[X]
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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OR
|
|
[ ]
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the fiscal year ended
_________________
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OR
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|
[ ]
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the transition period from _________________ to _________________
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OR
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[ ]
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SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Date of event requiring this shell company report:
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FLEX LNG Ltd.
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
|
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
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Bermuda
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(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
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Par-La-Ville Place
14 Par-La-Ville Road Hamilton Bermuda |
(Address of principal executive offices)
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With copies to:
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James Ayers, Company Secretary, Par-La-Ville Place, 14 Par-La-Ville Road, Hamilton, Bermuda
Telephone: +1 441 295 69 35, Facsimile: +1 441 295 3494
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(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile, and address of Company Contact Person)
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and
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Keith J. Billotti
Seward & Kissel LLP
Tel: (212) 574-1200
Fax: (212) 480-8421
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, New York 10004
United States
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Title of each class
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Ordinary Shares, par value $0.10 per share
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New York Stock Exchange
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NONE
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(Title of class)
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NONE
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(Title of class)
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Yes
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☐
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No
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☒
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Yes
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☐
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No
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☐
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Yes
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☐
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No
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☒
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Yes
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☒
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No
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☐
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Large accelerated filer
☐
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Accelerated filer
☐
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||||
Non-accelerated filer
☒
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Emerging growth company
☒
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||||
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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[X]
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U.S. GAAP
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[ ]
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International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the international Accounting Standards Board
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[ ]
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Other
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Item 17
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☐
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Item 18
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☐
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Yes
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☐
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No
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☐
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ITEM 1.
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IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
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1
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ITEM 2.
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OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
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1
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ITEM 3.
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KEY INFORMATION
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1
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ITEM 4.
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INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
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25
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ITEM 4A.
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UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
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43
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ITEM 5.
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OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
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43
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ITEM 6.
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DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
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54
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ITEM 7.
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MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
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59
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ITEM 8.
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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60
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ITEM 9.
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THE OFFER AND LISTING
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61
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ITEM 10.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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62
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ITEM 11.
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QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
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75
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ITEM 12.
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
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77
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ITEM 13.
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DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
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77 |
ITEM 14.
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MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE
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77 |
ITEM 15.
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CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
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77 |
ITEM 16.
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RESERVED
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77 |
ITEM 16A.
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AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
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77 |
ITEM 16B.
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CODE OF ETHICS
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77 |
ITEM 16C.
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PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
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77 |
ITEM 16D.
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EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
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77 |
ITEM 16E.
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PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED
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78
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ITEM 16F.
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CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
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78
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ITEM 16G.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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78
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ITEM 17.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
78 |
ITEM 18.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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78
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ITEM 19.
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EXHIBITS
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78
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|
· |
our future operating or financial results;
|
|
· |
global and regional economic and political conditions;
|
|
· |
our pending vessel acquisitions, our business strategy and expected capital spending or operating expenses, including dry-docking and insurance costs;
|
|
· |
statements about LNG market trends, including charter rates and factors affecting supply and demand;
|
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· |
our financial condition and liquidity, including our ability to repay our indebtedness and obtain financing in the future to fund capital expenditures,
acquisitions and other general corporate activities;
|
|
· |
our ability to enter into time charters or other employment arrangements for our vessels after our current charters expire and our ability to earn income in
the spot market (which includes vessel employment under single voyage spot charters and time charters with an initial term of less than six months);
|
|
· |
our ability to successfully employ our newbuilding vessels;
|
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· |
our expectations of the availability of vessels to purchase, the time it may take to construct new vessels, and vessels' useful lives;
|
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· |
risks associated with vessel construction;
|
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· |
estimated future maintenance and replacement capital expenditures;
|
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· |
changes in operating expenses, including dry-docking and insurance costs and bunker prices;
|
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· |
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;
|
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· |
availability of and ability to maintain skilled labor, vessel crews and management;
|
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· |
our anticipated incremental general and administrative expenses as a publicly traded company;
|
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· |
customers' increasing emphasis on environmental and safety concerns;
|
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· |
potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, political events, piracy or acts by terrorists; and
|
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· |
our ability to maintain relationships with major LNG producers and traders.
|
|
· |
changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities;
|
|
· |
changes in economic and competitive conditions affecting our business, including market fluctuations in charter rates and charterers' abilities to perform
under existing time charters;
|
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· |
potential liability from future litigation and potential costs due to environmental damage and vessel collisions;
|
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· |
the length and number of off-hire periods; and
|
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· |
other factors discussed in "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors" in this registration statement.
|
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· |
the ability to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations in the registration statement for our initial public offering;
|
|
· |
an exemption from the auditor attestation requirement of management's assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting
pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and
|
|
· |
an exemption from compliance with any new requirements adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, requiring mandatory audit firm
rotation or a supplement to the auditor's report in which the auditor would be required to provide additional information about the audit and financial statements.
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ITEM 1. |
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
|
A. |
Directors and Senior Management
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Name
(1)
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Position
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David McManus
|
Director of the Company and Chairman of the Board of Directors
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Marius Hermansen
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Director of the Company
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Ola Lorentzon
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Director of the Company
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Nikolai Grigoriev
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Director of the Company and Chairperson of the Audit Committee
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Oystein M. Kalleklev
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Chief Executive Officer of Flex LNG Management AS and Principal Executive Officer of FLEX LNG Ltd.
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Harald Gurvin
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Chief Financial Officer of Flex LNG Management AS
and
Principal Financial Officer of FLEX LNG Ltd.
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B. |
Advisers
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C. |
Auditors
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ITEM 2. |
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
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ITEM 3. |
KEY INFORMATION
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A. |
Selected Financial Data
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As of December 31,
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||||||||
(In thousands of U.S. dollars except common share data)
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2018
|
2017
|
||||||
BALANCE SHEET DATA
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||||||||
Total current assets
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60,425
|
17,570
|
||||||
Total assets
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1,294,386
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684,510
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||||||
Total long term debt
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431,602
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160,000
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||||||
Total current liabilities
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35,460
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4,409
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||||||
Total liabilities
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467,062
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164,409
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||||||
Number of shares outstanding
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54,099,929
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36,797,238
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||||||
Total equity
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827,324
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520,101
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||||||
B. |
Capitalization and Indebtedness
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(In thousands of U.S. dollars)
|
As of December 31, 2018
|
|||
Debt (long-term, including short-term portion)
|
$
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454,967
|
||
Other current liabilities
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12,095
|
|||
Total debt and other current liabilities
|
$
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467,062
|
||
Total shareholders' equity
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$
|
827,324
|
||
Total capitalization
|
$
|
1,294,386
|
C. |
Reasons for the offer and use of Proceeds
|
D. |
Risk Factors
|
|
· |
supply of and demand for LNG;
|
|
· |
changes in the exploration or production of LNG;
|
|
· |
the location of regional and global exploration, production and manufacturing facilities;
|
|
· |
the location of consuming regions for LNG;
|
|
· |
the globalization of production and manufacturing;
|
|
· |
global and regional economic and political conditions, including armed conflicts and terrorist activities, embargoes and strikes;
|
|
· |
disruptions and developments in international trade;
|
|
· |
changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns, including the distance LNG is transported by sea;
|
|
· |
environmental and other regulatory developments;
|
|
· |
currency exchange rates; and
|
|
· |
the weather.
|
|
· |
number of newbuilding orders and deliveries;
|
|
· |
the number of shipyards and ability of shipyards to deliver vessels;
|
|
· |
port and canal congestion;
|
|
· |
scrapping of older vessels;
|
|
· |
speed of vessel operation;
|
|
· |
vessel casualties; and
|
|
· |
number of vessels that are out of service or laid up.
|
|
· |
low charter rates, particularly for vessels employed in the spot market (which includes vessel employment under single voyage spot charters and time charters
with an initial term of less than six months);
|
|
· |
decreases in the market value of LNG vessels and limited second-hand market for the sale of vessels;
|
|
· |
limited financing for vessels;
|
|
· |
widespread loan covenant defaults; and
|
|
· |
declaration of bankruptcy by certain vessel operators, vessel owners, shipyards and charterers.
|
|
· |
a marine disaster,
|
|
· |
terrorism,
|
|
· |
environmental accidents,
|
|
· |
cargo and property losses and damage, and
|
|
· |
business interruptions caused by mechanical failure, human error, war, terrorism, piracy, political action in various countries, labor strikes, or adverse
weather conditions.
|
|
· |
general economic and market conditions affecting the shipping industry;
|
|
· |
competition from other shipping companies;
|
|
· |
types and sizes of vessels;
|
|
· |
the availability of other modes of transportations;
|
|
· |
cost of newbuildings;
|
|
· |
shipyard capacity;
|
|
· |
governmental or other regulations;
|
|
· |
age of vessels;
|
|
· |
prevailing level of charter rates;
|
|
· |
the need to upgrade secondhand and previously owned vessels as a result of charterer requirements; and
|
|
· |
technological advances in vessel design or equipment or otherwise.
|
|
· |
pay dividends and make capital expenditures;
|
|
· |
incur additional indebtedness, including the issuance of guarantees;
|
|
· |
create liens on our assets;
|
|
· |
change the flag, class or management of our vessels or terminate or materially amend the management agreement relating to each vessel;
|
|
· |
sell our vessels;
|
|
· |
merge or consolidate with, or transfer all or substantially all our assets to, another person; or
|
|
· |
enter into a new line of business.
|
|
· |
fail to realize anticipated benefits, such as cost savings or cash flow enhancements;
|
|
· |
incur or assume unanticipated liabilities, losses or costs associated with any vessels or businesses acquired, particularly if any vessel we acquire proves
not to be in good condition;
|
|
· |
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 available cash or borrowing capacity to finance acquisitions;
|
|
· |
significantly increase our interest expense or financial leverage if we incur debt to finance acquisitions; or
|
|
· |
incur other significant charges, such as impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets, asset devaluation or restructuring charges.
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ITEM 4. |
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
|
A. |
History and Development of the Company
|
B. |
Business Overview
|
Vessel Name
|
Cargo Capacity (cbm)
|
Propulsion
|
Year Built
|
Shipyard
(1)
|
Charter
Expiration
(5)(6)
|
|||||||
Operating Vessels
|
||||||||||||
Flex Endeavour
|
173,400
|
MEGI
|
2018
|
DSME
|
06/26/2019
|
|||||||
Flex Enterprise
|
173,400
|
MEGI
|
2018
|
DSME
|
03/26/2020
(2)
|
|||||||
Flex Ranger
|
174,000
|
MEGI
|
2018
|
SHI
|
06/07/2020
(3)
|
|||||||
Flex Rainbow
|
174,000
|
MEGI
|
2018
|
SHI
|
10/01/2019
(4)
|
|||||||
Newbuilding Vessels
|
||||||||||||
TBN Flex Constellation
|
173,400
|
MEGI
|
Exp. Jun. 2019
|
DSME
|
n/a
|
|||||||
TBN Flex Courageous
|
173,400
|
MEGI
|
Exp. Aug.2019
|
DSME
|
n/a
|
|||||||
TBN Flex Aurora
|
174,000
|
X-DF
|
Exp. Q2 2020
|
HSHI
|
n/a
|
|||||||
TBN Flex Amber
|
174,000
|
X-DF
|
Exp. Q3 2020
|
HSHI
|
n/a
|
|||||||
TBN Flex Reliance
|
173,400
|
MEGI
|
Exp. Q3 2020
|
DSME
|
n/a
|
|||||||
TBN Flex Resolute
|
173,400
|
MEGI
|
Exp. Q3 2020
|
DSME
|
n/a
|
|||||||
TBN Flex Freedom
|
173,400
|
MEGI
|
Exp. Q4 2020
|
DSME
|
n/a
|
|||||||
TBN Flex Volunteer
|
174,000
|
X-DF
|
Exp. Q1 2021
|
HSHI
|
n/a
|
|||||||
TBN Flex Vigilant
|
174,000
|
X-DF
|
Exp. Q2 2021
|
HSHI
|
n/a
|
(1) |
As used in this registration statement, "DSME" means Daewoo Ship building and Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., "SHI" means Samsung Heavy Industries, and "HSHI"
means Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.
|
(2) |
The charterer has the option to extend the charter for up to an additional four years, in 12-month periods.
|
(3) |
The
Flex Ranger
is expected to commence
employment under a time charter with Enel Trade S.p.A. on June 7, 2019, for a firm period of 12 months, and the charterer will have the option to extend the charter for an additional 12 months.
|
(4) |
The charterer has the option to extend the charter for up to an additional two and a half years, in 6 month periods.
|
(5) |
The time-charter expiration dates are subject to re-delivery windows ranging from 15 to 90 days before or after the expiration date.
|
(6) |
From time to time, in accordance with industry practice, we pay commissions ranging up to 1.25% of the total daily charter rate under the charters to
unaffiliated ship brokers, depending on the number of brokers involved with arranging the charter.
|
In April 2018, we entered into a time charter agreement with Enel Trade S.p.A., or Enel, a multinational power company. The time charter has firm period of 12 months, which Enel has the option to extend for an additional 12 months. The charter is expected to commence during June 2019. We intend to employ the Flex Ranger on this charter, but we have the option to nominate a sister vessel for such employment.
In March 2019, we entered into a time charter agreement with an international energy major for the employment of the vessel Flex Enterprise . The time charter has a firm period of 12 months, commencing end of first quarter of 2019, and the charterer also has options to extend the charter period up to an additional four years, in 12 month periods.
|
· |
injury to, destruction or loss of, or loss of use of, natural resources and related assessment costs;
|
|
· |
injury to, or economic losses resulting from, the destruction of real and personal property;
|
|
· |
loss of subsistence use of natural resources that are injured, destroyed or lost;
|
|
· |
net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, fees or net profit revenues resulting from injury, destruction or loss of real or personal property, or natural
resources;
|
|
· |
lost profits or impairment of earning capacity due to injury, destruction or loss of real or personal property or natural resources; and
|
|
· |
net cost of increased or additional public services necessitated by removal activities following a discharge of oil, such as protection from fire, safety or
health hazards, and loss of subsistence use of natural resources.
|
C. |
Organizational Structure
|
D. |
Property, Plants and Equipment
|
ITEM 4A. |
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
|
ITEM 5. |
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
|
|
|
A. |
Operating Results
|
|
· |
the ability to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations in the registration statement for our initial public offering;
|
|
· |
an exemption from the auditor attestation requirement of management's assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting
pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and
|
|
· |
an exemption from compliance with any new requirements adopted by the PCAOB, requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor's report
in which the auditor would be required to provide additional information about the audit and financial statements.
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
Change
|
|||||||||
Vessel operating revenues
|
77,209
|
27,329
|
49,880
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
Change
|
|||||||||
Vessel operating cost own vessels
|
(20,061
|
)
|
(6,732
|
)
|
(13,329
|
)
|
||||||
Vessel operating cost chartered-in vessels
|
(6,100
|
)
|
(29,800
|
)
|
23,700
|
|||||||
Total vessel operating cost
|
(26,161
|
)
|
(36,532
|
)
|
10,371
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
Change
|
|||||||||
Administrative Expenses
|
(4,639
|
)
|
(3,409
|
)
|
(1,230
|
)
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
Change
|
|||||||||
Depreciation
|
(17,412
|
)
|
(2
|
)
|
(17,410
|
)
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
Change
|
|||||||||
Finance income
|
607
|
123
|
484
|
|||||||||
Finance cost
|
(17,781
|
)
|
(234
|
)
|
(17,547
|
)
|
||||||
Other financial items
|
(54
|
)
|
2,334
|
(2,388
|
)
|
|||||||
Net financial income/(cost)
|
(17,228
|
)
|
2,223
|
(19,451
|
)
|
|
· |
a book equity ratio of minimum 0.25 to 1.0;
|
|
· |
a positive working capital; and
|
|
· |
liquidity of minimum the higher of: (i) $25 million; or (ii) an amount equal to five per cent (5%) of our total interest bearing financial indebtedness
(excluding the $270 Million Revolving Credit Facility) and net of any cash and cash equivalents
|
|
(i) |
declare, make or pay any dividend, charge, fee or other distribution (whether in cash or in kind) on or in respect of its share capital (or any class of its
share capital);
|
|
(ii) |
pay any interest or repay any principal amount (or capitalized interest) on any debt to any of its shareholders;
|
|
(iii) |
redeem, repurchase or repay any of its share capital or resolve to do so; or
|
|
(iv) |
enter into any transaction or arrangement having a similar effect as described in (i) through (iii) above.
|
Year ended December 31,
|
||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
35,714
|
(17,752
|
)
|
|||||
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(584,433
|
)
|
(77,714
|
)
|
||||
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
593,855
|
103,988
|
||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
45,136
|
8,522
|
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
9,961
|
1,439
|
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
|
55,097
|
9,961
|
$ thousand (unaudited)
|
Year ended 31 December
|
|||||||
2018
|
2017
|
|||||||
Flex Ranger
and
Flex Rainbow
|
216,627
|
—
|
||||||
Flex Endeavour
and
Flex Enterprise
(1)
|
14,392
|
376,000
|
||||||
TBN Flex Constellation
and
TBN Flex Courageous
|
—
|
72,000
|
||||||
TBN Flex Aurora
and
TBN Flex Amber
|
73,600
|
—
|
||||||
TBN Flex Reliance
,
TBN Flex Resolute
and
TBN Flex Freedom
|
167,400
|
—
|
||||||
TBN Flex Volunteer
and
TBN Flex Vigilant
|
108,000
|
—
|
||||||
Capitalized costs
(2)
|
3,928
|
6,465
|
||||||
Total
|
585,111
|
454,465
|
C. |
Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.
|
D. |
Trend Information
|
E. |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
|
F. |
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
|
(In thousands of U.S. dollars)
|
Total
|
Less than 1 year
|
1-3
years |
3-5
years
|
More than 5 years
|
|||||||||||||||
Newbuilding commitments
|
1,225,000
|
288,000
|
937,000
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
Long-term debt obligations
|
460,030
|
23,625
|
51,882
|
268,367
|
116,156
|
|||||||||||||||
Interest on floating rate debt
|
143,560
|
25,617
|
46,709
|
40,536
|
30,698
|
|||||||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
1,828,590
|
$
|
337,242
|
$
|
1,035,591
|
$
|
308,903
|
$
|
146,854
|
(1) |
The loan repayments comprise repayments under the $315 Million Term Loan Facility and the
Flex Rainbow
Sale and
Leaseback.
|
(2) |
The Long-term debt obligation of $460.0 million is gross, before deduction of debt issuing cost of $5.1 million. Carrying value of long-term debt is $455.0
million.
|
(3) |
Interest on floating rate debt was calculated using the three month USD LIBOR as of December 31, 2018 of 2.8% plus margin applicable for each of our credit
facilities and the respective outstanding principal as of December 2018.
|
ITEM 6. |
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
|
A. |
Directors and Senior Management
|
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
||
David McManus
|
65
|
Director of the Company and Chairman of the Board of Directors
|
||
Marius Hermansen
|
40
|
Director of the Company
|
||
Ola Lorentzon
|
69
|
Director of the Company
|
||
Nikolai Grigoriev
|
45
|
Director of the Company and Chairperson of the Audit Committee
|
||
Oystein M. Kalleklev
|
39
|
Chief Executive Officer of Flex LNG Management AS
|
||
Harald Gurvin
|
45
|
Chief Financial Officer of Flex LNG Management AS
|
B. |
Compensation
|
Director
|
Directors' Fees for 2018
|
Directors' Fees for 2017
|
||||||
David McManus
|
$
|
100,000
|
$
|
100,000
|
||||
Marius Hermansen
|
$
|
40,000
|
$
|
40,000
|
||||
Ola Lorentzon
|
$
|
40,000
|
$
|
20,000
|
||||
Nikolai Grigoriev
|
$
|
40,000
|
$
|
11,000
|
||||
Georgina Sousa (former director)
|
$
|
9,484
|
$
|
5,000
|
||||
Robin Bakken (former director)
|
-
|
$
|
14,000
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
229,484
|
$
|
190,000
|
C. |
Board Practices
|
D. |
Employees
|
E. |
Share Ownership
|
Name
|
Ordinary
shares (1) |
Percentage
of ordinary
shares
outstanding
|
||||||
David McManus
|
89,984
|
*
|
||||||
Marius Hermansen
|
6,168
|
*
|
||||||
Ola Lorentzon
|
2,159
|
*
|
||||||
Nikolai Grigoriev
|
5,993
|
*
|
||||||
Oystein Kalleklev
|
10,000
|
*
|
||||||
Harald Gurvin
|
5,000
|
*
|
(1) |
Not including options to purchase ordinary shares.
|
ITEM 7. |
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
|
A. |
Major Shareholders
|
Ordinary Shares
Beneficially Owned
|
||||||||
Name
|
Number
|
Percentage
(1)
|
||||||
Geveran Trading Co. Ltd. (2)
|
24,133,811
|
44.6
|
%
|
(1) |
Calculated based on 54,103,993 ordinary shares outstanding as of April 1, 2019.
|
(2) |
Geveran is a Cyprus holding company, indirectly controlled by trusts established by Mr. John Fredriksen for the benefit of his immediate family. Mr.
Fredriksen disclaims beneficial ownership of the 24,133,811 ordinary shares, except to the extent of his voting and dispositive interests in such ordinary shares and Mr. Fredriksen has no pecuniary interest in such shares.
|
ITEM 8. |
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
A. |
Consolidated Statements and other Financial Information
|
|
· |
we will not be able to pay our liabilities as they fall due; or
|
|
· |
the realizable value of our assets, is less than our liabilities.
|
B. |
Significant Changes
|
ITEM 9. |
THE OFFER AND LISTING
|
A. |
Offer and Listing Details.
|
B. |
Plan of Distribution
|
C. |
Markets.
|
D. |
Selling Shareholders
|
E. |
Dilution
|
F. |
Expenses of the Issue
|
ITEM 10. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
|
A. |
Share Capital
|
B. |
Memorandum of Continuance
|
C. |
Material Contracts
|
D. |
Exchange Controls
|
E. |
Taxation
|
|
· |
we and each subsidiary are organized in a "qualified foreign country," defined as a country that grants an equivalent exemption from tax to corporations
organized in the United States in respect of the shipping income for which exemption is being claimed under section 883 of the Code; this is also known as the "Country of Organization Requirement"; and
|
|
· |
either
|
|
o |
more than 50% of the value of our stock is treated as owned, directly or indirectly, by individuals who are "residents" of qualified foreign countries; this
is also known as the "Ownership Requirement"; or
|
|
o |
our stock is "primarily and regularly traded on an established securities market" in the United States or any qualified foreign country; this is also known as
the "Publicly-Traded Requirement."
|
|
· |
at least 75% of our gross income in a taxable year is "passive income"; or
|
|
· |
at least 50% of our assets in a taxable year (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets) are held for the production of, or produce, "passive
income."
|
ITEM 11. |
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
|
ITEM 12. |
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
|
A. |
Debt Securities
|
B. |
Warrants and Rights.
|
C. |
Other Securities.
|
D. |
American Depositary Shares.
|
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
|
ITEM 16. |
RESERVED
|
ITEM 16A. |
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
|
ITEM 16B. |
CODE OF ETHICS
|
ITEM 16C. |
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
|
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 REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
|
ITEM 16G. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
|
ITEM 17. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
ITEM 18. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
ITEM 19. |
EXHIBITS
|
1.1
|
|
1.2
|
|
2.1
|
Form of Ordinary Share Certificate*
|
4.1
|
|
4.2
|
|
4.3
|
|
4.4
|
|
4.5
|
|
4.6
|
|
4.7
|
|
4.8
|
|
4.9
|
|
4.10
|
|
4.11
|
|
4.12
|
|
8.1
|
|
14.1
|
|
15.1
|
|
15.2
|
|
15.3
|
FLEX LNG Ltd.
(registrant)
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Oystein Kalleklev
|
|
Name: Oystein Kalleklev
|
||
Title: Chief Executive Officer of Flex LNG Management AS
(Principal Executive Officer of FLEX LNG Ltd.)
|
Page
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-2
|
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
|
F-3
|
Consolidated Statements of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
|
F-4
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017
|
F-5
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
|
F-6
|
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
|
F-7
|
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
|
F-8
|
2018
|
2017
|
|||||||
Vessel operating revenues
|
77,209
|
27,329
|
||||||
Vessel operating costs
|
(26,161
|
)
|
(36,532
|
)
|
||||
Administrative expenses
|
(4,639
|
)
|
(3,409
|
)
|
||||
Depreciation
|
(17,412
|
)
|
(2
|
)
|
||||
Operating income/(loss)
|
28,997
|
(12,614
|
)
|
|||||
Finance income
|
607
|
123
|
||||||
Finance cost
|
(17,781
|
)
|
(234
|
)
|
||||
Other financial items
|
(54
|
)
|
2,334
|
|||||
Income/(loss) before tax
|
11,769
|
(10,391
|
)
|
|||||
Income tax expense/(credit)
|
(10
|
)
|
17
|
|||||
Net income/(loss)
|
11,779
|
(10,408
|
)
|
|||||
Earnings/(loss) per share:
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
- Basic and Diluted
|
0.29
|
(0.34
|
)
|
2018
|
2017
|
|||||||
Net income/(loss) for the year
|
11,779
|
(10,408
|
)
|
|||||
Total other comprehensive income/(expense)
|
—
|
—
|
||||||
Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to FLEX LNG
|
11,779
|
(10,408
|
)
|
2018
|
2017
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Current assets
|
||||||||
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents
|
55,097
|
9,961
|
||||||
Inventory
|
915
|
1,041
|
||||||
Other current assets
|
2,693
|
6,568
|
||||||
Receivables due from related parties
|
1,720
|
—
|
||||||
Total current assets
|
60,425
|
17,570
|
||||||
Non-current assets
|
||||||||
Newbuildings
|
—
|
594,937
|
||||||
Vessel purchase prepayment
|
421,472
|
72,000
|
||||||
Vessels and equipment, net
|
812,478
|
—
|
||||||
Other fixed assets
|
11
|
3
|
||||||
Total non-current assets
|
1,233,961
|
666,940
|
||||||
Total assets
|
1,294,386
|
684,510
|
||||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
|
||||||||
Current liabilities
|
||||||||
Current portion of long term debt
|
23,365
|
—
|
||||||
Payables due to related parties
|
206
|
810
|
||||||
Accounts payable
|
592
|
76
|
||||||
Other current liabilities
|
11,297
|
3,523
|
||||||
Total current liabilities
|
35,460
|
4,409
|
||||||
Non-current liabilities
|
||||||||
Long-term debt
|
431,602
|
160,000
|
||||||
Total non-current liabilities
|
431,602
|
160,000
|
||||||
Total liabilities
|
467,062
|
164,409
|
||||||
Equity
|
||||||||
Share capital (2018: 54,099,929 (2017: 36,797,238) shares issued and outstanding, par value $0.10 per share)
|
5,410
|
3,680
|
||||||
Additional paid in capital
|
1,189,665
|
895,951
|
||||||
Accumulated deficit
|
(367,751
|
)
|
(379,530
|
)
|
||||
Total equity
|
827,324
|
520,101
|
||||||
Total equity and liabilities
|
1,294,386
|
684,510
|
Year ended December 31
|
||||||||
2018
|
2017
|
|||||||
Operating activities
|
||||||||
Net income/(loss)
|
11,779
|
(10,408
|
)
|
|||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
||||||||
Depreciation
|
17,412
|
2
|
||||||
Share-based payments
|
202
|
115
|
||||||
Foreign exchange loss (gains)
|
22
|
(2,334
|
)
|
|||||
Other
|
(518
|
)
|
(157
|
)
|
||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net:
|
||||||||
Inventory
|
126
|
(1,041
|
)
|
|||||
Other current assets
|
725
|
(6,547
|
)
|
|||||
Receivables due from related parties
|
(1,720
|
)
|
-
|
|||||
Payables due to related parties
|
(604
|
)
|
-
|
|||||
Accounts payable
|
516
|
272
|
||||||
Other current liabilities
|
7,774
|
2,346
|
||||||
Net cash provided (used in) by operating activities
|
35,714
|
(17,752
|
)
|
|||||
Investing activities
|
||||||||
Purchase of other fixed assets
|
(14
|
)
|
(4
|
)
|
||||
Vessel purchase prepayments
|
(349,000
|
)
|
(72,000
|
)
|
||||
Additions and installments on newbuildings
|
(232,455
|
)
|
(3,788
|
)
|
||||
Capitalized interest
|
(2,964
|
)
|
(1,922
|
)
|
||||
Net cash flow (used in) investing activities
|
(584,433
|
)
|
(77,714
|
)
|
||||
Financing activities
|
||||||||
Net proceeds from issuance of share capital
|
295,311
|
220,988
|
||||||
Repayment of long term-debt
|
(286,069
|
)
|
(117,000
|
)
|
||||
Proceeds from long term-debt
|
584,613
|
-
|
||||||
Net cash flow provided by financing activities
|
593,855
|
103,988
|
||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
45,136
|
8,522
|
||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period
|
9,961
|
1,439
|
||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period
|
55,097
|
9,961
|
||||||
Supplemental Information
|
||||||||
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized
|
(12,958
|
)
|
(61
|
)
|
||||
Income tax paid
|
-
|
(5
|
)
|
2018
|
2017
|
|||||||
Number of shares outstanding
|
||||||||
Balance at beginning of year
|
36,797,238
|
12,794,565
|
||||||
Shares issued
|
17,302,691
|
24,002,673
|
||||||
Balance at end of year
|
54,099,929
|
36,797,238
|
||||||
Share capital
|
||||||||
Balance at beginning of year
|
3,680
|
1,280
|
||||||
Shares issued
|
1,730
|
2,400
|
||||||
Balance at end of year
|
5,410
|
3,680
|
||||||
Additional paid in capital
|
||||||||
Balance at beginning of year
|
895,951
|
573,785
|
||||||
Shares issued
|
293,645
|
322,166
|
||||||
Stock option expense
|
69
|
-
|
||||||
Balance at end of year
|
1,189,665
|
895,951
|
||||||
Accumulated retained deficit
|
||||||||
Balance at beginning of year
|
(379,530
|
)
|
(369,122
|
)
|
||||
Net income/(loss)
|
11,779
|
(10,408
|
)
|
|||||
Balance at end of year
|
(367,751
|
)
|
(379,530
|
)
|
||||
Total equity
|
827,324
|
520,101
|
Company
|
Country of registration
|
Main operations
|
Ownership share
|
Voting share
|
Flex LNGC 1 Limited
|
Isle of Man
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNGC 2 Limited
|
Isle of Man
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Shipping Limited
|
Isle of Man
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Chartering Limited
|
United Kingdom
|
Chartering services
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Management AS
|
Norway
|
Management services
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Fleet Limited
|
Bermuda
|
Holding company
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Management Limited
|
Isle of Man
|
Management services
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Bermuda Limited
|
Bermuda
|
Management services
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Endeavour Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Enterprise Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Ranger Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Rainbow Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Constellation Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Courageous Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Aurora Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Amber Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Resolute Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Reliance Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Freedom Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Vigilant Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Volunteer Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Shipping (Bermuda) Limited
|
Bermuda
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
Wages and salaries
|
1,826
|
1,040
|
||||||
Social security costs
|
180
|
150
|
||||||
Pension costs
|
76
|
58
|
||||||
Total employee benefit expenses
|
2,083
|
1,248
|
(in thousands of $)
|
||||||||
Finance cost
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
Loan interest
|
(17,619
|
)
|
(234
|
)
|
||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs
|
(141
|
)
|
—
|
|||||
Other interest
|
(21
|
)
|
—
|
|||||
Total finance cost
|
(17,781
|
)
|
(234
|
)
|
Finance income
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
Interest income from bank deposits
|
607
|
123
|
||||||
Total finance income
|
607
|
123
|
Other financial items
|
||||||||
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
Foreign exchange (loss)/gain
|
(22
|
)
|
2,334
|
|||||
Other financial items
|
(32
|
)
|
-
|
|||||
Total other financial items
|
(54
|
)
|
2,334
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
Current income tax expense/(credit)
|
(5
|
)
|
17
|
|||||
Adjustments in respect of current income tax of previous years
|
(5
|
)
|
—
|
|||||
Income tax expense/(credit) reported in the income statement
|
(10
|
)
|
17
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
Net income/(loss) before tax
|
11,769
|
(10,391
|
)
|
|||||
Income tax at 0% (2017: 0%)
|
—
|
—
|
||||||
Effect of higher overseas tax rates
|
(10
|
)
|
17
|
|||||
Effective income tax rate of (0.1)% (2017: (0.2)%)
|
(10
|
)
|
17
|
(in thousands of $)
|
||||||||
Vessel purchase prepayments
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
At January 1
|
72,000
|
—
|
||||||
Additions
|
349,000
|
72,000
|
||||||
Capitalized interest
|
472
|
—
|
||||||
Transfer to vessels and equipment
|
—
|
—
|
||||||
At December 31
|
421,472
|
72,000
|
(in thousands of $)
|
Vessels and equipment
|
Dry-docks
|
Other fixed assets
|
Total
|
||||||||||||
Cost
|
||||||||||||||||
At January 1, 2018
|
—
|
—
|
8
|
8
|
||||||||||||
Additions
|
—
|
—
|
14
|
14
|
||||||||||||
Transfer from Newbuildings
|
819,884
|
10,000
|
—
|
829,884
|
||||||||||||
Disposals
|
—
|
—
|
(2
|
)
|
(2
|
)
|
||||||||||
At December 31, 2018
|
819,884
|
10,000
|
20
|
829,904
|
||||||||||||
Accumulated depreciation
|
||||||||||||||||
At January 1, 2018
|
—
|
—
|
5
|
5
|
||||||||||||
Charge
|
15,931
|
1,475
|
6
|
17,412
|
||||||||||||
Disposals
|
—
|
—
|
(2
|
)
|
(2
|
)
|
||||||||||
At December 31, 2018
|
15,931
|
1,475
|
9
|
17,415
|
||||||||||||
Net book value
|
||||||||||||||||
At January 1, 2018
|
—
|
—
|
3
|
3
|
||||||||||||
At December 31, 2018
|
803,953
|
8,525
|
11
|
812,489
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
Other receivables
|
168
|
486
|
||||||
Prepayments and accrued income
|
2,525
|
6,082
|
||||||
Total other current assets
|
2,693
|
6,568
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
Accrued expenses
|
6,441
|
862
|
||||||
Deferred charter revenue
|
2,559
|
2,603
|
||||||
Other current liabilities
|
15
|
58
|
||||||
Provisions
|
2,282
|
-
|
||||||
Total Other current liabilities
|
11,297
|
3,523
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
2017
|
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
54,932
|
9,961
|
||||||
Restricted cash
|
165
|
—
|
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
55,097
|
9,961
|
2018
|
2017
|
|||||||
Ordinary shares (nominal amount $0.10)*
|
54,099,929
|
36,797,238
|
||||||
Total number of shares issued and outstanding
|
54,099,929
|
36,797,238
|
(in thousands of $, except share data)
|
Shares*
|
Share Capital
|
Additional paid in capital
|
|||||||||
Ordinary shares - issued and fully paid:
|
|
|
||||||||||
At December 31, 2016
|
12,794,565
|
1,279
|
573,785
|
|||||||||
Shares issued
|
24,002,673
|
2,401
|
322,166
|
|||||||||
At December 31, 2017
|
36,797,238
|
3,680
|
895,951
|
|||||||||
Shares issued
|
17,302,691
|
1,730
|
293,714
|
|||||||||
At December 31, 2018
|
54,099,929
|
5,410
|
1,189,665
|
September 2018
|
November 2018
|
|||||||
Risk free interest rate
|
1.44
|
%
|
1.59
|
%
|
||||
Expected life (years)
|
5
|
5
|
||||||
Expected volatility
|
28.3
|
%
|
36.8
|
%
|
||||
Expected dividend yield
|
—
|
%
|
—
|
%
|
Number of non-vested options
|
Weighted average exercise price per share ($)
|
Weighted average remaining contractual term (years)
|
Weighted average grant date fair value ($)
|
Aggregate intrinsic value
|
||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2017
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||
Granted during the year*
|
141,000
|
15.00
|
4.59
|
15.00
|
2,115,300
|
|||||||||||||||
Converted during the year
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||
Forfeited during the year
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||
Expired during the year
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2018
|
141,000
|
15.00
|
4.59
|
15.00
|
2,115,300
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2018
|
|||
Due within:
|
||||
1 year
|
23,625
|
|||
2 years
|
25,478
|
|||
3 years
|
26,404
|
|||
4 years
|
26,404
|
|||
5 years
|
241,963
|
|||
More than five years
|
116,156
|
|||
Total long term debt principals
|
460,030
|
|||
Less: debt issuance costs
|
(5,063
|
)
|
||
Total long term debt
|
454,967
|
2018
|
2018
|
2017
|
2017
|
||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of $)
|
Note
|
Fair value hierarchy level
|
Carrying amount of asset (liability)
|
Fair value
asset (liability)
|
Carrying amount of asset (liability)
|
Fair value asset
(liability)
|
|||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
11
|
Level 1
|
54,932
|
54,932
|
9,961
|
9,961
|
|||||||||||||||
Restricted cash
|
11
|
Level 1
|
165
|
165
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||
Receivables due from related parties
|
16
|
Level 1
|
1,720
|
1,720
|
340
|
340
|
|||||||||||||||
Account payable
|
Level 1
|
(592
|
)
|
(592
|
)
|
(76
|
)
|
(76
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Payables due to related parties
|
16
|
Level 1
|
(206
|
)
|
(206
|
)
|
(810
|
)
|
(810
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Long term debt
|
14
|
Level 2
|
(454,967
|
)*
|
(460,030
|
)*
|
(160,000
|
)
|
(160,000
|
)
|
(in thousands of $)
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Thereafter
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Loan repayments
|
23,625
|
25,478
|
26,404
|
26,404
|
241,963
|
116,156
|
460,030
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Newbuildings
|
288,000
|
685,000
|
252,000
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1,225,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
311,625
|
710,478
|
278,404
|
26,404
|
241,963
|
116,156
|
1,685,030
|
1. |
The liability of the members of the Company is limited to the amount (if any) for the time being unpaid on the shares respectively held by them.
|
2. |
The Company is an exempted company as defined by the Companies Act 1981.
|
3. |
The authorised share capital of the Company shall be US$1,000,000,000 divided into 100,000,000,000 shares of US$0.01 par value each.
|
4. |
The Company, with the consent of the Minister of Finance, has power to hold land situate in Bermuda not exceeding
NIL
in all, including the following parcels:-
|
5. |
Details of Incorporation:
|
7. |
The following are provisions regarding the powers of the Company -
|
/s/ M. Hermansen
|
/s/ L. Barstad
|
|
Director M. Hermansen
|
Witness L. Barstad
|
/s/ Georgina E. Sousa
Georgina E. Sousa Secretary |
|
INTERPRETATION
|
1
|
REGISTERED OFFICE
|
3
|
SHARE RIGHTS
|
3
|
MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS
|
4
|
POWER TO PURCHASE OWN SHARES
|
5
|
SHARES
|
5
|
CERTIFICATES
|
6
|
LIEN
|
6
|
CALLS ON SHARES
|
7
|
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
|
8
|
REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS
|
9
|
REGISTER OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
|
9
|
TRANSFER OF SHARES
|
9
|
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
|
12
|
INCREASE OF CAPITAL
|
13
|
ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
|
13
|
REDUCTION OF CAPITAL
|
14
|
GENERAL MEETINGS AND WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS
|
14
|
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
|
15
|
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
|
16
|
VOTING
|
17
|
PROXIES AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES
|
19
|
APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
|
21
|
RESIGNATION AND DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
|
21
|
ALTERNATE DIRECTORS
|
22
|
DIRECTORS' FEES AND ADDITIONAL REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
|
22
|
DIRECTORS' INTERESTS
|
23
|
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD
|
24
|
DELEGATION OF THE BOARD'S POWERS
|
25
|
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD
|
26
|
OFFICERS
|
28
|
MINUTES
|
28
|
SECRETARY AND RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE
|
28
|
THE SEAL
|
29
|
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS
|
29
|
RESERVES
|
30
|
CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS
|
31
|
RECORD DATES
|
31
|
ACCOUNTING RECORDS
|
31
|
AUDIT
|
32
|
SERVICE OF NOTICES AND OTHER DOCUMENTS
|
32
|
WINDING UP
|
33
|
INDEMNITY
|
33
|
CONTINUATION
|
35
|
ALTERATION OF BYE-LAWS
|
35
|
1. |
In these Bye-laws, and any Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires:
|
|
(a) |
the Directors and Officers of the Company (whether employees or not);
|
|
(b) |
the bona fide employees or former employees of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; or
|
|
(c) |
the wives, husbands, widows, widowers or children or step-children under the age of 18 of such employees or former employees;
|
2. |
Unless otherwise defined herein, any words or expressions defined in the Principal Act in force on the date when these Bye-laws, or any part hereof, are
adopted shall bear the same meaning in these Bye-laws or such part (as the case may be).
|
3. |
Any reference in these Bye-laws to any statute or section thereof shall unless expressly stated, be deemed to be a reference to such statute or section as
amended, restated or re-enacted from time to time.
|
4. |
The Registered Office shall be at such place in Bermuda as the Board shall from time to time appoint.
|
5. |
Subject to any special rights conferred on the holders of any share or class of shares, any share in the Company may be issued with or have attached thereto
such preferred, deferred, qualified or other special rights or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise as the Board may determine.
|
|
(a) |
divide the Company's shares into several classes and attach thereto respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or
conditions;
|
|
(b) |
consolidate and divide all or any of the Company's share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares;
|
|
(c) |
subdivide the Company's shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the memorandum, so, however, that in the subdivision the
proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; or
|
|
(d) |
make provision for the issue and allotment of shares which do not carry any voting rights.
|
6. |
Subject to the Companies Acts, any preference shares may, with the sanction of a Resolution, be issued on terms:
|
|
(a) |
that they are to be redeemed on the happening of a specified event or on a given date; and/or,
|
|
(b) |
that they are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company; and/or,
|
|
(c) |
if authorised by the memorandum of association of the Company, that they are liable to be redeemed at the option of the holder.
|
7. |
The terms and manner of redemption of any preference shares shall be either as the Company may in general meeting determine or as the Board of Directors or
any committee thereof may be resolution determine before the issuance of such shares.
|
8. |
At any time that the Company holds Treasury Shares, all of the rights attaching to the Treasury Shares shall be suspended and shall not be exercised by the
Company. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Company holds Treasury Shares, the Company shall not have any right to attend and vote at a general meeting or sign written resolutions and any purported exercise of such
a right is void.
|
9. |
Except where required by the Principal Act, Treasury Shares shall be excluded from the calculation of any percentage or fraction of the share capital, or
shares, of the Company.
|
10. |
Subject to the Companies Acts, all or any of the special rights for the time being attached to any class of shares for the time being issued may from time to
time
|
11. |
The special rights conferred upon the holders of any shares or class of shares shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided in the rights attaching to or
the terms of issue of such shares, be deemed to be altered by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu therewith.
|
12. |
The Company shall have the power to purchase its own shares for cancellation.
|
13. |
The Company shall have the power to acquire its own shares to be held as Treasury Shares.
|
14. |
The Board may exercise all of the powers of the Company to purchase or acquire its own shares, whether for cancellation or to be held as Treasury Shares in
accordance with the Principal Act.
|
15. |
Subject to the provisions of these Bye-laws, the unissued shares of the Company (whether forming part of the original capital or any increased capital) shall
be at the disposal of the Board, which may offer, allot, re-classify, grant options over any unissued shares of the Company, grant warrants or other securities with rights to convert such securities into shares of the Company or
otherwise dispose of the Company's unissued shares, to such persons, at such times and for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the Board may determine.
|
16. |
The Board may in connection with the issue of any shares exercise all powers of paying commission and brokerage conferred or permitted by law.
|
17. |
Except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or as required by law, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon trust and
the Company shall not be bound by or required in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or any interest in any fractional part of a share or (except only
as otherwise
|
18. |
The preparation, issue and delivery of share certificates shall be governed by the Companies Acts. In the case of a share held jointly by several persons,
delivery of a certificate to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all.
|
19. |
If a share certificate is defaced, lost or destroyed it may be replaced without fee but on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and to payment of
the costs and out of pocket expenses of the Company in investigating such evidence and preparing such indemnity as the Board may think fit and, in case of defacement, on delivery of the old certificate to the Company.
|
20. |
All certificates for share or loan capital or other securities of the Company (other than letters of allotment, scrip certificates and other like documents)
shall, except to the extent that the terms and conditions for the time being relating thereto otherwise provide, be issued under the Seal or bearing the signature of at least one person who is a Director or Secretary of the Company or a
person expressly authorized to sign such certificates on behalf of the Company. The Board may by resolution determine, either generally or in any particular case, that any signatures on any such certificates need not be autographic but
may be affixed to such certificates by some mechanical means or may be printed thereon.
|
21. |
The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully paid share) for all moneys, whether presently payable or not, called or
payable, at a date fixed by or in accordance with the terms of issue of such share in respect of such share, and the Company shall also have a first and paramount lien on every share (other than a fully paid share) standing registered
in the name of a Shareholder, whether singly or jointly with any other person, for all the debts and liabilities of such Shareholder or his estate to the Company, whether the same shall have been incurred before or after notice to the
Company of any interest of any person other than such Shareholder, and whether the time for the payment or discharge of the same shall have actually arrived or not, and notwithstanding that the same are joint debts or liabilities of
such Shareholder or his estate and any other person, whether a Shareholder or not. The Company's lien on a share shall extend to all dividends payable thereon. The Board may at any time, either generally or in any particular case, waive
any lien that has arisen or declare any share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Bye-law.
|
22. |
The Company may sell, in such manner as the Board may think fit, any share on which the Company has a lien but no sale shall be made unless some sum in
respect of which the lien exists is presently payable nor until the expiration of fourteen days after a notice in writing, stating and demanding payment of the sum presently
|
23. |
The net proceeds of sale by the Company of any shares on which it has a lien shall be applied in or towards payment or discharge of the debt or liability in
respect of which the lien exists so far as the same is presently payable, and any residue shall (subject to a like lien for debts or liabilities not presently payable as existed upon the share prior to the sale) be paid to the holder of
the share immediately before such sale. For giving effect to any such sale the Board may authorise some person to transfer the share sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser shall be registered as the holder of the share and he
shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale.
|
24. |
The Board may from time to time make calls upon the Shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the par value of the
shares or by way of premium) and not by the terms of issue thereof made payable at a date fixed by or in accordance with such terms of issue, and each Shareholder shall (subject to the Company serving upon him at least fourteen days
notice specifying the time or times and place of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times and place so specified the amount called on his shares. A call may be revoked or postponed as the Board may determine.
|
25. |
A call may be made payable by installments and shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Board authorizing the call was passed.
|
26. |
The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof
|
27. |
If a sum called in respect of the share shall not be paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof the person from whom the sum is due shall pay
interest on the sum from the day appointed for the payment thereof to the time of actual payment at such rate as the Board may determine, but the Board shall be at liberty to waive payment of such interest wholly or in part.
|
28. |
Any sum which, by the terms of issue of a share, becomes payable on allotment or at any date fixed by or in accordance with such terms of issue, whether on
account of the nominal amount of the share or by way of premium, shall for all the purposes of these Bye-laws be deemed to be a call duly made, notified and payable on the date on which, by the terms of issue, the same becomes payable
and, in case of non-payment, all the relevant provisions of these Bye-laws as to payment of interest, forfeiture or otherwise shall apply as if such sum had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.
|
29. |
The Board may on the issue of shares differentiate between the allottees or holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment.
|
30. |
If a Shareholder fails to pay any call or installment of a call on the day appointed for payment thereof, the Board may at any time thereafter during such
time as any part of such call or installment remains unpaid serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or installment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued.
|
31. |
The notice shall name a further day (not being less than 14 days from the date of the notice) on or before which, and the place where, the payment required by
the notice is to be made and shall state that, in the event of non-payment on or before the day and at the place appointed, the shares in respect of which such call is made or installment is payable will be liable to be forfeited. The
Board may accept the surrender of any share liable to be forfeited hereunder and, in such case, references in these Bye-laws to forfeiture shall include surrender.
|
32. |
If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any share in respect of which such notice has been given may at any time
thereafter, before payment of all calls or installments and interest due in respect thereof has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Board to that effect. Such forfeiture shall include all dividends declared in respect of the
forfeited shares and not actually paid before the forfeiture.
|
33. |
When any share has been forfeited, notice of the forfeiture shall be served upon the person who was before forfeiture the holder of the share; but no
forfeiture shall be in any manner invalidated by any omission or neglect to give such notice as aforesaid.
|
34. |
A forfeited share shall be deemed to be the property of the Company and may be sold, re-offered or otherwise disposed of either to the person who was, before
forfeiture, the holder thereof or entitled thereto or to any other person upon such terms and in such manner as the Board shall think fit, and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on
such terms as the Board may think fit.
|
35. |
A person whose shares have been forfeited shall thereupon cease to be a Shareholder in respect of the forfeited shares but shall, notwithstanding the
forfeiture, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which at the date of forfeiture were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares with interest thereon at such rate as the Board may determine from the date
of forfeiture until payment, and the Company may enforce payment without being under any obligation to make any allowance for the value of the shares forfeited.
|
36. |
An affidavit in writing that the deponent is a Director or the Secretary and that a share has been duly forfeited on the date stated in the affidavit shall be
conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. The Company may receive the consideration (if any) given for the share
|
37. |
The Secretary shall establish and maintain the Register of Shareholders in the manner prescribed by the Companies Acts. Unless the Board otherwise determines,
the Register of Shareholders shall be open to inspection in the manner prescribed by the Companies Acts between 10.00 a.m. and 12.00 noon on every working day. Unless the Board otherwise determines, no Shareholder or intending
Shareholder shall be entitled to have entered in the Register any indication of any trust or any equitable,4' contingent, future or partial interest in any share or any interest in any fractional part of a share and if any such entry
exists or is permitted by the Board it shall not be deemed to abrogate any of the provisions of Bye-law 18.
|
38. |
Subject to the Companies Act, at the time determined by the Board, the Company shall establish the Branch Register, and the Board may make and vary such
regulations as it determines in respect of the keeping of the Branch Register.
|
39. |
The Secretary shall establish and maintain a register of the Directors and Officers of the Company as required by the Companies Acts. Every Officer that is
also a Director and the Secretary must be listed officers of the Company in the Register of Directors and Officers. The register of Directors and Officers shall be open to inspection in the manner prescribed by the Companies Acts
between 10.00 a.m. and 12.00 noon on every working day.
|
40. |
Subject to the Companies Acts and to such of the restrictions contained in these Bye-laws as may be applicable, any Shareholder may transfer all or any of his
shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual common form or in any other form which the Board may approve.
|
41. |
The instrument of transfer of a share shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and, where any share is not fully-paid, the transferee. The transferor
shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect thereof Should the Company be permitted to do so under the laws of Bermuda, the Board may, either generally or in
any particular case, upon request by the transferor or the transferee, accept mechanically or electronically executed transfer and may also make such regulations with respect to transfer in addition to the provisions of these Bye-
|
|
(i) |
The Board shall decline to register the transfer of any share, and shall direct the Registrar to decline (and the Registrar shall decline) to register the
transfer of any interest in any share held through a Branch Register, to a person where the Board is of the opinion that such transfer might breach any law or requirement of any authority or any Listing Exchange until it has received
such evidence as it may require to satisfy itself that no such breach would occur.
|
|
(ii) |
The Board may decline to register the transfer of any share, and may direct the Registrar to decline (and the Registrar shall decline if so requested) to
register the transfer of any interest in any share held through a Branch Register, if the registration of such transfer would be likely, in the opinion of the Board, to result in fifty percent or more of the aggregate issued share
capital of the Company or shares of the Company to which are attached fifty percent or more of the votes attached to all outstanding shares of the Company being held or owned directly or indirectly, (including, without limitation,
through a Branch Register) by a person or persons resident for tax purposes in Norway, provided that this provision shall not apply to the registration of shares in the name of the Registrar as nominee of persons whose interests in such
shares are reflected in a Branch Register, but shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to interests in shares of the Company held by persons through a Branch Register.
|
|
(iii) |
For the purposes of this Bye-Law, each Shareholder (other than the Registrar in respect of those shares registered in its name in the Register as nominee of
persons whose interests in such shares are reflected in a Branch Register) shall be deemed to be resident for tax purposes in the jurisdiction specified in the address shown in the Register for such Shareholder, and each person whose
interests in shares are reflected in a Branch Register shall be deemed to be resident for tax purposes in the jurisdiction specified in the address shown in a Branch Register for such person. If such Shareholder or person is not
resident for tax purpose in such jurisdiction or if there is a subsequent change in his residence for tax purposes, such Shareholder shall notify the Company immediately of his residence for tax purposes.
|
|
(iv) |
Where any Shareholder or person whose interests in shares are reflected in a Branch Register fails to notify the Company in accordance with the foregoing, the
Board and the Registrar may suspend sine die such Shareholder's or person's entitlement to vote or otherwise exercise any rights attaching to the shares or interests therein and to receive payments of income or capital which become due
or payable in respect of such
|
|
(v) |
The provision of these Bye-Laws relating to the protection of purchaser of shares sold under lien or upon forfeiture shall apply mutatis mutandis to a
disposal of shares or interests therein by the Company or the Registrar in accordance with this Bye-Law.
|
|
(vi) |
If fifty percent or more of the aggregate issued share capital of the Company or shares to which are attached fifty percent or more of the votes attached to
all outstanding shares of the Company are found to be held or owned directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, through a Branch Register) by a person or persons resident for tax purposes in Norway, other than the Registrar
in respect of those shares registered in its name in the Register as nominee of persons whose interests in such shares are reflected in a Branch Register, the Board shall make an announcement to such effect through the Oslo Stock
Exchange, and the Board and the Registrar shall thereafter be entitled and required to dispose of such number of shares of the Company or interests therein held or owned by such persons as will result in the percentage of the aggregate
issued share capital of the Company held or owned as aforesaid being less than fifty percent, and, for these purposes, the Board and the Registrar shall in such case dispose of shares or interests therein owned by persons resident for
tax purposes in Norway on the basis that the shares or interests therein most recently acquired shall be the first to be disposed of (i.e. on the basis of last acquired first sold) save where there is a breach of the obligation to
notify tax residency pursuant to the foregoing, in which event the shares or interests therein of the person in breach thereof shall be sold first. Shareholders shall not be entitled to raise any objection to the disposal of their
shares, but the provisions of these Bye-Laws relating to the protection of purchasers of shares sold under lien or upon forfeiture shall apply mutatis mutandis to any disposal of shares or interests therein made in accordance with this
Bye-Law 41.
|
42. |
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board may also decline to register any transfer unless:
|
|
(a) |
the instrument of transfer is duly stamped and lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates, and such other
evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer,
|
|
(b) |
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share,
|
|
(c) |
where applicable, the permission of the Bermuda Monetary Authority with respect thereto has been obtained.
|
43. |
If the Board declines to register a transfer it shall, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to the
transferee notice of such refusal.
|
44. |
No fee shall be charged by the Company for registering any transfer, probate, letters of administration, certificate of death or marriage, power of attorney,
distringas or stop notice, order of court or other instrument relating to or affecting the title to any share, or otherwise making an entry in the Register and/or the Branch Register (if established) relating to any share.
|
45. |
The Company may dispose of or transfer Treasury Shares for cash or other consideration.
|
46. |
In the case of the death of a Shareholder, the survivor or survivors, where the deceased was a joint holder, and the estate representative, where he was sole
holder, shall be the only person recognised by the Company as having any title to his shares; but nothing herein contained shall release the estate of a deceased holder (whether the sole or joint) from any liability in respect of any
share held by him solely or jointly with other persons. For the purpose of this Bye-law, estate representative means the person to whom probate or letters of administration has or have been granted in Bermuda or, failing any such
person, such other person as the Board may in its absolute discretion determine to be the person recognised by the Company for the purpose of this Bye-law.
|
47. |
Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death of a Shareholder or otherwise by operation of applicable law may, subject as hereafter
provided and upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Board as to his entitlement, either be registered himself as the holder of the share or elect to have some person nominated by him registered as
the transferee thereof If the person so becoming entitled elects to be registered himself, he shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by him stating that he so elects. If he shall elect to have his nominee
registered, he shall
|
48. |
A person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death of a Shareholder or otherwise by operation of applicable law shall (upon such evidence being
produced as may from time to time be required by the Board as to his entitlement) be entitled to receive and may give a discharge for any dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the share, but he shall not be entitled in respect
of the share to receive notices of or to attend or vote at general meetings of the Company or, save as aforesaid, to exercise in respect of the share any of the rights or privileges of a Shareholder until he shall have become registered
as the holder thereof. The Board may at any time give notice requiring such person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the share and if the notice is not complied with within sixty days the Board may thereafter
withhold payment of all dividends and other moneys payable in respect of the shares until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.
|
49. |
Subject to any directions of the Board from time to time in force, the Secretary may exercise the powers and discretions of the Board under Bye-laws 46, 47
and 48.
|
50. |
The Company may from time to time increase its capital by such sum to be divided into shares of such par value as the Company by Resolution shall prescribe.
|
51. |
The Company may, by the Resolution increasing the capital, direct that the new shares or any of them shall be offered in the first instance either at par or
at a premium or (subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts) at a discount to all the holders for the time being of shares of any class or classes in proportion to the number of such shares held by them respectively or make any
other provision as to the issue of the new shares.
|
52. |
The new shares shall be subject to all the provisions of these Bye-laws with reference to lien, the payment of calls, forfeiture, transfer, transmission and
otherwise.
|
53. |
The Company may from time to time by Resolution:
|
|
(a) |
cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of the Resolution in that behalf, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and
|
|
(b) |
change the currency denomination of its share capital.
|
54. |
Where any difficulty arises in regard to any division, consolidation, or sub-division under Bye-law 53, the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient
and, in particular, may arrange for the sale of the shares representing fractions and the distribution of the net proceeds of sale in due proportion amongst the Shareholders who would have been entitled to the fractions, and for this
purpose the Board may authorise some person to transfer the shares representing fractions to the purchaser thereof, who shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall his title to the shares be affected by
any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale.
|
55. |
Subject to the Companies Acts and to any confirmation or consent required by law or these Bye-laws, the Company may by Resolution from time to time convert
any preference shares into redeemable preference shares.
|
56. |
Subject to the Companies Acts, its memorandum and any confirmation or consent required by law or these Bye-laws, the Company may from time to time by
Resolution authorise the reduction of its issued share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund or any share premium or contributed surplus account in any manner.
|
57. |
In relation to any such reduction, the Company may by Resolution determine the terms upon which such reduction is to be effected including in the case of a
reduction of part only of a class of shares, those shares to be affected.
|
58. |
The Board shall convene and the Company shall hold general meetings as Annual General Meetings in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Acts at
such times and places as the Board shall appoint. The Board may, whenever it thinks fit, and shall, when required by the Companies Acts, convene general meetings other than Annual General Meetings which shall be called Special General
Meetings. Any such Annual or Special General meeting shall be held at the Registered Office of the Company in Bermuda or such other location suitable for such purpose and in no event shall any such Annual or Special General Meeting be
held in Norway or the United Kingdom.
|
59. |
Except in the case of the removal of auditors and Directors and subject to these Bye-laws, anything which may be done by resolution of the Company in general
meeting or by resolution of a meeting of any class of the Shareholders of the Company may, without a meeting be done by resolution in writing, signed by a simple majority of all of the Shareholders (or such greater majority as is
required
|
60. |
Notice of any resolution to be made under Bye-law 59 shall be given, and a copy of the resolution shall be circulated, to all members who would be entitled to
attend a meeting and vote on the resolution in the same manner as that required for a notice of a meeting of members at which the resolution could have been considered, except that any requirement in this Act or in these Bye-laws as to
the length of the period of notice shall not apply.
|
61. |
A resolution in writing is passed when it is signed by, or, in the case of a member that is a corporation (whether or not a company within the meaning of the
Companies Acts) on behalf of, such number of the Shareholders of the Company who at the date of the notice represent a majority of votes as would be required if the resolution had been voted on at a meeting of Shareholders.
|
62. |
A resolution in writing made in accordance with Bye-law 59 is as valid as if it had been passed by the Company in general meeting or, if applicable, by a
meeting of the relevant class of Shareholders of the Company, as the case may be. A resolution in writing made in accordance with Bye-law 59 shall constitute minutes for the purposes of the Companies Acts and these Bye-laws.
|
63. |
The accidental omission to give notice to, or the non-receipt of a notice by, any person entitled to receive notice of a resolution does not invalidate the
passing of a resolution.
|
64. |
An Annual General Meeting shall be called by not less than 5 days' notice in writing and a Special General Meeting shall be called by not less than 5 days'
notice in writing. The notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is served or deemed to be served and of the day for which it is given, and shall specify the place, day and time of the meeting, and, in the case of a Special
General Meeting, the general nature of the business to be considered. Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner permitted by these Bye-laws. Shareholders other than those required to be given notice under the
provisions of these Bye-laws or the terms of issue of the shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notice from the Company.
|
65. |
Notwithstanding that a meeting of the Company is called by shorter notice than that specified in this Bye-law, it shall be deemed to have been duly called if
it is so agreed:
|
|
(a) |
in the case of a meeting called as an Annual General Meeting, by all the Shareholders entitled to attend and vote thereat;
|
|
(b) |
in the case of any other meeting, by a majority in number of the Shareholders having the right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together
holding not less than 95 percent in nominal value of the shares giving that right;
|
66. |
The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting or (in cases where instruments of proxy are sent out with the notice) the accidental omission to send such
instrument of proxy to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting or such instrument of proxy by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
|
67. |
No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business, but the absence of a quorum shall not
preclude the appointment, choice or election of a chairman, which shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting. Save as otherwise provided by these Bye-Laws, at least two Shareholders present in person or represented by
proxy and entitled to vote (whatever the number of shares held by them) shall be a quorum for all purposes (including for greater certainty any Resolution for the amalgamation or merger of the Company), provided however that if the
Company shall have only one Shareholder, such Shareholder, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute the necessary quorum.
|
68. |
If within five minutes (or such longer time as the chairman of the meeting may determine to wait) after the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not
present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of Shareholders, shall be dissolved. In any other case, it shall stand adjourned to such other day and such other time and place as the chairman of the meeting may determine and at
such adjourned meeting two Shareholders present in person or by proxy (whatever the number of shares held by them) shall be a quorum provided that if the Company shall have only one
|
69. |
A meeting of the Shareholders or any class thereof may be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons
participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
|
70. |
Each Director shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company.
|
71. |
The Chairman (if any) of the Board shall preside as chairman at every general meeting. If there is no such Chairman, or if at any meeting the Chairman is not
present within five (5) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting the Directors present shall choose one of their number to act or if one Director only is present he shall preside as chairman if willing to act. If no
Director is present, or if each of the Directors present declines to take the chair, the persons present and entitled to vote on a poll shall elect one of their number to be chairman.
|
72. |
The chairman of the meeting may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting
from time to time and from place to place but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting is
adjourned for three months or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting.
|
73. |
Save as expressly provided by these Bye-laws, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an
adjourned meeting.
|
74. |
Save where a greater majority is required by the Companies Acts or these Bye-laws, any question proposed for consideration at any general meeting shall be
decided on by a simple majority of votes cast.
|
76A. |
The Board may, with the sanction of a Resolution, amalgamate the Company with another company (whether or not such an amalgamation involves a change in the
jurisdiction of the Company) or merge the Company with another company (whether or not the Company is the surviving company and whether or not such a merger involves a change in the jurisdiction of the Company).
|
75. |
At any general meeting, a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands or by a count of votes received in the form of
electronic records unless (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands or on the withdrawal of any other demand for a poll) a poll is demanded by:
|
|
(a) |
the chairman of the meeting; or
|
|
(b) |
at least three Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy; or
|
|
(c) |
any Shareholder or Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and holding between them not less than one tenth of the total voting rights of all
the Shareholders having the right to vote at such meeting; or
|
|
(d) |
a Shareholder or Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy holding shares conferring the right to vote at such meeting, being shares on which an
aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one tenth of the total sum paid up on all such shares conferring such right.
|
76. |
Unless a poll is so demanded and the demand is not withdrawn, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has, on a show of hands or on a count of votes
received in the form of electronic records, been carried or carried unanimously or by a particular majority or not carried by a particular majority or lost shall be final and conclusive, and an entry to that effect in the minute book of
the Company shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number of votes recorded for or against such resolution.
|
77. |
If a poll is duly demanded, the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll is demanded.
|
78. |
A poll demanded on the election of a chairman, or on a question of adjournment, shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken
in such manner and either forthwith or at such time (being not later than three months after the date of the demand) and place as the chairman shall direct. It shall not be necessary (unless the chairman otherwise directs) for notice to
be given of a poll.
|
79. |
The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll has been
demanded and it may be withdrawn at any time before the close of the meeting or the taking of the poll, whichever is the earlier.
|
80. |
On a poll, votes may be cast either personally or by proxy.
|
81. |
A person entitled to more than one vote on a poll need not use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.
|
82. |
In the case of an equality of votes at a general meeting, whether on a show of hands, a count of votes received in the form of electronic records or on a
poll, the chairman of such meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.
|
83. |
In the case of joint holders of a share, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the
votes of the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register in respect of the joint holding.
|
84. |
A Shareholder who is a patient for any purpose of any statute or applicable law relating to mental health or in respect of whom an order has been made by any
Court having jurisdiction for the protection or management of the affairs of persons incapable of managing their own affairs may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his receiver, committee, curator bonis or other person in
the nature of a receiver, committee or curator bonis appointed by such Court and such receiver, committee, curator bonis or other person may vote on a poll by proxy, and may otherwise act and be treated as such Shareholder for the
purpose of general meetings.
|
85. |
No Shareholder shall, unless the Board otherwise determines, be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all calls or other sums presently payable by
him in respect of shares in the Company have been paid.
|
86. |
If (i) any objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter or (ii) any votes have been counted which ought not to have been counted or which might
have been rejected or (iii) any votes are not counted which ought to have been counted, the objection or error shall not vitiate the decision of the meeting or adjourned meeting on any resolution unless the same is raised or pointed out
at the meeting or, as the case may be, the adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered or at which the error occurs. Any objection or error shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and shall only vitiate
the decision of the meeting on any resolution if the chairman decides that the same may have affected the decision of the meeting. The decision of the chairman on such matters shall be final and conclusive.
|
87. |
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney authorised by him in writing or, if the appointor is
a corporation, either under its seal or under the hand of an officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign the same.
|
88. |
Any Shareholder may appoint a standing proxy or (if a corporation) representative by depositing at the Registered Office a proxy or (if a corporation) an
authorisation and such proxy or authorisation shall be valid for all general meetings and adjournments thereof or, resolutions in writing, as the case may be, until notice of revocation is received at the Registered Office which if
permitted by the Principal Act may be in the form of an electronic record. Where a standing proxy or authorisation exists, its operation shall be deemed to have been suspended at any general meeting or adjournment thereof at which the
Shareholder is present or in respect to which the Shareholder has specially appointed a proxy or representative.
|
89. |
Subject to Bye-law 88, the instrument appointing a proxy together with such other evidence as to its due execution as the Board may from time to time require,
shall be delivered at the Registered Office which if permitted by the Principal Act may be in the form of an electronic record (or at such place as may be specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any notice of any adjournment
or, in either case or the case of a written resolution, in any document sent therewith) prior to the holding of the relevant meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote or, in the case of a
poll taken subsequently to the date of a meeting or adjourned meeting, before the time appointed for the taking of the poll, or, in the case of a written resolution, prior to the effective date of the written resolution and in default
the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid.
|
90. |
Instruments of proxy shall be in any common form or in such other form as the Board may approve and the Board may, if it thinks fit, send out with the notice
of any meeting or any written resolution forms of instruments of proxy for use at that meeting or in connection with that written resolution. The instrument of proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a
poll and to vote on any amendment of a written resolution or amendment of a resolution put to the meeting for which it is given as the proxy thinks fit. The instrument of proxy shall unless the contrary is stated therein be valid as
well for any adjournment of the meeting as for the meeting to which it relates.
|
91. |
A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal, or
revocation of the instrument of proxy or of the authority under which it was executed, provided that no intimation in writing of such death, insanity or revocation shall have been received by the Company at the Registered Office which
if permitted by the Principal Act may be in the form of an electronic record (or such other place as may be specified for the delivery of instruments of proxy in the notice convening the meeting or other documents sent therewith) one
hour at least before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting, or the taking of the poll, or the day before the effective date of any written resolution at which the instrument of proxy is used.
|
92. |
Subject to the Companies Acts, the Board may at its discretion waive any of the provisions of these Bye-laws related to proxies or authorisations and, in
particular, may accept such verbal or other assurances as it thinks fit as to the right of any person to attend and vote on behalf of any Shareholder at general meetings or to sign written resolutions.
|
93. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bye-laws, any member may appoint an irrevocable proxy by depositing at the Registered Office an irrevocable proxy
and such irrevocable proxy shall be valid for all general meetings and adjournrnents thereof, or resolutions in writing, as the case may be, until terminated in accordance with its own terms, or until written notice of termination is
received at the Registered Office signed by the proxy. The instrument creating the irrevocable proxy shall recite that it is constituted as such and shall confirm that it is granted with an interest. The operation of an irrevocable
proxy shall not be suspended at any general meeting or adjournment thereof at which the member who has appointed such proxy is present and the member may not specially appoint another proxy or vote himself in respect of any shares which
are the subject of the irrevocable proxy.
|
94. |
The number of Directors shall be such number not less than two as the Company by Resolution may from time to time determine and, subject to the Companies Acts
and these Bye-laws, shall serve until re-elected or their successors are appointed at the next Annual General Meeting. The Board shall at all times comprise a majority of Directors who are not resident in the United Kingdom.
|
95. |
The Company shall at the Annual General Meeting and may by Resolution determine the minimum and the maximum number of Directors and may by Resolution
determine that one or more vacancies in the Board shall be deemed casual vacancies for the purposes of these Bye-laws. Without prejudice to the power of the Company by Resolution in pursuance of any of the provisions of these Bye-laws
to appoint any person to be a Director, the Board, so long as a quorum of Directors remains in office, shall have power at any time and from time to time to appoint any individual to be a Director so as to fill a casual vacancy.
|
96. |
The Company may in a Special General Meeting called for that purpose remove a Director provided notice of any such meeting shall be served upon the Director
concerned not less than 14 days before the meeting and he shall be entitled to be heard at that meeting. Any vacancy created by the removal of a Director at a Special General Meeting may be filled at the Meeting by the election of
another Director in his place or, in the absence of any such election, by the Board.
|
97. |
The office of a Director shall be vacated upon the happening of any of the following events:
|
|
(a) |
if he resigns his office by notice in writing delivered to the Registered Office or tendered at a meeting of the Board;
|
|
(b) |
if he becomes of unsound mind or a patient for any purpose of any statute or applicable law relating to mental health and the Board resolves that his office
is vacated;
|
|
(c) |
if he becomes bankrupt or compounds with his creditors;
|
|
(d) |
if he is prohibited by law from being a Director;
|
|
(e) |
if he ceases to be a Director by virtue of the Companies Acts or is removed from office pursuant to these Bye-laws.
|
98. |
The Company may by Resolution elect any person or persons to act as Directors in the alternative to any of the Directors or may authorise the Board to appoint
such Alternate Directors and a Director may appoint and remove his own Alternate Director. Any appointment or removal of an Alternate Director by a Director shall be effected by depositing a notice of appointment or removal with the
Secretary at the Registered Office which if permitted by the Principal Act may be in the form of an electronic record, signed by such Director, and such appointment or removal shall become effective on the date of receipt by the
Secretary. Any Alternate Director may be removed by Resolution of the Company and, if appointed by the Board, may be removed by the Board. Subject as aforesaid, the office of Alternate Director shall continue until the next annual
election of Directors or, if earlier, the date on which the relevant Director ceases to be a Director. An Alternate Director may also be a Director in his own right and may act as alternate to more than one Director. No resident of the
United Kingdom and no person who is physically located in the United Kingdom during a meeting of the Board may be elected or appointed as an Alternate Director.
|
99. |
An Alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notices of all meetings of Directors, to attend, be counted in the quorum and vote at any such meeting at
which any Director to whom he is alternate is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of any Director to whom he is alternate in his absence.
|
100. |
Every person acting as an Alternate Director shall (except as regards powers to appoint an alternate and remuneration) be subject in all respects to the
provisions of these Bye-laws relating to Directors and shall alone be responsible to the Company for his acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be the agent of or for any Director for whom he is alternate. An Alternate Director
may be paid expenses and shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Company to the same extent mutatis mutandis as if he were a Director. Every person acting as an Alternate Director shall have one vote for each Director for whom he
acts as alternate (in addition to his own vote if he is also a Director). The signature of an Alternate Director to any resolution in writing of the Board or a committee of the Board shall, unless the terms of his appointment provides
to the contrary, be as effective as the signature of the Director or Directors to whom he is alternate.
|
101. |
The amount, if any, of Directors' fees shall from time to time be determined by the Company by Resolution and in the absence of a determination to the
contrary in
|
102. |
A Director may hold any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period
and upon such terms as the Board may determine, and may be paid such extra remuneration therefor (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Board may determine, and such extra remuneration shall
be in addition to any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Bye-law.
|
103. |
A Director may act by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company (otherwise than as auditor) and he or his firm shall be entitled to
remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director.
|
104. |
Subject to the Companies Acts, a Director may notwithstanding his office be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the
Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested; and be a Director or other officer of, or employed by, or a patty to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any body corporate promoted by the Company or
in which the Company is interested. The Board may also cause the voting power conferred by the shares in any other company held or owned by the Company to be exercised in such manner in all respects as it thinks fit, including the
exercise thereof in favour of any resolution appointing the Directors or any of them to be directors or officers of such other company, or voting or providing for the payment of remuneration to the directors or officers of such other
company.
|
105. |
So long as, where it is necessary, he declares the nature of his interest at the first opportunity at a meeting of the Board or by writing to the Directors as
required by the Companies Acts, a Director shall not by reason of his office be accountable to the Company for any benefit which he derives from any office or employment to which these Bye-laws allow him to be appointed or from any
transaction or arrangement in which these Bye-laws allow him to be interested, and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any interest or benefit.
|
106. |
Subject to the Companies Acts and any further disclosure required thereby, a general notice to the Directors by a Director or officer declaring that he is a
director or officer or has an interest in a person and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction or arrangement made with that person, shall be a sufficient declaration of interest in relation to any transaction or arrangement
so made.
|
107. |
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts and these Bye-laws and to any directions given by the Company by Resolution, the Board shall manage the
business of the Company and may pay all expenses incurred in promoting and incorporating the Company and may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of these Bye-laws and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of
the Board which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. The powers given by this Bye-law shall not be limited by any special power given to the Board by these Bye-laws and a
meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in or exercisable by the Board.
|
108. |
The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets
(present and future) and uncalled capital of the Company and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any other persons.
|
109. |
All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other instruments, whether negotiable or transferable or not, and all receipts for money paid to
the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the Board shall from time to time by resolution determine.
|
110. |
The Board on behalf of the Company may provide benefits, whether by the payment of gratuities or pensions or otherwise, for any person including any Director
or former Director who has held any executive office or employment with the Company or with any body corporate which is or has been a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or a predecessor in the business of the Company or of any such
subsidiary or affiliate, and to any member of his family or any person who is or was dependent on him, and may contribute to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or other benefit, or for
the insurance of any such person.
|
111. |
The Board, on behalf of the Company, may provide benefits, whether pursuant to a Share Option Scheme or by the payment of gratuities or pensions or otherwise,
for any Director or Officer (whether or not an employee) and any person who has held any executive office or employment with the Company or with any body corporate which has been a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or a
|
112. |
The Board may from time to time appoint one or more of its body to hold any other employment or executive office with the Company for such period and upon
such terms as the Board may determine and may revoke or terminate any such appointments. Any such revocation or termination as aforesaid shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages that such Director may have against the Company
or the Company may have against such Director for any breach of any contract of service between him and the Company which may be involved in such revocation or termination.Any person so appointed shall receive such remuneration (if any)
(whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Board may determine, and either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration as a Director.
|
113. |
The Board may by power of attorney appoint any company, firm or person or any fluctuating body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the
Board, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board under these Bye-laws) and for such period and subject
to such conditions as it may think fit, and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney and of such attorney as the Board may think fit, and may
also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.
|
114. |
The Board may entrust to and confer upon any Director or officer any of
the
powers exercisable by it upon such terms and conditions with such restrictions as it thinks fit, and either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, its own powers, and may from time to time revoke or
vary all or any of such powers but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby.
|
115. |
The Board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions to any person or to committees, consisting of such person or persons (whether a member
or
|
116. |
The Board may meet for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings as it thinks fit provided that Board Meetings are to be held
outside Norway and the United Kingdom. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes cast. No Director (including the Chairman, if any, of the Board) shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. In the
case of an equality of votes the motion shall be deemed to have been lost. A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Board.
|
117. |
Notice of a meeting of the Board shall be deemed to be duly given to a Director if it is sent to him by post, cable, telex, telecopier, electronic means, or
other mode of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form at his last known address or any other address given by him to the Company for this purpose. Written notice of Board meetings shall be given with
reasonable notice being not less than 24 hours whenever practicable. A Director may waive notice of any meeting either prospectively or retrospectively.
|
118. |
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the Board and, unless so fixed at any other number, shall be a majority
of the Board present in person or by proxy, provided that a quorum shall not be present unless a majority of the Directors present are neither resident in Norway nor physically located nor resident in the United Kingdom. Any Director
who ceases to be a Director at a meeting of the Board may continue to be present and to act as a Director and be counted in the quorum until the termination of the meeting if no other Director objects and if otherwise a quorum of
Directors would not be present.
|
119. |
A Director who to his knowledge is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract, transaction or arrangement with
the Company and has complied with the provisions of the Companies Acts and these Bye-laws with regard to disclosure of his interest shall be entitled to vote in respect of any contract, transaction or arrangement in which he is so
interested and if he shall do so his vote shall be counted, and he shall be taken into account in ascertaining whether a quorum is present.
|
120. |
So long as a quorum of Directors remains in office, the continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in the Board but, if no such quorum remains,
the
|
121. |
The Chairman (if any) of the Board shall preside as chairman at every meeting of the Board. If there is no such Chairman or if at any meeting the Chairman is
not present within five (5) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or is not willing to act as chairman, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
|
122. |
The meetings and proceedings of any committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed by the provisions contained in these Bye-laws for regulating
the meetings and proceedings of the Board so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by any regulations imposed by the Board.
|
123. |
A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the Board or by all the members of a
committee for the time being shall be as valid and effectual as a resolution passed at a meeting of the Board or, as the case may be, of such committee duly called and constituted provided that no such resolution shall be valid and
effective unless the signatures of all such Directors or all such committee members are affixed outside of the United Kingdom. Such resolution may be contained in one document or in several documents in the like form each signed by one
or more of the Directors (or their Alternate Directors) or members of the committee concerned.
|
124. |
A meeting of the Board or a committee appointed by the Board may be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit
all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. A meeting of the Board or committee
appointed by the Board held in the foregoing manner shall be deemed to take place at the place where the largest group of participating Directors or committee members has assembled or, if no such group exists, at the place where the
chairman of the meeting participates provided that in such event, the meeting shall be chaired by a Director or a committee member who is not resident in Norway nor physically located nor resident in the United Kingdom. The Board or
relevant committee shall use its best endeavours to ensure that any such meeting is not deemed to have been held in Norway or the United Kingdom, and the fact that one or more Directors or committee members may be present at such
teleconference by virtue of his being physically in Norway or the United Kingdom shall not deem such meeting to have taken place in Norway or the United Kingdom.
|
125. |
All acts done by the Board or by any committee or by any person acting as a Director or member of a committee or any person duly authorised by the Board or
any committee, shall, notwithstanding that it, is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any member of the Board or such committee or person acting as aforesaid or that they or any of them were
disqualified or had
|
126. |
The Board shall appoint one of their number to the office of Chairman, and may appoint any person whether or not he is a Director to hold such office as the
Board may from time to time determine. Any person elected or appointed pursuant to this Bye-law shall hold office for such period and upon such terms as the Board may determine and the Board may revoke or terminate any such election or
appointment. Any such revocation or termination shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages that such officer may have against the Company or the Company may have against such officer for any breach of any contract of service
between him and the Company which may be involved in such revocation or termination. Save as provided in the Companies Acts or these Bye-laws, the powers and duties of the officers of the Company shall be such (if any) as are determined
from time to time by the Board.
|
127. |
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made and books kept for the purpose of recording:
|
|
(a) |
all appointments of officers made by the Directors;
|
|
(b) |
the names of the Directors and other persons (if any) present at each meeting of Directors and of any committee;
|
|
(c) |
of all proceedings at meetings of the Company, of the holders of any class of shares in the Company, and of committees;
|
|
(d) |
of all proceedings of managers (if any).
|
128. |
The Secretary and Resident Representative, if necessary, shall be appointed by the Board at such remuneration (if any) and upon such terms as it may think fit
and any Secretary so appointed may be removed by the Board.
|
129. |
The duties of the Secretary shall be those prescribed by the Companies Acts together with such other duties as shall from time to time be prescribed by the
Board.
|
130. |
A provision of the Companies Acts or these Bye-laws requiring or authorising a thing to be done by or to a Director and the Secretary shall not be satisfied
by its being done by or to the same person acting both as Director and as, or in the place of, the Secretary.
|
131. |
The Company may, but need not, have a Seal and one or more duplicate Seals for use in any place in or outside Bermuda.
|
132. |
If the Company has a Seal it shall consist of a circular metal device with the name of the Company around the outer margin thereof and the country and year of
incorporation across the centre thereof
|
133. |
The Board shall provide for the custody of every Seal, if any. A Seal shall only be used by authority of the Board or of a committee constituted by the Board.
Subject to these Bye-laws, any instrument to which a Seal is affixed shall be signed by at least one Director or the Secretary, or by any person (whether or not a Director or the Secretary), who has been authorised either generally or
specifically to attest to the use of a Seal.
|
134. |
The Secretary, a Director or the Resident Representative may affix a Seal attested with his signature to certify the authenticity of any copies of documents.
|
135. |
The Board may from time to time declare cash dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus to be paid to the Shareholders according to their rights
and interests including such interim dividends as appear to the Board to be justified by the position of the Company. The Board may also pay any fixed cash dividend which is payable on any shares of the Company half yearly or on such
other dates, whenever the position of the Company, in the opinion of the Board, justifies such payment.
|
136. |
Except insofar as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share otherwise provide:
|
|
(a) |
all dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus may be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares in respect of which the
dividend or distribution is paid, and an amount paid up on a share in advance of calls may be treated for the purpose of this Bye-law as paid-up on the share;
|
|
(b) |
dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus may be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid-up on the shares during any portion
or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend or distribution is paid.
|
137. |
The Board may deduct from any dividend, distribution or other moneys payable to a Shareholder by the Company on or in respect of any shares all sums of money
(if any) presently payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in respect of shares of the Company.
|
138. |
No dividend, distribution or other moneys payable by the Company on or in respect of any share shall bear interest against the Company.
|
139. |
Any dividend distribution, interest or other sum payable in cash to the holder of shares may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the mail addressed to
the holder at his address in the Register or, as the case may be, the Branch Register (if established) or, in the case of joint holders, addressed to the holder whose name stands first in the Register or, as the case may be, the Branch
Register in respect of the shares at his registered address as appearing in the Register or, as the case may be, the Branch Register or addressed to such person at such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every
such cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose name stands first in the Register or, as
the case may be, the Branch Register in respect of such shares, and shall be sent at his or their risk, and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to the Company. Any one of
two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, distributions or other moneys payable or property distributable in respect of the shares held by such joint holders.
|
140. |
Any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus unclaimed for a period of six years from the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution
shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company and the payment by the Board of any unclaimed dividend, distribution, interest or other sum payable on or in respect of the share into a separate account shall not constitute the
Company a trustee in respect thereof
|
141. |
The Board may direct payment or satisfaction of any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus wholly or in part by the distribution of specific
assets, and in particular of paid-up shares or debentures of any other company, and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution or dividend the Board may settle it as it thinks expedient, and in particular, may authorise
any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may ignore fractions altogether, and may fix the value for distribution or dividend purposes of any such specific assets and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any
Shareholders upon the footing of the values so fixed in order to secure equality of distribution and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board.
|
142. |
The Board may, before recommending or declaring any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus, set aside such sums as it thinks proper as reserves
which shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, also at such discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as
the Board may from time to time think fit. The Board may also without placing the same to reserve carry forward any sums which it may think it prudent not to distribute.
|
143. |
The Company may, upon the recommendation of the Board, at any time and from time to time pass a Resolution to the effect that it is desirable to capitalise
all or any part of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund which is available for distribution or to the credit of any share premium account or any capital redemption reserve fund and accordingly that
such amount be set free for distribution amongst the Shareholders or any class of Shareholders who would be entitled thereto if distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions, on the footing that the same be not paid in cash
but be applied either in or towards paying up amounts for the time being unpaid on any shares in the Company held by such Shareholders respectively or in payment up in full of unissued shares, debentures or other obligations of the
Company, to be allotted and distributed credited as fully paid amongst such Shareholders, or partly in one way and partly in the other, and the Board shall give effect to such Resolution, provided that for the purpose of this Bye-law, a
share premium account and a capital redemption reserve fund may be applied only in paying up of unissued shares to be issued to such Shareholders credited as fully paid and provided further that any sum standing to the credit of a share
premium account may only be applied in crediting as fully paid shares of the same class as that from which the relevant share premium was derived.
|
144. |
Where any difficulty arises in regard to any distribution under Bye-law 143, the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient and, in particular, may
authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may resolve that the distribution should be as nearly as may be practicable in the correct proportion but not exactly so or may ignore fractions altogether, and may determine
that cash payments should be made to any Shareholders in order to adjust the rights of all parties, as may seem expedient to the Board. The Board may appoint any person to sign on behalf of the persons entitled to participate in the
distribution any contract necessary or desirable for giving effect thereto and such appointment shall be effective and binding upon the Shareholders.
|
145. |
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bye-laws, the Company may by Resolution or the Board may fix any date as the record date for any dividend,
distribution, allotment or issue and for the purpose of identifying the persons entitled to receive notices of general meetings. Any such record date may be on or at any time before or after any date on which such dividend,
distribution, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made or such notice is despatched.
|
146. |
The Board shall cause to be kept accounting records sufficient to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company's affairs and to show and explain its
transactions, in accordance with the Companies Acts.
|
147. |
The records of account shall be kept at the Registered Office or at such other place or places as the Board thinks fit, and shall at all times be open to
inspection by the Directors: PROVIDED that if the records of account are kept at some place outside Bermuda, there shall be kept at an office of the Company in Bermuda such records as will enable the Directors to ascertain with
reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Company at the end of each three month period. No Shareholder (other than an officer of the Company) shall have any right to inspect any accounting record or book or document of the
Company except as conferred by law or authorised by the Board or by Resolution.
|
148. |
A copy of every balance sheet and statement of income and expenditure, including every document required by law to be annexed thereto, which is to be laid
before the Company in general meeting, together with a copy of the auditors' report, shall be sent to each person entitled thereto in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Acts. Pursuant to Bye-law 114, the Board may
delegate to the Finance Officer responsibility for the proper maintenance and safe keeping of all of the accounting records of the Company and (subject to the terms of any resolution from time to time passed by the Board relating to the
extent of the duties of the Finance Officer) the Finance Officer shall have primary responsibility for (a) the preparation of proper management accounts of the Company (at such intervals as may be required) and (b) the periodic delivery
of such management accounts to the Registered Office in accordance with the Companies Acts.
|
149. |
Save and to the extent that an audit is waived in the manner permitted by the Companies Acts, auditors shall be appointed and their duties regulated in
accordance with the Companies Acts, any other applicable law and such requirements not inconsistent with the Companies Acts as the Board may from time to time determine.
|
150. |
Any notice or other document (including a share certificate) may be served on or delivered to any Shareholder by the Company either personally or by sending
it through the post (by airmail where applicable) in a pre-paid letter addressed to such Shareholder at his address as appearing in the Register or by delivering it to or leaving it at such registered address. In the case of joint
holders of a share, service or delivery of any notice or other document on or to one of the joint holders shall for all purposes be deemed as sufficient service on or delivery to all the joint holders. Any notice or other document if
sent by post shall be deemed to have been served or delivered seven days after it was put in the post, and in proving such service or delivery, it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice or document was properly addressed, stamped
and put in the post.
|
151. |
Any notice of a general meeting of the Company shall be deemed to be duly given to a Shareholder if it is sent to him by cable, telex, telecopier or other
mode of
|
152. |
Any notice or other document shall be deemed to be duly given to a Shareholder if it is delivered to such Shareholder by means of an electronic record in
accordance with Section 2A of the Principal Act.
|
153. |
Any notice or other document delivered, sent or given to a Shareholder in any manner permitted by these Bye-laws shall, notwithstanding that such Shareholder
is then dead or bankrupt or that any other event has occurred, and whether or not the Company has notice of the death or bankruptcy or other event, be deemed to have been duly served or delivered in respect of any share registered in
the name of such Shareholder as sole or joint holder unless his name shall, at the time of the service or delivery of the notice or document, have been removed from the Register as the holder of the share, and such service or delivery
shall for all purposes be deemed as sufficient service or delivery of such notice or document on all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the share.
|
154. |
If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Companies Acts,
divide amongst the Shareholders in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for such purposes set such values as he deems fair upon any
property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Shareholders or different classes of Shareholders. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of
such assets in trustees upon such trust .for the benefit of the contributories as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Shareholder shall be compelled to accept any shares or other assets upon which
there is any liability.
|
155. |
Subject to the provisions of Bye-law 163, no Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or member of a committee authorised under Bye-law 115, Resident
Representative of the Company or his heirs, executors or administrators shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects, or defaults of any other such person or any person involved in the formation of the Company, or for any loss or
expense incurred by the Company through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by the Company, or for the insufficiency of deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the monies of the Company shall be
invested, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency, or tortious act of any person with whom any monies, securities, or effects shall be deposited, or for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment, omission,
default, or oversight on his
|
156. |
Subject to the provisions of Bye-law 163, every Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or member of a committee authorised under Bye-law 115, Resident
Representative of the Company and their respective heirs, executors or administrators shall be indemnified and held harmless out of the funds of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Bermuda law against all liabilities, loss,
damage or expense (including but not limited to liabilities under contract, tort and statute or any applicable foreign law or regulation and all reasonable legal and other costs and expenses properly payable) incurred or suffered by him
as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or committee member or Resident Representative and the indemnity contained in this Bye-law shall extend to any person acting as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or
committee member or Resident Representative in the reasonable belief that he has been so appointed or elected notwithstanding any defect in such appointment or election.
|
157. |
Every Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or member of a committee duly authorised under Bye-law 115, Resident Representative of the Company and
their respective heirs, executors or administrators shall be indemnified out of the funds of the Company against all liabilities incutTed by him as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or committee member or Resident
Representative in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favour, or in which he is acquitted, or in connection with any application under the Companies Acts in which relief from liability
is granted to him by the court.
|
158. |
To the extent that any Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or member of a committee duly authorised under Bye-law 115, Resident Representative of
the Company or any of their respective heirs, executors or administrators is entitled to claim an indemnity pursuant to these Bye-laws in respect of amounts paid or discharged by him, the relative indemnity shall take effect as an
obligation of the Company to reimburse the person making such payment or effecting such discharge.
|
159. |
The Board may arrange for the Company to be insured in respect of all or any part of its liability under the provision of these Bye-laws and may also purchase
and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Directors, Alternate Directors, Officers, person or member of a committee authorised under Bye-law 115, employees or Resident Representatives of the Company in respect of any liability that
may be incurred by them or any of them howsoever arising in connection with their respective duties or supposed duties to the Company. This Bye-law shall not be construed as limiting the powers of the Board to effect such other
insurance on behalf of the Company as it may deem appropriate.
|
160. |
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Principal Act, the Company may advance moneys to an Officer or Director for the costs, charges and expenses incurred
by the Officer or Director in defending any civil or criminal proceedings against them on the condition that the Director or Officer shall repay the advance if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved against them.
|
161. |
Each Member agrees to waive any claim or right of action he might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any Director,
Alternate Director, Officer of the Company, person or member of a committee authorised under Bye-law 115, Resident Representative of the Company or any of their respective heirs, executors or administrators on account of any action
taken by any such person, or the failure of any such person to take any action in the performance of his duties, or supposed duties, to the Company or otherwise in relation thereto.
|
162. |
The restrictions on liability, indemnities and waivers provided for in Bye-laws 155 to 161 inclusive shall not extend to any matter which would render the
same void pursuant to the Companies Acts.
|
163. |
The restrictions on liability, indemnities and waivers contained in Bye-laws 155 to 161 inclusive shall be in addition to any rights which any person
concerned may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of applicable Bermuda law.
|
164. |
Subject to the Companies Acts, the Company may with the approval of the Board by resolution adopted by a majority of Directors then in office, approve the
discontinuation of the Company in Bermuda and the continuation of the Company in a jurisdiction outside Bermuda.
|
165. |
These Bye-laws may be amended from time to time in the manner provided for in the Companies Acts.
|
Clause
|
Page
|
|
1.
|
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
|
3
|
2.
|
THE FACILITY
|
7
|
3.
|
PURPOSE
|
7
|
4.
|
CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION
|
7
|
5.
|
REPAYMENT
|
8
|
6.
|
REDUCTION, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
|
8
|
7.
|
INTEREST
|
9
|
8.
|
INTEREST PERIODS
|
10
|
9.
|
TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES
|
11
|
10.
|
REPRESENTATIONS
|
12
|
11.
|
GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS
|
13
|
12.
|
SPECIAL UNDERTAKINGS
|
14
|
13.
|
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
14
|
14.
|
SECURITY
|
16
|
15.
|
SET-OFF
|
16
|
16.
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
16
|
17.
|
GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
|
17
|
(1) |
FLEX LNG Fleet Limited
a company incorporated under
the laws of Bermuda (the “
Borrower
”);
and
|
(2) |
Sterna Finance Ltd., a
company incorporated under
the Laws of the Islands of Bermuda with its registered address at Par La Ville Place, 14
th
Par La Ville Road, 4
th
Floor, Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda, and Registration Number 50970 (the “
Lender
”).
|
(A) |
Dionyssos Shipping Inc. and Bacchus Shipping Inc., (the “
Original Buyers
”) have entered into a transaction agreement
(the “
Transaction Agreement
”)
for
the sale of two newbuilds having Builder’s Hull No. 2447 (“
Vessel 1
”)
and Builder’s Hull No.2448 (“
Vessel 2
”)
respectively through the novation of the shipbuilding contracts for the Vessels dated 28 October 2014 entered into with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. Ltd.
(the “
Builder
”)
as
supplemented by an amendment no.1 also dated 28 October 2014 and an amendment no.2 dated 31 August 2016 (the “
Shipbuilding Contracts
”)
from the Original Buyers to two subsidiaries of the Borrower newly incorporated in the Marshall Islands; FLEX LNG Endeavour Limited
and FLEX LNG Enterprise Limited (the “
New Buyers
”);
|
(B) |
Parts of the consideration payable for the Vessels will be settled by the issuance of 78 million new shares in Flex LNG Ltd. (the “
Parent
”)
to
Geveran Trading Co. Ltd. (“
Geveran
”)
(the latter being an affiliate of the Original Buyers). The remaining part of the consideration will be settled by a revolving credit
facility granted by the Lender to the Borrower in the amount of USD 270,000,000 (the “
Facility
”);
|
(C) |
As a result of the settlement mentioned in Whereas (B) above, certain intra-group receivables and intra group debts will arise on Closing (the “
Intra-Group Receivables
”).
The
settlement of the Intra-Group Receivables is regulated in certain separate settlement agreements entered into on or about the date hereof; and
|
(D) |
This Agreement regulates the terms and conditions of the Facility.
|
1. |
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
|
1.1 |
Definitions
|
|
(a) |
the aggregate amount of outstanding Loans; and
|
|
(b) |
in relation to any proposed Loan the amount of the Loan that is due to be made on or before the proposed Utilisation Date.
|
|
(a) |
any person, other than Geveran and/or one or more companies controlled directly or indirectly with more than fifty per cent (50%) by trusts established by
Mr John Fredriksen for the benefit of his immediate family (“
Trusts
”), or group of persons acting in concert, obtains more than
fifty per cent (50%) of the voting rights or share capital or otherwise control the appointment of members of the board of directors of the Parent; or
|
|
(b) |
Geveran and/or one or more companies controlled directly or indirectly with more than fifty per cent (50%) by one or more Trusts ceases to own a minimum of
twenty per cent (20%) of the voting rights or share capital or otherwise control the appointment of members of the board of directors of the Parent.
|
|
(a) |
moneys borrowed;
|
|
(b) |
any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;
|
|
(c) |
the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with GAAP, be treated as a finance or capital
lease;
|
|
(d) |
receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis);
|
|
(e) |
any amount raised Under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;
|
|
(f) |
any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the
value of any derivative transaction, only the marked to market value shall be taken into account);
|
|
(g) |
any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a
bank or financial institution; and
|
|
(h) |
the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred
to
in paragraphs (a) to (h) above.
|
|
(a) |
the business, operation, assets or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower; or
|
|
(b) |
the ability of the Borrower to perform any of its obligations under the Agreement.
|
|
(a) |
has direct or indirect control; or
|
|
(b) |
owns directly or indirectly more than fifty (50) per cent (votes and capital),
|
1.2 |
Construction
|
|
(a) |
words denoting the singular number shall include the plural and vice versa; and
|
|
(b) |
references to a “person” shall include any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, company, corporation, trust, fund, body, corporate, unincorporated
body of persons, or any state or any agency of a state or association (whether or not having separate legal personality); and
|
|
(c) |
an Event of Default is “continuing” if it has not been [remedied or] waived.
|
2. |
THE FACILITY
|
2.1 |
The Facility
|
2.2 |
First Utilisation
|
2.3 |
Subsequent Utilisations
|
3. |
PURPOSE
|
3.1 |
Purpose
|
4. |
CONDITIONS OF SUBSEQUENT UTILISATION
|
4.1 |
Conditions precedent to subsequent utilisation
|
|
(a) |
the Borrower has delivered a duly completed Utilisation Request (as provided for in Clause 4.2 (
Delivery of Utilisation Request
)
with Utilisation on a Business Day within the
Availability Period
|
|
(b) |
the amount requested for Utilisation is within the range of the Available Commitment;
|
|
(c) |
the Repeating Representations to be made by the Borrower are true in all material respects; and
|
|
(d) |
no Event of Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan.
|
4.2 |
Delivery of a Utilisation Request
|
5. |
REPAYMENT
|
6. |
REDUCTION, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
|
6.1 |
Mandatory reduction - Sale of assets
|
6.2 |
Mandatory cancellation, and reduction- illegality
|
|
(a) |
the Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower (specifying the obligations the performance of which is thereby rendered unlawful and the law giving rise to
the same) upon receipt of notification;
|
|
(b) |
upon the Lender notifying the Borrower, the Commitment will be immediately reduced to zero and cancelled; and
|
|
(c) |
the Borrower shall repay all amounts outstanding under this Agreement in full on the last day of the Interest Period occurring after the Lender has notified
the Borrower or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Borrower (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law).
|
6.3 |
Mandatory cancellation, and reduction - Change of Control
|
|
(a) |
the Commitment will be immediately reduced to zero and cancelled; and
|
|
(b) |
the Borrower shall immediately repay all amounts outstanding under this Agreement in full.
|
6.4 |
Voluntary prepayment
|
6.5 |
Voluntary cancellation
|
|
(a) |
The Borrower may, by giving the Lender not less than five (5) Business Days prior written notice, cancel all or part of the Commitment (but if in part, in a
minimum amount of USD [1,000,000] and in integral multiples of USD [1,000,000]).
|
|
(b) |
Any notice of cancellation shall be irrevocable and shall specify the date on which the cancellation shall take effect and the amount of the cancellation.
|
|
(c) |
The Borrower may not utilise any part of the Facility which has been cancelled.
|
|
(d) |
The Borrower may not cancel all or part of the Facility except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
|
6.6 |
Terms and conditions for prepayments and cancellation
|
6.6.1 |
Time of prepayment and cancellation
|
6.6.2 |
Irrevocable notice
|
6.6.3 |
Additional payments
|
6.6.4 |
No reinstatement
|
7. |
INTEREST
|
7.1 |
Interest up to First Delivery Date
|
7.2 |
Interest after First Delivery Date
|
|
(a) |
Post Delivery Margin; and
|
|
(b) |
LIBOR.
|
7.3 |
Payment of interest
|
7.4 |
Default interest
|
7.5 |
Break Costs
|
|
(a) |
The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Lender, pay to the Lender its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of the Loan or
Unpaid Sum being paid by that Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum.
|
|
(b) |
The Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Lender, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any
Interest Period in which they accrue.
|
8. |
INTEREST PERIODS
|
8.1 |
Interest Periods
|
|
(a) |
The Interest Period for the Loan drawn on Closing (ref. Clause 2.2 (
First Utilisation
))
is [3] months and the start of this Interest Period (i.e. the “Utilisation Date”) is the
date of Closing.
|
|
(b) |
For any subsequent utilisation, the Borrower must select the Interest Period for a Loan in the relevant Utilisation Request. A Loan has one Interest Period
only. The Borrower may elect Interest Periods for the Loans of 1, 3 or 6 months.
|
|
(c) |
An Interest Period for the Loans shall not extend beyond the Final Maturity Date.
|
8.2 |
Non-Business Days
|
9. |
TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES
|
9.1 |
Tax Gross-up
|
9.2 |
Value added tax
|
10. |
GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY
|
10.1 |
Guarantee and indemnity
|
|
(a) |
guarantees to the Lender, as and for its own debt and not merely as surety, the due and punctual observance and performance by the Borrower’ obligations
under this Agreement;
|
|
(b) |
undertakes with the Lender that whenever the Borrower does not pay any amount when due under or in connection with this Agreement, that Guarantor shall
immediately on demand by the Lender pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and
|
|
(c) |
indemnify the Lender immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability suffered by the Lender if any obligation guaranteed by the Guarantor is or
becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal. The amount of the cost, loss or liability shall be equal to the amount, which the Lender would otherwise have been entitled to recover.
|
10.2 |
Continuing guarantee
|
10.3 |
Number of claims
|
10.4 |
Survival of Guarantor’s liability
|
|
(a) |
any time, waiver, consent, forbearance or other indulgence given or agreed by the Lender with the Borrower in respect of the Borrower’s obligations under
this Agreement; or
|
|
(b) |
any legal limitation, disability or incapacity of the Borrower related to this Agreement; or
|
|
(c) |
any amendments to or variations of this Agreement agreed by the Lender with the Borrower; or
|
|
(d) |
the liquidation, bankruptcy or dissolution (or proceedings analogous thereto) of the Borrower; or
|
|
(e) |
any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defence available to, or discharge of, the Borrower.
|
11. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
11.1 |
Power and authority
|
11.2 |
Non-conflict with other obligations
|
11.3 |
No misleading information
|
|
(a) |
Any factual information provided by the Borrower was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided or as at the date (if any) at
which it is stated.
|
|
(b) |
The financial projections delivered to the Lender have been prepared on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of reasonable
assumptions.
|
11.4 |
No proceedings pending or threatened
|
11.5 |
Good title to assets
|
11.6 |
Insolvency
|
11.7 |
Repetition
|
12. |
GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS
|
12.1 |
Compliance with laws
|
12.2 |
Disposals
|
12.3 |
Change of business
|
12.4 |
No mergers etc.
|
12.5 |
Transactions with Affiliates
|
12.6 |
Negative pledge
|
|
(a) |
Security under the Security Documents; and
|
|
(b) |
Security consented to in writing by the Lender.
|
12.7 |
Borrowings
|
13. |
SPECIAL UNDERTAKINGS
|
13.1 |
Obligation to solicit External Financing
|
14. |
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
14.1 |
Non-payment
|
14.2 |
Other obligations
|
|
(a) |
An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Agreement (other than those referred to in Clause 14.1 (
Non-payment
)
;
and
|
|
(b) |
no Event of Default under (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is (in the reasonable opinion of the Lender) capable of remedy and is remedied
within fifteen (15) Business Days of the earlier of the Lender giving notice to the Obligors or the Obligors becoming aware of the failure to comply.
|
14.3 |
Misrepresentation
|
14.4 |
Cross default
|
|
(a) |
Any Financial Indebtedness of any of the Obligorsor its Subsidiaries is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period;
|
|
(b) |
any Financial Indebtedness of any of the Obligors or its Subsidiaries is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity
as a result of an event of default (however described);
|
|
(c) |
any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of the Obligors and its Subsidiaries is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of the Obligors as a result of an
event of default (however described); or
|
|
(d) |
any creditor of the Obligors or its Subsidiaries becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a
result of an event of default (however described);
|
14.5 |
Insolvency and Insolvency proceedings
|
|
(a) |
Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness,
winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any of the Obligors;
|
|
(b) |
Any of the Obligors is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due, suspends making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or
anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness;
|
|
(c) |
the value of the assets of the Obligors is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities);
|
|
(d) |
a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of the Obligors;
|
|
(e) |
the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of the Obligor or
any of its assets;
|
|
(f) |
enforcement of any Security over any assets of the Obligors; or
|
|
(g) |
any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction.
|
14.6 |
Creditors’ process
|
14.7 |
Unlawfulness
|
14.8 |
Invalidity of Security
|
14.9 |
Acceleration
|
|
(a) |
cancel the Commitment whereupon it shall immediately be cancelled;
|
|
(b) |
declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Agreement be immediately due
and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable; and/or
|
|
(c) |
declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Lender.
|
1. |
SECURITY
|
|
(d) |
the Share Pledge Agreements;
|
|
(e) |
Assignment of Refund Guarantees;
|
|
(f) |
Assignment of Charterparties (if relevant); and
|
|
(g) |
Marshall Islands law Mortgages (upon delivery)
|
15. |
SET-OFF
|
16. |
MISCELLANEOUS
|
16.1 |
No set-off by any Obligor
|
16.2 |
Business Days
|
|
(a) |
Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one)
or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).
|
|
(b) |
During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at
the rate payable on the original due date.
|
17. |
GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
|
|
(a) |
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Norwegian law.
|
|
(b) |
Subject to paragraph (c) below, the courts of Norway shall have exclusive jurisdiction over matters arising out of or in connection with this Agreement with
Oslo district court (Norwegian:
tingrett
)
as agreed legal venue.
|
|
(c) |
The submission to the jurisdiction of Norway shall not limit the right of the Lender to take proceedings against the Borrower in any court which may
otherwise exercise jurisdiction over the Borrower or any of its assets.
|
As Borrower:
|
As Lender:
|
||||
/s/ James Clarke
|
/s/ Georgina E. Sousa
|
||||
Name:
|
JAMES CLARKE
|
Name:
|
Georgina E. Sousa
|
||
Title:
|
PRESIDENT/TREASURER
|
Title:
|
Director
|
||
Company:
|
FLEX LNG FLEET Ltd.
|
Company:
|
Sterna Finance Ltd.
|
As Guarantor:
|
|||||
/s/ Marius Hermansen
|
|||||
Name:
|
MARIUS HERMANSEN
|
||||
Title:
|
DIRECTOR
|
||||
Company:
|
FLEX LNG Ltd
|
From: |
[
●
]
|
To: |
[
●
]
|
1. |
We refer to the Agreement. This is an Utilisation Request. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Utilisation Request unless given a
different meaning in this Utilisation Request.
|
2. |
We wish to borrow a Loan on the following terms:
|
|
Proposed Utilisation |
[
●
]
|
|
Currency of Loan: |
USD
|
|
Amount: |
[
●
]
|
3. |
We confirm that the Repeating Representations are true and correct in all material respects and the no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or
would occur as a result of the proposed Loan.
|
4. |
The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to
[
account
].
|
5. |
This Utilisation Request is irrevocable.
|
Yours faithfully,
|
|||||
By:
|
|||||
Name:
|
|||||
Title:
|
|||||
Company:
|
USD 315,000,000 SENIOR SECURED TERM LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT
|
dated 20 December, 2017
|
for
|
FLEX LNG ENDEAVOUR LIMITED, FLEX LNG
ENTERPRISE LIMITED and
FLEX LNG RANGER LIMITED as Initial Borrowers |
FLEX LNG FLEET LIMITED and FLEX LNG
LTD.
as Guarantors |
arranged by
|
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
as Bookrunner, co-ordinator and Mandated Lead Arranger |
DNB BANK ASA and SKANDINAVISKA
ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)
as Mandated Lead Arrangers |
CREDIT SUISSE AG, NIBC BANK N.V. and
SPAREBANK 1 SR-BANK ASA
as Lead Arrangers |
ABN AMRO BANK N.V., DNB BANK ASA,
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL), CREDIT SUISSE AG, NIBC BANK N.V. and SPAREBANK 1 SR-BANK ASA
as Swap Providers |
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LISTED IN
SCHEDULE 1
as Original Lenders |
with
|
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
acting as Facility Agent and Security Agent |
|
SCHEDULE 1 THE ORIGINAL LENDERS
|
99
|
SCHEDULE 2 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
|
100
|
SCHEDULE 3 FORM OF REQUESTS AND NOTICES
|
109
|
SCHEDULE 4 FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
|
111
|
SCHEDULE 5 FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
|
113
|
SCHEDULE 6 FORM OF SUBSTITUTION LETTER
|
118
|
SCHEDULE 7 REPAYMENT SCHEDULE
|
120
|
SCHEDULE 8 FORM OF SUBSTITUTION CONFIRMATION LETTER
|
121
|
SCHEDULE 9 LIST OF COLLATERAL VESSELS
|
122
|
SCHEDULE 10 LIST OF OPERATING ACCOUNTS
|
123
|
(1) |
FLEX LNG ENDEAVOUR LIMITED
, a corporation
incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands whose registered address is at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH 96960 as initial borrower;
|
(2) |
FLEX LNG ENTERPRISE LIMITED
, a corporation
incorporated in the Republic of The Marshall Islands whose registered office is at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960 as initial borrower;
|
(3) |
FLEX LNG RANGER LIMITED,
a corporation incorporated
in the Republic of The Marshall Islands whose registered office is at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960 as initial borrower;
|
(4) |
FLEX LNG FLEET LIMITED
, a company incorporated and
existing under the laws of Bermuda whose registered office is at Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, Bermuda (the "
Intermediate
Parent
");
|
(5) |
FLEX LNG LTD.
, a company incorporated and existing
under the laws of Bermuda whose registered office is at Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, Bermuda (the "
Ultimate Parent
"
and together with the Intermediate Parent, the "
Guarantors
" and each a "
Guarantor
");
|
(6) |
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
listed in Schedule 1 (
The Original Lenders
) as lenders (the "
Original
Lenders
");
|
(7) |
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
as bookrunner, co-ordinator and
mandated lead arranger;
|
(8) |
DNB BANK ASA and SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)
as
mandated lead arrangers;
|
(9) |
CREDIT SUISSE
AG,
NIBC BANK N.V. and SPAREBANK 1 SR-BANK ASA
as lead arrangers (and together with the entities referred to in (7) and (8) above, each an "
Arranger
" and jointly the "
Arrangers
");
|
(10) |
ABN AMRO BANK N.V., DNB BANK ASA, SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA
BANKEN AB (PUBL), CREDIT SUISSE
AG,
NIBC BANK N.V.
and
SPAREBANK 1 SR-BANK ASA
as swap providers (each a "
Swap Provider
" and jointly the "
Swap Providers
"); and
|
(11) |
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
as facility agent of the other
Finance Parties (the "
Facility Agent
") and as security agent of the other Finance Parties (the "
Security Agent
").
|
1 |
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
|
1.1 |
Definitions
|
(a) |
the amount of its participation in any outstanding Drawdowns; and
|
(b) |
in relation to any proposed Drawdown, the amount of its participation in any other Drawdowns that are due to be made on or before the proposed Drawdown
Date.
|
(a) |
in relation to an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or which at any time implements, Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for
the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, the relevant implementing law or regulation as described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time; and
|
(b) |
in relation to any other state, any analogous law or regulation from time to time which requires contractual recognition of any Write-down and Conversion
Powers contained in that law or regulation.
|
(a) |
the interest (less Margin) which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in the Loan
or Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of the Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period;
exceeds:
|
(b) |
the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a
leading bank in the relevant interbank market for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period.
|
(a) |
the Ultimate Parent ceases to directly own 100% of the shares in the Intermediate Parent;
|
(b) |
the Intermediate Parent ceases to directly own 100% of the shares in each of the Borrowers, excluding in the event of a disposal in accordance with Clause
9.1 (
Disposal or Total Loss
);
|
(c) |
John Fredriksen Family through Geveran Trading Co. Ltd. ceases to directly own at least 25% of the shares and voting rights of the Ultimate Parent;
|
(d) |
John Fredriksen Family through GHL Greenwich Ltd. ceases to directly own 100% of the shares in Sterna Finance Ltd.; or
|
(e) |
without the prior written approval of the Majority Lenders, any individual person or more persons acting in concert (other than Geveran Trading Co. Ltd.)
have the right or the ability to control, either directly or indirectly, the affairs or composition of the majority of the board of directors (or equivalent) of the Ultimate Parent or becomes owners of 1/3 or more of the voting shares
of the Ultimate Parent.
|
(a) |
in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name in Schedule 1 (
The Original Lenders
) and the amount of any other Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement;
|
(b) |
in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement;
|
(a) |
a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for
payments to be made in connection with the Facility (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the
Parties; or
|
(b) |
the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party
preventing that, or any other Party:
|
|
(i) |
from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or
|
|
(ii) |
from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents,
|
|
(iii) |
and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted.
|
(a) |
all freight and hire payable, including (without limitation) payments of any nature under any charter or agreement for the employment, use, possession,
management and/or operation of the Collateral Vessels;
|
(b) |
any claim under any guarantees related to freight and hire payable as a consequence of the operation of the Collateral Vessels;
|
(c) |
compensation payable in the event of any requisition of any of the Collateral Vessels or for the use of any of the Collateral Vessels by any government
authority or other competent authority;
|
(d) |
demurrage and retention money receivable in relation to any of the Collateral Vessels;
|
(e) |
all moneys which are at any time payable under the Insurances in respect of loss of earnings; and
|
(f) |
any other money whatsoever due or to become due from third parties or otherwise in relation to any of the Collateral Vessels.
|
(a) |
USD 315,000,000; or
|
(b) |
the aggregate of the Maximum Tranche Amount for each of the three Collateral Vessels,
|
(a) |
sections 1471 to 1474 of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") or any associated regulations;
|
(b) |
any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in
either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; or
|
(c) |
any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in 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 July 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 2019; 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 2019,
|
(a) |
this Agreement;
|
(b) |
any Accession Letter;
|
(c) |
any Compliance Certificate;
|
(d) |
any Fee Letter;
|
(e) |
other than in respect of Clauses 37 (
Amendments and Waivers
),
38 (
Counterparts
) and (in relation to any communications between the Borrowers and the Swap Providers) Clause 33 (
Notices
), each Hedging Agreement;
|
(f) |
a Drawdown Notice;
|
(g) |
a Selection Notice;
|
(h) |
the Security Documents;
|
(i) |
the Subordination Statement;
|
(j) |
any Trust Agreements;
|
(k) |
any other document (whether creating Security or not) which is executed at any time by any of the Obligors or any other person as security in favour of, or
to establish any form of subordination to, the Finance Parties under this Agreement or any of the other documents referred to herein or therein and any such other document designated as "
Finance Document
" by the Facility Agent and the Borrowers.
|
(a) |
moneys borrowed;
|
(b) |
any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility;
|
(c) |
any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;
|
(d) |
the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with the IFRS, be treated as a finance or capital
lease;
|
(e) |
receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis);
|
(f) |
any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the
value of any derivative transaction, only the marked to market value (or, if any actual amount is due as a result of the termination or close-out of that derivative transaction, that amount) shall be taken into account);
|
(g) |
any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or
financial institution;
|
(h) |
any amount of any liability under a deferred purchase agreement if (i) one of the primary reasons behind entering into the agreement is to finance the
acquisition or construction of the asset or service in question or (ii) the agreement is in respect of the supply of assets or services and payment is due more than 60 days after the date of supply;
|
(i) |
any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase, sale and sale back or sale and leaseback agreement) having the
commercial effect of a borrowing or otherwise classified as borrowings under IFRS; and
|
(j) |
(without double-counting) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) – (i)
above.
|
(a) |
is not an Obligor; and
|
(b) |
that no Obligor has any actual or contingent liability for the obligations or liabilities of such Group Company (other than by way of Security over the
shares in such Group Company or intra-group claims against such Group Company)..
|
(a) |
has direct or indirect control; or
|
(b) |
owns directly or indirectly more than fifty (50) per cent. (votes and capital), of another company.
|
(a) |
FLEX LNG ENDEAVOUR LIMITED;
|
(b) |
FLEX LNG ENTERPRISE LIMITED; and/or
|
(c) |
FLEX LNG RANGER LIMITED.
|
(a) |
the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Interest Period of that Loan; and
|
(b) |
the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period of that Loan, each as of 12
noon on the Quotation Day for USD.
|
(a) |
any Original Lender; and
|
(b) |
any entity which has become a Party as a Lender in accordance with Clause 28 (
Changes to the Lenders
), which in each case has not ceased to be a Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
|
(a) |
the applicable Screen Rate; or
|
(b) |
(if no Screen Rate is available for the Interest Period of that Loan) the Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan; or
|
(c) |
if:
|
|
(i) |
no Screen Rate is available for USD; or
|
|
(ii) |
no Screen Rate is available for the Interest Period of that Loan and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan, the
Reference Bank Rate,
|
(a) |
until the Commitments have been reduced to zero, Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 66 2/3 per cent. of the Total Commitments or, if the
Commitments have been reduced to zero and no Loan is outstanding, aggregated more than 66 2/3 per cent. immediately prior to that reduction; or
|
(b) |
at any other time, Lenders whose participations in the Loans then outstanding aggregate more than 66 2/3 per cent of all the Loans then outstanding.
|
(a) |
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (Isle of Man) Limited; or
|
(b) |
any other management company acceptable to the Facility Agent.
|
(a) |
the business, operations, property or condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of any Obligor or the Group taken as a whole; or
|
(b) |
the ability of any of the Obligors to perform any of their obligations under the Finance Documents; or
|
(c) |
the validity or enforceability of, or the effectiveness or ranking of any security granted or purported to be granted pursuant to any of the Finance
Documents or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under any of the Finance Documents.
|
(a) |
50% of the Total Delivery Costs for the relevant Collateral Vessel to be delivered from the Yard at the applicable Delivery Date; or
|
(b) |
55% of the Fair Market Value of the applicable Collateral Vessel; or
|
(c) |
USD 105,000,000,
|
(a) |
its jurisdiction of incorporation;
|
(b) |
any jurisdiction where any asset subject to or intended to be subject to Security under a Security Document to be created by it is situated or registered,
as applicable;
|
(c) |
any jurisdiction where it conducts its business; and
|
(d) |
the jurisdiction whose laws govern the perfection of any of the Security Documents entered into by it.
|
(a) |
listed on any Sanctions List;
|
(b) |
located in, incorporated under the laws of, or owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, a person located in or organised under the laws of a country
or territory that is the target of country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions;
|
(c) |
otherwise a target of Sanctions (whether designated by name or by reason of being included in a class of person); or
|
(d) |
owned or controlled, or acting on behalf, at the direction or for the benefit of a person referred to in (a) and/or (b) above.
|
(a) |
the Kingdom of Norway;
|
(b) |
the United States government;
|
(c) |
the United Nations;
|
(d) |
the United Kingdom;
|
(e) |
the European Union or any of its member states;
|
(f) |
the Swiss Confederation
|
(g) |
any country to which any Obligor, or any other Group Company or any Affiliate of any of them is bound; or
|
(h) |
the respective governmental institutions and agencies of any of the foregoing, including without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US
Department of Treasury ("
OFAC
"), the United States Department of State, and Her Majesty's Treasury ("
HMT
").
|
(a) |
has direct or indirect control; or
|
(b) |
owns directly or indirectly more than fifty (50) per cent. (votes and capital).
|
(a) |
the date of completion of a third Substitution of an Initial Vessel;
|
(b) |
24 months from first Drawdown; or
|
(c) |
31 December, 2019.
|
(a) |
the purchase price for each Collateral Vessel under the relevant Shipbuilding Contract; and
|
(b) |
other costs related to the construction of the applicable Collateral Vessels (supervision costs, commissioning, positioning, cool-down, spares, stores,
mobilisation, financing costs, legal costs etc.).
|
(a) |
actual, constructive, agreed, arranged or other total loss of any Collateral Vessel;
|
(b) |
any hijacking, theft, act of piracy, capture, or seizure, unless the Collateral Vessel is released and restored to the applicable Borrower from such
hijacking, theft, act of piracy, capture or seizure within three (3) months from the date it took place;
|
(c) |
any confiscation, expropriation, requisition or acquisition of any Collateral Vessel, whether for full consideration, a consideration less than its proper
value, a nominal consideration or without any consideration, which is effected by any government or by persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of the government, unless the applicable Collateral Vessel is released and restored
to the applicable Borrower from such confiscation, expropriation, requisition or acquisition within three (3) months from the date it took place.
|
(a) |
in the case of an actual total loss of any Collateral Vessel, the date on which it occurred or, if that is unknown, the date when the Collateral Vessel was
last heard of;
|
(b) |
in the case of a constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of any Collateral Vessel, the earlier 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 applicable Borrower with the Collateral Vessel's insurers in which the insurers agree to treat the
applicable Collateral Vessel 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 Facility Agent that the event constituting the
total loss occurred.
|
(a) |
any vessel trust agreement entered into from time to time between the Facility Agent and the Security Agent (as mortgagee) in respect of each Collateral
Vessel and Mortgage, whereby the Security Agent agrees to hold the Collateral Vessels and/or the Mortgages on trust for the Finance Parties; and
|
(b) |
any trust deed entered into from time to time between the Finance Parties and the Security Agent in respect of any English law governed Security Documents.
|
(a) |
in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that
Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule; and
|
(b) |
in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation:
|
|
(i) |
any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial
institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to
convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend
any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and
|
|
(ii) |
any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation.
|
1.2 |
Construction
|
|
(a) |
Unless a contrary indication appears, a reference in this Agreement to:
|
|
(i) |
the "Facility Agent", any "
Borrower
", any "
Arranger
", any "
Swap
Provider
", any "
Lender
", any "
Finance Party
", any "
Party
" or any other person shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees;
|
|
(ii) |
a "
Finance Document
" or any other agreement or
instrument is a reference to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated, supplemented, extended or restated;
|
|
(iii) |
a "
person
" includes any individual, firm, company,
corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust, joint venture, consortium or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality);
|
|
(iv) |
a "
regulation
" includes any regulation, rule,
official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or
organisation; and
|
|
(v) |
a provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted.
|
|
(b) |
Section, Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only.
|
|
(c) |
Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has
the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement.
|
|
(d) |
A Default (other than an Event of Default) is "
continuing
"
if it has not been remedied or waived and an Event of Default is "
continuing
" if it has not been waived.
|
|
(e) |
In the event the application of any of the terms of the Security Documents should be conflicting or inconsistent with the application of the terms of this
Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall have precedence, provided that such application would not have a negative effect on the validity or enforceability of the Security created or contemplated to be created under the Security
Documents.
|
1.3 |
The FA Act
|
2 |
THE FACILITY
|
2.1 |
The Facility
|
2.2 |
Accordion Increase Option
|
|
(a) |
the Borrowers providing a copy of an Acceptable Charter Agreement, in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders;
|
|
(b) |
the written approval by each of the Lenders (in their sole discretion and it being understood that this accordion option is completely uncommitted, subject
to inter alia credit committee approvals etc.);
|
|
(c) |
the Lenders subscribing for the full amount of the requested increase;
|
|
(d) |
no Default is continuing or would occur as a result of any increase of the Commitments; and
|
|
(e) |
the Parties implementing any increased Facility Amount and Commitments and the terms for such by way of an amendment agreement to this Agreement, in form
and substance acceptable to the Lenders.
|
2.3 |
Potential introduction of a fourth Tranche
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers may request that the Lenders also make available a fourth Tranche for the purpose of financing a fourth Collateral Vessel and that the Total
Commitments be increased correspondingly, subject to the following:
|
|
(i) |
the written approval by all Lenders;
|
|
(ii) |
no Lender has any obligation to increase its Commitments;
|
|
(iii) |
the new fourth Tranche and the increased Commitments will be made available on the terms and conditions of this Agreement;
|
|
(iv) |
no Default is continuing or would occur as a result of any increase of the Commitments; and
|
|
(v) |
any increase in the Total Commitments shall take effect on the date on which the conditions set out in paragraphs (a) and (b) are satisfied.
|
|
(b) |
An increase in the Total Commitments and the availability of the fourth Tranche will only be effective on the execution by all Lenders and the Obligors of
an amendment agreement to this Agreement, implementing the fourth Tranche, the additional Borrower and Collateral Vessel and such other changes the Lenders request and setting out any additional requirement to be met in order for the
increase to become effective.
|
2.4 |
Finance Parties' rights and obligations
|
|
(a) |
The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance
Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents.
|
|
(b) |
The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the
Finance Documents to a Finance Party from any Borrower shall be a separate and independent debt.
|
|
(c) |
A Finance Party may separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents.
|
2.5 |
Obligor's agent
|
|
(a) |
Each Obligor (other than the Ultimate Parent) by its execution of this Agreement irrevocably appoints the Ultimate Parent to act on its behalf as its agent
in relation to the Finance Documents and irrevocably by way of security authorises:
|
|
(i) |
the Ultimate Parent on its behalf to supply all information concerning itself contemplated by this Agreement to the Finance Parties and to give all notices
and instructions, to make such agreements and to effect the relevant amendments, supplements and variations capable of being given, made or effected by the Ultimate Parent notwithstanding that they may affect the other Obligors,
without further reference to or the consent of the other Obligors; and
|
|
(ii) |
each Finance Party to give any notice, demand or other communication to the Obligors pursuant to the Finance Documents to the Ultimate Parent, and in each
case the other Obligors shall be bound as though the Ultimate Parent itself had been given the notices and instructions or executed or made the agreements or effected the amendments, supplements or variations, or received the relevant
notice, demand or other communication.
|
|
(b) |
Every act, omission, agreement, undertaking, settlement, waiver, amendment, supplement, variation, notice or other communication given or made by the
Ultimate Parent or given to the Ultimate Parent under any Finance Document on behalf of the other Obligors or in connection with any Finance Document (whether or not known to any of the other Obligors) shall be binding for all
purposes on the other Obligors as if it had expressly made, given or concurred with it. In the event of any conflict between any notices or other communications of the Ultimate Parent and the other Obligors, those of the Ultimate
Parent shall prevail.
|
2.6 |
Joint and several liability
|
3 |
PURPOSE
|
3.1 |
Purpose
|
|
(a) |
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrowers, during the Availability Period, a senior secured term loan facility for
Drawdown in three Tranches in an aggregate principal amount of up to the lower of the Total Commitments or the Facility Amount, towards the financing of each Borrower's acquisition of the Initial Vessels from the Yard, including the
Pre-positioning Portion and, if applicable, reimbursement of the relevant parts of the Total Delivery Costs.
|
|
(b) |
Each Tranche shall be made available in an aggregate amount not exceeding the Maximum Tranche Amount applicable to the Initial Vessel and be made available
in up to two (2) Drawdowns:
|
|
(i) |
the Pre-positioning Portion applicable to that Initial Vessel to be pre-positioned three (3) Business Days prior to the Delivery Date for the applicable
Initial Vessel with a bank and subject to such terms as approved by the Facility Agent; and
|
|
(ii) |
the remaining part (if any) of the applicable Tranche to be made available to the applicable Borrower on the Delivery Date for that Initial Vessel.
|
3.2 |
Monitoring
|
4 |
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
|
4.1 |
Initial conditions precedent
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers may not deliver a Drawdown Request, and no Finance Parties' obligations under this Agreement shall become effective, unless Financial Close
has occurred in accordance with Clause 4.3 (
Financial Close
) and the Facility Agent has received all of the documents and other
evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 2 (
Conditions precedent
) which shall be delivered three (3) Business Days prior to the
Drawdown Date (being the date of pre-positioning of the Pre-positioning Portion) at the latest, save for the documents listed under Part III of Schedule 2 (
Conditions precedent
) which shall be delivered at the Delivery Date at the latest and save for the documents listed under Part IV of Schedule 2 (
Conditions subsequent
) which shall be delivered in accordance with Clause 4.4 (
Conditions
subsequent
), each in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting on behalf of the Lenders). The Facility Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied.
|
|
(b) |
Other than to the extent that all Lenders notify the Facility Agent in writing to the contrary before the Facility Agent gives the notification described in
paragraph (a) above, the Lenders authorise (but do not require) the Facility Agent to give that notification. The Facility Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever as a result of giving any such
notification.
|
4.2 |
Further conditions precedent
|
|
(a) |
no Default or potential Default having occurred; and
|
|
(b) |
all the representations and warranties in Clause 22 (
Representations
)
or the Repeating Representations, as applicable, are true.
|
4.3 |
Financial Close
|
4.4 |
Condition subsequent
|
5 |
DRAWDOWN
|
5.1 |
Delivery of a Drawdown Request
|
5.2 |
Completion of a Drawdown Request
|
|
(a) |
it identifies the Collateral Vessel to which it relates;
|
|
(b) |
the proposed Drawdown Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period;
|
|
(c) |
the currency of the proposed Drawdown is USD;
|
|
(d) |
up to six (6) Drawdowns may be requested under the Facility, two per Tranche (including the Pre-positioning Portion), unless otherwise permitted as a result
of Clause 9.1 (d);
|
|
(e) |
the aggregate amount of any Drawdown requested on the proposed Drawdown Date and the amount of any Drawdown outstanding or previously requested under the
same Tranche (including any Pre-positioning Portion) is an amount not exceeding the lower of the applicable Maximum Tranche Amount and the Available Facility; and
|
|
(f) |
the aggregate of all Drawdowns utilised and the amount of any Drawdown requested, does not exceed the Facility Amount.
|
5.3 |
Lenders' participation
|
|
(a) |
Upon receipt of a Drawdown Request, the Facility Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of the requested Loan and the amount of each Lender's
participation in the relevant Loan.
|
|
(b) |
If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, the Lenders shall, no later than 10:00 hours Amsterdam time on the relevant Drawdown Date, make
its participation in a Loan available to the Facility Agent for the account of the Borrowers in an amount equal to the proportion borne by its Commitment immediately prior to making the Loan.
|
5.4 |
Pre-positioning of funds
|
|
(a) |
The pre-positioning of the Pre-positioning Portion under each Tranche as described in Clause 3.1 (
Purpose
) shall constitute a Drawdown and the Borrowers shall at that time become indebted, as principal and direct obligor, to each Lender in an amount equal to that Lender's
participation in that Loan.
|
|
(b) |
The terms of the pre-positioning are to be finally agreed between the Borrowers and the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders) and, for
the avoidance of doubt, each of the Obligors undertakes not to sign any protocol of delivery and acceptance under the Shipbuilding Contracts thereby, or otherwise, release the Pre-positioning Portion, unless and until the Facility
Agent has confirmed that the relevant conditions have been or (pursuant to agreed closing procedures) will be met in accordance with Clause 4.1 (
Initial conditions precedent
) paragraph (a).
|
6 |
SUBSTITUTION
|
6.1 |
Substitution
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall have the option during the Substitution Period to three (3) times complete a Substitution, subject to the terms and conditions set out
in this Clause 6 (Substitution).
|
|
(b) |
A Substitution may only take place once the Facility Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) in its sole discretion is satisfied that:
|
|
(i) |
the Majority Lenders have consented to the Substitution;
|
|
(ii) |
no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Substitution;
|
|
(iii) |
no Material Adverse Effect would result from the proposed Substitution;
|
|
(iv) |
the Repeating Representations to be made by each Obligor (including the Replacement Borrower) are true in all material respects;
|
|
(v) |
the applicable Initial Borrower, the Ultimate Parent and the Replacement Borrower have delivered to the Facility Agent a duly completed and executed
Substitution Letter no less than six (6) months prior to the Substitution Date;
|
|
(vi) |
if the Tranche relating to the Collateral Vessel to be replaced has been increased in accordance with Clause 2.2 (
Accordion Increase Option
) and the Acceptable Charter Agreement having supported such increase will follow such vessel and not be continued with the Substitution Vessel,
the Borrowers shall prior to the Substitution Date prepay the Loans by an amount equal to the former increase of the Facility Amount, but reduced pro rata by any instalments paid since the increase of the Facility Amount and the
repayment schedule shall be amended to reflect the original repayment schedule in effect prior to any increase of such Tranche; and
|
|
(vii) |
the Facility Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part V (
Conditions precedent to Substitution
) of Schedule 2 (
Conditions precedent and subsequent
)
in form and substance satisfactory to it, including such other documents and evidence as listed in Part I to IV of this Schedule 2 as requested by the Facility Agent, including for the avoidance of any doubt, such Security to be
granted by the Replacement Borrower replacing the Security previously granted by the Initial Borrower being replaced.
|
6.2 |
Effects of Substitution
|
|
(a) |
the Replacement Borrower shall accede to this Agreement as joint and several Borrower and become liable for the obligations of the Initial Borrower it
replaced, including, for the avoidance of doubt, maintaining the then outstanding amount under the respective Tranche and repayment profile, which will continue unchanged (save as a result of paragraph (b)(vi) of Clause 6.1);
|
|
(b) |
the Initial Borrower (being replaced) shall be released from its obligations under each Finance Document (other than the Hedging Agreements, which
transactions thereunder shall, unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and the applicable Swap Provider, be terminated at the Initial Borrower's cost), as a Borrower and shall cease to be a Party to this Agreement;
|
|
(i) |
all references to the terms "Borrowers", "Borrower", "Obligors" or "Obligor" shall include the Replacement Borrower; and
|
|
(ii) |
all references to the terms "Collateral Vessel" or "Collateral Vessels" shall include the Substitution Vessel,
however, for the avoidance of doubt, any release of obligations and/or related Security will not be completed until corresponding obligations have been
assumed and Security has been established by the Replacement Borrower;
|
|
(c) |
the Facility Agent shall notify the other Parties, substantially in the form set out in Schedule 8 (
Form of Substitution Confirmation Letter
) confirming the occurrence of a Substitution Date, promptly upon being satisfied that:
|
|
(i) |
it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) all the documents and other evidence listed in paragraph (b) of Clause 6.1 (
Substitution
) above; and
|
|
(ii) |
the Replacement Borrower has acceded to this Agreement as a Borrower.
|
7 |
REPAYMENT AND REDUCTION
|
7.1 |
Repayment of the Loans
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall repay each Tranche in quarterly instalments in amounts as set out in the illustrative repayment schedule in Schedule 7 (
Repayment Schedule
), using an average repayment profile of 18 years (first eight instalments based on a twenty (20) years repayment
profile (i.e. full repayment to zero when the vessel turns 20 years of age) and remaining instalments based on a 17 years repayment profile).
|
|
(b) |
The Facility Agent shall provide updated and final repayment schedules prior to the final Drawdown Date under each Tranche, reflecting the final amount of
each Tranche and the Drawdown Dates.
|
|
(c) |
The first instalment under each Tranche is to be due on the date falling three (3) months after the applicable Drawdown Date (being the date which the
Pre-positioning Portion is pre-positioned) and thereafter instalments fall due on each date falling on three monthly intervals thereafter (collectively the "
Repayment Dates
").
|
|
(d) |
The Loans shall be repaid in full at the Final Maturity Date, at which time any and all other amounts or obligations of the Obligors under the Finance
Documents are due in full.
|
|
(e) |
The Borrowers may not re-borrow any part of the Facility which is repaid, other than as part of a Substitution following a prepayment in accordance with
paragraph (d) of Clause 9.1 (
Disposal or Total Loss
).
|
7.2 |
Reductions
|
8 |
ILLEGALITY, VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
|
8.1 |
Illegality
|
|
(a) |
that Lender, shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon becoming aware of that event;
|
|
(b) |
upon the Facility Agent notifying the Borrowers, each Available Commitment of that Lender will be immediately reduced to zero and cancelled; and
|
|
(c) |
the Borrowers shall repay that Lender's participation in any Loan on the last day of the Interest Period for each Loan occurring after the Facility Agent
has notified the Borrowers or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Facility Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law (including any Sanctions))
and that Lender's corresponding Commitment(s) shall be cancelled in the amount of the participations repaid.
|
8.2 |
Voluntary prepayment
|
8.3 |
Voluntary cancellation
|
8.4 |
Right of repayment in relation to a single Lender
|
|
(a) |
If:
|
|
(i) |
any sum payable to any Lender by the Borrowers is required to be increased under paragraph (b) of Clause 15.1 (
Tax gross-up
); or
|
|
(ii) |
any Lender claims indemnification from the Borrowers under Clause 15.2 (
Tax indemnity
) or Clause 16.1 (
Increased costs
),
the Borrowers may, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for that increase or indemnification continues, give the Facility Agent notice of
its intention to procure the repayment of that Lender's participation in any Loan.
|
|
(b) |
On receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above in relation to a Lender, the Commitment(s) of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.
|
|
(c) |
On the last day of the Interest Period which ends after the Borrowers have given notice under paragraph (a) above in relation to a Lender (or, if earlier,
the date specified by the Borrowers in that notice), the Borrowers shall repay that Lender's participation in any Loan together with all interest and other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents.
|
9 |
MANDATORY PREPAYMENT
|
9.1 |
Disposal or Total Loss
|
|
(a) |
If a Collateral Vessel is sold or otherwise disposed of in whole or in part (either directly or indirectly through a disposal of shares in the applicable
vessel owning Borrower), or becomes a Total Loss, the Borrowers shall prepay the Tranche applicable to that Collateral Vessel (or Borrower, if by disposal of shares), together with all accrued interests, costs and fees related to such
Tranche.
|
|
(b) |
The amount due under paragraph (a) above shall become due and payable:
|
|
(i) |
in case of a sale or disposal, on or before the earlier of:
|
|
(A) |
the date the disposal proceeds have been received; or
|
|
(B) |
the date on which the sale is completed by transfer of the title to the applicable Collateral Vessel (or Borrower) from the relevant Borrower (or
Intermediate Parent in case of a disposal of shares) to the buyer; or
|
|
(ii) |
in the case of a Total Loss, on the earlier of:
|
|
(A) |
the date falling ninety (90) days after the Total Loss Date; or
|
|
(B) |
the date of receipt of the insurance proceeds or requisition compensation relating to such Total Loss; or
|
|
(C) |
immediately after the completion of an expropriation or requisition of title, in the event of a Total Loss by way of expropriation or requisition for title
of the Collateral Vessel by any government or by persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of the government.
|
|
(c) |
Following prepayment in accordance with the above paragraphs, and in case of a sale subject to closing procedure to be agreed between the Borrowers and the
Facility Agent (in its sole discretion), the Facility Agent shall be entitled to release (including taking any steps necessary to giving effect to such release) any Security Documents relating to the relevant Collateral Vessel and the
release of any relevant Borrower and the relevant Collateral Vessel sold or lost shall subsequently no longer be defined as a "Collateral Vessel" or included in the definition of "Collateral Vessels" under this Agreement.
|
|
(d) |
Provided that the disposal (of Collateral Vessel or shares in vessel owning Borrower) or Total Loss of a Collateral Vessel, occurs within the Availability
Period, the Borrowers may redraw the applicable Tranche (subject to any reductions pursuant to Clause 7.2 (
Reductions
)) by making
a Drawdown in order to complete a Substitution of the Collateral Vessel having suffered a Total Loss or been disposed. Consequently, for the avoidance of doubt, commitment fees shall start to accrue in accordance with Clause 14.2 (
Commitment fee
) in respect of such Tranche for the remaining part of the Availability Period from the date of prepayment.
|
9.2 |
Change of Control
|
9.3 |
Termination, cancellation or repudiation of Acceptable Charter Agreement
|
10 |
RESTRICTIONS
|
10.1 |
Notices of Prepayment
|
10.2 |
Application of funds, interest and other amounts
|
|
(a) |
Any mandatory prepayment under this Agreement and any prepayment resulting from Clause 26.11 (
Fair Market Value
) shall be applied in inverse order of maturity against the remaining amortisations under the Facility pro rata between the Tranches.
|
|
(b) |
Any voluntary prepayment made pursuant to this Agreement shall be applied against the remaining repayment instalments, including the balloons within the
Tranches subject to prepayment.
|
|
(c) |
Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, subject to any Break Costs, without premium or
penalty.
|
10.3 |
No reborrowing of the Facility
|
10.4 |
Receipt of Notices
|
10.5 |
Prepayment elections
|
10.6 |
Cancellation of Commitment
|
11 |
INTEREST
|
11.1 |
Calculation of Interest
|
|
(a) |
the Margin; and
|
|
(b) |
LIBOR.
|
11.2 |
Payment of interest
|
11.3 |
Default interest
|
|
(a) |
If any Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document in accordance on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount as
well as any Loan from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to paragraph (b) below, is two (2) per cent. higher than the rate which would have been payable if the
overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest
accruing under this Clause 11.3 shall be immediately payable by the Borrowers on demand by the Facility Agent.
|
|
(b) |
Default interest (if unpaid) arising on overdue interest and any Loan will be compounded with the overdue interest at the end of each Interest Period
applicable to that overdue interest but will remain immediately due and payable on demand by the Facility Agent.
|
12 |
INTEREST PERIODS
|
12.1 |
Selection of Interest Periods
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers may select an Interest Period for a Loan in a Drawdown Request or (once borrowed) in a Selection Notice.
|
|
(b) |
Each Selection Notice is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Facility Agent by the Borrowers not later than 10 a.m. Amsterdam time three (3) Business
Days prior to the beginning of the next Interest Period.
|
|
(c) |
If the Borrowers fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Facility Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above, the relevant Interest Period will,
subject to paragraph (e) below, be three (3) months.
|
|
(d) |
Subject to this Clause 12 and to a maximum of three one (1) month interest periods being selected each year, the Borrowers may select an Interest Period of
one (1), three (3) or six (6) months or (subject always to availability of all Lenders) such other period as the Lenders and the Borrowers may agree in writing.
|
|
(e) |
The first Interest Period shall commence on the Drawdown Date (being the date which the Pre-positioning Portion is pre-positioned), and each subsequent
Interest Period shall commence on the expiry of the preceding Interest Period.
|
|
(f) |
The Interest Periods for any subsequent Drawdown shall each commence on the applicable Drawdown Date, but shall expire at the same time as any current
Interest Period, in order to consolidate the Interest Periods for all Tranches.
|
12.2 |
Non-Business Days
|
12.3 |
No overrunning
|
13 |
CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST
|
13.1 |
Absence of quotations
|
13.2 |
Market disruption
|
|
(a) |
If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to any Loan for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lender's share of any Loan for the
Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of:
|
|
(i) |
the Margin; and
|
|
(ii) |
the rate notified to the Facility Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event by close of business on the date falling two (2) Business
Days prior to the date on which interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in any Loan from whatever
source it may reasonably select.
|
|
(b) |
In this Agreement, "
Market Disruption Event
" means:
|
|
(i) |
at or about noon Amsterdam time on the Quotation Day 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 Facility Agent to determine LIBOR for the relevant Interest Period; or
|
|
(ii) |
before close of business in Amsterdam on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Facility Agent receives notifications from a Lender or
Lenders that the cost to it of funding its participation in a Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select would be in excess of the applicable LIBOR.
|
13.3 |
Alternative basis of interest or funding
|
|
(a) |
If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Facility Agent or the Borrowers so require, the Facility Agent and the Borrowers shall enter into negotiations
(for a period of not more than thirty (30) days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest.
|
|
(b) |
Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Borrowers, be binding on all Parties.
|
13.4 |
Break Costs
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, pay to that Finance Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part
of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being paid by the Borrowers on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum.
|
|
(b) |
Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs
for any Interest Period in which they accrue.
|
14 |
FEES
|
14.1 |
Arrangement fee
|
14.2 |
Commitment fee
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall pay to the Facility Agent (for the account of each Lender) a fee in USD computed at a rate per annum equal to 40% of the Margin,
calculated on each Lender's available Commitment, from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of:
|
|
(i) |
the date of cancellation of any Commitment or the expiry of the Availability Period; or
|
|
(ii) |
the date on which the Facility has been fully drawn (subject to paragraph (d) of Clause 9.1 (
Disposal or Total Loss
)) or cancelled in whole.
|
|
(b) |
The accrued commitment fee is payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter and on the last day of the Availability Period or such
other date upon which the Facility is fully drawn or cancelled in whole or, in respect of any part cancellation, on the cancelled amount on the date the cancellation is effective.
|
14.3 |
Agency fee
|
14.4 |
Substitution fee
|
15 |
TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES
|
15.1 |
Tax gross-up
|
|
(a) |
Each Obligor shall make all payments to be made by it under any Finance Document free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Taxes,
unless any Obligor is required by law to make such payment subject to the deduction or withholding of such Taxes.
|
|
(b) |
If a tax deduction or withholding is required by law to be made by an Obligor, the amount of the payment due from that Obligor shall be increased to an
amount which (after making any deduction or withholding) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no such deduction or withholding had been required.
|
15.2 |
Tax indemnity
|
|
(a) |
Without prejudice to Clause 15.1 (
Tax gross-up
), if
any Finance Party is required to make any payment of or on account of Tax on or in relation to any sum received or receivable hereunder (including any sum received or receivable under this Clause 15) or if any liability in respect of
such payment is asserted or imposed against any Finance Party, each Obligor shall, upon demand of the Facility Agent, promptly pay to the Finance Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Finance Party determines
will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of Tax in respect of a Finance Document.
|
|
(b) |
Paragraph (a) above shall not apply:
|
|
(i) |
with respect to any Tax imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable)
by that Finance Party by the jurisdiction in which such Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes;
|
|
(ii) |
to the extent a loss, liability or cost is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 15.1 (
Tax gross-up
); or
|
|
(iii) |
to the extent a loss, liability or cost relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party.
|
15.3 |
Tax Credit
|
|
(a) |
If any Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:
|
|
(i) |
a Tax Credit is attributable either to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part or to that Tax Payment; and
|
|
(ii) |
that Finance Party has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit,
the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Obligor which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position
as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Borrower.
|
|
(b) |
For the purpose of paragraph (a) above:
|
|
(i) |
"
Tax Credit
" means a credit against, relief or
remission for, or repayment of, any Tax; and
|
|
(ii) |
"
Tax Payment
" means either the increase in a payment
made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under Clause 15.1 (
Tax gross-up
) or a payment under Clause 15.2 (
Tax indemnity
).
|
15.4 |
Stamp taxes
|
15.5 |
VAT
|
15.6 |
FATCA Information
|
|
(a) |
Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Party shall, within ten (10) Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party:
|
|
(i) |
confirm to that other Party whether it is:
|
|
(A) |
a FATCA Exempt Party; or
|
|
(B) |
not a FATCA Exempt Party; and
|
|
(i) |
supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for
the purposes of that other Party's compliance with FATCA;
|
|
(ii) |
supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes
of that other Party's compliance with any other law, regulation, or exchange of information regime.
|
|
(b) |
If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to Clause 15.6 (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) |
Paragraph (a) above shall not oblige any Finance 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 Finance Party;
|
|
(iii) |
any fiduciary duty; or
|
|
(iv) |
any duty of confidentiality.
|
|
(d) |
If a Party fails to confirm its status or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (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 such time as the Party in
question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.
|
15.7 |
FATCA Deduction
|
|
(a) |
Each Party 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
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.
|
|
(b) |
Each Party 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 and the Facility Agent and the Facility Agent shall notify the other Finance Parties.
|
16 |
INCREASED COSTS
|
16.1 |
Increased costs
|
|
(a) |
Subject to Clause 16.3 (
Exceptions
) each Obligor
shall, within three (3) Business Days of a demand by the Facility Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of:
|
|
(i) |
the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation;
|
|
(ii) |
compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement;
|
|
(iii) |
implementation of or compliance with Basel III, CRD IV or CRR; or
|
|
(iv) |
the implementation, application of or compliance with IFRS 9 or any other changes in relevant reporting standards.
|
|
(b) |
In this Agreement "
Increased Costs
" means:
|
|
(i) |
a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Party's (or its Affiliate's) overall capital;
|
|
(ii) |
an additional or increased cost; or
|
|
(iii) |
a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document, which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the
extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its participation in the Loans or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.
|
16.2 |
Increased cost claims
|
|
(a) |
A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 16.1 (
Increased Costs
) shall notify the Facility Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower.
|
|
(b) |
Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs.
|
16.3 |
Exceptions
|
|
(a) |
attributable to a tax deduction or withholding required by law to be made by an Obligor;
|
|
(b) |
compensated for by Clause 15.1 (
Tax gross-up
) or
Clause 15.2 (
Tax indemnity
);
|
|
(c) |
attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party; or
|
|
(d) |
attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation.
|
17 |
OTHER INDEMNITIES
|
17.1 |
Currency indemnity
|
|
(a) |
If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a "
Sum
"), or any order, judgment or award given or made
in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the "
First Currency
") in which that Sum is payable into another
currency (the "
Second Currency
") for the purpose of:
|
|
(i) |
making or filing a claim or proof against an Obligor; or
|
|
(ii) |
obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings,
each Obligor shall as an independent obligation, within three (3) Business Days of demand, indemnify the Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum. |
|
(b) |
Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency other than that in
which it is expressed to be payable.
|
17.2 |
Other indemnities
|
|
(a) |
Each Obligor shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by it as a result
of:
|
|
(i) |
the occurrence of any Event of Default;
|
|
(ii) |
a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as
a result of Clause 31 (
Sharing among the Finance Parties
);
|
|
(iii) |
funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Loan requested in a Drawdown Request but not made by reason of the operation of any one or
more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone);
|
|
(iv) |
a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower; or
|
|
(v) |
any civil penalty or fine against, any settlement, and any other liability, and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and
disbursements) incurred by the Facility Agent or any Lender as a result of the violation of any Obligor or any of their directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors, of any Sanctions.
|
|
(b) |
The indemnity in (a)(v) above shall cover any liability incurred by each Finance Party in any jurisdiction arising under or in connection with any
Sanctions.
|
17.3 |
Indemnity to the Facility Agent and the Security Agent
|
|
(a) |
Each Obligor shall promptly indemnify the Facility Agent and the Security Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Facility Agent or the
Security Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:
|
|
(i) |
any failure by any Obligor to comply with its obligations under Clause 19 (Cost and Expenses);
|
|
(ii) |
acting as Facility Agent (and otherwise in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to an Disruption Event) under the Finance Documents;
|
|
(iii) |
acting as Security Agent under the Security Documents or which otherwise relates to any Security created thereby;
|
|
(iv) |
instructing lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts as permitted under this Agreement;
|
|
(v) |
investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default;
|
|
(vi) |
acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;
|
|
(vii) |
the taking, holding, protection or enforcement of the Security created by the Security Documents;
|
|
(viii) |
the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions and remedies vested in the Facility Agent by the Finance Documents or by law; and
|
|
(ix) |
any default by any Obligor in the performance of any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents.
|
|
(b) |
The Security Agent may, in priority to any payment to the Secured Parties, indemnify itself out of the Security pursuant to the Security Documents in
respect of, and pay and retain, all sums necessary to give effect to the indemnity in this Clause 17.3 and shall have a lien on the Security pursuant to the Security Documents and the proceeds of the enforcement of the Security
pursuant to the Security Documents for all moneys payable to it.
|
18 |
MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS
|
18.1 |
Mitigation
|
|
(a) |
Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Borrowers, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in
any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 9.1 (
Illegality
), Clause 15 (
Tax gross-up and indemnities
) or Clause 16 (
Increased Costs
).
|
|
(b) |
Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of the Obligors under the Finance Documents.
|
18.2 |
Limitation of liability
|
|
(a) |
Each Obligor shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by
it under Clause 18.1 (
Mitigation
).
|
|
(b) |
A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 18.1 (
Mitigation
) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.
|
19 |
COSTS AND EXPENSES
|
19.1 |
Transaction expenses
|
|
(a) |
this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement and the Security Documents; and
|
|
(b) |
any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement.
|
19.2 |
Amendment costs
|
19.3 |
Enforcement and preservation costs
|
20 |
ON-DEMAND GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY
|
20.1 |
On-demand Guarantee and indemnity
|
|
(a) |
guarantees to each Finance Party punctual performance of the Borrowers' obligations under the Finance Documents;
|
|
(b) |
undertakes with each Finance Party to immediately pay on first demand (No.
påkravsgaranti
) in accordance with a written demand by the Facility Agent (on behalf of the Finance Parties);
|
|
(c) |
agrees with each Finance Party that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and
primary obligation, indemnify that Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability it incurs as a result of the Borrowers not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or
illegality, have been payable by it under any Finance Document on the date when it would have been due.
|
20.2 |
Continuing Guarantee
|
20.3 |
Reinstatement
|
20.4 |
Waiver of defences and compliance with the FA Act
|
|
(a) |
any defence, objection or similar action based on (and/or arising from) the Finance Documents or other underlying relationships, agreements and transactions
whatsoever (to the extent permitted by law);
|
|
(b) |
any failure to comply with Sections 62 to 74 of the FA Act;
|
|
(c) |
any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Borrower or other person;
|
|
(d) |
the release of the Borrowers or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group;
|
|
(e) |
the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security
over assets of, any of the Borrowers or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security;
|
|
(f) |
any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of any of the Borrowers or any other
person;
|
|
(g) |
any amendment, novation, supplement, extension, restatement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of a Finance Document or
any other document or security including, without limitation, any change in the purpose of, any extension of or increase in any facility or the addition of any new facility under any Finance Document or other document or security;
|
|
(h) |
any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document or any other document or security; or
|
|
(i) |
any insolvency or similar proceedings.
|
20.5 |
Immediate recourse
|
20.6 |
Appropriations
|
|
(a) |
refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Finance Party in respect of those amounts, or apply and
enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and each Guarantor shall not be entitled to the benefit of the same; and
|
|
(b) |
hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any Guarantor or on account of any Guarantor's liability under this Guarantee.
|
20.7 |
Deferral of Guarantor's rights
|
|
(a) |
to be indemnified by any of the Borrowers;
|
|
(b) |
to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any of the Borrowers' obligations under the Finance Documents;
|
|
(c) |
to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or
of any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Finance Party;
|
|
(d) |
to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring any of the Borrowers to make any payment, or perform any obligation;
|
|
(e) |
to assign any claim it may have against any of the Borrowers to any person or entity;
|
|
(f) |
to exercise any right of set-off against any of the Borrowers; and/or
|
|
(g) |
to claim or prove as a creditor of any of the Borrowers in competition with any Finance Party, however, so that any Guarantor shall be entitled to prove in
the liquidation or other dissolution of any of the Borrowers, subject to paying to the Facility Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) any proceeds of the liquidation or other dissolution received by the Guarantor.
|
20.8 |
Additional security
|
20.9 |
Guarantee Limitations
|
20.10 |
Joint and several obligations of the Borrowers
|
|
(a) |
any part of the Loans applied to finance the acquisition of any Collateral Vessel owned by any of the other Borrowers; and/or
|
|
(b) |
any liabilities under any Hedging Agreements entered into by any of the other Borrowers,
|
21 |
SECURITY
|
21.1 |
Security Documents
|
|
(a) |
the Account Pledge;
|
|
(b) |
the Assignment of Earnings and Charterparties;
|
|
(c) |
the Assignment of Hedging Claims;
|
|
(d) |
the Assignment of Insurances;
|
|
(e) |
the Assignment of Intercompany Loans;
|
|
(f) |
the Mortgages; and
|
|
(g) |
the Share Pledges.
|
21.2 |
Sharing of Security
|
21.3 |
Set-off
|
21.4 |
Perfection and further assistance
|
|
(a) |
Each Obligor shall promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions)
as the Security Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as the Security Agent may reasonably require in favour of the Security Agent or its nominee(s)):
|
|
(i) |
to perfect the Security created or intended to be created under or evidenced by the Security Documents (which may include the execution of a mortgage,
charge, assignment or other Security over all or any of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Security) or for the exercise of any rights, powers and remedies of the Security Agent or the Finance Parties
provided by or pursuant to the Finance Documents or by law;
|
|
(ii) |
to confer on the Security Agent, Security over any property and assets of that Obligor located in any jurisdiction equivalent or similar to the Security
intended to be conferred by or pursuant to the Security Documents; and/or
|
|
(iii) |
to facilitate the realisation of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Security.
|
|
(b) |
Each Obligor shall take all such action as is available to it (including making all filings and registrations) as may be necessary for the purpose of the
creation, perfection, protection or maintenance of any Security conferred or intended to be conferred on the Security Agent or the Finance Parties by or pursuant to the Finance Documents.
|
|
(c) |
If the Security Agent enforces any or all of the Share Pledges, each Guarantor and each Borrower hereby irrevocably (i) waives any and all of its claims
against the (other) Borrowers and releases the (other) Borrowers from any and all liabilities to each Guarantor and each Borrower, including but not limited to any liabilities of the (other) Borrowers under any intra-group or
shareholder loans and any liability to each Guarantor and the (other) Borrowers under any recourse claims (the "
Borrower Liabilities
"),
and (ii) authorises the Security Agent and grants power of attorney to the Security Agent to (without any consent, sanction, authority or further confirmation from any other party), to release any and all of the Borrower Liabilities,
in order to allow for a sale of the shares in each of the Borrowers to be completed without any claims of any Guarantor and/or any of the (other) Borrowers continuing to exist against any of the Borrowers following such sale to the
extent permitted by applicable mandatory laws.
|
|
(d) |
Each Borrower shall ensure that the Mortgages be amended to cover any and all Hedging Agreements entered into subsequent to the date of any of the
Mortgages, on terms acceptable to the Security Agent and without undue delay from entry into of any such Hedging Agreement, in order to secure that any liability of the Borrowers under any and all Hedging Agreements are secured under
the Mortgages.
|
22 |
REPRESENTATIONS
|
22.1 |
General
|
22.2 |
Status
|
|
(a) |
It is a company with limited liability or corporation, as applicable, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of
incorporation.
|
|
(b) |
It has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted.
|
22.3 |
Binding obligations
|
|
(a) |
The obligations expressed to be assumed by it in each Finance Document are (or, when executed, will be) legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations.
|
|
(b) |
Each Security Document will, when duly executed, delivered and perfected, create the Security which that Security Document purports to create and that
Security will then be valid and effective.
|
22.4 |
Non-conflict with other obligations
|
|
(a) |
any present law or regulation applicable to it (including Directive 1905/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Communities
Union of 26 October 2005, implemented to combat money laundering);
|
|
(b) |
its constitutional documents; or
|
|
(c) |
any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any of its assets.
|
22.5 |
Power and authority
|
|
(a) |
It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into, performance and delivery of, the
Finance Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by those documents.
|
|
(b) |
No limit on its powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowing, granting of security or giving of guarantees or indemnities contemplated by the
Finance Documents.
|
22.6 |
Authorisations
|
22.7 |
Payment of Taxes
|
22.8 |
Governing law and enforcement
|
|
(a) |
The choice of governing law of the Finance Documents will be recognised and enforced in its Relevant Jurisdictions.
|
|
(b) |
Any judgment obtained in relation to a Finance Document in the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in
its Relevant Jurisdictions.
|
22.9 |
No winding up
|
|
(a) |
corporate action, legal proceeding or other procedure or step described in paragraph (a) of Clause 27.7 (
Insolvency proceedings
); or
|
|
(b) |
creditors' process described in Clause 27.8 (
Creditors'
process
), has been taken or threatened in relation to any Obligor and none of the circumstances described in Clause 27.6 (
Insolvency
)
is applicable.
|
22.10 |
No filing or stamp taxes
|
22.11 |
No default
|
|
(a) |
No Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the making of any Drawdown or the entry into and performance of or any transaction
contemplated by any of the Finance Documents.
|
|
(b) |
No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute a default or termination event (however
described) under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or to which its assets are subject which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
|
22.12 |
No misleading information
|
22.13 |
Original Financial Statements
|
|
(a) |
The Original Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with IFRS consistently applied and fairly represent its financial condition and results of
operations during the relevant financial year.
|
|
(b) |
There has been no material adverse change in its business or financial condition since 31 December 2016.
|
|
(c) |
All financial documents and information relating to it or otherwise relevant to the matters contemplated by this Agreement which have been supplied to the
Facility Agent or the Lenders by it are complete and correct in all material respects, and it has not omitted to disclose to the Finance Parties any information, documents or agreements known to it which, if disclosed, could in its
opinion reasonably be expected to affect the decision of the Finance Parties to enter into this Agreement.
|
22.14 |
Pari Passu Ranking
|
22.15 |
No proceedings pending or threatened
|
22.16 |
No breach of laws
|
22.17 |
Environmental compliance
|
22.18 |
Environmental Claims
|
|
(a) |
in the absolute ownership of the relevant Borrower, free and clear of all encumbrances (other than current crew wages and the Mortgage) and the relevant
Borrower will be the sole, legal and beneficial owner of the applicable Collateral Vessel;
|
|
(b) |
registered in the name of the relevant Borrower with the Approved Ship Registry;
|
|
(c) |
operationally seaworthy in every way and fit for service; and
|
|
(d) |
classed with an Approved Classification Society, free of all overdue requirements and other material recommendations.
|
22.20 |
ISM Code, ISPS Code and Marpol Compliance
|
22.21 |
Ownership
|
|
(a) |
The Ultimate Parent owns 100% of all the shares in the Intermediate Parent.
|
|
(b) |
The Intermediate Parent owns 100% of all shares in each of the Borrowers.
|
22.22 |
Business of the Borrowers
|
22.23 |
Restricted Persons
|
22.24 |
Transaction Documents
|
|
(a) |
The Transaction Documents to which any Obligor is a party are, subject to any principles of law of general and mandatory application, in full force and
effect and constitutes legal, valid and binding rights and obligations of the applicable Obligors enforceable in accordance with their terms and in respect of other parties, to the best of the Obligors' knowledge, enforceable in all
material respects.
|
|
(b) |
The Transaction Documents to which any Obligor is not a party are, subject to any principles of law of general and mandatory application, to the best of the
Obligors' knowledge, in full force and effect and constitutes legal, valid, binding and enforceable rights and obligations in all material respects of the parties thereto.
|
|
(c) |
No material amendments have been made to any Transaction Document to which an Obligor is a party, other than as disclosed in writing to the Finance Parties
prior to the date of this Agreement.
|
22.25 |
Times when representations made
|
|
(a) |
All the representations and warranties in this Clause 22 are deemed to be made by each Obligor on the date of this Agreement.
|
|
(b) |
The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by each Obligor on the date of a Drawdown Request, on the Drawdown Date and on the first day of each
Interest Period by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.
|
23 |
INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS
|
23.1 |
Financial statements
|
|
(a) |
as soon as reasonably practicable after the same are available (and in any event no later than one-hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of its
financial year):
|
|
(i) |
the unaudited unconsolidated (in respect of the Borrowers) financial statement for that financial year;
|
|
(ii) |
the audited consolidated (in respect of the Ultimate Parent) financial statement for that financial year; and
|
|
(b) |
as soon as reasonably practicable after the same are available (and in any event no later than sixty (60) days after the end of each financial quarters:
|
|
(i) |
the unaudited and unconsolidated (in respect of each Obligor) quarterly financial statements for that financial quarter; and
|
|
(ii) |
the unaudited consolidated (in respect of the Ultimate Parent) financial statement for that financial quarter.
|
23.2 |
Budget
|
23.3 |
Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate
|
|
(a) |
The Ultimate Parent shall supply a Compliance Certificate to the Facility Agent with each set of annual and quarterly financial statements.
|
|
(b) |
The Compliance Certificate shall, amongst other things, set out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with Clause 24 (
Financial Covenants
), Clause 26.1 (
Vessel insurances
)
and Clause 26.11 (
Fair Market Value
), together with any relevant supporting documentation, such as valuations of the Collateral
Vessels in accordance with Clause 23.5 (
Report on Fair Market Value
), enabling the Lenders to determine and monitor the Obligors'
compliance.
|
|
(c) |
Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by the CFO or another person authorised to represent the Ultimate Parent.
|
23.4 |
Requirements as to financial statements
|
|
(a) |
The Obligors shall procure that each set of financial statements includes a balance sheet, profit and loss account, cash flow statement and appropriate
explanatory notes.
|
|
(b) |
Each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 23.1 (
Financial statements
) shall be:
|
|
(i) |
prepared in accordance with IFRS, accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Original
Financial Statements; and
|
|
(ii) |
signed by an authorised person of each Obligor.
|
23.5 |
Report on Fair Market Value
|
|
(a) |
The Obligors shall, at their own expense, arrange for the Fair Market Value to be determined semi-annually in connection with Q1 and Q3 financial
statements.
|
|
(b) |
The Lenders may obtain valuations on the Fair Market Value at any time during the tenor of the Facility at their own expense or, in case of an Event of
Default or a mandatory prepayment event under Clause 9.1 (
Disposal or Total Loss
), at the expense of the Obligors.
|
23.6 |
Information: miscellaneous
|
|
(a) |
at the same time as they are dispatched, copies of all relevant documents dispatched by any Obligor to its creditors in general;
|
|
(b) |
promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current or, to its knowledge,
threatened or pending against any of the Obligors, and which, if adversely determined, might be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and further details of any such matter previously disclosed to the Facility Agent,
if the likelihood of an adverse determination has increased, as the Facility Agent may reasonably request; and
|
|
(c) |
promptly on request, such further information as any Finance Party through the Facility Agent may reasonably request.
|
23.7 |
Notification of default
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall notify the Facility Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its
occurrence.
|
|
(b) |
Promptly upon a request by the Facility Agent, the Borrowers shall supply to the Facility Agent a certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the
Ultimate Parent certifying that no Default is continuing (or if a Default is continuing, specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it).
|
23.8 |
"Know your customer" checks
|
|
(a) |
If:
|
|
(i) |
the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this
Agreement;
|
|
(ii) |
any Change in UBO after the date of this Agreement;
|
|
(iii) |
any Applicable KYC Procedures;
|
|
(iv) |
any change in the status of an Obligor (or of a Holding Company of an Obligor) or the composition of the shareholders of an Obligor (or of a Holding Company
of an Obligor) after the date of this Agreement; or
|
|
(v) |
a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such
assignment or transfer,
|
|
(b) |
Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Facility Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably
requested by the Facility Agent (for itself) in order for the Facility Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary "know your customer" or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations
pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
|
|
(c) |
If an accession of a Replacement Borrower in the event of a proposed Substitution obliges the Facility Agent or any Lender to comply with "know your
customer" or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Ultimate Parent shall promptly upon the request of the Facility Agent or any Lender supply, or procure
the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Facility Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the
Facility Agent or such Lender or any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary "know your customer" or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the
accession of such Replacement Borrower.
|
23.9 |
Notification of Environmental Claims
|
|
(a) |
if any Environmental Claim has been commenced or (to the best of any Obligor's knowledge and belief) is threatened against any of the Obligors or the
Collateral Vessels; and
|
|
(b) |
if any fact and circumstances which will or are reasonably likely to result in any Environmental Claim being commenced against any of the Obligors or any of
the Collateral Vessels.
|
24 |
FINANCIAL COVENANTS
|
24.1 |
Construction and definitions
|
|
(a) |
cash in hand or on freely available deposit with any bank or financial institution;
|
|
(b) |
certificates of deposits or marketable debt securities (included money market funds) with a maturity of twelve (12) months or less after the relevant date
of calculation, issued by an Arranger or a financial institution which has a rating for its long term unsecured and non-credit enhanced debt obligations with A or higher by Standard & Poor's Rating Services or Fitch Ratings Ltd or
A2 or higher by Moody's Investor Services Limited or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency; or
|
|
(c) |
any other instrument, security or investment approved in writing by the Facility Agent, and in each case, to which any of the Obligors is beneficially
entitled at that time and which can be promptly realised and applied against the Loans.
|
|
(a) |
in respect of each Borrower, the amount credited on its Operating Account; and
|
|
(b) |
in respect of the Ultimate Parent (on consolidated basis), Cash and Cash Equivalents and, provided that Cash and Cash Equivalents contributes with minimum
USD 15,000,000, any amount freely and unconditionally available for drawings under the Sterna RCF.
|
24.2 |
Financial testing
|
24.3 |
Financial condition of Ultimate Parent (consolidated)
|
|
(a) |
an Equity Ratio of minimum 0.25 to 1.0;
|
|
(b) |
a positive Working Capital; and
|
|
(c) |
Liquidity of minimum the higher of:
|
|
(i) |
USD 15,000,000; or
|
|
(ii) |
an amount equal to five per cent. (5%) of the Group's total interest bearing Financial Indebtedness on a consolidated basis (excluding the Sterna RCF) and
net of any Cash and Cash Equivalents.
|
24.4 |
Financial condition of each Borrower (unconsolidated)
|
|
(a) |
a positive Working Capital; and
|
|
(b) |
Liquidity of minimum USD 1,200,000.
|
24.5 |
Reporting breach
|
25 |
GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS
|
25.1 |
Authorisations
|
|
(a) |
obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and
|
|
(b) |
supply certified copies to the Facility Agent of
any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of a Relevant Jurisdiction to enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents,
ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Finance Document.
|
25.2 |
Compliance with laws
|
|
(a) |
Each Obligor shall, and shall ensure that each Group Company as well as any manager and charterer) comply in all material respects with all laws and
regulations to which it and any Collateral Vessel may be subject.
|
|
(b) |
Without limiting paragraph (a) above, each Obligor shall not (and shall ensure that no Group Company, nor any manager or charterer) employ any Collateral
Vessel nor allow its employment, operation or management in any manner contrary to any law or regulation.
|
|
(c) |
Each Obligor shall, and shall procure that each other Group Company and each Affiliate of any of them shall, comply in all respect with all Sanctions.
|
25.3 |
Sanctions
|
|
(a) |
Each Obligor undertakes that it, and any Group Company 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.
|
|
(b) |
Each Obligor shall, and shall procure that each Group Company 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 Finance Parties.
|
|
(c) |
Each Obligor shall procure that no proceeds from any activity or dealing with a Restricted Person are credited to any bank account held with any Finance
Party in its name or in the name of any Group Company or any Affiliate of any of them.
|
|
(d) |
No Obligor, Group Company, Affiliate, nor any of their directors, officers or employees shall take any action, make any omission or use (directly or
indirectly) any proceeds of the Loan, in a manner that is in breach of Sanctions, or causes (or will cause) a breach of Sanctions by any Finance Party.
|
|
(e) |
Each Obligor shall, and shall procure that each Group Company shall, to the extent permitted by law promptly upon becoming aware of them supply to the
Facility Agent details of any claim, action, suit, proceedings or investigation against it with respect to Sanctions by any Sanctions Authority.
|
|
(f) |
Each Obligor shall not accept, obtain or receive any goods or services from any Restricted Person, except (without limiting Clause 25.2 (
Compliance with laws
)), 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 an Obligor in accordance with this Agreement.
|
|
(g) |
Each Party acknowledges and agrees that the Obligors do not undertake under paragraphs (a) to (f) (inclusive) above in favour of any Lender incorporated or
having its registered office in the Federal Republic of Germany and no such Lender shall have any right thereunder and shall be deemed not to be a party to the provisions of this Clause 25.3.
|
25.4 |
Use of Proceeds
|
|
(a) |
involving or for the benefit of any Restricted Person; or
|
|
(b) |
in any other manner that could result in any Obligor or a Finance Party being in breach of any Sanctions or becoming a Restricted Person.
|
25.5 |
Title
|
25.6 |
Taxation
|
|
(a) |
Each Obligor shall (and shall procure that each Group Company ) pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed
without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that:
|
|
(i) |
such payment is being contested in good faith;
|
|
(i) |
adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and the costs required to contest them which have been disclosed in its latest financial statements
delivered under Clause 23.1 (
Financial statements
); and
|
|
(ii) |
such payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay those Taxes does not or is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
|
|
(b) |
None of the Obligors may and, to the extent it has or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no other Group Company may, change its
residence for Tax purposes without the prior written consent from the Facility Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld).
|
25.7 |
Pari passu ranking
|
25.8 |
Merger
|
25.9 |
Listing
|
25.10 |
Change of business
|
|
(a) |
the Borrowers shall not engage in any other business than that immediately related to the owning, financing, chartering and operation of the Collateral
Vessels; and
|
|
(b) |
the Obligors will not cease to carry on or make any material change in all or any part of its business and activities thereto as presently conducted, or
carry on any other business, except for a similarly related business, or change the place of its jurisdiction or its organisation as presently conducted.
|
25.11 |
Hedging arrangements
|
|
(a) |
The Swap Providers shall have a first right of refusal in relation to interest hedging relating to any Collateral Vessel or the Facility on competitive
terms.
|
|
(b) |
The Obligors shall not carry out derivative transactions for speculative purposes.
|
25.12 |
Preservation of assets
|
25.13 |
Financial Indebtedness restrictions
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall not incur, create or permit to subsist any Financial Indebtedness.
|
|
(b) |
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to Financial Indebtedness:
|
|
(i) |
incurred under the Finance Documents;
|
|
(ii) |
incurred under any loans from any Guarantor or any other Borrower, provided that any Guarantor's or, as the case may be, any of the other Borrowers' claims
under such loans are subject to an Assignment of Intercompany Loan and fully subordinated to the claims of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents; or
|
|
(iii) |
consented to in writing by the Lenders.
|
25.14 |
Negative pledge
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall not create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets and the shares in the Borrowers.
|
|
(b) |
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to:
|
|
(i) |
the Security under the Security Documents;
|
|
(ii) |
in respect of any Collateral Vessel:
|
|
(A) |
any liens for current crews' wages and salvage;
|
|
(B) |
any ship repairer's or outfitter's possessory lien arising by operation of law and not exceeding USD 3,000,000; and
|
|
(C) |
any other liens incurred in the ordinary course of operating any Collateral Vessel not exceeding USD 3,000,000; and (iii)any Security consented to in
writing by the Lenders.
|
|
(iii) |
any Security consented to in writing by the Lenders.
|
25.15 |
Sterna RCF
|
|
(a) |
The Intermediate Parent shall procure that the Sterna RCF is amended to comply with the terms of this Agreement on terms satisfactory to the Facility Agent.
|
|
(b) |
The Intermediate Parent may not make any payments to Sterna Finance Ltd. (or any party replacing Sterna Finance Ltd. as creditor) under the Sterna RCF or
any other loans from Affiliates of the Ultimate Parent following the occurrence of an Event of Default or otherwise in breach of the Subordination Statement.
|
|
(c) |
The Intermediate Parent shall procure that:
|
|
(i) |
until 12 months after the final Delivery Date of all the Initial Vessels and the Substitution Vessels, the credit under the Sterna RCF shall remain fully
and unconditionally available in a total minimum amount of USD 270,000,000 including minimum USD 30,000,000 to be freely available as working capital support to the Group; and
|
|
(ii) |
thereafter, the freely and unconditionally available credit under the Sterna RCF may be reduced to USD 30,000,000, at terms acceptable to the Lenders.
|
25.16 |
Financial support
|
|
(a) |
no Event of Default is in existence or will occur from such disposition;
|
|
(b) |
after giving effect to such disposition, the Obligors will be in compliance with Clause 24 (
Financial Covenants
); and
|
|
(c) |
the Intragroup Indebtedness obligations, shall pursuant to a separate undertaking between the relevant creditor and the Facility Agent rank behind and be
fully subordinated to any obligations under the Finance Documents and any of the Borrowers' claims under such loans, if against any other Borrower or Affiliate, are subject to an Assignment of Intercompany Loan.
|
25.17 |
Distributions from the Ultimate Parent
|
|
(a) |
Subject to the limitations listed in paragraph (b) below, the Ultimate Parent may:
|
|
(i) |
declare, make or pay any dividend, charge, fee or other distribution (whether in cash or in kind) on or in respect of its share capital (or any class of its
share capital);
|
|
(ii) |
pay any interest or repay any principal amount (or capitalised interest) on any debt to any of its shareholders;
|
|
(iii) |
redeem, repurchase or repay any of its share capital or resolve to do so; or
|
|
(iv) |
enter into any transaction or arrangement having a similar effect as described in paragraphs (i) to (iii).
|
|
(b) |
The distributions described in paragraph (a) above can only be carried out and effectuated if:
|
|
(i) |
no Default is existing on the time when the distribution is to be made or would result from the making, payment or declaration of the distribution; and
|
|
(ii) |
such distributions are in aggregate limited to 50% of its accumulated and consolidated annual net profits as from 1 January 2018 calculated on the basis of
the Ultimate Parent's audited consolidated financial statements made in accordance with IFRS; or
|
|
(iii) |
as otherwise consented to in writing by the Facility Agent.
|
25.18 |
Investments
|
|
(a) |
the acquisition of the Collateral Vessels;
|
|
(b) |
ordinary and scheduled maintenance of the Collateral Vessels; and
|
|
(c) |
any other maintenance of the Collateral Vessels required in order to be in compliance with the provisions under this Agreement, including, but not limited
to, Clause 26.3 (
Class
).
|
25.23 |
EU Bail-in
|
26 |
VESSEL UNDERTAKINGS
|
26.1 |
Vessel insurances
|
|
(a) |
The Obligors shall keep the Collateral Vessels fully insured against such risks, including but not limited to, Hull and Machinery, Hull Interest and/or
Freight Interest, War Risks (including acts of terrorism, war risks P&I and piracy) and Protection & Indemnity (including maximum cover for pollution liability as normally adopted by the industry for similar vessels), in such
amounts and currencies, on such terms and with such reputable insurers, brokers or P&I clubs as the Facility Agent from time to time may approve. Norwegian Law to apply to all insurances other than P&I and freight, demurrage
and defence (FD&D) insurances, and Hull and Machinery covers to include the terms of the Nordic Marine Insurance Plan of 2013, latest version (as amended from time to time).
|
|
(b) |
The insured value of each Collateral Vessel shall be at least equal to or greater than the higher of (i) its Fair Market Value or (ii) 120% of the relevant
Tranche and the aggregate insured value for all Collateral Vessels shall be at least equal to or greater than the higher of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value for all Collateral Vessels or (ii) 120% of the Loans. The insured value
for Hull and Machinery for each Collateral Vessel to cover at least 80 % of the Fair Market Value of that Collateral Vessel, (ii) the insured value for Hull and Machinery combined with the Hull Interest and Freight Interest and for
War Risks for each Collateral Vessel shall always cover at least the Fair Market Value of that Collateral Vessel.
|
|
(c) |
The Facility Agent (on behalf of the Finance Parties) will, for the cost of the Obligors, take out Mortgagee's Interest Insurance (MII) and Mortgagee
Interest Additional Perils (pollution) on such terms and in such amounts as the Facility Agent shall deem appropriate up to 120% of the Loans.
|
|
(d) |
The Borrowers shall procure that the Security Agent (on behalf of the Finance Parties) is noted as a first priority mortgagee in the insurance contracts,
together with the confirmation from the underwriters to the Security Agent thereof that the notice of assignment with regard to the Insurances and the loss payable clauses are noted in the insurance contract and that standard letters
of undertaking are executed by the insurers and/or broker(s), as applicable.
|
|
(e) |
Within reasonable time (and no later than 7 days) prior to the expiry of the relevant Insurances, the Borrowers shall procure the delivery to the Facility
Agent of a certificate from the insurance broker(s) through whom the Insurances referred to in paragraph (a) have been renewed and taken out in respect of the Collateral Vessels with insurance values as required by paragraphs (b),
that such Insurances are in full force and effect and that the interests of the Security Agent (on behalf of the Finance Parties) have been noted by the relevant insurers.
|
|
(f) |
If any of the Insurances referred to in paragraph (a), other than P&I or freight, demurrage and defence (FD&D) insurances, form part of a fleet
cover, the Borrowers shall procure that the insurers shall undertake to the Security Agent that they shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of the Collateral Vessels any premiums due in respect of other units under such
fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel such Insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other units under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other Insurances.
|
|
(g) |
The Borrowers shall ensure that each Collateral Vessel is always employed in conformity with the terms of the relevant insurances and comply with such
requirements as to extra premium or otherwise as the insurers may prescribe.
|
|
(h) |
The Borrowers will not make any material change to the Insurances without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent (on behalf of the Lenders).
|
|
(i) |
Each of the Insurances shall be reviewed, at the cost of the Borrowers, by the Lenders' insurance advisor on an annual basis on each date on which the
Insurances are due for renewal if so required by the Facility Agent. An insurance advisor will be appointed by the Facility Agent, at the Borrowers' cost, prior to each Drawdown Date, for the purpose of, inter alia, preparing an
insurance report.
|
26.2 |
Notification
|
|
(a) |
any accident or casualty to any Collateral Vessel involving repairs the cost of which is likely to exceed USD 3,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in any
other currency;
|
|
(b) |
any occurrence in consequence whereof any Collateral Vessel has become or is likely to become a Total Loss;
|
|
(c) |
any arrest or detention of any Collateral Vessel or the exercise or purported exercise of any lien on the Collateral Vessel;
|
|
(d) |
any requirement or recommendation made in relation to any Collateral Vessel by any insurer or classification society or by any competent authority which is
not, or cannot be, immediately complied with;
|
|
(e) |
any claim for a material breach of the ISM Code, the ISPS Code or Marpol being made against any Borrower, any charterer or any Manager or otherwise in
connection with any Collateral Vessel; or
|
|
(f) |
any other matter, event or incident, actual or threatened, the effect of which will or could lead to the ISM Code, the ISPS Code or Marpol not being
complied with,
|
26.3 |
Class
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall have each Collateral Vessel classified and maintained in the highest appropriate class notation available for vessels of the same age
and type with an Approved Classification Society, and at all times comply with the rules and regulations of the relevant classification society without any overdue recommendations and notations and shall immediately provide the
Facility Agent with copies of any survey reports being issued.
|
|
(b) |
The Borrowers may not change (or permit the change of) the classification society of any Collateral Vessel without the prior written consent of the Facility
Agent unless to another Approved Classification Society.
|
26.4 |
Flag
|
26.5 |
Inspection and class records
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall permit, and shall procure that any charterers permit, any person appointed by the Facility Agent to inspect each Collateral Vessel at
any time for the account of the Borrowers upon the Facility Agent giving prior written notice, always provided that such inspection shall not interfere with the normal operation and trading of the Collateral Vessel, provided however
that following an Event of Default, the Facility Agent is entitled to do an inspection whether or not it interferes with the trading and operation of the Collateral Vessel.
|
|
(b) |
The Borrowers shall instruct the classification society to send to the Facility Agent, following a written request from the Facility Agent, copies of all
class records held by the classification society in relation to each Collateral Vessel.
|
26.6 |
Repairs and alterations
|
26.7 |
Compliance with international regulations and laws
|
|
(a) |
comply in all material respects with all international conventions and regulations relating to any Collateral Vessel, including:
|
|
(i) |
the ISM Code;
|
|
(ii) |
the ISPS Code; and
|
|
(iii) |
Marpol;
|
|
(b) |
comply in all material respects with any applicable national or international law, regulation, convention or treaty in a jurisdiction which an Obligor
conducts business or any Collateral Vessel will be operating, including such law, regulation, convention or treaty which relates to the pollution or damage of the environment or the conditions at the workplace;
|
|
(c) |
comply in all material respects with any applicable law, regulation or requirement in the jurisdiction of the Approved Ship Registry where any Collateral
Vessel is registered;
|
|
(d) |
comply in all respects with all Environmental Laws applicable to any of them or any Collateral Vessel, including without limitation, requirements relating
to manning and establishment of financial responsibility and to obtain and comply with all Environmental Approvals applicable to any of them and/or any of the Collateral Vessels;
|
|
(e) |
in the event of hostilities in any part of the world (whether war is declared or not), not employ any Collateral Vessel in any zone which is declared a war
zone by any government or by the war risk insurers of the Collateral Vessel, unless the Borrowers has (at their own expense) effected any special, additional or modified insurance cover which shall be necessary or customary for first
class shipowners, and has provided evidence of such cover to the Facility Agent; and
|
|
(f) |
obtain, maintain and ensure compliance with all requisite licenses, certificates, approvals and permits required under any such laws, rules and regulations
at all times valid and enforceable in all respects, including:
|
|
(i) |
the Document of Compliance and Safety Management Certificate issued pursuant to the ISM Code in relation to each Collateral Vessel; and
|
|
(ii) |
a valid and current International Ship Security Certificate issued under the ISPS Code.
|
26.8 |
Maintenance
|
26.9 |
Dismantling
|
|
(a) |
The Obligors shall procure a safe sustainable and socially and environmentally responsible dismantling of any of their vessels that is taken out of service.
|
|
(b) |
Each Borrower shall procure that the Collateral Vessel owned by it has, from the Delivery Date of that Collateral Vessel, obtained an Inventory of Hazardous
Material (IHM), in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel owned by it, which shall be maintained and available throughout the lifespan of that Collateral Vessel.
|
|
(c) |
Each Obligor confirms that as long as it is in a lending relationship with a Finance Party, it will ensure that any Collateral Vessel controlled by it or
sold to a intermediary with the intention of being scrapped, is recycled at a recycling yard which conducts its recycling business in a socially and environmentally responsible manner, in accordance with the provisions of The Hong
Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 and/or EU Ship Recycling Regulation of 20 November, 2013.
|
26.10 |
Arrest
|
|
(a) |
all liabilities which give rise or may give rise to maritime or possessory liens on or claims enforceable against any Collateral Vessel, its Earnings or
Insurances;
|
|
(b) |
all tolls, taxes, dues, fines, penalties and other amounts charged in respect of each Collateral Vessel, its Earnings or Insurances; and
|
|
(c) |
all other outgoings whatsoever in respect of any Collateral Vessel, its Earnings and Insurances,
|
|
(d) |
and upon receiving notice of arrest of any Collateral Vessel, or its detention or purported exercise of any lien or claim, the Borrowers shall procure its
release by providing bail or Security or otherwise as the circumstances may require.
|
26.11 |
Fair Market Value
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall ensure that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Collateral Vessels that have been delivered from the Yard is:
|
|
(i) |
from the first Drawdown Date and at all times until the second anniversary thereof, in excess of 130%;
|
|
(ii) |
from the second anniversary of the first Drawdown Date and until the fourth anniversary thereof, in excess of 135%; and
|
|
(iii) |
thereafter; in excess of 140%,
|
|
(b) |
If any of the Collateral Vessels are employed under a charter contract, on terms and with a reputable third party charterer acceptable to the Facility
Agent, with a term extending beyond the Final Maturity Date, then the Fair Market Value requirement in respect of that Collateral Vessel shall be 120% of the related Tranche from commencement of that charter and until its expiry.
|
|
(c) |
The Borrowers shall, if the Fair Market Value of the Collateral Vessels at any time falls below the values described in paragraph (a) and (b) above, within
thirty (30) days after the Facility Agent's notice thereof, post additional Security to the satisfaction of the Facility Agent, or, if failing to provide such additional Security, within ten (10) days thereafter prepay such portion of
the Loans in accordance with Clause 8.1 (
Voluntary prepayment
), that enables the Borrowers to satisfy the minimum value
requirement.
|
26.12 |
Management
|
|
(a) |
Each Collateral Vessel shall be managed by any Manager pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement(s) or such other reputable manager(s) as agreed in
writing by the Facility Agent, and the Borrowers shall not make any material changes to the management of any Collateral Vessel without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld).
|
|
(b) |
The Borrowers shall procure that each Manager issues a subordination statement, in form and substance acceptable to the Facility Agent, whereupon each
Manager fully subordinates its claims under the Management Agreements in respect of the Collateral Vessels to the claims of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents.
|
26.13 |
Restrictions on chartering etc.
|
|
(a) |
The Borrowers shall not let a Collateral Vessel on bareboat charter for any period without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent, unless such
bareboat charter is to a Group Company and on arm's length terms but at a rate no less than an amount sufficient for the Borrowers to meet its payments obligations under the Finance Documents as they fall due.
|
|
(b) |
Any charterparties in respect of a Collateral Vessel with a term exceeding twelve (12) months shall always be entered into directly between the relevant
Borrower and the third party charterer.
|
27 |
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
27.1 |
Non-payment
|
|
(a) |
its failure to pay is caused by:
|
|
(i) |
an administrative or technical error; or
|
|
(ii) |
a Disruption Event; and
|
|
(b) |
payment is made within three (3) Business Days of its due date.
|
27.2 |
Financial covenants, Sanctions, Use of Proceeds, Title, Negative pledge, Distributions from the Ultimate Parent, Vessel Insurances and
Fair Market Value
|
27.3 |
Other obligations
|
|
(a) |
Any Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in Clause 27.2 (Financial covenants, Sanctions, Use of
Proceeds, Title, Negative pledge, Distributions from the Ultimate Parent, Vessel Insurances and Fair Market Value)).
|
|
(b) |
No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within five (5) Business Days of the
earlier of (i) the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrowers and (ii) any Obligor became or should have become aware of the failure to comply.
|
27.4 |
Misrepresentation
|
27.5 |
Cross default
|
|
(a) |
Any Financial Indebtedness of any Obligor or any Group Company is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period.
|
|
(b) |
Any Financial Indebtedness of any Obligor or any Group Company is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a
result of an event of default (however described).
|
|
(c) |
Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any Obligor or any Group Company is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of any Obligor or any Group
Company as a result of an event of default (however described).
|
|
(d) |
Any creditor of any Obligor or any Group Company becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of any Obligor or any Group Company due and payable
prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).
|
|
(e) |
No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 27.5 if the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling
within paragraphs (a) to (d) above is less than USD 8,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).
|
27.6 |
Insolvency
|
|
(a) |
Any of the Obligors or any Group Company is, or for the purpose of applicable law is deemed to be, unable to pay its debts as they fall due or becomes
insolvent or admits inability or intention not to pay its debts as they fall due.
|
|
(b) |
Any of the Obligors or any Group Company suspends making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties,
commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.
|
|
(c) |
A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Obligor or any Group Company.
|
27.7 |
Insolvency proceedings
|
|
(a) |
the preliminary suspension of payments, suspension of payments, bankruptcy, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or
reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any of the Obligors or any Group Company;
|
|
(b) |
a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any of the Obligors or any Group Company;
|
|
(c) |
the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of any of the
Obligors or any Group Company or any of its assets; or
|
|
(d) |
enforcement of any Security over any assets of any of the Obligors or any Group Company.
|
27.8 |
Creditors' process
|
27.9 |
Unlawfulness and invalidity
|
27.10 |
Liens
|
|
(a) |
is not discharged; or
|
|
(b) |
the Finance Parties have been provided with additional security in such form and for such amounts as the Finance Parties may require.
|
27.11 |
Cessation of business
|
27.12 |
Permits
|
27.13 |
Failure to comply with final judgement
|
27.14 |
Litigation
|
27.15 |
Material adverse change
|
27.16 |
Acceleration
|
|
(a) |
cancel the Commitments at which time they shall immediately be cancelled;
|
|
(b) |
declare that all or part of the Loan, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Agreement, be immediately due
and payable, at which time they shall become immediately due and payable;
|
|
(c) |
enforce any or all Security under the Security Documents; and/or
|
|
(d) |
exercise any or all of the rights, remedies, powers or discretions granted to the Facility Agent or the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or by
any applicable law or regulation or otherwise as a consequence of such Event of Default.
|
28 |
CHANGES TO THE LENDERS
|
28.1 |
Assignments and transfers by the Lenders
|
|
(a) |
assign any of its rights; or
|
|
(b) |
transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations,
under any Finance Document to another bank or financial institution, a trust, fund or other entity that is regularly engaged in or established for the
purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the "
New Lender
").
|
28.2 |
Conditions of assignment or transfer
|
|
(a) |
An Existing Lender may not transfer any of its rights or obligations to a New Lender without the Ultimate Parent's consent, such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed and not to be required if the transfer is:
|
|
(i) |
to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or another bank or financial institution and of a minimum amount of USD 10,000,000;
|
|
(ii) |
to another bank or financial institution, a trust, fund or other entity that has an exposure in the shipping sector;
|
|
(iii) |
to a trust, fund or other entity that is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or
other financial assets, which is advised by, or the assets of which are managed by or serviced by a Lender; or
|
|
(iv) |
made at a time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
|
|
(b) |
The Ultimate Parent shall be deemed to have given its consent if the Ultimate Parent has not expressly rejected any proposal within five (5) Business Days
from the request of an Existing Lender.
|
|
(c) |
An assignment will only be effective on the performance by the Facility Agent of all necessary "know your customer" or other similar checks under all
applicable laws and regulations in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender.
|
|
(d) |
A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 28.5 (
Procedure for transfer
) is complied with.
|
|
(e) |
Shareholders or Affiliates of any Obligor or Group Member may not become a Lender.
|
28.3 |
Assignment or transfer fee
|
28.4 |
Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders
|
|
(a) |
Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for:
|
|
(i) |
the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Finance Documents and the Security under the Security Documents or any other
documents;
|
|
(ii) |
the financial condition of any Obligor;
|
|
(iii) |
the performance and observance by any Obligor or any other Group Company of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or
|
|
(iv) |
the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document,
and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.
|
|
(b) |
Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it:
|
|
(i) |
has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of any Obligor and its related
entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender or any other Finance Party in connection with any Finance Document; and
|
|
(ii) |
will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of any Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be
outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
|
|
(c) |
Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:
|
|
(i) |
accept a re-transfer or re-assignment from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause 28; or
|
|
(ii) |
support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by an Obligor of its obligations under the Finance
Documents or otherwise.
|
28.5 |
Procedure for transfer
|
|
(a) |
Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 28.2 (
Conditions
of assignment or transfer
) a transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Facility Agent executes a duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The
Facility Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate.
|
|
(b) |
The Facility Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it
has complied with all necessary "know your customer" or similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.
|
|
(c) |
On the Transfer Date:
|
|
(i) |
to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents,
each Obligor and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents shall be cancelled (being the
"
Discharged Rights and Obligations
");
|
|
(ii) |
each Obligor and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged
Rights and Obligations only insofar as the Obligors and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Obligors and the Existing Lender;
|
|
(iii) |
the Facility Agent, the Arrangers, the New Lender and the other Lenders shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves and
in respect of the Finance Documents as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights, and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the
Facility Agent, the Arrangers and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and
|
|
(iv) |
the New Lender shall become a Party as a "Lender".
|
28.6 |
Copy of Transfer Certificate
|
28.7 |
Security over Lender's rights
|
29 |
CHANGES TO THE OBLIGORS
|
30 |
ROLE OF THE FACILITY AGENT, SECURITY AGENT, THE ARRANGERS AND OTHERS
|
30.1 |
Appointment of the Facility Agent and Security Agent
|
|
(a) |
Each Finance Party appoints the Facility Agent to act as its agent and the Security Agent to act as security agent under and in connection with the Finance
Documents.
|
|
(b) |
Each Finance Party authorises each of the Facility Agent and the Security Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically
given to the Facility Agent and the Security Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions.
|
30.2 |
Duties of the Facility Agent and Security Agent
|
|
(a) |
Subject to paragraph (b) below, each of the Facility Agent and the Security Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document
which is delivered to the Facility Agent or the Security Agent for that Party by any other Party.
|
|
(b) |
Without prejudice to Clause 28.6 (
Copy of Transfer
Certificate
), paragraph (a) above shall not apply to any Transfer Certificate.
|
|
(c) |
Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, neither the Facility Agent nor the Security Agent is obliged to review or check the
adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.
|
|
(d) |
If the Facility Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a
Default, it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.
|
|
(e) |
If the Facility Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the
Facility Agent or the Arrangers) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.
|
|
(f) |
The Facility Agent shall provide to the Borrowers at its request, a list (which may be in electronic form) setting out the names of the Lenders as at the
date of that request, their respective Commitments and contact details.
|
|
(g) |
The Facility Agent's and the Security Agent's duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.
|
|
(h) |
The Facility Agent shall have only those duties, obligations and responsibilities expressly specified in the Finance Documents to which it is expressed to
be a party (and no others shall be implied).
|
30.3 |
Role of the Arrangers
|
30.4 |
Limited fiduciary duties
|
|
(a) |
Save as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) below, nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Facility Agent, the Security Agent, and/or the Arrangers as a
trustee or fiduciary of any other person.
|
|
(b) |
None of the Facility Agent, the Security Agent or the Arrangers shall be bound to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum
received by it for its own account.
|
|
(c) |
The Security Agent will act solely as trustee for the Finance Parties in carrying out its functions under the Security Documents and this Agreement and will
exercise the same care as it would in dealing with a credit for its own account.
|
30.5 |
Business with the Group
|
30.6 |
Rights and discretions
|
|
(a) |
The Facility Agent and the Security Agent may:
|
|
(i) |
rely on any representation, communication, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;
|
|
(ii) |
assume that:
|
|
(A) |
any instructions received by it from the Majority Lenders, any Lenders or any group of Lenders are duly given in accordance with the terms of the Finance
Documents; and
|
|
(B) |
unless it has received notice of revocation, that those instructions have not been revoked; and
|
|
(iii) |
rely on a certificate from any person:
|
|
(A) |
as to any matter of fact or circumstance which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of that person; or
|
|
(B) |
to the effect that such person approves of any particular dealing, transaction, step, action or thing,
|
|
(b) |
The Facility Agent and the Security Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders) that:
|
|
(i) |
no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 27.1 (
Non-payment
));
|
|
(ii) |
any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or any group of Lenders has not been exercised;
|
|
(iii) |
any notice or request made by the Ultimate Parent (other than a Drawdown Request or Selection Notice) is made on behalf of and with the consent and
knowledge of all the Obligors;.
|
|
(c) |
The Facility Agent and the Security Agent may engage and pay for the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other
professional advisers or experts.
|
|
(d) |
Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (c) above or paragraph (e) below, each of the Facility Agent and the Security Agent may at any time engage
and pay for the services of any lawyers to act as independent counsel to the Facility Agent and/or the Security Agent (and so separate from any lawyers instructed by the Lenders) if the Facility Agent and/or the Security Agent in its
reasonable opinion deems this to be desirable.
|
|
(e) |
The Facility Agent and the Security Agent may rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional
advisers or experts (whether obtained by the Facility Agent or by any other Party) and shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of its
so relying.
|
|
(f) |
The Facility Agent and the Security Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its officers, employees and agents and the Facility Agent
shall not:
|
|
(i) |
be liable for any error of judgment made by any such person; or
|
|
(ii) |
be bound to supervise, or be in any way responsible for, any loss incurred by reason of misconduct, omission or default on the part of any such person,
unless such error or such loss was directly caused by the Facility Agent's and/or Security Agent's gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
|
|
(g) |
Unless a Finance Document expressly provides otherwise the Facility Agent and the Security Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it
reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement.
|
|
(h) |
Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (g) above, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent:
|
|
(i) |
may disclose; and
|
|
(ii) |
on the written request of the Ultimate Parent or the Majority Lenders shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, disclose, the identity of a Defaulting
Lender to the Ultimate Parent and to the other Finance Parties.
|
|
(i) |
Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, none of the Facility Agent, the Security Agent or the Arrangers is obliged to
do or omit to do anything if it would, or might in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality.
|
|
(j) |
The Agent may not disclose to any Finance Party any details of the rate notified to the Agent by any Lender or the identity of any such Lender for the
purpose of paragraph (a)(ii) of Clause 13.2 (
Market disruption
).
|
|
(k) |
Notwithstanding any provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent are not obliged to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such
funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
|
30.7 |
Majority Lenders' instructions
|
|
(a) |
Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent shall (i) exercise any right, power, authority or
discretion vested in it as Facility Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Majority Lenders (or, if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested
in it as Facility Agent or the Security Agent) and (ii) not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking any action) in accordance with an instruction of the Majority Lenders.
|
|
(b) |
Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Finance Parties.
|
|
(c) |
The Facility Agent and the Security Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the
Lenders) until it has received such security as it may require for any cost, loss or liability (together with any associated VAT) which it may incur in complying with the instructions.
|
|
(d) |
In the absence of instructions from the Majority Lenders, (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) the Facility Agent and the Security Agent may act (or refrain
from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders.
|
|
(e) |
The Facility Agent and the Security Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lender's consent) in any legal or
arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. This paragraph (e) shall not apply to any legal or arbitration proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of rights under the Security Documents or
enforcement of the Security or Security Documents.
|
30.8 |
Responsibility for documentation
|
|
(a) |
the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Facility Agent, the Security Agent, the Arrangers,
the Borrowers or any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents;
|
|
(b) |
the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or the Security under any Security Document or any other
agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security under any Security Document;
|
|
(c) |
any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Finance Party is non-public information the use of which may be regulated
or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider dealing or otherwise.
|
30.9 |
Exclusion of liability
|
|
(a) |
Without limiting paragraph (b) below (and without prejudice to any other provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of the
Facility Agent and the Security Agent, none of the Facility Agent nor the Security Agent will be liable (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) for:
|
|
(i) |
any damages any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value, or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of taking or not taking any
action under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security created by the Security Documents, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct;
|
|
(ii) |
exercising, or not exercising, any right, power, authority or discretion given to it by, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the Security Documents
or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Finance Document or the Security pursuant to the Security Documents; or
|
|
(iii) |
without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability
whatsoever arising as a result of:
|
|
(A) |
any act, event or circumstance not reasonably within its control; or
|
|
(B) |
the general risks of investment in, or the holding of assets in, any jurisdiction,
|
|
(b) |
No Party (other than the Facility Agent or the Security Agent (as applicable)) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the
Facility Agent or the Security Agent, in respect of any claim it might have against the Facility Agent or the Security Agent, or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any
Finance Document or any Transaction Document and any officer, employee or agent of the Facility Agent or the Security Agent may rely on this Clause 30.9.
|
|
(c) |
The Facility Agent will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance
Documents to be paid by the Facility Agent if the Facility Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system
used by the Facility Agent for that purpose.
|
|
(d) |
Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Facility Agent or the Arranger to carry out:
|
|
(i) |
any "know your customer" or other checks in relation to any person; or
|
|
(ii) |
any check on the extent to which any transaction contemplated by this Agreement might be unlawful for any Lender or for any Affiliate of any Lender,
|
|
(e) |
Without prejudice to any provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the Facility Agent's liability, any liability of the Facility Agent arising
under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security created pursuant to the Security Documents shall be limited to the amount of actual loss which has been finally judicially determined to have been suffered (as
determined by reference to the date of default of the Facility Agent or, if later, the date on which the loss arises as a result of such default) but without reference to any special conditions or circumstances known to the Facility
Agent at any time which increase the amount of that loss. In no event shall the Facility Agent be liable for any loss of profits, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity or anticipated saving, or for special, punitive, indirect or
consequential damages, whether or not the Facility Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages.
|
30.10 |
Lenders' indemnity to the Facility Agent and Security Agent
|
30.11 |
Resignation of the Facility Agent or Security Agent
|
|
(a) |
The Facility Agent or the Security Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates as successor by giving notice to the Lenders and the Borrower.
|
|
(b) |
Alternatively, the Facility Agent or the Security Agent may resign by giving 30 days' notice to the Lenders and the Ultimate Parent, in which case the
Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Ultimate Parent) may appoint a successor Facility Agent or Security Agent.
|
|
(c) |
If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Facility Agent or Security Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 20 days after notice
of resignation was given, the retiring Facility Agent or Security Agent (after consultation with the Ultimate Parent) may appoint a successor Facility Agent or Security Agent.
|
|
(d) |
If the Facility Agent or Security Agent wishes to resign because (acting reasonably) it has concluded that it is no longer appropriate for it to remain as
facility agent or security agent and the Facility Agent or the Security Agent is entitled to appoint a successor Facility Agent or Security Agent under paragraph (c) above, the Facility Agent or Security Agent, as the case may be, may
(if it concludes (acting reasonably) that it is necessary to do so in order to persuade the proposed successor Facility Agent or Security Agent, as the case may be, to become a party to this Agreement as Facility Agent or Security
Agent, as the case may be) agree with the proposed successor Facility Agent or Security Agent, as the case may be, amendments to this Clause 30 and any other term of this Agreement dealing with the rights or obligations of the
Facility Agent or Security Agent, as the case may be, consistent with then current market practice for the appointment and protection of corporate trustees together with any reasonable amendments to the agency fee payable under this
Agreement which are consistent with the successor Facility Agent's or Security Agent's, as the case may, be normal fee rates and those amendments will bind the Parties.
|
|
(e) |
The retiring Facility Agent or Security Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Facility Agent or Security Agent such documents and
records and provide such assistance as the successor Facility Agent or Security Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Facility Agent or Security Agent under the Finance Documents.
|
|
(f) |
The Facility Agent's or Security Agent's resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor.
|
|
(g) |
Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Facility Agent or Security Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance
Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this Clause 30. Any successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an
original Party.
|
|
(h) |
The Facility Agent or Security Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to
appoint a successor Facility Agent or Security pursuant to paragraph (c) above) if on or after the date which is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Facility Agent or Security Agent
under the Finance Documents, either:
|
|
(i) |
the Facility Agent or Security Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 15.6 (
FATCA Information
) and a Lender reasonably believes that the Facility Agent or Security Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;
|
|
(ii) |
the information supplied by the Facility Agent or Security Agent pursuant to Clause 15.6 (
FATCA Information
) indicates that the Facility Agent or Security Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or
|
|
(iii) |
the Facility Agent or Security Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Lenders that the Facility Agent or Security Agent will not be (or will have ceased to
be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;
|
30.12 |
Replacement of the Facility Agent or Security Agent
|
|
(a) |
After consultation with the Ultimate Parent, the Majority Lenders may, by giving 30 days' notice to the Facility Agent or Security Agent, replace the
Facility Agent or Security Agent by appointing a successor Facility Agent or Security Agent.
|
|
(b) |
The retiring Facility Agent or Security Agent shall make available to the successor Facility Agent or Security Agent such documents and records and provide
such assistance as the successor Facility Agent or Security Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Facility Agent or Security Agent under the Finance Documents.
|
|
(c) |
The appointment of the successor Facility Agent or Security Agent shall take effect on the date specified in the notice from the Majority Lenders to the
retiring Facility Agent or Security Agent. As from this date, the retiring Facility Agent or Security Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit
of this Clause 30 (and any agency fees for the account of the retiring Facility Agent or Security Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date).
|
|
(d) |
Any successor Facility Agent or Security Agent and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would
have had if such successor had been an original Party.
|
30.13 |
Relationship with the Lenders
|
|
(a) |
The Facility Agent and Security Agent may treat each Lender as a Lender, inter alia entitled to or liable for any payment due under any Finance Document,
unless it has received not less than five (5) Business Days' prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
|
|
(b) |
Each Lender shall supply the Facility Agent or Security Agent with any information that the Facility Agent or Security Agent may reasonably specify as being
necessary or desirable to enable the Facility Agent or Security Agent to perform its functions as Facility Agent or Security Agent.
|
|
(c) |
Any Lender may by notice to the Facility Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf all notices, communications, information and documents to be made
or despatched to that Lender under the Finance Documents. Such notice shall contain the relevant contact details required to enable the sending and receipt of information.
|
30.14 |
Confidentiality
|
|
(a) |
In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency division which shall be
treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments.
|
|
(b) |
If information is received by another division or department of the Facility Agent or the Security Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division
or department and the Facility Agent or Security Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it.
|
|
(c) |
Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Facility Agent, the Security Agent nor any Arranger is obliged to
disclose to any other person (i) any confidential information or (ii) any other information if the disclosure would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or a breach of a fiduciary duty.
|
|
(d) |
Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, any Finance Party may disclose to any Finance Party and /or its Affiliates and
potential assignees, any information it has received from any Obligor or concerning any Obligor (including information of confidential nature or described as confidential by an Obligor) which:
|
|
(i) |
the Finance Party becomes aware of in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party under the Finance Documents;
|
|
(ii) |
is received by a Finance Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents; or
|
|
(iii) |
provided that the Finance Party reasonably believes such information is of relevance to the other Finance Parties in their capacity as Finance Parties under
the Finance Documents.
|
30.15 |
Credit appraisal by the Lenders
|
30.16 |
Reference Banks
|
30.17 |
Role of Reference Banks
|
|
(a) |
No Reference Bank is under any obligation to provide a quotation or any other information to the Facility Agent.
|
|
(b) |
No Reference Bank will be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, or for any Reference Bank Quotation, unless
directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
|
|
(c) |
No Party (other than the relevant Reference Bank) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of any Reference Bank in respect of any
claim it might have against that Reference Bank or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document, or to any Reference Bank Quotation, and any officer, employee or
agent of each Reference Bank may rely on this Clause 30.17.
|
30.18 |
Confidentiality of Reference Bank Quotations
|
|
(a) |
The Facility Agent agrees to keep each Reference Bank Quotation confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by paragraphs
(b) and (c) below.
|
|
(b) |
The Facility Agent may disclose any Reference Bank Quotation to any person appointed by it to provide administration services in respect of one or more of
the Finance Documents to the extent necessary to enable such service provider to provide those services if the service provider to whom that information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement as agreed between the
Facility Agent and the relevant Reference Bank.
|
|
(c) |
The Facility Agent may disclose any Reference Bank Quotation to:
|
|
(i) |
any of its Affiliates and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and representatives if any person to
whom that Reference Bank Quotation is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (i) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so
inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of that Reference Bank Quotation or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to it;
|
|
(ii) |
any person to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or
other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation if the person to whom that Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its
confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Facility Agent, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;
|
|
(iii) |
any person to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other
investigations, proceedings or disputes if the person to whom that Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no
requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Facility Agent, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; and
|
|
(iv) |
any person with the consent of the relevant Reference Bank.
|
|
(d) |
The Facility Agent acknowledge that each Reference Bank Quotation is or may be price-sensitive information and that its use may be regulated or prohibited
by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and the Facility Agent undertake not to use any Reference Bank Quotation for any unlawful purpose.
|
|
(e) |
The Facility Agent agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the relevant Reference Bank:
|
|
(i) |
of the circumstances of any disclosure made pursuant to paragraph (c) (ii) above except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in
that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and
|
|
(ii) |
upon becoming aware that any information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 30.18.
|
30.19 |
Swap Providers
|
|
(a) |
Each Swap Provider agrees that it is a party to this Agreement solely for the purpose of the Obligors' obligations under the Hedging Agreements being
included under the Security created by the Security Documents.
|
|
(b) |
Any Hedging Agreement shall only enjoy the benefit of protection of the Security Documents if and to the extent such Hedging Agreement (and any transactions
thereunder) is entered into in accordance with Clause 25.11 (
Hedging arrangements
).
|
|
(c) |
Clause 2.3 (
Finance Parties' rights and obligations
)
shall not apply to any Finance Party (in its capacity as Swap Provider) in respect of the Security Documents and no Swap Provider may separately enforce any rights under the Security Documents.
|
|
(d) |
Each Swap Provider shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon the occurrence of an early termination event or a default by any Obligor of its obligations
under a Hedging Agreement.
|
30.20 |
Facility Agent's and Security Agent's Management Time
|
30.21 |
Deduction from amounts payable by the Facility Agent or Security Agent
|
31 |
SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES
|
31.1 |
Payments to Finance Parties
|
|
(a) |
the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three (3) Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery, to the Facility Agent;
|
|
(b) |
the Facility Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the
receipt or recovery been received or made by the Facility Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 32 (
Payment mechanics
),
without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Facility Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and
|
|
(c) |
the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent, pay to the Facility Agent an amount (the "
Sharing Payment
") equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Facility Agent determines may be retained by the
Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 32.4 (
Partial payments
).
|
31.2 |
Redistribution of payments
|
31.3 |
Recovering Finance Party's rights
|
31.4 |
Reversal of redistribution
|
|
(a) |
each Sharing Finance Party shall, upon request of the Facility Agent, pay to the Facility Agent for the account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount
equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering
Finance Party is required to pay) (the "
Redistributed Amount
"); and
|
|
(b) |
as between an Obligor and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid
by that Obligor.
|
31.5 |
Exceptions
|
|
(a) |
This Clause 31 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this Clause, have a valid and
enforceable claim against the Obligors.
|
|
(b) |
A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a
result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if:
|
|
(i) |
it notified the other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and
|
|
(ii) |
the other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable
having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings.
|
32 |
PAYMENT MECHANICS
|
32.1 |
Payments to the Facility Agent
|
|
(a) |
On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document, the Obligors or that Lender shall make the same
available to the Facility Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Facility Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of
transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment.
|
|
(b) |
Payment shall be made to such account with such bank as the Facility Agent specifies.
|
32.2 |
Distributions by the Facility Agent
|
32.3 |
Clawback
|
|
(a) |
Where a sum is to be paid to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Facility Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that
other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum.
|
|
(b) |
Unless paragraph (c) below applies, if the Facility Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the Facility Agent had not
actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Facility Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Facility Agent together with interest on that
amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Facility Agent, calculated by the Facility Agent to reflect its cost of funds.
|
|
(c) |
If the Facility Agent has notified the Lenders that it is willing to make available amounts for the account of a Borrower before receiving funds from the
Lenders then if and to the extent that the Facility Agent does so but it proves to be the case that it does not then receive funds from a Lender in respect of a sum which it paid to a Borrower:
|
|
(i) |
the Facility Agent shall notify the Ultimate Parent of that Lender's identity and the Borrower to whom that sum was made available shall on demand refund it
to the Facility Agent; and
|
|
(ii) |
the Lender by whom those funds should have been made available or, if that Lender fails to do so, the Borrower to whom that sum was made available, shall on
demand pay to the Facility Agent the amount (as certified by the Facility Agent) which will indemnify the Facility Agent against any funding cost incurred by it as a result of paying out that sum before receiving those funds from that
Lender.
|
32.4 |
Partial payments
|
|
(a) |
If the Facility Agent receives a payment for application against amounts due in respect of any Finance Documents that is insufficient to discharge all the
amounts then due and payable by the Borrowers under those Finance Documents, the Facility Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of the Obligors under those Finance Documents in the following order:
|
|
(i) |
firstly
, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid
fees, costs and expenses of the Facility Agent and Security Agent under the Finance Documents;
|
|
(ii) |
secondly
, in or towards payment pro rata of any
accrued interest (including default interest), fees or commissions due but unpaid under the Finance Documents (excluding any Hedging Agreement);
|
|
(iii) |
thirdly
, in or towards payment pro rata of any
principal due but unpaid and indemnification due but unpaid under the Finance Documents (excluding any Hedging Agreement);
|
|
(iv) |
fourthly
, in or towards payment pro rata of any other
sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents (excluding any Hedging Agreement); and
|
|
(v) |
fifthly
, in or towards payment pro rata of any other
sum due but unpaid under any Hedging Agreement.
|
|
(b) |
The Facility Agent shall, if so directed by all Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (a)(ii) to (v) above.
|
|
(c) |
Paragraphs (a) and (b) above will override any appropriation made by the Borrowers.
|
32.5 |
Set-off by any Obligor
|
32.6 |
Business Days
|
|
(a) |
Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one)
or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).
|
|
(b) |
During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at
the rate payable on the original due date.
|
32.7 |
Currency of account
|
|
(a) |
Subject to paragraphs (b) to (d) below, USD is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from any Obligor under any Finance Document.
|
|
(b) |
A repayment of a Loan or Unpaid Sum or a part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum shall be made in the currency in which that Loan or Unpaid Sum is denominated on its
due date.
|
|
(c) |
Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred.
|
|
(d) |
Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than USD shall be paid in that other currency.
|
33 |
NOTICES
|
33.1 |
Communications in writing
|
33.2 |
Addresses
|
|
(a) |
in the case of any of the Obligors (if by letter, a copy of the letter shall also be sent by email) to:
|
|
(b) |
in the case of each Lender, that notified in writing to the Facility Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party; and
|
|
(c) |
in the case of the Facility Agent, to:
|
33.3 |
Delivery
|
|
(a) |
Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective:
|
|
(i) |
if by way of e-mail, when received in legible form; or
|
|
(ii) |
if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an
envelope addressed to it at that address,
|
|
(b) |
Any communication or document which becomes effective, in accordance with paragraph (a) above, after 5:00 p.m. in the place of receipt shall be deemed only
to become effective on the following day.
|
|
(c) |
All notices from or to the Obligors shall be sent through the Facility Agent.
|
33.4 |
Notification of address
|
33.5 |
English language
|
|
(a) |
Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English.
|
|
(b) |
All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be:
|
|
(i) |
in English; or
|
|
(ii) |
if not in English, and if so required by the Facility Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will
prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.
|
34 |
CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES
|
34.1 |
Accounts
|
34.2 |
Certificates and determinations
|
34.3 |
Day count convention
|
35 |
PARTIAL INVALIDITY
|
36 |
REMEDIES AND WAIVERS
|
37 |
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
|
37.1 |
Required consents
|
|
(a) |
Subject to Clause 37.2 (
Exceptions
) any term of the
Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Obligors and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties.
|
|
(b) |
The Facility Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause 37.
|
37.2 |
Exceptions
|
|
(a) |
An amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to:
|
|
(i) |
the definition of "Majority Lenders" in Clause 1.1 (
Definitions
);
|
|
(ii) |
the Guarantee;
|
|
(iii) |
the Availability Period;
|
|
(iv) |
any increase of the Facility Amount pursuant to Clause 2.2 (
Accordion
Increase Option)
;
|
|
(v) |
an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;
|
|
(vi) |
a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable;
|
|
(vii) |
a change in currency of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;
|
|
(viii) |
an increase in or an extension of any Commitment or the Total Commitments;
|
|
(ix) |
any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders;
|
|
(x) |
Clause 2.2 (
Finance Parties' rights and obligations
),
Clause 9 (
Mandatory prepayment
), Clause 28 (
Changes to the Lenders
), Clause 29 (
Changes to the Obligors
), this Clause 37, Clause 40 (
Governing Law
) and Clause 41 (
Enforcement
);
|
|
(xi) |
any provision relating to Sanctions;
|
|
(xii) |
the release of any Security under any Security Document unless permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document, shall not be made without the
prior consent of all the Lenders.
|
|
(b) |
An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Facility Agent, the Security Agent, the Arrangers or the Swap Provider (each in
their capacity as such) may not be effected without the consent of the Facility Agent, the Security Agent, the Arrangers or, as the case may be, the Swap Provider.
|
|
(c) |
If any Lender fails to respond to a request for a consent, waiver, amendment of or in relation to any of the terms of any Finance Document or other vote of
Lenders under the terms of this Agreement within five (5) Business Days (unless the Ultimate Parent and the Facility Agent agree to a longer time period in relation to any request) of that request being made, its Commitment and/or
participation shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments or participations under the Facility when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of
Total Commitments and/or participations has been obtained to approve that request.
|
38 |
COUNTERPARTS
|
39 |
CONTRACTUAL RECOGNITION OF BAIL-IN
|
|
(a) |
any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation):
|
|
(i) |
a reduction, in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such
liability;
|
|
(ii) |
a conversion of all, or part of, any such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to, or conferred on, it; and
|
|
(iii) |
a cancellation of any such liability; and
|
|
(b) |
a variation of any term of any Finance Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability.
|
40 |
GOVERNING LAW
|
41 |
ENFORCEMENT
|
|
(a) |
The courts of Norway, the venue to be Oslo District Court, have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement.
|
|
(b) |
This Clause 41 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. As a result, no Finance Party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a
dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.
|
42 |
PROCESS AGENT
|
|
(a) |
appoints Seatankers Management Norway AS (company no. 979 956 223), PO Box 1327 Vika, 0112 Oslo (mail address) and Bryggegate 3, 0250 Oslo, Norway (visiting
adress) as its agent for the service of process and/or any other writ, notice, order or judgment in respect of this Agreement, any other Finance Document governed by Norwegian law and/or the matters arising here from; and
|
|
(b) |
agrees that failure by such process agent to notify an Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.
|
THE BORROWERS
|
|||
FLEX LNG ENDEAVOUR LIMITED
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Øystein Kalleklev
|
||
Name:
|
Øystein Kalleklev, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
FLEX LNG ENTERPRISE LIMITED
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Øystein Kalleklev
|
||
Name:
|
Øystein Kalleklev, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
FLEX LNG RANGER LIMITED
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Øystein Kalleklev
|
||
Name:
|
Øystein Kalleklev, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
THE GUARANTORS
|
|||
FLEX LNG LTD.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Øystein Kalleklev
|
||
Name:
|
Øystein Kalleklev, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
FLEX LNG FLEET LIMITED
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Øystein Kalleklev
|
||
Name:
|
Øystein Kalleklev, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
AS BOOKRUNNER, CO-ORDINATOR AND MANDATED LEAD ARRANGER
|
|||
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
AS MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS
|
|||
DNB BANK ASA
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
AS LEAD ARRANGERS
|
|||
CREDIT SUISSE AG
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
NIBC BANK N.V.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
SPAREBANK 1 SR-BANK ASA
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
AS ORIGINAL LENDERS
|
|||
ABN AMRO BANK N.V., OSLO BRANCH
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
DNB BANK ASA
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
CREDIT SUISSE AG
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
NIBC BANK N.V.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
SPAREBANK 1 SR-BANK ASA
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
AS FACILITY AGENT AND SECURITY AGENT
|
|||
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
AS SWAP PROVIDERS
|
|||
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
DNB BANK ASA
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
CREDIT SUISSE AG
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
NIBC BANK N.V.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
SPAREBANK 1 SR-BANK ASA
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Atle Gabrielsen
|
||
Name:
|
Atle Gabrielsen, Attorney-in-fact
|
||
Name of Original Lender
|
Commitment under
the Facility |
ABN AMRO BANK N.V. OSLO BRANCH
|
USD 85,000,000
|
DNB BANK ASA
|
USD 55,000,000
|
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)
|
USD 55,000,000
|
CREDIT SUISSE AG
|
USD 40,000,000
|
NIBC BANK N.V.
|
USD 40,000,000
|
SPAREBANK 1 SR-BANK ASA
|
USD 40,000,000
|
Total Commitments
|
USD 315,000,000
|
1. |
Obligors
|
|
(a) |
A copy of the constitutional documents of each Obligor.
|
|
(b) |
A copy of a resolution of the board directors of each Obligor:
|
|
(i) |
approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute, deliver and
perform the Finance Documents to which it is a party;
|
|
(ii) |
authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party on its behalf; and
|
|
(iii) |
authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in
connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party.
|
|
(c) |
A copy of the resolutions of each Borrower's shareholder ratifying the resolutions of the board of directors.
|
|
(d) |
A certificate of goodstanding in respect of the Borrowers, issued by the Marshall Islands registry.
|
|
(e) |
A specimen of the signature (which can be by way of copy of passport) of each person signing the Finance Documents on behalf of each Obligor.
|
|
(f) |
Copies of passports of all board members of each Obligor.
|
|
(g) |
A certificate of an authorised signatory of each Obligor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Schedule 2 is correct, complete
and in full force and effect and has not been amended or superseded as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement and confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not
cause any borrowing, guarantee, security or similar binding limit to be exceeded.
|
|
(h) |
Such other documentation and evidence required to complete the "know your customer" checks as described in Clause 23.8 (
"Know your customer" checks
).
|
2. |
Finance Documents
|
|
(a) |
This Agreement executed by the parties thereto.
|
|
(b) |
A letter from the Facility Agent regarding effective rate of interest, duly countersigned by the Borrowers.
|
|
(c) |
Any Fee Letter(s), duly signed by the parties thereto.
|
|
(d) |
Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses due from the Borrowers pursuant to Clause 14 (
Fees
) and Clause 19 (
Costs and expenses
) have been paid.
|
3. |
Other Documents
|
|
(a) |
A copy of the Original Financial Statements and most up-to-date financial statements of the Obligors.
|
|
(b) |
A copy of the Shipbuilding Contracts.
|
|
(c) |
A copy of the Management Agreements, on terms acceptable to the Finance Parties.
|
|
(d) |
A copy of the Sterna RCF, amended on terms acceptable to the Lenders in order to comply with the terms of this Agreement.
|
|
(e) |
Evidence that all process agent appointments required by the Finance Documents have been duly accepted.
|
4. |
Legal opinions
|
|
(a) |
a legal opinion from Arntzen de Besche Advokatfirma AS, the legal advisers to the Facility Agent as to Norwegian law;
|
|
(b) |
a legal opinion from Trott & Duncan Ltd., the legal advisers to the Facility Agent as to Bermuda law;
|
|
(c) |
a legal opinion from Watson Farley & Williams, the legal advisers to the Facility Agent as to the laws of New York and the Republic of Marshall Islands;
|
|
(d) |
such other legal opinion(s) as the Facility Agent may reasonably request in respect of any Finance Document governed by foreign law or any entity
incorporated in a foreign jurisdiction,
|
1. |
Finance Documents
|
|
(a) |
The Account Pledge, duly signed by all parties.
|
|
(b) |
In respect of the first Drawdown, the Share Pledges, duly signed by all parties and evidence that the Security to be created thereunder have been duly
created and perfected.
|
|
(c) |
Duly executed and dated notices and acknowledgements in accordance with the Account Pledge.
|
|
(d) |
The Assignment of Earnings and Charterparties, duly signed by all parties.
|
|
(e) |
If applicable, duly executed and dated notices and acknowledgements in accordance with the Assignment of Earnings and Charterparties in respect of any
charterparties entered into for the applicable Collateral Vessel with a term exceeding 12 months.
|
|
(f) |
Copies of any Hedging Agreements (if any) entered into.
|
|
(g) |
The Assignment of Hedging Claims.
|
|
(h) |
Duly executed and dated notices and acknowledgements in accordance with the Assignment of Hedging Claims.
|
|
(i) |
The Assignment of Insurances, duly signed by all parties.
|
|
(j) |
Duly executed and dated notices and Letters of undertaking and acknowledgments, as applicable, in respect of the Assignment of Insurances, in respect of the
relevant Collateral Vessel, together with copies of the relevant policies or cover notes or entry certificates duly endorsed with the interest of the Finance Parties.
|
|
(k) |
If applicable, the Assignment of Intercompany Loan, duly signed by all parties.
|
|
(l) |
If applicable, duly executed and dated notices and acknowledgements in accordance with the Assignment of Intercompany Loan, in respect of the relevant
Borrower.
|
|
(m) |
The Trust Agreement in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, duly executed.
|
|
(n) |
A Compliance Certificate, duly executed.
|
|
(o) |
A copy of the Subordination Statement, duly signed by all parties thereto.
|
2. |
Other documents and evidence
|
|
(a) |
A copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Facility Agent considers to be necessary (if it has notified the
Borrowers accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.
|
|
(b) |
Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses due from the Borrowers pursuant to Clause 14 (
Fees
) and Clause 19 (
Costs and expenses
) have been paid or will be paid by the
applicable Drawdown Date or, if earlier, on its due date.
|
|
(c) |
A copy of any shareholder loan or intercompany loan agreement relating to loans to or from any Obligor, if applicable, including any subordination statement
acceptable to the Facility Agent.
|
|
(d) |
A subordination statement by the Manager of the Collateral Vessel, in form and substance acceptable to the Facility Agent, whereupon the Manager fully
subordinates its claims under any Management Agreement(s) in respect of the Collateral Vessel to the claims of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents.
|
|
(e) |
Evidence that all Insurances in respect of the Collateral Vessel in accordance with Clause 26.1 (
Vessel insurances
) are in place and will come in full force and effect upon the delivery of the applicable Collateral Vessel and (at the Borrowers' cost) an insurance report from
BankServe, Marsh or AON or any other international reputable insurance consultants acceptable to the Facility Agent confirming the compliance with Clause 26.1.
|
|
(f) |
Confirmation from the Approved Ship Registry that all documents necessary to register the Collateral Vessel in the name of the applicable Borrower and to
register the Mortgage against the Collateral Vessel is pre-cleared and ready to be registered upon discharge of any existing mortgage and completion of transfer under the Shipbuilding Contract, save for such documents that cannot be
issued or executed prior to the Delivery Date.
|
|
(g) |
The bank and the terms for the pre-positioning of the applicable Pre-positioning Portion to be agreed between the Facility Agent, the applicable Borrower
and the Yard.
|
|
(h) |
Closing memorandum, in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, in agreed form between the applicable Borrower, the Yard and the Facility Agent, in form
and substance acceptable to the Facility Agent.
|
|
(i) |
Up to date valuation reports evidencing that the Fair Market Value of the Collateral Vessel complies with the requirements in Clause 26.11 (
Fair Market Value
) and that the amount requested to the utilised is within the Maximum Tranche Amount.
|
|
(j) |
Evidence that all process agent appointments required by the Finance Documents have been duly accepted.
|
|
(k) |
Evidence of the Total Delivery Cost for the applicable Collateral Vessel and a confirmation from the Yard or other acceptable evidence of the amount of the
final instalment payable under the Shipbuilding Contract.
|
|
(l) |
In respect of FLEX RANGER only, evidence satisfactory to the Facility Agent, that the applicable Shipbuilding Contract has been, or will be, transferred no
later than on the applicable Delivery Date from Flex LNGC1 Limited to FLEX LNG RANGER Limited and/or that title to FLEX RANGER will be transferred from Flex LNGC1 Limited to FLEX LNG RANGER Limited on terms acceptable to the Facility
Agent immediately upon or concurrent with the delivery of FLEX RANGER from the Yard.
|
1. |
Finance Documents
|
|
(a) |
The Mortgage in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, duly signed and registered as a first preferred mortgage in the Approved Ship Registry against
the relevant Collateral Vessel.
|
|
(b) |
Transcript of Registry showing that the applicable Borrower is registered as the owner of the relevant Collateral Vessel and that the Mortgage is registered
as a first preferred mortgage and that no other encumbrances, maritime liens, mortgages or debts whatsoever are registered against the Collateral Vessel.
|
2. |
Vessel Documents
|
|
(a) |
Copy of the protocol of trials, in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, as delivered by the Yard.
|
|
(b) |
Copy of the protocol of inventory, in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, of the equipment, spare parts, tools etc., as delivered by the Yard.
|
|
(c) |
Copy of the protocol of stores of consumables, in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, as delivered by the Yard.
|
|
(d) |
Copies of drawings and plans in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel.
|
|
(e) |
Copy of the protocol of delivery and acceptance under the relevant Shipbuilding Contract, duly signed by the Yard and the relevant Borrower.
|
|
(f) |
Copy of the Declaration of Warranty, in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, as delivered by the Yard.
|
|
(g) |
Copy of the duly notarised and legalised Builder's Certificate, in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, issued by the Yard.
|
|
(h) |
Copy of the commercial invoice, in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, issued by the Yard.
|
|
(i) |
Copy of the duly notarised and legalised Bill of Sale, in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, issued by the Yard, if applicable.
|
|
(j) |
A copy of the Document of Compliance for the Manager.
|
3. |
Other documents and evidence
|
|
(a) |
Evidence that the purchase price for the applicable Collateral Vessel not covered by the relevant Tranche has been, or will at the latest together with the
Tranche be, paid by equity to the Yard.
|
4. |
Legal opinions
|
|
(a) |
a legal opinion from Arntzen de Besche Advokatfirma AS, the legal advisers to the Facility Agent as to Norwegian law;
|
|
(b) |
a legal opinion from Trott & Duncan Ltd., the legal advisers to the Facility Agent as to Bermuda law;
|
|
(c) |
a legal opinion from Watson Farley & Williams LLP, the legal advisers to the Facility Agent as to as to the laws of New York and the laws of the
Republic of Marshall Islands;
|
|
(d) |
a legal opinion from HFW, the legal advisors to the Facility Agent as to English law;
|
|
(e) |
such other legal opinion(s) as the Facility Agent may reasonably request in respect of any Finance Document governed by foreign law or any entity
incorporated in a foreign jurisdiction, each in form and substance acceptable to the Facility Agent and as agreed prior to the Drawdown Request.
|
1. |
Finance Documents
|
|
(a) |
Any Hedging Agreements entered into with any Obligor.
|
|
(b) |
Duly executed and dated notices and acknowledgements in accordance with the Assignment of Earnings and Charterparty (if applicable).
|
|
(c) |
Duly executed and dated notices and acknowledgements in accordance with the Assignment of Hedging Claims.
|
|
(d) |
Duly executed and dated notices and Letters of undertaking and acknowledgments, as applicable, in respect of the Assignment of Insurances together with
copies of the relevant policies or cover notes or entry certificates duly endorsed with the interest of the Finance Parties.
|
2. |
Other documents
|
|
(a) |
Copies of the class certificate and other relevant certificates, in respect of the relevant Collateral Vessel, including:
|
|
(i) |
a copy of the load-line certificate;
|
|
(ii) |
a copy of the IOPP (International Oil Pollution Prevention) Certificate;
|
|
(iii) |
a copy of the SOLAS (International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea) Certificate;
|
|
(iv) |
a copy of the Ship Radio License; and
|
|
(v) |
a copy of the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate.
|
|
(vi) |
a copy of the Collateral Vessel's safety management certificate issued pursuant to the ISM Code;
|
|
(vii) |
a copy of the certificate issued pursuant to the ISPS Code; and
|
|
(b) |
A copy of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) available to the Collateral Vessel.
|
3. |
Legal opinions
|
1. |
The Replacement Borrower
|
|
(a) |
A copy of the constitutional documents of a Replacement Borrower.
|
|
(b) |
A copy of a resolution of the board directors of a Replacement Borrower:
|
|
(i) |
approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute, deliver and
perform the Finance Documents to which it is a party;
|
|
(ii) |
authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party on its behalf; and
|
|
(iii) |
authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in
connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party.
|
|
(c) |
A specimen of the signature (which can be by way of copy of passport) of each person signing the Finance Documents on behalf of the Replacement Borrower.
|
|
(d) |
Copies of passports of all board members of a Replacement Borrower.
|
|
(e) |
A certificate of an authorised signatory of a Replacement Borrower certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Schedule 2 is
correct, complete and in full force and effect and has not been amended or superseded as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement and confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Total
Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guarantee, security or similar binding limit to be exceeded.
|
|
(f) |
Such other documentation and evidence required to complete the "know your customer" checks as described in Clause 23.8 (
"Know your customer" checks
).
|
2. |
Finance Documents
|
|
(a) |
The Substitution Letter executed by the parties thereto, including the Replacement Borrower.
|
|
(b) |
The Share Pledge, duly signed by all parties, including the Intermediate Parent, and evidence that the Security to be created thereunder over the shares in
the Replacement Borrower has been duly created and perfected.
|
3. |
Other documents
|
|
(a) |
Evidence that all process agent appointments required by the Finance Documents have been duly accepted.
|
|
(b) |
A copy of any shareholder loan or intercompany loan agreement relating to loans to or from the Replacement Borrower, whether arising as a result of the
Substitution or otherwise, if applicable, including any subordination statement acceptable to the Facility Agent.
|
|
(c) |
Such other documents and evidence as listed in Part I to IV of this Schedule 2 as requested by the Facility Agent, subject to logical adjustments depending
upon
inter alia
whether Substitution occurs after the Substitution Vessel has been delivered from the Yard or not, including for
the avoidance of any doubt, such Security to be granted by the Replacement Borrower replacing the Security previously granted by the Initial Borrower being replaced.
|
4. |
Legal opinions
|
|
(a) |
a legal opinion from Arntzen de Besche Advokatfirma AS, the legal advisers to the Facility Agent as to Norwegian law;
|
|
(b) |
such legal opinion(s) as the Facility Agent may reasonably request in respect of the Replacement Borrower; and
|
|
(c) |
such other legal opinion(s) as the Facility Agent may reasonably request in respect of any Finance Document governed by foreign law, each in form and
substance acceptable to the Facility Agent.
|
From:
|
[FLEX LNG LTD.]
|
To:
|
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Facility Agent
|
Dated:
|
|
1. |
We refer to the Facility Agreement. This is a Drawdown Request. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Drawdown Request
unless given a different meaning in this Drawdown Request.
|
2. |
We wish to borrow the Loan on the following terms:
|
(a)
|
Proposed Drawdown Date:
|
[●] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day)
|
|
(b)
|
Amount:
|
USD [●]
|
|
(c)
|
Tranche:
|
[
insert
]
|
|
(d)
|
The proceeds of the Drawdown shall be credited to: [●]
|
||
3. |
We confirm that each condition specified in Clause 4.2 (
Further conditions precedent
) is satisfied on the date of
this Drawdown Request, including that no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Drawdown.
|
4. |
This Drawdown Request is irrevocable.
|
From:
|
FLEX LNG LTD.
|
To:
|
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Facility Agent
|
Dated:
|
|
1. |
We refer to the Facility Agreement. This is a Selection Notice. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Selection Notice
unless given a different meaning in this Selection Notice.
|
2. |
We refer to the Tranche in the amount of [●], with an Interest Period ending on
[
●
]
.
|
3. |
We request that the next Interest Period for the Tranche is [●].
|
4. |
This Selection Notice is irrevocable.
|
From:
|
[●] as Facility Agent
|
To:
|
[
The Existing Lender
] (the "
Existing Lender
") and [
The New Lender
]
(the "
New Lender
")
|
Dated:
|
|
1. |
We refer to the Facility Agreement. This agreement (the "Agreement") shall take effect as a Transfer Certificate for the purpose of the Facility Agreement.
Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.
|
2. |
We refer to Clause 28.5 (
Procedure for transfer
) of
the Facility Agreement:
|
|
(a) |
The Existing Lender and the New Lender agree to the Existing Lender transferring to the New Lender by novation all or part of the Existing Lender's
Commitment, rights and obligations referred to in the Schedule in accordance with Clause 28.5 (
Procedure for transfer
).
|
|
(b) |
The proposed Transfer Date is [.].
|
|
(c) |
The facility office, address and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 33.2 (
Addresses
) are set out in the Schedule.
|
3. |
The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender's obligations set out in paragraph (c) of Clause 28.4 (
Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders
).
|
4. |
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of
this Agreement.
|
5. |
This Agreement is governed by Norwegian law.
|
6. |
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
|
[Existing Lender]
|
[New Lender]
|
By:
|
By:
|
From:
|
FLEX LNG LTD.
|
To:
|
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Facility Agent
|
Dated:
|
|
1. |
We refer to the Facility Agreement. This is a Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning when used in this
Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Compliance Certificate.
|
2. |
We confirm that:
|
Clause
|
Test
|
Figures/calculations
|
Compliance
|
24.3(a)
|
Equity Ratio – Ultimate Parent
(consolidated) |
||
A: Total Equity
|
|||
B: Total Assets
|
|||
Requirement: ratio of A to B to be
minimum 0.25 to 1.0 |
[yes/no]
|
||
24.3(b)
|
Working Capital – Ultimate Parent
|
||
A: current assets
|
|||
B: current liabilities
|
|||
Requirement: A to exceed B
|
[yes/no]
|
||
24.3(c)
|
Minimum Liquidity – Ultimate Parent
(consolidated) |
||
A: Liquidity
|
|||
B: Interest bearing Financial Indebtedness
(excl. Sterna RCF) |
|||
C: Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
|||
Requirement: A to be minimum the higher
of (i) USD 15,000,000 or (ii) 5% of the sum |
[yes/no]
|
24.4(b)
|
Working Capital – each Borrower
(unconsolidated) FLEX LNG RANGER LIMITED.* |
||
A: Liquidity
|
|||
Requirement: A to be minimum USD 1,200,000
|
[yes/no]
|
3 |
We confirm that each Collateral Vessel is insured against such risks and in such amounts as set out in Appendix 1 hereto.
|
4. |
[Attached as Appendix 2 hereto are two independent valuations for the determination of the Fair Market Value of each Collateral Vessel.]**
|
5. |
[We confirm that no Default is continuing.]***
|
Signed
|
…………………………..
|
|
[Chief Financial Officer] [Director]
|
||
FLEX LNG LTD.
|
||
* |
Or a Replacement Borrower, in case of a Substitution
|
** |
When applicable (only semi-annually).
|
*** |
If this statement cannot be made, the certificate should identify any Default that is continuing and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it.
|
Collateral
Vessel |
Hull &
Machinery |
Freight
Interest |
Hull
Interest |
P&I
|
War risk
|
Insured Amount
|
From:
|
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Facility Agent for itself and each of the other parties to the Facility Agreement referred to below
|
To:
|
FLEX LNG LTD (as Ultimate Parent) as Obligors' agent
FLEX LNG [ENDEAVOUR]/[ENTERPRISE]/[RANGER] LIMITED. (as Initial Borrower)
FLEX LNG [TBD] LTD. (as Replacement Borrower)
|
Dated:
|
|
1. |
We refer to the Facility Agreement. This substitution letter (the "
Substitution Letter
") shall take effect as a Substitution Letter for the purposes of the Facility Agreement. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Substitution Letter unless given a
different meaning in this Substitution Letter.
|
2. |
FLEX LNG [TBD] LTD. (the "
Replacement Borrower
")
agrees to become Replacement Borrower with respect to all amounts outstanding the Agreement and to be bound by the terms of the Agreement as joint and several borrower and Obligor pursuant to Clause 6 (
Substitution
) of the Agreement.
|
3. |
The Replacement Borrower's administrative details are as follows:
|
4. |
The Substitution Vessel [
tbd
]
will replace [
tbd
] and become a Collateral Vessel.
|
5. |
We confirm that the Repeating Representations are made by each of the Obligors and the Replacement Borrower on the date of this Substitution Letter and that
all Repeating Representations are true in all material respects on that date.
|
6. |
This Accession Letter is governed by Norwegian law and the Replacement Borrower has appointed [.] as its process agents in respect of this Substitution
Letter and the other Finance Documents.
|
Signed
|
…………………………..
|
|
[Chief Financial Officer] [Director]
|
||
FLEX LNG LTD. as agent on behalf of the Obligors
|
||
Signed
|
…………………………..
|
|
[Chief Financial Officer] [Director]
|
||
[tbd]
|
||
Signed
|
…………………………..
|
|
[Chief Financial Officer] [Director]
|
||
[tbd]
|
||
Per Vessel
|
2 Vessels
|
3 Vessels
|
||||||||
Repayment
|
Available amount
|
Repayment
|
Available amount
|
Repayment
|
Available amount
|
|||||
Year 1
|
Q1
|
105 000 000
|
210 000 000
|
|||||||
Q2
|
1 312 500
|
103 687 500
|
2 625 000
|
207 375 000
|
315 000 000
|
|||||
Q3
|
1 312 500
|
102 375 000
|
2 625 000
|
204 750 000
|
3 937 500
|
311 062 500
|
||||
Q4
|
1 312 500
|
101 062 500
|
2 625 000
|
202 125 000
|
3 937 500
|
307 125 000
|
||||
Year 2
|
Q1
|
1 312 500
|
99 750 000
|
2 625 000
|
199 500 000
|
3 937 500
|
303 187 500
|
|||
Q2
|
1 312 500
|
98 437 500
|
2 625 000
|
196 875 000
|
3 937 500
|
299 250 000
|
||||
Q3
|
1 312 500
|
97 125 000
|
2 625 000
|
194 250 000
|
3 937 500
|
295 312 500
|
||||
Q4
|
1 312 500
|
95 812 500
|
2 625 000
|
191 625 000
|
3 937 500
|
291 375 000
|
||||
Year 3
|
Q1
|
1 312 500
|
94 500 000
|
2 625 000
|
189 000 000
|
3 937 500
|
287 437 500
|
|||
Q2
|
1 544 118
|
92 955 882
|
3 088 235
|
185 911 765
|
4 632 353
|
283 500 000
|
||||
Q3
|
1 544 118
|
91 411 765
|
3 088 235
|
182 823 529
|
4 632 353
|
278 867 647
|
||||
Q4
|
1 544 118
|
89 867 647
|
3 088 235
|
179 735 294
|
4 632 353
|
274 235 294
|
||||
Year 4
|
Q1
|
1 544 118
|
88 323 529
|
3 088 235
|
176 647 059
|
4 632 353
|
269 602 941
|
|||
Q2
|
1 544 118
|
86 779 412
|
3 088 235
|
173 558 824
|
4 632 353
|
264 970 588
|
||||
Q3
|
1 544 118
|
85 235 294
|
3 088 235
|
170 470 588
|
4 632 353
|
260 338 235
|
||||
Q4
|
1 544 118
|
83 691 176
|
3 088 235
|
167 382 353
|
4 632 353
|
255 705 882
|
||||
Year 5
|
Q1
|
1 544 118
|
82 147 059
|
3 088 235
|
164 294 118
|
4 632 353
|
251 073 529
|
|||
Q2
|
1 544 118
|
80 602 941
|
3 088 235
|
161 205 882
|
4 632 353
|
246 441 176
|
||||
Q3
|
1 544 118
|
79 058 824
|
3 088 235
|
158 117 647
|
4 632 353
|
241 808 824
|
||||
Q4
|
1 544 118
|
77 514 706
|
3 088 235
|
155 029 412
|
4 632 353
|
237 176 471
|
||||
Year 6
|
Q1
|
1 544 118
|
75 970 588
|
3 088 235
|
151 941 176
|
4 632 353
|
232 544 118
|
|||
Q2
|
1 544 118
|
74 426 471
|
3 088 235
|
148 852 941
|
4 632 353
|
227 911 765
|
||||
Balloon:
|
74 426 471
|
148 852 941
|
227 911 765
|
From:
|
FLEX LNG LTD (as Ultimate Parent) (as Obligors' agent)
FLEX LNG [ENDEAVOUR]/[ENTERPRISE]/[RANGER] LIMITED. (as Initial Borrower)
FLEX LNG [TBD] LTD. (as Replacement Borrower)
The Finance Parties
|
To:
|
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as Facility Agent for itself and each of the other parties to the Facility Agreement referred to below
|
Dated:
|
|
1. |
We refer to the Agreement. The purpose of this letter is to give notice that a Substitution has become effective and the Substitution has occurred.
|
2. |
Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this letter unless given a different meaning herein.
|
3. |
We hereby confirm that we have received all the documents and other evidence listed in paragraph (b) of Clause 6.1 (
Substitution
) of the Facility Agreement (in form and substance satisfactory to us).
|
4. |
We consequently confirm that:
|
|
(a) |
the Substitution;
|
|
(b) |
the accession of the Replacement Borrower as Borrower;
|
|
(c) |
the secession of [Initial Borrower] as Borrower; and
|
|
(d) |
the Substitution Vessel [
tbd
] replacing [
tbd
] as a Collateral Vessel, shall become effective as of [
time
] on [
date
] and that this shall represent the
"Substitution Date" which occurred at such time in accordance with Clause 6 (
Substitution
) of the Facility Agreement.
|
5. |
This letter is governed by Norwegian law.
|
Hull
number |
Vessel name
|
Yard
|
Prop.
|
Year
Build |
Capacity (m3)
|
Employment
|
2108
|
FLEX Rainbow
|
SHI
|
MEGI
|
2018
|
174,000
|
Available Q3 2018
|
2470
|
FLEX
Constellation
|
DSME
|
MEGI
|
2019
|
173,400
|
Available Q2 2019
|
2471
|
FLEX
Courageous
|
DSME
|
MEGI
|
2019
|
173,400
|
Available Q3 2019
|
Account holder
|
Account number
|
FLEX LNG Endeavour Limited
|
1250.05.73498
|
FLEX LNG Enterprise Limited
|
1250.05.73501
|
FLEX LNG Ranger Limited
|
1250.05.73528
|
1. |
Definitions
|
2. |
Charter Period
|
3. |
Delivery
|
4. |
Time for Delivery
|
5. |
Cancelling
|
6. |
Trading Restrictions
|
7. |
Surveys on Delivery and Redelivery
|
8. |
Inspection – See Additional Clause 49(cc)
(Inspection of Vessels and inspection reports) |
9. |
Inventories, Oil and Stores
|
10. |
Maintenance and Operation
|
|
|
New Class and Other Safety Requirements
|
|
(iii) |
Financial Security
- The Charterers shall maintain financial
security or responsibility in respect of third party liabilities as required by any government, including federal, state or municipal or other division or authority thereof, to enable the Vessel, without penalty or charge, lawfully to
enter, remain at, or leave any port, place, territorial or contiguous waters of any country, state or municipality in performance of this Charter without any delay. This obligation shall apply whether or not such requirements have
been lawfully imposed by such government or division or authority thereof.
|
11. |
Hire –
See Additional Clause 41 (Hire)
|
12. |
Mortgage – See Additional Clause 46 (Owners’ mortgage) and Additional Clause 49(n) (Further assurance)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13. |
Insurance and Repairs – See Additional Clause 42 (Insurance)
|
14. |
Insurance, Repairs and Classification
|
15. |
Redelivery
– See Additional Clause 43 (Redelivery and
Additional Clause 44 (Redelivery Conditions)
|
16. |
Non-Lien
|
17. |
Indemnity -
See also Additional Clause 61 (Further
indemnities).
|
18. |
Lien
|
19. |
Salvage
|
20. |
Wreck Removal
|
21. |
General Average
|
22. |
Assignment, Sub-Charter and Sale
– See Additional Clause
52 (Sub-chartering and assignment)
|
23. |
Contracts of Carriage
|
*) |
(a) The Charterers are to procure that all documents issued during the Charter Period evidencing the terms and conditions agreed in respect of carriage
of goods shall contain a paramount clause incorporating any legislation relating to carrier's liability for cargo compulsorily applicable in the trade; if no such legislation exists, the documents shall incorporate the Hague-Visby
Rules. The documents shall also contain the New Jason Clause and the Both-to-Blame Collision Clause.
|
|
|
|
|
24. |
|
25. |
Requisition/Acquisition
|
26. |
War
|
|
(e) |
The Charterers shall have the liberty:
|
|
(i) |
to comply with all orders, directions, recommendations or advice as to departure, arrival, routes, sailing in convoy, ports of call, stoppages,
destinations, discharge of cargo, delivery, or in any other way whatsoever, which are given by the Government of the Nation under whose flag the Vessel sails, or any other Government, body or group whatsoever acting with the power to
compel compliance with their orders or directions;
|
|
(ii) |
to comply with the orders, directions or recommendations of any war risks underwriters who have the authority to give the same under the terms of the war
risks insurance;
|
|
(iii) |
to comply with the terms of any resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations, any directives of the European Community, the effective orders of
any other Supranational body which has the right to issue and give the same, and with national laws aimed at enforcing the same to which the Owners are subject, and to obey the orders and directions of those who are charged with their
enforcement.
|
27. |
Commission
|
28. |
Termination – See Additional Clause 61 (Termination Events) and Additional Clause 57 (Total Loss)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) Clause 13(a) |
|
|
|
29. |
Repossession
|
30. |
Dispute Resolution
– See Additional Clause 77 (Law and
jurisdiction)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31. |
Notices -- See Additional Clause 71
|
OPTIONAL
PART |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPTIONAL
PART |
OPTIONAL
PART |
1. |
Definitions
|
2. |
Mortgage
|
3. |
Termination of Charter by Default
|
32.
|
Definitions
|
3
|
33.
|
Interpretations
|
17
|
34.
|
Background
|
18
|
35.
|
Pre-delivery and delivery
|
19
|
36.
|
Construction and supervision
|
21
|
37.
|
Conditions precedent
|
22
|
38.
|
Bunkers and luboils
|
25
|
39.
|
Further maintenance and operation
|
26
|
40.
|
Structural changes and alterations
|
27
|
41.
|
Hire
|
28
|
42.
|
Insurance
|
33
|
43.
|
Redelivery
|
38
|
44.
|
Redelivery conditions
|
39
|
45.
|
Diver's inspection at redelivery
|
40
|
46.
|
Owners' mortgage
|
41
|
47.
|
Transport documents
|
43
|
48.
|
Charterers' representations and warranties
|
43
|
49.
|
Charterers' undertakings
|
47
|
50.
|
Earnings Account
|
56
|
51.
|
Termination Events
|
56
|
52.
|
Sub-chartering and assignment
|
62
|
53.
|
Name of Vessel
|
63
|
54.
|
Charter Period
|
63
|
55.
|
Purchase Option and transfer of title
|
63
|
56.
|
Sale of Vessel by the Owners
|
64
|
57.
|
Total Loss
|
64
|
58.
|
Fees and expenses
|
65
|
59.
|
Stamp duties and taxes
|
66
|
60.
|
Operational notifiable events
|
66
|
SCHEDULE 1 FORM OF PROTOCOL OF DELIVERY AND ACCEPTANCE
|
77
|
SCHEDULE 2 FORM OF TITLE TRANSFER PROTOCOL OF DELIVERY AND ACCEPTANCE
|
78
|
SCHEDULE 3 HIRE PAYMENT SCHEDULE
|
79
|
SCHEDULE 4 SCHEDULE OF PURCHASE OPTION PRICE
|
80
|
|
(a) |
Charter Guarantor 1 ceases to own, directly or indirectly, at least 70 per cent of the shares in the Charterers; and
|
|
(b) |
John Fredriksen Family through Geveran Trading Co. Ltd. ceases to directly own at least 25% of the shares and voting rights of Charter Guarantor 1.
|
|
(a) |
a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for
payments to be made in order for the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents to be carried out which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or
|
|
(b) |
the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a
Party preventing that, or any other Party:
|
|
(i) |
from performing its payment obligations under the Transaction Documents; or
|
|
(ii) |
from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents,
|
|
(a) |
the Cost Balance as at the relevant Termination Payment Date;
|
|
(b) |
any Variable Hire which has accrued before the relevant Termination Payment Date and which remains unpaid at such Termination Payment Date and the
aggregate of the Variable Hire payable during the period commencing from the Termination
|
|
(c) |
any other Unpaid Sums due and payable;
|
|
(d) |
any costs and expenses incurred by the Owners in locating, repossessing or recovering the Vessel, releasing any Security Interest created over the Vessel
or collecting any payments due under this Charter or in obtaining the due performance of the obligations of the Charterers under the Transaction Documents; and
|
|
(a) |
any release, emission, spill or discharge from the Vessel or into or upon the air, sea, land or soils (including the seabed) or surface water of
Environmentally Sensitive Material within or from the Vessel; or
|
|
(b) |
any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released, emitted, spilled or discharged into or upon the air, sea, land or soils (including
the seabed) or surface water from a vessel other than the Vessel and which involves a collision between the Vessel and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, in connection with which the
Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or the Vessel and/or any Obligor and/or any operator or manager of the Vessel 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, emitted, spilled or discharged into or upon the air, sea, land or soils
(including the seabed) or surface water otherwise than from the Vessel and in connection with which the Vessel is actually or potentially liable to be arrested and/or where any Obligor and/or any operator or manager of the Vessel is
at fault or allegedly at fault or otherwise
|
|
(a) |
moneys borrowed;
|
|
(b) |
any acceptance credit;
|
|
(c) |
any bond, note, debenture, loan stock or similar instrument;
|
|
(d) |
any finance, capital lease or operating leases for financing purposes;
|
|
(e) |
receivables sold or discounted (other than on a non-recourse basis);
|
|
(f) |
deferred payments for assets or services;
|
|
(g) |
any derivative transaction protecting against or benefiting from fluctuations in any rate or price (and, when calculating the value of any derivative
transaction, only the marked to market value shall be taken into account);
|
|
(h) |
any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing according to
the relevant account principles;
|
|
(i) |
any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a
bank or financial institution; and
|
|
(j) |
the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in (a) to (i).
|
|
(a) |
the first Hire Payment Date shall fall on the Delivery Date; and
|
|
(b) |
the second Hire Payment Date shall fall on the date which is the 15
th
day
of the next relevant calendar month (or if such date is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) after the calendar month during which the Delivery Date falls.
|
|
(a) |
the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than that relevant period; and
|
|
(b) |
the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds that relevant period,
|
|
(a) |
the applicable Screen Rate as of the Specified Time for USD and for a period of three months for any Unpaid Sum (including any Hire); or
|
|
(b) |
as otherwise determined in accordance with paragraph (r) of Clause 41 (
Hire
),
|
|
(a) |
the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Charter Group taken as a whole;
|
|
(b) |
the ability of any Obligor to perform and comply with their obligations under any Transaction Document or Project Document to which they are a party;
|
|
(c) |
the validity, legality or enforceability of this Charter, any other Transaction Document or any Project Document; or
|
|
(d) |
the effectiveness or ranking of any Security Interests granted pursuant to any of the Transaction Documents or the rights or remedies of the Charterers
under any of the Transaction Documents and any Project Document.
|
|
(a) |
lawfully enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents to which it is party;
|
|
(b) |
ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence in England and, if different, its jurisdiction of incorporation, of such
Transaction Documents and Project Documents to which it is party; and
|
|
(c) |
carry on its business from time to time.
|
|
(a) |
any Security Interest created or to be created in accordance with the Security Documents;
|
|
(b) |
liens for unpaid master’s and crew’s wages in accordance with first class ship ownership and management practice;
|
|
(c) |
liens for salvage;
|
|
(d) |
liens for master’s disbursements incurred in the ordinary course of trading;
|
|
(e) |
any other lien arising by operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of the operation, repair or maintenance of the Vessel and not as a result
of any default or omission by the Charterers, provided such liens do not secure amounts more than twenty-one (21) days overdue (unless the overdue amount is being contested in good faith by appropriate steps);
|
|
(f) |
any Security Interest arising by operation of law in respect of Taxes which are not overdue for payment or which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate steps and in respect of which appropriate reserves have been made;
|
|
(g) |
any liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of trading and/or operating the Vessel and not more than twenty-one (21) days overdue; and
|
|
(h) |
any Security Interest which has the prior written approval of the Owners.
|
|
(a) |
the Cost Balance as at the relevant Hire Payment Date (on which the Charterers or the Charterers’ nominee will purchase the Vessel pursuant to Clause
55(a)) plus any Variable Hire which has accrued before that Hire Payment Date and which remains unpaid at such Hire Payment Date (the estimated amount corresponding to the Hire Payment Date, based on the assumed LIBOR at 3.0% per
annum, is set out in Schedule 4 (
Schedule of Purchase Option Price)
to this Charter, but such amount will be adjusted, revised,
updated and replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Charter and confirmed by the Owners, and agreed by the Charterers, by reference to, among others, the figure to be provided by the Owners upon fixing of the
delivery or closing date in accordance with such early purchase of the Vessel);
|
|
(b) |
any interest accrued due and unpaid pursuant to paragraph (i) of Clause 41 (
Hire
);
|
|
(c) |
all Unpaid Sums due and payable together with (in each case where applicable) interest accrued thereon pursuant to paragraph (i) of Clause 41 (
Hire
) from the due date for payment thereof up to the date of actual payment; and
|
|
(d) |
any Break Cost.
|
|
(a) |
(other than where paragraph (b) below applies) as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London interbank market in US
Dollars for the relevant period, were it to do so by asking for and then accepting interbank offers for deposits in reasonable market size in that currency and for that period; or
|
|
(b) |
if different, as the rate (if any and applied to the relevant Reference Bank and the relevant period) which contributors to the Screen Rate are asked to
submit to the relevant administrator.
|
|
(a) |
the Charter Guarantees;
|
|
(b) |
the Charterers’ Assignment;
|
|
(c) |
the Managers’ Undertaking;
|
|
(d) |
the Account Charge;
|
|
(e) |
the Shares Pledge;
|
|
(f) |
any Sub-Charterers’ Assignment; and
|
|
(g) |
any other document that may at any time be executed by any person creating, evidencing or perfecting any Security Interest to secure all or part of the
Obligors’ obligations under or in connection with the Transaction Documents,
|
|
(a) |
the date which falls 180 days after the date of occurrence of the Total Loss or, if such date is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business
Day; and
|
|
(b) |
the date on which the Owners receive the Total Loss Proceeds in respect of the Total Loss.
|
|
(a) |
in connection with determining the Screen Rate, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Quotation Day; or
|
|
(b) |
in connection with determining the Reference Bank Rate, noon (London time) on the Quotation Day.
|
|
i. |
holds a majority of the voting rights in it, or
|
|
ii. |
is a member of it and has the right to appoint or remove a majority of its board of directors, or
|
|
iii. |
is a member of it and controls alone, pursuant to an agreement with other members, a majority of the voting rights in it,
|
|
(a) |
in respect of a termination of this Charter in accordance with paragraph (k) of Clause 41 (
Hire
), the date specified in the Termination Notice served on the Charterers pursuant to that Clause;
|
|
(b) |
in respect of a Default Termination, the date specified in the Termination Notice served on the Charterers pursuant to paragraph (c) of Clause 51 (
Termination Events
) in respect of such Default Termination; or
|
|
(c) |
in respect of a Total Loss Termination, the Settlement Date in respect of the Total Loss which gives rise to such Total Loss Termination.
|
|
(a) |
actual or constructive or compromised or agreed or arranged total loss of the Vessel;
|
|
(b) |
the requisition for title or compulsory acquisition of the Vessel by any government or other competent authority (other than by way of requisition for
hire);
|
|
(c) |
the capture, seizure, arrest, detention, hijacking, theft, condemnation as prize, confiscation or forfeiture of the Vessel (not falling within paragraph
(b) of this definition), unless the Vessel is released and returned to the possession of the Owners or the Charterers within ninety (90) days after the capture, seizure, arrest, detention, hijacking, theft, condemnation as prize,
confiscation or forfeiture in question,
|
|
(a) |
an Obligor which is resident for tax purposes in the United States of America; or
|
|
(b) |
an Obligor some or all of whose payments under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party are from sources within the United States for US federal
income tax purposes.
|
|
(a) |
In this Charter, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to:
|
|
(i) |
this Charter include the Schedules hereto and references to Clauses and Schedules are, unless otherwise specified, references to Clauses of and Schedules
to this Charter and, in the case of a Schedule, to such Schedule as incorporated in this Charter as substituted from time to time;
|
|
(ii) |
any statutory or other legislative provision shall be construed as including any statutory or legislative modification or re-enactment thereof, or any
substitution therefor;
|
|
(iii) |
the term “
Vessel
” includes any part of the Vessel;
|
|
(iv) |
the “
Owners
”, the “
Charterers
”, any “
Obligor
”, “
Sub-Charterers
” or any other person include any of their respective successors, permitted assignees and permitted transferees;
|
|
(v) |
any agreement, instrument or document include such agreement, instrument or document as the same may from time to time by amended, modified, supplemented,
novated or substituted;
|
|
(vi) |
the “
equivalent
” in one currency (the “
first currency
”) as at any date of an amount in another currency (the “
second currency
”) shall be construed as a reference to the amount of the first currency which could be purchased with such amount of the second currency at the spot rate of exchange quoted
by the Owners at or about 11:00 a.m. two (2) Business Days (being a day other than a Saturday or Sunday on which banks and foreign exchange markets are generally open for business in Beijing) prior to such date for the purpose of
the first currency with the second currency for delivery and value on such date;
|
|
(vii) |
“
hereof
”, “
herein
” and “
hereunder
” and other words of similar
import means this Charter as a whole (including the Schedules) and not any particular part hereof;
|
|
(viii) |
“
law
” includes common or customary law and any
constitution, decree, judgment, legislation, order, ordinance, regulation, rule, statute, treaty or other legislative measure in any jurisdiction or any present or future directive, regulation, request or requirement, or official or
judicial interpretation of any of the foregoing, in each case having the force of law and, if not having the force of law, in respect of which compliance is generally customary;
|
|
(ix) |
the word “
person
” or “
persons
” or to words importing persons include, without limitation, any state, divisions of a state, government, individuals, partnerships, corporations,
ventures, government agencies, committees, departments, authorities and other bodies, corporate or unincorporated, whether having distinct legal personality or not;
|
|
(x) |
the “
winding-up
”, “
dissolution
”, “
administration
”, “
liquidation
”, “
insolvency
”, “
reorganisation
”, “
readjustment of
debt
”, “
suspension of payments
”, “
moratorium
” or “
bankruptcy
” (and their derivatives and cognate expressions) of any person shall each
be construed so as to include the others and any equivalent or analogous proceedings or event under the laws of any jurisdiction in which such person is incorporated or any jurisdiction in which such person carries on business;
|
|
(xi) |
“
protection and indemnity risks
” means the usual
risks covered by a protection and indemnity association which is a member of the International Group of P&I Club, including pollution risks, extended passenger cover and the proportion (if any) of any sums payable to any other
person or persons in case of collision which are not recoverable under the hull and machinery policies by reason of the incorporation in them of clause 6 of the International Hull Clauses (1/11/02 or 1/11/03), clause 8 of the
Institute Time Clauses (Hull)(1/10/83) or clause 8 of the Institute Time Clauses (Hulls)(1/11/1995) or the Institute Amended Running Down Clause (1/10/71) or any equivalent provision;
|
|
(xii) |
(xii) a Potential Termination Event or Termination Event which is “continuing” is a reference to a Potential Termination Event or Termination Event which
is not remedied or waived; and
|
|
(xiii) |
words denoting the plural number include the singular and vice versa.
|
|
(b) |
Headings are for the purpose of reference only, have no legal or other significance, and shall be ignored in the interpretation of this Charter.
|
|
(c) |
(c) A time of day (unless otherwise specified) is a reference to Beijing time.
|
|
(a) |
Pursuant to the Building Contract, the Charterers have agreed to purchase and the Builders have agreed to build and sell the Vessel subject to the terms
and conditions therein.
|
|
(b) |
By a memorandum of agreement (the “
MOA
”) of even
date herewith made between the Owners (as buyers thereunder) and the Charterers (as sellers thereunder), the Owners have agreed to purchase and the Charterers have agreed to sell the Vessel subject to the terms and conditions
therein.
|
|
(c) |
If:
|
|
(i) |
the Vessel is not delivered by the Cancellation Date (or such later date as the Owners and the Charterers may agree) (other than caused by any act or
omission of any Obligor constituting a Potential Termination Event or Termination Event); or
|
|
(d) |
Accordingly the Parties hereby agree that the Owners’ obligation to charter the Vessel to the Charterers under this Charter is subject to the effective
transfer of ownership of the Vessel to the Owners pursuant to the Building Contract and the MOA.
|
|
(a) |
As at the date of this Charter, the Vessel is under construction by the Builders pursuant to the terms of the Building Contract. The Charterers hereby
confirm that they have reviewed, received and agreed to the forms of the Building Contract (or copies thereof).
|
|
(b) |
The Owners will deliver and the Charterers will take delivery of the Vessel under this Charter immediately, which to the extent possible shall be deemed
to take place simultaneously, after the Builders deliver the Vessel to the Charterers under and subject to the terms of the Building Contract upon the Delivery Date and the Charterers deliver the Vessel to the Owners under the MOA
immediately thereafter, subject to which, the Charterers will accept the Vessel on an “as is where is” basis on delivery under this Charter.
|
|
(c) |
Subject to the foregoing, once the Charterers have delivered the Vessel and the Owners have accepted the Vessel under the MOA, the Charterers will be
deemed to have accepted the Vessel under this Charter with any faults, deficiencies and errors of description.
|
|
(d) |
The obligation of the Owners to purchase and take delivery of the Vessel pursuant to the MOA and to charter the Vessel to the Charterers pursuant to this
Charter shall be subject to the following conditions:
|
|
(i) |
no Termination Event or Potential Termination Event having occurred which is continuing on the date of this Charter and the Delivery Date;
|
|
(ii) |
the representations and warranties referred to in Clause 48 (
Charterers’ representations and warranties
) being true and correct in all material respects on the date of this Charter and the Delivery Date;
|
|
(iii) |
the Owners shall have received the documents and evidence referred to in Clause 37 (
Conditions precedent
), in each case in all respects in form and
|
|
(iv) |
the Delivery Date falls on or before the Cancellation Date (or such later date as may be agreed between the Owners (as buyer under the MOA) and the
Charterers (as seller under the MOA)); and
|
|
(v) |
delivery of the Vessel to the Charterers by the Builders under and subject to the Building Contract and the simultaneous delivery of the Vessel from the
Charterers to the Owners under and subject to the terms of the MOA.
|
|
(e) |
Provided that the conditions referred to in paragraph (d) above have been fulfilled or waived with or without conditions to the satisfaction of the Owners
(which shall be evidenced in writing by the Owners), the Owners and the Charterers agree that:
|
|
(i) |
the Charterers shall, at their own expense, upon the Delivery Date arrange for the Vessel to be registered in the name of the Owners as registered owner,
and procure the issue of a transcript of register, giving evidence of title which shows the Owners being registered as the registered owner and that the Vessel is free from any registered Security Interest (other than any
mortgage(s) registered by the Owners in favour of the Finance Parties);
|
|
(ii) |
the Charterers shall take delivery of the Vessel from the Owners under this Charter (such delivery to be conclusively evidenced by a duly executed PDA)
simultaneously with the acceptance of delivery of the Vessel by the Owners from the Charterers pursuant to the MOA;
|
|
(iii) |
the Charterers will accept the Vessel:
|
|
(A) |
on an “as is where is” basis in exactly the same form and state as the Vessel is delivered by the Charterers to the Owners pursuant to the MOA; and
|
|
(B) |
in such form and state with any faults, deficiencies and errors of description;
|
|
(iv) |
the acceptance of delivery of the Vessel by the Charterers from the Owners pursuant to this Charter shall take place simultaneously with the acceptance of
delivery of the Vessel by the Charterers from the Builders pursuant to the Building Contract and the acceptance of delivery of the Vessel by the Owners from the Charterers pursuant to the MOA; and
|
|
(v) |
the Charterers shall have no right to refuse acceptance of delivery of the Vessel into this Charter if the Vessel is delivered to the Owners pursuant to
the MOA and, notwithstanding and without prejudice to the foregoing, the Owners and the Charterers nonetheless agree to enter into and execute the PDA on delivery of the Vessel under this Charter.
|
|
(f) |
The Charterers acknowledge and agree that the Owners are not the manufacturer or original supplier of the Vessel which has been purchased by the Owners
from the Charterers pursuant to the MOA, and have therefore made no representations or warranties in respect of the Vessel or any part thereof, and hereby waive all their rights in respect of any warranty or condition implied
(whether statutory or otherwise)
|
|
(g) |
In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (f) above, the Owners shall be under no liability whatsoever, howsoever arising, in
respect of the injury, death, loss, damage or delay of or to or in connection with the Vessel or any person or property whatsoever, whether onboard the Vessel or elsewhere, and irrespective of whether such injury, death, loss,
damage or delay shall arise from the unseaworthiness of the Vessel. For the purpose of this paragraph (g), “delay” shall include delay to the Vessel (whether in respect of delivery under this Charter or thereafter and any other
delay whatsoever).
|
|
(a) |
The Vessel shall be constructed in accordance with the Building Contract, under the supervision of the Charterers in accordance with the terms of the
Building Contract and this Charter.
|
|
(b) |
During the construction of the Vessel, the Charterers shall procure that, at its own costs and risks, all the supervision work is diligently carried out
in accordance with the terms of the Building Contract and attend all tests and trials as stipulated in the Building Contract (together the “
Supervision Work
”). In addition, the Charterers shall:
|
|
(i) |
if so requested by the Owners, provide to the Owners the following information and documents from time to time:
|
|
(A) |
the latest specifications and all drawings and plans (as referred to in the Building Contract) provided by the Builders from time to time;
|
|
(B) |
all information and documents (if any) as communicated by the Builders to the Charterers (or the supervisors appointed by the Charterers) in relation to
the inspections, tests and trials of the Vessel and its equipment and parts which have not been sent or copied to the Owners; and
|
|
(C) |
all rules, regulations and requirements referred to in the Building Contract and/or the specifications (the “
Rules
”), including but not limited to the rules, regulations and requirements of the Classification Society notified by the Builders (or, as the case maybe) to the
Charterers or the Supervisor from time to time and by the maritime authority of the Pre-Approved Flag;
|
|
(ii) |
assist the Owners in every way to achieve smooth documentary delivery of the Vessel including, but not limited to, checking and confirming to the Owners
the certificates, technical documents, drawings and plans required under the Building Contract; and
|
|
(iii) |
in the event of any dispute under the relevant provisions of the Building Contract, advise the Owners with regard to all technical matters.
|
|
(c) |
The Charterers warrant and undertake to the Owners that it shall (and it shall procure that the Supervisor shall) comply with the following provisions in
carrying out all the Supervision Work:
|
|
(i) |
the Supervision Work carried out and the decision made or advice given to the Owners by the Charterers, the Supervisor, its employees, sub-contractors are
in accordance with professional shipbuilding practices and standard;
|
|
(ii) |
the Supervision Work shall be carried out in accordance with the agreed inspection procedure and schedule pursuant to the Building Contract and in a way
to minimize any unjustifiable increase in building costs and delays in the construction of the Vessel;
|
|
(iii) |
the Owners shall be under no liability whatsoever to the Charterers or the Supervisor or their employees or agents for personal injuries, including death,
during the time when they, or any of them, are on the Vessel, or within the premises of either the Builders or subcontractors of the Builders, or are otherwise engaged in and about the construction of the Vessel other than of the
personal injury or death has arisen as a result of the Owners’ gross negligence or wilful misconduct, and the Owners shall not be under any liability whatsoever to the Supervisors or the Charterers for damage to, or loss or
destruction of any property of the Charterers or its employees or agents. The Charterers shall hold the Owners harmless and indemnified against all Losses caused by the Charterers, the Supervisor and/or their employees or agents
arising from and/or in connection with the attendance by the Charterers or its employees or agents of the supervision, survey and inspection of the Vessel.
|
|
(a) |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Charter, the obligations of the Owners to purchase and take delivery of the Vessel pursuant to the MOA
and to charter the Vessel to the Charterers under this Charter are subject to and conditional upon the Owners’ receipt of following documents and evidence (in each case in form and substance acceptable to the Owners) on or before
the Delivery Date (or such other date as the Owners and the Charterers may agree):
|
|
(i) |
an original of each of the following:
|
|
(A) |
the duly executed Charter;
|
|
(B) |
the duly executed MOA;
|
|
(C) |
the following duly executed Security Documents:
|
|
(I) |
the Charter Guarantees;
|
|
(II) |
the Charterers’ Assignment;
|
|
(III) |
the Managers’ Undertaking;
|
|
(IV) |
the Shares Pledge;
|
|
(V) |
the Account Charge;
|
|
(VI) |
Sub-Charter Assignment (if any); and
|
|
(D) |
all documents required by any of the Security Documents set out in paragraph (C), including but not limited to the notices and acknowledgement required
under such Security Documents, except for the letters of undertaking from the insurers, underwriters, protection and indemnity clubs and association which will be provided to the Owners and the acknowledgment by the Sub- Charterers
(if any) to the assignment of the Sub-Charter, both of which will be required under the Charterers’ Assignment and provided to the Owners in accordance with Clause 78 (
Conditions subsequent
);
|
|
(ii) |
certified true copies of the memorandum and articles of association (or equivalent documents) (and all amendments thereto) of each Obligor and any other
documents required to be filed or registered or issued under the laws of their jurisdiction of incorporation to establish their incorporation;
|
|
(iii) |
certified true copies of written resolutions or (as the case may be), resolutions passed at separate meetings, in each case, of the board of directors and
(if required by any legal advisors to the Owners) shareholders of each Obligor (or the relevant stakeholders as such legal advisors may specify), evidencing its approval of the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents to
which it is a party and authorising appropriate officers or attorneys to execute the same and to sign all notices required to be given hereunder or thereunder on its behalf or other evidence of such approvals and authorisations as
shall be acceptable to the Owners;
|
|
(iv) |
if applicable, the original power of attorney of each Obligor under which any documents (including the Transaction Documents to which it is a party) are
to be executed or transactions undertaken by that party;
|
|
(v) |
a certified list specifying the directors and officers of each of the Obligors (together with their respective specimen signatures);
|
|
(vi) |
if applicable, copies of all Necessary Authorisations;
|
|
(vii) |
copies of the following:
|
|
(A) |
the duly executed Building Contract;
|
|
(B) |
the duly executed Management Agreement;
|
|
(C) |
in each case together with all addenda, amendments or supplements;
|
|
(viii) |
originals (unless otherwise stated) of the following documents (or evidence that they will be provided to the Owners on or before the Delivery Date)
relating to the Vessel and her delivery to the Charterers under the Building Contract:
|
|
(A) |
copies of bill of sale (from the Builders to the Original Buyers), builder’s certificate, declaration of warranty and commercial invoice
|
|
(B) |
certified copies protocol of delivery and acceptance for the Vessel executed by the Builders and the Original Buyers;
|
|
(C) |
bill of sale (from the Original Buyers to the Charterers) and commercial invoice issued by the Original Buyers to the Charterers;
|
|
(D) |
protocol of delivery and acceptance for the Vessel executed by the Original Buyers and the Charterers;
|
|
(E) |
assignment of Builders’ warranties relating to the Vessel under the Building Contract duly executed by the Original Buyers in favour of the Owners
together with a copy of the notice of assignment by the Original Buyers to the Builders and a copy of the acknowledgement of assignment from the Builders to the Owners acknowledging the assignment of the Builders’ warranties for
which the Original Buyers will use their reasonable endeavours to obtain, each in a form acceptable to the Owners;
|
|
(F) |
such evidence as the Owners may reasonably require as to the due execution of the aforesaid documents;
|
|
(ix) |
evidence that the contract price of the Vessel and other sums due and payable to the Builders under the Building Contract have been paid to the Builders
and fully settled;
|
|
(x) |
evidence that:
|
|
(A) |
all the conditions under clause 8 of the MOA have been satisfied or, in the Owners’ opinion, will be satisfied on the Owners’ Cost Payment Date;
|
|
(B) |
subject to Clause 78 (
Conditions Subsequent
), the
Vessel is (or will on the Delivery Date) be insured in the manner required by the Transaction Documents;
|
|
(C) |
the Original Buyers have at their own expenses taken delivery of the Vessel from the Builders according to the Building Contract and the Charterers have
at their own expenses taken delivery of the Vessel from the Original Buyers;
|
|
(xi) |
copies of:
|
|
(A) |
the Approved Managers’ current Document of Compliance (as such term is defined pursuant to the ISM Code);
|
|
(B) |
the Vessel’s current IAPPC;
|
|
(C) |
the Vessel’s interim Classification Certificate;
|
|
(xii) |
a Valuation Report (at the Charterers’ cost) evidencing that the Market Value of the Vessel is no less than US$157,500,000;
|
|
(xiii) |
evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Charterers pursuant to the MOA and this Charter (including Clauses 58 (
Fees and expenses
) and 61 (
Further
indemnities
)) have been paid or will be paid at such time as is agreed with the Owners;
|
|
(xiv) |
(xiv) a legal opinion issued by legal advisers to the Owners in the following jurisdictions, each in form and substance satisfactory to and agreed by the
Owners (acting reasonably) (or confirmation satisfactory to the Owners that such an opinion will be given):
|
|
(A) |
England and Wales;
|
|
(B) |
the Marshall Islands;
|
|
(C) |
Norway;
|
|
(D) |
Bermuda; and
|
|
(E) |
such other jurisdictions as the Owners may reasonably consider necessary; and
|
|
(xv) |
a certified copy of any duly executed Sub-Charter, if applicable, together with all addenda, amendments or supplements.
|
|
(b) |
If the Owners in their sole discretion agree to deliver the Vessel under this Charter to the Charterers before all of the documents and evidence required
by this Clause 37 have been delivered to or to the order of the Owners, the Charterers undertake to deliver all outstanding documents and evidence to or to the order of the Owners no later than seven (7) Business Days after the
Delivery Date or such other date as specified by the Owners, acting in their sole discretion. The delivery of the Vessel by the Owners to the Charterers under this Charter shall not, unless otherwise notified by the Owners (acting
in their sole discretion) to the Charterers in writing, be taken as a waiver of the Owners’ right to require production of all the documents and evidenced required by this Clause 37.
|
|
(a) |
At delivery the Charterers shall take over all bunkers, lubricating oil, hydraulic oil, greases, water and unbroached stores and provisions in the Vessel
without cost.
|
|
(b) |
To the extent that Clause 43 (
Redelivery
) applies,
at redelivery the Owners shall take over all bunkers, unused lubricating oil, hydraulic oil, greases, water and unbroached provisions and other consumable stores in the Vessel at the cost of the Owners (which cost shall be
determined at the original purchase price as evidenced by copies of invoices certified by a director or attorney of the Charterers and which shall be payable until all payments receivable by the Owners upon redelivery have been
received by the Owners and, at the Owners’ option, such cost may be set-off against any payment receivable by the Owners), provided that the Owners shall not be responsible for any such costs of bunkers, lubricating oil, hydraulic
oil, greases, water and unbroached stores and provisions in the Vessel after the occurrence of a
|
|
(a) |
The good commercial maintenance practice under Clause 10 (
Maintenance
and Operation
) (Part II) of this Charter shall be deemed to include:
|
|
(i) |
the maintenance and operation of the Vessel by the Charterers in accordance with (as the following are amended from time to time):
|
|
(A) |
the relevant regulations, requirements and recommendations of the Classification Society;
|
|
(B) |
the relevant regulations, requirements and recommendations of the country and flag of the Vessel’s registry;
|
|
(C) |
any applicable IMO regulations (including but not limited to the ISM Code, the ISPS Code and MARPOL);
|
|
(D) |
all other applicable laws or regulations; and
|
|
(E) |
Charterers’ current standard operations and maintenance manuals;
|
|
(ii) |
the maintenance and operation of the Vessel by the Charterers taking into account:
|
|
(A) |
engine manufacturers’ recommended maintenance and service schedules;
|
|
(B) |
Builder’s operations and maintenance manuals; and
|
|
(iii) |
recommended maintenance and service schedules of all installed equipment and pipework.
|
|
(b) |
In addition to the above, the Charterers shall at the request of the Owners, arrange access to class records for the Owners as available to the
Charterers.
|
|
(c) |
Any equipment that is found not to be required on board as a result of law or regulation is either to be removed at the Charterers expense or to be
maintained in operable condition.
|
|
(d) |
The title to any equipment:
|
|
(i) |
placed on board as a result of operational requirements of the Charterers shall automatically be deemed to belong to the Owners (unless hired from or
belonging to a third party) immediately upon such placement, and such equipment may only be removed: (A) with the Owners’ prior written consent, (B) at the Charterers’ own expense, and (C) without damage to the Vessel; and
|
|
(ii) |
replaced, renewed or substituted shall remain with the Owners until the part or equipment which replaced it or the new or substitute part or equipment
becomes property of the Owners.
|
|
(e) |
Without prejudice to any other provisions under this Charter, the Charterers shall maintain, use and operate the Vessel with commercially reasonable care
as if the Charterers were the owner of the same.
|
|
(a) |
Unless required by the Classification Society, compulsory legislation or pursuant to the terms of any Sub-Charter, the Charterers shall make no material
structural changes in the Vessel or material changes in the machinery, engines, appurtenances or spare parts thereof without in each instance first securing the Owners’ consent thereto, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed, provided that:
|
|
(i) |
any such changes do not have a material adverse effect on the Vessel’s certification or the Vessel’s fitness for purpose;
|
|
(ii) |
any such changes will not diminish the value of the Vessel and/or have a material adverse effect on the safety, performance, value or marketability of the
Vessel;
|
|
(iii) |
the Charterers shall bear all time, costs and expenses in relation to any such changes;
|
|
(iv) |
the Charterers shall furnish the Owners with:
|
|
(A) |
copies of all plans in relation to such changes;
|
|
(B) |
if applicable, confirmation from the Classification Society that such changes will not adversely affect the class of the Vessel, provided always that such
Classification Society agrees to issue such confirmation;
|
|
(C) |
one Valuation Report (at the Charterers’ cost) on the Market Value of the Vessel after the implementation of such changes.
|
|
(D) |
to improve the performance, operation or marketability of the Vessel; or
|
|
(E) |
as a result of a regulatory compliance.
|
|
(b) |
Any improvement, structural changes or new equipment becoming necessary for the continued operation of the Vessel by reason of new class requirements or
by compulsory legislation shall be for the Charterers’ account and the Charterers shall not have any right to recover from the Owners any part of the cost for such improvements, changes or new equipment either during the Charter
Period or, to the extent that Clause 43 (
Redelivery
) applies, at redelivery of the Vessel. The Charterers shall give written
notice to the Owners of any such improvement, structural changes or new equipment.
|
|
(a) |
In consideration of the Owners’ agreement to charter the Vessel to the Charterers pursuant to the terms hereof, the Charterers agree to pay to the Owners
the following sums on the relevant dates as follows:
|
|
(i) |
on the Delivery Date, the amount of US Dollars Fifty Two Million Five Hundred Thousand (US$52,500,000) (the “
Advance Hire
”) provided that:
|
|
(A) |
the Advance Hire shall be subject to netting against the Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of the MOA;
|
|
(B) |
the Advance Hire shall not constitute any part of the Hire; and
|
|
(C) |
the Advance Hire shall be non-refundable;
|
|
(ii) |
on each and every Hire Payment Date, by way of fixed hire (each a “
Fixed Hire
”) the relevant amount then payable on the corresponding Hire Payment Date as determined by reference to the column headed “Fixed Hire” in the hire payment schedule as attached as Schedule 1 (
Hire Payment Schedule
) hereto (the “
Hire
Payment Schedule
”);
|
|
(iii) |
on each and every Hire Payment Date, by way of variable hire (each such payment, a “
Variable Hire
”) then payable. The amount of Variable Hire payable on each Hire Payment Date is calculated by multiplying (A) the Cost Balance immediately prior to the relevant Hire Payment Date by
(B) the aggregate of the Margin and the then Applicable Rate and (C) a fraction whose denominator is three hundred and sixty (360) and numerator is the number of days which will elapse from that Hire Payment Date (including that
day) until the next Hire Payment Date (or, if the Hire Period does not end on a Hire Payment Date, the last day of the Hire Period) (not including that day) during the then Hire Period (the “
Formula
”).
|
|
(A) |
Variable Hire shall accrue during each Hire Period;
|
|
(B) |
the Charterers hereby expressly acknowledge that the Hire Payment Schedule in its current form and content as attached hereto is based on the Assumed
Owners’ Costs and therefore on the date hereof is indicative and is for reference purpose only; and
|
|
(C) |
accordingly, the Charterers irrevocably consent and agree with the Owners that the Owners shall deliver to the Charterers, on or at any relevant time
during the Charter Period, an amended Hire Payment Schedule calculated by reference to the relevant circumstances and parameters at such time (including, without limitation, (x) the Actual Owners’ Costs and (y) the Cost Balance at
any relevant time since the last Hire Payment Schedule is prepared). Any amended Hire Payment Schedule prepared and delivered to the Charterers pursuant to this sub-paragraph (iii) shall, from the date the same is delivered to and
approved by the Charterers (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), be deemed to be incorporated
|
|
(II) |
save for manifest error, be conclusive evidence of the rate of Hire payable under this Charter. The Owners shall, as soon as practicable after receipt of
a request of the Charterers, send to the Charterers such details as may reasonably be required by the Charterers setting out the manner in which any such rate of Hire has been calculated, together with such documents and
calculations as may reasonably be required by the Charterers in order to verify the same; and
|
|
(D) |
in the event of any conflict between the Formula and the Hire Payment Schedule, the Hire Payment Schedule shall prevail.
|
|
(b) |
The Hire shall be paid to the Owners’ Account in advance before 4:00 p.m. (Beijing time) on each Hire Payment Date (in respect of which time is of the
essence).
|
|
(c) |
Any payment provided herein due on any day which is not a Business Day shall be payable on the immediately preceding Business Day.
|
|
(d) |
All payments under this Charter shall be made to the account opened in the name of the Owners as specified in Box 26 (Part I) or such other account opened
in the name of the Owners (the “
Owners’ Account
”) with such bank as the Owners may choose, the details of which shall be notified
by the Owners to the Charterers no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Delivery Date (or such other account as the Owners may notify the Charterers in writing from time to time) for credit to the account of the Owners.
|
|
(e) |
Following delivery of the Vessel to, and acceptance by, the Charterers under this Charter, the Charterers’ obligation to pay Hire in accordance with this
Clause 41 (
Hire
) shall, subject to Clause 17 (
Indemnity
), be absolute irrespective of any contingency whatsoever including but not limited to:
|
|
(i) |
any set-off (save as permitted under Clause 41(a)), counterclaim, recoupment, defence or other right which the Charterers may have against the Owners, the
Finance Parties or any other third party (unless otherwise agreed between the Owners and the Charterers);
|
|
(ii) |
any unavailability of the Vessel, for any reason, including but not limited to any action or inaction by any sub-charterer, seaworthiness, condition,
design, operation, merchantability or fitness for use or purpose of the Vessel or any apparent or latent defects in the Vessel or its machinery and equipment or the ineligibility of the Vessel for any particular use or trade or for
registration of documentation under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction or lack of registration or the absence or withdrawal of any consent required under the applicable law of any relevant jurisdiction for the ownership,
chartering, use or operation of the Vessel or any damage to the Vessel;
|
|
(iii) |
any lack or invalidity of title or any other defect in title;
|
|
(iv) |
any failure or delay on the part of either Party to this Charter, whether with or without fault on its part, in performing or complying with any of the
terms, conditions or other provisions of this Charter;
|
|
(v) |
any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganisation, arrangement, readjustment of debt, dissolution, administration, liquidation or similar proceedings by or
against the Owners, the Charterers or any Sub-Charterers, or any change in the constitution of the Owners, the Charterers or any Sub-Charterers;
|
|
(vi) |
any invalidity or unenforceability or lack of due authorisation of or any defect in this Charter or any Sub-charter (where applicable); or
|
|
(vii) |
any other cause which would but for this provision have the effect of terminating or in any way affecting the obligations of the Charterers hereunder,
|
|
(f) |
All payments of Hire and all other Unpaid Sums to the Owners pursuant to this Charter and the other relevant Transaction Documents shall be made in
immediately available funds in USD, free and clear of, and without deduction for or on account of, any Taxes, unless the Charterers are required by law or regulation to make any such payment of Hire subject to such taxes.
|
|
(g) |
In the event that the Charterers are required by any law or regulation to make any deduction or withholding on account of any taxes which arise as a
consequence of any payment due under this Charter, then:
|
|
(i) |
the Charterers shall notify the Owners promptly after they become aware of such requirement;
|
|
(ii) |
the Charterers shall remit the amount of such taxes to the appropriate taxation authority within any applicable time limits and in any event prior to the
date on which penalties attach thereto; and
|
|
(iii) |
such payment shall be increased by such amount as may be necessary to ensure that the Owners receive a net amount which, after deducting or withholding
such taxes, is equal to the full amount which the Owners would have received had such payment not been subject to such taxes.
|
|
(h) |
The Charterers shall forward to the Owners evidence satisfactory to the Owners that any such taxes have been remitted to the appropriate taxation
authority within thirty (30) days of the expiry of any time limit within which such taxes must be so remitted or, if earlier, the date on which such taxes are so remitted.
|
|
(i) |
Subject to paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 51 (
Termination
Events
), if the Charterers fail to pay any amount payable by it under a Transaction Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the Unpaid Sum from the due date up to the date of actual payment
|
|
(j) |
In the event that this Charter is terminated for whatever reason, the Charterers’ obligation to pay Hire and such other Unpaid Sum which (in each case)
has accrued due before such termination, and which remains unpaid at the date of such termination, shall continue notwithstanding such termination.
|
|
(k) |
In the event that it becomes unlawful or it is prohibited for either the Owners or the Charterers to charter the Vessel pursuant to this Charter, then the
Owners and Charterers shall, if and to the extent that such new or changed law or regulation or such interpretation or application permit, notify the other Party of the relevant event and negotiate in good faith for a period of
thirty (30) days from the date of the receipt of the relevant notice by the other Party to agree an alternative. If such agreement is not reached within such thirty (30)-day period, the Charterers agree that, in such circumstances,
the Owners shall have the right to terminate this Charter by delivering to the Charterers a Termination Notice, whereupon the Charterers shall be obliged to pay to the Owners the Early Termination Amount.
|
|
(l) |
Subject to paragraph (n) below, the Charterers shall, within ten (10) Business Days of a demand by the Owners, pay to the Owners the amount of any
Increased Costs incurred directly by the Owners as a result of (i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation
made after the date of this Charter.
|
|
(i) |
“Increased Costs” means:
|
|
(A) |
a reduction in the rate of return from the Hire or on the Owners’ overall capital;
|
|
(B) |
an additional or increased cost; or
|
|
(C) |
a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Transaction Document,
|
|
(m) |
The Owners shall notify the Charterers of any claim arising from paragraph (l) above (and of the event giving rise to such claim). The Owners shall, as
soon as practicable after having made a demand in respect of such claim, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs.
|
|
(n) |
Paragraph (l) above does not apply to the extent any Increased Costs is:
|
|
(i) |
compensated for by a payment made under paragraph (g)(iii) above; or
|
|
(ii) |
attributable to the wilful breach by the Owners of any law or regulation.
|
|
(o) |
The Charterers shall, within ten (10) Business Days of demand by the Owners, pay to the Owners any Break Costs.
|
|
(p) |
Any certificate or statement signed by an authorised signatory of the Owners purporting to show the amount of the Debt (or any part of the Debt) or any
other amount referred to in any Transaction Document shall, save for manifest error or on any question of law, be conclusive evidence as against the Charterers of that amount. The Owners shall, as soon as practicable after receipt
of a request of the Charterers, send to the Charterers such details as may reasonably be required by the Charterers setting out the manner in which any such amount has been calculated
provided that
any such amount, except in the case of manifest error or on any question of law, shall be payable irrespective of whether the Charterers are satisfied with
the form or content of any such detail, document or calculation.
|
|
(q) |
If a change in any currency occurs, this Charter will, to the extent the Owners and the Charterers agree to be necessary, be amended to comply with any
generally accepted conventions and market practice in the relevant market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency.
|
|
(i) |
If no Screen Rate is available for LIBOR for that relevant period, the applicable LIBOR shall be the Interpolated Screen Rate for a period equal in length
to that relevant period; and
|
|
(ii) |
If no Screen Rate is available for LIBOR for that relevant period and it is not possible to calculate the Interpolated Screen Rate, the applicable LIBOR
shall be the Reference Bank Rate as of 11:00a.m. London time for USD and for a period equal in length to that relevant period.Market Disruption Event
|
|
(iii) |
In this Charter a
Market Disruption Event
shall
occur if:
|
|
(A) |
at or about noon on the Applicable Rate Determination Date for an Applicable Rate Period LIBOR is not available and the Owners is unable to obtain quotes
from leading banks in the London interbank market enabling it to determine LIBOR for the relevant Applicable Rate Period; or
|
|
(B) |
before close of business in London on the Applicable Rate Determination Date for an Applicable Rate Period, the Owners notify the Charterers that the cost
to it of funding the Cost Balance from whatever source it may reasonably select for that Applicable Rate Period would be in excess of LIBOR.
|
|
(iv) |
If a Market Disruption Event has occurred in relation to that Applicable Rate Period, the Applicable Rate shall be the rate which expresses as a
percentage rate per annum the cost to the Owners of the Cost Balance from whatever source it may reasonably select.
|
|
(v) |
If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Owners and/or the Charterers so require, the Owners and the Charterers shall enter into negotiations (for a
|
|
(s) |
Discontinuance of LIBOR
|
|
(a) |
During the Agreement Term, the Charterers shall at their expense keep the Vessel insured against fire and usual marine risks (including hull and machinery
and excess risks), oil pollution liability risks, war and protection and indemnity risks (and any risks against which it is compulsory to insure for the operation for the Vessel) in US Dollars and in such market and on such terms as
the Owners and the Finance Parties (if any) shall in writing approve (such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).
|
|
(b) |
Such insurances shall be arranged by the Charterers to protect the interests of the Owners, the Charterers and (if any) the mortgagee of the Vessel or
such other relevant Finance Party, and the Charterers shall be at liberty to protect under such insurances the interests of any Approved Manager.
|
|
(c) |
Insurance policies shall cover the Owners, the Charterers and (if any) the Finance Parties according to their respective interests. Subject to the
approval of the Owners (acting on the instructions or with the approval of the Finance Parties (in each case if applicable)) and the insurers, the Charterers shall effect all insured repairs and shall undertake settlement and
reimbursement from the insurers of all costs in connection with such repairs as well as insured charges, expenses and liabilities to the extent of coverage under the insurances herein provided for.
|
|
(d) |
The Charterers shall also remain responsible for and effect repairs and settlement of costs and expenses incurred thereby in respect of all other repairs
not covered by the insurances and/or not exceeding any possible franchise(s) or deductibles provided for in the insurances.
|
|
(e) |
The Charterers shall arrange that, at any time during the Agreement Term, the hull and machinery and war risks insurance shall be in an amount not less
than the greater of:
|
|
(i) |
an amount which equals one hundred and twenty per cent (120%) of the Cost Balance; and
|
|
(ii) |
the current Market Value of the Vessel.
|
|
(f) |
The terms of the hull and machinery insurance and the identity of the insurers shall be acceptable to the Owners and (if any) the Finance Parties. The
Vessel shall be entered in a P&I Club which is a member of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Association (or if the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Association ceases to exist, such P&I Club
as may be approved by the Owners and (if any) the Finance Parties) on customary terms and shall be covered against liability for pollution claims in an amount not less than US Dollars one billion (US$1,000,000,000). The P&I
cover shall be placed with a P&I Club acceptable to the Owners and (if any) the Finance Parties. All insurances shall include customary protection in favour of the Owners and (if any) the Finance Parties as notice of
cancellation and exclusion from liability for premiums or calls. The insurance policies or cover notes for the hull and machinery insurance shall name the Owners as co- assured, endorsing its rights and interests. The Owners shall
be entered as a member for the P&I cover and war risks insurance.
|
|
(g) |
The Charterers:
|
|
(i) |
undertake to place the Insurances in such markets, in such currency, on such terms and conditions, and with such brokers, underwriters and associations as
the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties shall have previously approved in writing; and
|
|
(ii) |
shall not alter the terms of any of the Insurances nor allow any person (except the Approved Manager) to be co-assured under any of the Insurances without
the prior written consent of the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties, and will supply the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties from time to time on request with such information as the Owners and, if applicable,
any Finance Party may in their discretion require with regard to the Insurances and the brokers, underwriters or associations through or with which the Insurances are placed.
|
|
(h) |
The Charterers undertake duly and punctually to pay all premiums, calls and contributions, and all other sums at any time payable in connection with the
Insurances, and, at their own expense, to arrange and provide any guarantees from time to time required by any protection and indemnity or war risks association. Upon request, the Charterers shall provide the Owners and/or such
Finance Party with (i) copies of all invoices issued by the brokers, underwriters or associations in respect of such premiums calls, contributions and other sums, and (ii) evidence satisfactory to the Owners and/or such Finance
Party that such premiums, calls, contributions and other sums have been duly and punctually paid; that any such guarantees have been duly given; and that all declarations and notices required by the terms of any of the Insurances to
be made or given by or on behalf of the Charterers to brokers, underwriters or associations have been duly and punctually made or given.
|
|
(i) |
The Charterers will comply in all respects with all terms and conditions of the Insurances and will make all such declarations to brokers, underwriters
and associations as may be required to enable the Vessel to operate in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Insurances. The Charterers will not do, nor permit to be done, any act, nor make, nor permit to be made, any
omission, as a result of which any of the Insurances may become liable to be suspended, cancelled or avoided, or may become unenforceable, or as a result of which any sums payable under or in connection with any of the Insurances
may be reduced or become liable
|
|
(j) |
The Charterers will endeavour and before the expiry of any of the Insurances renew them and shall as soon as reasonably thereafter (but in any event
within fifteen (15) days after the relevant renewals) give the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties such details of those renewals as the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties may require.
|
|
(k) |
The Charterers shall deliver to the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties certified copies (and, if required by the Owners and/or (if applicable)
any Finance Parties, the originals) of all policies, certificates of entry (endorsed with the appropriate loss payable clauses as may be required by the Owners and the Finance Parties from time to time) and other documents relating
to the Insurances (including, without limitation, receipts for premiums, calls or contributions) and shall procure that letters of undertaking in such form as the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties may approve shall be
issued to the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties by the brokers through which the Insurances are placed (or, in the case of protection and indemnity or war risks associations, by their managers). If the Vessel is at any
time during the Agreement Term insured under any form of fleet cover, the Charterers shall procure that those letters of undertaking contain confirmation that the brokers, underwriters or association (as the case may be) will not
set off claims relating to the Vessel against premiums, calls or contributions in respect of any other vessel or other insurance, and that the insurance cover of the Vessel will not be cancelled by reason of non-payment of premiums,
calls or contributions relating to any other vessel or other insurance. Failing receipt of those confirmations, the Charterers will instruct the brokers, underwriters or association concerned to issue a separate policy or
certificate for the Vessel in the sole name of the Charterers or of the Charterers’ brokers as agents for the Charterers.
|
|
(l) |
Upon the Owners’ request, the Charterers shall provide the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties with full information available to the
Charterers regarding any casualty or other accident or damage to the Vessel, including, without limitation, any communication with all parties involved in case of a claim under any of the Insurances.
|
|
(m) |
The Charterers agree that, at any time after the occurrence of a Termination Event which is continuing, the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties
shall be entitled to collect, sue for, recover and give a good discharge for all claims in respect of any of the Insurances; to pay collecting brokers the customary commission on all sums collected in respect of those claims; to
compromise all such claims or refer them to arbitration or any other form of judicial or non-judicial determination; and otherwise to deal with such claims in such manner as the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties shall
in their discretion think fit.
|
|
(n) |
Whether or not a Termination Event shall have occurred, the proceeds of any claim under any of the Insurances in respect of a Total Loss shall be paid and
applied in accordance with Clause 57 (
Total Loss
).
|
|
(o) |
In the event of any claim in respect of any of the Insurances (other than in respect of a Total Loss), if the Charterers shall fail to reach agreement
with any of the brokers, underwriters or associations for the immediate restoration of the Vessel, or for payment to third parties, within such time as the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties may stipulate, the Owners
and, if applicable, the Finance Parties shall be entitled to require payment to itself. In the event of any dispute arising between the Charterers and any broker, underwriter or association with respect to any obligation to make any
payment to the Charterers or to the Owners and/or (if applicable) the Finance Parties under or in connection with any of the Insurances, or with respect to the amount of any such payment, the Owners and/or (if applicable) the
Finance Parties shall be entitled to settle that dispute directly with the broker, underwriter or association concerned. Any such settlement shall be binding on the Charterers.
|
|
(i) |
The Owners agree that any amounts which may become due under any protection and indemnity entry or insurance shall be paid to the Charterers to reimburse
the Charterers for, and in discharge of, the loss, damage or expense in respect of which they shall have become due, unless, at the time the amount in question becomes due, a Termination Event shall have occurred and is continuing,
in which event the Owners shall be entitled to receive the amounts in question and to apply them either in reduction of the Early Termination Amount owed by the Charterers pursuant to paragraph (d) of Clause 51 (
Termination Events
) or, at the option of the Owners, to the discharge of the liability in respect of which they were paid.
|
|
(ii) |
Without prejudice to the foregoing, all other claims in relation to the Insurances (other than in respect of a Total Loss), shall, unless and until the
occurrence of a Termination Event which is continuing, in which event all claims under the relevant policy shall be payable directly to the Owners, be payable as follows:
|
|
(A) |
a claim in respect of any one casualty where the aggregate claim against all insurers does not exceed the Major Casualty Amount, prior to adjustment for
any franchise or deductible under the terms of the relevant policy, shall be paid directly to the Charterers (as agent for the Owners) for the repair, salvage or other charges involved or as a reimbursement if the Charterers fully
repaired the damage to the satisfaction of the Owners and paid all of the salvage or other charges;
|
|
(B) |
a claim in respect of any one casualty where the aggregate claim against all insurers exceeds the Major Casualty Amount prior to adjustment for any
franchise or deductible under the terms of the relevant policy shall be payable directly to the Owners unless the Owners have, by prior written consent, agreed for such claim to be paid to the Charterers as and when the Vessel is
restored to her
|
|
(q) |
The Charterers shall not settle, compromise or abandon any claim under or in connection with any of the Insurances (other than a claim of less than the
Major Casualty Amount arising other than from a Total Loss) without the prior written consent of the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties.
|
|
(r) |
If the Charterers fail to effect or keep in force the Insurances, the Owners may (but shall not be obliged to) effect and/or keep in force such insurances
on the Vessel (including, without limitation, any freight, demurrage and defence cover) and such entries in protection and indemnity or war risks associations as the Owners in their discretion consider desirable, and the Owners may
(but shall not be obliged to) pay any unpaid premiums, calls or contributions. The Charterers will reimburse the Owners from time to time on demand for all such premiums, calls or contributions paid by the Owners, together with
interest calculated in accordance with paragraph (r) of Clause 41 (
Hire
) from the date of payment by the Owners until the date
of reimbursement.
|
|
(s) |
The Charterers shall comply strictly with the requirements of any legislation relating to pollution or protection of the environment which may from time
to time be applicable to the Vessel in any jurisdiction in which the Vessel shall trade and in particular the Charterers shall comply strictly with the requirements of the United States Oil Pollution Act 1990 (the “
Act
”) if the Vessel is to trade in the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone (as defined in the Act). Before any such
trade is commenced and during the entire period during which such trade is carried on, the Charterers shall:
|
|
(i) |
pay any additional premiums required to maintain protection and indemnity cover for oil pollution up to the limit available to the Charterers for the
Vessel in the market; and
|
|
(ii) |
make all such quarterly or other voyage declarations as may from time to time be required by the Vessel’s protection and indemnity association in order to
maintain such cover, and promptly deliver to the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties copies of such declarations; and
|
|
(iii) |
submit the Vessel to such additional periodic, classification, structural or other surveys which may be required by the Vessel’s protection and indemnity
insurers to maintain cover for such trade and promptly deliver to the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties copies of reports made in respect of such surveys; and
|
|
(iv) |
implement any recommendations contained in the reports issued following the surveys referred to in sub-paragraph 42(s)(iii) above within the relevant time
limits, and provide evidence satisfactory to the Owners and, if applicable, the Finance Parties that the protection and indemnity insurers are satisfied that this has been done; and
|
|
(v) |
in addition to the foregoing (if such trade is in the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone):
|
|
(A) |
obtain and retain a certificate of financial responsibility under the Act in form and substance satisfactory to the United States Coast Guard and provide
the Owners with evidence of the same;
|
|
(B) |
procure that the protection and indemnity insurances do not contain a US Trading Exclusion Clause or any other analogous provision and provide the Owners
with evidence that this is so; and
|
|
(C) |
comply strictly with any operational or structural regulations issued from time to time by any relevant authorities under the Act so that at all times the
Vessel falls within the provisions which limit strict liability under the Act for oil pollution.
|
|
(t) |
The Owners shall be at liberty to, in relation to the Vessel, take out Lessor’s or Innocent Owners’ Interest Insurance and Lessor’s Additional Peril
(Pollution) insurance on such terms and conditions as the Owners may from time to time decide. The Charterers shall from time to time upon the Owners’ demand reimburse the Owners for all costs, premiums and expenses paid or incurred
by the Owners in connection with such Lessor’s or Innocent Owners’ Interest Insurance and Lessor’s Additional Peril (Pollution) insurance, but only to the extent corresponding to each of the Lessor’s or Owners’ Interest Insurance or
Lessor’s Additional Peril (Pollution) insurance for an amount not exceeding one hundred and twenty per cent (120%) of the then current Cost Balance.
|
|
(u) |
Any Finance Party shall be at liberty to take out a Mortgagees’ Interest Insurance in relation to the Vessel on such terms and conditions as that Finance
Party may from time to time decide. The Owners shall upon the Charterers’ request and upon receipt of such information from the Finance Party, inform the Charterers of such costs, premiums and expenses required and prior to taking
out the Mortgagees’ Interest Insurance. The Charterers shall from time to time upon the Owners’ demand reimburse the Owners for all costs, premiums and expenses paid or incurred by the Owners or that Finance Party in connection with
such Mortgagees’ Interest Insurance, but only to the extent corresponding to a Mortgagee’s Interest Insurance for an amount not exceeding one hundred and twenty per cent. (120%) of the amount then outstanding under any loan made
available by the Finance Parties pursuant to any Finance Documents.
|
|
(a) |
In addition to what has been agreed in Clauses 43 (
Redelivery
)
(Part II) and 43 (
Redelivery
), the condition of the Vessel shall at redelivery be as follows:
|
|
(i) |
the Vessel shall be free of any class and statutory recommendations affecting its trading certificates;
|
|
(ii) |
the Vessel must be redelivered with all equipment and spares or replacement items listed in the delivery inventory carried out pursuant to Clause 9 (
Inventories, Oil and Stores
) (Part II) and any spare parts on board or on order for any equipment installed on the Vessel following
delivery (provided that, any such items which are on lease or hire purchase and which are necessary to stay on board the Vessel in order that the Vessel may comply with the requisite requirements of the Classification Society and
other applicable requirements for national and/or international trading requirements shall be replaced with items of an equivalent standard and condition fair wear and tear excepted)); all records, logs, plans, operating manuals and
drawings, spare parts onboard shall be included at the time of redelivery in connection with a transfer of the Vessel or such other items as are then in the possession of the Charterers shall be delivered to the Owners;
|
|
(iii) |
the Vessel must be redelivered with all national and international trading certificates and hull/machinery survey positions for both class and statutory
surveys free of any overdue recommendation and qualifications valid and un- extended for a period of at least six (6) months beyond the redelivery date;
|
|
(iv) |
all of the Vessel’s ballast tank coatings to be maintained in “Fair” (as such term (or its equivalent) may be defined and/or interpreted in the relevant
survey report) condition as appropriate for the Vessel’s age at the time of redelivery, fair wear and tear excepted;
|
|
(v) |
the Vessel shall have not have any outstanding flag or class surveys or inspections due within six (6) months after the date of redelivery and have its
continuous survey system up to date;
|
|
(vi) |
the Vessel must be re-delivered with accommodation and common spaces for crew and officers substantially in the same condition as at the Delivery Date,
free of damage over and above fair wear and tear, clean and free of infestation and odours; with cargo spaces generally fit to carry the cargoes originally designed and intended for the Vessel; with main propulsion equipment,
auxiliary equipment, cargo handling equipment, navigational equipment, etc., in such operating condition as provided for in this Charter fair wear and tear excepted;
|
|
(vii) |
the Vessel shall be free and clear of all liens other than those created by or on the instruction of the Owners;
|
|
(viii) |
the condition of the cargo holds to be in accordance with the maintenance regime undertaken by the Charterers during the Charter Period since delivery
with allowance for legitimate cargoes carried since the last major maintenance programme;
|
|
(ix) |
at the costs and expenses of the Charterers, a final joint report from the surveyors appointed by the Owners and the Charterers respectively shall be
carried out as to the condition of the Vessel and a list of agreed deficiencies if any shall be drawn up;
|
|
(x) |
the anti-fouling coating system applied at the last scheduled dry-docking shall be in accordance with prevailing regulations at the time of application;
|
|
(xi) |
the funnel markings and name (unless being maintained by the Owners following redelivery) shall be painted out by the Charterers; and
|
|
(xii) |
recently taken lube oil samples for all major machinery shall be made available within one (1) week of redelivery and results forwarded to Owners’
technical management for review.
|
|
(b) |
At redelivery, the Charterers shall ensure that the Vessel shall meet the following performance levels (which where relevant shall be determined by
reference to the Vessel’s log books):
|
|
(i) |
all equipment controlling the habitability of the accommodation and service areas to be in proper working order, fair wear and tear excepted; and
|
|
(ii) |
available deadweight to be within one per cent (1%) of that achieved at delivery (as the same may be adjusted as a result of any upgrading, modifications,
alterations or repairs of the Vessel carried out in accordance with this Charter (such adjustment to be agreed between the Owners and Charterers at the time such work is to be undertaken).
|
|
(c) |
The Owners and Charterers shall each appoint (at the Charterers’ cost and expense) surveyors for the purpose of determining and agreeing in writing the
condition of the Vessel at redelivery.
|
|
(d) |
If the Vessel is not in the condition or does not meet the performance criteria required by this Clause 44, a list of deficiencies together with the costs
of repairing/remedying such deficiencies shall be agreed by the respective surveyors.
|
|
(e) |
The Charterers shall be obliged to repair any class items restricting the operation or trading of the Vessel prior to redelivery.
|
|
(f) |
The Charterers shall be obliged to repair/remedy all such other deficiencies as are necessary to put the Vessel into the return condition required by this
Clause 44.
|
|
(g) |
Until such time as any compensatory amount in respect of any repairs/remedial work outstanding as at redelivery has been paid in accordance with the terms
of this Charter and the Vessel has been redelivered, the Charterers shall continue to pay the Hire in accordance with the terms of this Charter.
|
|
(a) |
Unless the Vessel is returned in dry-dock, a diver’s inspection is required to be performed at the time of redelivery.
|
|
(b) |
The Charterers shall, at the written request of the Owners, arrange at the Charterers’ time and expense for an underwater inspection by a diver approved
by the Classification Society immediately prior to the redelivery.
|
|
(c) |
(c) A video film of the inspection shall be made. The extent of the inspection and the conditions under which it is performed shall be to the satisfaction
of the Classification Society.
|
|
(d) |
If damage to the underwater parts is found affecting the Vessel’s class, the Charterers shall arrange, at their time and costs, for the Vessel to be
dry-docked and repairs carried out to the satisfaction of the Classification Society and if damage to the underwater parts is found but such damage does not affect the Vessel’s class and the Classification Society approves the
postponement of repair of such damage until the next regular dry-docking of the Vessel, the Owners may (acting reasonably) agree that such repairs to be done after redelivery without immediate dry-docking provided that (i) the
Charterer undertakes to indemnify the Owners any costs and expenses that the Owners may incur in repairing the damage to the satisfaction of the Classification Society and (ii) a deposit sufficient to cover the estimated repair cost
has been paid to the Owners.
|
|
(e) |
If the conditions at the port of redelivery are unsuitable for such diver’s inspection, the Charterers shall take the Vessel (in Owners’ time but at
Charterers’ expense) to a suitable alternative place nearest to the redelivery port unless an alternative solution is agreed.
|
|
(a) |
The Charterers:
|
|
(i) |
acknowledge that the Owners, on the basis that the Owners comply with paragraph(b)(i) below, are entitled and do intend to enter or have entered into
certain funding arrangements with the Finance Parties in order to finance part of the Actual Owners’ Cost, which funding arrangements may be secured, inter alia, by ship mortgage(s) over the Vessel and (along with other related
matters) the relevant Finance Documents;
|
|
(ii) |
consent to any assignment of the Owners’ rights, title and interest in and to the Insurances, Sub-Charterers’ Insurances, Earnings, Sub-Charterers’
Earnings, Requisition Compensation and Sub-Charterers’ Requisition Compensation (including the Owners’ rights, title and interest in and to such property as assigned by the Charterers and/or the Sub-Charterers (as applicable) in
favour of the Owners pursuant to the Charterers’ Assignment and/or the Sub-Charterers’ Assignment) and any Transaction Document to which it is a party in favour of the Finance Parties pursuant to the relevant Finance Documents
subject to the Financing Party entering into a Quiet Enjoyment Letter pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) below; and
|
|
(iii) |
without limiting the generality of paragraph (n) of Clause 49 (
Charterers’ undertakings
), undertake to execute, provide or procure the execution or provision (as the case may be) of such further reasonably information or
|
|
(b) |
The Owners undertake that:
|
|
(i) |
in the absence of any Termination Event which is continuing, the Owners shall procure that the Finance Party which will be a mortgagee of the Vessel shall
execute in favour of the Charterers a Quiet Enjoyment Letter;
|
|
(ii) |
if any Sub-Charterers who are chartering the Vessel on a bareboat basis or on a time charter fixed for a period exceeding twenty-four (24) months from the
Charterers as disponent owner so requests, and
provided that
:
|
|
(A) |
the Charterers have executed an assignment (in form and substance acceptable to the Owners) by way of security of the Charterers’ rights, title and
interests in and to the relevant Sub-Charter;
|
|
(B) |
the Sub-Charterers have executed a Sub-Charterers’ Assignment;
|
|
(C) |
to the extent that any prior written consent from such Sub-Charterers is required before the Charterers may assign by way of security referred to in
sub-paragraph (b)(ii)(A) above, the Charterers have procured to be delivered to the Owners evidence that such Sub- Charterers have granted such prior written consent;
|
|
(D) |
the Charterers have delivered to the Owners all documents required by such assignment referred to in this Clause 46(b)(ii) including, without limitation,
all other notices of assignment and used reasonable endeavours to procure delivery of any other acknowledgements thereof (each in form and substance acceptable to the Owners (acting reasonably), including cure rights in favour of
the Owners; and
|
|
(E) |
the Charterers have procured to be delivered to the Owners any relevant legal opinions (in form and substance acceptable to the Owners) reasonably
required by the Owners in relation to such assignment and its execution,
|
|
(c) |
Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Owners’ may assign or transfer their rights under this Charter without the prior written consent of the
Charterers.
|
|
(a) |
The Charterers represent and warrant to the Owners on the date of this Charter and (by reference to the facts and circumstances then pertaining) on the
Delivery Date and each Hire Payment Date as follows (except that (1) the representation and warranty contained in paragraph (vii) and (xxiv) below shall only be made on the date of this Charter and on the Delivery Date, and (2) the
representations and warranties in paragraph (ii) below shall only be made on the date of this Charter):
|
|
(i) |
Status and due authorisation:
each
Obligor is a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company duly incorporated or formed under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation (as the case may be) with power to enter into the Transaction
Documents and the Project Documents (to which it is a party) and to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents (to which it is a party) and all corporate and other
action required to authorise its execution of the Transaction Documents and the Project documents (to which it is a party) and its performance of its obligations thereunder has been duly taken;
|
|
(ii) |
No deductions or withholding:
under
the laws of the Obligors’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in force at the date hereof, none of the Obligors will be required to make any deduction or withholding from any payment it may make under any of the
Transaction Documents;
|
|
(iii) |
Claims pari passu:
under the
laws of the Obligors’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in force at the date hereof, the payment obligations of each Obligor under each Transaction Document to which it is a party, rank at least
pari passu
with the claims of all other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors of such Obligor save for any obligations which are
preferred solely by any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws of general application;
|
|
(iv) |
No Immunity:
in any
proceedings taken in any of the Obligors’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in relation to any of the Transaction Documents, none of the Obligors will be entitled to claim for itself or any of its assets
immunity from suit, execution, attachment or other legal process;
|
|
(v) |
Governing law and judgments
:
in any proceedings taken in any of the Obligors’ jurisdiction of incorporation or formation in relation to any of the Transaction
Documents in which there is an express choice of the law of a particular country as the governing law thereof, that choice of law and any judgment or (if applicable) arbitral award obtained in that country will be recognised and
enforced;
|
|
(vi) |
Validity and admissibility in
evidence:
as at the date hereof, all acts, conditions and things required to be done, fulfilled and performed in order (A) to enable each of the Obligors lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights under and perform and
comply with the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents to which it is a party, (B) to ensure that the obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Obligors in the
Transaction Documents and the Project Documents are legal, valid and binding, and (C) to make the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in the jurisdictions of incorporation or
formation of each of the Obligors, have been done, fulfilled and performed;
|
|
(vii) |
No filing or stamp taxes:
under
the laws of the Obligors’ respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation in force at the date hereof, it is not necessary that any of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party be filed, recorded or enrolled with any
court or other authority in its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation (other than the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales or the relevant maritime registry, to the extent applicable) or that any stamp, registration or
similar tax be paid on or in relation to any of the Transaction Document;
|
|
(viii) |
Binding obligations:
the
obligations expressed to be assumed by each of the Obligors in the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents to which it is a party are legal and valid obligations, binding on each of them in accordance with the terms of such
Transaction Documents and the Project Documents and no limit on any of their powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowings, granting of security or giving of guarantees contemplated by such Transaction Documents and the
Project Documents or the performance by any of them of any of their obligations thereunder;
|
|
(ix) |
No misleading information:
to
the best of its knowledge, any factual information provided by any Obligor to the Owners in connection with the Transaction Documents was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided and is not
misleading in any material respect;
|
|
(x) |
No winding-up:
none of the
Obligors has taken any corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of the Charterers’ knowledge and belief) threatened
against any Obligor for its winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its assets or
revenues which might have a Material Adverse Effect;
|
|
(xi) |
Solvency:
|
|
(A) |
None of the Obligors is unable, or admits or has admitted its inability, to pay its debts or has suspended making payments in respect of any of its debts;
|
|
(B) |
None of the Obligors by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, has commenced, or intends to commence, negotiations
|
|
(C) |
The value of the assets of each Obligor is not less than the liabilities of such Obligor (as the case may be) (taking into account contingent and
prospective liabilities).
|
|
(D) |
No moratorium has been, declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Obligor;
|
|
(xii) |
No material defaults:
|
|
(A) |
Without prejudice to paragraph (B) below, none of the Obligors are in breach of or in default under any agreement to which it is a party or which is
binding on it or any of its assets to an extent or in a manner which might have a Material Adverse Effect.
|
|
(B) |
No Potential Termination Event or Termination Event is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from each Obligor’s entry into and performance
of each Transaction Document to which such Obligor is a party;
|
|
(xiii) |
No material proceedings:
no
material action or administrative proceeding of or before any court, arbitral body or agency which is not covered by adequate insurance or which might have a Material Adverse Effect has been started;
|
|
(xiv) |
Accounts:
all financial
statements relating to the Charterers and/or the Charter Guarantors required to be delivered under paragraph (a) of Clause 49 (
Charterers’
undertakings), were each prepared in accordance with GAAP, (in conjunction with the notes thereto) fairly represent the financial condition of the Charterers and/or the Charter Guarantors at the date as of which they were
prepared and the results of their operations during the financial period then ended;
|
|
(xv) |
No obligation to create Security
Interest:
the execution of the Transaction Documents by the Obligors and their exercise of their rights and performance of their obligations thereunder will not result in the existence of nor oblige any Obligor to create
any Security Interest over all or any of their present or future revenues or assets, other than pursuant to the Security Documents to which they are a party;
|
|
(xvi) |
No breach:
the execution of
the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents by each of the Obligors and their exercise of their rights and performance of their obligations under any of the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents to which they are a
party do not constitute and will not result in any breach of any agreement or treaty to which any of them is a party;
|
|
(xvii) |
Security:
each of the Obligors
is the legal and beneficial owner of all assets and other property which it purports to charge, mortgage, pledge, assign or otherwise secure pursuant to each Security Document and those Security
|
|
(xviii) |
Necessary authorisations:
the
Necessary Authorisations required by each Obligor are in full force and effect, and each Obligor is in compliance with the material provisions of each such Necessary Authorisation relating to it and, to the best of its knowledge,
none of the Necessary Authorisations relating to it are the subject of any pending or threatened proceedings or revocation;
|
|
(xix) |
No money laundering etc:
the
performance of the obligations of the Obligors under the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents, will be for the account of members of the respective Obligor(s) and will not involve any breach by any of them of any law or
regulatory measure relating to “money laundering” as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (2005/EC/60) of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Communities;
|
|
(xx) |
Disclosure of material facts:
the
Charterers are not aware of any material facts or circumstances which have not been disclosed to the Owners and which might, if disclosed, have reasonably been expected to materially adversely affect the decision of a person
considering whether or not to enter into the Transaction Documents;
|
|
(xxi) |
Environmental laws:
|
|
(A) |
The Charterers are in compliance with paragraph (h) of Clause 49 (
Charterers’ undertakings
) and (to the best of its knowledge and belief) no circumstances have occurred which would prevent such compliance in a manner or to an extent which has or is reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect
.
No Environmental Claim has been commenced or (to the best of the Charterers’
knowledge and belief) is threatened against the Charterers where that claim has or is reasonably likely, if determined against the Charterers, to have a Material Adverse Effect;
|
|
(xxii) |
Taxation
|
|
(A) |
No Obligor is materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns and no Obligor overdue in the payment of any amount in respect of Tax of US Dollars One
Million (US$1,000,000) (or its equivalent in any other currency) or more, save in the case of Taxes which are being contested in good faith.
|
|
(B) |
As far as the Charterers are aware, each of the Obligors is resident for Tax purposes only in the jurisdiction of its incorporation;
|
|
(xxiii) |
No Restricted Party:
no
Obligor is a Restricted Party nor has any Obligor or any of their respective directors, officers or employees or any person acting on their behalf received notice or are aware of any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation
against any of them with respect to Sanctions by a Sanctions Authority;
|
|
(xxiv) |
No Material Adverse Effect:
no
event or circumstance has occurred which has a Material Adverse Effect;
|
|
(xxv) |
Building Contract:
no party is
in a material default under the Building Contract; and
|
|
(xxvi) |
Status of Project Documents:
the
copies of the Project Documents delivered to the Owners are true and complete copies. The Project Documents constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the parties to them in accordance with their respective
terms. No amendments or additions to the Project Documents have been agreed nor has any party to any Project Document waived any of its respective rights under that Project Document (except as those notified to the Owners in writing
and, if consent of the Owners are required pursuant to this Charter, as consented to by the Owners).
|
|
(b) |
The representation and warranties of the Charterers in this Clause 48 are subject to: (i)
|
|
(ii) |
the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, court schemes, moratoria, administration and other
laws generally affecting or limiting the rights of creditors;
|
|
(iii) |
the time barring of claims under any applicable limitation acts;
|
|
(iv) |
the possibility that a court may strike out provisions for a contract as being invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar; and
|
|
(v) |
any other reservations or qualifications of law expressed in any legal opinions obtained by the Owners in connection with the Transaction Documents.
|
|
(a) |
Financial statements:
the
Charterers shall and shall procure Charter Guarantor 1 each supply to the Owners as soon as the same become available, but in any event within:
|
|
(i) |
one hundred and eighty (180) days after the end of each of its financial years, its audited consolidated financial statements for that financial year; and
|
|
(ii) |
sixty (60) days after the end of each of each half-year, the unaudited consolidated financial statements for that period;
|
|
(b) |
Requirements as to financial
statements:
each set of financial statements delivered to the Owners under paragraph (a) of Clause 49 above in relation to the Charterers and Charter Guarantor 1 (each a “
Notifying Party
”) shall be:
|
|
(i) |
certified by an authorised signatory of the relevant Notifying Party as fairly representing its financial condition as at the date as at which those
financial statements were drawn up; and
|
|
(ii) |
prepared in accordance with GAAP.
|
|
(c) |
Information:
the Charterers
shall supply to the Owners:
|
|
(i) |
promptly upon becoming aware of them, details of any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or
pending against the Charterers or the Charter Guarantors, and which, if adversely determined, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
|
|
(ii) |
promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition, business and operations of the Charterers and the Charter Guarantors as the Owners
may reasonably request.
|
|
(d) |
Maintenance of legal validity:
the
Charterers shall comply with the terms of and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect all Necessary Authorisations required in or by the laws and regulations of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation
and all other applicable jurisdictions, to enable it lawfully to enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of the
Transaction Documents in its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation and all other applicable jurisdictions.
|
|
(e) |
Notification of Potential Termination
Event:
the Charterers shall promptly, upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Owners in writing of the occurrence of any Termination Event or Potential Termination Event (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy
this) and, upon receipt of a written request to that effect from the Owners, confirm to the Owners that, save as previously notified to the Owners or as notified in such confirmation, no Termination Event or Potential Termination
Event is continuing or if a Termination Event or Potential Termination Event is continuing specifying the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it.
|
|
(f) |
Claims pari passu:
the
Charterers shall ensure that at all times the claims of the Owners against it under the Transaction Documents rank at least
pari passu
with the claims of all its other unsecured and subordinated creditors save those whose claims are preferred by any bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, winding-up or other similar laws of general application.
|
|
(g) |
Necessary Authorisations:
without
prejudice to any specific provision of the Transaction Documents relating to a Necessary Authorisation, the Charterers shall (i) obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect all Necessary
Authorisations if a failure to do the same may cause a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) promptly upon request, supply certified copies to the Owners of all Necessary Authorisations.
|
|
(h) |
Compliance with applicable laws:
the
Charterers shall comply with all applicable laws, including Environmental Laws, to which it may be subject (except as regards Restricted Parties to which paragraph (i) below applies, and anti-corruption and anti- bribery laws to
which paragraph (j) below applies) if a failure to do the same may have a Material Adverse Effect.
|
|
(i) |
No dealings with Restricted Parties:
the
Charterers shall not, and shall not permit or authorise any other person to, directly or indirectly, utilise or employ the Vessel or to use, lend, make payments of, contribute or otherwise make available, all or any
|
|
(i) |
involving or for the benefit of any Restricted Party; and
|
|
(ii) |
in any other manner that would reasonably be expected to result in any Obligor or the Owners or any Finance Party (if applicable) being in breach of any
Sanctions or become a Restricted Party.
|
|
(j) |
Anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws:
the Charterers shall conduct its business in compliance with applicable anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws.
|
|
(k) |
Environmental compliance:
the
Charterers shall:
|
|
(i) |
comply with any Environmental Law;
|
|
(ii) |
obtain, maintain and ensure compliance with all requisite Environmental Approvals; and
|
|
(iii) |
implement procedures to monitor compliance with and to prevent liability under any Environmental Law,
|
|
(l) |
Environmental Claims:
the
Charterers shall, promptly upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Owners in writing of:
|
|
(i) |
any Environmental Claim against the Charterers which is current or pending; and
|
|
(ii) |
any facts or circumstances which are reasonably likely to result in any Environmental Claim being commenced or threatened against the Charterers,
|
|
(m) |
Taxation
|
|
(i) |
The Charterers shall pay and discharge any Tax imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties unless and only to
the extent that:
|
|
(A) |
such payment is being contested in good faith;
|
|
(B) |
adequate reserves are being maintained for such Tax and the costs required to contest them have been disclosed in its latest financial statements; and
|
|
(C) |
such payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay such Tax does not have or is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
|
|
(ii) |
No Obligor may change its residence for Tax purposes.
|
|
(n) |
Further assurance:
the
Charterers shall, at their own expense, promptly take all such action as the Owners may reasonably require for the purpose of perfecting or protecting any of the Owners’ rights with respect to the security created or evidenced (or
intended to be created or evidenced) by the Security Documents.
|
|
(o) |
Other information:
the
Charterers will promptly supply to the Owners such financial information and explanations as the Owners may from time to time reasonably require in connection with the Charterers.
|
|
(p) |
Inspection of records:
the
Charterers will permit the inspection of their financial records and accounts relating to the Transaction Documents on reasonable notice from time to time during business hours by the Owners or its nominee.
|
|
(q) |
Merger and demerger:
the
Charterers shall not enter into any amalgamation, merger, demerger or corporate restructuring without the prior written consent of the Owners (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
|
|
(r) |
Financial indebtedness:
|
|
(i) |
The Charterers may from time to time make or grant loans and to make payment of principal and to pay interests on such loans to the Shareholder, and the
Shareholder may from time to time make or grant loans to the Charterers, in each case pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Intra- group Loan Agreement, provided that:
|
|
(A) |
no Termination Event is in existence or will occur from the making of such loan;
|
|
(B) |
the indebtedness obligations owed or to be owed under the Intra- group Loan Agreement shall, pursuant to separate undertaking(s) or deed(s) (in such form
and content acceptable to the Owners (acting reasonably)) between the Charterers, the Shareholder and Owners, rank behind and be fully subordinated to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and any of the Charterers’ or the
Shareholder’s rights and claims under such loans are assigned to the Owners.
|
|
(ii) |
Except as provided in Clause 49(r)(i), the Charterers shall not, without the prior written consent of the Owners:
|
|
(A) |
incur any loans, guarantees or any other form of Financial Indebtedness (except where such loans, guarantees or any other form of Financial Indebtedness
is subordinated to the Debt pursuant to separate undertaking(s) or deed(s) in such form and content acceptable to the Owners (acting reasonably)) nor incur any obligations as lessee under leases; or
|
|
(B) |
make any loans or advances to, or investments in, any person who is not within the Charter Group (including, without limitation, any officer, director,
stockholder, employee or customer of the Charterer),
|
|
(C) |
the Charterers shall not, without the prior consent of the Owners, make any payment of principal or interest to any of its creditors in respect of any
loans or loan capital or other form of Financial Indebtedness made available to it by them including, but without limitation to, any Financial Indebtedness incurred under sub- paragraph (A) above; and
|
|
(D) |
notwithstanding sub-paragraph (B) above, the Charterers shall not, without the prior consent of the Owners, make any loans or advances to, or any
investments in, any person.
|
|
(iii) |
The Charterers shall procure that Charter Guarantor 1 shall not, without the prior written consent of the Owners, incur total borrowings in an amount
greater than 75% of its total assets if the average time-charter period procured by the Guarantor for all vessels of the Charter Group is less than 2.5 years.
|
|
(s) |
Transfer of assets:
the
Charterers shall not, sell or transfer any of its material assets other than:
|
|
(i) |
on arm’s length terms to third parties where the net proceeds of sale are used as a prepayment hereunder; or
|
|
(ii) |
on arm’s length terms to its Affiliates, which are and remain members of the Charter Group.
|
|
(t) |
Change of business:
the
Charterers shall not, without the prior written consent of the Owners, make any substantial change to the general nature of their shipping business from that carried on at the date of this Charter.
|
|
(u) |
“Know your customer” checks:
if:
|
|
(i) |
the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this
Charter;
|
|
(ii) |
any change in the status of the Charterers and/or the Charter Guarantors after the date of this Charter; or
|
|
(iii) |
(iii) a proposed assignment or transfer by Owners of any of its rights and obligations under this Charter,
|
|
(v) |
Management of the Vessel:
the
Charterers shall ensure that:
|
|
(i) |
the Vessel is at all times technically managed by an Approved Manager and commercially managed by the Charterers;
|
|
(ii) |
unless (A) the Charterers have promptly informed the Owners in writing of any proposed change of an Approved Manager, and (B) the Owners have granted its
prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such proposed change, the Approved Manager shall not be changed to another entity; and
|
|
(iii) |
the Approved Managers will provide a written confirmation confirming that, among other things, following the occurrence of Termination Event which is
continuing, all claims of the Approved Managers against the Charterers shall be subordinated to the claims of the Owners or the Finance Parties (if applicable) under the Transaction Documents.
|
|
(w) |
Classification:
the Charterers
shall ensure that the Vessel maintains the highest classification required for the purpose of the relevant trade of the Vessel which shall be with the Vessel’s Classification Society, in each case, free from any material overdue
recommendations and adverse notations affecting that the Vessel’s class.
|
|
(x) |
Certificate of financial
responsibility:
the Charterers shall, if required, obtain and maintain a certificate of financial responsibility in relation to the Vessel which is to call at the United States of America.
|
|
(y) |
Registration:
the Charterers
shall not change or permit a change to the flag of the Vessel during the duration of this Charter other than to a Pre-Approved Flag, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Any change to the flag of the Vessel
shall be at the cost of the Charterers (which shall include any costs of the Finance Parties (if applicable).
|
|
(z) |
ISM, ISPS and Maritime Labour
Convention Compliance:
the Charterers shall ensure that each ISM Company and ISPS Company complies in all material respects with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code, respectively, or any replacements thereof and in particular
(without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) shall ensure that such company holds (i) a valid and current Document of Compliance issued pursuant to the ISM Code, (ii) a valid and current SMC issued in respect of the Vessel
pursuant to the ISM Code, and (iii) an ISSC in respect of the Vessel, and the Charterers shall promptly, upon request, supply the Owners with copies of the same. The Charterers shall at all time comply with the Maritime Labour
Convention.
|
|
(aa) |
Chartering-in:
the Charterers
shall not, during the duration of this Charter, without the prior written consent of the Owners, take any vessel on charter or other contract of employment (or agree to do so).
|
|
(bb) |
Change of control:
the
Charterers shall ensure that, without the prior written consent of the Owners:
|
|
(i) |
during the duration of the Charter Period, no Change of Control shall occur under paragraph (a) of the definition of “Change of Control” in this Charter;
and
|
|
(ii) |
from the beginning of the Charter Period until such time (the “
Relevant Time
”) after the fifth anniversary when it is shown to the satisfaction of the
|
|
(A) |
the restriction under paragraph (b) of the definition of “Change of Control” shall not apply; and
|
|
(B) |
notwithstanding Clause 49(r)(iii), the Charterers shall procure that Charter Guarantor 1 shall not, without the prior written consent of the Owners, incur
total borrowings in an amount greater than 75% of its total assets at all time (whether or not the average time-charter period procured by the Guarantor for all vessels of the Charter Group is less than 2.5 years).
|
|
(cc) |
Inspection of Vessel and inspection
reports:
in the absence of a Termination Event, subject to there being no undue interference with the operation of the Vessel:
|
|
(i) |
the Owners may at the Charterers’ cost arrange for persons appointed by the Owners to board the Vessel once in each calendar year during the Charter
Period to inspect the Vessel’s state and condition, and the Charterers will provide commercially reasonable assistance to facilitate such inspection; and
|
|
(ii) |
the Charterers shall, within five (5) Business Days’ of the Owners’ written demand, reimburse the Owners for all costs, fees and expenses reasonably
incurred by the Owners in connection with the Owners’ procuring or arranging the procurement of the relevant inspection report as to the condition of the Vessel,
|
|
(dd) |
Sub-Charterers:
the Charterers
will, where applicable, use best endeavours and forthwith execute and deliver any and all such other agreements, instruments and documents (including any novation agreement) as may be required by law or deemed necessary or desirable
by the Owners to ensure that any Sub-Charter which is in effect on the Delivery Date remains in effect, so that all obligations previously owed by the relevant Sub-Charterers to the Charterers under such Sub-Charter shall continue
to be owed to the Charterers throughout the Agreement Term.
|
|
(ee) |
Valuation of Market Value
|
|
(i) |
The Charterers shall procure valuation of the Market Value of the Vessel to be made (and procure the delivery to the Owners of the Valuation Reports
issued by the Approved Brokers): (i) once every twelve (12) months during the Charter Period (each such Valuation Report to be at the Charterers’ cost); and (ii) at such other times as the Owners may require in their absolute
discretion (each such additional Valuation Reports to be at Owners’ cost unless a Termination Event has occurred and is continuing following which such additional Valuation Reports shall be at the cost of the Charterers).
|
|
(ii) |
The valuation shall be conducted at such time as the Owners may notify the Charterers. The valuation shall determine the Market Value of the Vessel of
that year. The Valuation Report shall be delivered to the Owners within one month in which the valuation was conducted.
|
|
(iii) |
The Market Value of the Vessel shall be the arithmetic average of desk-top valuations obtained from three (3) Approved Brokers with two selected by the
Charterers and the other selected by the Owners which shall be Vessels Value and the expenses of such appointments shall be borne by the Charterers). Each such valuation shall take into account the benefit of this Charter and any
Sub-Charter (dated no earlier than thirty (30) days from the relevant date) on the basis of a willing buyer and a willing seller at arm’s length.
|
|
(iv) |
If valuation is obtained in accordance with this Clause and the ratio (the “
Ratio
”) of:
|
|
(A) |
the Market Value
to
|
|
(B) |
the Cost Balance less the deposits received by the Owners (including the Deposit (defined below))
|
|
(v) |
Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies of the Owners hereunder, the Owners shall have the right to apply the Deposit or parts thereof upon the
occurrence of a Termination Event towards payment of any sums due and payable by the Charterers under the Transaction Documents including but not limited to any Termination Sum. In circumstances where the Owners has waived its right
to terminate this Charter and this Charter is continuing, the Charterers shall within ten (10) days, deposit with the Owners such additional amounts as may be required to make up the Deposit (where all or part of the Deposit was
used towards payment of any sums due and payable by the Charterers under the Transaction Documents).
|
|
(vi) |
The Deposit shall be retained by the Owners free of any interest to the Charterers as security deposit to secure the due observance and performance by the
Charterers of its obligations and undertakings herein contained and shall be released or partially released to the Charterers only pursuant to this Clause 49(ee)(vi).
|
|
(vii) |
If the Ratio determined at any subsequent annual valuation under this Clause 49(ee) is above the Required VTL Ratio, the Owners shall within twenty (20)
Banking Days from the written demand of the Charterers, refund all or part of the Deposit to the Charterers PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT the Required VTL Ratio is complied with after such refund. If any part of the Deposit is not refunded
to the Charterers pursuant to the preceding provision, any remaining balance of the Deposit held by the Owners shall be refunded to the Charterers within twenty (20) Banking Days after the expiration or termination of the Charter
Period PROVIDED THAT no Termination Event has occurred and is continuing.
|
|
(ff) |
Sub-Charter:
the Charterers
shall procure that, without the prior written consent of the Owners, there shall be no termination of, alteration to or waiver of any material term of, any Sub-Charter.
|
|
(gg) |
Transactions with Affiliates:
the
Charterers shall procure that all transactions conducted or to be conducted between them and any of the Obligors or any of that Obligor’s Affiliates will be on an arm’s length commercial basis.
|
|
(hh) |
Notification:
the Charterers
shall notify the Owners promptly after they become aware of the expiry or early termination of any Sub-Charter.
|
|
(ii) |
No Security Interest
The
Charterers will not create or permit to subsist any Security Interest or any other third party rights over any of their present and future rights and interest in or towards the Vessel, except for any:
|
|
(i) |
Permitted Security Interest; or
|
|
(ii) |
Security Interest created (A) in favour of the Owners or the Finance Parties, (B) otherwise with the prior written consent of the Owners (such consent not
to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), or (C) as otherwise permitted under the Transaction Documents.
|
|
(jj) |
Project Documents
|
|
(i) |
The Charterers shall:
|
|
(A) |
without affecting its obligations under the applicable provisions of the Transaction Documents, perform and observe its obligations under the Project
Documents and use its best endeavours to procure that each of the other parties to the Project Documents performs and observes its obligations under them; and
|
|
(B) |
obtain and maintain in force, and promptly furnish certified copies to the Owners of, all licences, authorisations, approvals and consents, and do all
other acts and things, which may from time to time be necessary or desirable for the continued due performance of its obligations under the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents or which may be required for the validity,
enforceability or admissibility in evidence of the Transaction Documents and the Project Documents;
|
|
(ii) |
The Charterers shall not, without the prior written consent of the Owners:
|
|
(A) |
except as contemplated by this Charter, sell or agree to sell the Vessel (including a sale of the Vessel during her construction by way of an assignment,
novation or other transfer of the Building Contract) or convey, assign, transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of or deal with any of its other real or personal property, assets or rights, whether present or future, in connection with
the Vessel; or
|
|
(B) |
waive or fail to enforce any provision of, or agree to any amendment or supplement to, the Building Contract, save to the extent expressly permitted by
the terms of any Transaction Document.
|
|
(a) |
Each of the following events shall constitute a Termination Event:
|
|
(i) |
Failure to pay any Obligor:
any
Obligor fails to pay any amount due from it under any Transaction Document to which they are parties at the time, in the currency and otherwise in the manner specified therein provided that, if an Obligor can demonstrate to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Owners that all necessary instructions were given to effect such payment and the non-receipt thereof is attributable solely to an administrative or technical error or an error in the banking system or
a Disruption Event, then such payment shall instead be deemed to be due, solely for the purposes of this paragraph, within five (5) Business Days of the date on which it actually fell due under this Charter (if a payment of Hire)
and three (3) Business Days (if a sum payable on demand); or
|
|
(ii) |
Misrepresentation:
any
representation or statement made by any Obligor in any Transaction Document to which it is a party or in any notice or other document, certificate or statement delivered by it pursuant thereto or in connection therewith is or proves
to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect, where the circumstances causing the same give rise to a Material Adverse Effect; or
|
|
(iii) |
Specific covenants:
any
Obligor fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by or procured by them under paragraphs49(bb), (ee) and (gg) of Clause 49 (
Charterers’ undertakings
); or
|
|
(iv) |
Other obligations:
any of the
Obligors fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by them in any Transaction Document (other than those referred to in paragraph (iii)) and such failure (if capable of remedy) is not
remedied within fourteen (14) Business Days after the earlier of (A) the Owners having given notice thereof to the relevant Obligor and (B) the Obligor becoming aware of such failure to perform or comply; or
|
|
(v) |
Cross Default:
any Financial
Indebtedness of any Obligor is not paid when due (or within any applicable grace period) and payable prior to its specified maturity where the aggregate of all such unpaid or accelerated indebtedness of such Obligor is equal to or
greater than US Dollars Eight Million (US$8,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies; or
|
|
(vi) |
Insolvency and rescheduling:
any
of the Obligors is unable to pay their debts as they fall due, commences negotiations with any one or more of their creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of their indebtedness or makes a general
assignment for the benefit of their creditors or a composition with their creditors; or
|
|
(vii) |
Winding-up:
any of the
Obligors files for initiation of formal restructuring proceedings, is wound up or declared bankrupt or takes any corporate action or other steps are taken or legal proceedings are started for their winding-up, dissolution,
administration or re-organisation or for the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, conservator, custodian, trustee or similar officer of them or of any or all of their revenues or assets or
any moratorium is declared or sought in respect of any of their indebtedness; or
|
|
(viii) |
Execution or distress
|
|
(A) |
any Obligor fails to comply with or pays any sum due from them (within thirty (30) days of such amount falling due) under any final judgment or any final
order made or given by any court or other official body of a competent jurisdiction in an aggregate in respect of the Obligor equal to or greater than US Dollars Eight Million (US$8,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency,
being a judgment or order against which there is no right of appeal or if a right of appeal exists, where the time limit for making such appeal has expired; or
|
|
(B) |
any execution or distress is levied against, or an encumbrancer takes possession of, the whole or any part of, the property, undertaking or assets of any
Obligor in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than US Dollars Five Million (US$5,000,000) or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies, other than any execution or distress which is being contested in good faith and
which is either discharged within thirty (30) days or in respect of which adequate security has been provided within thirty (30) days to the relevant court or other authority to enable the relevant execution or distress to be lifted
or released; or
|
|
(ix) |
Similar event:
any event
occurs which, under the laws of any jurisdiction, has a similar or analogous effect to any of those events mentioned in paragraphs (vi), (vii) or (viii) above; or
|
|
(x) |
Repudiation:
any of the
Obligors repudiates any Transaction Document to which it is a party or do or cause to be done any act or thing evidencing an intention to repudiate any such Transaction Document; or
|
|
(xi) |
Validity and admissibility:
at
any time any act, condition or thing required to be done, fulfilled or performed in order:
|
|
(A) |
to enable any of the Obligors lawfully to enter into, exercise their rights under and perform the material obligations expressed to be assumed by them in
the Transaction Documents;
|
|
(B) |
to ensure that the material obligations expressed to be assumed by any of the Obligors in the Transaction Documents are legal, valid and binding; or
|
|
(C) |
to make the Transaction Documents admissible in evidence in any applicable jurisdiction,
|
|
(xii) |
Illegality:
at any time:
|
|
(A) |
it is or becomes unlawful for any of the Obligors to perform or comply with any or all of their obligations under the Transaction Documents to which they
are parties;
|
|
(B) |
any of the obligations of any of the Obligors under the Transaction Documents to which they are parties are not or cease to be legal, valid and binding;
or
|
|
(C) |
any Security Interest created or purported to be created by the Security Documents ceases to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable or effective or is
alleged by a party to such Security Document (other than the Owners) to be ineffective,
|
|
(xiii) |
Material adverse change:
at
any time there shall occur any event or change which has a Material Adverse Effect in respect of any of the Obligors and such event or change, if capable of remedy, is not so remedied within thirty (30) days of the delivery of a
notice confirming such event or change by the Owners to the Charterers; or
|
|
(xiv) |
Conditions precedent:
if any
of the conditions set out in Clause 37 (
Conditions precedent
) is not satisfied by the relevant time or such other time period
specified by the Owners in their discretion; or
|
|
(xv) |
Revocation or modification of consents
etc.:
if any Necessary Authorisation which is now or which at any time during the Agreement Term becomes necessary to enable an Obligor to comply with any of its obligations in or pursuant to any of the Transaction
Documents or the Project Documents is revoked, withdrawn or withheld, or modified in a manner which the Owners reasonably consider is, or may be, prejudicial to the interests of Owners in a
|
|
(xvi) |
Cessation of business:
any of
the Obligors ceases, or threatens to cease, to carry on all or a substantial part of its business; or
|
|
(xvii) |
Curtailment of business:
if
the business of any of the Obligors is wholly or materially curtailed by any intervention by or under authority of any government, or if all or a substantial part of the undertaking, property or assets of the Obligor is seized,
nationalised, expropriated or compulsorily acquired by or under authority of any government or any of the Obligors disposes or threatens to dispose of a substantial part of their business or assets; or
|
|
(xviii) |
Environmental matters
|
|
(A) |
any Environmental Claim is pending or made against any Obligor or in connection with the Vessel, where such Environmental Claim has a Material Adverse
Effect; or
|
|
(B) |
any actual Environmental Incident occurs in connection with the Vessel, where such Environmental Incident has a Material Adverse Effect; or
|
|
(xix) |
Loss of property:
all or a
substantial part of the business or assets of any of the Obligors is destroyed, abandoned, seized, appropriated or forfeited for any reason, and such occurrence in the reasonable opinion of the Owners has a Material Adverse Effect;
or
|
|
(xx) |
Sanctions:
any Obligor or any
of their directors, officers or employees becomes a Restricted Party; or
|
|
(xxi) |
Arrest:
the Vessel is arrested
or seized for any reason whatsoever (other than caused solely and directly by any action or omission from the Owners) unless the Vessel is released and returned to the possession of the Charterers within twenty one (21) days of such
arrest or seizure; or
|
|
(xxii) |
Building Contract:
Any of the
following events or circumstances occur in respect of the Building Contract:
|
|
(A) |
the Building Contract is cancelled, terminated, rescinded for whatsoever reasons; or
|
|
(B) |
the Building Contract is varied, amended, supplemented and/or restated in any material aspects without the prior written consent of the Owners; or
|
|
(C) |
it becoming impossible or unlawful for any party to the Building Contract to fulfil any of its obligations under, or to exercise any rights vested in it,
by that document; or
|
|
(D) |
the Building Contract is breached in any material respect by any party or for any reason becoming invalid or unenforceable or otherwise ceasing to be in
full force and effect; or
|
|
(E) |
any party repudiating or threatening to repudiate the Building Contract; or
|
|
(xxiii) |
Delivery:
the Vessel has not
for any reason been delivered to, and accepted by, the Charterers under the Building Contract, and subsequently delivered by the Charterers to the Owners under the MOA on or before the Cancellation Date;
|
|
(xxiv) |
Termination of Sub-Charter:
a
Sub-Charter is terminated, repudiated or cancelled:
|
|
(A) |
by the Sub-Charterers due to a breach by the Charterers unless (1) such breach does not materially affect the ability of the Charterers to perform its
obligations under this Charter, and (2) the Charterers enter into a replacement Sub-Charter (on terms reasonably acceptable to the Owners) with a Sub-Charterer (reasonably acceptable to the Owners) within sixty (60) days of such
termination, repudiation or cancellation; or
|
|
(B) |
for any reason other than a breach by the Charterers unless the Charterers enter into a replacement Sub-Charter (on terms reasonably acceptable to the
Owners) with a Sub-Charterers (reasonably acceptable to the Owners) within one hundred and eighty (180) days of such termination, repudiation or cancellation;
|
|
(b) |
The Owners and the Charterers agree that it is a fundamental term and condition of this Charter that no Termination Event shall occur during the Agreement
Term. Without prejudice to the forgoing, a Termination Event which is continuing shall constitute an agreed terminating event, the occurrence of which will entitle the Owners to exercise all or any of the remedies set out below in
this Clause 51.
|
|
(c) |
At any time after a Termination Event shall have occurred and be continuing following the lapse of any applicable grace period, the Owners may at their
option:
|
|
(i) |
by delivering to the Charterers a Termination Notice, terminate this Charter with immediate effect or on the date specified in such Termination Notice and
withdraw the Vessel from the service of the Charterers without noting any protest and without interference by any court or any other formality whatsoever, whereupon the Vessel shall no longer be in the possession of the Charterers
with the consent of the Owners, and the Charterers shall redeliver the Vessel to the Owners in accordance with Clauses 43 (
Redelivery
)
and 44 (
Redelivery conditions
);
|
|
(ii) |
apply any amount then standing to the credit to the Earnings Account against any Unpaid Sum or such other amounts which the Charterers or other Obligors
may owe under the Transaction Documents; and/or
|
|
(iii) |
(iii) (without prejudice to sub-paragraph (ii) above) enforce any Security Interest created pursuant to the relevant Transaction Documents.
|
|
(d) |
On the Termination Payment Date in respect of any termination of the chartering of the Vessel under this Charter in accordance with paragraph (c) above,
the Charterers shall pay to the Owners an amount equal to the Early Termination Amount.
|
|
(e) |
Following any termination to which this Clause 51 applies, all sums payable in accordance with paragraph (d) above shall be paid to such account or
accounts as the Owners may direct and shall be applied in the Owners’ sole discretion (including but not limited to towards settlement of the Early Termination Amount, or part thereof).
|
|
(f) |
If the chartering of the Vessel or, as the case may be, the obligation of the Owners to deliver and charter the Vessel to the Charterers is terminated in
accordance with the terms of this Charter, the obligation of the Charterers to pay Hire, if not yet paid, shall cease once the Charterers have made the payment pursuant to paragraph (d) above to the satisfaction of the Owners,
whereupon the Owners shall arrange for title of the Vessel to be transferred to the Charterers in accordance with paragraphs (c) to (f) of Clause 55 (
Purchase Option and transfer of title
) save that no further payment of the Purchase Option Price referred to under paragraph (c) of Clause 55 (
Purchase Option and transfer of title
) would be required from the Charterers.
|
|
(g) |
Without prejudice to the forgoing or to any other rights of the Owners under this Charter, at any time after a Termination Notice is served under
paragraph (c) above, the Owners may, acting in their sole discretion:
|
|
(i) |
without prejudice to the Charterers’ obligations under Clause 44 (
Redelivery conditions
), retake possession of the Vessel and, the Charterers agree that the Owners, for such purpose, may put into force and exercise all their rights and entitlements at law and may enter upon any
premises belonging to or in the occupation or under the control of the Charterers where the Vessel may be located as well as giving instructions to the Charterers’ servants or agents for this purpose; and/or
|
|
(ii) |
change or replace the Approved Manager.
|
|
(h) |
Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Charter, the Charterers shall not have the right to terminate this Charter at any time prior to the
expiration of the Agreement Term. The rights conferred upon the Owners by the provisions of this Clause 51 are cumulative and in addition to any rights which they may otherwise have in law or in equity or by virtue of the provisions
of this Charter.
|
|
(i) |
It is hereby agreed between the Owners and the Charterers that the Charterers are entitled to cease paying the Hire for such period as the Vessel is under
arrest, detention, seizure or confiscation as a direct result of the Owners’ default, act, omission or misconduct (excluding any arrest, detention, seizure and confiscation being litigation or proceeding or claim which is frivolous,
vexatious or an abuse of the process of the court which the Owners has a good defence and is being contested by the Owners in good faith and by appropriate proceedings) provided there is no contributory negligence from or default by
the Charterers in respect thereof.
|
|
(j) |
Liquidated damages received under the Building Contract
|
|
(i) |
In the circumstances that the Charterers have not exercised any of the purchase options on or before the last day of the Charter Period under
|
|
(a) |
The Charterers shall not without the prior written consent of the Owners (which may be given subject to conditions):
|
|
(i) |
let the Vessel on demise charter for any period;
|
|
(ii) |
de-activate or lay up the Vessel; or
|
|
(iii) |
assign their rights under this Charter.
|
|
(b) |
The Charterers acknowledge that the Owners’ consent to any sub-bareboat chartering may be subject (amongst other things) to the Owners being satisfied as
to the intended flag during such sub-bareboat chartering.
|
|
(c) |
Without prejudice to anything contained in this Clause 52, the Charterers shall only enter into any Sub-Charter or vessel pooling or sharing arrangements
for the Vessel which is for a purpose for which the Vessel is suited and with a Sub-Charterers or a charterer under the pooling or sharing arrangement which is not a Restricted Party and in each case, the Charterers shall, in
relation to any Sub-Charter or vessel pooling or sharing arrangements, assign to the Owners all their Earnings arising out of and in connection with such Sub-Charter or vessel pooling or sharing arrangements and all their rights and
interest in such Sub-Charter or vessel pooling or sharing arrangements as the Owners may require and the Charterers shall serve a notice on any Sub-Charterers or such other person as the Owners may require and shall obtain a written
acknowledgement of such assignment from such Sub- Charterers or that other person in such form as is required by the Owners or any Finance Party (as the case may be).
|
|
(d) |
The Charterers may request for a Sub-Charter Quiet Enjoyment Letter to be issued to the Sub-Charterers provided that the conditions set out in Clause
46(b)(ii) are satisfied.
|
|
(a) |
the name of the Vessel may be chosen by the Charterers; and
|
|
(b) |
the Vessel may be painted in the colours, display the funnel insignia and fly the house flag as required by the Charterers.
|
|
(a) |
Subject to no Termination Events or Total Loss under Clause 57 (
Total loss
), the Charterers may, on each Hire Payment Date falling twenty-four (24) months after the Delivery Date, by at least sixty (60) calendar days prior written notice to the Owners, declare to the Owners
their exercise of the option to purchase the Vessel or to cause their nominee to purchase the Vessel on a Hire Payment Date by payment of the corresponding amount equal to the Purchase Option Price. To avoid any confusion, the
Charter Period will end immediately upon the Purchase Option Price having been paid.
|
|
(b) |
If the Charterers have not exercised their rights under paragraph (a), the Charterers may, by at least two (2) months’ prior written notice to the Owners,
declare to the Owners their exercise of the option to purchase the Vessel or to cause their nominee to purchase the Vessel at the end of the Charter Period by payment of the amount of USDollars Seventy Eight Million Seven Hundred
and Fifty Thousand (US$78,750,000).
|
|
(c) |
In exchange for the full payment of the Purchase Option Price (in the case of a purchase under paragraph (a) above) or the sum stated in paragraph (b)
above (in the case of a purchase under paragraph (b) above) and all sums due and payable to the Owners under the Transaction Documents and subject to compliance with the other conditions set out in this Clause, the Owners shall:
|
|
(i) |
transfer title to and ownership of the Vessel to the Charterers (or their nominee) by delivering to the Charterers (in each case at the Charterers’
costs):
|
|
(A) |
a duly executed and notarised, legalised and/or apostilled (as applicable) bill of sale; and
|
|
(B) |
the Title Transfer PDA; and
|
|
(ii) |
Procure the deletion of any mortgage or prior Security Interest in relation to the Vessel at the Charterers’ cost and provide a certificate of ownership
and encumbrances evidencing that the Vessel is free from any registered mortgages/encumbrances,
|
|
(d) |
The transfer in accordance with paragraph (c) above shall be made in all respects at the Charterers’ expense on an “as is, where is” basis and the Owners
shall give the Charterers (or their nominee) no representations, warranties, agreements or guarantees whatsoever concerning or in connection with the Vessel, the Insurances, the Vessel’s condition, state or class or anything related
to the Vessel, expressed or implied, statutory or otherwise.
|
|
(e) |
The Owners shall have no responsibility for the registrability of a bill of sale referred to in paragraph (c) above executed by the Owners, as far as such
bill of sale is prescribed in a generally acceptable form.
|
|
(f) |
The Charterers shall, immediately prior to the receipt of the bill of sale, furnish the Owners with a letter of indemnity (in a form satisfactory to the
Owners) whereby the Charterers and the Charter Guarantors shall state that, among other things, the Owners has and will have no interest, concern or connection with the Vessel after the date of such letter and that the Charterers
and/or the Charter Guarantors shall indemnify the Owners and keep the Owners indemnified forever against any claims made by any person arising in connection with the Vessel.
|
|
(a) |
If circumstances exist giving rise to a Total Loss, the Charterers shall promptly notify the Owners of the facts of such Total Loss. If the Charterers
wish to proceed on the basis of a Total Loss and advise the Owners thereof, the Owners shall agree to the Vessel being treated as a Total Loss for all purposes of this Charter. The Owners shall thereupon abandon the Vessel to the
Charterers and/or execute such documents as may be required to enable the Charterers to abandon the Vessel to insurers and claim a Total Loss. Without prejudice to the obligations of the Charterers to pay to the Owners all monies
then due or thereafter to become due under this Charter, if the Vessel shall become a Total Loss during the Charter Period, the Charter Period shall end on the Settlement Date.
|
|
(b) |
If the Vessel becomes a Total Loss during the Charter Period, the Charterers shall, on the Settlement Date, pay to the Owners the amount calculated in
accordance with paragraph (c) below.
|
|
(c) |
On the Settlement Date, the Charterers shall pay to the Owners an amount equal to the Early Termination Amount as at the Termination Payment Date
(provided that such amount payable shall be set off against the Total Loss Proceeds if they are already received by the Owners as referred to under paragraph (d) below). The foregoing obligations of the Charterers under this
paragraph (c) shall apply regardless of whether or not any moneys are payable under any Insurances in respect of the Vessel, regardless of the amount payable thereunder, regardless of the cause of the Total Loss and regardless of
whether or not any of the said compensation shall become payable.
|
|
(d) |
All Total Loss Proceeds shall be paid to such account or accounts as the Owners may direct and shall be applied towards satisfaction of the Early
Termination Amount and any other sums due and payable under the Transaction Documents. To the extent that there is any surplus after such application, such surplus shall be promptly returned to the Charterers.
|
|
(e) |
The Charterers shall, at the Owners’ request, provide satisfactory evidence, in the reasonable opinion of the Owners, as to the date on which the
constructive total loss of the Vessel occurred pursuant to the definition of Total Loss.
|
|
(f) |
The Charterers shall continue to pay the Advance Hire and the Hire on the days and in the amounts required under this Charter notwithstanding that the
Vessel shall become a Total Loss
provided always that
no further instalments of Hire shall become due and payable after the
Charterers have made the payment required by paragraph (c) above.
|
|
(a) |
Subject always to paragraph (b), the Charterers shall bear all costs, fees (including legal fees) and disbursements reasonably incurred by the Owners and
the Charterers in connection with:
|
|
(i) |
the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Charter and the other Transaction Documents;
|
|
(ii) |
the delivery of the Vessel under the Building Contract, the MOA and this Charter;
|
|
(iii) |
preparation or procurement of any survey, inspections, tax or insurance advice;
|
|
(iv) |
all legal fees and other expenses arising out of or in connection with the exercising of the purchase option by the Charterers pursuant to Clause 55 (
Purchase Option and Title Transfer
) of this Charter; and
|
|
(v) |
such other activities relevant to the transactions contemplated herein.
|
|
(b) |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Charterers shall not bear any costs, fees (including legal fees) and disbursements incurred by the Owners in
connection with:
|
|
(i) |
any financing activities undertaken by the Owners, whether or not such financing activities are undertaken for the purposes of entering into this Charter,
the MOA or any of the Transaction Documents; and
|
|
(ii) |
the incorporation, setting-up or continued operation of any special purpose vehicles or legal entities for the purposes of or in relation to this Charter,
the MOA or any of the Transaction Documents.
|
|
(a) |
when a material condition of class is applied by the Classification Society;
|
|
(b) |
whenever the Vessel is arrested, confiscated, seized, requisitioned, impounded, forfeited or detained by any government or other competent authorities or
any other persons;
|
|
(c) |
whenever a class or flag authority refuses to issue or withdraw trading certification;
|
|
(d) |
in the event of a fire requiring the use of fixed fire systems or collision / grounding;
|
|
(e) |
whenever the Vessel is planned for dry-docking in accordance with Clause 10(g) (Part II) and whether routine or emergency;
|
|
(f) |
the Vessel is taken under tow;
|
|
(g) |
any death or serious injury on board; or
|
|
(h) |
any damage to the Vessel the repair costs of which (whether before or after adjudication) are likely to exceed US Dollars Three Million (US$3,000,000).
|
|
(a) |
Whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Charterers shall, in addition to the provisions under Clause 17 (
Indemnity
) (Part II) of this Charter, indemnify, protect, defend and hold harmless the Owners and their respective officers,
directors and employees (collectively, the “
Indemnitees
”) throughout the Agreement Term from, against and in respect of, any and
all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, fines, fees, claims, actions, proceedings, judgement, order or other sanction, lien, salvage, general average, suits, costs,
|
|
(i) |
this Charter, any of the other Transaction Documents and the Project Documents, and any amendment, supplement or modification thereof or thereto requested
by the Charterers;
|
|
(ii) |
the Vessel or any part thereof, including with respect to:
|
|
(A) |
the ownership of, manufacture, design, possession, use or non-use, operation, maintenance, testing, repair, overhaul, condition, alteration, modification,
addition, improvement, storage, seaworthiness, replacement, repair of the Vessel or any part (including, in each case, latent or other defects, whether or not discoverable and any claim for patent, trademark, or copyright
infringement and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages and claims in any way relating to or arising out of spillage of cargo or fuel, out of injury to persons, properties or the environment or strict liability in tort);
|
|
(B) |
any claim or penalty arising out of violations of applicable law by the Charterers or any Sub-Charterers;
|
|
(C) |
death or property damage of shippers or others;
|
|
(D) |
any liens in respect of the Vessel or any part thereof; or
|
|
(E) |
any registration and/or tonnage fees (whether periodic or not) in respect of the Vessel payable to any registry of ships;
|
|
(iii) |
any breach of or failure to perform or observe, or any other non-compliance with, any covenant or agreement or other obligation to be performed by the
Charterers under any Transaction Document to which it is a party or the falsity of any representation or warranty of the Charterers in any Transaction Document to which it is a party or the occurrence of any Termination Event;
|
|
(iv) |
in preventing or attempting to prevent the arrest, confiscation, seizure, taking and execution, requisition, impounding, forfeiture or detention of the
Vessel, or in securing or attempting to secure the release of the Vessel in connection with the exercise of the rights of a holder of a lien created by the Charterers;
|
|
(v) |
incurred or suffered by the Owners in:
|
|
(A) |
procuring the delivery of the Vessel to the Charterers under Clause 35 (
Delivery
);
|
|
(B) |
registering the Vessel at the registry of the Pre-Approved Flag;
|
|
(C) |
recovering possession of the Vessel following termination of this Charter under Clause 51 (
Termination Events
);
|
|
(D) |
arranging for a sale of the Vessel in accordance with Clause 56 (
Sale of Vessel by the Owners
); or
|
|
(E) |
arranging for a transfer of the title of the Vessel in accordance with paragraphs (c) to (f) of Clause 55 (
Purchase Option and transfer of title
)
|
|
(vi) |
arising from the Master or officers of the Vessel or the Charterers’ agents signing bills of lading or other documents;
|
|
(vii) |
in connection with:
|
|
(A) |
the arrest, seizure, taking into custody or other detention by any court or other tribunal or by any governmental entity; or
|
|
(B) |
subjection to distress by reason of any process, claim, exercise of any rights conferred by a lien or by any other action whatsoever, of the Vessel which
are expended, suffered or incurred as a result of or in connection with any claim or against, or liability of, the Charterers or any other member of the Charter Group, together with any costs and expenses or other outgoings which
may be paid or incurred by the Owners in releasing the Vessel from any such arrest, seizure, custody, detention or distress.
|
|
(b) |
The Charterers shall pay to the Owners promptly on the Owners’ written demand the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by the
Owners in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Transaction Document including (without limitation) (i) any losses, costs and expenses which the Owners may from time to time sustain, incur
or become liable for by reason of the Owners being deemed by any court or authority to be an operator, or in any way concerned in the operation, of the Vessel and (ii) collecting and recovering the proceeds of any claim under any of
the Insurances.
|
|
(c) |
Without prejudice to any right to damages or other claim which either Party may, at any time, have against the other hereunder, it is hereby agreed and
declared that the indemnities of the Owners by the Charterers contained in this Charter shall continue in full force and effect for a period of twenty four (24) months after the Agreement Term.
|
|
(a) |
The Owners may set off any matured and/or contingent obligation due from the Charterers under the Transaction Documents (to the extent beneficially owned
by the Owners) against any obligation (whether matured or not) owed by the Owners to the Charterers, regardless of the place of payment or currency of either obligation. If the
|
|
(b) |
The Charterers may not set off any matured and/or contingent obligation due from the Owners under the Transaction Documents (to the extent beneficially
owned by the Charterers) against any obligation (whether matured or not) owed by the Charterers to the Owners, regardless of the place of payment or currency of either obligation.
|
|
(a) |
Each Party shall make all applications and execute all other documents and do all other acts and things as may be necessary to implement and to carry out
their obligations under, and the intent of, this Charter.
|
|
(b) |
The Parties shall act in good faith to each other in respect of any dealings or matters under, or in connection with, this Charter.
|
|
(a) |
This Charter contains all the understandings and agreements of whatsoever kind and nature existing between the Parties in respect of this Charter, the
rights, interests, undertakings agreements and obligations of the Parties to this Charter and shall supersede all previous and contemporaneous negotiations and agreements.
|
|
(b) |
This Charter may not be amended, altered or modified except by a written instrument executed by each of the Parties to this Charter.
|
|
(a) |
Any notices to be given to the Owners under this Charter shall be sent in writing by registered letter, facsimile or email and addressed to:
|
Address:
|
[
]
|
Fax No.:
|
[
]
|
Email:
|
[
]
[
]
[
]
|
Attention:
|
[
]
|
|
(b) |
Any notices to be given to the Charterers under this Charter shall be sent in writing by registered letter, facsimile or email and addressed to:
|
|
(c) |
Any such notice shall be deemed to have reached the Party to whom it was addressed, when dispatched and acknowledged received (in case of a facsimile or
an email) or when delivered (in case of a registered letter). A notice or other such communication received on a non-working day or after business hours in the place of receipt shall be deemed to be served on the next following
working day in such place
|
|
(a) |
The Parties shall maintain the information provided in connection with the Transaction Documents strictly confidential and agree to disclose to no person
other than:
|
|
(i) |
its board of directors, employees (only on a need to know basis), and shareholders, professional advisors and rating agencies;
|
|
(ii) |
as may be required to be disclosed under applicable law or regulations or for the purpose of legal proceedings or the rules of any relevant stock
exchange;
|
|
(iii) |
in the case of the Owners, to any Finance Party or other actual or potential financier providing funding for the acquisition or refinancing of the Vessel;
|
|
(iv) |
in the case of the Charterers, to any Sub-Charterer in respect of obtaining any consent required under the terms of any Sub-Charter; and
|
|
(v) |
the shipbuilder and the managers, the classification society and flag authorities as may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereunder.
|
|
(b) |
Any other disclosure by each Party shall be subject to the prior written consent of the other Party.
|
|
(a) |
Any person which is an Indemnitee or a Finance Party from time to time and is not a party to this Charter shall be entitled to enforce such terms of this
Charter as provided for in this Charter in relation to the obligations of the Charterers to such Indemnitee or (as the case may be) Finance Party, subject to the provisions of Clause 77 (
Law and jurisdiction
) and the Third Parties Act. The Third Parties Act applies to this Charter as set out in this Clause 76.
|
|
(b) |
Save as provided above, a person who is not a party to this Charter has no right under the Third Parties Act to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any
term of this Charter.
|
|
(a) |
This Charter and any non-contractual obligations arising from or in connection with it shall in all respects be governed by and interpreted in accordance
with English law.
|
|
(b) |
Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Charter, including the existence, validity, interpretation, performance, breach or
termination thereof or any dispute regarding non-contractual obligations arising out of or relating to it shall be referred to and finally resolved by 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 77.
|
|
(c) |
The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA) terms current at the time when arbitration
proceedings are commenced.
|
|
(d) |
The reference shall be to three (3) 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 fourteen (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 fourteen (14) days specified. If the other Party does not appoint its own arbitrator and give notice that it has done so within the fourteen (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 own 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.
|
|
(e) |
Nothing herein shall prevent the Parties agreeing in writing to vary these provisions to provide for the appointment of a sole arbitrator.
|
|
(f) |
In cases where neither the claim nor any counterclaim exceeds the sum of US Dollars Fifty Thousand (US$50,000) (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.
|
|
(a) |
the Owners shall have received the following documents and evidence in form and substance satisfactory to the Owners no later than three (3) Business Days
after the Delivery Date:
|
|
(i) |
a copy of the endorsed policy issued by the insurer in respect of the Vessel;
|
|
(ii) |
a copy of the duly signed letter of undertaking issued by all the relevant underwriters or insurance brokers in respect of the Vessel;
|
|
(iii) |
the Vessel’s current SMC (as such term is defined pursuant to the ISM Code);
|
|
(iv) |
the Approved Manager’s current Document of Compliance (as such term is defined pursuant to the ISM Code);
|
|
(v) |
the Vessel’s current ISSC; (vi) the Vessel’s current IAPPC;
|
|
(vi) |
the Vessel’s classification confirmation certificate evidencing that it is free of all recommendations and requirements from the Classification Society;
and
|
|
(vii) |
the bill of sale, the builder’s certificate, the declaration of warranty and the commercial invoice in respect of the Vessel issued by the Builders;
|
|
(b) |
to the extent that the Sub-Charter requires prior written consent from the Sub- Charterers before the Charterers may conduct an assignment under the
Charterers’ Assignment, the Charterers shall procure to be delivered to the Owners an original of the duly executed acknowledgement by the Sub-Charterers in accordance with the Charterers Assignment no later than fourteen (14)
calendar days after the Delivery Date; and
|
|
(c) |
the Charterers and the Shareholder shall execute the undertaking(s) or deed(s) set out in Clause 49(r)(i)(B) on or before (14) calendar days after the
Delivery Date.
|
|
(a) |
Defined terms
|
|
(b) |
FATCA Information
|
|
(i) |
Subject to paragraph (iii) below, each Relevant Party shall, on the date of this Charter, and thereafter within ten (10) Business Days of a reasonable
request by another Relevant Party:
|
|
(A) |
confirm to that other party whether it is a FATCA Exempt Party or is not a FATCA Exempt Party; and
|
|
(B) |
supply to the requesting party (with a copy to all other Relevant Parties) such other form or forms (including IRS Form W-8 or Form W-9 or any successor
or substitute form, as applicable) and any other documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA (including its applicable “pass thru percentage” or other information required under FATCA or other official
guidance including intergovernmental agreements) as the requesting party reasonably requests for the purpose of the requesting party’s compliance with FATCA.
|
|
(ii) |
If a Relevant Party confirms to any other Relevant Party that it is a FATCA Exempt Party or provides an IRS Form W-8 or W-9 showing 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 so notify all other Relevant Parties reasonably promptly.
|
|
(iii) |
Nothing in this Clause 74 (FATCA) shall oblige any Relevant Party to do anything which would or, in its reasonable opinion, might constitute a breach of
any law or regulation, any policy of that party, any fiduciary duty or any duty of confidentiality, or to disclose any confidential information (including, without limitation, its tax returns and calculations); provided, however,
that nothing in this paragraph shall excuse any Relevant Party from providing a true, complete and correct IRS Form W-8 or W-9 (or any successor or substitute form where applicable). Any information provided on such IRS Form W-8 or
W-9 (or any successor or substitute forms) shall not be treated as confidential information of such party for purposes of this paragraph.
|
|
(iv) |
If a Relevant Party fails to confirm its status or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with the provisions of this
Charter or the provided information is insufficient under FATCA, then:
|
|
(A) |
if that party failed to confirm whether it is (and/or remains) a FATCA Exempt Party then such party shall be treated for the purposes of the Transaction
Documents as if it is a FATCA Non-Exempt Party; and
|
|
(B) |
if that party failed to confirm its applicable passthru percentage then such party shall be treated for the purposes of this Charter and the Transaction
Documents (and payments made thereunder) as if its applicable passthru percentage is 100%,
|
|
(c) |
FATCA Deduction and gross-up by Relevant Party
|
|
(i) |
If the representation made by the Charterers under Clause 48 (Charterers’ representations and warranties) proves to be untrue or misleading such that the
Charterers are required to make a FATCA Deduction, the Charterers shall make the FATCA Deduction and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by FATCA.
|
|
(ii) |
If the Charterers are required to make a FATCA Deduction then the Charterers shall increase the payment due from them to the Owners to an amount which
(after making any FATCA Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no FATCA Deduction had been required.
|
|
(iii) |
The Charterers shall promptly upon becoming aware that they must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or basis of a FATCA
Deduction) notify the Owners accordingly. Within thirty (30) days of the Charterers making either a FATCA Deduction or any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, the Charterers shall deliver to the Owners evidence
reasonably satisfactory to the Owners that the FATCA Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant governmental or taxation authority.
|
|
(iv) |
If the Owners are required to make a deduction or withholding from a payment under the Finance Documents in respect of FATCA, which deduction or
withholding would not have been required if a Relevant Person were not a US Tax Obligor or FATCA FFI, and are required under the Finance Documents (if any) to pay additional amounts in respect of such deduction or withholding, the
amount of the payment due from the Charterers shall be increased to an amount which, after any such deduction or withholding and payment of additional amounts, leaves the Owners with an amount equal to the amount which it would have
had remaining if it had not been required to pay additional amounts under such Finance Documents.
|
|
(d) |
FATCA Deduction by Owners
|
THE OWNERS
|
THE BAREBOAT CHARTERERS
|
|
by:
|
by:
|
|
Name:
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Title:
|
|
Date:
|
Date:
|
|
Name of Vessel:
|
“FLEX RAINBOW “
|
Flag:
|
Marshall Islands
|
Place of Registration:
|
Maujoro
|
IMO Number:
|
9709037
|
Gross Registered Tonnage:
|
115,174 tons
|
Net Registered Tonnage:
|
34,860 tons
|
Dated:
|
20[●]
|
At:
|
hours ([●] time)
|
THE OWNER
|
THE BAREBOAT CHARTERER
|
|
[ ] |
Flex LNG Rainbow Limited
|
|
by:
|
by:
|
|
Name:
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Title:
|
|
Date:
|
Date:
|
|
INSTALMENT NO.
|
HIRE PAYMENT DATE
|
HIRE PAYMENT
|
FIXED HIRE
|
VARIABLE HIRE*
|
COST BALANCE
157,500,000
|
1
|
2018/10/15
|
4,585,000.00
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,616,250.00
|
155,531,250.00
|
2
|
2019/1/15
|
4,552,296.88
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,583,546.88
|
153,562,500.00
|
3
|
2019/4/15
|
4,464,140.63
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,495,390.63
|
151,593,750.00
|
4
|
2019/7/15
|
4,459,519.53
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,490,769.53
|
149,625,000.00
|
5
|
2019/10/15
|
4,454,187.50
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,485,437.50
|
147,656,250.00
|
6
|
2020/1/15
|
4,421,484.38
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,452,734.38
|
145,687,500.00
|
7
|
2020/4/15
|
4,362,476.56
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,393,726.56
|
143,718,750.00
|
8
|
2020/7/15
|
4,330,128.91
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,361,378.91
|
141,750,000.00
|
9
|
2020/10/15
|
4,323,375.00
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,354,625.00
|
139,781,250.00
|
10
|
2021/1/15
|
4,290,671.88
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,321,921.88
|
137,812,500.00
|
11
|
2021/4/15
|
4,208,203.13
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,239,453.13
|
135,843,750.00
|
12
|
2021/7/15
|
4,200,738.28
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,231,988.28
|
133,875,000.00
|
13
|
2021/10/15
|
4,192,562.50
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,223,812.50
|
131,906,250.00
|
14
|
2022/1/15
|
4,159,859.38
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,191,109.38
|
129,937,500.00
|
15
|
2022/4/15
|
4,080,234.38
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,111,484.38
|
127,968,750.00
|
16
|
2022/7/15
|
4,071,347.66
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,102,597.66
|
126,000,000.00
|
17
|
2022/10/15
|
4,061,750.00
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,093,000.00
|
124,031,250.00
|
18
|
2023/1/15
|
4,029,046.88
|
1,968,750.00
|
2,060,296.88
|
122,062,500.00
|
19
|
2023/4/15
|
3,952,265.63
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,983,515.63
|
120,093,750.00
|
20
|
2023/7/15
|
3,941,957.03
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,973,207.03
|
118,125,000.00
|
21
|
2023/10/15
|
3,930,937.50
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,962,187.50
|
116,156,250.00
|
22
|
2024/1/15
|
3,898,234.38
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,929,484.38
|
114,187,500.00
|
23
|
2024/4/15
|
3,844,914.06
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,876,164.06
|
112,218,750.00
|
24
|
2024/7/15
|
3,812,566.41
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,843,816.41
|
110,250,000.00
|
25
|
2024/10/15
|
3,800,125.00
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,831,375.00
|
108,281,250.00
|
26
|
2025/1/15
|
3,767,421.88
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,798,671.88
|
106,312,500.00
|
27
|
2025/4/15
|
3,696,328.13
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,727,578.13
|
104,343,750.00
|
28
|
2025/7/15
|
3,683,175.78
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,714,425.78
|
102,375,000.00
|
29
|
2025/10/15
|
3,669,312.50
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,700,562.50
|
100,406,250.00
|
30
|
2026/1/15
|
3,636,609.38
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,667,859.38
|
98,437,500.00
|
31
|
2026/4/15
|
3,568,359.38
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,599,609.38
|
96,468,750.00
|
32
|
2026/7/15
|
3,553,785.16
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,585,035.16
|
94,500,000.00
|
33
|
2026/10/15
|
3,538,500.00
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,569,750.00
|
92,531,250.00
|
34
|
2027/1/15
|
3,505,796.88
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,537,046.88
|
90,562,500.00
|
35
|
2027/4/15
|
3,440,390.63
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,471,640.63
|
88,593,750.00
|
36
|
2027/7/15
|
3,424,394.53
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,455,644.53
|
86,625,000.00
|
37
|
2027/10/15
|
3,407,687.50
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,438,937.50
|
84,656,250.00
|
38
|
2028/1/15
|
3,374,984.38
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,406,234.38
|
82,687,500.00
|
39
|
2028/4/15
|
3,327,351.56
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,358,601.56
|
80,718,750.00
|
40
|
2028/7/15
|
3,295,003.91
|
1,968,750.00
|
1,326,253.91
|
78,750,000.00
|
Date (corresponding to a Hire Payment Date)
|
Purchase Option Price
|
Hire payment
|
||||
2020/10/15
|
139,781,250.00
|
4,323,375.00
|
||||
2021/1/15
|
137,812,500.00
|
4,290,671.88
|
||||
2021/4/15
|
135,843,750.00
|
4,208,203.13
|
||||
2021/7/15
|
133,875,000.00
|
4,200,738.28
|
||||
2021/10/15
|
131,906,250.00
|
4,192,562.50
|
||||
2022/1/15
|
129,937,500.00
|
4,159,859.38
|
||||
2022/4/15
|
127,968,750.00
|
4,080,234.38
|
||||
2022/7/15
|
126,000,000.00
|
4,071,347.66
|
||||
2022/10/15
|
124,031,250.00
|
4,061,750.00
|
||||
2023/1/15
|
122,062,500.00
|
4,029,046.88
|
||||
2023/4/15
|
120,093,750.00
|
3,952,265.63
|
||||
2023/7/15
|
118,125,000.00
|
3,941,957.03
|
||||
2023/10/15
|
116,156,250.00
|
3,930,937.50
|
||||
2024/1/15
|
114,187,500.00
|
3,898,234.38
|
||||
2024/4/15
|
112,218,750.00
|
3,844,914.06
|
||||
2024/7/15
|
110,250,000.00
|
3,812,566.41
|
||||
2024/10/15
|
108,281,250.00
|
3,800,125.00
|
||||
2025/1/15
|
106,312,500.00
|
3,767,421.88
|
||||
2025/4/15
|
104,343,750.00
|
3,696,328.13
|
||||
2025/7/15
|
102,375,000.00
|
3,683,175.78
|
||||
2025/10/15
|
100,406,250.00
|
3,669,312.50
|
||||
2026/1/15
|
98,437,500.00
|
3,636,609.38
|
||||
2026/4/15
|
96,468,750.00
|
3,568,359.38
|
||||
2026/7/15
|
94,500,000.00
|
3,553,785.16
|
||||
2026/10/15
|
92,531,250.00
|
3,538,500.00
|
||||
2027/1/15
|
90,562,500.00
|
3,505,796.88
|
||||
2027/4/15
|
88,593,750.00
|
3,440,390.63
|
||||
2027/7/15
|
86,625,000.00
|
3,424,394.53
|
||||
2027/10/15
|
84,656,250.00
|
3,407,687.50
|
||||
2028/1/15
|
82,687,500.00
|
3,374,984.38
|
||||
2028/4/15
|
80,718,750.00
|
3,327,351.56
|
THE OWNER
|
THE CHARTERERS
|
|
[ ] |
Flex LNG Rainbow Limited
|
|
by:
|
by:
|
|
Name:
[
]
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
[
]
|
Title:
|
|
Date:
|
Date:
|
|
|
Norwegian Shipbrokers’ Association’s
|
|
Memorandum of Agreement for sale and
|
|
purchase of ships. Adopted by BIMCO in 1956.
|
|
Code-name
|
|
SALEFORM 2012
|
|
Revised 1966, 1983 and 1986/87, 1993 and 2012
|
Year of Build:
2018
|
Builder/Yard:
Samsung Heavy Industry
Co. Ltd, Korea
|
|
|
|
|
Flag:
Marshall Islands
|
Place of Registration:
Majuro
|
GT/NT:
115,174/34,860
|
1. |
Purchase Price
|
2. |
Deposit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. |
Payment
See Additional Clause 21 (Payment of the
Purchase Price)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. |
Inspection
|
5. |
Time and place of delivery and notices
|
6. |
Divers Inspection / Drydocking
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. |
Spares, bunkers and other items
|
8. |
Documentation
|
|
(i) |
Legal Bill(s) of Sale in a form recordable in the Buyers’ Nominated Flag State, transferring title of the Vessel and stating that the Vessel is free from
all mortgages, encumbrances and maritime liens or any other debts whatsoever,
|
|
(ii) |
Evidence that all necessary corporate, shareholder and other action has been taken by the Sellers to authorise the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement;
|
|
(iii) |
Power of Attorney of the Sellers appointing one or more representatives to act on behalf of the Sellers in the performance of this Agreement,
|
|
(iv) |
Certificate
of Ownership and Encumbrance
|
|
(v) |
A copy of the Interim Class Certificate dated 9 July 2018 and a copy of the
Declaration of Class or (depending on the Classification Society) a Class Maintenance Certificate
issued on or about 9 July 2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(viii) |
Commercial Invoice for the Vessel;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(xi) |
Any additional documents as may reasonably be required by the competent authorities of the Buyers’ Nominated Flag State for the purpose of registering the
Vessel, provided the Buyers notify the Sellers of any such documents as soon as possible after the date of this Agreement; and
|
|
(xii) |
The Sellers’ letter of confirmation that to the best of their knowledge, the Vessel is not black listed by any nation or international organisation.
|
|
(i) |
Evidence that all necessary corporate, shareholder and other action has been taken by the Buyers to authorise the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement; and
|
|
(ii) |
(if applicable)
Power of Attorney of the Buyers appointing one or
more representatives to act on behalf of the Buyers in the performance of this Agreement,
|
9. |
Encumbrances
|
10. |
Taxes, fees and expenses
|
11. |
Condition on delivery
|
12. |
Name/markings
|
13. |
|
14. |
|
15. |
|
16. |
Law and Arbitration
See Additional Clause 24 (Governing
Law) and 25 (Arbitration)
|
17. |
Notices
See Additional Clause 26 (Notices)
|
18. |
Entire Agreement
|
For and on behalf of the Sellers
|
For and on behalf of the Buyers
|
|
|
[ ] | |
Name: ___________
|
Name:
[
]
|
Title: ___________
|
Title:
[
]
|
19. |
Sellers’ representation
|
|
(a) |
they are the sole registered legal and beneficial owner of the Vessel;
|
|
(b) |
they are not a Restricted Party; and
|
|
(c) |
neither themselves nor any of their directors, officers or employees or any person acting on their behalf has received notice or are aware of any claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation against any of them or the Vessel with respect to Sanctions by a Sanctions Authority.
|
20. |
Adjustment of the Purchase Price
|
21. |
Payment of the Purchase Price
|
|
(a) |
The Buyers shall pay the Purchase Price in the following manner:
|
|
(i) |
for an amount equivalent to the Advance Hire
(US$52,500,000)
: by netting on the Delivery Date against the Advance Hire payable by the Sellers to the Buyers under the Bareboat Charter (so that, after netting, the Buyers shall be considered to have paid the Sellers part
of the Purchase Price equivalent to the amount of the Advance Hire and the Sellers shall be considered to have paid the Buyers the Advance Hire); and
|
|
(ii) |
for the remainder (an amount up to US$157,500,000 subject
to any adjustment under Clause 20)
: by remittance to the Sellers’s designated bank account.
|
|
(b) |
The obligation of the Buyers to pay all or any part of the Purchase Price is subject to and conditional upon the conditions precedent set out in clause 37
of the Bareboat Charter having been satisfied (upon which the Buyers shall notify the Sellers in writing).
|
|
(c) |
In cases where the Buyer’s remittance of any part of the Purchase Price is effected through a MT199 swift message (the “
MT199 Swift
”):
|
|
(i) |
the Sellers agree to release, discharge, defend, indemnify, waive and hold harmless the Buyers from and against any liability, obligation or claim which may
be asserted, claimed or recovered against the Buyers for any reason directly arising out of or in any manner connected with the release or the failure to release (as the case may be) of the Purchase Price by the Sellers’ bank except
if the same solely results from or is a direct consequence of the
|
|
(ii) |
if for any reason any part of the Purchase Price paid to the Sellers’ bank by the Buyers is neither released in accordance with the instructions set out in
the MT199 Swift nor returned to the Buyers within the period set out in the MT199 Swift, the Sellers shall promptly refund to the Buyers that part of the Purchase Price.
|
22. |
Delivery under Bareboat Charter
|
|
(a) |
Upon the delivery of the Vessel under this Agreement, the Vessel shall simultaneously be delivered to the Sellers (as charterers) pursuant to the Bareboat
Charter.
|
|
(b) |
The Sellers shall be fully responsible for the Buyers’ fulfilment of physical delivery as new owner of the Vessel to the Sellers (as charterers) under the
Bareboat Charter. The Buyers’ obligation to take delivery of the Vessel under this Agreement is subject to the Sellers (as charterers) taking delivery of the Vessel simultaneously under the Bareboat Charter.
|
|
(c) |
If the Bareboat Charter is cancelled or the delivery of the Vessel does not take place under the Bareboat Charter due to the Sellers’ default, and without
prejudice to any rights that the Buyers may have (including under the Bareboat Charter), this Agreement shall be null and void, provided however that Clauses 21(c), 23 to 27 shall survive and the Buyers shall be entitled to claim,
without limitation, compensation for their losses and expenses due to the default of the Sellers.
|
23. |
Indemnities
|
|
(a) |
The Sellers shall pay such amounts to the Buyers in respect of all claims, expenses, liabilities, losses, fees (including but not limited to any vessel
registration and tonnage fees) suffered or incurred by or imposed on the Buyers arising from this Agreement or in connection with the delivery, registration and purchase of the Vessel by the Buyers whether prior to, during or after
termination of this Agreement and whether or not the Vessel is in the possession or the control of the Sellers or otherwise in relation to any non-delivery to or acceptance by the Sellers of the Vessel under the Bareboat Charter.
|
|
(b) |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the indemnities provided by the Sellers in favour of the Buyers shall continue in full force and effect
notwithstanding any breach of the terms of this Agreement or termination of this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof.
|
24. |
Governing Law
|
25. |
Arbitration
|
|
(a) |
Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including the existence, validity, interpretation, performance, breach or
termination
|
|
(b) |
The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA) terms current at the time when arbitration
proceedings are commenced.
|
|
(c) |
The reference shall be to three (3) 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 fourteen (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 fourteen (14) days specified. If the other Party does not appoint its own arbitrator and give notice that it has done so within the fourteen (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 own 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.
|
|
(d) |
Nothing herein shall prevent the Parties agreeing in writing to vary these provisions to provide for the appointment of a sole arbitrator.
|
|
(e) |
In cases where neither the claim nor any counterclaim exceeds the sum of US Dollars Fifty Thousand (US$50,000) (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.
|
26. |
Notices
|
27. |
Further definitions
|
Signed
by
|
)
|
||
as
|
)
|
||
for and on behalf of
|
)
|
||
FLEX LNG RAINBOW LIMITED
|
)
|
||
in the presence of:
|
)
|
Signed
by
|
)
|
||
as duly
authorised signatory
|
)
|
||
for and on behalf
|
)
|
/s/
|
|
[ ] |
)
|
||
[ ] |
)
|
||
in the presence of:
|
)
|
||
Norwegian Shipbrokers' Association's
|
|
Memorandum of Agreement for sale and
|
|
purchase of ships. Adopted by BIMCO in 1956.
|
|
Code-name
|
|
SALEFORM 2012
|
|
Revised 1966, 1983 and 1986/87, 1993 and 2012
|
1. |
Purchase Price
|
2. |
|
3. |
Payment
|
4. |
Inspection
|
5. |
Time and place of delivery and notices
|
For and on behalf of the Sellers
|
For and on behalf of the Buyers
|
/s/ Spyros Episkopou
|
/s/
James Clarke
|
Name:
Spyros Episkopou
|
Name:
James Clarke
|
Title:
Director
|
Title:
Attorney-in-fact
|
Norwegian Shipbrokers' Association's
|
|
Memorandum of Agreement for sale and
|
|
purchase of ships. Adopted by BIMCO in 1956.
|
|
Code-name
|
|
SALEFORM 2012
|
|
Revised 1966, 1983 and 1986/87, 1993 and 2012
|
For and on behalf of the Sellers
|
For and on behalf of the Buyers
|
/s/ Spyros Episkopou
|
/s/
James Clarke
|
Name:
Spyros Episkopou
|
Name:
James Clarke
|
Title:
Director
|
Title:
Attorney-in-fact
|
Norwegian Shipbrokers' Association's
|
|
Memorandum of Agreement for sale and
|
|
purchase of ships. Adopted by BIMCO in 1956.
|
|
Code-name
|
|
SALEFORM 2012
|
|
Revised 1966, 1983 and 1986/87, 1993 and 2012
|
|
(i) |
|
For and on behalf of the Sellers
/s/ Spyros Episkopou
Name: Spyros Episkopou
Title: Director
|
For and on behalf of the Buyers
/s/ Marius Hermansen
Name: Marius Hermansen
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
|
Norwegian Shipbrokers' Association's
|
|
Memorandum of Agreement for sale and
|
|
purchase of ships. Adopted by BIMCO in 1956.
|
|
Code-name
|
|
SALEFORM 2012
|
|
Revised 1966, 1983 and 1986/87, 1993 and 2012
|
For and on behalf of the Sellers
/s/ Spyros Episkopou
Name: Spyros Episkopou
Title: Director
|
For and on behalf of the Buyers
/s/ Marius Hermansen
Name: Marius Hermansen
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
|
Norwegian Shipbrokers' Association's
|
|
Memorandum of Agreement for sale and
|
|
purchase of ships. Adopted by BIMCO in 1956.
|
|
Code-name
|
|
SALEFORM 2012
|
|
Revised 1966, 1983 and 1986/87, 1993 and 2012
|
|
6. |
Divers Inspection / Drydocking
– N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8. |
Documentation
|
(i) |
Legal Bill(s) of Sale in a form recordable in the Buyers’ Nominated Flag State, transferring title of the Vessel and stating that the Vessel is free from
all mortgages, encumbrances and maritime liens or any other debts whatsoever, duly notarially attested and legalised or apostilled, as required by the Buyers’ Nominated Flag State;
|
(ii) |
Evidence that all necessary corporate, shareholder and other action has been taken by the Sellers to authorise the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement;
|
(iii) |
Power of Attorney of the Sellers appointing one or more representatives to act on behalf of the Sellers in the performance of this Agreement, duly
notarially attested and legalised or apostilled (as appropriate);
|
(iv) |
Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance signed by the Builder
and the Sellers, to be
244
countersigned by the Buyers, and Builders’ Certificate issued to the Sellers by the Builder, both duly notarially attested and legalized
|
(v) |
Class
Certificates
in form as required to be delivered by the Builder to
the Sellers as per Attachment A
|
(vi) |
A statement from the Sellers in a form acceptable to the
Buyers’ nominated ship registry, stating that the Vessel has never been registred in any ship registry.
|
(vii) |
|
(viii) |
Commercial Invoice for the Vessel;
|
(ix) |
Commercial Invoice(s) for bunkers, lubricating and hydraulic oils and greases;
|
|
|
(xi) |
Any additional documents
as listed in Attachment A and/or
as may reasonably be required by the competent authorities
of the Buyers’ Nominated Flag State for the purpose of registering the Vessel, provided the Buyers notify the Sellers of any such documents as soon as possible after the date of this Agreement; and
|
(xii) |
|
(xiii) |
An assignment in favour of the Buyers whereby the Sellers assign all warranties of the Builder towards the Sellers (including as
provided in Attachment A) and also an assignment of any warranty or service or spare part arrangement that a maker or subcontractor has provided to the Sellers in respect of the Vessel.
|
(i) |
Evidence that all necessary corporate, shareholder and other action has been taken by the Buyers to authorise the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement; and
|
(ii) |
Power of Attorney of the Buyers appointing one or more representatives to act on behalf of the Buyers in the performance of this Agreement, duly
notarially attested and legalised or apostilled (as appropriate).
|
|
9. |
Encumbrances
|
|
20. |
Termination of the Shipbuilding Contract
|
|
21. |
Parent Company Guarantee
|
|
22. |
Building Supervision
|
|
23. |
Condition Precendent
|
For and on behalf of the Sellers
/s/ Spyros Episkopou
Name: Spyros Episkopou
Title: Director
/s/ Eirini Santhi Theocharous
Name: Eirini Santhi Theocharous
Title: Director
|
For and on behalf of the Buyers
/s/ Marius Hermansen
Name: Marius Hermansen
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
|
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
|
Norwegian Shipbrokers’ Association’s
|
Memorandum of Agreement for sale and
|
|
purchase of ships. Adopted by BIMCO in
|
|
1956.
|
|
Code-name
|
|
SALEFORM 2012
|
|
Revised 1966, 1983 and 1986/87, 1993 and 2012
|
Year of Build:
As per Attachment A
|
Builder/Yard:
Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co.
Ltd.
|
Flag:
Marshall Islands
Place of Registration:
N/A
|
GT/NT:
As per Attachment A
/
__________
|
For and on behalf of the Sellers
|
For and on behalf of the Buyers
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/ Spyros Episkopou
|
By:
|
/s/ Marius Hermansen
|
|||
Name:
|
Spyros Episkopou |
Name:
|
Marius Hermansen | |||
Title:
|
Director
|
Title:
|
Attorney-In-Fact
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Eirini Santhi Theocharous |
|
||
Name:
|
Eirini Santhi Theocharous |
|
||
Title:
|
Director
|
|||
Norwegian Shipbrokers' Association's
|
|
Memorandum of Agreement for sale and
|
|
purchase of ships. Adopted by BIMCO in 1956.
|
|
Code-name
|
|
SALEFORM 2012
|
|
Revised 1966, 1983 and 1986/87, 1993 and 2012
|
For and on behalf of the Sellers
/s/ Spyros Episkopou
Name: Spyros Episkopou
Title: Director
/s/ Eirini Santhi Theocharous
Name: Eirini Santhi Theocharous
Title: Director
|
For and on behalf of the Buyers
/s/ Marius Hermansen
Name: Marius Hermansen
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
|
Norwegian Shipbrokers' Association's
|
|
Memorandum of Agreement for sale and
|
|
purchase of ships. Adopted by BIMCO in 1956.
|
|
Code-name
|
|
SALEFORM 2012
|
|
Revised 1966, 1983 and 1986/87, 1993 and 2012
|
For and on behalf of the Sellers
/s/ Spyros Episkopou
Name: Spyros Episkopou
Title: Director
/s/ Eirini Santhi Theocharous
Name: Eirini Santhi Theocharous
Title: Director
|
For and on behalf of the Buyers
/s/ Marius Hermansen
Name: Marius Hermansen
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
|
Norwegian Shipbrokers' Association's
|
|
Memorandum of Agreement for sale and
|
|
purchase of ships. Adopted by BIMCO in 1956.
|
|
Code-name
|
|
SALEFORM 2012
|
|
Revised 1966, 1983 and 1986/87, 1993 and 2012
|
For and on behalf of the Sellers
|
For and on behalf of the Buyers
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/ Spyros Episkopou
|
By:
|
/s/ Marius Hermansen
|
|||
Name:
|
Spyros Episkopou |
Name:
|
Marius Hermansen | |||
Title:
|
Director
|
Title:
|
Attorney-In-Fact
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Eirini Santhi Theocharous |
|
||
Name:
|
Eirini Santhi Theocharous |
|
||
Title:
|
Director
|
|||
Company
|
Country of registration
|
Main operations
|
Ownership share
|
Voting share
|
Flex LNGC 1 Limited
|
Isle of Man
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNGC 2 Limited
|
Isle of Man
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Shipping Limited
|
Isle of Man
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Chartering Limited
|
United Kingdom
|
Chartering services
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Management AS
|
Norway
|
Management services
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Fleet Limited
|
Bermuda
|
Holding company
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Management Limited
|
Isle of Man
|
Management services
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Bermuda Limited
|
Bermuda
|
Management services
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Endeavour Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Enterprise Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Ranger Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Rainbow Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Constellation Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Courageous Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Aurora Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Amber Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Resolute Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Reliance Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Freedom Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Vigilant Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Volunteer Limited
|
Marshall Islands
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
Flex LNG Shipping (Bermuda) Limited
|
Bermuda
|
Shipping
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
a) |
avoid any interest that conflicts with the interests of the Company or that
could reasonably be determined to harm the Company’s reputation, and
|
|
b) |
report any actual or potential conflict of interest (including any material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to such
conflict) immediately to their manager or a Board member and adhere to instructions concerning how to address such conflict of interest.
|
·
|
Act with honesty and integrity, avoiding actual or apparent conflicts of interest in personal and professional
relationships.
|
·
|
Provide constituents with information that is accurate, complete, objective, relevant, timely and understandable
within accepted materiality standards. Provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure on SEC reports and other public communications.
|
·
|
Provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure on SEC reports and other public communications.
|
·
|
Comply with rules and regulations of federal, state, provincial and local governments, and other appropriate
private and public regulatory agencies.
|
·
|
Act in good faith, responsibly, with due care, competence and diligence, without misrepresenting material facts or
allowing ones independent judgment to be subordinated.
|
·
|
Respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of ones work except when authorized or
otherwise legally obligated to disclose. Confidential information acquired in the course of ones work is not used for personal advantage.
|
·
|
Promptly report all material internal violations of the Code to ones supervisor, chief financial officer as
appropriate.
|
·
|
Acknowledge that any material violation of the Code may subject one to disciplinary action up to and including
termination.
|
/s/ Seward & Kissel LLP
|
||
Seward & Kissel LLP
|
||
New York, New York
|
||
May 7, 2019
|
/s/ MJM Limited
|
||
MJM Limited
|
||
Hamilton, Bermuda
|
||
May 7, 2019
|