carrier(s) (other than with respect to the Sponsor's ownership interest in the entities that own the Additional Optional Vessels, which is covered in (ii) below) if such Dynagas Holding Entity (as defined in the Omnibus Agreement) offers to sell such Four-Year LNG carrier to us for the acquisition price plus any administrative costs in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Omnibus Agreement (and we do not fulfill our obligation to purchase such Four-Year LNG carrier in accordance with the terms of the Omnibus Agreement) and (ii) owning any Optional Interests (as defined in the Omnibus Agreement) in the entities that own the Additional Optional Vessels at any time on or after the time at which such interests are treated as a Four-Year LNG carrier pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement, if the related Dynagas Holding Entities (as applicable), offer to sell such Optional Interests to us for the pro rata portion of the acquisition price relating to the corresponding LNG carrier owned by such entity plus any administrative costs in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Omnibus Agreement (and we do not fulfill our obligation to purchase such Optional Interests in accordance with the terms of the Omnibus Agreement); |
(3) | operating or chartering an LNG carrier under a charter with a term of four or more years if such Dynagas Holding Entity (other than in the case of an Additional Optional Vessel) offers to sell such LNG carrier to us for fair market value (i) promptly after the time it becomes a Four-Year LNG carrier and (ii) at each renewal or extension of that charter if such renewal or extension is for a term of four or more years, in each case in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Omnibus Agreement; |
(4) | acquiring and owning a controlling interest in one or more Four-Year LNG carriers as part of the acquisition of an interest in business or package of assets that owns, operates or charters such Four-Year LNG carriers; provided, however; if a majority of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Four-Year LNG carriers, as determined in good faith by our Sponsor's board of directors, the Dynagas Holding Entity must offer to sell such Four-Year LNG carrier(s) to us for their fair market value plus any administrative costs in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Omnibus Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall prohibit the acquisition and owning of one or more Four-Year LNG carriers as part of the acquisition of a minority interest in a business or package of assets that owns, operates or charters Four-Year LNG carriers); |
(5) | acquiring a non-controlling interest in any company, business or pool of assets; |
(6) | acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Four-Year LNG carrier if we do not fulfill our obligation to purchase such Four-Year LNG carrier in accordance with the terms of the Omnibus Agreement; |
(7) | acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Four-Year LNG carrier that is subject to the offers to us described in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) above pending our determination whether to accept such offers and pending the closing of any offers we accept; |
(8) | providing vessel management services relating to any LNG carrier; |
(9) | acquiring and owning any Four-Year LNG carrier as part of a financing arrangement, including by way of a sale leaseback transaction, which is accounted for as a financial lease under United States generally accepted accounting principles; or |
(10) | acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Four-Year LNG carrier if we have previously advised our Sponsor that we consent to such acquisition, operation or charter. |
· | certain defects in title to our Sponsor's assets contributed or sold to us and any failure to obtain, prior to the time they were contributed or sold to us, certain consents and permits necessary to conduct, own and operate such assets, which liabilities arise within three years after the closing of our IPO (or, in the case of the Optional Vessels which we have rights to purchase, within three years after our purchase of them, if applicable); and |
· | tax liabilities attributable to the operation of the assets contributed or sold to us prior to the time they were contributed or sold. |
· | approved by our conflicts committee, although neither our General Partner nor our Board of Directors are obligated to seek such approval; |
· | approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding any common units owned by our General Partner or any of its affiliates, although neither our General Partner nor our Board of Directors is obligated to seek such approval; |
· | on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third-parties, but neither our General Partner nor our Board of Directors is required to obtain confirmation to such effect from an independent third-party; or |
· | fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us. |
· | the fiduciary duties imposed on our General Partner and our directors by the Partnership Act; |
· | material modifications of these duties contained in our Partnership Agreement; and |
· | certain rights and remedies of unitholders contained in the Partnership Act. |
Marshall Islands law fiduciary duty standards | Fiduciary duties are generally considered to include an obligation to act in good faith and with due care and loyalty. The duty of care, in the absence of a provision in a Partnership Agreement providing otherwise, would generally require a General Partner and the directors of a Marshall Islands limited partnership to act for the partnership in the same manner as a prudent person would act on his own behalf. The duty of loyalty, in the absence of a provision in a Partnership Agreement providing otherwise, would generally prohibit a General Partner or the directors of a Marshall Islands limited partnership from taking any action or engaging in any transaction where a conflict of interest is present. |
Partnership Agreement modified standards | Our Partnership Agreement contains provisions that waive or consent to conduct by our General Partner and its affiliates and our directors that might otherwise raise issues as to compliance with fiduciary duties under the laws of the Marshall Islands. For example, our Partnership Agreement provides that when our General Partner is acting in its capacity as our General Partner, as opposed to in its individual capacity, it must act in "good faith" and will not be subject to any other standard under the laws of the Marshall Islands. In addition, when our General Partner is acting in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our General Partner, it may act without any fiduciary obligation to us or the unitholders whatsoever. These standards reduce the obligations to which our General Partner and our Board of Directors would otherwise be held. Our Partnership Agreement generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not involving a vote of unitholders and that are not approved by our conflicts committee of our Board of Directors must be: |
· | on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third-parties; or |
· |
"fair and reasonable" to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us).
If our Board of Directors does not seek approval from the conflicts committee, and our Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in the bullet points above, then it will be presumed that, in making its decision, our Board of Directors acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any limited partner or the partnership, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption. These standards reduce the obligations to which our Board of Directors would otherwise be held.
In addition to the other more specific provisions limiting the obligations of our General Partner and our directors, our Partnership Agreement further provides that our General Partner and our officers and directors, will not be liable for monetary damages to us or our limited partners for errors of judgment or for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that our General Partner or our officers or directors engaged in actual fraud or willful misconduct.
|
Rights and remedies of unitholders |
The provisions of the Partnership Act resemble the provisions of the limited partnership act of Delaware. For example, like Delaware, the Partnership Act favors the principles of freedom of contract and enforceability of Partnership Agreements and allows the Partnership Agreement to contain terms governing the rights of the unitholders. The rights of our unitholders, including voting and approval rights and our ability to issue additional units, are governed by the terms of our Partnership Agreement.
As to remedies of unitholders, the Partnership Act permits a limited partner to institute legal action on behalf of the partnership to recover damages from a third-party where a General Partner or a Board of Directors has refused to institute the action or where an effort to cause a General Partner or a Board of Directors to do so is not likely to succeed. These actions include actions against a General Partner for breach of its fiduciary duties or of the Partnership Agreement.
|
ITEM 8. | FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
· | Our unitholders have no contractual or other legal right to receive distributions other than the obligation under our Partnership Agreement to distribute available cash on a quarterly basis, which is subject to the broad discretion of our Board of Directors to establish reserves and other limitations. |
· | We are and will be subject to restrictions on distributions under our existing financing arrangements as well as under any new financing arrangements that we may enter into in the future. Our financing arrangements contain financial and other covenants that must be satisfied prior to paying distributions in order to declare and pay such distributions. If we are unable to satisfy the requirements contained in any of our financing arrangements or are otherwise in default under any of those agreements, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders notwithstanding our cash distribution policy. |
· | We are required to make substantial capital expenditures to maintain and replace our Fleet. These expenditures may fluctuate significantly over time, particularly as our vessels near the end of their useful lives. In order to minimize these fluctuations, our Partnership Agreement requires us to deduct estimated, as opposed to actual, maintenance and replacement capital expenditures from the amount of cash that we would otherwise have available for distribution to our unitholders. In years when estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures are higher than actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, the amount of cash available for distribution to unitholders will be lower than if actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures were deducted. |
· | Although our Partnership Agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash, our Partnership Agreement, including provisions contained therein requiring us to make cash distributions may be amended. During the subordination period, with certain exceptions, our Partnership Agreement may not be amended without the approval of non-affiliated common unitholders. After the subordination period has ended, our Partnership Agreement may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding common units. Our Sponsor owns approximately 610,000 of our common units and all of our subordinated units, representing approximately 43.9% of the outstanding common and subordinated units in aggregate. |
· | Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions we pay under our cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our Board of Directors, taking into consideration the terms of our Partnership Agreement. |
· | Under Section 57 of the Marshall Islands Act, we may not make a distribution to our unitholders if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. |
· | We may lack sufficient cash to pay distributions to our unitholders due to decreases in total operating revenues, decreases in hire rates, the loss of a vessel or increases in operating or general and administrative expenses, principal and interest payments on outstanding debt, taxes, working capital requirements, maintenance and replacement capital expenditures or anticipated cash needs. See "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors" for a discussion of these factors. |
· | Our ability to make distributions to our unitholders depends on the performance of our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute cash to us. The ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us may be restricted by, among other things, the provisions of existing and future indebtedness, applicable limited partnership and limited liability company laws in the Marshall Islands and other laws and regulations. |
Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions
|
||||||||||||||||
Total Quarterly
Distribution Target
Amount
|
Unitholders
|
General
Partner
|
Holders
of IDRs
|
|||||||||||||
Minimum Quarterly Distribution
|
$
|
0.365
|
99.9%
|
|
0.1%
|
|
0.0%
|
|
||||||||
First Target Distribution
|
up to $0.420
|
99.9%
|
|
0.1%
|
|
0.0%
|
|
|||||||||
Second Target Distribution
|
above $0.420 up to $0.456
|
85.0%
|
|
0.1%
|
|
14.9%
|
|
|||||||||
Third Target Distribution
|
Above $0.456 up to $0.548
|
75.0%
|
|
0.1%
|
|
24.9%
|
|
|||||||||
Thereafter
|
above $0.548
|
50.0%
|
|
0.1%
|
|
49.9%
|
|
ITEM 9. | THE OFFER AND LISTING. |
For the Year Ended
|
High (US$)
|
Low (US$)
|
||||||
December 31, 2013*
|
23.79
|
16.75
|
||||||
December 31, 2014
|
25.50
|
13.66
|
||||||
December 31, 2015
|
20.95
|
7.80
|
||||||
* For the period beginning November 13, 2013
|
For the Quarter Ended:
|
High (US$)
|
Low (US$)
|
||||||
March 31, 2014
|
22.77
|
20.71
|
||||||
June 30, 2014
|
25.50
|
20.85
|
||||||
September 30, 2014
|
25.13
|
22.33
|
||||||
December 31, 2014
|
23.43
|
13.66
|
||||||
March 31, 2015
|
20.95
|
14.50
|
||||||
June 30, 2015
|
20.83
|
14.59
|
||||||
September 30, 2015
|
16.99
|
11.03
|
||||||
December 31, 2015
|
15.00
|
7.80
|
||||||
March 31, 2016
|
11.59
|
6.70
|
Most Recent Six Months:
|
High (US$)
|
Low (US$)
|
||||||
October 2015
|
15.00
|
13.22
|
||||||
November 2015
|
14. 66
|
12.09
|
||||||
December 2015
|
12.92
|
7.80
|
||||||
January 2016
|
10.54
|
6.70
|
||||||
February 2016
|
10.20
|
7.06
|
||||||
March 2016
|
11.59
|
8.88
|
||||||
April 2016 (through and including April 15, 2016)
|
14.37
|
10.81
|
For the Year Ended
|
High (US$)
|
Low (US$)
|
|||||
December 31, 2015
|
25.60
|
14.25
|
|||||
* For the period beginning July 14, 2015
|
For the Quarter Ended:
|
High (US$)
|
Low (US$)
|
|||||
September 30, 2015*
|
25.60
|
16.95
|
|||||
December 31, 2015
|
19.99
|
15.01
|
|||||
* For the period beginning July 14, 2015
|
Most Recent Six Months:
|
High (US$)
|
Low (US$)
|
|||||
October 2015
|
19.99
|
16.79
|
|||||
November 2015
|
19.99
|
18.27
|
|||||
December 2015
|
19.19
|
15.01
|
|||||
January 2016
|
19.25
|
14.25
|
|||||
February 2016
|
18.70
|
15.01
|
|||||
March 2016
|
21.35
|
17.02
|
|||||
April 2016 (through and including April 15, 2016)
|
22.95
|
20.46
|
ITEM 10. | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
· | we are organized in a foreign country (our "country of organization") that grants an "equivalent exemption" to corporations organized in the United States; and |
· | more than 50% of the value of our units is owned, directly or indirectly, by individuals who are "residents" of our country of organization or of another foreign country that grants an "equivalent exemption" to corporations organized in the United States, which we refer to as the "50% Ownership Test," or |
· | our units are "primarily and regularly traded on an established securities market" in our country of organization, in another country that grants an "equivalent exemption" to United States corporations, or in the United States, which we refer to as the "Publicly-Traded Test." |
· | we have, or are considered to have, a fixed place of business in the United States involved in the earning of shipping income; and |
· | substantially all of our U.S.-source shipping income is attributable to regularly scheduled transportation, such as the operation of a vessel that follows a published schedule with repeated sailings at regular intervals between the same points for voyages that begin or end in the United States. |
· | an individual citizen or resident of the United States (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes), |
· | a corporation (or other entity that is classified as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States or any of its political subdivisions), |
· | an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or |
· | a trust if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) the trust has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for United States federal income tax purposes. |
· | at least 75% of our gross income (including the gross income of our vessel-owning subsidiaries) for such taxable year consists of passive income (e.g., dividends, interest, capital gains and rents derived other than in the active conduct of a rental business); or |
· | at least 50% of the average value of the assets held by us (including the assets of our vessel-owning subsidiaries) during such taxable year produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. |
· | the excess distribution or gain would be allocated ratably over the Non-Electing Holder's aggregate holding period for the common units; |
· | the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable year prior to the taxable year we were first treated as a PFIC with respect to the Non-Electing Holder would be taxed as ordinary income; and |
· | the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for the applicable class of taxpayers for that year, and an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year. |
· | fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number; |
· | is notified by the IRS that it has failed to report all interest or corporate distributions required to be reported on its U.S. federal income tax returns; or |
· | in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements. |
· | we are not treated as carrying on business in the United Kingdom; |
· | such holders do not have a fixed base or permanent establishment in the United Kingdom to which such common units pertain; and |
· | such holders do not use or hold and are not deemed or considered to use or hold their common units in the course of carrying on a business in the United Kingdom. |
ITEM 11. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
Charterer
|
2015
|
2014
|
||||||
Gazprom
|
52%
|
|
36%
|
|
||||
BG Group
|
29%
|
|
50%
|
|
||||
Statoil
|
19%
|
|
14%
|
|
||||
Total
|
100%
|
|
100%
|
|
ITEM 12. | DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES |
ITEM 13. | DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES |
ITEM 14. | MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
ITEM 15. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
· | Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Partnership; |
· | Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of Partnership's management and directors; and |
· | Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
ITEM 16. | [RESERVED] |
ITEM 16A. | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT |
ITEM 16B. | CODE OF ETHICS |
ITEM 16C. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES |
2015
|
2014
|
|||||||
Audit Fees
|
€
|
175,000
|
€
|
250,000
|
||||
Audit-Related Fees
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
Tax Fees
|
6,000
|
-
|
||||||
All Other Fees
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
€
|
181,000
|
€
|
250,000
|
ITEM 16D. | EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES |
ITEM 16E. | PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS |
ITEM 16F. | CHANGE IN REGISTRANTS' CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT |
ITEM 16G. | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
· | Executive Sessions. The NYSE requires that non-management directors meet regularly in executive sessions without management. The NYSE also requires that all independent directors meet in an executive session at least once a year. As permitted under Marshall Islands law and our Partnership Agreement, our non-management directors do not regularly hold executive sessions without management and we do not expect them to do so in the future. |
· | Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee . The NYSE requires that a listed U.S. company have a nominating/corporate governance committee of independent directors and a committee charter specifying the purpose, duties and evaluation procedures of the committee. As permitted under Marshall Islands law and our Partnership Agreement, we do not currently have a nominating or corporate governance committee. |
· | Audit Committee . The NYSE requires, among other things, that a listed U.S. company have an audit committee with a minimum of three members, all of whom are independent. As permitted by Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, our audit committee consists of two independent members of our Board, Alexios Rodopoulos and Evangelos Vlahoulis . |
· | Corporate Governance Guidelines . The NYSE requires that a listed U.S. Company adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines. The guidelines must address, among other things: director qualification standards, director responsibilities, director access to management and independent advisers, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, management succession and an annual performance evaluation. We are not required to adopt such guidelines under Marshall Islands law or our Partnership Agreement and we have not adopted such guidelines. |
· | Proxies . As a foreign private issuer, we are not required to solicit proxies or provide proxy statements to the NYSE pursuant to the NYSE corporate governance rules or Marshall Islands law. Consistent with Marshall Islands law and as provided in our Partnership Agreement, we will notify our unitholders of meetings between 10 and 60 days before the meeting. This notification will contain, among other things, information regarding business to be transacted at the meeting. In addition, our Partnership Agreement provides that any unitholder or group of unitholders that beneficially own 15% or more of our outstanding common units are entitled to nominate directors for election at an annual meeting if written notice is given to the Board of Directors not more than 120 days and not less than 90 days prior to the date of the annual meeting. |
ITEM 16H. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE |
ITEM 17. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
ITEM 18. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
ITEM 19. | EXHIBITS |
Exhibit
Number
|
Description
|
||
1.1
|
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Dynagas LNG Partners LP
(1)
|
||
1.2
|
Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Dynagas LNG Partners LP
(3)
|
||
1.3
|
Certificate of Formation of Dynagas GP LLC
(1)
|
||
1.4
|
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Dynagas GP LLC
(1)
|
||
1.5
|
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Dynagas Operating LP
(1)
|
||
1.6
|
Limited Partnership Agreement of Dynagas Operating LP
(1)
|
||
1.7
|
Certificate of Formation of Dynagas Operating GP LLC
(1)
|
||
1.8
|
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Dynagas GP LLC
(1)
|
||
4.1
|
Form of Vessel Management Agreement
|
||
4.2
|
Omnibus Agreement, dated November 18, 2013
(2)
|
||
4.3
|
First Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement, dated April 12, 2016
|
||
4.4
|
Contribution Agreement
(1)
|
||
4.5
|
$30 Million Revolving Credit Facility with Dynagas Holding Ltd.
(2)
|
||
4.6
|
2013 Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility
(2)
|
||
4.7
|
Executive Services Agreement
(2)
|
||
4.8
|
Administrative Services Agreement
(4)
|
||
4.9
|
Share Purchase Agreement dated April 17, 2014
(4)
|
||
4.10
|
Share Purchase Agreement dated September 22, 2014
(4)
|
||
4.11
|
Share Purchase Agreement dated December 17, 2015
|
||
4.12
|
$340 Million Senior Secured Credit Facility
(4)
|
||
4.13
|
Base Indenture, dated as of September 15, 2014, by and among the Partnership and Dynagas Finance Inc., as Issuers, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, relating to 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2019.
(4)
|
4.14
|
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 15, 2014, by an among by and among the Partnership and Dynagas Finance Inc., as Issuers, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, relating to 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2019.
(4)
|
||
4.15
|
$200 Million Term Loan Facility
|
||
8.1
|
Subsidiaries of Dynagas LNG Partners LP
|
||
12.1
|
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Dynagas LNG Partners LP Principal Executive Officer
|
||
12.2
|
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Dynagas LNG Partners LP Principal Financial and Accounting Officer.
|
||
13.1
|
Certification under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Principal Executive Officer
|
||
13.2
|
Certification under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
|
||
15.1
|
Consent of Independent Registered Accounting Firm
|
||
15.2
|
Consent of Drewry Shipping Consultants, Ltd.
|
||
101.INS
|
XBRL Instance Document **
|
||
101.SCH
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema **
|
||
101.CAL
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase **
|
||
101.DEF
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase **
|
||
101.LAB
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase **
|
||
101.PRE
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase **
|
(1)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form F-1, which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12, 2013 (Registration No. 333-191653)
|
(2)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 20-F, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2014
|
(3)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 23, 2015.
|
(4)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 20-F, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2015.
|
**
|
Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability under such sections.
|
DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/ Michael Gregos
|
||||
Name:
|
Michael Gregos
|
||||
Title:
|
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
|
||||
Date:
|
April 18, 2016
|
Page
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-2
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014
|
F-3
|
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
|
F-4
|
Consolidated Statements of Partners' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
|
F-5
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
|
F-6
|
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
|
F-7
|
Note
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
|||||||||||||
REVENUES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Voyage revenues
|
$
|
145,202
|
$
|
107,088
|
$
|
85,679
|
||||||||||
EXPENSES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Voyage expenses
|
(983
|
)
|
(910
|
)
|
(675
|
)
|
||||||||||
Voyage expenses-related party
|
3(a)
|
|
(1,821
|
)
|
(1,363
|
)
|
(1,011
|
)
|
||||||||
Vessel operating expenses
|
(23,244
|
)
|
(16,813
|
)
|
(11,909
|
)
|
||||||||||
General and administrative expenses
|
(1,086
|
)
|
(1,014
|
)
|
(387
|
)
|
||||||||||
General and administrative expenses- related party
|
3
|
(719
|
)
|
(937
|
)
|
—
|
||||||||||
Management fees-related party
|
3
|
(4,870
|
)
|
(3,566
|
)
|
(2,737
|
)
|
|||||||||
Depreciation
|
4
|
(24,387
|
)
|
(17,822
|
)
|
(13,579
|
)
|
|||||||||
Operating income
|
$
|
88,092
|
$
|
64,663
|
$
|
55,381
|
||||||||||
OTHER INCOME/(EXPENSES):
|
||||||||||||||||
Interest and finance costs
|
5, 11
|
(27,974
|
)
|
(14,524
|
)
|
(9,732
|
)
|
|||||||||
Interest income
|
35
|
221
|
—
|
|||||||||||||
Other, net
|
(103
|
)
|
201
|
(29
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Total other expenses
|
(28,042
|
)
|
(14,102
|
)
|
(9,761
|
)
|
||||||||||
Partnership's Net Income
|
$
|
60,050
|
$
|
50,561
|
$
|
45,620
|
||||||||||
Common unitholders' interest in Net Income
|
$
|
32,878
|
$
|
28,323
|
$
|
22,787
|
||||||||||
Preferred unitholders' interest in Net Income
|
$
|
3,019
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
||||||||||
Subordinated unitholders' interest in Net Income
|
$
|
24,028
|
$
|
22,170
|
$
|
22,787
|
||||||||||
General Partner's interest in Net Income
|
$
|
125
|
$
|
68
|
$
|
46
|
||||||||||
Earnings per unit, basic and diluted:
|
10
|
|||||||||||||||
Common unit (basic and diluted)
|
$
|
1.60
|
$
|
1.58
|
$
|
2.95
|
||||||||||
Weighted average number of units outstanding, basic and diluted:
|
10
|
|||||||||||||||
Common units
|
20,505,000
|
17,964,288
|
7,729,521
|
Partners' Capital
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series A Preferred
|
Common
|
Subordinated
|
General Partner
|
Series A Preferred
|
Common
|
Subordinated
|
General Partner
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE, December 31, 2012
|
—
|
6,735,000
|
14,985,000
|
30,000
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
23,278
|
$
|
51,793
|
$
|
104
|
$
|
75,175
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
—Net income
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
22,787
|
22,787
|
46
|
45,620
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
—Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs (Note 9)
|
—
|
8,250,000
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
136,904
|
—
|
—
|
136,904
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE, December 31, 2013
|
—
|
14,985,000
|
14,985,000
|
30,000
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
182,969
|
$
|
74,580
|
$
|
150
|
$
|
257,699
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
—Net income
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
28,323
|
22,170
|
68
|
50,561
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
—Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs (Note 9)
|
—
|
5,520,000
|
—
|
5,526
|
—
|
120,444
|
—
|
126
|
120,570
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
—Distributions declared and paid (Note 9)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(23,568
|
)
|
(19,398
|
)
|
(44
|
)
|
(43,010
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
—Preferential deemed dividend (Note 9)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(3,439
|
)
|
(84,483
|
)
|
(200
|
)
|
(88,122
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE, December 31, 2014
|
—
|
20,505,000
|
14,985,000
|
35,526
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
304,729
|
$
|
(7,131
|
)
|
$
|
100
|
$
|
297,698
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
—Net income
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
3,019
|
32,878
|
24,028
|
125
|
60,050
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
—Issuance of preferred units, net of issuance costs (Note 9)
|
3,000,000
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
72,297
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
72,297
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
—Distributions declared and paid (Note 9)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(2,100
|
)
|
(34,653
|
)
|
(25,324
|
)
|
(130
|
)
|
(62,207
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE, December 31, 2015
|
3,000,000
|
20,505,000
|
14,985,000
|
35,526
|
$
|
73,216
|
$
|
302,954
|
$
|
(8,427
|
)
|
$
|
95
|
$
|
367,838
|
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
|||||||||||||
Cash flows from Operating Activities:
|
Note
|
|||||||||||||||
Net income:
|
|
$
|
60,050
|
$
|
50,561
|
$
|
45,620
|
|||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
24,387
|
17,822
|
13,579
|
|||||||||||||
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing fees
|
1,545
|
785
|
1,050
|
|||||||||||||
Deferred revenue amortization
|
608
|
2,065
|
(4,245
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Amortization of fair value of acquired time charters
|
7
|
218
|
—
|
—
|
||||||||||||
Provision for doubtful debt
|
—
|
—
|
63
|
|||||||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Trade receivables
|
(103
|
)
|
190
|
118
|
||||||||||||
Prepayments and other assets
|
94
|
(250
|
)
|
(178
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Inventories
|
9
|
(357
|
)
|
—
|
||||||||||||
Due from/to related party
|
292
|
278
|
(5,450
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Trade payables
|
1,808
|
310
|
(3,156
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Accrued liabilities
|
(68
|
)
|
2,636
|
(1,081
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Unearned revenue
|
8,104
|
2,403
|
(2,116
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Net cash provided by Operating Activities
|
96,944
|
76,443
|
44,204
|
|||||||||||||
Cash flows from/(used in) Investing Activities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Vessel Acquisitions
|
3(c), 4
|
|
(205,045
|
)
|
(404,530
|
)
|
—
|
|||||||||
Net cash used in Investing Activities
|
(205,045
|
)
|
(404,530
|
)
|
—
|
|||||||||||
Cash flows from/(used in) Financing Activities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Increase in restricted cash
|
(1,000
|
)
|
(2,000
|
)
|
(15,227
|
)
|
||||||||||
Payment of IPO issuance costs and other filing costs
|
(65
|
)
|
(1,938
|
)
|
—
|
|||||||||||
Issuance of preferred units, net of issuance costs paid
|
9
|
72,446
|
—
|
—
|
||||||||||||
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs paid
|
—
|
120,514
|
138,800
|
|||||||||||||
Issuance of general partner units
|
—
|
126
|
—
|
|||||||||||||
Preferential deemed dividend
|
3(c)
|
|
—
|
(88,122
|
)
|
—
|
||||||||||
Distributions declared and paid
|
(62,207
|
)
|
(43,010
|
)
|
—
|
|||||||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt
|
133,333
|
590,000
|
214,085
|
|||||||||||||
Repayment of long-term debt
|
(20,000
|
)
|
(229,085
|
)
|
(380,715
|
)
|
||||||||||
Loan from/ (Repayment of loan to) related party
|
—
|
(5,500
|
)
|
5,500
|
||||||||||||
Payment of deferred finance fees
|
(2,062
|
)
|
(6,626
|
)
|
(970
|
)
|
||||||||||
Net cash provided by/(used in) Financing Activities
|
120,445
|
334,359
|
(38,527
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
12,344
|
6,272
|
5,677
|
|||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year
|
11,949
|
5,677
|
—
|
|||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year
|
$
|
24,293
|
$
|
11,949
|
$
|
5,677
|
||||||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
|
||||||||||||||||
Cash paid during the year for:
|
||||||||||||||||
Interest
|
$
|
25,798
|
$
|
10,724
|
$
|
9,487
|
||||||||||
Non-cash Investing Activities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Vessel acquisitions
|
3(c)
|
|
$
|
35,000
|
$ |
—
|
$ |
—
|
Company Name
|
Country of incorporation
|
Vessel Name
|
Delivery Date to Partnership
|
Year Built
|
Cbm Capacity
|
Pegasus Shipholding S.A. ("Pegasus")
|
Marshall Islands
|
Clean Energy
|
March 2007
|
2007
|
149,700
|
Lance Shipping S.A.
("Lance")
|
Marshall Islands
|
Ob River
|
July 2007
|
2007
|
149,700
|
Seacrown Maritime Ltd.
("Seacrown")
|
Marshall Islands
|
Amur River
(1)
|
January 2008
|
2008
|
149,700
|
Fareastern Shipping Limited
("Fareastern")
|
Malta
|
Arctic Aurora
|
June 2014
|
2013
|
155,000
|
Navajo Marine Limited
("Navajo")
|
Marshall Islands
|
Yenisei River
|
September 2014
|
2013
|
155,000
|
Solana Holding Ltd.
("Solana")
|
Marshall Islands
|
Lena River
|
December 2015
|
2013
|
155,000
|
(1) | Renamed from Clean Force in June 2015. |
Company Name
|
Country of incorporation
|
Purpose of incorporation
|
Quinta Group Corp. ("Quinta")
|
Nevis
|
Holding company that owns all of the outstanding capital stock of Pegasus.
|
Pelta Holdings S.A. ("Pelta")
|
Nevis
|
Holding company that owns all of the outstanding capital stock of Lance.
|
Dynagas Equity Holdings Ltd.("Dynagas Equity")
|
Liberia
|
Holding company that owns all of the outstanding capital stock of Quinta, Pelta, Seacrown, Fareastern, Navajo, Solana and Arctic LNG.
|
Dynagas Operating GP LLC.
("Dynagas Operating GP")
|
Marshall Islands
|
Limited Liability Company, in which the Partnership holds 100% membership interests and that has 100% of the Non-Economic General Partner Interest in Dynagas Operating LP.
|
Dynagas Operating LP.
("Dynagas Operating")
|
Marshall Islands
|
Limited partnership in which the Partnership holds 100% percentage interests.
|
Dynagas Finance Inc.
("Dynagas Finance")
|
Marshall Islands
|
Wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership whose activities are limited to co-issuing the Notes discussed under Note 5 and engaging in other activities incidental thereto.
|
Arctic LNG Carriers Ltd. ("Arctic LNG")
|
Marshall Islands
|
Wholly owned subsidiary of Dynagas Equity that currently has no operations in place nor is it engaged in any other activities.
|
(a)
|
Principles of Consolidation:
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dynagas Partners and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Dynagas Partners, as the holding company, determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity. Under Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC") 810 "Consolidation" a voting interest entity is an entity in which the total equity investment at risk is deemed sufficient to absorb the expected losses of the entity, the equity holders have all the characteristics of a controlling financial interest and the legal entity is structured with substantive voting rights. The holding company consolidates voting interest entities in which it owns all, or at least a majority (generally, greater than 50%) of the voting interest. Variable interest entities ("VIE") are entities as defined under ASC 810 that in general either has equity investors with non-substantive voting rights or that have equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. The holding company has a controlling financial interest in a VIE and is, therefore, the primary beneficiary of a VIE if it has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. A VIE should have only one primary beneficiary which is required to consolidate the VIE. A VIE may not have a primary beneficiary if no party meets the criteria described above. The Partnership evaluates all arrangements that may include a variable interest in an entity to determine if it is the primary beneficiary, and would be required to include assets, liabilities and operations of a VIE in its consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, no such interests existed.
|
|
(b)
|
Use of Estimates:
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
|
(c)
|
Other Comprehensive Income:
The Partnership follows the provisions of ASC 220, "Comprehensive Income" which requires separate presentation of certain transactions, which are recorded directly as components of equity. The Partnership has no such transactions which affect other comprehensive income and, accordingly, for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 comprehensive income equaled net income.
|
|
(d)
|
Foreign Currency Translation:
The functional currency of the Partnership is the U.S. Dollar because the Partnership's vessels operate in international shipping markets, and therefore primarily transact business in U.S. Dollars. The Partnership's books of accounts are maintained in U.S. Dollars. Transactions involving other currencies during the year are converted into U.S. Dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the time of the transactions. At the balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities, which are denominated in other currencies, are translated into U.S. Dollars using the balance sheet date exchange rates. Resulting gains or losses are included in Other, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
|
(e)
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
The Partnership considers highly liquid investments such as time deposits with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
|
|
(f)
|
Restricted cash:
Restricted cash may comprise of i) minimum liquidity collateral requirements or minimum required cash deposits that are required to be maintained under the Partnership's financing arrangements, ii) cash deposits in so-called "retention accounts" which may only be used as per the Partnership's borrowing arrangements for the purpose of serving the loan installments coming due or iii) other cash deposits required to be retained until other specified conditions prescribed in the Partnership's debt agreements are met. In the event that the obligation to maintain such deposits is expected to be elapsed within the next operating cycle, these deposits are classified as current assets. Otherwise they are classified as non-current assets.
|
|
(g)
|
Trade Receivables:
The amount shown as trade receivables, net, at each balance sheet date, includes receivables from charterers for hire net of any provision for doubtful accounts. At each balance sheet date, all potentially uncollectible accounts are assessed individually for purposes of determining the appropriate provision for doubtful accounts primarily based on the aging of such balances and any amounts in disputes. Provision for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was nil.
|
|
(h)
|
Inventories:
Inventories consist of lubricants which are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first in, first out method. Inventories may also consist of bunkers during periods when vessels are unemployed or under voyage charters, that are also stated at the lower of cost or market and cost is still determined by the first in, first out method.
|
|
(i)
|
Insurance Claims:
The Partnership records insurance claim recoveries for insured losses incurred on damage to fixed assets, loss of hire and for insured crew medical expenses. Insurance claim recoveries are recorded, net of any deductible amounts, at the time the Partnership's vessels suffer insured damages or when crew medical expenses are incurred, when recovery is probable under the related insurance policies, the Partnership can make an estimate of the amount to be reimbursed following submission of the insurance claim and when the claim is not subject to litigation.
|
(j)
|
Vessels, Net:
Vessels are stated at cost, which consists of the contract price and any material expenses incurred upon delivery (initial repairs, improvements and delivery expenses, capitalized interest and on-site supervision costs incurred during the construction periods). Subsequent expenditures for conversions and major improvements are also capitalized when they appreciably extend the life, increase the earning capacity or improve the efficiency or safety of the vessels; otherwise these amounts are charged to expense as incurred. The cost of each of the Partnership's vessels is depreciated beginning when the vessel is ready for her intended use, on a straight-line basis over the vessel's remaining economic useful life, after considering the estimated residual value. With effect from October 1, 2014, the Partnership revised its' initial scrap rate estimate from an average fleet scrap rate of $0.717 per lightweight ton (or a vessel specific of 12% of the initial vessel cost) to $0.685 per lightweight ton per LNG carrier and that change in estimate is expected to decrease the Partnership's net income in future periods. Management estimates the useful life of the Partnership's vessels to be 35 years from the date of initial delivery from the shipyard. Secondhand vessels are depreciated from the date of their acquisition through their remaining estimated useful life. When regulations place limitations over the ability of a vessel to trade on a worldwide basis, its remaining useful life is adjusted at the date such regulations are adopted.
|
|
(k)
|
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets:
The Partnership follows ASC 360-10-40 "Impairment or Disposals of Long-Lived Assets", which addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. The standard requires that long-lived assets held and used by an entity be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. When the estimate of undiscounted projected operating cash flows, excluding interest charges, expected to be generated by the use of the asset is less than its carrying amount, the Partnership evaluates the asset for an impairment loss. Measurement of the impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset. The fair values are determined through Level 2 inputs of the fair value hierarchy as defined in ASC 820 "Fair value measurements and disclosures" based on management's estimates and assumptions and by making use of available market data and taking into consideration third party valuations and other market observable data that allow value to be determined. The Partnership reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances, such as undiscounted projected operating cash flows, business plans to dispose a vessel earlier than the end of its useful life and prevailing market conditions, indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The Partnership determines undiscounted projected net operating cash flows, for each vessel and compares it to the vessel's carrying value. In developing estimates of future cash flows, the Partnership must make assumptions about future charter rates, vessel operating expenses, fleet utilization, and the estimated remaining useful life of the vessels. These assumptions are based on historical trends as well as future expectations. The projected net operating cash flows are determined by considering the charter revenues from existing time charters for the fixed fleet days and an estimated charter rate for the unfixed days. Expected outflows for scheduled vessels' maintenance and vessel operating expenses are based on historical data, and adjusted annually assuming an average annual inflation rate prevailing at the time of test. An estimate is also applied to effective fleet utilization, taking into account the period(s) each vessel is expected to undergo her scheduled maintenance (dry-docking and special surveys) and vessels loss of hire from repositioning or other conditions. Estimates for the remaining estimated useful lives of the current fleet and scrap values are identical with those employed as part of the Partnership's depreciation policy. As of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Partnership concluded that there were no events or changes in circumstances indicating that the carrying amount of its vessels may not be recoverable and accordingly no impairment loss was recorded for these years.
|
(l)
|
Intangible assets/liabilities related to time charter acquired:
Where the Partnership identifies any assets or liabilities associated with the acquisition of a vessel, the Partnership records all such identified assets or liabilities at fair value. Fair value is determined by reference to market data. The Partnership values any asset or liability arising from the market value of the time charters assumed when a vessel is acquired. The amount to be recorded as an asset or liability at the date of vessel acquisition is determined by comparing the existing charter rate in the acquired time charter agreement with the market rates for equivalent time charter agreements prevailing at the time the vessel is acquired.When the present value of the time charter assumed is greater than the current fair value of such charter, the difference is recorded as an asset; otherwise, the difference is recorded as liability. Such assets and liabilities, respectively, are amortized as an adjustment to revenues, over the remaining term of the assumed time charter and are classified as non-current asset/ liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Impairment testing is performed when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the intangible asset may not be recoverable.
|
|
(m)
|
Accounting for Special Survey and Dry-Docking Costs:
The Partnership follows the direct expense method of accounting for dry-docking and special survey costs where such are expensed in the period incurred. The vessels undergo dry-dock or special survey approximately every five years during the first fifteen years of their life and subsequently every two and a half years to the end of their useful life. Costs relating to routine repairs and maintenance are also expensed as incurred.
|
(n)
|
Financing Costs:
Costs associated with long-term debt, including fees paid to lenders or required to be paid to third parties on the lender's behalf for obtaining debt financing or refinancing existing one, are recorded contra to long-term debt. Such fees are deferred and amortized to interest and finance costs during the life of the related debt instrument using the effective interest method. Unamortized fees relating to loans repaid or refinanced as debt extinguishments and loan commitment fees are expensed as interest and finance costs in the period incurred in the accompanying statements of income. Any unamortized balance of costs relating to refinanced long-term debt are deferred and amortized over the term of the respective credit facility in the period the refinancing occurs, subject to the provisions of the accounting guidance relating to Debt – Modifications and Extinguishments. Following the early adoption of ASU. 2015-03 "Interest – Imputation of Interest" to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs, the Partnership, effective December 31, 2015, and with retrospective effect, presents unamortized deferred financing costs as a reduction of long term debt in the accompanying balance sheets. In order to conform with the current period presentation requirements, the Partnership has reclassified deferred financing costs, net from Deferred Charges and has decreased the amount of Current portion of long-term debt by $416 and the amount of Long-term portion of long-term debt by $7,077 on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014. This reclassification has no impact on the Partnership's net income, cash flows and net assets for any period presented.
|
|
(o)
|
Concentration of Credit Risk:
Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Partnership to significant concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables. The maximum exposure to loss due to credit risk is the book value at the balance sheet date. The Partnership places its cash and cash equivalents, consisting mostly of deposits, with high credit qualified financial institutions. The Partnership performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of those financial institutions. The Partnership limits its credit risk with accounts receivable by performing ongoing credit evaluations of its charterers' financial condition and generally does not require collateral for its accounts receivable.
|
Charterer
|
2015
|
2014
|
||||||||
A
|
52
|
%
|
36
|
%
|
||||||
B
|
29
|
%
|
50
|
%
|
||||||
C
|
19
|
%
|
14
|
%
|
||||||
100
|
%
|
100
|
%
|
(p)
|
Accounting for Revenues and Related Expenses:
The Partnership generates its revenues from charterers for the chartering of its vessels. All vessels are chartered under time charters, where a contract is entered into for the use of a vessel for a specific period of time and at a specified daily charter hire rate. If a charter agreement exists and collection of the related revenue is reasonably assured, revenue is recognized, as it is earned ratably over the duration of the period of the time charter. Furthermore, revenues from time chartering of vessels are accounted for as operating leases and are thus recognized on a straight line basis as the average minimum lease revenue over the rental periods of such charter agreements, as service is performed with the residual or excess from actually collected hire based on the time charter agreement for each period being classified as deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Unearned revenue includes cash received prior to the balance sheet date for which all criteria to recognize as revenue have not yet been met as at the balance sheet date and accordingly is related to revenue earned after such date. Commissions are always paid for by the Partnership while the remaining voyage expenses, primarily consisting of port, canal and bunker expenses that are unique to a particular charter, are paid for by the charterer under the time charter arrangements or by the Partnership during periods of off-hire. All voyage expenses are expensed as incurred, except for commissions. Commissions paid to brokers are deferred and amortized over the related charter period to the extent revenue has been deferred since commissions are earned as the Partnership's revenues are earned.
|
(q)
|
Repairs and Maintenance
: All repair and maintenance expenses including underwater inspection expenses are expensed in the period incurred. Such costs are included in vessel operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
|
(r)
|
Earnings Per Unit
:
The Partnership's capital structure consists of preferred units, common units, subordinated units, a general partner interest and incentive distribution rights. The incentive distribution rights are a separate class of non-voting interests that are currently held by the Partnership's general partner but, subject to certain restrictions, may be transferred or sold apart from the general partner's interest. The Partnership calculates basic earnings per each class of units by allocating period distributed and undistributed earnings to the General Partner, limited partners and incentive distribution rights holder using the two-class method and by utilizing the contractual terms of the partnership agreement. Basic earnings per common unit are computed by allocating distributed and undistributed net income/ (losses) available to common unitholders, after extracting the interest on the Partnership's net income of the preferred, subordinated and general partner unitholders, by the weighted average number of common units outstanding during the year. Any undistributed earnings for the period are allocated to the various unitholders based on the distribution waterfall for cash available for distribution specified in Dynagas Partners' partnership agreement. Where distributions relating to the period are in excess of earnings, the deficit is also allocated according to the cash distribution model. Diluted earnings per common unit reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue units were exercised, if any. The Partnership had no dilutive securities outstanding during the three-year period ended December 31, 2015
.
|
(s)
|
Segment Reporting:
The Partnership has determined that it operates under one reportable segment relating to its operations as it operates solely LNG vessels. The Partnership reports financial information and evaluates its operations and operating results by type of vessel and not by the length or type of ship employment for its customers. The Partnership's management does not use discrete financial information to evaluate operating results for each type of charter. Although revenue can be identified according to these types of charters or for charters with different duration, management cannot and does not identify expenses, profitability or other financial information for these charters. Furthermore, when the Partnership charters a vessel to a charterer, the charterer is free to trade the vessel worldwide and, as a result, the disclosure of geographic information is impracticable.
|
(t)
|
Fair Value Measurements:
The Partnership adopted ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures", which defines, and provides guidance as to the measurement of fair value. This guidance creates a fair value hierarchy of measurement and indicates that, when possible, fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable data that are not corroborated by market data (Level 3), for example, the reporting entity's own data. Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data are classified under Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Under the standard, fair value measurements would be separately disclosed by level within the fair value hierarchy. ASC 820 applies when assets or liabilities in the financial statements are to be measured at fair value, but does not require additional use of fair value beyond the requirements in other accounting principles. Upon issuance of guidance on the fair value option in 2007, the Partnership elected not to report the then existing financial assets or liabilities at fair value that were not already reported as such.
|
|
(u)
|
Commitments and Contingencies:
Commitments are recognized when the Partnership has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events and it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle this obligation, and a reliable estimate of the amount of the obligation can be made. Provisions are reviewed at each balance sheet date and adjusted to reflect the present value of the expenditure expected to be required to settle the obligation. Contingent liabilities are not recognized in the financial statements but are disclosed unless the possibility of an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits is remote. Contingent assets are not recognized in the financial statements but are disclosed when an inflow of economic benefits is probable.
|
|
(v)
|
Accounting for Financial Instruments:
The principal financial assets of the Partnership consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, amounts due from related parties and trade receivables, net. The principal financial liabilities of the Partnership consist of trade and other payables, accrued liabilities, long-term debt and amounts due to related parties. The Partnership may also consider from time to time entering into interest rate swap agreements to manage its exposure to fluctuations of interest rate risk associated with its borrowings Derivative financial instruments are generally used to manage risk related to fluctuations of interest rates. ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, requires all derivative contracts to be recorded at fair value, as determined in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Note 6). The changes in fair value of a derivative contract are recognized in earnings unless specific hedging criteria are met. At the inception of a hedge relationship, the Partnership formally designates and documents the hedge relationship to which the Partnership wishes to apply hedge accounting and the risk management objective and strategy undertaken for the hedge. The documentation includes identification of the hedging instrument, hedged item or transaction, the nature of the risk being hedged and how the entity will assess the hedging instrument's effectiveness in offsetting exposure to changes in the hedged item's cash flows attributable to the hedged risk. A cash flow hedge is a hedge of the exposure to
|
variability in cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk associated with a recognized asset or liability, or a highly probable forecasted transaction that could affect profit or loss. Such hedges are expected to be highly effective in achieving offsetting changes in cash flows and are assessed on an ongoing basis to determine whether they actually have been highly effective throughout the financial reporting periods for which they were designated. All derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet as assets or liabilities and measured at fair value. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the changes in fair value of the derivatives is recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/ (Loss) and subsequently recognized in earnings when the hedged items impact earnings.
|
Year ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
||||||||||
Included in voyage expenses
|
||||||||||||
Charter hire commissions (a)
|
$
|
1,821
|
$
|
1,363
|
$
|
1,011
|
||||||
Included in general and administrative expenses
|
||||||||||||
Executive services fee (d)
|
$
|
599
|
$
|
803
|
$
|
—
|
||||||
Administrative services fee (e)
|
$
|
120
|
$
|
134
|
$
|
—
|
||||||
Management fees-related party
|
||||||||||||
Management fees (a)
|
$
|
4,870
|
$
|
3,566
|
$
|
2,737
|
Year ended December 31,
|
||||||||
2015
|
2014
|
|||||||
Assets:
|
||||||||
Working capital advances granted to the Manager (a)
|
$
|
460
|
$
|
889
|
||||
Security deposits to Manager (a)
|
$
|
1,350
|
$
|
1,125
|
||||
Liabilities included in Due to related party:
|
||||||||
Executive service charges due to Manager (d)
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
135
|
||||
Administrative service charges due to Manager (e)
|
$
|
30
|
$
|
—
|
||||
Other Partnership expenses due to Manager
|
$
|
200
|
$
|
7
|
||||
Total liabilities due to related party, current
|
$
|
230
|
$
|
142
|
||||
Credit financing balance due to Sponsor (c)
|
$
|
35,000
|
$
|
—
|
||||
Total liabilities due to related party, non-current
|
$
|
35,000
|
$
|
—
|
(i) | a commission of 1.25% over charter-hire agreements arranged by the Manager and, |
(ii) | a lump sum new-building supervision fee of $700 for the services rendered by the Manager in respect of the construction of the vessel plus out of pocket expenses. |
Vessel
Cost |
Accumulated
Depreciation |
Net Book
Value |
||||||||||
Balance December 31, 2013
|
$
|
540,454
|
$
|
(87,279
|
)
|
$
|
453,175
|
|||||
—Vessel acquisitions (Note (3(c))
|
404,530
|
—
|
404,530
|
|||||||||
—Depreciation
|
—
|
(17,822
|
)
|
(17,822
|
)
|
|||||||
Balance December 31, 2014
|
$
|
944,984
|
$
|
(105,101
|
)
|
$
|
839,883
|
|||||
—Vessel acquisitions and other additions to vessels' cost (Note (3(c))
|
220,661
|
—
|
220,661
|
|||||||||
—Depreciation
|
—
|
(24,387
|
)
|
(24,387
|
)
|
|||||||
Balance December 31, 2015
|
$
|
1,165,645
|
$
|
(129,488
|
)
|
$
|
1,036,157
|
|||||
December 31,
|
|||||||||
Debt instruments
|
Borrowers-Issuers
|
2015
|
2014
|
||||||
$340.0 million Credit Facility
|
Pegasus-Lance-Seacrown-Fareastern
|
305,000
|
325,000
|
||||||
$250.0 million Senior Unsecured Notes
|
Dynagas LNG Partners LP – Dynagas Finance Inc.
|
250,000
|
250,000
|
||||||
$200 Million Term Loan Facility
|
Navajo- Solana
|
133,333
|
—
|
||||||
Total debt
|
$
|
688,333
|
$
|
575,000
|
|||||
Less deferred financing fees
|
(8,048
|
)
|
(7,493
|
)
|
|||||
Total debt, net of deferred finance costs
|
$
|
680,285
|
$
|
567,507
|
|||||
Less current portion, net of deferred financing fees
|
$
|
(27,467
|
)
|
$
|
(19,584
|
)
|
|||
Long-term portion
|
$ | 652,818 | $ | 547,923 |
· | a maximum ratio of total consolidated liabilities of the Partnership's consolidated market value adjusted total assets; |
· | a minimum interest coverage ratio; |
· | minimum consolidated liquidity of $24.0 million; |
· | employ at least three vessels in the fleet on charters with a minimum initial term of at least three years at above breakeven costs and |
· | maintain aggregate free liquidity, which includes the minimum liquidity held under the $340 Million Credit Facility, of at least $20.0 million; |
· | a maximum ratio expressed as a percentage of total borrowings to total book assets and |
· | maintain a certain minimum net worth level. |
· | a maximum ratio of total consolidated liabilities of the Partnership's consolidated market value adjusted total assets; |
· | a minimum interest coverage ratio; |
· | minimum consolidated liquidity of at least $25.0 million, which shall include the $24.0 million minimum consolidated liquidity requirement imposed under the $340 Million Credit Facility and |
· | a minimum asset cover ratio, on a per vessel basis, being the ratio of the vessel's market value and the net realizable value of any additional security over the outstanding amount of the relevant tranche. |
· | maintain minimum liquidity of $2.5 million on a per vessel basis and |
· | build up, by the third anniversary from drawdown date, a cash collateral reserve of $7.5 million per vessel on a designated account by 33 and 31 equal monthly installments for each of the Lena River and the Yenisei River , respectively, to the extent that a subsequent time charter contract with a minimum firm term until the credit facility maturity date at a minimum specified daily time charter rate has not been entered into. In case such charter contract is entered into, the funds will be released from each vessel's designated account. As of December 31, 2015, the borrowers were not yet bound to deposit any amounts into the respective accounts. |
Year ending December 31,
|
Amount
|
|||
2016
|
$
|
28,333
|
||
2017
|
28,333
|
|||
2018
|
28,333
|
|||
2019
|
278,334
|
|||
2020
|
120,000
|
|||
2021 and thereafter
|
205,000
|
|||
Total long term debt
|
$
|
688,333
|
Year ending December 31,
|
Amount
|
|||
2016
|
$
|
7,267
|
||
2017
|
7,247
|
|||
2018
|
5,268
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
19,782
|
Year ending December 31,
|
Amount
|
|||
2016
|
$
|
178,590
|
||
2017
|
147,211
|
|||
2018
|
79,791
|
|||
2019
|
24,273
|
|||
2020
|
24,339
|
|||
Thereafter
|
176,425
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
630,629
|
Period/ Year ending December 31,
|
Amount
|
|||
2016
|
$
|
6,000
|
||
2017
|
6,162
|
|||
2018
|
6,347
|
|||
2019
|
6,537
|
|||
2020
|
6,752
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
31,798
|
(a) | Initial Public Offering : On November 18, 2013, the Partnership completed its initial public offering of 8,250,000 common units at a price of $18.00 per unit on the NASDAQ Global Market and raised gross proceeds of $148.5 million. The net IPO proceeds amounted to $136.9 million, after deducting underwriting commission of $8.9 million and equity raising expenditures of $2.7 million. The IPO expenditures were fully settled up to December 31, 2014. Concurrently with the sale of the Partnership's common units and at the same price per unit, Dynagas Holding Ltd. sold 4,250,000 common units. The Partnership did not receive any proceeds from this sale. On December 5, 2013, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option granted to them by Dynagas Holding, following which, the Sponsor offered 1,875,000 additional common units to the public on the same terms as in the initial offering. The Partnership did not receive any proceeds from the sale of these additional common units. |
(b) | Common Units Offering: On June 18, 2014, the Partnership completed a follow on public offering of 5,520,000 common units, including the full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option to purchase up to 720,000 common units. The net proceeds from the offering amounted to $120.5 million, after deducting the underwriting discount of $4.7 million and offering expenses incurred of |
(c) | Preferred Units Offering: On July 20, 2015, the Partnership concluded an underwritten public offering of the 3,000,000 Series A Preferred Units, representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, at a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. The Partnership received from this offering $72.3 million, net of underwriting discount of $2.4 million and offering expenses incurred of $0.3 million and used those proceeds to finance the Lena River acquisition (Note 3(c)). |
• | first , 99.9% to the holders of common units and 0.1% to the General Partner, until each common unit has received a minimum quarterly distribution of a specified dollar amount plus any arrearages from prior quarters |
• | second , 99.9% to the holders of subordinated units and 0.1% to the General Partner, until each subordinated unit has received a minimum quarterly distribution of a specified dollar amount; and |
• | third , 99.9% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 0.1% to the General Partner, until each unit has received an aggregate distribution of a specified dollar amount |
Total Quarterly
Distribution Target Amount |
Unitholders
|
General
Partner |
Holders
of IDRs |
|||||||||||||
Minimum Quarterly Distribution
|
$
|
0.365
|
99.9
|
%
|
0.1
|
%
|
0.0
|
%
|
||||||||
First Target Distribution
|
up to $0.420
|
99.9
|
%
|
0.1
|
%
|
0.0
|
%
|
|||||||||
Second Target Distribution
|
above $0.420 up to $0.456
|
85.0
|
%
|
0.1
|
%
|
14.9
|
%
|
|||||||||
Third Target Distribution
|
Above $0.456 up to $0.548
|
75.0
|
%
|
0.1
|
%
|
24.9
|
%
|
|||||||||
Thereafter
|
above $0.548
|
50.0
|
%
|
0.1
|
%
|
49.9
|
%
|
Year ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
||||||||||
Partnership's Net income
|
$
|
60,050
|
$
|
50,561
|
$
|
45,620
|
||||||
Less:
|
||||||||||||
Net Income attributable to preferred unitholders
|
3,019
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||
Net Income attributable to subordinated unitholders
|
24,028
|
22,170
|
22,787
|
|||||||||
General Partner's interest in Net Income
|
125
|
68
|
46
|
|||||||||
Net income attributable to common unitholders
|
$
|
32,878
|
$
|
28,323
|
$
|
22,787
|
||||||
Weighted average number of common units outstanding, basic and diluted
|
20,505,000
|
17,964,288
|
7,729,521
|
|||||||||
Earnings per common unit, basic and diluted
|
$
|
1.60
|
$
|
1.58
|
$
|
2.95
|
Year ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
||||||||||
Interest expense (Note 5)
|
$
|
25,926
|
$
|
13,338
|
$
|
8,248
|
||||||
Amortization of deferred financing fees
|
1,545
|
785
|
1,050
|
|||||||||
Commitment fees (Note 5)
|
15
|
360
|
327
|
|||||||||
Other
|
488
|
41
|
107
|
|||||||||
Total
|
$
|
27,974
|
$
|
14,524
|
$
|
9,732
|
(a) | $200 Million Term Loan Facility draw down : On January 5, 2016, the Partnership drew down the $66.7 million of undrawn committed funds under the $200 Million Term Loan Facility (Note 5). These funds were partially used to repay at the same date in full the $35.0 million credit financing provided by the Sponsor on the date the Lena River was acquired. The Partnership intends to use the remaining loan proceeds for working capital purposes. |
(b) | Fourth quarter of 2015 common and subordinated units distribution: On January 19, 2015, the Partnership's Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash distribution, for the fourth quarter of 2015 of $0.4225 per common and subordinated unit, or $15.0 million which, on February 12, 2016, was paid to all unitholders of record as of February 5, 2016. |
(c) | Quarterly Series A Preferred Units distribution: On January 19, 2015, the Partnership's Board of Directors further declared a cash distribution of $0.5625 per unit on its Series A Preferred Units for the period from November 12, 2015, to February 12, 2016. The cash distribution was paid on February 12, 2016 to all Series A preferred unitholders of record as of February 5, 2016. |
(d) | Lena River new time charter: On January 14, 2016, the Partnership, through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, entered into a 15-year time charter with Yamal Trade Pte. Ltd. ("Yamal") for the Lena River (the "New Lena River Charter"), expected to commence between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. The New Lena River Charter contains an extension charter period option clause that grants Yamal the right but not the obligation to extend the term of the charter for three consecutive periods of up to five years. The charter party provides for a daily charter hire rate, comprised of a fixed "capex element" and a variable "opex element". In each successive year, the opex element will be subject to adjustment, based on the vessel's budgeted operating expenditures for the relevant year. The New Lena River charter is subject to important conditions, which, if not satisfied by the Partnership or waived by the charterer, may result in the termination of the charter at the charterer's option, prior to or after employment commences. |
(e) | Yenisei River new time charter: On January 14, 2016, the Partnership, through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, entered into a 15-year time charter with Yamal Trade Pte. Ltd. ("Yamal") for the Yenisei River (the "New Yenisei River Charter"), expected to commence between January 1 and December 31, 2019. The terms and conditions of the New Yenisei River Charter are identical with the New Lena River Charter. There can be no assurance that the New Yenisei River Charter will be eventually materialized, as it is currently subject to the satisfaction of important subsequent conditions which, if not satisfied or waived with Yamal, may result in the termination of the charter at the charterer's option, prior to or after employment commences. |
(f) | Ob River new time charter: On March 24, 2016, the Partnership, through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, entered into a new 10-year time-charter contract with Gazprom for the Ob River (the "New Ob River Charter"). At the same date, the Partnership amended its existing charter for the Ob River , to extend its firm duration from the third quarter of 2017 to the second quarter of 2018, on identical terms, at which time the New Ob River Charter will take effect. |
(g) | Omnibus Agreement Amendment: On April 12, 2016, the Partnership and its Sponsor entered into an amended and restated Omnibus Agreement, which is hereinafter referred to as the Amended Omnibus Agreement. The Amended Omnibus Agreement, among others, sets out i) the terms and the extent the Partnership and the Sponsor may compete each other, ii) the procedures to be followed for the exercise of Partnership's options to acquire the Optional Vessels (as defined in the Omnibus Agreement), including the Partnership's right to acquire the Sponsor's ownership interest (which is currently 49.0%) in each of five joint venture entities, each of which owns a 172,000 cubic meter ARC7 LNG carrier, currently under construction, iii) certain rights of first offer to the Sponsor for the acquisition of LNG carriers from the Partnership, and iv) the Sponsor's provisions of certain indemnities to the Partnership. |
Signature(s) (Owners)
For and on behalf of the Owners:
Authorised Signatory
|
Signature(s) (Managers)
For and behalf of the Manager:
|
1. | Definitions |
2. | Appointment of Managers |
3. | Basis of Agreement |
3.1 | Crew Management |
(i) | selecting and engaging the Vessel's Crew, including payroll arrangements, pension administration when required, and insurances for the Crew other than those mentioned in Clause 6; |
(ii) | ensuring that the applicable requirements of the law of the flag of the Vessel are satisfied in respect of manning levels, rank, qualification and certification of the Crew and employment regulations including Crew's tax, social insurance, discipline and other requirements; |
(iii) | ensuring that all members of the Crew have passed a medical examination with a qualified doctor certifying that they are fit for the duties for which they are engaged and are in possession of valid medical certificates issued in accordance with appropriate flag State requirements. In the absence of applicable flag State requirements the medical certificate shall be dated not more than three months prior to the respective Crew members leaving their country of domicile and maintained for the duration of their service on board the Vessel; |
(iv) | ensuring that the Crew shall have a command of the English language of a sufficient standard to enable them to perform their duties safely; |
(v) | arranging transportation of the Crew, including repatriation, board and lodging as and when required at rates and types of accommodations as customary in the industry; |
(vi) | training of the Crew and supervising their efficiency; |
(vii) | keeping and maintaining full and complete records of any labor agreements which may be entered into with the Crew and, if applicable conducting union negotiations; |
(viii) | operating the Managers' drug and alcohol policy unless otherwise agreed. |
3.2 | Technical Management |
(i) | provision of competent personnel to supervise the maintenance and general efficiency of the Vessel; |
(ii) | arrangement and supervision of dry dockings, repairs, alterations and the upkeep of the Vessel to the standards required by the Owners provided that the Managers shall be entitled to incur the necessary expenditure to ensure that the Vessel will comply with the law of the flag of the Vessel and of the places where she trades, and all requirements and recommendations of the classification society; |
(iii) | arrangement of the supply of necessary stores, spares and lubricating oil; |
(iv) | appointment of surveyors, service engineers, and technical consultants as the Managers may consider from time to time to be necessary; |
(v) | development, implementation and maintenance of a Safety Management System (SMS) in accordance with the ISM Code (see sub-clauses 4.2 and 5.3) and a Planned Maintenance System; |
(vi) | Handling any claims against the builder of the Vessel arising out of the relevant shipbuilding contract, if applicable; and |
(vii) | On request by the Owners, obtaining and / or providing the Owners with a copy of any inspection report, survey, valuation or any other similar report prepared by any shipbrokers, surveyors, the Class etc. |
3.3 | Commercial Management |
(i) | providing chartering services in accordance with the Owners' instructions which include, but are not limited to, developing and seeking and negotiating employment for the Vessel and the conclusion (including the execution thereof) of charter parties or other contracts relating to the employment of the Vessel. If such a contract exceeds the period stated in Box 13, consent thereto in writing shall first be obtained from the Owners. |
(ii) | arranging of the proper payment to Owners or their nominees of all hire and/or freight revenues or other moneys of whatsoever nature to which Owners may be entitled arising out of the employment of or otherwise in connection with the Vessel;. |
(iii) | providing voyage estimates and accounts and calculating of hire, freights, demurrage and/or despatch moneys due from or due to the charterers of the Vessel; |
(iv) | issuing of voyage instructions and monitoring voyage performance; |
(v) | appointing agents; |
(vi) | appointing stevedores; |
(vii) | arranging surveys associated with the commercial operation of the Vessel; |
(viii) | carrying out the necessary communications with the shippers, charterers and others involved with the receiving and handling of the Vessel at the relevant loading and discharging ports, including sending any notices required under the terms of the Vessel's employment at the time; |
(ix) | invoicing on behalf of the Owners all freights, hires, demurrages, outgoing claims, refund of taxes, balances of disbursements, statements of account and other sums due to the Owners and account receivables arising from the operation of the Vessel and, upon the request of the Owners, issuing releases on behalf of the Owners upon receipt of payment or settlement of any such amounts; |
(x) | preparing off-hire statements and/or hire statements; |
(xi) | conducting Ship Shore Compatibility studies and procuring and arranging for port/terminal entrance and clearance, pilots, consular approvals and other services necessary for the management and safe operation of the Vessel; and |
(xii) | reporting to the Owners of any major casualties, damages received or caused by the Vessel or any major release or discharge of oil or other hazardous material not in compliance with any laws. |
3.5 | Accounting Services |
(i) | establish an accounting system which meets the reasonable requirements of the Owners and provide regular accounting services, supply regular reports and records, |
(ii) | maintain the records of all costs and expenditure incurred as well as data necessary or proper for the settlement of accounts between the parties. |
3.6 | Sale or Purchase of the Vessel |
3.7 | Provisions |
3.8 | Bunkering |
4. | Managers' Obligations |
4.1 | The Managers undertake to use their best endeavours to provide the agreed Management Services as agents for and on behalf of the Owners in accordance with sound ship management practice and to protect and promote the interests of the Owners in all matters relating to the provision of services hereunder. Provided, however, that the Managers in the performance of their management responsibilities under this Agreement shall be entitled to have regard to their overall responsibility in relation to all vessels as may from time to time be entrusted to their management and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Managers shall be entitled to allocate available supplies, manpower and services in such manner as in the prevailing circumstances the Managers in their absolute discretion consider to be fair and reasonable. |
4.2 | Where the Managers are providing Technical Management in accordance with sub-clause 3.2, they shall procure that the requirements of the law of the flag and Charterers of the Vessel are satisfied and they, or such other entity as may be appointed by them which shall be acceptable to Owners, shall in particular be deemed to be the "Company" as defined by the ISM Code, assuming the responsibility for the operation of the Vessel and taking over the duties and responsibilities imposed by the ISM Code when applicable. |
5. | Owners' Obligations |
5.1 | The Owners shall pay all sums due to the Managers punctually in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
5.2 | Where the Managers are providing Technical Management in accordance with sub-clause 3.2, the Owners shall: |
(i) | procure that all officers and ratings supplied by them or on their behalf comply with the requirements of STCW 95; |
(ii) | instruct such officers and ratings to obey all reasonable orders of the Managers in connection with the operation of the Managers' safety management system. |
6. | Insurance Policies |
6.1 | at the Owners' expense, the Vessel is insured for not less than her sound market value or entered for her full gross tonnage, as the case may be for: |
(i) | usual hull and machinery marine risks (including crew negligence) and excess liabilities; |
(ii) | protection and indemnity risks (including pollution risks and Crew Insurances); and |
(iii) | war risks (including protection and indemnity and crew risks); and |
(iv) | any other insurance that the Owners determine or the Managers advise them in writing that, in either case, it is prudent or, as the case may be, appropriate on the basis of prevailing market practices to be obtained in respect of the Vessel, its freight/hire or any third party liabilities, in each case in accordance with the best practice of prudent owners of vessels of a similar type to the Vessel, with first class insurance companies, underwriters or associations ("the Owners' Insurances"); |
6.2 | all premiums and calls on the Owners' Insurances are paid promptly by their due date, |
6.3 | the Owners' Insurances name the Managers and, subject to underwriters' agreement, any third party designated by the Managers as a joint assured, with full cover, with the Owners obtaining cover in respect of each of the insurances specified in sub-clause 6.1: |
if reasonably obtainable, on terms such that neither the Managers nor any such third party shall be under any liability in respect of premiums or calls arising in connection with the Owners' Insurances; or |
6.4 | written evidence is provided, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Managers, of their compliance with their obligations under Clause 6 within a reasonable time of the commencement of the Agreement, and of each renewal date and, if specifically requested, of each payment date of the Owners' Insurances. |
7. | Income Collected and Expenses Paid on Behalf of Owners |
7.1 | All moneys collected by the Managers under the terms of this Agreement (other than moneys payable by the Owners to the Managers) and any interest thereon shall be held to the credit of the Owners in a separate bank account. |
7.2 | All expenses incurred by the Managers under the terms of this Agreement on behalf of the Owners (including expenses as provided in Clause 8) may be debited against the Owners in the account referred to under sub-clause 7.1 but shall in any event remain payable by the Owners to the Managers on demand. Furthermore and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of this Clause 7, the Managers shall, subject to being placed in funds by the Owners, arrange for the payment of all ordinary charges incurred in connection with the Management Services, including, but not limited to, all canal tolls, port charges, amounts due to any governmental authority with respect to the Crew and all duties and taxes in respect of the Vessel, the cargo, hire or freight (whether levied against the Owners), insurance premiums, advances of balances of disbursements, invoices for bunkers, stores, spares, provisions, repairs and any other material and/or service in respect of the Vessel. |
8. | Management Fee |
8.1 | The Owners shall pay to the Managers for their services as Managers under this Agreement an annual management fee as stated in Box 15 which shall be payable by equal quarterly monthly instalments in advance, the first instalment being payable on the commencement of this Agreement (see Clause 2 and Box 4) and subsequent instalments being payable every quarter month, unless otherwise established by separate letter. The Owners shall place with the manager for the duration of this agreement an amount equal to three months of management fee stated in clause 23 as security. |
8.2 | The management fee shall be subject an annual to adjustment review in accordance with Clause 23. |
8.3 | The Managers shall, at no extra cost to the Owners, provide their own office accommodation, office staff, facilities and stationery. Without limiting the generality of Clause 7 the Owners shall reimburse the Managers for postage and communication expenses, travelling expenses, and other out of pocket expenses properly incurred by the Managers in pursuance of the Management Services. |
8.4 | In the event of the appointment of the Managers being terminated by the Owners or the Managers in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 17 and 18 other than by reason of default by the Managers, or if the Vessel is lost, sold or otherwise disposed of, the "management fee" payable to the Managers according to the provisions of sub-clause 8.1, shall continue to be payable for a further period of three calendar months as from the termination date. In addition, provided that the Managers provide Crew for the Vessel in accordance with sub-clause- 3.1: |
(i) | the Owners shall continue to pay Crew Support Costs during the said further period of three calendar months and |
(ii) | the Owners shall pay an equitable proportion of any Severance Costs which may materialize, not exceeding the amount stated in Box 16. |
8.5 | If the Owners decide to lay up the Vessel whilst this Agreement remains in force and such lay up lasts for more than three months, an appropriate reduction of the management fee for the period exceeding three months until one month before the Vessel is again put into service shall be mutually agreed between the parties. |
8.6 | Unless otherwise agreed in writing all discounts and commissions obtained by the Managers in the course of the management of the Vessel shall be credited to the Owners. |
9.1 | Managers will be preparing budgets in connection with, inter alia, the provision of the Management Services with Managers will be submitting for as the Owners reasonable require. |
9.2 | . |
9.3 | Following the agreement of the budget, the Managers shall prepare and present to the Owners their estimate of the working capital requirement of the Vessel and the Managers shall each month update this estimate. Based thereon, the Managers shall each month request the Owners in writing for the funds required to run the Vessel for the ensuing month, including the payment of any occasional or extraordinary item of expenditure, such as emergency repair costs, additional insurance premiums, bunkers or provisions. Such funds shall be received by the Managers within ten running days after the receipt by the Owners of the Managers' written request and shall be held to the credit of the Owners in a separate bank account in the name of the Managers or, if requested by the Managers, in the name of the Owners. |
9.4 | The Managers shall produce a comparison between budgeted and actual income and expenditure of the Vessel in such form as required by the Owners monthly or at such other intervals as mutually agreed. |
9.5 | Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Managers shall in no circumstances be required to use or commit their own funds to finance the provision of the Management Services. |
10. | Managers' Right to Sub-Contract |
11. | Responsibilities |
11.1 | Force Majeure - Neither the Owners nor the Managers shall be under any liability for any failure to perform any of their obligations hereunder by reason of any cause whatsoever of any nature or kind beyond their reasonable control. |
11.2 | Liability to Owners - (i) Without prejudice to sub-clause 11.1, the Managers shall be under no liability whatsoever to the Owners for any loss, damage, delay or expense of whatsoever nature, whether direct or indirect (including but not limited to loss of profit arising out of or in connection with detention of or delay to the Vessel) and howsoever arising in the course of performance of the Management Services UNLESS same is proved to have resulted solely from the negligence, gross negligence or wilful default of the Managers or their employees, or agents or sub-contractors employed by them in connection with the Vessel, in which case (save where loss, damage, delay or expense has resulted from the Managers' personal act or omission committed with the intent to cause same or recklessly and with knowledge that such loss, damage, delay or expense would probably result) the Managers' liability for each incident or series of incidents giving rise to a claim or claims shall never exceed a total of ten times the annual management fee payable hereunder. |
(ii) | Notwithstanding anything that may appear to the contrary in this Agreement, the Managers shall not be liable for any of the actions of the Crew, even if such actions are negligent, grossly negligent or wilful, except only to the extent that they are shown to have resulted from a failure by the Managers to discharge their obligations under sub-clause 3.1, in which case their liability shall be limited in accordance with the terms of this Clause 11. |
11.3 | Indemnity - Except to the extent and solely for the amount therein set out that the Managers would be liable under sub-clause 11.2, the Owners hereby undertake to keep the Managers and their employees, agents and sub-contractors indemnified and to hold them harmless against all actions, proceedings, claims, demands or liabilities whatsoever or howsoever arising which may be brought against them or incurred or suffered by them arising out of or in connection with the performance of the Agreement, and against and in respect of all costs, losses, damages and expenses (including legal costs and expenses on a full indemnity basis) which the Managers may suffer or incur (either directly or indirectly) in the course of the performance of this Agreement. |
11.4 | "Himalaya" It is hereby expressly agreed that no employee or agent of the Managers (including every sub-contractor from time to time employed by the Managers) shall in any circumstances whatsoever be under any liability whatsoever to the Owners for any loss, damage or delay of whatsoever kind arising or resulting directly or indirectly from any act, neglect or default on his part while acting in the course of or in connection with his employment and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions in this Clause 11, every exemption, limitation, condition and liberty herein contained and every right, exemption from liability, defence and immunity of whatsoever nature applicable to the Managers or to which the Managers are entitled hereunder shall also be available and shall extend to protect every such employee or agent of the Managers acting as aforesaid and for the purpose of all the foregoing provisions of this Clause 11 the Managers are or shall be deemed to be acting as agent or trustee on behalf of and for the benefit of all persons who are or might be their servants or agents from time to time (including sub-contractors as aforesaid) and all such persons shall to this extent be or be deemed to be parties to this Agreement. |
12. | Documentation |
13. | General Administration |
13.1 | The Managers shall handle and settle all claims arising out of the Management Services hereunder and keep the Owners informed regarding any incident of which the Managers become aware which gives or may give rise to claims or disputes involving third parties. |
13.2 | The Managers shall, as instructed by the Owners, bring or defend actions, suits or proceedings in connection with matters entrusted to the Managers according to this Agreement. |
13.3 | The Managers shall also have power to obtain legal or technical or other outside expert advice in relation to the handling and settlement of claims and disputes or all other matters affecting the interests of the Owners in respect of the Vessel. |
13.4 | The Owners shall arrange for the provision of any necessary guarantee bond or other security. |
13.5 | Any costs reasonably incurred by the Managers in carrying out their obligations according to Clause 13 shall be reimbursed by the Owners. |
14. | Auditing |
15. | Inspection of Vessel |
16. | Compliance with Laws and Regulations |
17. | Duration of the Agreement |
18. | Termination |
18.1 | Owners' default |
(i) | The Managers shall be entitled to terminate the Agreement with immediate effect by notice in writing if any moneys payable by the Owners under this Agreement and/or the owners of any associated vessel, shall not have been received in the Managers' nominated account within ten running Business days of receipt by the Owners of the Managers written request or if the Vessel is repossessed by the Mortgagees. |
(ii) | If the Owners: |
(a) | fail to meet their obligations under sub-clauses 5.2 and 5.3 of this Agreement for any reason within their control, or |
(b) | proceed with the employment of or continue to employ the Vessel in the carriage of contraband, blockade running, or in an unlawful trade, or on a voyage which in the reasonable opinion of the Managers is unduly hazardous or improper, the Managers may give notice of the default to the Owners, requiring them to remedy it as soon as practically possible. In the event that the Owners fail to remedy it within a reasonable time to the satisfaction of the Managers, the Managers shall be entitled to terminate the Agreement with immediate effect by notice in writing. |
18.2 | Managers' Default |
18.3 | Extraordinary Termination |
18.4 | For the purpose of sub-clause 18.3 hereof |
(i) | the date upon which the Vessel is to be treated as having been sold or otherwise disposed of shall be the date on which the Owners cease to be registered as Owners of the Vessel; |
(ii) | the Vessel shall not be deemed to be lost unless either she has become an actual total loss or agreement has been reached with her underwriters in respect of her constructive, compromised or arranged total loss or if such agreement with her underwriters is not reached it is adjudged by a competent tribunal that a constructive loss of the Vessel has occurred. |
18.5 | This Agreement shall terminate forthwith in the event of an order being made or resolution passed for the winding up, dissolution, liquidation or bankruptcy of either party (otherwise than for the purpose of reconstruction or amalgamation) or if a receiver is appointed, or if it suspends payment, ceases to carry on business or makes any special arrangement or composition with its creditors. |
18.6 | The termination of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to all rights accrued due between the parties prior to the date of termination. |
19. | Law and Arbitration |
19.1 | This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. and any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be referred to arbitration in London in accordance with the Arbitration Act 1996- or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof save to the extent necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Clause. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) Terms current at the time when the arbitration proceedings are commenced. The reference shall be to three arbitrators. A party wishing to refer a dispute to arbitration shall appoint its arbitrator and send notice of such appointment in writing to the other party requiring the other party to appoint its own arbitrator within 14 calendar days of that notice and stating that it will appoint its arbitrator as sole arbitrator unless the other party appoints its own arbitrator and gives notice that it has done so within the 14 days specified. If the other party does not appoint its own arbitrator and give notice that it has done so within the 14 days specified, the party referring a dispute to arbitration may, without the requirement of any further prior notice to the other party, appoint its arbitrator as sole arbitrator and shall advise the other party accordingly. The award of a sole arbitrator shall be binding on both parties as if he had been appointed by agreement. Nothing herein shall prevent the parties agreeing in writing to vary these provisions to provide for the appointment of a sole arbitrator. In cases where neither the claim nor any counterclaim exceeds the sum of USD50,000 (or such other sum as the parties may agree) the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the LMAA Small Claims Procedure current at the time when the arbitration proceedings are commenced. |
19.4 | If Box 18 in Part I is not appropriately filled in, sub-clause 19.1 of this Clause shall apply. Note: 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3 are alternatives; indicate alternative agreed in Box 18. |
20. | Notices |
20.1 | Any notice to be given by either party to the other party shall be in writing and may be sent by email, fax, registered or recorded mail or by personal service. |
20.2 | The address of the Parties for service of such communication shall be as stated in Boxes 19 and 20, respectively. |
21. | Administrative Services |
(a) | keeping all books and records of things done and transactions performed on behalf of the Owners as it may require from time to time, including, but not limited to, liaising with accountants, lawyers and other professional advisors; |
(b) | except as otherwise contemplated herein, representing the Owner generally in its dealings and relations with third parties; |
(c) | maintaining the general ledgers of the Owner, establishing bank accounts with such financial institutions as may be requested, managing, administering and reconciling of bank accounts, preparation of periodic financial statements, including, but not limited to, those required for governmental and regulatory or self-regulatory agency filings and reports to shareholders, arranging of the auditing and/or review of any such financial statements and the provision of related data processing services as required; |
(d) | preparing and providing (or procuring, at the Owner's cost) tax returns required by any law or regulatory authority and developing, maintaining and monitoring internal audit controls; |
(e) | providing office accommodation, office staff (including secretarial and administrative assistance), facilities and stationery; |
(f) | maintaining, at the Owner's cost, corporate existence, qualification and good standing in all necessary jurisdictions and assisting in all other corporate and regulatory compliance requirements; |
(g) | negotiating the terms and thereafter arranging for cash management services and/or hedging arrangements, in each case with a third party provider at the cost of the Owner. |
(h) | providing any such other administrative services as may be requested and the Manager may agree to provide from time to time. |
(i) | Negotiate, at the Owner's request, loan and credit terms with lenders and monitor and maintain compliance therewith and in addition negotiate and arrange, at the Owner's request, for interest rate swap agreements, foreign currency contracts, forward exchange contracts and any other hedging arrangements; |
(j) | Provide, or arrange for the provision of, information technology services |
22. | Commercial Services |
(a) | managing relationships between the Owners and any existing or potential charterers, shipbuilders, insurers, lenders, investors, fund managers, shareholders and other shipping industry service providers/participants; and |
(b) | providing certain services in connection with taking physical delivery of the vessel, if applicable, registering a vessel under a ship register, tendering physical delivery of a Vessel or deleting a Vessel from the applicable port of registry, in each case on behalf of the Owners. |
23. | Management Fees |
23.1 | In consideration of the Manager providing the services herein, the Owners shall pay the Manager the following management fee: |
(a) | A fee of US$ per day per Vessel, payable in arrears (pro rated to reflect the number of days that the Owners owns the Vessel during the applicable quarter); |
(b) | a fee equal to 1.25% calculated on the aggregate of the gross freight, charter hire, ballast bonus or other income obtained for the employment of the Vessel during the term of this Agreement, payable to the Manager monthly in arrears, only to the extent such freight, charter hire, ballast bonus or other income, as the case may be, is received as revenue. Such fee will be payable in USD. For the avoidance of any doubt and regardless of anything stipulated in this Agreement, chartering commissions shall survive the termination of this agreement under all circumstances until the termination of the charter party in force at the time or termination of any other employment arranged; |
23.2 | The Management Fees will be fixed for the period commencing on the date the stipulated in Box 4 (the "Commencement Date") and ending on the last day of the calendar year (the "Initial Year"). For the 12-month period starting on the day falling immediately after 31st December of the Initial Year and for each subsequent calendar year falling thereafter (each such 12-month period referred to hereinafter as an "Annual Period"), the Management Fee for the Vessel payable pursuant to this clause will be adjusted upwards with effect from the beginning of such Annual Period by application, to the relevant per Vessel amount, of a percentage figure equal to three per cent (3%), PROVIDED ALWAYS, that in the event of any of the provisions of Section 23.2 applying, further increases may be applied to such Management Fees as determined pursuant to Section 23.2. |
23.3 | The Management Fees for the Vessel payable pursuant to this clause, for the Annual Period commencing on the day falling immediately after the end of the Initial Year and each subsequent Annual Period thereafter, will, in each case, be further adjusted upwards with effect from the beginning of such Annual Period if the Manager has incurred a material unforeseen increase in the cost of providing the management services, by an amount to be agreed between the Manager and the Owners, each acting in a commercially reasonable manner. |
23.4 | The Owners hereby acknowledge that any capital expenditure, financial costs, operating expenses for the Vessel and any general and administrative expenses of the Owners whatsoever are not covered by the management fees and any such expenditure, costs and expenses shall be paid fully by the Owners, whether directly to third parties or by payment to such third parties through the Manager and to the extent incurred by the Manager, shall be reimbursed to it by the Owners. The said capital expenditure, financial costs, operating expenses for the Vessel and general and administrative expenses include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, items such as: |
(a) | fees, interest, principal and any other costs due to the Owner's financiers and their respective advisors; |
(b) | all voyage expenses and vessel operating and maintenance expenses relating to the operation and management of the Vessels (including Crew costs, surveyor's attendance fees, bunkers, lubricant oils, spares, survey fees, classification society fees, maintenance and repair costs, vetting expenses, etc.); |
(c) | any commissions, fees, remuneration or disbursements due to lawyers, brokers, agents, surveyors, consultants, financial advisors, investment bankers, auditors, insurance advisors or any other third parties whatsoever appointed by the Manager whether in its name or on behalf and/or in the name of the Owners; |
(d) | applicable deductibles, insurance premiums and/or P&I calls; |
(e) | postage, communication, traveling, lodging, victualing, overtime, out of office compensation and out of pocket expenses of the Manager and/or its personnel, incurred in pursuance of the services; and |
(f) | any other out of pocket expenses that are incurred by the Manager in the performance of the services pursuant to this Agreement and Supervision Agreement. |
At their sole discretion the Owner on an annual basis in order to provide the Managers with a performance incentive, may make a payment to the Managers of an incentive fee in addition to the management fee. |
Incentive Fee |
At their sole discretion the Owners on an annual basis in order to provide the Managers with a performance incentive, may make a payment to the Managers of an incentive fee in addition to the management fee. |
25. | Termination After Change of Control |
25.1 | This Agreement will terminate automatically immediately after a change of control (as defined below) of the Owners and/or of the Owner's ultimate parent. Upon such termination, the Owners will be required to pay the Manager the Termination Payment in a single Installment. |
(i) | The acquisition by any individual, entity or group of beneficial ownership of fifty (50) percent (%) or more of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Owner and/or the Owners ultimate parent or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Owner and/or the Owners ultimate parent entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; |
(ii) | The consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of Owner and/or the Owners ultimate parent or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Owner and/or Owners ultimate parent. |
(iii) | The approval by the shareholders of Owner and/or the Owners ultimate parent of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Owner and/or the Owners ultimate parent. |
Page
|
||
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
Section 1.1
|
Definitions.
|
1
|
ARTICLE II FOUR-YEAR LNG CARRIER RESTRICTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
|
5
|
|
Section 2.1
|
Four-Year LNG Carrier Restricted Businesses.
|
5
|
Section 2.2
|
Permitted Exceptions.
|
5
|
ARTICLE III BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCEDURES
|
6
|
|
Section 3.1
|
Procedures.
|
6
|
Section 3.2
|
Scope of Prohibition.
|
8
|
Section 3.3
|
Enforcement.
|
8
|
ARTICLE IV RIGHTS OF FIRST OFFER
|
8
|
|
Section 4.1
|
Rights of First Offer.
|
8
|
Section 4.2
|
Procedures for Rights of First Offer.
|
8
|
ARTICLE V PURCHASE OPTIONS - OPTIONAL VESSELS
|
9
|
|
Section 5.1
|
Options to Purchase the Optional Vessels.
|
9
|
Section 5.2
|
Procedures.
|
10
|
ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION
|
11
|
|
Section 6.1
|
Dynagas Holding Indemnification.
|
11
|
Section 6.2
|
Limitation Regarding Indemnification.
|
11
|
Section 6.3
|
Indemnification Procedures.
|
11
|
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS
|
12
|
|
Section 7.1
|
Choice of Law; Arbitration.
|
12
|
Section 7.2
|
Notice.
|
13
|
Section 7.3
|
Entire Agreement.
|
13
|
Section 7.4
|
Termination.
|
13
|
Section 7.5
|
Waiver; Effect of Waiver or Consent.
|
13
|
Section 7.6
|
Amendment or Modification.
|
13
|
Section 7.7
|
Assignment.
|
14
|
Section 7.8
|
Counterparts.
|
14
|
Section 7.9
|
Severability.
|
14
|
Section 7.10
|
Gender, Parts, Articles and Sections.
|
14
|
Section 7.11
|
Further Assurances.
|
14
|
Section 7.12
|
Withholding or Granting of Consent.
|
14
|
Section 7.13
|
Laws and Regulations.
|
14
|
Section 7.14
|
Negotiation of Rights of Dynagas Holding, Members, Assignees and Third Parties
|
14
|
Section 1.1 | Definitions . |
Section 2.1 | Four-Year LNG Carrier Restricted Businesses . |
Section 2.2 | Permitted Exceptions . |
Section 3.1 | Procedures . |
Section 3.2 | Scope of Prohibition . |
Section 3.3 | Enforcement . |
Section 4.1 | Rights of First Offer . |
Section 4.2 | Procedures for Rights of First Offer . |
Section 5.1 | Options to Purchase the Optional Vessels . |
Section 5.2 | Procedures . |
Section 6.1 | Dynagas Holding Indemnification . |
Section 6.2 | Limitation Regarding Indemnification . |
Section 6.3 | Indemnification Procedures . |
Section 7.1 | Choice of Law; Arbitration . |
Section 7.2 | Notice . |
Section 7.3 | Entire Agreement . |
Section 7.4 | Termination . |
Section 7.5 | Waiver; Effect of Waiver or Consent . |
Section 7.6 | Amendment or Modification . |
Section 7.7 | Assignment . |
Section 7.8 | Counterparts . |
Section 7.9 | Severability . |
Section 7.10 | Gender, Parts, Articles and Sections . |
Section 7.11 | Further Assurances . |
Section 7.12 | Withholding or Granting of Consent . |
Section 7.13 | Laws and Regulations . |
Section 7.14 | Negotiation of Rights of Dynagas Holding, Members, Assignees and Third Parties . |
DYNAGAS HOLDING LTD.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Konstantinos Lampsias
|
|||
Name:
|
Konstantinos Lampsias
|
|||
Title:
|
Sole Director
|
|||
Address for Notice
|
||||
lngcoordination@dynagas.com
|
||||
Fax: ( ) -
|
||||
Attention:
|
||||
DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Michael Gregos
|
|||
Name:
|
Michael Gregos
|
|||
Title:
|
Authorized Signatory
|
|||
Address for Notice
|
||||
lngcoordination@dynagas.com
|
||||
Fax: ( ) -
|
||||
Attention:
|
||||
DYNAGAS GP LLC
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Konstantinos Lampsias
|
|||
Name:
|
Konstantinos Lampsias
|
|||
Title:
|
Director Dynagas Holding Ltd. as Sole Director
|
|||
Address for Notice
|
||||
lngcoordination@dynagas.com
|
||||
Fax: ( ) -
|
||||
Attention:
|
||||
DYNAGAS OPERATING LP
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Michael Gregos
|
|||
Name:
|
Michael Gregos
|
|||
Title:
|
Authorized Signatory
|
|||
Address for Notice
|
||||
lngcoordination@dynagas.com
|
||||
Fax: ( ) -
|
||||
Attention:
|
||||
DYNAGAS OPERATING GP LLC
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Michael Gregos
|
|||
Name:
|
Michael Gregos
|
|||
Title:
|
Authorized Signatory
|
|||
Address for Notice
|
||||
lngcoordination@dynagas.com
|
||||
Fax: ( ) -
|
||||
Attention:
|
||||
Vessel Name
|
Vessel-Owning Entity
|
Hull 2421
|
Arctic LNG 1 Ltd.
|
Hull 2422
|
Arctic LNG 2 Ltd.
|
Hull 2427
|
Arctic LNG 3 Ltd.
|
Hull 2428
|
Arctic LNG 4 Ltd.
|
Hull 2429
|
Arctic LNG 5 Ltd.
|
ARTICLE I
Interpretation |
|
1
|
|
SECTION 1.01. Definitions
|
|
ARTICLE II
Purchase and Sale of Shares; Closing |
|
SECTION 2.01. Purchase and Sale of Shares
|
4
|
SECTION 2.02. Closing
|
4
|
SECTION 2.03. Place of Closing
|
5
|
SECTION 2.04. Purchase Price for Shares
|
5
|
SECTION 2.05. Payment of the Purchase Price
|
5
|
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties of the Buyer |
|
SECTION 3.01. Organization and Limited Partnership Authority
|
5
|
SECTION 3.02. Agreement Not in Breach of Other Instruments
|
5
|
SECTION 3.03. No Legal Bar
|
5
|
SECTION 3.04. Securities Act
|
6
|
SECTION 3.05. Independent Investigation
|
6
|
ARTICLE IV
Representations and Warranties Regarding the Sponsor |
|
SECTION 4.01. Organization and Corporate Authority
|
6
|
SECTION 4.02. Agreement Not in Breach
|
6
|
SECTION 4.03. No Legal Bar
|
7
|
ARTICLE V
Representations and Warranties Regarding the Seller and Vessel Owner |
|
SECTION 5.01. Organization Good Standing and Authority
|
7
|
SECTION 5.02. Capitalization; Title to Shares
|
7
|
SECTION 5.03. Organizational Documents
|
7
|
SECTION 5.04. Agreement Not in Breach
|
7
|
SECTION 5.05. The Shares
|
8
|
SECTION 5.06. Litigation
|
8
|
SECTION 5.07. Indebtedness to and from Officers, etc
|
8
|
SECTION 5.08. Personnel
|
8
|
SECTION 5.09. Contracts and Agreements
|
8
|
SECTION 5.10. Compliance with Law
|
9
|
SECTION 5.11. No Undisclosed Liabilities
|
9
|
SECTION 5.12. Disclosure of Information
|
9
|
SECTION 5.13. Payment of Taxes
|
9
|
SECTION 5.14. Permits
|
9
|
SECTION 5.15. No Material Adverse Change in Business
|
10
|
ARTICLE VI
Representations and Warranties Regarding the Vessel |
|
SECTION 6.01. Title to Vessel
|
10
|
SECTION 6.02. No Encumbrances
|
10
|
SECTION 6.03. Condition
|
10
|
ARTICLE VII
Covenants |
|
SECTION 7.01. Financial Statements
|
11
|
SECTION 7.02. Expenses
|
11
|
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments and Waivers |
|
SECTION 8.01. Amendments and Waivers
|
11
|
ARTICLE IX
Indemnification |
|
SECTION 9.01. Indemnity by the Seller
|
11
|
SECTION 9.02. Indemnity by the Buyer
|
12
|
SECTION 9.03. Exclusive Post-Closing Remedy
|
12
|
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous |
|
SECTION 10.01. Governing Law
|
12
|
SECTION 10.02. Counterparts
|
12
|
SECTION 10.03. Complete Agreement
|
13
|
SECTION 10.04. Interpretation
|
13
|
SECTION 10.05. Severability
|
13
|
SECTION 10.06. Third Party Rights
|
13
|
SECTION 10.07. Notices
|
13
|
SECTION 10.08. Representations and Warranties to Survive
|
14
|
SECTION 10.09. Remedies
|
14
|
SECTION 10.10. Non-recourse to General Partner
|
14
|
(a) if to DYNAGAS HOLDING LTD., as follows:
|
|
c/o Dynagas Ltd.,
97 Poseidonos Avenue & 2 Foivis Street, Glyfada, 16674, Greece Attention: President/Director Facsimile: +30 210-8947-275 |
(b) if to LNG HOLDING LIMITED, as follows:
|
|
c/o Dynagas Ltd.,
97 Poseidonos Avenue & 2 Foivis Street, Glyfada, 16674, Greece Attention: President/Director Facsimile: +30 210-8947-275 |
|
(c) if to DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP, as follows:
|
|
c/o 23, Rue Basse, 98000 Monaco
Attention: CEO Email: management@dynagaspartners.com |
DYNAGAS HOLDING LTD.
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Konstantinos Lampsias
|
|
Name:
|
Konstantinos Lampsias
|
|
Title:
|
Sole Director
|
|
LNG HOLDING LIMITED
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Konstantinos Lampsias
|
|
Name:
|
Konstantinos Lampsias
|
|
Title:
|
Authorized Signatory
|
|
DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Michael Gregos
|
|
Name:
|
Name: Michael Gregos
|
|
Title:
|
CFO
|
Clause
|
Page
|
|
1
|
INTERPRETATION
|
1
|
2
|
LOAN FACILITY
|
19
|
3
|
POSITION OF THE LENDERS ETC.
|
19
|
4
|
DRAWDOWN
|
21
|
5
|
INTEREST
|
22
|
6
|
INTEREST PERIODS
|
24
|
7
|
DEFAULT INTEREST
|
25
|
8
|
REPAYMENT AND PREPAYMENT
|
26
|
9
|
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
|
29
|
10
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
30
|
11
|
GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS
|
33
|
12
|
CORPORATE UNDERTAKINGS
|
36
|
13
|
INSURANCE
|
40
|
14
|
SHIP COVENANTS
|
46
|
15
|
SECURITY COVER
|
49
|
16
|
PAYMENTS AND CALCULATIONS
|
51
|
17
|
APPLICATION OF RECEIPTS
|
53
|
18
|
APPLICATION OF EARNINGS
|
54
|
19
|
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
56
|
20
|
FEES AND EXPENSES
|
60
|
21
|
INDEMNITIES
|
61
|
22
|
NO SET-OFF OR TAX DEDUCTION
|
63
|
23
|
ILLEGALITY, ETC
|
64
|
24
|
INCREASED COSTS
|
65
|
25
|
SET‑OFF
|
66
|
26
|
TRANSFERS AND CHANGES IN LENDING OFFICES
|
67
|
27
|
VARIATIONS AND WAIVERS
|
69
|
28
|
NOTICES
|
70
|
29
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
|
72
|
30
|
JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY
|
72
|
31
|
LAW AND JURISDICTION
|
73
|
SCHEDULE 1 LENDERS AND COMMITMENTS
|
75
|
|
SCHEDULE 2 SWAP BANKS
|
75
|
|
SCHEDULE 3 DRAWDOWN NOTICE
|
78
|
|
SCHEDULE 4 CONDITION PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS
|
79
|
|
SCHEDULE 5 TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
|
82
|
|
SCHEDULE 6 FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
|
86
|
|
SCHEDULE 7 MANDATORY COST
|
87
|
|
EXECUTION PAGE
|
89
|
(1) | NAVAJO MARINE LIMITED and SOLANA HOLDING LTD. each being a corporation incorporated and existing under the laws of the Marshall Islands whose registered office is at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960 as joint and several Borrowers ; |
(2) | DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP a limited partnership incorporated and existing under the laws of the Marshall Islands whose registered office is at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960, as Corporate Guarantor; |
(3) | THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Part A of Schedule 1, as Lenders ; |
(4) | THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Part B of Schedule 1, as mandated lead Arrangers ; |
(5) | ABN AMRO BANK N.V. acting through its office at Daalsesingel 71 (PAC EA8550), 3511 SW Utrecht, The Netherlands, as Agent . |
(6) | ABN AMRO BANK N.V. acting through its office at Daalsesingel 71 (PAC EA8550), 3511 SW Utrecht, The Netherlands, as Security Trustee. |
(7) | ABN AMRO BANK N.V. acting through its office at office at Coolsingel 93, 3012 AE Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as Account Bank . |
(8) | THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 2, as Swap Banks; and |
(9) | THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Part C of Schedule 1, as Bookrunners. |
(A) | The Lenders have agreed to make available to the Borrowers a facility of up to $200,000,000 in up to two Tranches (each Tranche to be drawn in two Advances) for the purpose of re-financing the purchase price of the Ships, being two LNG carriers owned by the Borrowers and of providing working capital. |
(B) | The Borrowers may, if they wish, from time to time hedge their exposure under this Agreement to interest rate fluctuations by entering into interest rate swap transactions with the Swap Banks (but not otherwise). |
1 | INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions. Subject to Clause 1.5, in this Agreement: |
(a) | E.A. Gibson Shipbrokers Limited ; |
(b) | Loretzen & Stemoco S.A.; |
(c) | Fearnleys A/S; |
(d) | H Clarkson & Co. Ltd. ; |
(e) | Arrow Sale & Purchase (UK) Ltd.; and |
(f) | Simpson Spence & Young, |
(a) | the Final Availability Date; or |
(b) | if earlier, the date on which the Total Commitments are fully borrowed, cancelled or terminated; |
(i) | the Corporate Guarantor ceasing to be listed on the NYSE or another internationally recognised stock exchange; |
(ii) | The Permitted Holders collectively, ceasing to be the beneficial owners of at least 30% of the Corporate Guarantor; |
(iii) | The Permitted Holders ceasing to be the beneficial owners of Dynagas Holding Ltd. representing 100% of the voting rights of Dynagas GP LLC; or |
(iv) | Dynagas GP LLC ceasing to be the general partner of the Corporate Guarantor; |
(v) | a Borrower ceasing to be 100% owned and controlled by the Shareholder; |
(vi) | the Shareholder ceasing to be 100% owned and controlled by Dynagas Operating LP; or |
(vii) | Dynagas Operating LP ceasing to be 100% owned and controlled by the Corporate Guarantor; |
(a) | it is entered into by the Borrowers pursuant to a Master Agreement with a Swap Bank; and |
(b) | its purpose is the hedging of the Borrowers' exposure under this Agreement to fluctuations in LIBOR arising from the funding of the Loan (or any part thereof) for a period expiring no later than the final Repayment Date; |
(a) | all freight, hire and passage moneys, compensation payable to the Borrower owning that Ship or the Security Trustee in the event of requisition of a Ship for hire, remuneration for salvage and towage services, demurrage and detention moneys and damages for breach (or payments for variation or termination) of any charterparty or other contract for the employment of that Ship; |
(b) | all moneys which are at any time payable under Insurances in respect of loss of earnings; and |
(c) | if and whenever a Ship is employed on terms whereby any moneys falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) above are pooled or shared with any other person, that proportion of the net receipts of the relevant pooling or sharing arrangement which is attributable to that Ship; |
(a) | any claim by any governmental, judicial or regulatory authority which arises out of an Environmental Incident or an alleged Environmental Incident or which relates to any Environmental Law; or |
(b) | any claim by any other person which relates to an Environmental Incident or to an alleged Environmental Incident, |
(a) | any release of Environmentally Sensitive Material from a Ship; or |
(b) | any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released from a vessel other than a Ship and which involves a collision between a Ship and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, in connection with which a Ship is actually or potentially liable to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or a Ship or either Borrower and/or any operator or manager of a Ship is at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; or |
(c) | any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from a Ship and in connection with which a Ship is actually or potentially liable to be arrested and/or where either Borrower and/or any operator or manager of a Ship is at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise liable to any legal or administrative action; |
(a) | sections 1471 to 1474 of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the " Code ") or any associated regulations or other official guidance; |
(b) | any treaty, law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of paragraph (a) above; or |
(c) | any agreement pursuant to the implementation of paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction; |
(a) | in relation to a "withholdable payment" described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 January 2014; |
(b) | in relation to a "withholdable payment" described in section 1473(1)(A)(ii) of the Code (which relates to "gross proceeds" from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the US), 1 January 2015; or |
(c) | in relation to a "passthru payment" described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) above, 1 January 2017, |
(a) | this Agreement; |
(b) | the Master Agreements; |
(c) | the Agency and Trust Deed; |
(d) | the Corporate Guarantee; |
(e) | the Charterparty Assignments; |
(f) | the General Assignments; |
(g) | the Mortgages; |
(h) | the Negative Pledges; |
(i) | the Accounts Pledge; |
(j) | the Approved Manager's Undertakings; |
(k) | the Agency Agreement Assignments; |
(l) | the Master Agreement Assignments; |
(m) | the letters referred to in Clause 20.1; and |
(n) | any other document (whether creating a Security Interest or not) which is executed at any time by an Obligor or any other person as security for, or to establish any form of subordination or priorities arrangement in relation to, any amount payable to the Lenders under this Agreement or any of the documents referred to in this definition; |
(a) | for principal, interest or any other sum payable in respect of any moneys borrowed or raised by the debtor; |
(b) | under any loan stock, bond, note or other security issued by the debtor; |
(c) | under any acceptance credit, guarantee or letter of credit facility made available to the debtor; |
(d) | under a financial lease, a deferred consideration arrangement for the purchase of an asset or provision of services or any other agreement having the commercial effect of a borrowing or raising of money by the debtor; |
(e) | under any interest or currency swap or any other kind of derivative transaction entered into by the debtor or, if the agreement under which any such transaction is entered into requires netting of mutual liabilities, the liability of the debtor for the net amount; or |
(f) | under a guarantee, indemnity or similar obligation entered into by the debtor in respect of a liability of another person which would fall within (a) to (e) if the references to the debtor referred to the other person; |
(a) | all policies and contracts of insurance, including entries of such Ship in any protection and indemnity or war risks association, which are effected in respect of such Ship, her Earnings or otherwise in relation to her; and |
(b) | all rights and other assets relating to, or derived from, any of the foregoing, including any rights to a return of a premium; |
(a) | 'The International Safety Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ship and for Pollution Prevention', currently known or referred to as the 'ISM Code', adopted by the Assembly of the International Maritime Organisation by Resolution A.741(18) on 4 November 1993 and incorporated on 19 May 1994 into chapter IX of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS 1974); and |
(b) | all further resolutions, circulars, codes, guidelines, regulations and recommendations which are now or in the future issued by or on behalf of the International Maritime Organisation or any other entity with responsibility for implementing the ISM Code, including without limitation, the 'Guidelines on implementation or administering of the International Safety Management (ISM) |
(a) | the document of compliance (DOC) and safety management certificate (SMC) issued pursuant to the ISM Code in relation to the Ships or either of them within the periods specified by the ISM Code; and |
(b) | all other documents and data which are relevant to the ISM SMS and its implementation and verification which the Agent may require; and |
(c) | any other documents which are prepared or which, are otherwise relevant to establish and maintain the Ships' or the Borrowers' compliance with the ISM Code which the Agent may require; |
(a) | the International Ship Security Certificate issued pursuant to the ISPS Code in relation to each Ship within the period specified in the ISPS Code; and |
(b) | all other documents and data which are relevant to the ISPS Code and its implementation and verification which the Agent may require; |
(a) | a bank or financial institution listed in Schedule 1 and acting through its branch indicated in Schedule 1 (or through another branch notified to the Borrowers under Clause 26.12) unless it has delivered a Transfer Certificate or Certificates covering the entire amounts of its Commitment and its Contribution; and |
(b) | the holder for the time being of a Transfer Certificate; |
(a) | before the end of the Availability Period, Lenders whose Commitments exceed 66.65 per cent. of the Total Commitments; and |
(b) | after the end of the Availability Period,, Lenders whose Contributions exceed 66.65 per cent. of the Loan; |
(a) | Security Interests created by the Finance Documents; |
(b) | liens for unpaid crew's wages in accordance with usual maritime practice; |
(c) | liens for salvage; |
(d) | liens arising by operation of law for not more than 2 months' prepaid hire under any charter in relation to the Ship not prohibited by this Agreement; |
(e) | liens arising by operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of the operation, repair or maintenance of a Ship, provided such liens do not secure amounts more than 30 days overdue (unless the overdue amount is being contested by the relevant Borrower in good faith by appropriate steps) and subject, in the case of liens for repair or maintenance, to Clause 14.14(g); and |
(f) | any right of pledge and/or set-off under and pursuant to the general banking conditions ( Algemene Bankvoorwaarden ) of ABN AMRO Bank N.V. |
(a) | England and Wales; |
(b) | the country under the laws of which the company is incorporated or formed; |
(c) | a country to whose laws any Finance Document is subject; |
(d) | a country in which the company's central management and control is or has recently been exercised; |
(e) | a country in which the overall net income of the company is subject to corporation tax, income tax or any similar tax; |
(f) | a country in which assets of the company (other than Securities issued by, or loans to, related companies) having a substantial value are situated, in which the company maintains a permanent place of business, or in which a Security Interest created by the company must or should be registered in order to ensure its validity or priority; and |
(g) | a country the courts of which have jurisdiction to make a winding up, administration or similar order in relation to the company or which would have such jurisdiction if their assistance were requested by the courts of a country referred to in paragraphs (b) or (c) above; |
" Related Company " of any company is a company which is controlled by that company from time to time; |
(a) | in respect of Ship A, the time charterparty dated 2 August 2011 made between Borrower A and Gazprom Global LNG Limited of England at a minimum charter hire of $86,000 per day up to October 2018; |
(b) | in respect of Ship B, the time charterparty dated 2 August 2011 made between Borrower B and Gazprom Global LNG Limited of England at a minimum charter hire of $86,000 per day up to July 2018; |
(a) | a mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating) or pledge, any maritime or other lien or any other security interest of any kind; |
(b) | the rights of the claimant under an action in rem in which the vessel concerned has been arrested or a writ has been issued or similar step taken; and |
(c) | any arrangement entered into by a person (A) the effect of which is to place another person (B) in a position which is similar, in economic terms, to the position in which B would have been had he held a security interest over an asset of A; |
(a) | all amounts outstanding under the Finance Documents have been paid; |
(b) | no amount is owing or has accrued (without yet having become due for payment) under any Finance Document; |
(c) | neither Borrower nor any Security Party has any future or contingent liability under Clause 20, 21 or 22 or any other provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document; and |
(d) | the Agent, the Security Trustee and the Majority Lenders do not consider that there is a significant risk that any payment or transaction under a Finance Document would be set aside, or would have to be reversed or adjusted, in any present or possible future bankruptcy of a Borrower or a Security Party or in any present or possible future proceeding relating to a Finance Document or any asset covered (or previously covered) by a Security Interest created by a Finance Document; |
(a) | actual, constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of the Ship; |
(b) | any expropriation, confiscation, requisition or acquisition of the Ship, whether for full consideration, a consideration less than her proper value, a nominal consideration or without any consideration, which is effected by any government or official authority or by any person or persons claiming to be or to represent a government or official authority, excluding a requisition for hire for a fixed period not exceeding one year without any right to an extension; |
(c) | any condemnation of the Ship by any tribunal or by any person or person claiming to be a tribunal; |
(d) | any arrest, capture, seizure or detention of the Ship (including any hijacking or theft) unless she is within 30 days redelivered to the full control of the Borrower; |
(a) | in the case of an actual loss of the Ship, the date on which it occurred or, if that is unknown, the date when the Ship was last heard of; |
(b) | in the case of a constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of the Ship, the earliest of: |
(i) | the date on which a notice of abandonment is given to the insurers; and |
(ii) | the date of any compromise, arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the Borrower which is the owner of that Ship, with the Ship's insurers in which the insurers agree to treat the Ship as a total loss; and |
(c) | in the case of any other type of total loss, on the date (or the most likely date) on which it appears to the Agent that the event constituting the total loss occurred; |
(a) | a Borrower which is resident for tax purposes in the United States of America; or |
(b) | a Security Party some or all of whose payments under the Finance Documents are from sources within the United States for US federal income tax purposes; |
1.2 | Construction of certain terms. In this Agreement: |
1.3 | Meaning of "month". A period of one or more "months" ends on the day in the relevant calendar month numerically corresponding to the day of the calendar month on which the period started (" the numerically corresponding day "), but: |
(a) | on the Business Day following the numerically corresponding day if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day or, if there is no later Business Day in the same calendar month, on the Business Day preceding the numerically corresponding day; or |
(b) | on the last Business Day in the relevant calendar month, if the period started on the last Business Day in a calendar month or if the last calendar month of the period has no numerically corresponding day, |
1.4 | Meaning of "subsidiary". A company (S) is a subsidiary of another company (P) if: |
(a) | a majority of the issued shares in S (or a majority of the issued shares in S which carry unlimited rights to capital and income distributions) are directly owned by P or are indirectly attributable to P; or |
(b) | P has direct or indirect control over a majority of the voting rights attached to the issued shares of S; or |
(c) | P has the direct or indirect power to appoint or remove a majority of the directors of S; or |
(d) | P otherwise has the direct or indirect power to ensure that the affairs of S are conducted in accordance with the wishes of P, |
1.5 | General Interpretation. |
(a) | In this Agreement: |
(i) | references to, or to a provision of, a Finance Document or any other document are references to it as amended or supplemented, whether before the date of this Agreement or otherwise; |
(ii) | references to, or to a provision of, any law include any amendment, extension, re-enactment or replacement, whether made before the date of this Agreement or otherwise; and |
(iii) | words denoting the singular number shall include the plural and vice versa. |
(b) | Clauses 1.1 to 1.4 and paragraph (a) of this Clause 1.5 apply unless the contrary intention appears; and |
(c) | references in Clause 1.1 to a document being in the form of a particular Schedule include references to that form with any modifications to that form which the Agent (with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders in the case of substantial modifications) approves or reasonably requires; and |
(d) | the clause headings shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. |
2 | LOAN FACILITY |
2.1 | Amount of facility. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Lenders shall make available to the Borrowers a loan facility of up to $200,000,000 in two Tranches being: |
(a) | Tranche A in two Advances in the aggregate amount of up to the lesser of (i) $100,000,000, (ii) 50% of the Market Value of Ship A as at the Drawdown Date for Tranche A Advance A; and |
(b) | Tranche B in two Advances in the aggregate amount of up to the lesser of (i) $100,000,000, (ii) 50% of the Market Value of Ship B as at the Drawdown Date for Tranche B Advance A. |
2.2 | Lenders' participations in Loan. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, each Lender shall participate in each Advance in the proportion which, as at the relevant Drawdown Date, its undrawn and unreduced Commitment bears to the aggregate Commitments as at the relevant Drawdown Date. |
2.3 | Reduction of Commitment . For the purposes of clause 2.2: |
(a) | the Commitment of the Lenders who make available Tranche A Advance A and Tranche B Advance A shall be reduced by half on drawdown of the first such Advance to be made available hereunder, and reduced to zero on drawdown of the second such Advance to be drawn down hereunder; and |
(b) | the Commitment of the Lenders who make available Tranche A Advance B and Tranche B Advance B shall not exceed (i) 50% Tranche A Advance A and (ii) 50% of Tranche B Advance A. |
2.4 | Purpose of Loan. Each Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to use each Advance only for the purpose stated in the preamble to this Agreement and in accordance with the terms of Clause 4.2. |
2.5 | Cancellation of Commitment . The Borrowers may at any time request (by giving to the Agent at least 30 Business Days' notice in writing) the reduction of all or any part of the Total Commitments in an amount equal to $5,000,000 or a multiple of $5,000,000, and any Commitment in respect of any Tranche which is undrawn as at the Final Availability Date in respect thereof shall then be cancelled, whereupon, in each case, such cancelled part shall cease to be available, and the Commitment of each Lender shall be reduced pro rata, provided that such cancellation shall be irrevocable and at no additional cost to the Borrowers. |
3 | POSITION OF THE LENDERS ETC. |
3.1 | Interests of Lenders several. The rights of the Lenders and the Swap Banks under this Agreement and the Master Agreements are several; accordingly each Lender and each |
3.2 | Proceedings by individual Lender. However, without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders, no Lender may bring proceedings in respect of: |
(a) | any other liability or obligation of either Borrower or a Security Party under or connected with a Finance Document; or |
(b) | any misrepresentation or breach of warranty by either Borrower or a Security Party in or connected with a Finance Document. |
3.3 | Obligations of Lenders and Swap Banks several. The obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement and of the Swap Banks under the Master Agreements are several; and a failure of a Lender to perform its obligations under this Agreement or a failure of a Swap Bank to perform its obligations under a Master Agreement shall not result in: |
(a) | the obligations of the other Lenders or the other Swap Banks being increased; nor |
(b) | either Borrower, any Security Party or any other Lender or any other Swap Bank being discharged (in whole or in part) from its obligations under any Finance Document, |
3.4 | Parties bound by certain actions of Majority Lenders. Every Lender, the Borrowers and each Security Party shall be bound by: |
(a) | any determination made, or action taken, by the Majority Lenders under any provision of a Finance Document; |
(b) | any instruction or authorisation given by the Majority Lenders to the Agent or the Security Trustee under or in connection with any Finance Document; |
(c) | any action taken (or in good faith purportedly taken) by the Agent or the Security Trustee in accordance with such an instruction or authorisation. |
3.5 | Reliance on action of Agent. However, the Borrowers and each Security Party: |
(a) | shall be entitled to assume that the Majority Lenders have duly given any instruction or authorisation which, under any provision of a Finance Document, is required in relation to any action which the Agent has taken or is about to take; and |
(b) | shall not be entitled to require any evidence that such an instruction or authorisation has been given. |
3.6 | Deadlock. If there are only two Lenders, each with an equal Contribution, all authorisations and instructions to be given in accordance with the terms of this Agreement by the Majority Lenders or the Lenders shall be given by both Lenders. If they are unable to agree the same in relation to a Material Matter, then the Lender which has proposed an instruction or authorisation (the " Proposing Lender ") may, within 15 Banking Days of the deadlock becoming apparent, give written notice to the other Lender (the " Opposing Lender ") that the Proposing Lender intends to acquire the Opposing Lender's Contribution. The Proposing Lender shall then, within 15 Banking Days of |
3.7 | Construction. In Clauses 3.4 and 3.6 references to action taken include (without limitation) the granting of any waiver or consent, an approval of any document and an agreement to any matter. |
4 | DRAWDOWN |
4.1 | Request for Advance. Subject to the following conditions, the Borrowers may request an Advance to be made in Dollars by ensuring that the Agent receives a completed Drawdown Notice not later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) 3 Business Days prior to the intended Drawdown Date. |
4.2 | Availability. The conditions referred to in Clause 4.1 are that: |
(a) | the Drawdown Date has to be a Business Day during the Availability Period; |
(b) | the amount of the Advances in respect of Tranche A shall be: |
(i) | in respect of Tranche A Advance A, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $66,666,666.67 and (ii) two thirds of the Maximum Amount applicable to Ship A; |
(ii) | in respect of Tranche A Advance B an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $33,333,333.33 and (ii) one third of the Maximum Amount applicable to Ship A; |
(c) | the amount of the Advances in respect of Tranche B shall be: |
(i) | in respect of Tranche B Advance A an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $66,666,666.67 and (ii) two thirds of the Maximum Amount applicable to Ship B; |
(ii) | in respect of Tranche B Advance B an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $33,333,333.33 and (ii) one third of the Maximum Amount applicable to Ship B; |
(d) | the Advances in respect of each Tranche shall be applied towards re-financing debt relating to acquisition of the Ships and providing the Borrowers with working capital. |
4.3 | Notification to Lenders of receipt of a Drawdown Notice. The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders that it has received a Drawdown Notice and shall inform each Lender of: |
(a) | the amount of the Advance and the Drawdown Date therefor; |
(b) | the amount of that Lender's participation in the Advance; and |
(c) | (in respect of the first Advance for each Tranche) the duration of the first Interest Period. |
4.4 | Drawdown Notice irrevocable. A Drawdown Notice must be signed by a director or other authorised person of each Borrower; and once served, a Drawdown Notice cannot |
4.5 | Lenders to make available Contributions. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, each Lender shall, on and with value on the Drawdown Date, make available to the Agent for the account of the Borrowers, the amount due from that Lender on the Drawdown Date under Clause 2.2. |
4.6 | Disbursement of Advance. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Agent shall on each Drawdown Date pay to the Borrowers the amounts which the Agent receives from the Lenders under Clause 4.5; and that payment to the Borrowers shall be made: |
(a) | to the account which the Borrowers specify in the relevant Drawdown Notice; and |
(b) | in the like funds as the Agent received the payments from the Lenders. |
4.7 | Disbursement of Advance to third party. The payment by the Agent under Clause 4.6 shall constitute the making of the Advance and the Borrowers shall thereupon become indebted, as principal and direct obligor, to each Lender in an amount equal to that Lender's Contribution. |
4.8 | Restricted Persons . The Borrowers undertake that they shall not, and shall procure that no Security Party or other Group Member or any subsidiary of any of them shall, permit or authorise any other person to, directly or indirectly, use, lend, make payments of, contribute or otherwise make available, all or any part of the proceeds of the Loan or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement to fund or facilitate trade, business or other activities: (i) involving or for the benefit of any Restricted Person; or (ii) in any other manner that could result in a Borrower, any other Security Party or a Creditor Party being in breach of any Sanctions or becoming a Restricted Person |
5 | INTEREST |
5.1 | Payment of normal interest. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrowers shall pay interest on each Tranche in respect of each Interest Period subject to Clause 5.3, on the last day of that Interest Period. |
5.2 | Normal rate of interest. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the rate of interest on each Advance in respect of an Interest Period shall be the aggregate of (a) the Margin, (b) LIBOR and (c) Mandatory Costs (if any) for that Interest Period. |
5.3 | Payment of accrued interest. In the case of an Interest Period longer than 3 months, accrued interest shall be paid every 3 months during that Interest Period and on the last day of that Interest Period. |
5.4 | Notification of Interest Periods and rates of normal interest. The Agent shall notify the Borrowers and each Lender of: |
(a) | each rate of interest; and |
(b) | the duration of each Interest Period; |
5.5 | Absence of quotations |
5.6 | Market disruption. The following provisions of this Clause 5 apply if: |
(a) | by 10.00 a.m. London time on the Quotation Date, Lenders having Contributions together amounting to more than 35 per cent. of the Loan (or, if the Loan has not been made available, Commitments amounting to more than 35 per cent. of the Total Commitments) notify the Agent that LIBOR fixed by the Agent would not accurately reflect the cost to those Lenders of funding their respective Contributions (or any part of them) during the Interest Period in the London Interbank Dollar Market at or about 11.00 a.m. (London time) on the second Business Day before the commencement of the Interest Period; or |
(b) | by 10.00 a.m. London time on the Quotation Date, the Agent is notified by a Lender (the " Affected Lender ") that for any reason it is unable to obtain Dollars in the London Interbank Market in order to fund its Contribution (or any part of it) during the Interest Period; or |
(c) | at or about noon on the Quotation Date for the relevant Interest Period the Screen Rate is not available and none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Agent to determine LIBOR for dollars for the relevant Interest Period. |
5.7 | Notification of market disruption. The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers, each Lender and each Swap Bank stating the circumstances falling within Clause 5.6 which have caused its notice to be given. |
5.8 | Suspension of drawdown. If the Agent's notice under Clause 5.7 is served before an Advance is made, the Lenders' obligation to participate in that Advance shall be suspended while the circumstances referred to in the Agent's notice continue. |
5.9 | Negotiation of alternative rate of interest. If the Agent's notice under Clause 5.7 is served after the Loan is made available, the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders or (as the case may be) the Affected Lender and the Swap Banks shall use reasonable endeavours to agree, within the 30 days after the date on which the Agent serves its notice under Clause 5.6 (the " Negotiation Period "), an alternative interest rate or (as the case may be) an alternative basis for the Lenders or (as the case may be) the Affected Lender to fund or continue to fund their or its Contribution during the Interest Period concerned. |
5.10 | Application of agreed alternative rate of interest. Any alternative interest rate or an alternative basis which is agreed during the Negotiation Period shall take effect in accordance with the terms agreed. |
5.11 | Alternative rate of interest in absence of agreement. If an alternative interest rate or alternative basis is not agreed within the Negotiation Period, and the relevant circumstances are continuing at the end of the Negotiation Period, then the Agent shall, with the agreement of each Lender or (as the case may be) the Affected Lender, set an interest period and interest rate representing the cost of funding of the Lenders or (as the case may be) the Affected Lender in Dollars or in any available currency of their or its Contribution plus the Margin and Mandatory Costs (if any) ; and the procedure provided for by this Clause 5.11 shall be repeated if the relevant circumstances are continuing at the end of the interest period so set by the Agent. |
5.12 | Notice of prepayment. If the Borrowers do not agree with an interest rate set by the Agent under Clause 5.11, the Borrowers may give the Agent not less than 30 Business Days' notice of their intention to prepay the Loan at the end of the interest period set by the Agent. |
5.13 | Prepayment; termination of Commitments. A notice under Clause 5.12 shall be irrevocable; the Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders or (as the case may require) the Affected Lender of the Borrowers' notice of intended prepayment; and: |
(a) | on the date on which the Agent serves that notice, the Total Commitments or (as the case may require) the Commitment of the Affected Lender shall be cancelled; and |
(b) | on the date specified in its notice of intended prepayment, the Borrowers shall prepay, subject to the prepayment fee requirements set forth in Clause 8.15, the Loan or, as the case may be, the Affected Lender's Contribution, together with accrued interest thereon at the applicable rate plus the applicable Margin and Mandatory Costs (if any) and, if the prepayment or repayment is not made on the last day of the interest period set by the Agent, any sums payable in respect of Breakage Costs. |
5.14 | Application of prepayment. The provisions of Clause 8 shall apply in relation to the prepayment. |
6 | INTEREST PERIODS |
6.1 | Commencement of Interest Periods. The first Interest Period applicable to an Advance shall commence on the Drawdown Date for that Advance and each subsequent Interest Period shall commence on the expiry of the preceding Interest Period provided that the first Interest Period applicable to the second Advance of a Tranche shall end on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Tranche which is current on the Drawdown Date of that Advance, whereupon both of the Advances in respect of such Tranche shall be consolidated and treated as a single Advance. |
6.2 | Duration of normal Interest Periods. Subject to Clauses 6.3 and 6.4, each Interest Period shall be: |
(a) | 3, 6 or 9 months as notified by the Borrowers to the Agent (subject to availability in the London Interbank Market (as determined by the Agent)) not later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) on the Quotation Date for that Interest Period; or |
(b) | 3 months, if the Borrowers fail to notify the Agent by the time specified in paragraph (a) above; or |
(c) | such other longer period as the Agent may, acting on the instructions of the Lenders, agree with the Borrower, |
6.3 | Duration of Interest Periods for repayment instalments. In respect of an amount due to be repaid under Clause 8 on a particular Repayment Date, an Interest Period in relation to the amount to be repaid in respect of the relevant Tranche shall end on that Repayment Date. |
6.4 | Non-availability of matching deposits for Interest Period selected. If, after the Borrowers have selected an Interest Period longer than 3 months, any Lender notifies the Agent by 11.00 a.m. (London time) on the third Business Day before the commencement of the Interest Period that it is not satisfied that deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the Interest Period will be available to it in the London Interbank Market when the Interest Period commences, the Interest Period shall be of 3 months |
6.5 | Interest Rate Hedging. The Borrowers may not hedge interest payable under this Agreement except pursuant to the Master Agreements or any of them, and then on terms that:- |
(a) | no period for which interest is fixed under this Clause shall expire after the Maturity Date of a Tranche in relation to which such hedging has been effected; and |
(b) | no Swap Bank may enter into a hedge with the Borrowers for a part of the Loan greater than the amount of the Loan divided by the number of Swap Banks each as at the date of that hedge. |
7 | DEFAULT INTEREST |
7.1 | Payment of default interest on overdue amounts. The Borrowers shall pay interest in accordance with the following provisions of this Clause 7 on any amount payable by the Borrowers under any Finance Document which the Agent, the Security Trustee or the other designated payee does not receive on or before the relevant date, that is: |
(a) | the date on which the Finance Documents provide that such amount is due for payment; or |
(b) | if a Finance Document provides that such amount is payable on demand, the date on which the demand is served; or |
(c) | if such amount has become immediately due and payable under Clause 19.4, the date on which it became immediately due and payable. |
7.2 | Default rate of interest. Interest shall accrue on an overdue amount from (and including) the relevant date until the date of actual payment (as well after as before judgment) at the rate per annum determined by the Agent to be 2 per cent. above: |
(a) | in the case of an overdue amount of principal, the higher of the rates set out at paragraphs (a) and (b) of Clause 7.3; or |
(b) | in the case of any other overdue amount, the rate set out at paragraph (b) of Clause 7.3. |
7.3 | Calculation of default rate of interest. The rates referred to in Clause 7.2 are: |
(a) | the rate applicable to the overdue principal amount immediately prior to the relevant date (but only for any unexpired part of any then current Interest Period); |
(b) | the Margin and Mandatory Costs (if any) plus, in respect of successive periods of any duration (including at call) up to 3 months which the Agent may select from time to time: |
(i) | LIBOR; or |
(ii) | if the Agent determines that Dollar deposits for any such period are not being made available to a Lender or (as the case may be) Lenders by leading banks in the London Interbank Market in the ordinary course of business, a rate from time to time determined by the Agent by reference to the cost of funds to the Agent from such other sources as the Agent may from time to time determine. |
7.4 | Notification of interest periods and default rates. The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Borrowers of each interest rate determined by the Agent under Clause 7.3 and of each period selected by the Agent for the purposes of paragraph (b) of that Clause; but this shall not be taken to imply that the Borrowers are liable to pay such interest only with effect from the date of the Agent's notification. |
7.5 | Payment of accrued default interest. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, any interest due under this Clause shall be paid on the Agent's demand; and the payment shall be made to the Security Trustee for the account of the Creditor Party to which the overdue amount is due. |
7.6 | Compounding of default interest. Any such interest which is not paid at the end of the period by reference to which it was determined shall thereupon be compounded. |
7.7 | Application to Master Agreements . For the avoidance of doubt this Clause 7 does not apply to any amount payable under a Master Agreement in respect of any continuing Designated Transaction as to which section 2(e) (Default Interest, Other Amounts) of the relevant Master Agreement shall apply. |
8 | REPAYMENT AND PREPAYMENT |
8.1 | Amount of repayment instalments. The Borrowers shall repay each Tranche by 20 equal consecutive quarterly instalments of $1,562,500 each and by a final balloon instalment (a " Balloon Instalment ") of $68,750,000 Provided that if the amount of either Tranche drawn down hereunder is less than $100,000,000 each of the said repayment instalments (including the relevant Balloon Instalment) in respect of that Tranche shall be reduced pro rata. |
8.2 | Repayment Dates. The first instalment in respect of each Tranche shall be repaid on the date falling 3 months after the Drawdown Date of the first Advance for that Tranche and the last instalment shall be repaid on the earlier of (i) the date falling 60 months after such Drawdown Date and (ii) 31 January 2021. |
8.3 | Final Repayment Date. On the final Repayment Date, the Borrowers shall additionally pay to the Security Trustee for the account of the Creditor Parties all other sums then accrued or owing under any Finance Document. |
8.4 | Voluntary prepayment. Subject to the following conditions, the Borrowers may prepay the whole or any part of the Loan on the last day of an Interest Period. |
8.5 | Conditions for voluntary prepayment. The conditions referred to in Clause 8.4 are that: |
(a) | a partial prepayment shall be $5,000,000 or a multiple of $5,000,000; |
(b) | the Agent has received from the Borrowers at least 10 Business Days' prior written notice specifying the amount to be prepaid, the Tranche or Tranches against which it is to be applied and the date on which the prepayment is to be made; |
(c) | the Borrowers have provided evidence satisfactory to the Agent that any consent required by either Borrower or any Security Party in connection with the prepayment has been obtained and remains in force, and that any requirement relevant to this Agreement which affects either Borrower or any Security Party has been complied with; and |
(d) | each partial prepayment shall be applied against such Tranche or Tranches as the Borrowers may nominate, and pro rata against the repayment instalments of that Tranche or Tranches (including the respective Balloon Instalments) which are at the time being outstanding, unless the Lenders agree otherwise in writing. |
8.6 | Effect of notice of prepayment. A prepayment notice may not be withdrawn or amended without the prior written consent of the Agent, given with the authority of the Majority Lenders, and the amount specified in the prepayment notice shall become due |
8.7 | Notification of notice of prepayment. The Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly upon receiving a prepayment notice, and shall provide any Lender which so requests with a copy of any document delivered by the Borrowers under Clause 8.5(c). |
8.8 | Mandatory prepayment - Tranches. Upon the sale or Total Loss of a Ship the Borrowers shall be obliged to prepay the Loan by the greater of (i) the Tranche relating to that Ship, (ii) such amount of the Loan as would need to be prepaid to ensure that after such prepayment the Post-Payment Ratio is 145% and (iii) such amount of the Loan so that the Post-Payment Ratio equals the Pre-Payment Ratio : |
(a) | in the case of a sale, on or before the date on which the sale is completed by delivery of the Relevant Ship to the buyer; or |
(b) | in the case of a Total Loss, on the earlier of the date falling 120 days after the Total Loss Date and the date of receipt by the Security Trustee of the proceeds of insurance relating to such Total Loss |
8.9 | In Clause 8.8, " Relevant Ship " means the Ship which is sold or becomes a Total Loss, or in respect of which any of the events referred to in Clause 8.8(b) occur. |
8.10 | Mandatory prepayment – Loan . The Borrowers shall be obliged to prepay the whole Loan, and any undrawn part of the Total Commitment shall be cancelled upon: |
(a) | the circumstances referred to in Clause 23 (illegality) arising, and in accordance with that Clause; or |
(b) | the written demand of the Agent (to be given by it only upon the request of the Lenders) following the occurrence of a Change of Control Event. |
8.11 | Amounts payable on prepayment. A prepayment shall be made together with accrued interest (and any other amount payable under Clause 8.15, Clause 21 or otherwise) in respect of the amount prepaid and, if the prepayment is not made on the last day of an Interest Period, together with any Breakage Costs. |
8.12 | Master Agreement, Repayments and Prepayments |
(a) | Notwithstanding any provision of any Master Agreement to the contrary, in the case of a prepayment of all or part of the Loan (including, without limitation, in accordance with Clauses 8.4, 8.8 and 8.10 or under Clause 15.1) then, subject to Clause 8.12 (b), the Swap Banks shall be entitled but not obliged (and, where relevant, may do so without the consent of the Borrowers, where it would otherwise be required whether under a Master Agreement or otherwise) to amend, supplement, cancel, net out, terminate, liquidate, transfer or assign all or any part of the rights, benefits and obligations created by any Transaction and/or any Master Agreement and/or to obtain or re‑establish any hedge or related trading position in any manner and with any person the relevant Swap Bank in its absolute discretion may determine and both the relevant Swap Bank's and the Borrowers' continuing obligations under any Transaction and/or Master Agreement shall, unless agreed otherwise by the relevant Swap Bank, be calculated so far as the relevant Swap Bank considers it practicable by reference to the amended repayment schedule for the Loan or a Tranche taking into account the fact that less than the full amount of the Loan or a Tranche remains outstanding. |
(b) | If following a prepayment under this Agreement a Swap Bank in its absolute discretion agrees, following a written request of the Borrowers, that the Borrowers may be permitted to maintain all or part of a Transaction in an amount not wholly matched with or linked to all or part of the Loan or a Tranche, the Borrowers shall within ten (10) days of being notified by a Swap Bank of such requirement, provide the Security Trustee with, or procure the provision to the Security Trustee of, such additional security as shall in the opinion of the Swap Bank be adequate to secure the performance of such Transaction, which additional security shall take such form, be constituted by such documentation and be entered into between such parties, as the Swap Bank in its absolute discretion may approve or require, and each document comprising such additional security shall constitute a Credit Support Document (as defined the relevant Master Agreement). |
(c) | The Borrowers shall on the first written demand of a Swap Bank indemnify that Swap Bank in respect of all losses, costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, legal costs and expenses) incurred or sustained by that Swap Bank as a consequence of or in relation to the effecting of any matter or transactions referred to in this Clause 8.12. |
(d) | Notwithstanding any provision of a Master Agreement to the contrary, if for any reason, a Transaction has been entered into but the Loan, Advance or a Tranche to which that Transaction relates is not drawn down under this Agreement then, subject to Clause 8.12 (e), the Swap Bank which is party to that Transaction shall be entitled but not obliged (and, where relevant, may do so without the consent of the Borrowers where it would otherwise be required whether under the relevant Master Agreement or otherwise) to amend, supplement, cancel, net out, terminate, liquidate, transfer or assign all or any part of the rights, benefits and obligations created by such Transaction and/or the relevant Master Agreement and/or to obtain or re-establish any hedge or related trading position in any manner and with any person that Swap Bank in its absolute discretion may determine. |
(e) | If a Transaction has been entered into but the Loan, Advance or a Tranche to which that Transaction relates is not drawn down under this Agreement and the Swap Bank which is party to that Transaction in its absolute discretion agrees, following a written request of the Borrowers, that the Borrowers may be permitted to maintain all or part of that Transaction, the Borrowers shall within ten (10) days of being notified by the relevant Swap Bank of such requirement, provide the Security Trustee with, or procure the provision to the Security Trustee of, such additional security as shall in the opinion of the Swap Bank be adequate to secure the performance of such Transaction, which additional security shall take such form, be constituted by such documentation and be entered into between such parties, as the Swap Bank in its absolute discretion may approve or require, and each document comprising such additional security shall constitute a Credit Support Document (as defined in the relevant Master Agreement) for the purposes of that Master Agreement and/or otherwise. |
8.13 | Without prejudice to or limitation of the obligations of the Borrowers under Clause 8.12 (c), in the event that a Swap Bank exercises any of its rights under Clauses 8.12 (a), 8.12 (b), 8.12 (d) or 8.12 (e) and such exercise results in all or part of a Transaction being terminated such termination shall be treated under the relevant Master Agreement in the same manner as if it were a Terminated Transaction (as defined in the relevant Master Agreement) effected by that Swap Bank after an Event of Default (as so defined in that Master Agreement) by the Borrowers and, accordingly, that Swap Bank shall be permitted to recover from the Borrowers a payment for early termination calculated in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Master Agreement. |
8.14 | No reborrowing . No amount prepaid may be reborrowed. |
8.15 | Prepayment fee . If, in relation to each Tranche, prior to second anniversary of the Drawdown Date of the first Advance in respect thereof, all or part of the Total Commitment in respect thereof is cancelled pursuant to Clause 8.10(b) or either of the Borrowers make any other prepayment of that Tranche pursuant to Clause 8.4, 8.8(a) and/or Clause 8.10(b), then the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, for distribution to the Lenders, an irrevocable, non-refundable prepayment fee of 1.0% of the aggregate of the amount of the Total Commitment so cancelled and the amount of the Loan or that Tranche so prepaid. |
9 | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
9.1 | Documents, fees and no default. Each Lender's obligation to make an Advance is subject to the following conditions precedent: |
(a) | that, on or before the service of the first Drawdown Notice, the Agent receives the documents described in Part A of Schedule 4 in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders, the Agent and their lawyers; |
(b) | that, on or before drawdown of Tranche A Advance A or Tranche B Advance A, the Agent receives the documents described in Part B of Schedule 4 in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders, the Agent and their lawyers; |
(c) | that, on or before drawdown of Tranche A Advance B or Tranche B Advance B, the Agent receives the documents described in Part C of Schedule 4 in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders, the Agent and their lawyers; |
(d) | that, on or before the service of each Drawdown Notice, the Agent has received payment of the fees payable pursuant to the fee letters referred to in Clause 20.1 and of the expenses referred to in Clause 20.2; |
(e) | that both at the date of each Drawdown Notice and at each Drawdown Date: |
(i) | no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the borrowing of the relevant Advance; |
(ii) | the representations and warranties in Clause 10 and those of the Borrowers or any Security Party which are set out in the other Finance Documents are, and would be, complete, true, accurate and not misleading (whether by omission of material facts or considerations or otherwise) if repeated on each of those dates with reference to the circumstances then existing; and |
(iii) | none of the circumstances contemplated by Clause 5.7 has occurred and is continuing; and |
(f) | that, if the ratio set out in Clause 15.1 were applied immediately following the making of the Advance, the Borrowers would not be obliged to provide additional security or prepay part of the Loan under that Clause; and |
(g) | that the Agent has received, and found to be acceptable to it, any further assurances, authorizations, opinions, consents, agreements and documents in connection with the Finance Documents which the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, request by notice to the Borrowers. |
9.2 | Waiver of conditions precedent. |
(a) | The conditions specified in this Clause 9 (Conditions Precedent) are solely for the benefit of the Lenders and may be waived on their behalf in whole or in part and with or without conditions by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders unless it is a non-material matter of administrative or technical character where the Agent may act in its sole discretion); |
(b) | If the Lenders, at their discretion, permit an Advance to be borrowed before certain of the conditions referred to in Clause 9.1 are satisfied, the Borrowers shall ensure that those conditions are satisfied within 5 Business days after the relevant Drawdown Date (or such longer period as the Agent may, with the authority of the Majority Lenders, specify). |
10 | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
10.1 | General. Each Obligor represents and warrants to each Creditor Party on the date of this Agreement as follows. |
10.2 | Status. Each Obligor is duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Marshall Islands. |
10.3 | Share capital and ownership. Each Borrower has an authorised share capital divided into 500 shares of no par value, all of which shares have been issued fully paid and are, or will on the first Drawdown Date be, in the case of the Borrowers, legally and beneficially owned and controlled by the Shareholder. |
10.4 | Corporate power. Each Obligor has the corporate capacity, and has taken all corporate action and obtained all consents necessary for it: |
(a) | (in respect of the Borrowers only) enter into the Approved Management Agreement in respect of its Ship and register its Ship in its name under an Approved Flag; |
(b) | to execute the Finance Documents to which that Obligor is a party; |
(c) | (in respect of the Borrowers only) to borrow under this Agreement, to enter into any Designated Transaction under any Master Agreement; and |
(d) | to make all the payments contemplated by, and to comply with, those Finance Documents to which such Obligor is a party. |
10.5 | Consents in force. All the consents referred to in Clause 10.4 remain in force and nothing has occurred which makes any of them liable to revocation. |
10.6 | Legal validity; effective Security Interests. The Finance Documents to which each Obligor is a party, do now or, as the case may be, will, upon execution and delivery (and, where applicable, registration as provided for in the Finance Documents): |
(a) | constitute that Obligor's legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against that Borrower in accordance with their respective terms and priority; and |
(b) | create legal, valid and binding Security Interests enforceable in accordance with their respective terms over all the assets to which they, by their terms, relate, |
10.7 | No third party Security Interests. Without limiting the generality of Clause 10.6, at the time of the execution and delivery of each Finance Document: |
(a) | each Obligor will have the right to create all the Security Interests which that Finance Document purports to create; and |
(b) | no third party will have any Security Interest (except for Permitted Security Interests) or any other interest, right or claim over, in or in relation to any asset to which any such Security Interest, by its terms, relates. |
10.8 | No conflicts. The execution by each Obligor of each Finance Document to which it is a party, and the borrowing by a Borrower of the Loan and its compliance with each Finance Document to which it is a party will not involve or lead to a contravention of: |
(a) | any law or regulation; or |
(b) | the constitutional documents of that Obligor; or |
(c) | any contractual or other obligation or restriction which is binding on that Obligor or any of its assets. |
10.9 | No withholding/stamp taxes. All payments which each Obligor is liable to make under the Finance Documents may be made without deduction or withholding for or on account of any tax payable under any law of any Pertinent Jurisdiction and no stamp duty or tax is payable in respect of or on any Finance Document in order for it to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms. |
10.10 | No default. No Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. |
10.11 | Information. All information which has been provided in writing by or on behalf of the Borrowers or any Security Party to any Creditor Party in connection with any Finance Document satisfied the requirements of Clause 11.4; all audited and unaudited accounts which have been so provided satisfied the requirements of Clause 11.6; and there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or state of affairs of any Obligor from that disclosed in the audited accounts so provided for the financial year ending on 31 December 2014. |
10.12 | No litigation . No legal or administrative action involving an Obligor has been commenced or taken or, to any Obligor's knowledge, is likely to be commenced or taken which has, or is likely to have, a material adverse effect on the financial position of an Obligor, save as disclosed in writing to the Agent by the Borrowers prior to the date of this Agreement. |
10.13 | Compliance with certain undertakings. The Obligors are in compliance with Clauses 11.2, 11.8, 11.11, 12.3 and 12.10. |
10.14 | Taxes paid. Each Obligor has paid all taxes applicable to, or imposed on or in relation to that Obligor, its business or the Ship. |
10.15 | Ranking of Borrowers' obligations . the Borrowers' obligations to make payments under this Agreement and/or a Master Agreement rank ahead of any obligation owed by the Borrowers to any other person, except as the same may be preferred by any applicable law or regulation. |
10.16 | Insolvency etc. No bankruptcy, insolvency, administration or similar proceedings have been commenced against any Obligor with a view to winding up that Obligor. |
10.17 | ISM Code and ISPS Code compliance. Each Borrower has obtained all necessary ISM Code Documentation and ISPS Code Documentation in connection with its Ship and is in full compliance with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code. |
10.18 | Legal compliance . No Security Party has in any way contravened any applicable law, statute, rule or regulation (including, but not limited to, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 of the USA and all such as relate to money laundering, terrorism and/or bribery). |
10.19 | Money laundering . In relation to the borrowing by the Borrowers of the Loan, the performance and discharge by the Obligors of their respective obligations and liabilities under this Agreement or any of the Security Documents and the transactions and other arrangements effected or contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Security Documents to which an Obligor is a party, each Obligor is acting for its own account and that the foregoing will not involve or lead to a contravention of any law, official requirement or other regulatory measure or procedure which has been implemented to combat Money Laundering. |
10.20 | Anti-bribery . To the best of its knowledge and belief, none of the improper or illegal acts referred to in Clause 12.11 have occurred prior to the date of execution of this Loan Agreement |
10.21 | Proceeds of the Loan . All proceeds of the Loan shall be used and applied in accordance with Clause 2.4. |
10.22 | Restricted Persons, unlawful activity . |
(i) | none of the shares in a Borrower, any Security Party or a Ship are or will be at any time during the Security Period legally and beneficially owned and controlled by a Restricted Person; and |
(ii) | no Restricted Person has or will have at any time during the Security Period any legal or beneficial interest of any nature whatsoever in any of the shares of any of the Security Parties; and |
(iii) | no title in any property or other assets subject to an Security Interest created by a Security Document has been obtained in breach of any existing applicable law, statute, rule or regulation |
10.23 | Ownership Structure . The shares of and in the Obligors are owned as described in paragraph 8 of Schedule 4, Part A. |
10.24 | Repetition of representations . The representations and warranties set out in this Clause 10 are complete, true, accurate and not misleading (whether by omission of any material fact or consideration or otherwise) and the same, including this Clause 10.22, shall be deemed to be repeated on the date of each Drawdown Notice, on each Drawdown Date and on the first day of each Interest Period. |
11 | GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS |
11.1 | General. Each Obligor undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 11 at all times during the Security Period except as the Agent may, with the authority of the Lenders, otherwise permit. |
11.2 | Title; negative pledge. Each Borrower will: |
(a) | hold the legal title to, and own the entire beneficial interest in the Ship owned by it, the Insurances and Earnings, free from all Security Interests and other interests and rights of every kind, except for those created by the Finance Documents and the effect of assignments contained in the Finance Documents; and |
(b) | not create or permit to arise any Security Interest (except for Permitted Security Interests) over any other asset, present or future including, but not limited to, that Borrower's rights against a Swap Bank under a Master Agreement or all or any part of such Borrower's interest in any amount payable to such Borrower by a Swap Bank under a Master Agreement. |
11.3 | No disposal of assets. Neither Borrower will transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of: |
(a) | all or a substantial part of its assets, whether by one transaction or a number of transactions, whether related or not; or |
(b) | any debt payable to it or any other right (present, future or contingent right) to receive a payment, including any right to damages or compensation. |
11.4 | Information provided to be accurate. All financial and other information which is provided in writing by or on behalf of an Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document will be true and not misleading and will not omit any material fact or consideration. |
11.5 | Provision of financial statements. The Obligors will send to the Agent : |
(a) | as soon as possible, but in no event later than 120 days after the end of each financial year of the Corporate Guarantor, starting with the financial year ending on 31 December 2015, |
(b) | as soon as possible, but in no event later than 120 days after the end of each financial year of each Borrower (starting with the financial year ending on 31 December 2015) the audited accounts of each Borrower for that financial year, each certified as to their correctness by the chief accounting officer of the relevant Borrower; |
(c) | as soon as possible, but in no event later than 60 days after the end of each of the 3 months periods up to 31 March, 30 June and 30 September each year, the consolidated unaudited management accounts for that 3 month period of the Corporate Guarantor together with its subsidiaries, certified as to their correctness by the chief accounting officer of the relevant Corporate Guarantor; |
(d) | as soon as possible, but in no event later than 60 days after the end of each of the 3 months periods up to 31 March, 30 June and 30 September each year, (starting with the period ending on 30 June 2016) the unaudited management accounts for that 3 month period of each Borrower, each certified as to their correctness by the chief accounting officer of the relevant Borrower; |
(e) | on the dates on which the accounts are or are to be delivered under this Clause 11.5 a Compliance Certificate duly and correctly completed and signed by the chief financial officers (or other authorised signatory) of the Corporate Guarantor confirming compliance with the covenants as set out in Clause 12.3 (including supporting calculations satisfactory to the Agent) as at the end of the latest financial year or quarter (as the case may be); and |
(f) | promptly after each request by the Agent (acting on the instructions of any Lender), such further financial information about the Obligors and/or the Ships and/or the vessels under the agency of the Approved Manager, their operations and business, including, but not limited to, charter arrangements, Financial Indebtedness, realised and budgeted operating expenses, cash flow forecasts and loan repayments profiles, including in relation to any German § 18 KWG (Kreditwesengesetz) obligations, as the Agent (acting on the instructions of any Lender) may require. |
11.6 | Form of financial statements. All accounts (audited and unaudited) delivered under Clause 11.5 will: |
(a) | be prepared in accordance with all applicable laws and US GAAP consistently applied; |
(b) | give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the relevant person at the date of those accounts and of its profit for the period to which those accounts relate; and |
(c) | fully disclose or provide for all significant liabilities of the relevant person and its subsidiaries. |
11.7 | Shareholder and creditor notices. Each Obligor will send the Agent, at the same time as they are despatched, copies of all communications which are despatched to that Obligor's shareholders or creditors or any class of them. |
11.8 | Consents. Each Obligor will maintain in force and promptly obtain or renew, and will promptly send certified copies to the Agent of, all consents required: |
(a) | for that Obligor to perform its obligations under any Finance Document to which it is party; |
(b) | for the validity or enforceability of any Finance Document to which it is party; |
(c) | for that Borrower to continue to own and operate its Ship, |
11.9 | Maintenance of Security Interests. Each Obligor will: |
(a) | at its own cost, do all that it can to ensure that any Finance Document validly creates the obligations and the Security Interests which it purports to create; and |
(b) | without limiting the generality of paragraph (a) above, at its own cost, promptly register, file, record or enrol any Finance Document with any court or authority in all Pertinent Jurisdictions, pay any stamp, registration or similar tax in all Pertinent Jurisdictions in respect of any Finance Document (including any duties or taxes payable by any of the Creditor Parties but excluding any FATCA Deduction) , give any notice or take any other step which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, is or has become necessary or desirable for any Finance Document to be valid, enforceable or admissible in evidence or to ensure or protect the priority of any Security Interest which it creates. |
11.10 | Notification of litigation. Each Obligor will provide the Agent with details of any legal or administrative action involving an Obligor or a Ship, the Earnings or the Insurances as soon as such action is instituted or it becomes apparent to that Obligor that it is likely to be instituted, unless it is clear that the legal or administrative action cannot be considered material in the context of any Finance Document. |
11.11 | Principal place of business. Each Obligor will maintain its place of business, and keep its corporate documents and records, at the address stated at the commencement of this Agreement; and no Obligor will establish, or do anything as a result of which it would be deemed to have, a place of business in either the United Kingdom or the United States of America. |
11.12 | Confirmation of no default. Each Obligor will (i) in each Compliance Certificate confirm and (ii) within 2 Business Days after service by the Agent of a written request, serve on the Agent a notice which is signed by 2 directors of that Obligor and which states: |
(a) | that no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred; or |
(b) | that no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred, except for a specified event or matter, of which all material details are given. |
11.13 | Notification of default. The Obligors will notify the Agent as soon as any Obligor becomes aware of: |
(a) | the occurrence of an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default; or |
(b) | any matter which indicates that an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default may have occurred, |
11.14 | Provision of further information. Each Obligor will, as soon as practicable after receiving the request, provide the Agent with any additional financial or other information relating: |
(a) | to an Obligor, the Ships, the Insurances or the Earnings; or |
(b) | to any other matter relevant to, or to any provision of, a Finance Document, |
11.15 | Provision of copies and translation of documents. The Obligors will supply the Agent with a sufficient number of copies of the documents referred to above to provide one copy for each Creditor Party; and if the Agent so requires in respect of any of those documents, the Obligors will provide a certified English translation prepared by a translator approved by the Agent. |
11.16 | Segregation and separate identity . Each Obligor will keep separate books and records, maintain separate accounts, conduct business in its own name, at all times observe all corporate and other formalities required by its constitutional documents, pay its liabilities out of its own funds, maintain adequate capital, use separate stationery, invoices and cheques and correct any known misunderstanding regarding its separate identity. |
11.17 | Transactions with associated companies . No Obligor will enter into any transactions with any associated company, other than on an arm's length basis, and shall observe segregation of its activities from those of other related parties and not co-mingle its assets, nor become liable for any third party obligations or pledge the Lenders' credit. |
11.18 | "Know your customer" . Each Obligor will promptly on any Lender's request supply to it any documentation or other evidence that is reasonably required by that Lender (whether for itself or on behalf of any person to whom that Lender may, or may intend to, transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement) to enable the Lender: |
(a) | to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary "know your customer" requirements that that Lender is obliged to carry out under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to or applicable to the transactions contemplated in this Agreement; and |
(b) | to comply with its obligations under all applicable laws and regulations to prevent money laundering and corruption and to conduct ongoing monitoring of the business relationship with the Obligors. |
(i) | A change in any Obligor's board of directors. |
(ii) | A change in the legal or beneficial ownership of 25% or more of a Borrower's issued share capital, as well as information about a natural person acquiring a legal or beneficial interest in 25% or more of a Borrower's issued share capital. |
(iii) | A change in the nature of an Obligor's business from that which it carries on at the date of this Agreement, as well as information about any Obligor starting or ceasing to carry on business in a country apart from Greece; and |
(iv) | A change in the any Obligor's corporate objectives. |
12 | CORPORATE UNDERTAKINGS |
12.1 | General. Each Obligor also undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 12 at all times during the Security Period except as the Agent may, with the authority of the Majority Lenders, otherwise permit. |
12.2 | Maintenance of status. Each Obligor will maintain its separate corporate existence and remain in good standing under the laws of the Marshall Islands. |
12.3 | Financial covenants . The Obligors will procure that: |
(i) | the ratio of EBITDA to Interest Expense shall at all times be at least 3 to 1; |
(ii) | at all times the ratio of Total Liabilities of the Group to Total Assets of the Group shall not be greater than 0.65 to 1; |
(iii) | at all times the Net Worth of the Group shall be at least $250,000,000; and |
(iv) | at all times the Group has available to it unencumbered cash (which shall include cash presented as "restricted cash" in the Latest Accounts) and/or cash equivalents in an aggregate amount of at least $25,000,000. |
12.4 | Most-favoured lender clause |
12.5 | Negative undertakings. The Borrowers will not, and in relation to Clauses 12.5(b), (i) and (j), the Corporate Guarantor will not: |
(a) | carry on, any business other than the ownership, chartering and operation of the Ship owned by it; or |
(b) | following the occurrence of an Event of Default and while such Event of Default is continuing or if such payment would cause an Event of Default, pay any dividend or make any other form of distribution or effect any form of redemption, purchase or return of share capital; or |
(c) | provide any form of credit or financial assistance to any person or enter into any transaction with or involving |
(i) | a person who is directly or indirectly interested in that Borrower's share or loan capital; or |
(ii) | any company in or with which such a person is directly or indirectly interested or connected, |
(d) | open or maintain any account with any bank or financial institution except accounts with the Account Bank for the purposes of the Finance Documents; |
(e) | issue, allot or grant any person a right to any shares in its capital or repurchase or reduce its issued share capital or otherwise alter its corporate structure or permit the Corporate Guarantor to take any of the actions set out in this Clause 12.4(e) in relation to itself; |
(f) | acquire any asset other than the Ship owned by it; |
(g) | acquire any shares or other securities other than US or UK Treasury bills and certificates of deposit issued by major North American or European banks, or enter into any transaction in a derivative; |
(h) | enter into any form of amalgamation, merger or de-merger or any form of reconstruction or reorganisation; |
(i) | incur any Financial Indebtedness other than (i) (in respect of each Borrower) in an aggregate amount of no more than $1,000,000 incurred in the ordinary course of owning and operating the Ship of which it is the owner and (ii) in respect of the Corporate Guarantor (aa) in an aggregate amount of no more than $5,000,000 incurred in the normal course of business or (bb) for long term debt financing and hedging in respect of vessels owned or to be acquired by any of its subsidiaries or, in relation to each Obligor, as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement; or |
(j) | allow any Secured Liabilities to be subordinated to any other Financial Indebtedness incurred by an Obligor. |
12.6 | Inter-company Loans . Each Obligor shall procure that any Financial Indebtedness incurred from any of their respective shareholders or any other company which is controlled (directly or indirectly) by the Corporate Guarantor is so incurred on terms that (i) neither Borrower may borrow or become liable for more than $500,000 and (ii) the same is fully subordinated to the Borrowers' obligations under the Finance Documents in form and substance acceptable to the Majority Lenders. |
12.7 | Ownership . The Obligors shall ensure and procure that at all times after the first Drawdown Date all of the shares of and in each Borrower are wholly owned by the Shareholder. |
12.8 | Change of Control . The Obligors shall ensure and procure that there shall not occur a Change of Control Event. |
12.9 | Publicity . The Obligors shall permit, and do hereby authorise, each Creditor Party to publish and/or publicise, at their own expense their involvement in the transactions set out in this Agreement, and for that purpose to use the logo and/or trademark of any Security Party and give details of the names of the Obligors, the types and number of Ships, the amount of the Loan and the roles of each Creditor Party. |
12.10 | Sanctions . Each Obligor undertakes that it shall : |
(i) | not be, and shall procure that any Security Party and other Group Member or any affiliate of any of them, or any director, officer, agent, employee or person acting on behalf of the foregoing is not, a Restricted Person and does not act directly or indirectly on behalf of a Restricted Person or have a course of dealings with a Restricted Person; |
(ii) | and shall procure that each Security Party and each other Group Member and each affiliate of any of them shall, not use any revenue or benefit derived from any activity or dealing with a Restricted Person in discharging any obligation due or owing to the Creditor Parties; |
(iii) | and shall procure that each Security Party and each other Group Member and each affiliate of any of them shall not take any action, make any omission or use (directly or indirectly) any proceeds of the Loan in a manner that is a breach of Sanctions; and/or causes (or will cause) a breach of Sanctions by any Creditor Party; |
(iv) | procure that no proceeds from any activity or dealing with a Restricted Person are credited to any bank account held with any Creditor Party in its name or in the name of any other member of the Group or any affiliate of any of them; |
(v) | take, and shall procure that each Security Party and each other Group Member and each affiliate of any of them has taken, reasonable measures to ensure compliance with Sanctions; |
(vi) | and shall procure that each Security Party and each other Group Member shall, to the extent permitted by law promptly upon becoming aware of them, supply to the Agent details of any claim, action, suit, proceedings or investigation against it with respect to Sanctions by any Sanctions Authority; and |
(vii) | not accept, obtain or receive any goods or services from any Restricted Person, except (without limiting Clause 14.11 (b)), to the extent relating to any warranties and/or guarantees given and/or liabilities incurred in respect of an activity or dealing with a Restricted Person by a Borrower, any other Security Party or any other Group Member in accordance with this Agreement |
(A) | the Obligors shall be obliged only to ensure that the provisions of this clause apply to each Group Member only to the extent that that Group Member is bound by the relevant law or regulation in respect of the matters set out in this clause; and |
(B) | if (aa) a Creditor Party is resident in Germany (" Inländer ") within the meaning of Section 2 Paragraph 15 of the German foreign trade and payments act ( Außenwirtschaftsgesetz and herein, " AWG ") and is (bb) therefore subject to Section 7 of the German foreign trade ordinance ( Außenwirtschaftsverordnung and herein , " AWV ") and would (cc) therefore not itself be permitted to give a representation or an undertaking that is given or is to be given by a Security Party with respect to sanctions under this Agreement or any other Finance Document, then such Creditor Party shall not, in the event of a breach by a Security Party of any such representation or undertaking, be entitled to invoke or declare an Event of Default or vote for a cancellation of the Total Commitments and/or repayment of the Loan in accordance with Clause 19.4 ( Acceleration ). |
12.11 | Anti-bribery. Each Obligor shall ensure that neither it nor any of its respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees or agents acting on its behalf will offer, give, insist on, receive or solicit any illegal payment or improper advantage to influence the action of any person in connection with any of its business. |
12.12 | FATCA Information |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, each party to a Security Document shall, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another party to a Security Document: |
(i) | confirm to that other party whether it is: |
(A) | a FATCA Exempt Party; or |
(B) | not a FATCA Exempt Party; and |
(ii) | supply to the requesting party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as the requesting party reasonably requests for the purposes of the requesting party 's compliance with FATCA. |
(b) | If a party to a Security Document confirms to another party pursuant to 12.12 (a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that party shall notify that other party reasonably promptly. |
(c) | subclause (a) above shall not oblige any Creditor Party to do anything which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of: |
(i) | any law or regulation; |
(ii) | any policy of that Creditor Party; |
(iii) | any fiduciary duty; or |
(iv) | any duty of confidentiality. |
(d) | If a party to a Security Document fails to confirm its status or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with subclause (a) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (c) above applies), then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until (in each case) such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information. |
13 | INSURANCE |
13.1 | General. Each Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 13 at all times during the Security Period (after its Ship has become subject to a Mortgage) except as the Agent may, with the authority of the Majority Lenders, otherwise permit. |
13.2 | Maintenance of obligatory insurances. Each Borrower shall keep the Ship owned by it insured at its own expense against: |
(a) | fire and usual marine risks (including hull and machinery and excess risks); |
(b) | war risks (including acts of terrorism and piracy, and confiscation); and |
(c) | protection and indemnity risks (which cover shall include freight, demurrage and defence) in excess of the limit of cover for oil pollution liability risks included within the protection and indemnity risks; and |
(d) | any other risks against which the Security Trustee considers, having regard to practices and other circumstances prevailing at the relevant time, it would in the opinion of the Security Trustee be reasonable for that Borrower to insure and which are specified by the Security Trustee by notice to that Borrower. |
13.3 | Terms of obligatory insurances. Each Borrower shall effect such insurances on its Ship: |
(a) | in Dollars, at its own cost; |
(b) | in the case of fire and usual marine risks and war risks, in an amount on an agreed value basis at least the greatest of (i) if both Ships are then subject to a Mortgage, such amount which, when aggregated with the amount for which the other Ship is insured, is equal to 120 per cent. of the aggregate of the Loan and the Swap Exposure, or, if only one Ship is subject to a Mortgage, the aggregate of the Tranche relating thereto and the Swap Exposure and (ii) the Market Value of its Ship; |
(c) | in the case of oil pollution liability risks, for an aggregate amount equal to the highest level of cover from time to time available under basic protection and indemnity club entry (with the international group of protection and indemnity clubs) and the international marine insurance market (currently $1,000,000,000); |
(d) | in relation to protection and indemnity risks in respect of the full value and tonnage of the Ship owned by it; |
(e) | on approved terms; |
(f) | in favour of approved assured; |
(g) | with approved deductibles; and |
(h) | through approved brokers and with approved insurance companies and/or underwriters or, in the case of war risks and protection and indemnity risks, in approved war risks and protection and indemnity risks associations. |
13.4 | Further protections for the Creditor Parties. In addition to the terms set out in Clause 13.3, each Borrower shall procure that the obligatory insurances shall: |
(a) | (except in relation to risks referred to in Clause 13.2(c)) name (or be amended to name) the Security Trustee as additional named assured for its rights and interests, warranted no operational interest and with full waiver of rights of subrogation against the Security Trustee, but without the Security Trustee thereby being liable to pay (but having the right to pay) premiums, calls or other assessments in respect of such insurance; |
(b) | name the Security Trustee as sole loss payee with such directions for payment as the Security Trustee may specify; |
(c) | provide that all payments by or on behalf of the insurers under the obligatory insurances to the Security Trustee shall be made without set‑off, counterclaim or deductions or condition whatsoever; |
(d) | provide that the insurers shall waive, to the fullest extent permitted by English law, their entitlement (if any) (whether by statute, common law, equity, or otherwise) to be subrogated to the rights and remedies of the Security Trustee in respect of any rights or interests (secured or not) held by or available to the Security Trustee in respect of the Secured Liabilities, until the Secured Liabilities shall have been fully repaid and discharged, except that the insurers shall not be restricted by the terms of this paragraph |
(e) | provide that such obligatory insurances shall be primary without right of contribution from other insurances which may be carried by the Security Trustee; |
(f) | provide that the Security Trustee may make proof of loss if the Borrowers fail to do so; and |
(g) | provide that if any obligatory insurance is cancelled, or if any substantial change is made in the coverage which adversely affects the interest of the Security Trustee, or if any obligatory insurance is allowed to lapse for non‑payment of premium, such cancellation, charge or lapse shall not be effective with respect to the Security Trustee for 30 days (or 7 days in the case of war risks) after receipt by the Security Trustee of prior written notice from the insurers of such cancellation, change or lapse. |
13.5 | Renewal of obligatory insurances. Each Borrower shall: |
(a) | at least 21 days before the expiry of any obligatory insurance: |
(i) | notify the Security Trustee of the brokers (or other insurers) and any protection and indemnity or war risks association through or with whom that Borrower proposes to renew that insurance and of the proposed terms of renewal; and |
(ii) | in case of any substantial change in insurance cover, obtain the Majority Lenders' approval to the matters referred to in paragraph (i) above; |
(b) | at least 14 days before the expiry of any obligatory insurance, renew the insurance; and |
(c) | procure that the approved brokers and/or the war risks and protection and indemnity associations with which such a renewal is effected shall promptly after the renewal notify the Security Trustee in writing of the terms and conditions of the renewal. |
13.6 | Copies of policies; letters of undertaking. Each Borrower shall ensure that all approved brokers provide the Security Trustee with copies of all policies relating to the obligatory insurances which they effect or renew and of a letter or letters or undertaking in a form required by the Majority Lenders and including undertakings by the approved brokers that: |
(a) | they will have endorsed on each policy, immediately upon issue, a loss payable clause and a notice of assignment complying with the provisions of Clause 13.4; |
(b) | they will hold such policies, and the benefit of such insurances, to the order of the Security Trustee in accordance with the said loss payable clause; |
(c) | they will advise the Security Trustee immediately of any material change to the terms of the obligatory insurances; |
(d) | they will notify the Security Trustee, not less than 14 days before the expiry of the obligatory insurances, in the event of their not having received notice of renewal instructions from that Borrower or its agents and, in the event of their receiving instructions to renew, they will promptly notify the Security Trustee of the terms of the instructions; and |
(e) | they will not set off against any sum recoverable in respect of a claim relating to the Ship under such obligatory insurances any premiums or other amounts due to them or any |
13.7 | Copies of certificates of entry. Each Borrower shall ensure that any protection and indemnity and/or war risks associations in which the Ship owned by it is entered provide the Security Trustee with: |
(a) | a certified copy of the certificate of entry for that Ship; |
(b) | a letter or letters of undertaking in such form as may be required by the Security Trustee; and |
(c) | where required to be issued under the terms of insurance/indemnity provided by a Borrower's protection and indemnity association, a certified copy of each United States of America voyage quarterly declaration (or other similar document or documents) made by such Borrower in relation to the Ship in accordance with the requirements of such protection and indemnity association; and |
(d) | if applicable, a certified copy of each certificate of financial responsibility for pollution by oil or other Environmentally Sensitive Material issued by the relevant certifying authority in relation to the Ship. |
13.8 | Deposit of original policies. Each Borrower shall ensure that all policies relating to obligatory insurances are deposited with the approved brokers through which the insurances are effected or renewed. |
13.9 | Payment of premiums. Each Borrower shall punctually pay all premiums or other sums payable in respect of the obligatory insurances and produce all relevant receipts when so required by the Security Trustee. |
13.10 | Guarantees. Each Borrower shall ensure that any guarantees required by a protection and indemnity or war risks association are promptly issued and remain in full force and effect. |
13.11 | Restrictions on employment. Neither Borrower shall employ the Ship, nor permit her to be employed, outside the cover provided by any obligatory insurances. |
13.12 | Compliance with terms of insurances. Neither Borrower shall do or omit to do (or permit to be done or not to be done) any act or thing which would or might render any obligatory insurance invalid, void, voidable or unenforceable or render any sum payable thereunder repayable in whole or in part; and, in particular: |
(a) | each Borrower shall take all necessary action and comply with all requirements which may from time to time be applicable to the obligatory insurances, and (without limiting the obligation contained in Clause 13.7(c) above) ensure that the obligatory insurances are not made subject to any exclusions or qualifications to which the Security Trustee has not given its prior approval; |
(b) | neither Borrower shall make any changes relating to the classification or classification society or manager or operator of the Ship owned by it approved by the underwriters of the obligatory insurances; |
(c) | each Borrower shall make all quarterly or other voyage declarations which may be required by the protection and indemnity risks association in which the Ship owned by it is entered to maintain cover for trading to the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone (as defined in the United States Oil Pollution Act 1990 or any other applicable legislation); and |
(d) | neither Borrower shall employ the Ship owned by it, nor allow it to be employed, otherwise than in conformity with the terms and conditions of the obligatory insurances, without first obtaining the consent of the insurers and complying with any requirements (as to extra premium or otherwise) which the insurers specify. |
13.13 | Alteration to terms of insurances. Neither Borrower shall either make or agree to any alteration to the terms of any obligatory insurance or waive any right relating to any obligatory insurance without the prior written consent of the Security Trustee. |
13.14 | Settlement of claims. Neither Borrower shall settle, compromise or abandon any claim under any obligatory insurance for Total Loss or for a Major Casualty, and shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Security Trustee to collect or recover any moneys which at any time become payable in respect of the obligatory insurances. |
13.15 | Provision of copies of communications. Each Borrower shall provide the Agent, at the time of each such communication, copies of all written communications between that Borrower and: |
(a) | the approved brokers; and |
(b) | the approved protection and indemnity and/or war risks associations; and |
(c) | the approved insurance companies and/or underwriters, which relate directly or indirectly to: |
(i) | that Borrower's obligations relating to the obligatory insurances including, without limitation, all requisite declarations and payments of additional premiums or calls; and |
(ii) | any credit arrangements made between that Borrower and any of the persons referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above relating wholly or partly to the effecting or maintenance of the obligatory insurances. |
13.16 | Provision of information. In addition, each Borrower shall promptly provide the Agent (or any persons which it may designate) with any information which the Agent (or any such designated person) requests for the purpose of: |
(a) | obtaining or preparing any report from an independent marine insurance broker as to the adequacy of the obligatory insurances effected or proposed to be effected; and/or |
(b) | effecting, maintaining or renewing any such insurances as are referred to in Clause 13.17 or dealing with or considering any matters relating to any such insurances, |
13.17 | Mortgagee's interest. The Security Trustee shall be entitled from time to time to effect, maintain and renew in such amounts, on such terms, through such insurers and generally in such manner as the Majority Lenders may from time to time consider appropriate: |
(a) | a mortgagee's interest marine insurance (in an amount of no less than 120% of the aggregate of the Loan and the Swap Exposure (if any) at any relevant time) providing for the indemnification of the Creditor Parties for any losses under or in connection with any Finance Document which directly or indirectly result from loss of or damage to a Ship or a liability of a Ship or of a Borrower, being a loss or damage which is prima facie covered by an obligatory insurance but in respect of which there is a non-payment (or reduced payment) by the underwriters by reason of, or on the basis of an allegation concerning: |
(i) | any act or omission on the part of a Borrower, of any operator, charterer, manager or sub-manager of a Ship or of any officer, employee or agent of a Borrower or of any such person, including any breach of warranty or condition or any non-disclosure relating to such obligatory insurance; |
(ii) | any act or omission, whether deliberate, negligent or accidental, or any knowledge or privity of a Borrower, any other person referred to in paragraph (i) above, or of any officer, employee or agent of that Borrower or of such a person, including the casting away or damaging of a Ship and/or a Ship being unseaworthy; and/or |
(iii) | any other matter capable of being insured against under a mortgagee's interest marine insurance policy whether or not similar to the foregoing; |
(b) | a mortgagee's interest additional perils policy (in an amount of no less than 120% of the aggregate of the Loan and the Swap Exposure (if any) at any relevant time) providing for the indemnification of the Creditor Parties against, among other things, any possible losses or other consequences of any Environmental Claim, including the risk of expropriation, arrest or any form of detention of a Ship, the imposition of any Security Interest over a Ship and/or any other matter capable of being insured against under a mortgagee's interest additional perils policy whether or not similar to the foregoing |
13.18 | Review of insurance requirements. The Agent shall be entitled to review the requirements of this Clause 13 from time to time in order to take account of any changes in circumstances after the date of this Agreement which are, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, significant and capable of affecting either Borrower or either Ship and its insurance (including, without limitation, changes in the availability or the cost of insurance coverage or the risks to which the Borrowers may be subject), and may appoint insurance consultants in relation to this review at the cost of the Borrowers. |
13.19 | Modification of insurance requirements. The Agent shall notify the Borrowers of any proposed modification under Clause 13.18 to the requirements of this Clause 13 which the Majority Lenders consider appropriate in the circumstances, and such modification shall take effect on and from the date it is notified in writing to the Borrowers as an amendment to this Clause 13 and shall bind the Borrowers accordingly. |
13.20 | Compliance with mortgagee's instructions. The Agent shall be entitled (without prejudice to or limitation of any other rights which it may have or acquire under any Finance Document) to require a Ship to remain at any safe port or to proceed to and remain at any safe port designated by the Agent until the Borrowers implement any amendments to the terms of the obligatory insurances and any operational changes required as a result of a notice served under Clause 13.19. |
13.21 | Insurance report. The Agent may (and upon the request of a Lender, will) from time to time obtain, at the cost of the Borrowers, an opinion from an independent insurance consultant who is acceptable to the Lenders on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ships or either of them as the Agent may require. |
14 | SHIP COVENANTS |
14.1 | General. Each Obligor also undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 14 at all times during the Security Period except as the Agent, with the authority of the Majority Lenders or, in relation to Clauses 14.2 and 14.3(b), of the Lenders, may otherwise permit (such permission to be in writing in relation to Clauses 14.2, 14.3(b) and 14.14(e)). |
14.2 | Ship's name and registration. Each Borrower shall keep the Ship owned by it registered in its name under the Approved Flag; shall not do or allow to be done anything as a result of which such registration might be cancelled or imperilled; and shall not change the name or port of registry of the Ship owned by it. |
14.3 | Repair and classification. Each Borrower shall keep the Ship owned by it in a good and safe condition and state of repair: |
(a) | consistent with first‑class ship ownership and management practice; |
(b) | so as to maintain the highest class applicable to vessels of the same age, type and specification as the Ship at Lloyd's Register of Shipping (or an equivalent IACS classification society acceptable to the Agent in its sole discretion) free of overdue recommendations, adverse notations and conditions; and |
(c) | so as to comply with all laws and regulations applicable to vessels registered at ports in the Approved Flag State or to vessels trading to any jurisdiction to which that Ship may trade from time to time, including but not limited to the ISM Code and the ISPS Code and the ISM Code Documentation and the ISPS Code Documentation. |
14.4 | Class record etc. Each Borrower shall, upon the written request of the Agent, instruct the classification society of the Ship owned by it to do all or any of the following: |
(a) | to send to the Agent, following receipt of a written request from the Agent, certified true copies of all original class records held by the classification society in relation to that Ship; |
(b) | to allow the Agent (or its agents), at any time and from time to time, to inspect the original class and related records of that Borrower and that Ship at the offices of the classification society and to take copies of them. |
14.5 | Modification. Neither Borrower shall make any modification or repairs to, or replacement of, its Ship or equipment installed on her which would or might materially alter the structure, type or performance characteristics of that Ship or materially reduce her value. |
14.6 | Removal of parts. Neither Borrower shall remove any material part of its Ship or any item of equipment installed on either Ship unless the part or item so removed is forthwith replaced by a suitable part or item which is in the same condition as or better condition than the part or item removed, is free from any Security Interest or any right in favour of any person other than the Security Trustee and becomes on installation on the relevant Ship the property of the relevant Borrower and subject to the security constituted by the Mortgage Provided that a Borrower may install equipment owned by a third party if the equipment can be removed without any risk of damage to the Ship owned by it. |
14.7 | Technical Survey . Without prejudice to the Borrowers' obligations pursuant to Clause 14.8, each Borrower shall promptly following the request of the Agent (such request to be made no more than twice in any calendar year), submit the Ship owned by it for a technical survey by an independent surveyor or surveyors appointed by the Agent. All fees and expenses incurred in relation to the appointment of the surveyor or surveyors and the preparation and issue of all technical reports pursuant to this Clause 14.7 shall be for the account of the Borrowers. |
14.8 | Surveys. Each Borrower shall submit the Ship owned by it regularly to all periodical or other surveys which may be required for classification purposes and, if so required by the Agent provide the Security Trustee, with copies of all survey reports. |
14.9 | Inspection. Each Borrower shall permit the Agent (by surveyors or other persons appointed by it for that purpose) to board the Ship owned by it at all reasonable times, to inspect her condition or to satisfy themselves about proposed or executed repairs and shall afford all proper facilities for such inspections. All fees and expenses incurred in relation to the appointment of the surveyor or surveyors and preparation and issue of all technical reports pursuant to this Clause 14.9 shall be for the account of the Borrowers (i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, once per Ship and per calendar year and (ii) following the occurrence of an Event of Default, in all cases. |
14.10 | Prevention of and release from arrest. Each Borrower shall promptly discharge: |
(a) | all liabilities which give or may give rise to maritime or possessory liens on or claims enforceable against the Ship owned by it, the Earnings or the Insurances; |
(b) | all taxes, dues and other amounts charged in respect of the Ship owned by it, the Earnings or the Insurances; and |
(c) | all other outgoings whatsoever in respect of the Ship owned by it, the Earnings or the Insurances |
14.11 | Compliance with laws etc. Each Borrower shall: |
(a) | comply, or procure compliance with the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, all Environmental Laws and all other laws or regulations relating to the Ship owned by it, its ownership, operation and management or to the business of that Borrower (including, but not limited to, the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention adopted by the International Maritime Organisation); |
(b) | comply, and will use best endeavours to procure that each Security Party and each other Group Member will, comply in all respect with all Sanctions |
(c) | not employ the Ship owned by it nor allow her employment in any manner contrary to any law or regulation in any relevant jurisdiction including but not limited to the ISM Code and the ISPS Code; and |
(d) | in the event of hostilities in any part of the world (whether war is declared or not), not cause or permit the Ship owned by it to enter or trade to any zone which is declared a war zone by any government or by the Ship's war risks insurers unless the prior written consent of the Agent has been given and that Borrower has (at its expense) effected any special, additional or modified insurance cover which the Agent may require. |
14.12 | Provision of information. Each Borrower shall promptly provide the Security Trustee with any information which the Security Trustee requests regarding: |
(a) | the Ship owned by it, her employment, position and engagements; |
(b) | the Earnings and payments and amounts due to the master and crew of the Ship owned by it; |
(c) | any expenses incurred, or likely to be incurred, in connection with the operation, maintenance or repair of the Ship owned by it and any payments made in respect of that Ship; |
(d) | any towages and salvages; and |
(e) | its compliance or the compliance of the Ship owned by it with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code, |
14.13 | Notification of certain events. Each Borrower shall immediately notify the Agent by letter of: |
(a) | any casualty which is or is likely to be or to become a Major Casualty; |
(b) | any occurrence as a result of which the Ship owned by it has become or is, by the passing of time or otherwise, likely to become a Total Loss; |
(c) | any requirement or recommendation made by any insurer or classification society or by any competent authority which is not immediately complied with; |
(d) | any arrest or detention of the Ship owned by it, any exercise or purported exercise of any lien on that Ship or her Earnings or any requisition of that Ship for hire; |
(e) | any intended dry docking of the Ship owned by it; |
(f) | any Environmental Claim made against that Borrower or in connection with the Ship owned by it, or any Environmental Incident; |
(g) | any claim for breach of the ISM Code or the ISPS Code being made against that Borrower or otherwise in connection with the Ship owned by it; or |
(h) | any other matter, event or incident, actual or threatened, the effect of which will or could lead to the ISM Code and/or the ISPS Code not being complied with, |
14.14 | Restrictions on chartering, appointment of agents etc. |
(a) | let the Ship owned by it on demise charter for any period; |
(b) | enter into any time or consecutive voyage charter in respect of the Ship owned by it for a term which exceeds, or which by virtue of any optional extensions may exceed, 12 months; |
(c) | enter into any charter in relation to the Ship owned by it under which more than 2 months' hire (or the equivalent) is payable in advance; |
(d) | charter the Ship owned by it otherwise than on bona fide arm's length terms at the time when that Ship is fixed; |
(e) | appoint an agent of the Ship owned by it other than the Approved Manager or agree to any alteration to the terms of the Approved Manager's appointment; |
(f) | de‑activate or lay up the Ship owned by it; or |
(g) | put the Ship owned by it into the possession of any person for the purpose of work being done upon her in an amount exceeding or likely to exceed $500,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency) unless that person has first given to the Security Trustee and in terms satisfactory to it a written undertaking not to exercise any lien on that Ship or her Earnings for the cost of such work or otherwise. |
14.15 | Notice of Mortgage. Each Borrower shall keep the Mortgage registered against the Ship owned by it as a valid first priority mortgage, carry on board that Ship a certified copy of the Mortgage and place and maintain in a conspicuous place in the navigation room and the Master's cabin of that Ship a framed printed notice stating that that Ship is mortgaged by that Borrower to the Security Trustee. |
14.16 | Sharing of Earnings. Neither Borrower shall: |
(a) | enter into any agreement or arrangement for the sharing of any Earnings; |
(b) | enter into any agreement or arrangement for the postponement of any date on which any Earnings are due; the reduction of the amount of any Earnings or otherwise for the release or adverse alteration of any right of a Borrower to any Earnings; or |
(c) | enter into any agreement or arrangement for the release of, or adverse alteration to, any guarantee or Security Interest relating to any Earnings. |
14.17 | Charter Assignment. If a Borrower enters into any charter or contract of affreightment in respect of the Ship owned by it which is of 12 months or more in duration, or is capable of exceeding 12 months in duration, that Borrower shall, at the request of the Agent, execute in favour of the Security Trustee an assignment and notice of assignment of such charter and (in the case of bareboat charter) a tripartite deed made with the charterer each in such form and on such terms as the Lenders may require, and shall deliver to the Agent such other documents equivalent to those referred to at paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Part A of Schedule 4 hereof as the Agent may require. |
14.18 | Required Charterparties . Neither Borrower shall terminate or amend as to charterhire, term or any other material respect the Required Charterparty to which it is party. |
15 | SECURITY COVER |
15.1 | Provision of additional security cover; prepayment of Loan. Each Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party that if the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) notifies the Borrowers that: |
(a) | the Market Value (determined as provided below) of a Ship; plus |
(b) | the net realisable value of any additional security previously provided under this Clause 15, |
(i) | provide, or ensure that a third party provides, additional security which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, has a net realisable value at least equal to the shortfall and which covers such asset or assets, and is documented in such terms, as the Agent may, with authorisation from the Majority Lenders, approve or require; or |
(ii) | prepay in accordance with Clause 8 such part (at least) of the Relevant Tranche as will eliminate the shortfall. |
15.2 | Valuation of Ship. The market value of a Ship at any date is that shown as the average of two valuations each prepared: |
(a) | In form and substance acceptable to the Agent; |
(b) | as at a date not more than 15 days previously and addressed to the Agent; |
(c) | by an Approved Broker which the Agent has appointed or approved for the purpose; |
(d) | with or without physical inspection of the relevant Ship (as the Agent may require); |
(e) | on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery for cash on normal arm's length commercial terms as between a willing seller and a willing buyer, free of any existing charter or other contract of employment; and |
(f) | after deducting the estimated amount of the usual and reasonable expenses which would be incurred in connection with the sale |
15.3 | Value of additional security. The net realisable value of any additional security which is provided under Clause 15.1 and which consists of a Security Interest over a vessel shall be that shown by a valuation complying with the requirements of Clause 15.2. |
15.4 | Valuations binding. Any valuation under Clause 15.1(b)(i), 15.2 or 15.3 shall be binding and conclusive as regards the Borrowers, as shall be any valuation which the Majority Lenders make of a security which does not consist of or include a Security Interest. |
15.5 | Provision of information. The Borrowers shall promptly provide the Agent and any Approved Broker acting under Clause 15.2 or 15.3 with any information which the Agent or the Approved Broker may request for the purposes of the valuation; and, if the Borrowers fail to provide the information by the date specified in the request, the valuation may be made on any basis and assumptions which the Approved Broker or the Majority Lenders (or the expert appointed by them) consider prudent. |
15.6 | Payment of valuation expenses. Without prejudice to the generality of the Borrowers' obligations under Clauses 20.2, 20.3 and 21.2, the Borrowers shall, on demand, pay the Agent the amount of the fees and expenses of any Approved Broker instructed by the Agent under this Clause and all legal and other expenses incurred by any Creditor Party in connection with any matter arising out of this Clause Provided that until the occurrence of an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default, the Borrowers shall be obliged to pay such fees and expenses in respect of each Ship on each Drawdown Date and six-monthly thereafter after drawdown of the first Advance relating to that Ship only. |
15.7 | Frequency of Valuations. The Borrowers acknowledge and agree that the Agent may commission valuations of the Ships at such times as any Lender or Lenders shall deem necessary and, in any event, the Agent shall obtain valuations of each Ship, (i) at the Borrowers' cost, on the Drawdown Date of each Advance and at six-monthly intervals after the Drawdown Date of the first Advance in respect of each Tranche and, after the occurrence of an Event of Default, at such times as the Lenders may require and (ii) at any other time at the cost of the Lender or Lenders which requires such valuation to be made. |
16 | PAYMENTS AND CALCULATIONS |
16.1 | Currency and method of payments. All payments to be made: |
(a) | by the Lenders to the Agent; or |
(b) | by either Borrower to the Agent, the Security Trustee or any Lender, |
(i) | by not later than 10.00 a.m. (New York City time) on the due date; |
(ii) | in same day Dollar funds settled through the New York Clearing House Interbank Payments System (or in such other Dollar funds and/or settled in such other manner as the Agent shall specify as being customary at the time for the settlement of international transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement); and |
(iii) | if in Dollars and in the case of an amount payable by a Lender to the Agent or by a Borrower to the Agent or any Lender, to the account of the Agent at Bank of America, Swift BOFAUS3N, Fed Wire: 026009593 CHIPS 0959, beneficiary account name ABN AMRO Bank N.V,, Amsterdam (Swift: ABNANL2A), beneficiary account No. 06550368324) with reference, or to such other account with such other bank as the Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrowers and the other Creditor Parties or to such other account with such other bank as the Security Trustee may from time to time notify to the Borrowers and the other Creditor Parties . |
16.2 | Payment on non-Business Day. If any payment by a Borrower under a Finance Document would otherwise fall due on a day which is not a Business Day: |
(a) | the due date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day; or |
(b) | if the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month, the due date shall be brought forward to the immediately preceding Business Day, |
16.3 | Basis for calculation of periodic payments. All interest and commitment fee and any other payments under any Finance Document which are of an annual or periodic nature shall accrue from day to day and shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 360 day year. |
16.4 | Distribution of payments to Creditor Parties. Subject to Clauses 16.5, 16.6 and 16.7: |
(a) | any amount received by the Agent or the Security Trustee under a Finance Document for distribution or remittance to a Lender, a Swap Bank or the Security Trustee shall be made available by the Agent to that Lender, that Swap Bank or, as the case may be to the Security Trustee by payment, with funds having the same value as the funds received, to such account as that Lender, that Swap Bank or the Security Trustee may have notified to the Agent not less than 5 Business Days previously; and |
(b) | amounts to be applied in satisfying amounts of a particular category which are due to the Lenders generally shall be distributed by the Agent to each Lender pro rata to the amount in that category which is due to it. |
16.5 | Permitted deductions by Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Finance Document, the Agent may, before making an amount available to a Lender, deduct and withhold from that amount any sum which is then due and payable to the Agent from that Lender under any Finance Document or any sum which the Agent is then entitled under any Finance Document to require that Lender to pay on demand. |
16.6 | Agent only obliged to pay when monies received. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Finance Document, the Agent shall not be obliged to make available to the Borrowers or any Lender or any Swap Bank any sum which the Agent is expecting to receive for remittance or distribution to the Borrowers or that Lender or that Swap Bank until the Agent has satisfied itself that it has received that sum. |
16.7 | Refund to Agent of monies not received. If and to the extent that the Agent makes available a sum to the Borrowers or a Lender or a Swap Bank, without first having received that sum, the Borrowers or (as the case may be) the Lender concerned or the Swap Bank concerned shall, on demand: |
(a) | refund the sum in full to the Agent; and |
(b) | pay to the Agent the amount (as certified by the Agent) which will indemnify the Agent against any funding or other loss, liability or expense incurred by the Agent as a result of making the sum available before receiving it. |
16.8 | Agent may assume receipt. Clause 16.7 shall not affect any claim which the Agent has under the law of restitution, and applies irrespective of whether the Agent had any form of notice that it had not received the sum which it made available. |
16.9 | Creditor Party accounts. Each Creditor Party shall maintain accounts showing the amounts owing to it by the Borrowers and each Security Party under the Finance Documents and all payments in respect of those amounts made by the Borrowers and any Security Party. |
16.10 | Agent's memorandum account. The Agent shall maintain a memorandum account showing the amounts advanced by the Lenders and all other sums owing to the Creditor Parties from the Borrowers and each Security Party under the Finance Documents and all payments in respect of those amounts made by the Borrowers and any Security Party. |
16.11 | Accounts prima facie evidence. If any accounts maintained under Clauses 16.9 and 16.10 show an amount to be owing by the Borrowers or a Security Party to a Creditor Party, those accounts shall, absent manifest error, be prima facie evidence that that amount is owing to that Creditor Party. |
17 | APPLICATION OF RECEIPTS |
17.1 | Normal order of application. Except as any Finance Document may otherwise provide, any sums which are received or recovered by any Creditor Party under or by virtue of any Finance Document shall be applied: |
(a) | FIRST: in or towards satisfaction of any amounts then due and payable under the Finance Documents in the following order and proportions: |
(i) | first, in or towards satisfaction pro rata of all amounts then due and payable to the Creditor Parties under the Finance Documents other than those amounts referred to at paragraphs (ii) and (iii) (including, but without limitation, all amounts payable by the Borrowers under Clauses 20, 21 and 22 of this Agreement or by the Borrowers or any Security Party under any corresponding or similar provision in any other Finance Document); |
(ii) | secondly, in or towards satisfaction pro rata of interest and default interest payable to the Creditor Parties under the Finance Documents (and, for this purpose, the expression " interest " shall include any net amount which the Borrowers shall have become liable to pay or deliver under section 2(c) (Obligations) of the Master Agreement but shall have failed to pay or deliver to the Swap Bank at the time of application or distribution under this Clause 17); and |
(iii) | thirdly, in or towards satisfaction of the Loan and the Swap Exposure (calculated as at the actual Early Termination Date applying to each particular Designated Transaction, or if no such Early Termination Date shall have occurred, calculated as if an Early Termination Date occurred on the date of application or distribution hereunder) ; |
(b) | SECONDLY: following the occurrence of an Event of Default, in retention of an amount equal to any amount not then due and payable under any Finance Document but which the Agent (or in the case of a Master Agreement, which the relevant Swap Bank), by notice to the Borrowers, the Security Parties and the other Creditor Parties, states in its opinion will or may become due and payable in the future and, upon those amounts becoming due and payable, in or towards satisfaction of them in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Clause; and |
(c) | THIRDLY: any surplus shall be paid to the Borrowers or to any other person appearing to be entitled to it. |
17.2 | Variation of order of application. The Security Trustee may, with the authorisation of the Lenders and the Swap Banks by notice to the Borrowers, the Security Parties and the other Creditor Parties provide for a different manner of application from that set out in Clause 17.1 either as regards a specified sum or sums or as regards sums in a specified category or categories. |
17.3 | Notice of variation of order of application. The Security Trustee may give notices under Clause 17.2 from time to time; and such a notice may be stated to apply not only to sums which may be received or recovered in the future, but also to any sum which has been received or recovered on or after the third Business Day before the date on which the notice is served. |
17.4 | Appropriation rights overridden. This Clause 17 and any notice which the Security Trustee gives under Clause 17.2 shall override any right of appropriation possessed, and any appropriation made, by either Borrower or any Security Party. |
18 | APPLICATION OF EARNINGS |
18.1 | Payment of Earnings and Swap Payments. Each Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to ensure that, throughout the Security Period (and subject only to the provisions of the General Assignment), all the Earnings of the Ship owned by it are paid to the Earnings Account for that Ship, and all payments by the Swap Banks to the Borrowers under each Designated Transaction are paid to an Earnings Account. |
18.2 | Application of Earnings. Each Borrower undertakes with the Lenders that money from time to time credited to, or for the time being standing to the credit of, an Earnings Account shall, unless and until an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default shall have occurred (whereupon the provisions of Clause 17.1 shall be and become applicable), be available for application in the following manner: |
(a) | FIRSTLY: in or towards meeting the costs, fees and expenses payable by the Borrowers under the Finance Documents; |
(b) | SECONDLY: pari passu in or towards (i) making the transfers to the Retention Account required pursuant to Clause 18.3 and (ii) payment of amounts due and payable under the Master Agreement ; |
(c) | THIRDLY: in or towards making the transfers to the Debt Service Reserve Accounts pursuant to Clause 18.7; and |
(d) | FOURTHLY: provided no Event of Default or Potential Event of default has occurred which is continuing, in payment to the Borrowers. |
18.3 | Monthly retentions. Each Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to ensure that, throughout the Security Period commencing on the date falling one month after each first Drawdown Date of each Tranche and on the same day in each subsequent month, there is transferred to the Retention Account in the name of the Borrower which is the owner of that Ship: |
(a) | one-third of the repayment instalment in respect of the Relevant Tranche falling due under Clause 8.1 on the next Repayment Date relative to such Tranche (and the first retention for each Tranche shall be in such amount as if the second Advance for that Tranche had been made in full prior to the date of that retention, whether or not such Advance has been made in fact); and |
(b) | the relevant fraction of the aggregate amount of interest on the Relevant Tranche which is payable on the next due date for payment of interest for that Tranche. |
18.4 | Shortfall in Earnings. If the aggregate Earnings received in the Earnings Accounts are insufficient in any month for the required amount to be transferred to any Retention |
18.5 | Application of retentions. Until an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default occurs, the Account Bank shall on each Repayment Date and on each due date for the payment of interest under this Agreement pay to the Agent, for the Agent to distribute to the Lenders in accordance with Clause 16.4 so much of the then balance on the relevant Retention Account as equals: |
(a) | the repayment instalment due on that Repayment Date; and, as the case may be, |
(b) | the amount of interest payable on that interest payment date |
18.6 | Minimum Balance . The balance on each of the Earnings Accounts shall not fall below $2,500,000 while the Ship owned by the owner of such account is subject to a Mortgage. |
18.7 | Debt Service Reserve accounts. Each Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to ensure that on the date falling one month after the Drawdown Date (the " Relevant Drawdown Date ") in respect of the first Advance relating to its Ship and on the same day in each subsequent month, there is transferred to the Debt Service Reserve Account in its name $7,500,000 multiplied by the Relevant Fraction, such transfer to be made up to the earlier of |
(i) | 30 September 2018 in respect of Ship A and 31 July 2018 in respect of Ship B (the " Anticipated Termination Date ") and |
(ii) | the date on which it enters into a Subsequent Qualified Charterparty |
18.8 | Location of accounts. Each Borrower shall promptly : |
(a) | comply with any requirement of the Agent as to the location or re‑location of the Earnings Accounts, the Retention Accounts, the Debt Service Reserve Account or any of them, provided that those accounts must at all times be with the Account Bank; and |
(b) | execute any documents which the Agent specifies to create or maintain in favour of the Security Trustee a Security Interest over the Earnings Accounts and the Retention Accounts. |
18.9 | Debits for expenses etc . The Agent shall be entitled (but not obliged) from time to time to debit the Earnings Accounts, without prior notice following the occurrence of an Event of Default and otherwise with 5 Business Days prior notice, in order to discharge any |
18.10 | Borrowers' obligations unaffected. The provisions of this Clause 18 do not affect: |
(a) | the liability of the Borrowers to make payments of principal and interest on the due dates; or |
(b) | any other liability or obligation of the Borrowers or any Security Party under any Finance Document. |
19 | EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
19.1 | Events of Default. An Event of Default occurs if: |
(a) | either Borrower or any Security Party fails to pay when due or (if so payable) on demand any sum payable under a Finance Document or under any document relating to a Finance Document; or |
(b) | any breach occurs of Clause 9.2, 11.2, 11.3, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.7, 12.8, 12.10, 13.2, 13.3, 13.5, 13.9, 14.11(b) or 15.1; or |
(c) | any breach by either Borrower or any Security Party occurs of any provision of a Finance Document (other than a breach covered by paragraphs (a) or (b) above), provided that if, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, such default is capable of remedy, and such default continues unremedied, no Event of Default shall occur unless such breach continues for 5 days after written notice from the Agent requesting action to remedy the same; or |
(d) | any representation, warranty or statement made by, or by an officer of, a Borrower or a Security Party in a Finance Document or in the Drawdown Notice or any other notice or document relating to a Finance Document is untrue or misleading when it is made; or |
(e) | any of the following occurs in relation to any Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person: |
(i) | any Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person is not paid when due or, if so payable, on demand; or |
(ii) | any Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person becomes due and payable or capable of being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity date as a consequence of any event of default; or |
(iii) | a lease, hire purchase agreement or charter creating any Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person is terminated by the lessor or owner or becomes capable of being terminated as a consequence of any termination event; or |
(iv) | any overdraft, loan, note issuance, acceptance credit, letter of credit, guarantee, foreign exchange or other facility, or any swap or other derivative contract or transaction, relating to any Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person ceases to be available or becomes capable of being terminated as a result of any event of default, or cash cover is required, or becomes capable of being required, in respect of such a facility as a result of any event of default; or |
(v) | any Security Interest securing any Financial Indebtedness of a Relevant Person becomes enforceable; or |
(f) | any of the following occurs in relation to a Relevant Person: |
(i) | a Relevant Person becomes, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, unable to pay its debts as they fall due; or |
(ii) | any assets of a Relevant Person are subject to any form of execution, attachment, arrest, sequestration or distress in respect of a sum of, or sums aggregating, $100,000 or more or the equivalent in another currency; or |
(iii) | any administrative or other receiver is appointed over any asset of a Relevant Person; or |
(iv) | a Relevant Person makes any formal declaration of bankruptcy or any formal statement to the effect that it is insolvent or likely to become insolvent, or a winding up or administration order is made in relation to a Relevant Person, or the members or directors of a Relevant Person pass a resolution to the effect that it should be wound up, placed in administration or cease to carry on business, save that this paragraph does not apply to a fully solvent winding up of a Relevant Person which is, or is to be, effected for the purposes of an amalgamation or reconstruction previously approved by the Majority Lenders and effected not later than 3 months after the commencement of the winding up; or |
(v) | a petition is presented in any Pertinent Jurisdiction for the winding up or administration, or the appointment of a provisional liquidator, of a Relevant Person unless the petition is being contested in good faith and on substantial grounds and is dismissed or withdrawn within 30 days of the presentation of the petition; or |
(vi) | a Relevant Person petitions a court, or presents any proposal for, any form of judicial or non‑judicial suspension or deferral of payments, reorganisation of its debt (or certain of its debt) or arrangement with all or a substantial proportion (by number or value) of its creditors or of any class of them or any such suspension or deferral of payments, reorganisation or arrangement is effected by court order, contract or otherwise; or |
(vii) | any meeting of the members or directors of a Relevant Person is summoned for the purpose of considering a resolution or proposal to authorise or take any action of a type described in paragraphs (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) above; or |
(viii) | in a Pertinent Jurisdiction other than England, any event occurs or any procedure is commenced which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, is similar to any of the foregoing; or |
(g) | either Borrower or any Security Party ceases or suspends carrying on its business or a part of its business which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, is material in the context of this Agreement; or |
(h) | it becomes unlawful in any Pertinent Jurisdiction or impossible: |
(i) | for either Borrower or any Security Party to discharge any liability under a Finance Document or to comply with any other obligation which the Majority Lenders consider material under a Finance Document; or |
(ii) | for the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Lenders or the Swap Banks to exercise or enforce any right under, or to enforce any Security Interest created by, a Finance Document; or |
(i) | any official consent necessary to enable either Borrower to own, operate or charter the Ship owned by it or to enable either Borrower or any Security Party to comply with any provision which the Majority Lenders consider material of a Finance Document is not granted, expires without being renewed, is revoked or becomes liable to revocation or any condition of such a consent is not fulfilled; or |
(j) | it appears to the Agent that, without its prior written consent, a change has occurred or probably has occurred after the date of this Agreement in the direct and/or ultimate beneficial ownership of any of the shares in any Security Party or in the ultimate control of the voting rights attaching to any of those shares; or |
(k) | any provision which the Majority Lenders consider material of a Finance Document proves to have been or becomes invalid or unenforceable, or a Security Interest created by a Finance Document proves to have been or becomes invalid or unenforceable or such a Security Interest proves to have ranked after, or loses its priority to, another Security Interest or any other third party claim or interest; or |
(l) | the security constituted by a Finance Document is in any way imperilled or in jeopardy or a Finance document ceases to be valid or enforceable or is otherwise suspended, cancelled or terminated; or |
(m) | any other event occurs or any other circumstances arise or develop including, without limitation: |
(i) | a material adverse change in the financial position, state of affairs or prospects of any Obligor; or |
(ii) | any accident or other event involving either Ship, |
(n) | the Approved Manager ceases to be the agent for either Ship; |
(o) | a Ship is arrested, confiscated, seized, taken in execution, impounded, forfeited, detained in exercise or purported exercise of any possessory lien or other claim or otherwise taken from the possession of the Borrower which owns it and that Borrower shall fail to procure the release of such Ship within a period of sixty (60) days thereafter; |
(p) | a Required Charterparty or Subsequent Qualified Charterparty is terminated, cancelled, superseded, revoked, rescinded, transferred, novated or otherwise ceases to remain in full force and effect for any reason except through effluxion of time or with the consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders); |
(q) | the Approved Flag State of either Ship or the country in which any Security Party is incorporated or domiciled becomes involved in hostilities or civil war or there is a seizure of power in an Approved Flag State by unconstitutional means unless the Ship registered in such Approved Flag State shall have been transferred onto a new Approved Flag acceptable to the Lenders within thirty (30) days of the start of such hostilities or civil war or seizure of power; |
(r) | any Security Party repudiates any of the Finance Documents or does or causes or permits to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any of the Finance; Documents; |
(s) | there shall occur a Material Adverse Event; |
(t) | an Event of Default (as defined in Section 14 of any Master Agreement) occurs; or |
(u) | a Master Agreement is terminated, cancelled, suspended, rescinded or revoked or otherwise ceases to remain in full force and effect for any reason except with the prior written consent of the Agent, acting with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders. |
19.2 | Actions following an Event of Default. On, or at any time after, the occurrence of an Event of Default: |
(a) | the Agent may, and if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, the Agent shall: |
(i) | serve on the Borrowers a notice stating that the Commitments and all other obligations of each Lender to the Borrowers under this Agreement are terminated; and/or |
(ii) | serve on the Borrowers a notice stating that the Loan, all accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or owing under this Agreement are immediately due and payable or are due and payable on demand; and/or |
(iii) | take any other action which, as a result of the Event of Default or any notice served under paragraph (i) or (ii) above, the Agent and/or the Lenders are entitled to take under any Finance Document or any applicable law; and/or |
(b) | the Security Trustee may, and if so instructed by the Agent, acting with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, the Security Trustee shall, take any action which, as a result of the Event of Default or any notice served under paragraph (a) (i) or (ii) above, the Security Trustee, the Agent and/or the Lenders and/or the Swap Banks are entitled to take under any Finance Document or any applicable law. |
19.3 | Termination of Commitments. On the service of a notice under paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 19.2, the Commitments and all other obligations of each Lender to the Borrowers under this Agreement shall terminate. |
19.4 | Acceleration of Loan. On the service of a notice under paragraph (a)(ii) of Clause 19.2, the Loan, all accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or owing from either Borrower or any Security Party under this Agreement and every other Finance Document shall become immediately due and payable or, as the case may be, payable on demand. |
19.5 | Multiple notices; action without notice. The Agent may serve notices under paragraphs (a) (i) and (ii) of Clause 19.2 simultaneously or on different dates and it and/or the Security Trustee may take any action referred to in that Clause if no such notice is served or simultaneously with or at any time after the service of both or either of such notices. |
19.6 | Notification of Creditor Parties and Security Parties. The Agent shall send to each Lender, the Security Trustee, each Swap Bank and each Security Party a copy or the text of any notice which the Agent serves on the Borrowers under Clause 19.2; but the notice shall become effective when it is served on the Borrowers, and no failure or delay by the Agent to send a copy or the text of the notice to any other person shall invalidate the notice or provide either Borrower or any Security Party with any form of claim or defence. |
19.7 | Lender's rights unimpaired. Nothing in this Clause shall be taken to impair or restrict the exercise of any right given to individual Lenders or individual Swap Banks under a Finance Document or the general law; and, in particular, this Clause is without prejudice to Clause 3.1. |
19.8 | Exclusion of Creditor Party Liability. No Creditor Party, and no receiver or manager appointed by the Security Trustee, shall have any liability to the Borrowers or a Security Party: |
(a) | for any loss caused by an exercise of rights under, or enforcement of a Security Interest created by, a Finance Document or by any failure or delay to exercise such a right or to enforce such a Security Interest; or |
(b) | as mortgagee in possession or otherwise, for any income or principal amount which might have been produced by or realised from any asset comprised in such a Security Interest or for any reduction (however caused) in the value of such an asset, |
19.9 | Relevant Persons. In this Clause 19 a " Relevant Person " means an Obligor and any company which is a subsidiary of an Obligor. |
19.10 | Interpretation. In Clause 19.1(f) references to an event of default or a termination event include any event, howsoever described, which is similar to an event of default in a facility agreement or a termination event in a finance lease; and in Clause 19.1(g) "petition" includes an application. |
20 | FEES AND EXPENSES |
20.1 | Arrangement and commitment fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent: |
(a) | the arrangement fee as set out in the letter addressed by the Agent to the Borrowers bearing even date with this Agreement for the account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Commitments; |
(b) | the agency fee as set out in the letter addressed by the Agent to the Borrowers bearing even date with this Agreement; and |
(c) | for the account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Commitments, on each of the dates falling at three (3) monthly intervals after the date of this Agreement until the last day of the Availability Period and on the last day of the Availability Period, commitment commission accruing from the date of this Agreement (in the case of the first payment of commission) and from the date of the preceding payment of commission (in the case of each subsequent payment) at the rate of forty per cent (40.0%) of the Margin per annum on the daily undrawn amount of the Total Commitments. |
20.2 | Costs of negotiation, preparation etc. The Borrowers shall pay, whether or not any Advance is made, to the Agent on its demand the amount of all expenses (including, but not limited to, legal and other advisers' fees), VAT and disbursements incurred by any Lender, the Agent or the Security Trustee in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution or registration of any Finance Document or any related document or with any transaction contemplated by a Finance Document or a related document and all other costs related to syndication of the loan and distribution of information in relation thereto. |
20.3 | Costs of variations, amendments, enforcement etc. The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, on the Agent's demand, the amount of all expenses incurred by a Lender or a Swap Bank in connection with: |
(a) | any amendment or supplement to a Finance Document, or any proposal for such an amendment to be made; |
(b) | any consent or waiver by the Lenders, the Majority Lenders, the Swap Banks or the Lender concerned under or in connection with Finance Document, or any request for such a consent or waiver; |
(c) | the valuation of any security provided or offered under Clause 15 or any other matter relating to such security; |
(d) | where the Agent, in its absolute opinion, considers that there has been a material change to the insurances in respect of either Ship, the review of the insurances or either Ship pursuant to Clause 13.18; |
(e) | any step taken by any Lender concerned or the Swap Bank concerned with a view to the protection, exercise or enforcement of any right or Security Interest created by a Finance Document or for any similar purpose. |
20.4 | Agent's Management time . Any amount payable to the Agent under this Clause 20 and Clause 4 of the Agency and Trust Deed (Limitations on the responsibilities of, and indemnities for, the Agent and the Security Trustee) shall include the cost of utilising the Agent's management time or other resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Agent may notify to the Borrowers and the Lenders, and is in addition to any fee paid or payable to the Agent under the letter referred to in Clause 20.1(b) Error! Reference source not found. . |
20.5 | Documentary taxes. The Borrowers shall promptly pay any tax payable on or by reference to any Finance Document, and shall, on the Agent's demand, fully indemnify each Creditor Party against any liabilities and expenses resulting from any failure or delay by a Borrower to pay such a tax. |
20.6 | Certification of amounts. A notice which is signed by two officers of a Creditor Party, which states that a specified amount, or aggregate amount, is due to that Creditor Party under this Clause 20 and which indicates (without necessarily specifying a detailed breakdown) the matters in respect of which the amount, or aggregate amount, is due shall, save for manifest error, be prima facie evidence that the amount, or aggregate amount, is due. |
21 | INDEMNITIES |
21.1 | Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan. The Borrowers shall fully indemnify the Agent and each Lender and each Swap Bank on the Agent's demand and the Security Trustee on its demand in respect of all expenses, liabilities and losses which are incurred by that Creditor Party as a result of or in connection with: |
(a) | an Advance not being borrowed on the date specified in the Drawdown Notice for any reason other than a default by a Lender or a Swap Bank claiming the indemnity; |
(b) |
Breakage Costs;
|
(c) | any failure (for whatever reason) by the Borrowers to make payment of any amount due under a Finance Document on the due date or, if so payable, on demand (after giving |
(d) | the occurrence and/or continuance of an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default and/or the acceleration of repayment of the Loan under Clause 19; |
21.2 | Miscellaneous indemnities. The Borrowers shall fully indemnify each Creditor Party severally on their respective demands in respect of all claims, demands, proceedings, liabilities, taxes, losses and expenses of every kind (" liability items ") which may be made or brought against, or incurred by, any Creditor Party, in any country, in relation to: |
(a) | any action taken, or omitted or neglected to be taken, under or in connection with any Finance Document by the Agent, the Security Trustee or any other Creditor Party or by any receiver appointed under a Finance Document; |
(b) | any other event, matter or question which occurs or arises at any time during the Security Period and which has any connection with, or any bearing on, any Finance Document, any payment or other transaction relating to a Finance Document or any asset covered (or previously covered) by a Security Interest created (or intended to be created) by a Finance Document, |
21.3 | Extension of indemnities; environmental indemnity. Without prejudice to its generality, Clause 21.2 covers: |
(a) | any matter which would be covered by Clause 20.3 if any of the references in that Clause to a Lender were a reference to the Agent or (as the case may be) to the Security Trustee; and |
(b) | any liability items which arise, or are asserted, under or in connection with any law or any regulation relating to safety at sea, pollution or the protection of the environment, including but not limited to the ISM Code and the ISPS Code. |
21.4 | Currency indemnity. If any sum due from the Borrowers or any Security Party to a Creditor Party under a Finance Document or under any order or judgment relating to a Finance Document has to be converted from the currency in which the Finance Document provided for the sum to be paid (the " Contractual Currency ") into another currency (the " Payment Currency ") for the purpose of: |
(a) | making or lodging any claim or proof against the Borrowers or any Security Party, whether in its liquidation, any arrangement involving it or otherwise; or |
(b) | obtaining an order or judgment from any court or other tribunal; or |
(c) | enforcing any such order or judgment, |
21.5 | Application of Master Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, Clause 21.4 does not apply in respect of sums due from the Borrowers to any Swap Bank under or in connection with a Master Agreement as to which sums the provisions of Section 8 (Contractual Currency) of the relevant Master Agreement shall apply. |
21.6 | Certification of amounts. A notice which is signed by 2 officers of a Creditor Party, which states that a specified amount, or aggregate amount, is due to that Creditor Party under this Clause 21 and which indicates (without necessarily specifying a detailed breakdown) the matters in respect of which the amount, or aggregate amount, is due shall, save for manifest error, be prima facie evidence that the amount, or aggregate amount, is due. |
21.7 | Sums deemed due to a Lender. For the purposes of this Clause 21, a sum payable by the Borrowers to the Agent or the Security Trustee for distribution to a Lender shall be treated as a sum due to that Lender. |
22 | NO SET-OFF OR TAX DEDUCTION |
22.1 | No deductions. All amounts due from the Obligors under a Finance Document shall be paid: |
(a) | without any form of set‑off, cross-claim or condition; and |
(b) | free and clear of any tax deduction except a tax deduction which either Borrower is required by law to make. |
22.2 | Grossing-up for taxes. If a Borrower is required by law to make a tax deduction from any payment: |
(a) | that Borrower shall notify the Agent as soon as it becomes aware of the requirement; |
(b) | that Borrower shall pay the tax deducted to the appropriate taxation authority promptly, and in any event before any fine or penalty arises; |
(c) | the amount due in respect of the payment shall be increased by the amount necessary to ensure that each Creditor Party receives and retains (free from any liability relating to the tax deduction) a net amount which, after the tax deduction, is equal to the full amount which it would otherwise have received. |
22.3 | Evidence of payment of taxes. Within 1 month after making any tax deduction, a Borrower concerned shall deliver to the Agent documentary evidence satisfactory to the Agent that the tax had been paid to the appropriate taxation authority. |
22.4 | Exclusion of tax on overall net income. In this Clause 22 " tax deduction " means any deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax except tax on a Creditor Party's overall net income. |
22.5 | FATCA Deduction |
(i) | a party to any Security Document may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no party to any Security Document shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction. |
(ii) | a party to any Security Document shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction) notify the party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Borrowers, the Agent and the other Creditor Parties . |
22.6 | Application of Master Agreements For the avoidance of doubt, Clause 22 does not apply in respect of sums due from the Borrowers to any Swap Bank under or in connection with a Master Agreement as to which sums the provisions of Section 2(d) (Deduction or Withholding Tax) of the relevant Master Agreement shall apply. |
22.7 | Notice of prepayment. If the Borrowers are not willing to continue to pay an increased amount under clause 22.2, the Borrowers may give the Agent not less than is 10 Business Days' notice of their intention to prepay the Contribution of any Lender whose Contribution is giving rise to such increased payment (a " Relevant Lender "), at the end of an Interest Period. |
22.8 | Prepayment; termination of Commitment. A notice under Clause 22.7 shall be irrevocable; the Agent shall promptly notify the Relevant Lender of the Borrowers' notice of intended prepayment; and: |
(a) | on the date on which the Agent serves that notice, the Commitment of the Relevant Lender shall be cancelled; and |
(b) | on the date specified in its notice of intended prepayment, the Borrowers shall prepay (without premium or penalty) the Relevant Lender's Contribution, together with accrued interest thereon at the applicable rate plus the Margin. |
23 | ILLEGALITY, ETC |
23.1 | Illegality. This Clause 23 applies if a Lender (the " Notifying Lender ") notifies the Agent that it has become, or will with effect from a specified date, become: |
(a) | unlawful or prohibited as a result of the introduction of a new law, an amendment to an existing law or a change in the manner in which an existing law is or will be interpreted or applied; or |
(b) | contrary to, or inconsistent with, any regulation, |
23.2 | Notification of illegality. The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers, the Security Parties, the Security Trustee and the other Lenders of the notice under Clause 23.1 which the Agent receives from the Notifying Lender. |
23.3 | Prepayment; termination of Commitment. On the Agent notifying the Borrowers under Clause 23.2, the Lenders' Commitment shall terminate; and thereupon or, if later, on the date specified in the Notifying Lender's notice under Clause 23.1 as the date on |
23.4 | Mitigation . If circumstances arise which would result in a notification under Clause 23.1 then, without in any way limiting the rights of the Notifying Lender under Clause 23.3, the Notifying Lender shall use reasonable endeavours to transfer its obligations, liabilities and rights under this Agreement and the Finance Documents to another office or financial institution not affected by the circumstances but the Notifying Lender shall not be under any obligation to take any such action if, in its opinion, to do would or might: |
(a) | have an adverse effect on its business, operations or financial condition; or |
(b) | involve it in any activity which is unlawful or prohibited or any activity that is contrary to, or inconsistent with, any regulation; or |
(c) | involve it in any expense (unless indemnified to its satisfaction) or tax disadvantage. |
24 | INCREASED COSTS |
24.1 | Increased costs. This Clause 24 applies if a Lender (the " Notifying Lender ") notifies the Agent that the Notifying Lender considers that as a result of: |
(a) | the introduction or alteration after the date of this Agreement of a law or an alteration after the date of this Agreement in the manner in which a law is interpreted or applied (disregarding any effect which relates to the application to payments under this Agreement of a tax on the Lender's overall net income); or |
(b) | the effect of complying with any regulation (including, but not limited to, pursuant to Basel III, CRD IV and CRR and any other which relates to capital adequacy or liquidity controls or which affects the manner in which the Notifying Lender allocates capital resources to its obligations under this Agreement) which is introduced, or altered, or the interpretation or application of which is altered, after the date of this Agreement, |
(i) | an additional or increased cost incurred as a result of, or in connection with, the Notifying Lender having entered into, or being a party to, this Agreement or a Transfer Certificate, of funding or maintaining its Commitment or Contribution or performing its obligations under this Agreement, or of having outstanding all or any part of its Contribution or other unpaid sums; or |
(ii) | a reduction in the amount of any payment to the Notifying Lender under this Agreement or in the effective return which such a payment represents to the Notifying Lender or on its capital; |
(iii) | an additional or increased cost of funding all or maintaining all or any of the advances comprised in a class of advances formed by or including the Notifying Lender's Contribution or (as the case may require) the proportion of that cost attributable to the Contribution; or |
(iv) | a liability to make a payment, or a return foregone, which is calculated by reference to any amounts received or receivable by the Notifying Lender under this Agreement, |
24.2 | Notification to Borrowers of claim for increased costs. The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Security Parties of the notice which the Agent received from the Notifying Lender under Clause 24.1. |
24.3 | Payment of increased costs. The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, on the Agent's demand, for the account of the Notifying Lender the amounts which the Agent from time to time notifies the Borrowers that the Notifying Lender has specified to be necessary to compensate the Notifying Lender for the increased cost. |
24.4 | Notice of prepayment. If the Borrowers are not willing to continue to compensate the Notifying Lender for the increased cost under Clause 24.3, the Borrowers may give the Agent not less than is 10 Business Days' notice of its intention to prepay the Notifying Lender's Contribution at the end of an Interest Period. |
24.5 | Prepayment; termination of Commitment. A notice under Clause 24.4 shall be irrevocable; the Agent shall promptly notify the Notifying Lender of the Borrowers' notice of intended prepayment; and: |
(a) | on the date on which the Agent serves that notice, the Commitment of the Notifying Lender shall be cancelled; and |
(b) | on the date specified in its notice of intended prepayment, the Borrowers shall prepay (without premium or penalty) the Notifying Lender's Contribution, together with accrued interest thereon at the applicable rate plus the Margin and Mandatory Costs (if any) . |
24.6 | Application of prepayment. Clause 8 shall apply in relation to the prepayment. |
25 | SET‑OFF |
25.1 | Application of credit balances. Each Creditor Party may without prior notice: |
(a) | apply any balance (whether or not then due) which at any time stands to the credit of any account in the name of either Borrower at any office in any country of that Creditor Party in or towards satisfaction of any sum then due from the Borrowers to that Creditor Party under any of the Finance Documents; and |
(b) | for that purpose: |
(i) | break, or alter the maturity of, all or any part of a deposit of either Borrower; |
(ii) | convert or translate all or any part of a deposit or other credit balance into Dollars; |
(iii) | enter into any other transaction or make any entry with regard to the credit balance which the Creditor Party concerned considers appropriate. |
25.2 | Existing rights unaffected. No Creditor Party shall be obliged to exercise any of its rights under Clause 25.1; and those rights shall be without prejudice and in addition to |
25.3 | Sums deemed due to a Lender. For the purposes of this Clause 25, a sum payable by the Borrowers to the Agent or the Security Trustee for distribution to, or for the account of, a Lender shall be treated as a sum due to that Lender; and each Lender's proportion of a sum so payable for distribution to, or for the account of, the Lenders shall be treated as a sum due to such Lender. |
26 | TRANSFERS AND CHANGES IN LENDING OFFICES |
26.1 | Transfer by Borrower. Neither Borrower may, without the prior written consent of the Agent, given on the instructions of all the Lenders: |
(a) | transfer any of its rights or obligations under any Finance Document; or |
(b) | enter into any merger, de-merger or other reorganisation, or carry out any other act, as a result of which any of its rights or liabilities would vest in, or pass to, another person. |
26.2 | Transfer by a Lender. Subject to Clause 26.4, a Lender (the " Transferor Lender ") may at any time, without the consent of any Security Party, transfer: |
(a) | its rights in respect of all or part of its Contribution (including but not limited to those under clause 22); or |
(b) | its obligations in respect of all or part of its Commitment; or |
(c) | a combination of (a) and (b), |
26.3 | Transfer Certificate, delivery and notification. As soon as reasonably practicable after a Transfer Certificate is delivered to the Agent, it shall (unless it has reason to believe that the Transfer Certificate may be defective): |
(a) | sign the Transfer Certificate on behalf of itself, the Borrowers, the Security Parties, the Security Trustee, each Swap Bank and each of the other Lenders; |
(b) | on behalf of the Transferee Lender, send to the Borrowers and each Security Party letters or faxes notifying them of the Transfer Certificate and attaching a copy of it; and |
(c) | send to the Transferee Lender copies of the letters or faxes sent under paragraph (b) above. |
26.4 | Effective Date of Transfer Certificate. A Transfer Certificate shall become effective on the date, if any, specified in the Transfer Certificate as its effective date Provided that it is signed by the Agent under Clause 26.3 on or before that date. |
26.5 | No transfer without Transfer Certificate. No assignment or transfer of any right or obligation of a Lender under any Finance Document shall be binding on, or effective in relation to, the Borrowers, any Security Party, the Agent or the Security Trustee unless it is effected, evidenced or perfected by a Transfer Certificate. |
26.6 | Lender re-organisation; waiver of Transfer Certificate. However, if a Lender enters into any merger, de-merger or other reorganisation as a result of which all its rights or obligations vest in another person (the " successor "), the Agent may, if it sees fit, by notice to the successor and the Borrowers and the Security Trustee waive the need for the execution and delivery of a Transfer Certificate; and, upon service of the Agent's notice, the successor shall become a Lender with the same Commitment and Contribution as were held by the predecessor Lender. |
26.7 | Effect of Transfer Certificate. A Transfer Certificate shall take effect in accordance with English law as follows: |
(a) | to the extent specified in the Transfer Certificate, all rights and interests (present, future or contingent) which the Transferor Lender has under or by virtue of the Finance Documents shall be assigned to the Transferee Lender absolutely, free of any defects in the Transferor Lender's title and of any rights or equities which either Borrower or any Security Party had against the Transferor Lender; |
(b) | the Transferor Lender's Commitment shall be discharged to the extent specified in the Transfer Certificate; |
(c) | the Transferee Lender shall become a Lender with the Contribution previously held by the Transferor Lender and a Commitment of an amount specified in the Transfer Certificate; |
(d) | the Transferee Lender shall become bound by all the provisions of the Finance Documents which are applicable to the Lenders generally, including those about pro‑rata sharing and the exclusion of liability on the part of, and the indemnification of, the Agent and the Security Trustee and, to the extent that the Transferee Lender becomes bound by those provisions (other than those relating to exclusion of liability), the Transferor Lender shall cease to be bound by them; |
(e) | any part of the Loan which the Transferee Lender advances after the Transfer Certificate's effective date shall rank in point of priority and security in the same way as it would have ranked had it been advanced by the transferor, assuming that any defects in the transferor's title and any rights or equities of the Borrowers or any Security Party against the Transferor Lender had not existed; |
(f) | the Transferee Lender shall become entitled to all the rights under the Finance Documents which are applicable to the Lenders generally, including but not limited to those relating to the Majority Lenders and those under Clause 5.7 and Clause 20, and to the extent that the Transferee Lender becomes entitled to such rights, the Transferor Lender shall cease to be entitled to them; and |
(g) | in respect of any breach of a warranty, undertaking, condition or other provision of a Finance Document or any misrepresentation made in or in connection with a Finance Document, the Transferee Lender shall be entitled to recover damages by reference to the loss incurred by it as a result of the breach or misrepresentation, irrespective of whether the original Lender would have incurred a loss of that kind or amount. |
26.8 | Authorisation of Agent to sign Transfer Certificates. The Borrowers, the Security Trustee and each Lender irrevocably authorise the Agent to sign Transfer Certificates on its behalf. |
26.9 | Registration fee. In respect of any Transfer Certificate, the Agent shall be entitled to recover a registration fee of $2,500 from the Transferor Lender or (at the Agent's option) the Transferee Lender. |
26.10 | Sub-participation; subrogation assignment. A Lender may sub‑participate all or any part of its rights and/or obligations under or in connection with the Finance Documents without the consent of, or any notice to, the Borrowers, any Security Party, the Agent or the Security Trustee; and the Lenders may assign, in any manner and terms agreed by the Majority Lenders, the Agent and the Security Trustee, all or any part of those rights to an insurer or surety who has become subrogated to them. |
26.11 | Disclosure of information. A Lender may disclose to a potential Transferee Lender or sub‑participant, credit reinsurer or similar party, any information which the Lender has received in relation to the Borrowers, any Security Party or their affairs under or in connection with any Finance Document, provided that such recipient has first signed a confidentiality undertaking substantially in the form recommended by the Loan Market Association. |
26.12 | Change of lending office. A Lender may change its lending office by giving notice to the Agent and the change shall become effective on the later of: |
(a) | the date on which the Agent receives the notice; and |
(b) | the date, if any, specified in the notice as the date on which the change will come into effect. |
26.13 | Notification. On receiving such a notice, the Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Security Trustee; and, until the Agent receives such a notice, it shall be entitled to assume that a Lender is acting through the lending office of which the Agent last had notice. |
27 | VARIATIONS AND WAIVERS |
27.1 | Variations, waivers etc. by Majority Lenders. Subject to Clause 27.2, a document shall be effective to vary, waive, suspend or limit any provision of a Finance Document, or any Creditor Party's rights or remedies under such a provision or the general law, only if the document is signed, or specifically agreed to by fax, by the Borrowers, by the Agent on behalf of the Majority Lenders, by the Agent and the Security Trustee in their own rights, and, if the document relates to a Finance Document to which a Security Party is party, by that Security Party. |
27.2 | Variations, waivers etc. requiring agreement of all Lenders. However, as regards the following, Clause 27.1 applies as if the words "by the Agent on behalf of the Majority Lenders" were replaced by the words "by or on behalf of every Lender and every Swap Bank": |
(a) | a change in the Margin or in the definition of LIBOR; |
(b) | a change to the date for, the amount of, any payment of principal, interest, fees, or other sum payable under this Agreement; |
(c) | a change to any Lender's Commitment; |
(d) | an extension of Availability Period; |
(e) | a change to the definition of "Majority Lenders" or "Finance Documents"; |
(f) | a change to the definitions of "Restricted Person", "Sanctions" or "Sanctions List" or to any of clauses 4.8, 12.10 or 14.11(b); |
(g) | a change to the preamble or to Clause 2, 3, 4, 5.1, 17, 18 or 30; |
(h) | a change to this Clause 27; |
(i) | any change, variation or amendment to any Required Charterparty or Subsequent Qualified Charterparty; |
(j) | any release of, or material variation to, a Security Interest, guarantee, indemnity or subordination arrangement set out in a Finance Document; and |
(k) | any other change or matter as regards which this Agreement or another Finance Document expressly provides that each Lender's consent is required. |
27.3 | Exclusion of other or implied variations. Except for a document which satisfies the requirements of Clauses 27.1 and 27.2, no document, and no act, course of conduct, failure or neglect to act, delay or acquiescence on the part of the Creditor Parties or any of them (or any person acting on behalf of any of them) shall result in the Creditor Parties or any of them (or any person acting on behalf of any of them) being taken to have varied, waived, suspended or limited, or being precluded (permanently or temporarily) from enforcing, relying on or exercising: |
(a) | a provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document; or |
(b) | an Event of Default; or |
(c) | a breach by the Borrowers or a Security Party of an obligation under a Finance Document or the general law; or |
(d) | any right or remedy conferred by any Finance Document or by the general law, |
28 | NOTICES |
28.1 | General. Unless otherwise specifically provided, any notice under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be given by letter, email or fax; and references in the Finance Documents to written notices, notices in writing and notices signed by particular persons shall be construed accordingly. |
28.2 | Addresses for communications. A notice shall be sent: |
(b) | to a Lender: | At the address below its name in Schedule 1 or (as the |
(c) | to a Swap Bank: | At the address below its name in Schedule 2 |
28.3 | Effective date of notices. Subject to Clauses 28.4 and 28.5: |
(a) | a notice which is delivered personally or posted shall be deemed to be served, and shall take effect, at the time when it is delivered; and |
(b) | a notice which is sent by fax or email shall be deemed to be served, and shall take effect, 2 hours after its transmission is completed. |
28.4 | Service outside business hours. However, if under Clause 28.3 a notice would be deemed to be served: |
(a) | on a day which is not a business day in the place of receipt; or |
(b) | on such a business day, but after 5 p.m. local time, |
28.5 | Illegible notices. Clauses 28.3 and 28.4 do not apply if the recipient of a notice notifies the sender within one hour after the time at which the notice would otherwise be deemed to be served that the notice has been received in a form which is illegible in a material respect. |
28.6 | Valid notices. A notice under or in connection with a Finance Document shall not be invalid by reason that its contents or the manner of serving it do not comply with the requirements of this Agreement or, where appropriate, any other Finance Document under which it is served if: the failure to serve it in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement or other Finance Document, as the case may be, has not caused any party to suffer any significant loss or prejudice; or |
(a) | in the case of incorrect and/or incomplete contents, it should have been reasonably clear to the party on which the notice was served what the correct or missing particulars should have been. |
28.7 | Electronic communication |
(a) | any communication to be made between any two parties under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means to the extent that those two parties agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication, and if those two parties; |
(A) | notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and |
(B) | notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them by not less than five (5) Business Days' notice; and |
(b) | any electronic communication made between those two parties will be effective only when actually received in readable form and, in the case of any electronic communication made by a party to the Agent or the Security Trustee, only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent or Security Trustee shall specify for this purpose. |
28.8 | English language. Any notice under or in connection with a Finance Document shall be in English. |
28.9 | Meaning of "notice". In this Clause "notice" includes any demand, consent, authorisation, approval, instruction, waiver or other communication. |
29 | SUPPLEMENTAL |
29.1 | Rights cumulative, non-exclusive. The rights and remedies which the Finance Documents give to each Creditor Party are: |
(a) | cumulative; |
(b) | may be exercised as often as appears expedient; and |
(c) | shall not, unless a Finance Document explicitly and specifically states so, be taken to exclude or limit any right or remedy conferred by any law. |
29.2 | Severability of provisions. If any provision of a Finance Document is or subsequently becomes void, unenforceable or illegal, that shall not affect the validity, enforceability or legality of the other provisions of that Finance Document or of the provisions of any other Finance Document. |
29.3 | Third party rights. A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement. |
29.4 | Counterparts. A Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts. |
30 | JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY |
30.1 | General. All liabilities and obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement shall, whether expressed to be so or not, be several and, if and to the extent consistent with Clause 30.2, joint. |
30.2 | No impairment of Borrower's obligations. The liabilities and obligations of a Borrower shall not be impaired by: |
(a) | this Agreement being or later becoming void, unenforceable or illegal as regards the other Borrower; |
(b) | any Lender entering into any rescheduling, refinancing or other arrangement of any kind with the other Borrower; |
(c) | any Lender releasing the other Borrower or any Security Interest created by a Finance Document; or |
(d) | any combination of the foregoing. |
30.3 | Principal debtors. Each Borrower declares that it is and will, throughout the Security Period, remain a principal debtor for all amounts owing under this Agreement and the Finance Documents and neither Borrower shall in any circumstances be construed to be a surety for the obligations of the other Borrower under this Agreement. |
30.4 | Subordination. Subject to Clause 30.5, during the Security Period, neither Borrower shall: |
(a) | claim any amount which may be due to it from the other Borrower whether in respect of a payment made, or matter arising out of, this Agreement or any Finance Document, or any matter unconnected with this Agreement or any Finance Document; or |
(b) | take or enforce any form of security from the other Borrower for such an amount, or in any other way seek to have recourse in respect of such an amount against any asset of the other Borrower; or |
(c) | set off such an amount against any sum due from it to the other Borrower; or |
(d) | prove or claim for such an amount in any liquidation, administration, arrangement or similar procedure involving the other Borrower or other Security Party; or |
(e) | exercise or assert any combination of the foregoing. |
30.5 | Borrowers' required action. If during the Security Period, the Agent, by notice to a Borrower, requires it to take any action referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) of clause 30.4, in relation to the other Borrower, that Borrower shall take that action as soon as practicable after receiving the Agent's notice. |
31 | LAW AND JURISDICTION |
31.1 | English law. This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law. |
31.2 | Exclusive English jurisdiction. Subject to Clause 31.3, the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement (or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with this Agreement ) . |
31.3 | Choice of forum for the exclusive benefit of the Creditor Parties. Clause 31.2 is for the exclusive benefit of the Creditor Parties, each of which reserves the right: |
(a) | to commence proceedings in relation to any matter which arises out of or in connection with this Agreement (or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with this Agreement ) in the courts of any country other than England and which have or claim jurisdiction to that matter; and |
(b) | to commence such proceedings in the courts of any such country or countries concurrently with or in addition to proceedings in England or without commencing proceedings in England. |
31.4 | Process agent. Each Borrower irrevocably appoints Intermar Chartering (UK) Ltd. at their office for the time being, presently at 52-54 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0EH, England, to act as its agent to receive and accept on its behalf any process or other document relating to any proceedings in the English courts which are connected with this Agreement. |
31.5 | Creditor Party rights unaffected. Nothing in this Clause 31 shall exclude or limit any right which any Creditor Party may have (whether under the law of any country, an international convention or otherwise) with regard to the bringing of proceedings, the service of process, the recognition or enforcement of a judgment or any similar or related matter in any jurisdiction. |
31.6 | Meaning of "proceedings". In this Clause 31, " proceedings " means proceedings of any kind, including an application for a provisional or protective measure. |
Lender
|
Lending Office
|
Commitment
|
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
|
93 Coolsingel
3012 AE Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Fax No: +31 10 401 6118
Attn: Transportation - Mr. Tom van Vonderen / Mr. Martijn van den Berg
|
$66,666,666.67
being $33,333,333.34 for Tranche A Advance A and $33,333,333.33 for Tranche B Advance A
|
KFW IPEX-Bank GMBH
|
Palmengartenstrasse 5-9,
60325 Frankfurt am Main,
Federal Republic of Germany
Fax no: +49 69 7431 3768
Attn: Julia Zellmann
|
$66,666,666.67
being $33,333,333.33 for Tranche A Advance A and $33,333,333.34 for Tranche B Advance A
|
DNB Bank ASA
|
The Walbrook Building
25 Walbrook
London EC4N 8AF
England
Fax No: +44 207 626 5956
Attn: Shipping, Offshore & Logistics
|
$66,666,666.66 being $33,333,333.33 for Tranche A Advance B and $33,333,333.33 for Tranche B Advance B
|
Arranger
|
Office
|
|
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
|
93 Coolsingel
3012 AE Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Fax No: +31 10 401 6118
Attn: Transportation - Mr. Tom van Vonderen / Mr. Martijn van den Berg
|
Bookrunner
|
Office
|
|
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
|
93 Coolsingel
3012 AE Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Fax No: +31 10 401 6118
Attn: Transportation - Mr. Tom van Vonderen / Mr. Martijn van den Berg
|
|
KFW IPEX-Bank GMBH
|
Palmengartenstrasse 5-9,
60325 Frankfurt am Main,
Federal Republic of Germany
Fax no: +49 69 7431 3768
Attn: Julia Zellmann
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DNB Bank ASA
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The Walbrook Building
25 Walbrook
London EC4N 8AF
England
Fax No: +44 207 626 5956
Attn: Attn: Shipping, Offshore & Logistics
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1 | We refer to the loan agreement (the " Loan Agreement ") dated December 2015 and made between us as Borrowers, the Lenders referred to therein, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Agent and Security Trustee, the Swap Banks referred to therein and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Account Bank in connection with a loan facility of up to $200,000,000. Terms defined in the Loan Agreement have their defined meanings when used in this Drawdown Notice. |
2 | [We request to borrow an Advance as follows: |
(a) | Tranche [ ] | Advance [ ]; |
(b) | Amount: $[ | ]; |
(c) | Drawdown Date: [ ]; |
(d) | [Duration of the first Interest Period shall be [ ] months;] |
(e) | Payment instructions : account of [ ] and numbered [ ] with [ ] of [ ].] |
3 | We represent and warrant that: |
(a) | the representations and warranties in Clause 10 of the Loan Agreement would remain true and not misleading if repeated on the date of this notice with reference to the circumstances now existing; |
(b) | no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred or will result from the borrowing of the Loan; |
(c) | payment of the Loan in accordance with paragraph 2(e) above constitutes application thereof for our sole benefit in accordance with the purposes stated in the Loan Agreement, and such payment shall be solely our responsibility; and |
4 | This notice cannot be revoked without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders. |
5 | We authorise you to deduct any outstanding fees specified in Clause 20 of the Loan Agreement from the amount of the Advance. |
1 | A duly executed original of the Corporate Guarantee, the Agency and Trust Deed, the Master Agreements, the Master Agreement Assignments and the Negative Pledges (and of each document required to be delivered pursuant thereto). |
2 | Copies of the certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents of each Obligor and the Shareholder. |
3 | Copies of resolutions of the shareholders and directors of each Obligor and the Shareholder authorising the execution thereof each of the Finance Documents referred to at 1 above to which that Obligor or the Shareholder is a party and, in the case of each Borrower, authorising named officers to give the Drawdown Notices and other notices under this Agreement. |
4 | The original of any power of attorney under which any Finance Document referred to at 1 above is executed on behalf of an Obligor or the Shareholder. |
5 | Copies of all consents or authorisations which either Borrower or any Security Party requires to enter into, or make any payment under, any Finance Document to which it is a party. |
6 | All such documentation and information as each Lender may require from any Security Party pursuant to such Lender's "know your customer" requirements. |
7 | Documentary evidence that the agent for service of process named in Clause 31 has accepted its appointment. |
8 | Documentary evidence that (i) each of the Borrowers is owned by the Shareholder and (ii) that the Shareholder is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporate Guarantor and (iii) that the Corporate Guarantor is owned, directly or indirectly, as to 30% of its issued shares by Permitted Holders. |
9 | Favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of England and Wales, the Marshall Islands, Liberia and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may require. |
10 | If the Agent so requires, in respect of any of the documents referred to above, a certified English translation prepared by a translator approved by the Agent. |
1 | A duly executed original of the Mortgage, the General Assignment, the Agency Agreement Assignment, the Accounts Pledge (and of each document to be delivered |
2 | Documentary evidence that: |
(a) | the Relevant Ship is definitively and permanently registered in the name of the Relevant Borrower under an Approved Flag; |
(b) | the Relevant Ship is in the absolute and unencumbered ownership of the Relevant Borrower save as contemplated by the Finance Documents relative thereto; |
(c) | the Relevant Ship maintains the highest available class with Lloyd's Register of Shipping (or an equivalent IACS classification society acceptable to the Agent in its sole discretion) free of all overdue recommendations, adverse notations and conditions of such classification society; |
(d) | the Mortgage in respect of the Relevant Ship has been duly registered against the Relevant Ship as a valid first preferred ship mortgage in accordance with the laws of the relevant Approved Flag State; and |
(e) | the Relevant Ship is insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and all requirements therein in respect of insurances (including issue by the insurers of letters of undertaking) have been complied with; |
(f) | the Relevant Ship has been delivered to, and accepted by, the charterer thereof pursuant to the Required Charterparty relating thereto. |
3 | a copy of the Required Charterparty in respect of the Relevant Ship, in a form and substance acceptable to the Agent, acting on the instruction of the Lenders. |
4 | Documents establishing that the Relevant Ship is under the agency of the Approved Manager on terms acceptable to the Agent, together with: |
(a) | a copy of the Approved Management Agreement, in a form acceptable to the Lenders and the Approved Manager's Undertaking in respect of the Relevant Ship; |
(b) | copies of the document of compliance (DOC), safety management certificate (SMC) and International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) in respect of the Relevant Ship, each certified as true and in effect by Relevant Borrower; and |
(c) | copies of such other ISM Code Documentation and ISPS Code Documentation as the Agent may by written notice to the Relevant Borrower have requested not later than 10 days before the Drawdown Date in respect of the Relevant Advance certified as true and complete in all material respects by the Relevant Borrower and the Approved Manager. |
4 | evidence that the Earnings Account, Debt Service Reserve Account and the Retention Account relating to the Relevant Ship have each been duly opened by the Relevant Borrower with the Account Bank, and that the Account Bank has received all mandates and other documentation required by it in relation to the opening of those accounts, and that there is standing to the credit of that Earnings Account at least $2,500,000. |
5 | At the cost of the Borrowers, valuations of the Relevant Ship, prepared by two Approved Brokers selected by the Agent, addressed to the Agent and stated to be for the purposes of this Agreement and prepared in accordance with Clause 15, which shows the value of the Relevant Ship in an amount which results in the satisfaction of the security cover test referred to in Clause 15.1. |
6 | At the cost of the Borrowers, a favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant acceptable to the Agent confirming that the obligatory insurances are in place in respect of the Relevant Ship with or through brokers or clubs acceptable to the Lenders and on such matters relating to the insurances for the Relevant Ship as the Agent may require. |
7 | Favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of England and Wales, the Marshall Islands, the Approved Flag State, and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may require. |
8 | If the Agent so requires, in respect of any of the documents referred to above, a certified English translation prepared by a translator approved by the Agent. |
1 | the documents referred to in Part B above in respect of the Relevant Ship; and |
2 | such other documentation as the Lenders may, acting reasonably, require. |
To: | ABN AMRO BANK N.V. for itself and for and on behalf of the Borrowers, each Security Party, the Security Trustee and each Lender, as defined in the Loan Agreement referred to below. |
11 | This Certificate relates to a Loan Agreement (the " Loan Agreement ") dated December 2015 and made between (1) Navajo Marine Limited and Solana Holding Ltd. as joint and several borrowers (the " Borrowers "), (2) the banks and financial institutions named therein as Lenders, (3) ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Agent, (4) ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Security Trustee, (5) ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Account Bank, (6) the banks and financial institutions named therefore as Swap Banks for a loan facility of up to $200,000,000. |
2 | In this Certificate: |
3 | The effective date of this Certificate is ......... Provided that this Certificate shall not come into effect unless it is signed by the Agent on or before that date. |
4 | The Transferor assigns to the Transferee absolutely all rights and interests (present, future or contingent) which the Transferor has as Lender under or by virtue of the Loan Agreement and every other Finance Document in relation to [ ] per cent. of the Contribution outstanding to the Transferor (or its predecessors in title) which is set out below: |
Contribution
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Amount transferred
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5 | By virtue of this Transfer Certificate and Clause 26 of the Loan Agreement, the Transferor is discharged [entirely from its Commitment which amounts to $[ ]] [from [ ] per cent. of its Commitment, which percentage represents $[ ]] and the Transferee acquires a Commitment of $[ ]. |
6 | The Transferee undertakes with the Transferor and each of the Relevant Parties that the Transferee will observe and perform all the obligations under the Finance Documents |
7 | The Agent, at the request of the Transferee (which request is hereby made) accepts, for the Agent itself and for and on behalf of every other Relevant Party, this Certificate as a Transfer Certificate taking effect in accordance with Clause 26 of the Loan Agreement. |
8 | The Transferor: |
(a) | warrants to the Transferee and each Relevant Party: |
(i) | that the Transferor has full capacity to enter into this transaction and has taken all corporate action and obtained all consents which are in connection with this transaction; and |
(ii) | that this Certificate is valid and binding as regards the Transferor; |
(b) | warrants to the Transferee that the Transferor is absolutely entitled, free of encumbrances, to all the rights and interests covered by the assignment in paragraph 4 above; |
(c) | undertakes with the Transferee that the Transferor will, at its own expense, execute any documents which the Transferee reasonably requests for perfecting in any relevant jurisdiction the Transferee's title under this Certificate or for a similar purpose. |
9 | The Transferee: |
(a) | confirms that it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement and each other Finance Document; |
(b) | agrees that it will have no rights of recourse on any ground against either the Transferor, the Agent, the Security Trustee or any Lender in the event that: |
(i) | the Finance Documents prove to be invalid or ineffective, |
(ii) | the Borrowers or any Security Party fails to observe or perform its obligations, or to discharge its liabilities, under the Finance Documents; |
(iii) | it proves impossible to realise any asset covered by a Security Interest created by a Finance Document, or the proceeds of such assets are insufficient to discharge the liabilities of the Borrowers or any Security Party under the Finance Documents; |
(c) | agrees that it will have no rights of recourse on any ground against the Agent, the Security Trustee or any Lender or any Swap Bank in the event that this Certificate proves to be invalid or ineffective; |
(d) | warrants to the Transferor and each Relevant Party (i) that it has full capacity to enter into this transaction and has taken all corporate action and obtained all official consents which it needs to take or obtain in connection with this transaction; and (ii) that this Certificate is valid and binding as regards the Transferee; and |
(e) | confirms the accuracy of the administrative details set out below regarding the Transferee. |
10 | The Transferor and the Transferee each undertake with the Agent and the Security Trustee severally, on demand, fully to indemnify the Agent and/or the Security Trustee in respect of any claim, proceeding, liability or expense (including all legal expenses) which they or either of them may incur in connection with this Certificate or any matter arising out of it, except such as are shown to have been mainly and directly caused by the gross and |
11 | The Transferee shall repay to the Transferor on demand so much of any sum paid by the Transferor under paragraph 10 above as exceeds one-half of the amount demanded by the Agent or the Security Trustee in respect of a claim, proceeding, liability or expense which was not reasonably foreseeable at the date of this Certificate; but nothing in this paragraph shall affect the liability of each of the Transferor and the Transferee to the Agent or the Security Trustee for the full amount demanded by it. |
[Name of Transferor] | [Name of Transferee] |
Note : | This Transfer Certificate alone may not be sufficient to transfer a proportionate share of the Transferor's interest in the security constituted by the Finance Documents in the Transferor's or Transferee's jurisdiction. It is the responsibility of each Lender to ascertain whether any other documents are required for this purpose. |
Re: | Loan agreement dated [ ] December 2015 (the "Loan Agreement") for a loan of up to $200,000,000 made between (1) Navajo Marine Limited and Solina Holding Ltd. (as Borrowers) (2), ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH (as Lenders), (3) ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (as Agent and Security Trustee) and (4) ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Account Bank and (5) KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (as Swap Banks). |
1. | all the Borrower's undertakings in the Loan Agreement set out in clause 12 are being fully complied with; |
2. | EBITDA is [ ], Interest Expense is [ ] and therefore the ratio of EBITDA to Interest Expense is [ ] : [ ]; |
3. | Total Liabilities of the Group are [ ]; Total Assets of the Group are [ ] and the ratio of Total Liabilities to Total Assets is [ ] : [ ]; |
4. | the Net Worth of the Group is $[ ]; |
5. | unencumbered cash and/or cash equivalents available to the Group is $[]; |
6. | no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred; |
7. | the representations set out in clause 10 of the Loan Agreement are true and accurate with reference to all facts and circumstances now existing and all Required Authorisations have been obtained and are in full force and effect. |
1. | The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate the Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank. |
2. | On, or as soon as possible after, the first day of each Interest Period, each Lender shall calculate, as a percentage rate per annum, its Mandatory Cost in accordance with the following paragraphs. |
3. | The Mandatory Cost when a Lender lends from an office in any member state of the European Community that has adopted or adopts the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Community relating to Economic and Monetary Union will be the percentage (expressed as a per annum rate) which is that Lender's determination of the cost of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that office. |
4. | The Mandatory Cost for the Lender lending from an office in the United Kingdom will be calculated as follows and determined by each Lender accordingly: |
5. | For the purposes of this schedule |
(a) | " Eligible Liabilities " and " Special Deposits " have the meanings given to them from time to time under or pursuant to the Bank of England Act 1998 or (as may be appropriate) by the Bank of England; |
(b) | " Fees Rules " means the rules on periodic fees contained in the Supervision manual of the Financial Services Authority's Handbook of rules and guidance or such other law or regulation as may be in force from time to time in respect of the payment of fees for the acceptance of deposits; |
(c) | " Fee Tariffs " means the fee tariffs specified in the Fees Rules under the activity group A.1 Deposit acceptors (ignoring any minimum fee or zero rated fee required pursuant to the Fees Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and |
(d) | " Tariff Base " has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules; |
(e) | "Sterling" and "GBP" mean the lawful currency of the United Kingdom. |
6. | The resulting figures will be rounded to four decimal places. |
7. | A Lender may from time to time, after consultation with the Borrower, determine and notify the Borrower of any amendments which need to be made to this schedule to comply with any change in law, regulation or any requirements from time to time imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions). |
SIGNED
by
KONSTANTINOS
LAMPSIAS
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)
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for and on behalf of
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/s/ Konstantinos Lampsias
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NAVAJO MARINE LIMITED
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)
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in the presence of:
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SIGNED
by
KONSTANTINOS
LAMPSIAS
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Konstantinos Lampsias
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SOLANA HOLDING LTD.
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)
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in the presence of:
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SIGNED
by
KONSTANTINOS
LAMPSIAS
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)
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for and on behalf of
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/s/ Konstantinos Lampsias
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DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP
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)
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in the presence of:
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
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)
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in the presence of:
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SIGNED
by
VICTORIA LIAOU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Victoria Liaou
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KFW IPEX-BANK GMBH
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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DNB BANK ASA
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)
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in the presence of:
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
VICTORIA LIAOU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Victoria Liaou
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KFW IPEX-BANK GMBH
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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DNB BANK ASA
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
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)
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in the presence of:
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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For and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
VICTORIA LIAOU
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)
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For and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Victoria Liaou
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KFW IPEX-BANK GMBH
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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DNB BANK ASA
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
VICTORIA LIAOU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Victoria Liaou
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KFW IPEX-BANK GMBH
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)
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in the presence of:
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)
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SIGNED
by
RONAN LE DU
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)
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for and on behalf of
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)
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/s/ Ronan Le Du
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DNB BANK ASA
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)
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in the presence of:
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(1) | The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
(2) | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership. |
(1) | The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
(2) | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership. |