UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
¨ | REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014
OR
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
¨ | SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Date of event requiring this shell company report __________
Commission File Number 001-36588
Höegh
LNG Partners LP
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Republic of the Marshall
Islands
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Wessex House, 5th Floor
45 Reid Street
Hamilton, HM 12 Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
Richard Tyrrell
Wessex House, 5th Floor
45 Reid Street
Hamilton, HM 12 Bermuda
Telephone: +441-295-6815
Facsimile: +441-295-6101
richard.tyrrell@hoeghlng.com
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
|
Common units representing limited partner interests | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
13,156,060 common units representing
limited partner interests
13,156,060 subordinated units representing limited partner interests
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ¨ Yes x No
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ¨ Yes x No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer ¨ | Non-accelerated filer x |
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP x | International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the | Other ¨ |
International Accounting Standards Board ¨ |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. ¨ Item 17 ¨ Item 18
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ¨ Yes x No
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
INDEX TO FORM 20-F
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PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT
This annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014 (this “Annual Report”) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements and accompanying notes included in this Annual Report. Unless we otherwise specify, references in this Annual Report to “Höegh LNG Partners,” “we,” “our,” “us” and “the Partnership” refer to Höegh LNG Partners LP or any one or more of its subsidiaries, or to all such entities unless the context otherwise indicates. References in this Annual Report to “our general partner” refer to Höegh LNG GP LLC, the general partner of Höegh LNG Partners. References in this Annual Report to “our operating company” refer to Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership. References in this Annual Report to “Höegh UK” refer to Hoegh LNG Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of our operating company. References in this Annual Report to “Höegh Lampung” refer to Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of our operating company. References in this Annual Report to “PT Hoegh” refer to PT Hoegh LNG Lampung, the owner of the PGN FSRU Lampung . References in this Annual Report to our or the “joint ventures” refer to SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and/or SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., the joint ventures that own two of the vessels in our initial fleet, the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , respectively. References in this Annual Report to “GDF Suez” refer to GDF Suez LNG Supply SA , a subsidiary of GDF Suez S.A. References in this Annual Report to “PGN” refer to PT PGN LNG Indonesia, a subsidiary of PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk.
References in this Annual Report to “Höegh LNG” refer, depending on the context, to Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. and to any one or more of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, other than us. References in this Annual Report to “Höegh LNG Management” refer to Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG. References in this Annual Report to “Höegh Maritime Management” refer to Hoegh LNG Maritime Management Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG. References in this Annual Report to “Höegh Norway” refer to Höegh LNG AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG. References in this Annual Report to “Höegh Asia” refer to Hoegh LNG Asia Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG. References in this Annual Report to “Höegh Shipping” refer to Hoegh LNG Shipping Services Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG. References in this Annual Report to “Leif Höegh UK” refer to Leif Höegh (U.K.) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG.
This Annual Report contains certain forward-looking statements concerning future events and our operations, performance and financial condition. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “plan,” “intend” or words or phrases of similar meanings. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to:
· | FSRU and LNG carrier market trends, including hire rates and factors affecting supply and demand; |
· | our anticipated growth strategies; |
· | our anticipated receipt of dividends and repayment of indebtedness from joint ventures; |
· | the effect of the worldwide economic environment; |
· | turmoil in the global financial markets; |
· | fluctuations in currencies and interest rates; |
· | general market conditions, including fluctuations in hire rates and vessel values; |
· | changes in our operating expenses, including drydocking and insurance costs; |
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· | our ability to make cash distributions on the units and the amount of any borrowings that may be necessary to make such distributions; |
· | our ability to comply with financing agreements and the expected effect of restrictions and covenants in such agreements; |
· | the future financial condition of our existing or future customers; |
· | our ability to make additional borrowings and to access public equity and debt capital markets; |
· | planned capital expenditures and availability of capital resources to fund capital expenditures; |
· | the exercise of purchase options by our customers; |
· | our ability to maintain long-term relationships with our customers; |
· | our ability to leverage Höegh LNG’s relationships and reputation in the shipping industry; |
· | our ability to purchase vessels from Höegh LNG in the future, including the FSRU Independence and Höegh LNG’s two FSRU newbuildings or other FSRUs or LNG carriers; |
· | our continued ability to enter into long-term, fixed-rate charters; |
· | our ability to maximize the use of our vessels, including the redeployment or disposition of vessels no longer under long-term charters; |
· | expected pursuit of strategic opportunities, including the acquisition of vessels; |
· | our ability to compete successfully for future chartering and newbuilding opportunities; |
· | timely acceptance of our vessels by their charterers; |
· | termination dates and extensions of charters; |
· | the expected cost of, and our ability to comply with, governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards, as well as standard regulations imposed by our charterers applicable to our business; |
· | expected demand in the FSRU sector and in the LNG shipping sector in general and the demand for FSRUs and LNG carriers in particular; |
· | availability of skilled labor, vessel crews and management; |
· | our incremental general and administrative expenses as a publicly traded limited partnership and our fees and expenses payable under our ship management agreements, the technical information and services agreement and the administrative services agreements; |
· | the anticipated taxation of the Partnership and distributions to its unitholders; |
· | estimated future maintenance and replacement capital expenditures; |
· | our ability to retain key employees; |
· | customers’ increasing emphasis on environmental and safety concerns; |
· | potential liability from any pending or future litigation; |
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· | potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, political events, piracy or acts by terrorists; |
· | future sales of our common units in the public market; and |
· | our business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations. |
Forward-looking statements in this Annual Report are made based upon management’s current plans, expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting us and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those risks discussed in “Item 3.D. Risk Factors.” The risks, uncertainties and assumptions involve known and unknown risks and are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control.
We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of these factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We make no prediction or statement about the performance of our common units. The various disclosures included in this Annual Report and in our other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, prospects and results of operations should be carefully reviewed and considered.
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Item 1. | Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers |
Not applicable.
Item 2. | Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable |
Not applicable.
Item 3. | Key Information |
A. | Selected Financial Data |
The following table presents, in each case for the years and as of the dates indicated, our selected consolidated and combined carve-out financial and operating data, which includes, for periods prior to the closing of our initial public offering (“IPO”) on August 12, 2014, selected consolidated and combined carve-out financial and operating data of the Partnership and its subsidiaries that had interests in the PGN FSRU Lampung and the joint ventures that own the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann . The transfer of these equity interests and related loans and promissory notes by Hoegh LNG to the Partnership in connection with the IPO was recorded at Höegh LNG’s consolidated book values.
Two of the vessels in our initial fleet (the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann ) are owned by our joint ventures, each of which is owned 50% by us. Under applicable accounting rules, we do not consolidate the financial results of these two joint ventures into our financial results. We account for our 50% equity interests in these two joint ventures as equity method investments in our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. We derive cash flows from the operations of these two joint ventures from principal and interest payments on our shareholder loans to our joint ventures.
We have two segments, which are the “Majority held FSRUs” and the “Joint venture FSRUs.” As of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, Majority held FSRUs included the PGN FSRU Lampung and construction contract revenue and expenses of the mooring related to PGN FSRU Lampung (“the Mooring”) under construction. The Mooring project was completed in the fourth quarter of 2014. As of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, Joint venture FSRUs included two 50%-owned FSRUs, the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann . We measure our segment profit based on segment EBITDA. Segment EBITDA is reconciled to net income for each segment in the segment table below. The accounting policies applied to the segments are the same as those applied in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements, except that Joint venture FSRUs are presented under the proportional consolidation method for the segment reporting and under the equity method in our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. Under the proportional consolidation method, 50% of the Joint venture FSRUs’ revenues, expenses and assets are reflected in the segment reporting. Management monitors the results of operations of our joint ventures under the proportional consolidation method and not the equity method.
You should read the following selected financial and operating data in conjunction with “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements the combined financial statements of the two joint ventures that own the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report. The financial information included in this Annual Report may not be indicative of our future results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could differ from those that would have resulted if we operated autonomously or as an entity independent of Höegh LNG in the periods prior to our IPO for which historical financial and operating data are presented below, and such data may not be indicative of our future operating results or financial performance.
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Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per unit information
and fleet data) |
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Statement of Income Data: | ||||||||||||
Time charter revenues | $ | 20,918 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Construction contract revenues | 49,277 | 50,362 | 5,512 | |||||||||
Other revenue | — | 511 | — | |||||||||
Total revenues | 70,195 | 50,873 | 5,512 | |||||||||
Voyage expenses | (1,139 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Vessel operating expenses | (5,297 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Construction contract expenses | (35,384 | ) | (43,272 | ) | (5,512 | ) | ||||||
Administrative expenses | (11,656 | ) | (8,043 | ) | (3,185 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (1,317 | ) | (8 | ) | — | |||||||
Total operating expenses | (54,793 | ) | (51,323 | ) | (8,697 | ) | ||||||
Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures | (5,330 | ) | 40,228 | 5,007 | ||||||||
Operating income | 10,072 | 39,778 | 1,822 | |||||||||
Interest income | 4,959 | 2,122 | 2,481 | |||||||||
Interest expense | (9,590 | ) | (352 | ) | (114 | ) | ||||||
Loss on derivative financial instruments | (161 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Other items, net | (2,366 | ) | (1,021 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||
Income before tax | 2,914 | ) | 40,527 | 4,188 | ||||||||
Income tax expense | (505 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 2,409 | $ | 40,527 | $ | 4,188 | ||||||
Earnings per unit | ||||||||||||
Common unit public (basic and diluted) | $ | 0.50 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Common unit Höegh LNG (basic and diluted) | $ | 0.50 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Subordinated units (basic and diluted) | $ | 0.50 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Cash distributions declared and paid per unit | $ | 0.52 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Balance Sheet Data (at end of year): | ||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 30,477 | $ | 108 | $ | 100 | ||||||
Restricted cash | 37,119 | 10,700 | 10,700 | |||||||||
Demand note due from owner | 143,241 | — | — | |||||||||
Current portion of advances to joint ventures | 6,665 | 7,112 | 6,675 | |||||||||
Long term advances to joint ventures | 12,287 | 17,398 | 21,996 | |||||||||
Newbuilding | — | 122,517 | 86,067 | |||||||||
Net investment in direct financing lease | 295,188 | — | — | |||||||||
Total assets | 568,215 | 226,730 | 135,125 | |||||||||
Liabilities and equity: | ||||||||||||
Accumulated losses of joint ventures | 59,630 | 54,300 | 94,528 | |||||||||
Amount, loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates | 6,486 | 208,637 | 91,585 | |||||||||
Long term debt | 193,271 | — | ||||||||||
Owner’s equity | — | (48,035 | ) | (53,229 | ) | |||||||
Total Partners’ capital | 237,440 | — | — | |||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 568,215 | $ | 226,730 | $ | 135,125 | ||||||
Cash Flow Data: | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 29,040 | $ | (42,083 | ) | $ | (7,635 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (292,078 | ) | (30,726 | ) | (61,709 | ) | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 293,407 | $ | 72,817 | $ | 69,444 | ||||||
Fleet data | ||||||||||||
Number of vessels | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||
Average age (in years) | 3.5 | 3.9 | 2.9 | |||||||||
Average charter length remaining excluding options (in years) | 16.7 | 16.1 | 17.1 | |||||||||
Average charter length remaining including options (in years) | 24.9 | 26.1 | 27.1 | |||||||||
Average off-hire days per vessel | — | — | — | |||||||||
Other Financial Data: | ||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA (1) | $ | 49,553 | $ | 31,905 | $ | 29,239 | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (1) | $ | 50,864 | $ | 31,905 | $ | 29,239 | ||||||
Capital expenditures | ||||||||||||
Expenditures for vessels and equipment | 172,173 | 36,450 | 58,138 |
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(1) | Please read “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below |
(2) | Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” below and note 4 of our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements for information on the basis of presentation for the Joint venture FSRUs segment |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA . EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization and taxes. Segment EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, taxes and other financial items. Other financial items consist of gains and losses on derivative instruments and other items, net (including foreign exchange gains and losses and withholding tax on interest expenses). Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, taxes, other financial items and cash collections on direct financial lease investments. Cash collections on direct finance lease investments consist of the difference between the payments under the time charter and the revenues recognized as a financial lease (representing the repayment of the principal recorded as a receivable). Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are used as supplemental financial measures by management and external users of financial statements, such as our lenders, to assess our financial and operating performance. We believe that Segment EBITDA assists our management and investors by increasing the comparability of our performance from period to period and against the performance of other companies in our industry that provide Segment EBITDA information. This increased comparability is achieved by excluding the potentially disparate effects between periods or companies of interest, other financial items, depreciation and amortization and taxes, which items are affected by various and possibly changing financing methods, capital structure and historical cost basis and which items may significantly affect net income between periods. We believe that including Segment EBITDA as a financial and operating measure benefits investors in (a) selecting between investing in us and other investment alternatives and (b) monitoring our ongoing financial and operational strength in assessing whether to continue to hold common units. We believe Adjusted EBITDA benefits investors in comparing our results to other investment alternatives that account for time charters as operating leases rather than financial leases.
Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered alternatives to net income, operating income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income, and these measures may vary among other companies. Therefore, Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as presented below may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. The following tables reconcile Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for each of the segments to net income (loss), the comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, for the periods presented:
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Year ended December 31, 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars) |
Majority
Held FSRUs |
Joint Venture
FSRUs (Proportional Consolidation) |
Other |
Total
Segment Reporting |
Consolidated
and Combined Carve-out Reporting |
|||||||||||||||
Reconciliation to net income (loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 9,493 | $ | (5,330 | ) | $ | (1,754 | ) | $ | 2,409 | $ | 2,409 | ||||||||
Interest income | — | — | (4,959 | ) | (4,959 | ) | (4,959 | ) | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | 9,090 | 17,137 | 500 | 26,727 | 9,590 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,317 | 9,148 | — | 10,465 | 1,317 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense | 505 | — | — | 505 | 505 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures: Interest (income) expense, net | — | — | — | — | 17,137 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures: Depreciation and amortization | — | — | — | — | 9,148 | |||||||||||||||
Other financial items(1) | 2,527 | 11,879 | — | 14,406 | 2,527 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures: Other financial items(1) | — | — | — | — | 11,879 | |||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | $ | 22,932 | $ | 32,834 | $ | (6,213 | ) | $ | 49,553 | $ | 49,553 | |||||||||
Cash collection/principal payment on direct financial lease | 1,311 | — | — | 1,311 | 1,311 | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 24,243 | $ | 32,834 | $ | (6,213 | ) | $ | 50,864 | $ | 50,864 |
Year ended December 31, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars) |
Majority
Held FSRUs |
Joint Venture
FSRUs (Proportional Consolidation) |
Other |
Total
Segment Reporting |
Consolidated
and Combined Carve-out Reporting |
|||||||||||||||
Reconciliation to net income (loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 1,730 | $ | 40,228 | $ | (1,431 | ) | $ | 40,527 | $ | 40,527 | |||||||||
Interest income | — | — | (2,122 | ) | (2,122 | ) | ( 2,122 | ) | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | 352 | 18,085 | — | 18,437 | 352 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 8 | 9,053 | — | 9,061 | 8 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures: Interest (income) expense, net | — | — | — | — | 18,085 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures: Depreciation and amortization | — | — | — | — | 9,053 | |||||||||||||||
Other financial items(1) | 1,021 | (35,019 | ) | — | (33,998 | ) | 1,021 | |||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures: Other financial items(1) | — | — | — | — | (35,019 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | $ | 3,111 | $ | 32,347 | $ | (3,553 | ) | $ | 31,905 | $ | 31,905 | |||||||||
Cash collection/principal payment on direct financial lease | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 3,111 | $ | 32,347 | $ | (3,553 | ) | $ | 31,905 | $ | 31,905 |
10 |
Year ended December 31, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars) |
Majority
Held FSRUs |
Joint Venture
FSRUs (Proportional Consolidation) |
Other |
Total
Segment Reporting |
Consolidated and
Combined Carve-out Reporting |
|||||||||||||||
Reconciliation to net income (loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (2,487 | ) | $ | 5,007 | $ | 1,668 | $ | 4,188 | $ | 4,188 | |||||||||
Interest income | — | (1 | ) | (2,481 | ) | (2,482 | ) | (2,481 | ) | |||||||||||
Interest expense | 114 | 19,033 | — | 19,147 | 114 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 9,060 | — | 9,060 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures: Interest (income)expense, net | — | — | — | — | 19,033 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures: Depreciation and amortization | — | — | — | — | 9,060 | |||||||||||||||
Other financial items(1) | 1 | (675 | ) | (674 | ) | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures: Other financial items(1) | — | — | — | — | (675 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | $ | (2,372 | ) | $ | 32,424 | $ | (813 | ) | $ | 29,239 | $ | 29,239 | ||||||||
Cash collection/principal payment on direct financial lease | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (2,372 | ) | $ | 32,424 | $ | (813 | ) | $ | 29,239 | $ | 29,239 |
(1) | Other financial items consist of gains and losses on derivative instruments and other items, net including foreign exchange gains or losses and withholding tax on interest changes. |
B. | Capitalization and Indebtedness |
Not applicable.
C. | Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds |
Not applicable.
D. | Risk Factors |
Some of the following risks relate principally to the industry in which we operate and to our business in general. Other risks relate principally to the securities market and to ownership of our common units. The occurrence of any of the events described in this section could significantly and negatively affect our business, financial condition, operating results or cash available for distribution or the trading price of our common units.
Risks Inherent in Our Business
Our initial fleet consists of only three vessels. Any limitation on the availability or operation of those vessels could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and could significantly reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
Our initial fleet consists of three vessels. If any of these vessels is unable to generate revenues as a result of off-hire time, early termination of the applicable time charter, purchase of the vessel by the charterer or otherwise, our financial condition and ability to make distributions to unitholders could be materially and adversely affected.
The charters relating to our vessels permit the charterer to terminate the charter in the event that the vessel is off-hire for any extended period. The charters also allow the charterer to terminate the charter upon the occurrence of specified defaults by us or in certain other cases, including termination without cause, due to force majeure or disruptions caused by war. The termination of any of our charters could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and could significantly reduce our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. For further details regarding termination of our charters, please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters— GDF Suez Neptune Time Charter—Termination” and “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters— PGN FSRU Lampung Time Charter—Termination.” We may be unable to charter the applicable vessel on terms as favorable to us as those of the terminated charter.
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We are dependent on GDF Suez and PGN as the sole customers for our vessels. A deterioration of the financial viability of GDF Suez or PGN or our relationship with either GDF Suez or PGN, or the loss of either GDF Suez or PGN as a customer, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
For each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, PGN accounted for all of the revenues in our consolidated and combined carve-out income statements and GDF Suez accounted for all of the revenues of our joint ventures from which we derived all of our equity in earnings of joint ventures. A deterioration in the financial viability of GDF Suez or PGN or the loss of either GDF Suez or PGN as a customer, or a decline in payments under any of the related charters, would have a greater adverse effect on us than for a company with a more diverse customer base, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
We or our joint ventures could lose a customer or the benefits of a charter as a result of a breach by the customer of a charter or other unanticipated developments, such as:
· | the customer failing to make charter payments because of its financial inability, disagreements with us or our joint venture partners or otherwise; |
· | the customer exercising its right to terminate the charter in certain circumstances, such as: (i) defaults of our or our joint ventures’ obligations under the applicable charter, including prolonged periods of off-hire; (ii) with respect to the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , in the event of war that would materially interrupt the performance of the time charter; or (iii) with respect to the PGN FSRU Lampung , in the event of specified types of force majeure; |
· | with respect to the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , GDF Suez exercising its right to terminate the charter without cause at any time following the fourth and sixth years, respectively, of the charters’ effectiveness, in which case GDF Suez will be obligated to pay the vessel owner a previously agreed upon termination fee based on the date such charter is terminated; |
· | the charter terminating automatically if the vessel is lost or deemed a constructive loss; |
· | with respect to the PGN FSRU Lampung , PGN exercising its option to purchase the vessel; or |
· | a prolonged force majeure event or a declaration of war in any location that materially interrupts the performance of the time charter. |
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For further details regarding termination of our charters, please read “Item 4. B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters— GDF Suez Neptune Time Charter—Termination” and “Item 4. B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters— PGN FSRU Lampung Time Charter—Termination.” If any charter is terminated, we or our joint ventures, as applicable, may be unable to re-deploy the related vessel on terms as favorable as the current charters or at all. In addition, any termination fee payable to us may not adequately compensate us for the loss of the charter.
Any event, whether in our industry or otherwise, that adversely affects a customer’s financial condition, leverage, results of operations, cash flows or demand for our services may adversely affect our ability to sustain or increase cash distributions to our unitholders. Accordingly, we are indirectly subject to the business risks of our customers, including their level of indebtedness and the economic conditions and government policies in their areas of operation.
The ability of each of our customers to perform its obligations under its applicable charter depends on its future financial condition and economic performance, which, in turn, will depend on prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond its control.
Due to our lack of diversification, adverse developments in our LNG transportation, storage and regasification businesses could reduce our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
We rely exclusively on the cash flows generated from our FSRUs. Due to our lack of diversification, an adverse development in the LNG transportation, storage and regasification industry could have a significantly greater impact on our financial condition and results of operations than if we maintained more diverse assets or lines of businesses.
We may not have sufficient cash from operations following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses to enable us to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on our common units.
We may not have sufficient cash from operations to pay the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.3375 per unit on our common units. The amount of cash we can distribute on our units principally depends upon the amount of cash we generate from our operations. We generate cash from our operations and through distributions from our joint ventures, and as such our cash from operations are dependent on our operations and the cash distributions and operations of our joint ventures, each of which may fluctuate based on the risks described in this section, including, among other things:
· | the hire rates we and our joint ventures obtain from charters; |
· | the level of operating costs and other expenses, such as the cost of crews and insurance; |
· | the continued availability of natural gas production, liquefaction and regasification facilities; |
· | demand for LNG; |
· | supply and capacities of FSRUs and LNG carriers; |
· | prevailing global and regional economic and political conditions; |
· | currency exchange rate fluctuations; |
· | interest rate fluctuations; and |
· | the effect of governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards on the conduct of our business. |
In addition, the actual amount of cash we will have available for distribution will depend on other factors, including:
· | the level of capital expenditures we and our joint ventures make, including for maintaining or replacing vessels, building new vessels, acquiring existing vessels and complying with regulations; |
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· | the number of unscheduled off-hire days for our fleet and the timing of, and number of days required for, scheduled drydocking of our vessels; |
· | our and our joint ventures’ debt service requirements and restrictions on distributions contained in our and our joint ventures’ current and future debt instruments; |
· | fluctuations in interest rates; |
· | fluctuations in working capital needs; |
· | variable tax rates; |
· | our ability to make, and the level of, working capital borrowings; and |
· | the amount of any cash reserves established by our board of directors. |
In addition, each quarter we are required by our partnership agreement to deduct estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures from operating surplus, which may result in less cash available to unitholders than if actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures were deducted. Our ability to pay distributions will also be limited to the extent that we have sufficient cash after establishment of cash reserves and payments to our general partner.
The amount of cash we generate from our operations and the cash distributions received from our joint ventures may differ materially from our or their profit or loss for the period, which will be affected by non-cash items. As a result of this and the other factors mentioned above, we may make cash distributions during periods when we record losses and may not make cash distributions during periods when we record net income.
Our ability to grow and to meet our financial needs may be adversely affected by our cash distribution policy.
Our cash distribution policy, which is consistent with our partnership agreement, requires us to distribute all of our available cash (as defined in our partnership agreement) each quarter. Accordingly, our growth may not be as fast as businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations.
In determining the amount of cash available for distribution, our board of directors approves the amount of cash reserves to set aside, including reserves for future maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, working capital and other matters. We may also rely upon external financing sources, including commercial borrowings, to fund our capital expenditures. Accordingly, to the extent we do not have sufficient cash reserves or are unable to obtain financing, our cash distribution policy may significantly impair our ability to meet our financial needs or to grow.
We are a holding entity that has historically derived a substantial majority of our income from equity interests in our joint ventures. Neither we nor our joint venture partners exercise affirmative control over our joint ventures. Accordingly, we cannot require our joint ventures to act in our best interests. Furthermore, our joint venture partners may prevent our joint ventures from taking action that may otherwise be beneficial to us, including making cash distributions to us. A deadlock between us and our joint venture partners could result in our exchanging equity interests in one of our joint ventures for the equity interests in our other joint venture held by our joint venture counterparties or in us or our joint venture partner selling shares in a joint venture to a third party.
We are a holding entity and conduct our operations and businesses through subsidiaries. We have historically derived a substantial majority of our income from our 50% equity interests in our joint ventures that own the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann . Please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Shareholder Agreements” for a description of the shareholders’ agreement governing our joint ventures. Our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders will depend on the performance of our joint ventures, subsidiaries and other investments. If our joint venture partners do not approve cash distributions or if they are not sufficient, we will not be able to make cash distributions unless we obtain funds from other sources. We may not be able to obtain the necessary funds from other sources on terms acceptable to us. The approval of a majority of the members of the board of directors is required to consent to any proposed action by such joint ventures and, as a result, we will be unable to cause our joint venture to act in our best interests over the objection of our joint venture partners or make cash distributions to us. Our inability to require our joint ventures to act in our best interests may cause us to fail to realize expected benefits from our equity interests and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
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Our joint venture partners for our joint ventures that own the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann are Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd (“MOL”) and Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd (“TLT”), who we refer to in this Annual Report as our joint venture partners. These entities together exercise one half of the voting power on the board of directors of each joint venture. As such, our joint venture partners may prevent our joint ventures from making cash distributions to us or may act in a manner that would otherwise not be in our best interests.
If the directors nominated by us and our joint venture partner are unable to reach agreement on any decision or action, then the issue will be resolved in accordance with the procedures set forth in the shareholders’ agreement. After the board of directors has met a second time to consider the decision or action, if the deadlock persists, one or more of our senior executives will meet with their counterpart(s) from our joint venture partners. Should, after no more than 60 days, these efforts be unsuccessful and we and our joint venture partners, on a combined basis, each own 50% of the shares in each joint venture or, when the shareholdings in each joint venture are aggregated by party, we and our joint venture partners, on a combined basis, each own 50% of the aggregate shares, we and our joint venture partners will attempt to agree within 30 days that our shareholdings be exchanged so that we own 100% of one joint venture and our joint venture partners own 100% of the other joint venture. If, however, the shareholdings are not as described in the previous sentence or we and our joint venture partners cannot agree within the specified time, we or our joint venture partners may sell our shares, including to a third party, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the shareholders’ agreement. If any of these forms of resolution were to occur, the diversity of our fleet would be reduced, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders may be adversely affected.
We must make substantial capital expenditures to maintain and replace the operating capacity of our fleet, which will reduce our cash available for distribution. In addition, each quarter we will be required, pursuant to our partnership agreement, to deduct estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures from operating surplus, which may result in less cash available to unitholders than if actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures were deducted.
We must make substantial capital expenditures to maintain and replace, over the long-term, the operating capacity of our fleet. Maintenance and replacement capital expenditures include capital expenditures associated with drydocking a vessel, including costs for inspection, maintenance and repair, modifying an existing vessel, acquiring a new vessel or otherwise replacing current vessels at the end of their useful lives to the extent these expenditures are incurred to maintain or replace the operating capacity of our fleet. These expenditures could vary significantly from quarter to quarter and could increase as a result of changes in:
· | the cost of labor and materials; |
· | customer requirements; |
· | fleet size; |
· | length of charters; |
· | vessel useful life; |
· | the cost of replacement vessels; |
· | re-investment rate of return; |
· | resale or scrap value of existing vessels; |
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· | governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards relating to safety, security or the environment; and |
· | competitive standards. |
Our partnership agreement requires our board of directors to deduct estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, instead of actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, from operating surplus each quarter in an effort to reduce fluctuations in operating surplus as a result of significant variations in actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures each quarter. The amount of estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures deducted from operating surplus is subject to review and change by our board of directors at least once a year (with the approval of the conflicts committee of our board of directors). In years when estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures are higher than actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, the amount of cash available for distribution to unitholders will be lower than if actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures were deducted from operating surplus. If our board of directors underestimates the appropriate level of estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, we may have less cash available for distribution in periods when actual capital expenditures exceed our previous estimates. Refer to “Item 8. A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—The Partnership’s Cash Distribution Policy—Estimated Maintenance and Replacement Capital Expenditures” for a description of our estimated annual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures.
The required drydocking of our vessels could be more expensive and time consuming than we anticipate, which could adversely affect our cash available for distribution.
The drydocking of our vessels could require us to expend capital if the vessels are drydocked for longer than the allowable period under the time charters. Although each of our time charters requires the charterer to pay the hire rate for up to a specified number of days of scheduled drydocking and reimburse us for anticipated drydocking costs, any significant increase in the number of days of drydocking beyond the specified number of days during which the hire rate remains payable could have a material adverse effect on our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. A significant increase in the cost of repairs during drydocking could also adversely affect our cash available for distribution. We may underestimate the time required to drydock any of our vessels or unanticipated problems may arise. If more than one of our vessels is required to be out of service at the same time, if a vessel is drydocked longer than the permitted duration or if the cost of repairs during drydocking is greater than budgeted, our cash available for distribution could be adversely affected.
If capital expenditures are financed through cash from operations or by issuing debt or equity securities, our ability to make cash distributions may be diminished, our financial leverage could increase or our unitholders may be diluted.
Use of cash from operations to expand our fleet will reduce cash available for distribution to unitholders. Our ability to obtain bank financing or to access the capital markets may be limited by our financial condition at the time of any such financing or offering as well as by adverse market conditions resulting from, among other things, general economic conditions, changes in the LNG industry and contingencies and uncertainties that are beyond our control. Our failure to obtain the funds for future capital expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. Even if we are successful in obtaining necessary funds, the terms of any debt financings could limit our ability to pay cash distributions to unitholders. In addition, incurring additional debt may significantly increase our interest expense and financial leverage, and issuing additional equity securities may result in significant unitholder dilution and would increase the aggregate amount of cash required to pay the minimum quarterly distribution to unitholders, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
We may be unable to make or realize expected benefits from acquisitions, which could have an adverse effect on our expected plans for growth.
Our growth strategy includes selectively acquiring FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets that are operating under long-term charters with stable cash flows. Any acquisition of a vessel or business may not be profitable to us at or after the time we acquire such vessel or business and may not generate cash flows sufficient to justify our investment. In addition, our acquisition growth strategy exposes us to risks that may harm our business, financial condition and results of operations, including risks that we may:
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· | fail to realize anticipated benefits, such as new customer relationships, cost-savings or cash flows enhancements; |
· | be unable to hire, train or retain qualified onshore and seafaring personnel to manage and operate our growing business and fleet; |
· | decrease our liquidity by using a significant portion of our available cash or borrowing capacity to finance acquisitions; |
· | significantly increase our interest expense or financial leverage if we incur additional debt to finance acquisitions; |
· | incur or assume unanticipated liabilities, losses or costs associated with the business or vessels acquired; or |
· | incur other significant charges, such as impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets, asset devaluation or restructuring charges. |
Fluctuations in overall LNG supply and demand growth could adversely affect our ability to secure future long-term charters.
Demand for LNG depends on a number of factors, including economic growth, the cost effectiveness of LNG compared to alternative fuels, environmental policy and the perceived need to diversify fuel mix for energy security reasons. The cost effectiveness of LNG compared to alternative fuels is also dependent on supply. A change in any of the factors influencing LNG demand, or an imbalance between supply and demand, could adversely affect the need for LNG infrastructure and our ability to secure additional long-term charters.
Our growth depends on continued growth in demand for the services we provide.
Our growth strategy focuses on expansion in the floating storage and regasification sector and the maritime transportation sector, each within the LNG transportation, storage and regasification industry. The rate of LNG growth has fluctuated due to several reasons, including the global economic crisis and the continued increase in natural gas production from unconventional sources in regions such as North America. Accordingly, our growth depends on continued growth in world and regional demand for LNG, FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets, which could be negatively affected by a number of factors, including:
· | increases in the cost of LNG; |
· | increases in the production levels of low-cost natural gas in domestic, natural gas-consuming markets, which could further depress prices for natural gas in those markets and make LNG uneconomical; |
· | decreases in the cost, or increases in the demand for, conventional land-based regasification systems, which could occur if providers or users of regasification services seek greater economies of scale than FSRUs can provide or if the economic, regulatory or political challenges associated with land-based activities improve; |
· | decreases in the cost of alternative technologies or development of alternative technologies for vessel-based LNG regasification; |
· | increases in the production of natural gas in areas linked by pipelines to consuming areas, the extension of existing, or the development of new, pipeline systems in markets we may serve, or the conversion of existing non-natural gas pipelines to natural gas pipelines in those markets; |
· | decreases in the consumption of natural gas due to increases in its price relative to other energy sources or other factors making consumption of natural gas less attractive; |
· | availability of new, alternative energy sources, including compressed natural gas; and |
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· | negative global or regional economic or political conditions, particularly in LNG consuming regions, which could reduce energy consumption or its growth. |
Reduced demand for LNG, FSRUs or LNG carriers would have a material adverse effect on our future growth and could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
PGN has the option to purchase the PGN FSRU Lampung beginning in June 2018. If PGN exercises this option, it could have a material adverse effect on our operating cash flows and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
PGN has the option to purchase the PGN FSRU Lampung beginning in June 2018, at a price specified in the time charter. Any compensation we receive for the purchase of the PGN FSRU Lampung may not adequately compensate us for the loss of the vessel and related time charter. If PGN exercises this option, it would significantly reduce the size of our fleet, and we may be unable to identify or acquire suitable replacement vessel(s) with the proceeds of the option exercise because, among other things that are beyond our control, there may be no replacement vessel(s) that are readily available for purchase at a price that is equal to or less than the proceeds from the option exercise and on terms acceptable to us. Even if we find suitable replacement vessel(s), the hire rate(s) of such vessel(s) may be significantly lower than the hire rate under the current PGN FSRU Lampung time charter. Our inability to find suitable replacement vessel(s) or the chartering of replacement vessel(s) at lower hire rate(s) would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. Please read “Item 4. B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters— PGN FSRU Lampung Time Charter—Termination.”
Demand for FSRUs or LNG shipping could be significantly affected by volatile natural gas prices and the overall demand for natural gas.
Natural gas prices are volatile and affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including, but not limited to, the following:
· | worldwide demand for natural gas; |
· | the cost of exploration, development, production, transportation and distribution of natural gas; |
· | expectations regarding future energy prices for both natural gas and other sources of energy; |
· | the level of worldwide LNG production and exports; |
· | government laws and regulations, including but not limited to environmental protection laws and regulations; |
· | local and international political, economic and weather conditions; |
· | political and military conflicts; and |
· | the availability and cost of alternative energy sources, including alternate sources of natural gas in gas importing and consuming countries. |
Seasonality in demand, peak-load demand, and other short-term factors such as pipeline gas disruptions and maintenance schedules of utilities affect charters of less than two years and rates. In general, reduced demand for LNG, FSRUs or LNG carriers would have a material adverse effect on our future growth and could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The debt levels of us and our joint ventures may limit our and their flexibility in obtaining additional financing, refinancing credit facilities upon maturity or pursuing other business opportunities or our paying distributions to you.
As of December 31, 2014 we had total debt of $212.3 million and our joint ventures’ debt was $522.1 million, of which 50% is our share. In addition, we have the ability to incur additional debt, and we will have the ability to borrow an additional $85 million under our sponsor credit facility, subject to certain limitations. If we acquire additional vessels or businesses, our consolidated debt may significantly increase. We may incur additional debt under this or future credit facilities. Our joint ventures’ credit facilities will mature in 2022 and require an aggregate principal repayment of approximately $330 million, of which 50% is our share. A portion of the credit facility secured by the PGN FSRU Lampung will mature in 2021 and require that an aggregate principal amount of $16.5 million be refinanced. If such principal repayment is not refinanced, the export credit tranche of the PGN FSRU Lampung financing that will have an outstanding balance of $68.2 million at this time may be accelerated together with the attendant hedges. Please read “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Activities—Long-term Debt—Lampung Facility.”
Our level of debt could have important consequences to us, including the following:
· | our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be limited or such financing may not be available on favorable terms; |
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· | we will need a substantial portion of our cash flows to make principal and interest payments on our debt, reducing the funds that would otherwise be available for operations, future business opportunities and distributions to unitholders; |
· | our debt level will make us more vulnerable than our competitors with less debt to competitive pressures or a downturn in our business or the economy generally; |
· | our debt level may limit our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions; and |
· | if we are unable to satisfy the restrictions included in any of our financing arrangements or are otherwise in default under any of those arrangements, as a result of our debt levels or otherwise, we will not be able to make cash distributions to you, notwithstanding our stated cash distribution policy. |
Our ability to service or refinance our debt will depend on, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. If our operating results are not sufficient to service or refinance our current or future indebtedness, we will be forced to take actions such as reducing distributions, reducing or delaying our business activities, acquisitions, investments or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring our debt, or seeking additional equity capital or bankruptcy protection. We may not be able to effect any of these remedies on satisfactory terms, or at all.
We lent $140 million of the net proceeds of our IPO to Höegh LNG pursuant to a demand note and Höegh LNG has entered into a revolving credit facility to provide us with liquidity, and, as a result of these transactions, we will be exposed to the credit risk of Höegh LNG and other risks that could impact our liquidity.
Upon consummation of the IPO, we lent $140 million to Höegh LNG pursuant to a demand note and entered into a three-year, $85 million revolving credit facility with Höegh LNG as our lender to be used to fund our general partnership purposes, including working capital and distributions. This revolving credit facility provides our primary source of liquidity other than our cash from operations distributed to us by our subsidiaries and joint ventures and payments made to us under our shareholder loans. Höegh LNG’s ability to make loans under the revolving credit facility and to repay the demand note on demand, may be affected by events beyond our and their control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, our and their ability to comply with the terms of the revolving credit facility and the demand note may be impaired. If we make demand on the demand note, or if we request a borrowing under the revolving credit facility, Höegh LNG may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to repay the demand note or make loans under the revolving credit facility. In the event that Höegh LNG is unable to make loans to us pursuant to the revolving credit facility, or a default or other circumstance prohibits us from borrowing loans thereunder, or Höegh LNG is unable to repay the demand note upon demand, our financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders could be materially adversely affected.
The financing arrangements of us and our joint ventures are secured by our vessels and contain operating and financial restrictions and other covenants that may restrict our business and financing activities as well as our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in the financing arrangements of us and our joint ventures, including lease agreements and any future financing agreements, could adversely affect our and their ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage, expand or pursue our business activities. For example, the financing agreements may restrict the ability of us and our subsidiaries to:
· | incur or guarantee indebtedness; |
· | change ownership or structure, including mergers, consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions; |
· | make dividends or distributions; |
· | make certain negative pledges and grant certain liens; |
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· | sell, transfer, assign or convey assets; |
· | make certain investments; and |
· | enter into a new line of business. |
In addition, our financing agreements require us and Höegh LNG to comply with certain financial ratios and tests, including maintaining a minimum liquidity, maintaining minimum book equity ratio and ensuring that available cash flows exceeds interest and principal payable for a nine-month test period. Please read “Item 5. B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Activities—Long-term Debt—Lampung Facility.”
Our joint ventures’ and Höegh LNG’s ability to comply with covenants and restrictions contained in financing arrangements may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, our and their ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired. If restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in debt instruments are breached, a significant portion of the obligations may become immediately due and payable, and the lenders’ commitment to make further loans may terminate. We and/or our joint ventures or Höegh LNG may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. In addition, obligations under our and our joint ventures’ financing arrangements are secured by our vessels and, in some cases, guaranteed by Höegh LNG, and if we or they, as applicable, are unable to repay debt under our financing arrangements, the lenders could seek to foreclose on those assets. Please read “Item 5. B. Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Restrictions in our debt agreements and local laws may prevent us from paying distributions.
The payment of principal and interest on our debt will reduce our cash available for distribution. Our and our joint ventures’ financing arrangements prohibit the payment of distributions upon the occurrence of certain events, including, but not limited to:
· | failure to pay any principal, interest, fees, expenses or other amounts when due; |
· | certain material environmental incidents; |
· | breach or lapse of insurance with respect to vessels securing the facilities; |
· | breach of certain financial covenants; |
· | failure to observe any other agreement, security instrument, obligation or covenant beyond specified cure periods in certain cases; |
· | default under other indebtedness (including certain hedging arrangements or other material agreements); |
· | bankruptcy or insolvency events; |
· | inaccuracy of any representation or warranty; |
· | a change of ownership of the vessel-owning subsidiary, as defined in the applicable agreement; and |
· | a material adverse change, as defined in the applicable agreement. |
Furthermore, our financing arrangements require our subsidiaries and joint ventures to hold cash reserves that are, in certain cases, held for specifically designated uses, including working capital, operations and maintenance and debt service reserves, and are generally subject to “waterfall” provisions that allocate project revenues to specified priorities of use (such as operating expenses, scheduled debt service, targeted debt service reserves and any other reserves) and the remaining cash is distributable to us only on certain dates and subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including meeting a 1.20 historical and in some cases, projected, debt service coverage ratio. In addition, the laws governing our joint ventures and subsidiaries may prevent us from making dividend distributions. Our joint ventures are subject to restrictions under the laws of the Cayman Islands and may make dividend distributions out of profits or, in certain instances, share premium or distributable capital reserves resulting from contributed capital reserves. Höegh Lampung is subject to Singapore laws and may make dividend distributions only out of profits. Dividends may only be paid by PT Hoegh if its retained earnings are positive under Indonesian law. As of December 31, 2014, PT Hoegh had negative retained earnings and therefore could not make dividend payments to us under Indonesia law. However, subject to meeting a debt service ratio of 1:20:1:00, PT Hoegh can distribute cash from its cash flow from operations to us as payment of intercompany accrued interest and / or intercompany debt, after quarterly payments of the Lampung facility and fulfilment of the “waterfall” provisions to meeting operating requirements as defined by the Lampung facility. Please read “Item 8.A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—The Partnership’s Cash Distribution Policy—Limitations on Cash Distributions and Our Ability to Change Our Cash Distribution Policy.”
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Höegh LNG’s failure to comply with certain obligations under PT Hoegh’s existing financing agreement, and certain other events occurring at Höegh LNG, could result in cross-defaults or defaults under PT Hoegh’s existing credit facility, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
Höegh LNG guarantees the obligations of PT Hoegh, a company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Indonesia and the owner of the PGN FSRU Lampung , under PT Hoegh’s existing credit facility. Pursuant to the terms of the PT Hoegh credit facility, Höegh LNG must, among other things, maintain minimum book equity and comply with certain minimum liquidity financial covenants. Failure by Höegh LNG to satisfy any of the covenants applicable to Höegh LNG would result in a default under the PT Hoegh credit facility. Furthermore, among other things, a default by Höegh LNG on certain of its indebtedness or the occurrence of certain other adverse events at Höegh LNG may cause a default under the PT Hoegh credit facility. Any one of these events could result in the acceleration of the maturity of the PT Hoegh credit facility and the lenders thereunder may foreclose upon any collateral securing that debt, including arrest and seizure of the PGN FSRU Lampung , even if Höegh LNG were to subsequently cure its default. In the event of such acceleration and foreclosure, PT Hoegh might not have sufficient funds or other assets to satisfy all of its obligations, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and would significantly reduce our ability, or make us unable, to make cash distributions to our unitholders for so long as such default is continuing. Please read “Item 5. B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Activities—Long-term Debt—Lampung Facility.”
Growth of the LNG market may be limited by many factors, including infrastructure constraints and community and political group resistance to new LNG infrastructure over concerns about environmental, safety and terrorism.
A complete LNG project includes production, liquefaction, regasification, storage and distribution facilities and FSRUs or LNG carriers. Existing LNG projects and infrastructure are limited, and new or expanded LNG projects are highly complex and capital intensive, with new projects often costing several billion dollars. Many factors could negatively affect continued development of LNG infrastructure and related alternatives, including floating storage and regasification, or disrupt the supply of LNG, including:
· | the availability of sufficient financing for LNG projects on commercially reasonable terms; |
· | decreases in the price of LNG, which might decrease the expected returns relating to investments in LNG projects; |
· | the inability of project owners or operators to obtain governmental approvals to construct or operate LNG facilities; |
· | local community resistance to proposed or existing LNG facilities based on safety, environmental or security concerns; |
· | any significant explosion, spill or similar incident involving an LNG facility or vessel involved in the LNG transportation, storage and regasification industry, including an FSRU or LNG carrier; and |
· | labor or political unrest affecting existing or proposed areas of LNG production and regasification. |
We expect that, in the event any of the factors discussed above negatively affect us, some of the proposals to expand existing or develop new LNG liquefaction and regasification facilities may be abandoned or significantly delayed. If the LNG supply chain is disrupted or does not continue to grow, or if a significant explosion, spill or similar incident occurs within the LNG transportation, storage and regasification industry, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
Our growth depends on our ability to expand relationships with existing customers and obtain new customers, for which we will face substantial competition.
One of our principal objectives is to enter into additional long-term time charters for FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets. The process of obtaining long-term charters for FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets is competitive and generally involves an intensive screening process and competitive bids, and often extends for several months. We believe FSRU and LNG carrier time charters are awarded based upon a variety of factors relating to the vessel operator, including:
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· | FSRU and LNG carrier experience and quality of ship operations; |
· | quality of vessels; |
· | cost effectiveness; |
· | shipping industry relationships and reputation for customer service and safety; |
· | technical ability and reputation for operation of highly specialized vessels; |
· | quality and experience of seafaring crew; |
· | safety record; |
· | the ability to finance vessels at competitive rates and financial stability generally; |
· | relationships with shipyards and the ability to get suitable berths; |
· | construction management experience, including the ability to obtain on-time delivery of new FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets according to customer specifications; |
· | willingness to accept operational risks pursuant to the charter, such as allowing termination of the charter for force majeure events; and |
· | competitiveness of the bid in terms of overall price. |
We expect substantial competition for providing floating storage and regasification services and marine transportation services for potential LNG projects from a number of experienced companies, including state-sponsored entities and major energy companies. Many of these competitors have significantly greater financial resources and larger fleets than do we or Höegh LNG. We anticipate that an increasing number of marine transportation companies—including many with strong reputations and extensive resources and experience—will enter the FSRU or LNG carrier markets. This increased competition may cause greater price competition for time charters. As a result of these factors, we may be unable to expand our relationships with existing customers or to obtain new customers on a profitable basis, if at all, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
We may have more difficulty entering into long-term time charters in the future if an active short-term market for FSRUs develops or the spot LNG transportation market for LNG carriers continues to develop.
One of our principal strategies is to enter into additional FSRU and LNG carrier time charters of five or more years. If a market for short-term time charters for FSRUs develops, we may have increased difficulty entering into long-term time charters upon expiration or early termination of the time charters for the FSRUs in our initial fleet or for any vessels that we acquire in the future. As a result, our cash flows may be less stable.
In the LNG carrier market, awards of LNG carrier time charters have historically been for five or more years, though the use of spot voyages and short-term time charters has grown in the past few years. This may impact our ability to identify attractive acquisition candidates in the LNG carrier market.
We may not be able to redeploy our FSRUs on terms as favorable as our or our joint venture’s current FSRU time charters or at all.
Due to the limitations on demand for FSRUs, in the event that any of the time charters on our vessels are terminated, we may be unable to recharter such vessel as an FSRU. While we may be able to employ such vessel as a traditional LNG carrier, the hire rates and/or other charter terms may not be as favorable to us as those in the existing time charter. If we acquire additional FSRUs and they are not, as a result of time charter termination or otherwise, subject to a long-term, profitable time charter, we may be required to bid for projects at unattractive rates in order to reduce our losses relating to the vessels.
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An increase in the global supply or aggregate capacities of FSRUs or LNG carriers, including conversion of existing tonnage, without a commensurate increase in demand may have an adverse effect on hire rates and the values of our vessels, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
The supply of FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets in the industry is affected by, among other things, assessments of the demand for these vessels by charterers. Any over-estimation of demand for vessels may result in an excess supply of new vessels. This may, in the long term when existing contracts expire, result in lower hire rates and depress the values of our vessels. If hire rates are lower when we are seeking new time charters upon expiration or early termination of our current time charters, or for any new vessels we acquire beyond our contracted newbuildings, our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders may be adversely affected.
During periods of high utilization and high hire rates, industry participants may increase the supply of FSRUs and/or LNG carriers by ordering the construction of new vessels. This may result in an over-supply and may cause a subsequent decline in utilization and hire rates when the vessels enter the market. Lower utilization and hire rates could adversely affect revenues and profitability. Prolonged periods of low utilization and hire rates could also result in the recognition of impairment charges on our vessels if future cash flow estimates, based upon information available at the time, indicate that the carrying value of these vessels may not be recoverable. Such impairment charges may cause lenders to accelerate loan payments under our or our joint ventures’ financing agreements, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
Hire rates for FSRUs are not readily available and may fluctuate substantially. If rates are lower when we are seeking a new charter, our earnings and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders may decline.
Hire rates for FSRUs are not readily available and may fluctuate over time as a result of changes in the supply demand balance relating to current and future FSRU and capacity. This supply demand relationship largely depends on a number of factors outside our control. The LNG market is closely connected to world natural gas prices and energy markets, which we cannot predict. A substantial or extended decline in natural gas prices could adversely affect our ability to recharter our vessels at acceptable rates or to acquire and profitably operate new FSRUs. Our ability from time to time to charter or re-charter any vessel at attractive rates will depend on, among other things, the prevailing economic conditions in the LNG industry. Hire rates for newbuilding FSRUs are correlated with the price of FSRU newbuildings. Hire rates at a time when we may be seeking a new charter may be lower than the hire rates at which our vessels are currently chartered. If rates are lower when we are seeking a new charter, our earnings and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders may decline.
Vessel values may fluctuate substantially, and, if these values are lower at a time when we are attempting to dispose of vessels, we may incur a loss.
Vessel values for FSRUs and LNG carriers can fluctuate substantially over time due to a number of different factors, including:
· | prevailing economic conditions in the natural gas and energy markets; |
· | a substantial or extended decline in demand for LNG; |
· | increases in the supply of vessel capacity; |
· | the size and age of a vessel; |
· | the remaining term on existing time charters; and |
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· | the cost of retrofitting or modifying existing vessels, as a result of technological advances in vessel design or equipment, changes in applicable environmental or other regulations or standards, customer requirements or otherwise. |
As our vessels age, the expenses associated with maintaining and operating them are expected to increase, which could have an adverse effect on our business and operations if we do not maintain sufficient cash reserves for maintenance and replacement capital expenditures. Moreover, the cost of a replacement vessel would be significant.
If a charter terminates, we may be unable to re-deploy the affected vessel at attractive rates and, rather than continue to incur costs to maintain and finance her, we may seek to dispose of her. Our inability to dispose of a vessel at a reasonable value could result in a loss on her sale and adversely affect our ability to purchase a replacement vessel, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
We depend on Höegh LNG and its affiliates for the management of our fleet and to assist us in operating and expanding our business.
Our ability to enter into new charters and expand our customer relationships will depend largely on our ability to leverage our relationship with Höegh LNG and its reputation and relationships in the shipping industry. If Höegh LNG suffers material damage to its reputation or relationships, it may harm our ability to:
· | renew existing charters upon their expiration; |
· | obtain new charters; |
· | successfully interact with shipyards; |
· | obtain financing on commercially acceptable terms; |
· | maintain access to capital under the sponsor credit facility; or |
· | maintain satisfactory relationships with suppliers and other third parties. |
In addition, all our vessels are subject to a ship management agreement or sub-technical support agreements with Höegh LNG Management. Our joint ventures’ vessels are subject to commercial and administration management agreements with Höegh Norway, and the PGN FSRU Lampung is subject to a technical information and services agreement with Höegh Norway, a master spare parts supply agreement with Höegh Asia and a master maintenance agreement with Höegh Shipping. Pursuant to the commercial and administration management agreements, Höegh LNG Management provides significant commercial and technical management services with respect to the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann . Pursuant to the technical information and services agreement, the master spare parts supply agreement and the master maintenance agreement, Höegh Norway, Höegh Asia and Höegh Shipping provide significant commercial, administration and support services with respect to the PGN FSRU Lampung . In addition, pursuant to an administrative services agreement among us, our operating company and Höegh UK and an administrative services agreement between our operating company and Leif Höegh UK, Höegh UK and Leif Höegh UK provide us and our operating company with certain administrative, financial and other support services. Höegh UK subcontracts some of these services to Höegh Norway and Leif Höegh UK pursuant to separate administrative services agreements. Our operational success and ability to execute our growth strategy will depend significantly upon the satisfactory performance of these services. Our business will be harmed if our service providers fail to perform these services satisfactorily, if they cancel their agreements with us or if they stop providing these services to us. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions.”
The operation of FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets is inherently risky, and an incident involving significant loss of life or property or environmental consequences involving any of our vessels could harm our reputation, business and financial condition.
Our vessels and their cargoes are at risk of being damaged or lost because of events such as:
· | marine disasters; |
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· | piracy; |
· | environmental accidents; |
· | bad weather; |
· | mechanical failures; |
· | grounding, fire, explosions and collisions; |
· | human error; and |
· | war and terrorism. |
An accident involving any of our vessels could result in any of the following:
· | death or injury to persons, loss of property or environmental damage, and associated costs; |
· | delays in taking delivery of cargo or discharging LNG or regasified LNG, as applicable; |
· | loss of revenues from or termination of time charters; |
· | governmental fines, penalties or restrictions on conducting business; |
· | higher insurance rates; and |
· | damage to our reputation and customer relationships generally. |
Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If our vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired. The costs of vessel repairs are unpredictable and can be substantial. We may have to pay repair costs that our insurance policies do not cover, for example, due to insufficient coverage amounts or the refusal by our insurance provider to pay a claim. The loss of earnings while these vessels are being repaired, as well as the actual cost of these repairs not otherwise covered by insurance, would decrease our results of operations. If any of our vessels are involved in an accident with the potential risk of environmental consequences, the resulting media coverage could have a material adverse effect on our business, our results of operations and cash flows, weaken our financial condition and negatively affect our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
Our insurance may be insufficient to cover losses that may occur to our property or result from our operations.
The operating of FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets is inherently risky. Although we carry protection and indemnity insurance consistent with industry standards, all of the risks associated with operating FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets may not be adequately insured against, and any particular claim may not be paid. Any claims covered by insurance would be subject to deductibles, and since it is possible that a large number of claims may be brought, the aggregate amount of these deductibles could be material. Certain of our insurance coverage is maintained through mutual protection and indemnity associations, and as a member of such associations we may be required to make additional payments over and above budgeted premiums if member claims exceed association reserves.
We may be unable to procure adequate insurance coverage at commercially reasonable rates in the future. For example, more stringent environmental regulations have led in the past to increased costs for, and in the future may result in the lack of availability of, insurance against risks of environmental damage or pollution. A marine disaster could exceed our insurance coverage, which could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. Any uninsured or underinsured loss could harm our business and financial condition. In addition, our insurance may be voidable by the insurers as a result of certain of our actions, such as our ships failing to maintain certification with applicable maritime self-regulatory organizations.
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Changes in the insurance markets attributable to terrorist attacks may also make certain types of insurance more difficult for us to obtain. In addition, upon renewal or expiration of our current policies, the insurance that may be available to us may be significantly more expensive than our existing coverage.
An increase in operating expenses could adversely affect our financial performance.
Our operating expenses and drydock capital expenditures depend on a variety of factors including crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores and spares, lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs and shipyard costs, many of which are beyond our control and affect the entire shipping industry. While many of these costs are borne by the charterers under our time charters, there are some circumstance where this is not the case. For example, while we do not bear the cost of fuel (bunkers) under our time charters, fuel is a significant expense in our operations when our vessels are, for example, moving to or from drydock or when off-hire. The price and supply of fuel is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events outside our control, including geopolitical developments, supply and demand for oil and gas, actions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil-producing countries and regions, regional production patterns and environmental concerns. These may increase vessel operating costs further. If costs continue to rise, they could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
A shortage of qualified officers and crew could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
FSRUs and LNG carriers require a technically skilled officer staff with specialized training. As the global FSRU fleet and LNG carrier fleet continues to grow, the demand for technically skilled officers and crew has been increasing, which has led to a more competitive recruiting market. Increases in our historical vessel operating expenses have been attributable primarily to the rising costs of recruiting and retaining officers for our fleet. Furthermore, each key officer crewing an FSRU or LNG carrier must receive specialized training related to the operation and maintenance of the regasification equipment. If Höegh LNG Management and Höegh Maritime Management are unable to employ technically skilled staff and crew, they will not be able to adequately staff our vessels. A material decrease in the supply of technically skilled officers or an inability of Höegh LNG Management or Höegh Maritime Management to attract and retain such qualified officers could impair our ability to operate or increase the cost of crewing our vessels, which would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and significantly reduce our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
We may be unable to attract and retain key management personnel, which may negatively impact our growth, the effectiveness of our management and our results of operations.
Our success depends to a significant extent upon the abilities and the efforts of our senior executives. While we believe that we have an experienced management team, the loss or unavailability of one or more of our senior executives for any extended period of time could have an adverse effect on our growth, business and results of operations.
Exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations could result in fluctuations in our cash flows and operating results.
Currency exchange rate fluctuations and currency devaluations could have an adverse effect on our results of operations from quarter to quarter. Historically, our revenue has been generated in U.S. Dollars, but we incur a minority of our operating expenses in other currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates could affect our cash flows and operating results. If the U.S. Dollar weakens significantly, we would be required to convert more U.S. Dollars to other currencies to satisfy our obligations, which would cause us to have less cash available for distribution.
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Acts of piracy on any of our vessels or on oceangoing vessels could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Acts of piracy have historically affected oceangoing vessels trading in regions of the world such as the South China Sea and the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. If such piracy attacks result in regions in which our vessels are deployed being named on the Joint War Committee Listed Areas, war-risk insurance premiums payable for such insurance coverage could increase significantly and such insurance coverage might become more difficult to obtain. In addition, crew costs, including costs that may be incurred to the extent we employ onboard security guards, could increase in such circumstances. We may not be adequately insured to cover losses from these incidents, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, hijacking as a result of an act of piracy against our vessels, or an increase in cost or unavailability of insurance for our vessels, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Terrorist attacks, increased hostilities, piracy or war could lead to further economic instability, increased costs and disruption of business.
Terrorist attacks may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, ability to raise capital and future growth. Continuing hostilities in the Middle East may lead to additional armed conflicts or to further acts of terrorism and civil disturbance in the United States or elsewhere, which may contribute further to economic instability and disruption of production and distribution of LNG, which could result in reduced demand for our services.
Terrorist attacks on vessels, such as the October 2002 attack on the m.v. Limburg and the July 2010 attack allegedly by Al-Qaeda on the m. Star , both very large crude carriers not related to us, may in the future adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation. In addition, LNG facilities, shipyards, vessels, pipelines and natural gas fields could be targets of future terrorist attacks. Any such attacks could lead to, among other things, bodily injury or loss of life, vessel or other property damage, increased vessel operational costs, including insurance costs, and the inability to transport LNG to or from certain locations. Terrorist attacks, piracy, war or other events beyond our control that adversely affect the distribution, production or transportation of LNG to be shipped by us could entitle customers to terminate our charters, which would harm our cash flows and business. Terrorist attacks, or the perception that LNG facilities, FSRUs and LNG carriers are potential terrorist targets, could materially and adversely affect expansion of LNG infrastructure and the continued supply of LNG. Concern that LNG facilities may be targeted for attack by terrorists has contributed to a community and environmental resistance to the construction of a number of LNG facilities. In addition, the loss of a vessel as a result of terrorism or piracy would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We could be exposed to political, governmental and economic instability that could harm our operations.
Economic, political and governmental conditions in the countries where we are engaged in business or where our vessels are registered could affect our operations. Any disruption caused by these factors could harm our business. In particular, we derive a substantial portion of our revenues from shipping and regasifying LNG from politically unstable regions. Past political conflicts in these regions have included attacks on ships and other efforts to disrupt shipping in the area. In addition to acts of terrorism, vessels trading in these and other regions have also been subject, in limited instances, to piracy. Future hostilities or other political instability where we operate or may operate could have a material adverse effect on the growth of our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. In addition, tariffs, trade embargoes and other economic sanctions by Brazil, the United States or other countries against countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia or elsewhere as a result of terrorist attacks, hostilities or otherwise may limit trading activities with those countries, which could also harm our business and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
The LNG transportation, storage and regasification industry is subject to substantial environmental and other regulations, which may significantly limit our operations or increase our expenses.
Our operations are materially affected by extensive and changing international, national and local environmental protection laws, regulations, treaties, conventions and standards in force in international waters, the jurisdictional waters of the countries in which our vessels operate, as well as the countries of our vessels’ registration, including those relating to equipping and operating FSRUs and LNG carriers, providing security and minimizing the potential for impacts to the environment from their operations. We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, substantial expenses in complying with these laws and regulations, including expenses for vessel modifications and changes in operating procedures. Additional laws and regulations may be adopted that could limit our ability to do business or further increase costs, which could harm our business. In addition, failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in administrative and civil penalties, criminal sanctions or the suspension or termination of operations. We may become subject to additional laws and regulations if we enter new markets or trades.
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These requirements can affect the resale value or useful lives of our vessels, require a reduction in cargo capacity, ship modifications or operational changes or restrictions, lead to decreased availability of insurance coverage for environmental matters or result in the denial of access to certain jurisdictional waters or ports or detention in certain ports.
The design, construction and operation of FSRUs and interconnecting pipelines and the transportation of LNG are subject to governmental approvals and permits. The length of time it takes to receive regulatory approval for offshore LNG operations is one factor that has affected our industry, including through increased expenses.
Our vessels operating in international waters, now or in the future, will be subject to various international conventions and flag state laws and regulations relating to protection of the environment.
Our vessels traveling in international waters are subject to various existing regulations published by the International Maritime Organization (the “IMO”), as well as marine pollution and prevention requirements imposed by the IMO International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1975, as from time to time may be amended (the “MARPOL Convention”). In addition, our FSRUs may become subject to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, as amended by the April 2010 Protocol to the HNS Convention (the “2010 HNS Convention”), if it is entered into force. If the 2010 HNS Convention were to enter into force, we cannot estimate with any certainty at this time the costs that may be needed to comply with any such requirements that may be adopted. Please read “Item 4. B. Business Overview – Environmental and Other Regulation” for a more detailed discussion on these topics.
Our vessels operating in U.S. waters now or in the future will be subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to protection of the environment.
Our vessels operating in U.S. waters now or in the future will be subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to protection of the environment, including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA 90”), the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), the U.S. Clean Water Act (the “CWA”) and the U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended. In some cases, these laws and regulations require us to obtain governmental permits and authorizations before we may conduct certain activities. These environmental laws and regulations may impose substantial penalties for noncompliance and substantial liabilities for pollution. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in substantial civil and criminal fines and penalties. As with the industry generally, our operations will entail risks in these areas, and compliance with these laws and regulations, which may be subject to frequent revisions and reinterpretation, may increase our overall cost of business. Please read “Item 4. B. Business Overview – Environmental and Other Regulation” for a more detailed discussion on these topics.
Our operations are subject to substantial environmental and other regulations, which may significantly increase our expenses.
Our operations are affected by extensive and changing international, national and local environmental protection laws, regulations, treaties and conventions in force in international waters, the jurisdictional waters of the countries in which our vessels operate, as well as the countries of our vessels’ registration, including those governing oil spills, discharges to air and water, and the handling and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. These regulations include OPA 90, the CWA, the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 and regulations of the IMO, including the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, as from time to time amended, the MARPOL Convention, the International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution of 1973, the IMO International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974, as from time to time amended (“SOLAS”), the IMO International Convention on Load Lines of 1966, as from time to time amended, and the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (the “ISM Code”).
Many of these requirements are designed to reduce the risk of oil spills and other pollution. In addition, we believe that the heightened environmental, quality and security concerns of insurance underwriters, regulators and charterers will lead to additional regulatory requirements, including enhanced risk assessment and security requirements and greater inspection and safety requirements on vessels. We expect to incur substantial expenses in complying with these laws and regulation, including expenses for vessel modifications and changes in operating procedures.
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These requirements can affect the resale value or useful lives of our vessels, require ship modifications or operational changes or restrictions, lead to decreased availability of insurance coverage for environmental matters or result in the denial of access to certain jurisdictional waters or ports, or detention in, certain ports. Under local, national and foreign laws, as well as international treaties and conventions, we could incur material liabilities, including cleanup obligations, in the event that there is a release of hazardous substances from our vessels or otherwise in connection with our operations. We could also become subject to personal injury or property damage claims relating to the release of or exposure to hazardous materials associated with our operations. In addition, failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in administrative and civil penalties, criminal sanctions or the suspension or termination of our operations, including, in certain instances, seizure or detention of our vessels.
Further changes to existing environmental legislation that is applicable to international and national maritime trade may have an adverse effect on our business.
We believe that the heightened environmental, quality and security concerns of insurance underwriters, regulators and charterers will generally lead to additional regulatory requirements, including enhanced risk assessment and security requirements and greater inspection and safety requirements on all vessels in the marine LNG transportation markets and offshore LNG terminals. These requirements are likely to add incremental costs to our operations and the failure to comply with these requirements may affect the ability of our vessels to obtain and, possibly, collect on insurance or to obtain the required certificates for entry into the different ports where we operate.
Further legislation, or amendments to existing legislation, applicable to international and national maritime trade are expected over the coming years in areas such as ship recycling, sewage systems, emission control (including emissions of greenhouse gases) and ballast treatment and handling. The United States has recently enacted legislation and regulations that require more stringent controls of air and water emissions from oceangoing vessels. Such legislation or regulations may require additional capital expenditures or operating expenses (such as increased costs for low-sulfur fuel) in order for us to maintain our vessels’ compliance with international and/or national regulations.
Climate change and greenhouse gas restrictions may adversely impact our operations and markets.
Due to concern over the risk of climate change, a number of countries and the IMO have adopted, or are considering the adoption of, regulatory frameworks to reduce greenhouse gas emission from vessel emissions. These regulatory measures may include, among others, adoption of cap and trade regimes, carbon taxes, increased efficiency standards and incentives or mandates for renewable energy. Although the emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping currently are not subject to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the “Kyoto Protocol”) for now, a new treaty may be adopted in the future that includes restrictions on shipping emissions. Compliance with changes in laws and regulations relating to climate change could increase our costs of operating and maintaining our vessels and could require us to make significant financial expenditures that we cannot predict with certainty at this time.
Adverse effects upon the oil and gas industry relating to climate change, including growing public concern about the environmental impact of climate change, may also have an effect on demand for our services. For example, increased regulation of greenhouse gases or other concerns relating to climate change may reduce the demand for oil and gas in the future or create greater incentives for use of alternative energy sources. Any long-term material adverse effect on the oil and gas industry could have a significant financial and operational adverse impact on our business that we cannot predict with certainty at this time.
Maritime claimants could arrest our vessels, which could interrupt our cash flows.
Crew members, suppliers of goods and services to our vessels, owners of cargo or other parties may be entitled to a maritime lien against one or more of our vessels for unsatisfied debts, claims or damages. In many jurisdictions, a maritime lien holder may enforce its lien by arresting a vessel through foreclosure proceedings. In a few jurisdictions, claimants could try to assert “sister ship” liability against one vessel in our fleet for claims relating to another of our vessels. The arrest or attachment of one or more of our vessels could interrupt our cash flows and require us to pay to have the arrest lifted.
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Governments could requisition our vessels during a period of war or emergency, resulting in loss of earnings.
The government of a jurisdiction where one or more of our vessels are registered could requisition for title or seize our vessels. Requisition for title or seizure occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and becomes her owner. Also, a government could requisition our vessels for hire. Requisition for hire occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and effectively becomes the charterer at dictated hire rates. Generally, requisitions occur during a period of war or emergency, although governments may elect to requisition vessels in other circumstances. Although we would expect to be entitled to government compensation in the event of a requisition of one or more of our vessels, the amount and timing of payments, if any, would be uncertain. A government requisition of one or more of our vessels would result in off-hire days under our time charters and may cause us to breach covenants in certain of our credit facilities. Furthermore, a requisition for title of either the GDF Suez Neptune or the GDF Suez Cape Ann constitutes a total loss under the terms of the related facility agreements, in which case we would have to repay all loans. If a government requisition of one or more of our vessels were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, including cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Compliance with safety and other vessel requirements imposed by classification societies may be very costly and may adversely affect our business.
The hull and machinery of every large, oceangoing commercial vessel must be classed by a classification society authorized by her country of registry. The classification society certifies that a vessel is safe and seaworthy in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and SOLAS. Each of our vessels is certified by Det Norske Veritas GL, compliant with the ISM Code and “in class.”
As part of the certification process, a vessel must undergo annual surveys, renewal surveys, intermediate surveys and special surveys. In lieu of a special survey, a vessel’s machinery may be on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. Each of the vessels in our initial fleet is on a planned maintenance system approval, and as such the classification society attends onboard once every year to verify that the maintenance of the equipment onboard is done correctly. For each of the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , a renewal survey is conducted every five years and an intermediate survey is conducted every 30 months after a renewal survey. During the first 15 years of operation, the vessels have an approved extended drydock interval which allow them to be drydocked every 7.5 years, while intermediate surveys and certain renewal surveys occur while they are afloat, using an approved diving company in the presence of a surveyor from the classification society. After these vessels are 15 years old, they are drydocked both at each renewal survey and each intermediate survey, resulting in drydocking approximately every five years or pursuant to charterer’s requirements every 30 months. We do not anticipate drydocking the PGN FSRU Lampung for at least 20 years as certain inspections can be done without drydocking.
If any vessel does not maintain her class or fails any annual survey, renewal survey, intermediate survey or special survey, the vessel will be unable to trade between ports and will be unemployable. We would lose revenue while the vessel was off-hire and incur costs of compliance. This would negatively impact our revenues and reduce our cash available for distribution to unitholders.
Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act, the anti-corruption provisions in the Norwegian Criminal Code and other anti-bribery legislation in other jurisdictions could result in fines, criminal penalties, contract termination and an adverse effect on our business.
We may operate in a number of countries throughout the world, including countries known to have a reputation for corruption. We are committed to doing business in accordance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics which is consistent and in full compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “FCPA”), the Bribery Act 2010 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the “UK Bribery Act”) and the anti-corruption provisions of the Norwegian Criminal Code of 1902 (the “Norwegian Criminal Code”), respectively. We are subject, however, to the risk that we, our affiliated entities or our or their respective officers, directors, employees and agents may take actions determined to be in violation of such anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act and the Norwegian Criminal Code. Any such violation could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil and/or criminal penalties, curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions, and might adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, actual or alleged violations could damage our reputation and ability to do business. Furthermore, detecting, investigating, and resolving actual or alleged violations is expensive and can consume significant time and attention of our senior management.
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If in the future our business activities involve countries, entities and individuals that are subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. or other governments, we could be subject to enforcement action and our reputation and the market for our common units could be adversely affected.
The tightening of U.S. sanctions in recent years has affected non-U.S. companies. In particular, sanctions against Iran have been significantly expanded. In 2012 the U.S. signed into law the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (‘‘TRA’’), which placed further restrictions on the ability of non-U.S. companies to do business or trade with Iran and Syria. A major provision in TRA is that issuers of securities must disclose to the SEC in their annual and quarterly reports filed after February 6, 2013 if the issuer or ‘‘any affiliate’’ has ‘‘knowingly’’ engaged in certain activities involving Iran during the timeframe covered by the report. This disclosure obligation is broad in scope in that it requires the reporting of activity that would not be considered a violation of U.S. sanctions as well as violative conduct, and is not subject to a materiality threshold. The SEC publishes these disclosures on its website and the President must initiate an investigation in response to all disclosures.
In addition to the sanctions against Iran, the U.S. also has sanctions that target other countries, entities and individuals. These sanctions have certain extraterritorial effects that need to be considered by non-U.S. companies. It should also be noted that other governments have implemented versions of U.S. sanctions. We believe that we are in compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations imposed by the U.S., the United Nations or European Union countries and intend to maintain such compliance. However, there can be no assurance that we will be in compliance in the future, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations. Any such violation could result in fines or other penalties and could result in some investors deciding, or being required, to divest their interest, or not to invest, in our common units. Additionally, some investors may decide to divest their interest, or not to invest, in our common units simply because we may do business with companies that do business in sanctioned countries. Investor perception of the value of our common units may also be adversely affected by the consequences of war, the effects of terrorism, civil unrest and governmental actions in these and surrounding countries.
Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us
Höegh LNG and its affiliates may compete with us.
Pursuant to the omnibus agreement that we and Höegh LNG entered into in connection with the closing of the IPO, Höegh LNG and its controlled affiliates (other than us, our general partner and our subsidiaries) generally have agreed not to acquire, own, operate or charter certain FSRUs and LNG carriers operating under charters of five or more years. The omnibus agreement, however, contains significant exceptions that may allow Höegh LNG or any of its controlled affiliates to compete with us, which could harm our business. Additionally, the omnibus agreement contains no restrictions on Höegh LNG’s ability to own, operate or charter FSRUs and LNG carriers operating under charters of less than five years. Also, pursuant to the omnibus agreement, we have agreed not to acquire, own, operate or charter FSRUs and LNG carriers operating under charters of less than five years. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Omnibus Agreement—Noncompetition.”
Unitholders have limited voting rights, and our partnership agreement restricts the voting rights of the unitholders owning more than 4.9% of our common units.
Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, holders of common units have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business. We will hold a meeting of the limited partners every year to elect one or more members of our board of directors and to vote on any other matters that are properly brought before the meeting. Common unitholders are entitled to elect only four of the seven members of our board of directors. The elected directors are elected on a staggered basis and will serve for staggered terms. Our general partner in its sole discretion appoints the remaining three directors and set the terms for which those directors will serve. Our partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management. Unitholders will have no right to elect our general partner, and our general partner may not be removed except by a vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding common and subordinated units, including any units owned by our general partner and its affiliates, voting together as a single class.
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Our partnership agreement further restricts unitholders’ voting rights by providing that if any person or group owns beneficially more than 4.9% of any class of units then outstanding, any such units owned by that person or group in excess of 4.9% may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes (except for purposes of nominating a person for election to our board of directors), determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes, unless required by law. The voting rights of any such unitholders in excess of 4.9% will effectively be redistributed pro rata among the other common unitholders holding less than 4.9% of the voting power of all classes of units entitled to vote. Our general partner, its affiliates and persons who acquired common units with the prior approval of our board of directors will not be subject to this 4.9% limitation except with respect to voting their common units in the election of the elected directors.
Our general partner and its other affiliates own a significant interest in us and have conflicts of interest and limited fiduciary and contractual duties, which may permit them to favor their own interests to your detriment.
Höegh LNG owns approximately 16.1% of our common units and all of our subordinated units, which represent an aggregate approximate 58.0% limited partner interest in us. Certain of our directors will also serve as directors of Höegh LNG or its affiliates and, as such, they will have fiduciary duties to Höegh LNG that may cause them to pursue business strategies that disproportionately benefit Höegh LNG or its affiliates or which otherwise are not in the best interests of us or our unitholders.
Conflicts of interest may arise between Höegh LNG and its affiliates (including our general partner) on the one hand, and us and our unitholders, on the other hand. As a result of these conflicts, our general partner and its affiliates may favor their own interests over the interests of our unitholders. These conflicts include, among others, the following situations:
· | neither our partnership agreement nor any other agreement requires our general partner or Höegh LNG or its affiliates to pursue a business strategy that favors us or utilizes our assets, and Höegh LNG’s officers and directors have a fiduciary duty to make decisions in the best interests of the shareholders of Höegh LNG, which may be contrary to our interests; |
· | our partnership agreement permits our general partner to make a number of decisions in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner. Specifically, our general partner will be considered to be acting in its individual capacity if it exercises its call right, pre-emptive rights or registration rights, consents or withholds consent to any merger or consolidation of the Partnership, appoints any directors or votes for the election of any director, votes or refrains from voting on amendments to our partnership agreement that require a vote of the outstanding units, voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership, transfers (to the extent permitted under our partnership agreement) or refrains from transferring its units or general partner interest or votes upon the dissolution of the Partnership; |
· | our general partner and our directors have limited their liabilities and reduced their fiduciary duties under the laws of the Marshall Islands, while also restricting the remedies available to our unitholders, and, as a result of purchasing common units, unitholders are treated as having agreed to the modified standard of fiduciary duties and to certain actions that may be taken by our general partner and our directors, all as set forth in our partnership agreement; |
· | our general partner is entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable costs incurred by it and its affiliates for our benefit; |
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· | our partnership agreement does not restrict us from paying our general partner or its affiliates for any services rendered to us on terms that are fair and reasonable or entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on our behalf; |
· | our general partner may exercise its right to call and purchase our common units if it and its affiliates own more than 80% of our common units; and |
· | our general partner is not obligated to obtain a fairness opinion regarding the value of the common units to be repurchased by it upon the exercise of its limited call right. |
Although a majority of our directors will over time be elected by common unitholders, our general partner will likely have substantial influence on decisions made by our board of directors.
Our officers may face conflicts in the allocation of their time to our business.
Our sole existing officer and any future officers may face conflicts in the allocation of their time to our business. The affiliates of our general partner, including Höegh LNG, conduct substantial businesses and activities of their own in which we have no economic interest. As a result, there could be material competition for the time and effort of our officers who also provide services to our general partner’s affiliates, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, while our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer is expected to devote the substantial majority of his time to our business, he may, from time to time, participate in business development activities for Höegh LNG that are linked to developing opportunities for us.
Our partnership agreement limits our general partner’s and our directors’ fiduciary duties to our unitholders and restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by our general partner or our directors.
Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner has irrevocably delegated to our board of directors the authority to oversee and direct our operations, management and policies on an exclusive basis, and such delegation will be binding on any successor general partner of the Partnership. Our partnership agreement also contains provisions that reduce the standards to which our general partner and directors would otherwise be held by Marshall Islands law. For example, our partnership agreement:
· | provides that our general partner may make determinations or take or decline to take actions without regard to our or our unitholders’ interests. Our general partner may consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and it has no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting us, our affiliates or our unitholders. Decisions made by our general partner will be made by its sole owner. Specifically, our general partner may decide to exercise its right to make a determination to receive common units in exchange for resetting the target distribution levels related to the incentive distribution rights, call right, pre-emptive rights or registration rights, consent or withhold consent to any merger or consolidation of the Partnership, appoint any directors or vote for the election of any director, vote or refrain from voting on amendments to our partnership agreement that require a vote of the outstanding units, voluntarily withdraw from the Partnership, transfer (to the extent permitted under our partnership agreement) or refrain from transferring its units, the general partner interest or incentive distribution rights or vote upon the dissolution of the Partnership; |
· | provides that our general partner and our directors are entitled to make other decisions in “good faith” if they believe that the decision is in our best interests; |
· | generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not approved by the conflicts committee of our board of directors and not involving a vote of unitholders must be on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or be “fair and reasonable” to us and that, in determining whether a transaction or resolution is “fair and reasonable,” our board of directors may consider the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly advantageous or beneficial to us; and |
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· | provides that neither our general partner nor our officers or our directors will be liable for monetary damages to us, our limited partners or assignees for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that our general partner or directors or its officers or directors or those other persons engaged in actual fraud or willful misconduct. |
By purchasing a common unit, a common unitholder is deemed to have agreed to become bound by the provisions of our partnership agreement, including the provisions discussed above.
Fees and expenses, which Höegh LNG determines for services provided to us and our joint ventures, are substantial, are payable regardless of our profitability and will reduce our cash available for distribution to you.
Pursuant to the ship management agreements, our joint ventures pay fees for services provided to them by Höegh LNG Management, and our joint ventures reimburse Höegh LNG Management for all expenses they incur on our behalf. These fees and expenses include all costs and expenses incurred in providing certain crewing and technical management services to our joint ventures. In addition, pursuant to a technical information and services agreement, we reimburse Höegh Norway for expenses Höegh Norway incurs pursuant to the technical support agreement that it is party to with Höegh LNG Management.
In addition, pursuant to an administrative services agreement among us, our operating company and Höegh UK and an administrative services agreement between our operating company and Leif Höegh UK, Höegh UK and Leif Höegh provide us and our operating company with certain administrative, financial and other support services. We reimburse Höegh UK and Leif Höegh UK for their reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of these services. In addition, under our administrative services agreement with Höegh UK, we pay Höegh UK a service fee equal to 5.0% of its costs and expenses incurred in connection with providing services to us.
Pursuant to the above-mentioned administrative services agreement with Höegh UK, Höegh UK subcontracts to Höegh Norway and Leif Höegh UK certain administrative services provided to us pursuant to administrative services agreements with Höegh Norway and Leif Höegh UK. Höegh UK reimburses Höegh Norway and Leif Höegh UK for reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of these services. In addition, Höegh UK pays Höegh Norway (and, with respect to certain services, Leif Höegh UK) a service fee equal to 5.0% of the costs and expenses incurred in connection with providing services.
For a description of the ship management agreements, the sub-technical support agreement and the administrative services agreements, please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions.” The fees and expenses payable pursuant to the ship management agreements, the technical support agreement and the administrative services agreements are payable without regard to our financial condition or results of operations. The payment of fees to and the reimbursement of expenses of Höegh LNG Management, Höegh UK, Leif Höegh UK and Höegh Norway could adversely affect our ability to pay cash distributions to you.
Our partnership agreement contains provisions that may have the effect of discouraging a person or group from attempting to remove our current management or our general partner, and even if public unitholders are dissatisfied, they will be unable to remove our general partner without Höegh LNG’s consent, unless Höegh LNG’s ownership interest in us is decreased, all of which could diminish the trading price of our common units.
Our partnership agreement contains provisions that may have the effect of discouraging a person or group from attempting to remove our current management or our general partner.
· | The unitholders are unable to remove our general partner without its consent because our general partner and its affiliates own sufficient units to be able to prevent its removal. The vote of the holders of at least 75% of all outstanding common and subordinated units voting together as a single class is required to remove the general partner. Höegh LNG owns approximately 58.0% of the outstanding common and subordinated units. Additionally, during the term of the SRV Joint Gas shareholders’ agreement, Höegh LNG has agreed to continue to own common units and subordinated units representing a greater than 25% limited partner interest in us in the aggregate. |
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· | If our general partner is removed without “cause” during the subordination period and units held by our general partner and its affiliates are not voted in favor of that removal, all remaining subordinated units will automatically convert into common units, any existing arrearages on the common units will be extinguished, and Höegh LNG will have the right to convert its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for those interests based on the fair market value of those interests at the time. A removal of our general partner under these circumstances would adversely affect the common units by prematurely eliminating their distribution and liquidation preference over the subordinated units, which would otherwise have continued until we had met certain distribution and performance tests. Any conversion of the incentive distribution rights would be dilutive to existing unitholders. Furthermore, any cash payment in lieu of such conversion could be prohibitively expensive. “Cause” is narrowly defined to mean that a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding our general partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as our general partner. Cause does not include most cases of charges of poor business decisions, such as charges of poor management of our business by the directors appointed by our general partner, so the removal of our general partner because of the unitholders’ dissatisfaction with the general partner’s decisions in this regard would most likely result in the termination of the subordination period. |
· | Common unitholders are entitled to elect only four of the seven members of our board of directors. Our general partner in its sole discretion appoints the remaining three directors. |
· | Election of the four directors elected by unitholders is staggered, meaning that the members of only one of four classes of our elected directors will be selected each year. In addition, the directors appointed by our general partner will serve for terms determined by our general partner. |
· | Our partnership agreement contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings of unitholders, to nominate directors and to acquire information about our operations as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management. |
· | Unitholders’ voting rights are further restricted by our partnership agreement provision providing that if any person or group owns beneficially more than 4.9% of any class of units then outstanding, any such units owned by that person or group in excess of 4.9% may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes (except for purposes of nominating a person for election to our board of directors), determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes, unless required by law. The voting rights of any such unitholders in excess of 4.9% will effectively be redistributed pro rata among the other common unitholders holding less than 4.9% of the voting power of all classes of units entitled to vote. Our general partner, its affiliates (including Höegh LNG) and persons who acquired common units with the prior approval of our board of directors will not be subject to this 4.9% limitation except with respect to voting their common units in the election of the elected directors. |
· | There are no restrictions in our partnership agreement on our ability to issue equity securities, including securities senior to the common units. |
The effect of these provisions may be to diminish the price at which the common units will trade.
The control of our general partner may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.
Our general partner may transfer its non-economic general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially all of its assets without the consent of the unitholders. In addition, our partnership agreement does not restrict the ability of the members of our general partner from transferring their respective membership interests in our general partner to a third party.
Substantial future sales of our common units in the public market could cause the price of our common units to fall.
We have granted registration rights to Höegh LNG and certain of its affiliates. These unitholders have the right, subject to some conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering any of our common, subordinated or other equity securities owned by them or to include those securities in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other unitholders. Höegh LNG owns 2,116,060 common units and 13,156,060 subordinated units and all of the incentive distribution rights. Following their registration and sale under the applicable registration statement, those securities will become freely tradable. By exercising their registration rights and selling a large number of common units or other securities, these unitholders could cause the price of our common units to decline.
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We are subject to Marshall Islands law, which lacks a bankruptcy statute or general statutory mechanism for insolvency proceedings.
We are a Marshall Islands limited partnership, and we have limited operations in the United States and maintain limited assets in the United States. Consequently, in the event of any bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or similar proceeding involving us, bankruptcy laws other than those of the United States could apply. The Republic of the Marshall Islands does not have a bankruptcy statute or general statutory mechanism for insolvency proceedings. If we become a debtor under U.S. bankruptcy law, bankruptcy courts in the United States may seek to assert jurisdiction over all of our assets, wherever located, including property situated in other countries. There can be no assurance, however, that we would become a debtor in the United States, or that a U.S. bankruptcy court would be entitled to, or accept, jurisdiction over such a bankruptcy case, or that courts in other countries that have jurisdiction over us and our operations would recognize a U.S. bankruptcy court’s jurisdiction, if any other bankruptcy court would determine it had jurisdiction. These factors may delay or prevent us from entering bankruptcy in the United States and may affect the ability of our unitholders to receive any recovery following our bankruptcy.
We have been organized as a limited partnership under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which does not have a well-developed body of partnership law.
The Partnership’s affairs are governed by our partnership agreement and by the Marshall Island Limited Partnership Act (the “Marshall Islands Act”). The provisions of the Marshall Islands Act resemble provisions of the limited partnership laws of a number of states in the United States, most notably Delaware. The Marshall Islands Act also provides that it is to be applied and construed to make it uniform with the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act and, so long as it does not conflict with the Marshall Islands Act or decisions of the Marshall Islands courts, the non-statutory law (“case law”) of the State of Delaware is adopted as the law of the Marshall Islands. There have been, however, few, if any, court cases in the Marshall Islands interpreting the Marshall Islands Act, in contrast to Delaware, which has a fairly well-developed body of case law interpreting its limited partnership statute. Accordingly, we cannot predict whether Marshall Islands courts would reach the same conclusions as the courts in Delaware. For example, the rights of our unitholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our general partner under Marshall Islands law are not as clearly established as under judicial precedent in existence in Delaware. As a result, unitholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions by our general partner and its officers and directors than would unitholders of a similarly organized limited partnership in the United States.
Because we are organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands, it may be difficult to serve us with legal process or enforce judgments against us, our directors or our management.
We are organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands, and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. In addition, our general partner is a Marshall Islands limited liability company, and a majority of our directors and officers generally are or will be non-residents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of these non-residents are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States if you believe that your rights have been infringed under securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Marshall Islands and of other jurisdictions may prevent or restrict you from enforcing a judgment against our assets or the assets of our general partner or our directors or officers.
Höegh LNG, as the initial holder of all of the incentive distribution rights, may elect to cause us to issue additional common units to it in connection with a resetting of the target distribution levels related to the incentive distribution rights without the approval of the conflicts committee of our board of directors or holders of our common units and subordinated units. This may result in lower distributions to holders of our common units in certain situations.
Höegh LNG, as the initial holder of all of the incentive distribution rights, has the right, at a time when there are no subordinated units outstanding and Höegh LNG has received incentive distributions at the highest level to which it is entitled (50.0%) for each of the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters (and the amount of each such total distribution did not exceed adjusted operating surplus for each such quarter), to reset the initial cash target distribution levels at higher levels based on the distribution at the time of the exercise of the reset election. Following a reset election, the minimum quarterly distribution amount will be reset to the reset minimum quarterly distribution amount, and the target distribution levels will be reset to correspondingly higher levels based on the same percentage increases above the reset minimum quarterly distribution amount.
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In connection with resetting these target distribution levels, Höegh LNG will be entitled to receive a number of common units equal to that number of common units whose aggregate quarterly cash distributions equaled the average of the distributions to Höegh LNG on the incentive distribution rights in the prior fiscal quarter. We anticipate that Höegh LNG would exercise this reset right in order to facilitate acquisitions or internal growth projects that would not be sufficiently accretive to cash distribution per common unit without such conversion; however, it is possible that Höegh LNG could exercise this reset election at a time when it is experiencing, or may be expected to experience, declines in the cash distributions it receives related to its incentive distribution rights and may therefore desire to be issued our common units, rather than retain the right to receive incentive distributions based on the initial target distribution levels. As a result, a reset election may cause our common unitholders to experience dilution in the amount of cash distributions that they would have otherwise received had we not issued additional common units to Höegh LNG in connection with resetting the target distribution levels related to its incentive distribution rights.
We may issue additional equity securities, including securities senior to the common units, without your approval, which would dilute your ownership interests.
We may, without the approval of our unitholders, issue an unlimited number of additional units or other equity securities. In addition, we may issue an unlimited number of units that are senior to the common units in right of distribution, liquidation and voting. The issuance by us of additional common units or other equity securities of equal or senior rank will have the following effects:
· | our unitholders’ proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease; |
· | the amount of cash available for distribution on each unit may decrease; |
· | because a lower percentage of total outstanding units will be subordinated units, the risk that a shortfall in the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution will be borne by our common unitholders will increase; |
· | because the amount payable to holders of incentive distribution rights is based on a percentage of total available cash, the distributions to holders of incentive distribution rights will increase even if the per unit distribution on the common units remains the same; |
· | the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding unit may be diminished; and |
· | the market price of the common units may decline. |
Upon the expiration of the subordination period, the subordinated units will convert into common units and will then participate pro rata with other common units in distributions of available cash.
During the subordination period, the common units will have the right to receive distributions of available cash from operating surplus in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.3375 per unit, plus any arrearages in the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units from prior quarters, before any distributions of available cash from operating surplus may be made on the subordinated units. Distribution arrearages do not accrue on the subordinated units. The purpose of the subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there will be available cash from operating surplus to be distributed on the common units. Upon the expiration of the subordination period, the subordinated units will convert into common units and will then participate pro rata with other common units in distributions of available cash.
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In establishing cash reserves, our board of directors may reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to you.
Our partnership agreement requires our general partner to deduct from operating surplus cash reserves that it determines are necessary to fund our future operating expenditures. These reserves also will affect the amount of cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Our board of directors may establish reserves for distributions on the subordinated units, but only if those reserves will not prevent us from distributing the full minimum quarterly distribution, plus any arrearages, on the common units for the following four quarters. As described above in “—Risks Inherent in Our Business—We must make substantial capital expenditures to maintain and replace the operating capacity of our fleet, which will reduce our cash available for distribution. In addition, each quarter we will be required, pursuant to our partnership agreement, to deduct estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures from operating surplus, which may result in less cash available to unitholders than if actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures were deducted,” our partnership agreement requires our board of directors each quarter to deduct from operating surplus estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, as opposed to actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, which could reduce the amount of available cash for distribution. The amount of estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures deducted from operating surplus is subject to review and change by our board of directors at least once a year, with the approval of the conflicts committee of our board of directors.
Our general partner has a limited call right that may require you to sell your common units at an undesirable time or price.
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the common units, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, but not the obligation, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price not less than the then-current market price of our common units. Our general partner is not obligated to obtain a fairness opinion regarding the value of the common units to be repurchased by it upon the exercise of this limited call right. As a result, you may be required to sell your common units at an undesirable time or price and may not receive any return on your investment. You may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of your units.
Höegh LNG, which owns and controls of our general partner, owns approximately 16.1% of our common units. At the end of the subordination period, assuming no additional issuances of common units, and the conversion of our subordinated units into common units, Höegh LNG will own approximately 58.0% of our common units.
Unitholders may not have limited liability if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of our business.
As a limited partner in a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands, you could be held liable for our obligations to the same extent as a general partner if you participate in the “control” of our business. Our general partner generally has unlimited liability for the obligations of the Partnership, such as its debts and environmental liabilities, except for those contractual obligations of the Partnership that are expressly made without recourse to our general partner. In addition, the limitations on the liability of holders of limited partner interests for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in some jurisdictions in which we do business.
We can borrow money to make cash distributions, which would reduce the amount of credit available to operate our business.
Our partnership agreement allows us to make working capital borrowings to make cash distributions. Accordingly, if we have available borrowing capacity, we can make cash distributions on all our units even though cash generated by our operations may not be sufficient to pay such distributions. Any working capital borrowings by us to make cash distributions will reduce the amount of working capital borrowings we can make for operating our business.
Increases in interest rates may cause the market price of our common units to decline.
An increase in interest rates may cause a corresponding decline in demand for equity investments in general and in particular for yield based equity investments such as our common units. Any such increase in interest rates or reduction in demand for our common units resulting from other relatively more attractive investment opportunities may cause the trading price of our common units to decline.
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Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions.
Under some circumstances, unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to them. Under the Marshall Islands Act, we may not make a distribution to you if the distribution would cause our liabilities, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interest and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specified property of ours, to exceed the fair value of our assets, except that the fair value of property that is subject to a liability for which the recourse of creditors is limited will be included in our assets only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds that liability. Marshall Islands law provides that for a period of three years from the date of the impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Marshall Islands law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. Assignees who become substituted limited partners are liable for the obligations of the assignor to make contributions to the limited partnership that are known to the assignee at the time it became a limited partner and for unknown obligations if the liabilities could be determined from our partnership agreement.
We are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common units less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies.” These provisions include an exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting and an exemption from compliance with any new requirements adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to our auditor’s report in which the auditor would be required to provide additional information about the audit and our financial statements. For as long as we take advantage of the reduced reporting obligations, the information that we provide unitholders may be different than information provided by other public companies. We cannot predict if investors will find our common units less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common units less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common units and our unit price may be more volatile.
Tax Risks
In addition to the following risk factors, you should read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Taxation of Partnership” and “Item 10. E. Taxation” for a more complete discussion of the expected material U.S. federal and non-U.S. income tax considerations relating to us and the ownership and disposition of our common units.
We are subject to taxes, which reduces our cash available for distribution to you.
Some of our subsidiaries will be subject to tax in the jurisdictions in which they are organized or operate, reducing the amount of cash available for distribution. In computing our tax obligation in these jurisdictions, we are required to take various tax accounting and reporting positions on matters that are not entirely free from doubt and for which we have not received rulings from the governing authorities. We cannot assure you that upon review of these positions the applicable authorities will agree with our positions. A successful challenge by a tax authority could result in additional tax imposed on our subsidiaries, further reducing the cash available for distribution. In addition, changes in our operations could result in additional tax being imposed on us, our operating company or our or its subsidiaries in jurisdictions in which operations are conducted. Please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Taxation of the Partnership.”
U.S. tax authorities could treat us as a “passive foreign investment company,” which would have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. unitholders.
A non-U.S. entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be treated as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year in which at least 75.0% of its gross income consists of “passive income” or at least 50.0% of the average value of its assets (based on the average of the values at the end of each quarter) produce, or are held for the production of, “passive income.” For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, gains from the sale or exchange of investment property, and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties that are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. Income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.” U.S. shareholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, certain distributions they receive from the PFIC, and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their interests in the PFIC.
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Based on our current and projected method of operation, we believe that we were a PFIC for our initial taxable year, and we expect that we will not be treated as a PFIC for the current or any future taxable year. We expect that more than 25.0% of our gross income for our current taxable year and each future year was or will be nonpassive income, and more than 50.0% of the average value of our assets for each such year will be held for the production of such nonpassive income. This belief is based on certain valuations and projections regarding our assets, income and charters. While we believe these valuations and projections to be accurate, the shipping market is volatile and no assurance can be given that they will continue to be accurate at any time in the future.
Moreover, there are legal uncertainties involved in determining whether the income derived from time-chartering activities constitutes rental income or income derived from the performance of services. In Tidewater Inc. v. United States , 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009), the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the “Fifth Circuit”) held that income derived from certain time-chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a provision of the Code relating to foreign sales corporations. In that case, the Fifth Circuit did not address the definition of passive income or the PFIC rules; however, the reasoning of the case could have implications as to how the income from a time charter would be classified under such rules. If the reasoning of this case were extended to the PFIC context, the gross income we derive or are deemed to derive from our time-chartering activities may be treated as rental income, and we would likely be treated as a PFIC. In published guidance, the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, stated that it disagreed with the holding in Tidewater, and specified that time charters similar to those at issue in the case should be treated as service contracts. We have not sought, and we do not expect to seek, an IRS ruling on the treatment of income generated from our time-chartering activities, and the opinion of our counsel is not binding on the IRS or any court. As a result, the IRS or a court could disagree with our position. No assurance can be given that this result will not occur.
In addition, although we intend to conduct our affairs in a manner to avoid being classified as a PFIC with respect to any taxable year, we cannot assure you that the nature of our operations will not change in the future and that we will not become a PFIC in the future. If the IRS were to find that we are or have been a PFIC for any taxable year (and regardless of whether we remain a PFIC for subsequent taxable years), our U.S. unitholders would face adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. Please read “Item 10.E Taxation—U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders—PFIC Status and Significant Tax Consequences” for a more detailed discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. unitholders if we are treated as a PFIC.
We may have to pay tax on U.S. source income, which would reduce our cash flow.
Under the Code, U.S. source gross transportation income generally is subject to a 4.0% U.S. federal income tax without allowance for deduction of expenses unless an exemption from tax applies under Section 883 of the Code and the existing final and temporary regulations promulgated thereunder (“Treasury Regulations”). U.S. source gross transportation consists of 50.0% of the gross shipping income that a vessel-owning or chartering corporation, such as ourselves, derives (either directly or through one or more subsidiaries that are classified as partnerships or disregarded as entities separate from such corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and that is attributable to transportation that either begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States.
We believe that we currently qualify and we expect that we will continue to qualify for the forseeable future, for an exemption from U.S. tax on any U.S. source gross transportation income under Section 883 of the Code, and we expect to take this position for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Please read “Item 4.B— Business Overview—Taxation of the Partnership.” However, there are factual circumstances, including some that may be beyond our control, which could cause us to lose the benefit of this tax exemption. In addition, our position that we qualify for this exemption is based upon legal authorities that do not expressly contemplate an organizational structure such as ours; specifically, although we have elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we are organized as a limited partnership under Marshall Islands law. Therefore, we can give no assurance that the IRS will not take a different position regarding our qualification for this tax exemption.
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If we are not entitled to this exemption under Section 883 of the Code for any taxable year, we generally would be subject to a 4.0% U.S. federal gross income tax on our U.S. source gross transportation income for such year. Our failure to qualify for the exemption under Section 883 of the Code could have a negative effect on our business and would result in decreased earnings available for distribution to our unitholders.
The vessels in our fleet do not currently engage, and we do not expect that they will in the future engage, in transportation that begins and ends in the United States or in the provision of regasification or storage services in the United States. If, notwithstanding this expectation, our subsidiaries earn income in the future from transportation that begins and ends in the United States, or from regasification or storage activities in the United States, that income would not be exempt from U.S. federal income tax under Section 883 of the Code and would be subject to a 35% net income tax in the United States (and the after-tax earnings attributable to such income may be subject to an additional 30% branch profits tax). Please read “Item 4.B Business Overview—Taxation of the Partnership—United States Taxation—The Section 883 Exemption” for a more detailed discussion of the rules relating to qualification for the exemption under Section 883 of the Code and the consequences for failing to qualify for such an exemption.
You may be subject to income tax in one or more non-U.S. jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and Norway, as a result of owning our common units if, under the laws of any such jurisdiction, we are considered to be carrying on business there. Such laws may require you to file a tax return with, and pay taxes to, those jurisdictions.
We intend to conduct our affairs and cause or influence each of our subsidiaries to operate its business in a manner that minimizes income taxes imposed upon us and our subsidiaries and that may be imposed upon you as a result of owning our common units. However, because we are organized as a limited partnership, there is a risk in some jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and Norway, that our activities or the activities of our subsidiaries may be attributed to our unitholders for tax purposes if, under the laws of such jurisdiction, we are considered to be carrying on business there. If you are subject to tax in any such jurisdiction, you may be required to file a tax return with, and to pay tax in, that jurisdiction based on your allocable share of our income. We may be required to reduce distributions to you on account of any tax withholding obligations imposed upon us by that jurisdiction in respect of such allocation to you. The United States may not allow a tax credit for any foreign income taxes that you directly or indirectly incur by virtue of an investment in us.
We believe we can conduct our affairs in a manner that does not result in our unitholders being considered to be carrying on business in the United Kingdom or Norway solely as a consequence of the acquisition, ownership, disposition or redemption of our common units. However, the question of whether either we or any of our subsidiaries will be treated as carrying on business in any jurisdiction, including the United Kingdom and Norway, will be largely a question of fact to be determined through an analysis of contractual arrangements, including the sub-technical support agreement that Höegh Norway has entered into with Höegh LNG Management, the ship management agreements that our joint ventures have entered into with Höegh LNG Management, the administrative service agreement we have entered into with our operating company and Höegh UK, the administrative service agreement our operating company has entered into with Leif Höegh UK and the administrative service agreements Höegh UK has entered into with Höegh Norway and with Leif Höegh UK, as well as through an analysis of the manner in which we conduct business or operations, all of which may change over time. Furthermore, the laws of the United Kingdom, Norway or any other jurisdiction may also change, which could cause that jurisdiction’s taxing authorities to determine that we are carrying on business in such jurisdiction and that we or our unitholders are subject to its taxation laws. In addition to the potential for taxation of our unitholders, any additional taxes imposed on us or any of our subsidiaries will reduce our cash available for distribution.
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Item 4. | Information on the Partnership |
A. | History and Development of the Partnership |
Höegh LNG Partners LP is a publicly-traded limited partnership formed initially by Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. (Oslo Børs symbol: HLNG), a leading floating LNG service provider, to own, operate and acquire floating storage and regasification units (“FSRUs”), LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets under long-term charters, which we define as charters of five or more years.
At the closing of our initial public offering (“IPO”) in August 2014, Höegh LNG contributed interests in our initial fleet of FSRUs to us. Our initial fleet consists of three modern FSRUs that operate under long-term charters with major energy companies or utilities.
Our initial fleet consists of interests in the following vessels:
· | a 50% interest in the GDF Suez Neptune , an FSRU built in 2009 that is currently operating under a time charter with GDF Suez, a subsidiary of GDF Suez S.A., a French publicly listed, government-backed, electric utility company, and the leading LNG importer in Europe in 2012, that expires in 2029, with an option to extend for up to two additional periods of five years each; |
· | a 50% interest in the GDF Suez Cape Ann , an FSRU built in 2010 that is currently operating under a time charter with GDF Suez that expires in 2030, with an option to extend for up to two additional periods of five years each; and |
· | a 100% economic interest in the PGN FSRU Lampung , an FSRU built in 2014 that is currently operating under a time charter with PGN, a subsidiary of an Indonesian publicly listed, government-controlled, gas and energy company that constructs gas pipelines and infrastructure and distributes and transmits natural gas to industrial, commercial and household users. The time charter expires in 2034, with options to extend the time charter either for an additional 10 years or for up to two additional periods of five years each. |
We were formed on April 28, 2014 as a Marshall Islands limited partnership and have our principal executive offices at Wessex House, 5th Floor, 45 Reid Street, Hamilton, Bermuda.
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditures amounted to $172.2 million, $36.5 million and $58.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 respectively. The capital expenditures are mainly related to the PGN FSRU Lampung which was delivered from the shipyard in April 2014, after being under construction during 2013 and 2012.
B. | Business Overview |
General
We own and operate floating storage and regasification units (“FSRUs”), under long-term charters, which we define as charters of five or more years. Our primary business objective is to increase quarterly distributions per unit over by making accretive acquisitions of FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets with long-term charters.
We intend to leverage our relationship with Höegh LNG to make accretive acquisitions of FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets with long-term charters from Höegh LNG and third parties. Pursuant to the omnibus agreement we have entered into with Höegh LNG, we have a right to purchase from Höegh LNG any FSRU or LNG carrier operating under a charter of five or more years. We cannot assure you that we will make any particular acquisition or that as a consequence we will successfully grow the amount of our per unit distributions. Among other things, our ability to acquire additional FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets will be dependent upon our ability to raise additional equity and debt financing.
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Natural Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas
Natural gas is used to generate electric power, for industrial use and it is finding increasing application as a transportation fuel. The low carbon intensity and clean burning characteristics of natural gas contribute to the view that natural gas has the lowest environmental impact of hydrocarbon fuels.
The LNG trade developed from a need to transport natural gas over long distances with greater flexibility than is allowed by its movement via pipelines. Condensing natural gas into liquid form reduces its volume by a factor of over 600, making LNG an efficient means of transporting and storing natural gas in significant quantities. LNG is natural gas (predominantly methane (CH4)) that has been converted to liquid form by cooling it to -160 degrees centigrade under compression.
The processing of natural gas, transportation of LNG and regasification process requires specialized technologies, complex liquefaction processes and cryogenic materials. The specially built carriers in which LNG is transported have heavily insulated cargo tanks that maintain cryogenic temperatures by allowing a small portion of LNG to evaporate as boil-off gas.
LNG projects are capital intensive. LNG project sponsors are typically large international oil and gas companies often partnering with national oil and gas companies on the export side of the chain. The importers of LNG are typically large, regulated natural gas companies or power utilities. The diagram below shows the flow of natural gas and LNG from production to regasification:
Floating Regasification Vessels
Traditionally, the import of LNG and its regasification has been done in land based terminals. However, the interest in and use of floating import and regasification solutions is increasing.
Floating regasification vessels may be called shuttle and regas vessels (“SRVs”) or LNG regas vessels (“LNGRVs”) but are more commonly referred to as FSRUs or Floating Storage and Regasification Units. FSRU technology represents a flexible, proven, expedient and cost effective means of allowing countries or regions to import LNG.
The underlying technology used in an FSRU is that of heat exchange between LNG and a warm fluid resulting in vaporization of the LNG into the gaseous state for delivery to shore. The fluid may either be seawater—often referred to as open loop vaporization—or recirculated water heated by a natural gas fired boiler on the FSRU itself—often referred to as closed loop vaporization. Vaporization capacity varies by vessel and is typically specified as a combination of continuous vaporization capacity (base capacity) and peak vaporization capacity (peak capacity). The vaporized LNG is replenished by delivery of LNG into the FSRU from feeder vessels.
Key benefits of FSRU technology include:
· | Speed . Planning, siting, permitting and constructing a traditional, land based LNG terminal typically requires five to six years. In comparison, FSRU projects typically take less than 24 months to execute, and have been implemented in as little as six months. |
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· | Reduced Costs . FSRUs are considerably less capital intensive than a land based LNG terminal, where even small terminals can cost upwards of $600 million. More importantly, the providers of FSRUs are prepared to retain ownership of their vessels and charter them to the importing company for a short, medium or long term period, avoiding the need for major capital outlays and corresponding financing requirements. |
· | Greater Cost Certainty . An importer has greater clarity on fees for regasification services and delivery of gas with an FSRU as compared to a land based LNG terminal, which may be more likely to face construction cost overruns and uncertainty around terminal throughput fees. |
· | Operational Flexibility . FSRU operators have entered into agreements as short as three years, whereas land based LNG terminals often require long term commitments of 15 years or more. |
· | Market Flexibility . Some FSRUs can also be operated as conventional LNG carriers and owners have been prepared to build such vessels on a speculative basis. This has made FSRU technology flexible in |terms of being generic and able to meet different market needs and finding solutions to terminal location challenges. |
However, FSRUs are not without limitations and constraints. Land-based terminals typically have larger storage capacity and potentially larger gas send out capacities than FSRUs, especially FSRUs that are a result of LNG carrier conversions. This disadvantage could be partially mitigated by using multiple FSRUs. Greater storage capacity of land-based terminals facilitate faster cargo offload in a situation when storage tanks are partially full. The boil-off rate of an FSRU is higher than that of a land based terminals, and boil-off gas that cannot be used for fuel or regas purposes has to be flared in the gas combustion unit. The limitations on the physical size of an FSRU prevent it from having as much redundancy of vaporization equipment as a land-based terminal. As a result, an FSRU is more vulnerable to equipment outages, and thus requires the FSRU provider to hold very high standards regarding operations and maintenance. A technical problem with an FSRU could require a visit to drydock, which would result in a loss of service.
Our Relationship with Höegh LNG
We believe that one of our principal strengths is our relationship with Höegh LNG (Oslo Børs symbol: HLNG) . With a track record dating back to the delivery of the world’s first Moss-type LNG carrier in 1973, we believe that Höegh LNG is one of the most experienced operators of LNG carriers and one of only four operators of FSRUs in the world. Our affiliation with Höegh LNG gives us access to Höegh LNG’s long-standing relationships with leading oil and gas companies, utility companies, shipbuilders, financing sources and suppliers, which we believe will allow us to compete more effectively when seeking additional long-term charters for FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets. In addition, we believe Höegh LNG’s 40-year track record of providing LNG services and its technical, commercial and managerial expertise, including its leadership in the development of floating liquefaction solutions, will enable us to continue to maintain the high utilization of our fleet to preserve our stable cash flows. We cannot assure you that our relationship with Höegh LNG will lead to high fleet utilization rates or stable cash flows in the future.
Business Strategies
Our primary business objective is to increase quarterly distributions per unit over time by executing the following strategies:
· | Focus on FSRU Newbuilding Acquisitions . We intend to acquire newbuilding FSRUs on long-term charters, rather than FSRUs based on retrofitted, first-generation LNG carriers. We believe newbuilding vessels offer the greatest flexibility. Newbuilding FSRUs have superior fuel efficiency, improved storage performance and larger capacity than retrofitted, first-generation LNG carriers. Their larger capacity allows for a full cargo from a comparably sized, modern-day LNG carrier to be offloaded in a single transfer, and this streamlines logistics. In addition, Höegh LNG has strong customer relationships deriving from its ability to work alongside customers on their vessel design needs. Moreover, Höegh LNG pursues a strategy of maintaining one or more uncontracted newbuilding vessels on order so it can provide its customers an FSRU with minimum lead time. We believe that Höegh LNG’s ability to offer newbuild vessels promptly and its engineering expertise make it an operator of choice for projects that require rapid execution, complex engineering or unique specifications. This, in turn, enhances the growth opportunities available to us. |
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· | Pursue Strategic and Accretive Acquisitions of FSRUs, LNG Carriers and Other LNG Infrastructure Assets on Long-Term, Fixed-Rate Charters with Strong Counterparties . We will seek to leverage our relationship with Höegh LNG to make strategic and accretive acquisitions. Pursuant to the omnibus agreement that we have entered into with Höegh LNG, we have the right to purchase all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in the Independence , as well as other FSRUs or LNG carriers under a charter of five or more years. We also intend to take advantage of business opportunities and market trends in the LNG transportation industry to grow our assets through third-party acquisitions of FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets under long-term charters. |
· | Expand Global Operations in High-Growth Regions . We will seek to capitalize on opportunities emerging from the global expansion of LNG production activity and the need to provide flexible regasification solutions in areas which require natural gas imports. We believe that Höegh LNG’s position as one of four FSRU owners and operators in the world, 40-year operational track record and strong customer relationships will enable us to have early access to new projects worldwide. |
· | Enhance and Diversify Customer Relationships Through Continued Operating Excellence and Technological Innovation . We intend to maintain and grow our cash flows by focusing on strong customer relationships and actively seeking the extension and renewal of existing charters, entering into new long-term charters with current customers, and identifying new business opportunities with other creditworthy charterers. We believe our customer relationships are enhanced by our ability to provide expert technical advice to our customers through Höegh LNG’s in-house engineering department, which in turn enables us to be directly involved in our customers’ project development processes. We will continue to incorporate safety, health, security and environmental stewardship into all aspects of vessel design and operation in order to satisfy our customers and comply with national and international rules and regulations. We believe that Höegh LNG’s operational expertise, recognized position, and track record in floating LNG infrastructure services will position us favorably to capture additional commercial opportunities in the FSRU and LNG sectors. |
We can provide no assurance, however, that we will be able to implement our business strategies described above or that the business strategies discussed above will increase our quarterly distributions. For further discussion of the risks that we face, please read “Item 3.D. Risk Factors.”
Our Fleet
Our Initial Fleet
Upon the closing of the IPO, Höegh LNG contributed to us our initial fleet consisting of interests in the following vessels:
· | a 50% interest in the GDF Suez Neptune , an FSRU built in 2009 that is currently operating under a time charter with GDF Suez that expires in 2029, with an option to extend for up to two additional periods of five years each; |
· | a 50% interest in the GDF Suez Cape Ann , an FSRU built in 2010 that is currently operating under a time charter with GDF Suez that expires in 2030, with an option to extend for up to two additional periods of five years each; and |
· | a 100% economic interest in the PGN FSRU Lampung , an FSRU built in 2014 that is currently operating under a time charter with PGN that expires in 2034, with options to extend either for an additional 10 years or for up to two additional periods of five years each. |
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Both the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann are owned in joint ventures with MOL and TLT, which own in the aggregate 50% of each joint venture. For a description of the joint venture agreements governing our joint ventures, please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Shareholder Agreements.” The PGN FSRU Lampung is 49% owned by one of our subsidiaries and 51% owned by PT Bahtera Daya Utama (“PT Bahtera”), an Indonesian subsidiary of PT Imeco Inter Sarana, which provides products and services for various energy and infrastructure projects. Due to local Indonesian regulations, we are required to have a local Indonesian joint venture partner (e.g., PT Bahtera). However, we have a 100% economic interest in the PGN FSRU Lampung . For a description of the agreements related to this arrangement, please read “—Shareholder Agreements—PT Hoegh Shareholders’ Agreement.”
The following table provides information about our three FSRUs:
FSRU |
Our
Economic Interest |
Capacity
(cbm) |
Maximum
Send-out Capacity (MMscf/d) |
Current
Location of Operations |
Charter
Commencement |
Charterer |
Charter
Expiration |
Charter
Extension Option Periods |
||||||||||||||
GDF Suez Neptune | 50 | % | 145,000 | 750 | Trinidad/ Spain/United States | November 2009 | GDF Suez | 2029 | Five years plus five years | |||||||||||||
GDF Suez Cape Ann | 50 | % | 145,000 | 750 | China | June 2010 | GDF Suez | 2030 | Five years plus five years | |||||||||||||
PGN FSRU Lampung | 100 | % | 170,000 | 360 | Indonesia | July 2014 | PGN | 2034 | Five or 10 years(1) |
(1) | After the initial term, PGN has the choice to extend the term by either five years or 10 years. If PGN extends the term by five years, it subsequently may extend the term by another five years. |
As of December 31, 2014, the GDF Suez Neptune , the GDF Suez Cape Ann and the PGN FSRU Lampung were approximately 5.2 years old, 4.6 years old and 0.8 years old, respectively. FSRUs are generally designed to have a lifespan of approximately 40 years.
The GDF Suez Neptune was intended to be used as a floating LNG import terminal in Boston. However, she has been used as an LNG carrier, delivering LNG primarily from Trinidad to Boston and Barcelona, Spain. GDF Suez would like to utilize the GDF Suez Neptune as a stationary FSRU in Uruguay, which requires modification. The modification work is being carried out in connection with the GDF Suez Neptune ’s scheduled drydocking. The work commenced at the beginning of March 2015 and ended April 11, 2015. The charterer will reimburse us for the drydocking and modification. The vessel remained on hire during the modification. Since November 2013, the GDF Suez Cape Ann has been employed as China’s first FSRU, located in Tianjin outside Beijing. At the time of construction, both the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann were the most advanced FSRUs ever built in terms of regasification technology, power generation and thermal insulation. In addition, the vessels received the “Green Passport” from Det Norske Veritas GL certifying the environmental considerations taken when constructing, operating and ultimately when disposing of the vessel. Each vessel has a storage capacity of 145,000 cbm of LNG and a maximum send-out capacity of 750 million standard cubic feet per day (“MMscf/d”) of regasified LNG.
The PGN FSRU Lampung is located offshore in the Lampung province at the southeast coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The vessel is moored at a purpose-built mooring system built by a subcontractor of Höegh LNG, subsequently sold to PGN and located approximately 16 kilometers offshore. The PGN FSRU Lampung has a storage capacity of 170,000 cbm of LNG and a maximum send-out capacity of 360 MMscf/d of regasified LNG via subsea and onshore pipelines connecting to the existing grid in south Sumatra.
Each of the GDF Suez Neptune , the GDF Suez Cape Ann and the PGN FSRU Lampung has a reinforced membrane-type cargo containment system that facilitates offshore loading operations.
Additional Newbuilding FSRUs
Pursuant to the omnibus agreement we have entered into with Höegh LNG, we have the right to purchase all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in an additional newbuilding FSRU, the Independence , which was constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (“HHI”) and was delivered to Höegh LNG from the shipyard in May 2014. In the fourth quarter of 2014, the Independence started operations under a time charter that expires in 2024 with AB Klaipèdos Nafta (“ABKN”). We have the right to purchase all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in the Independence within 24 months after acceptance of such vessel by her charterer, subject to reaching an agreement with Höegh LNG regarding the purchase price and other terms in accordance with the provisions of the omnibus agreement and any rights ABKN has under the related time charter. We may exercise this option at one or more times during such 24-month period.
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The Independence is located in the port of Klaipeda and provides Lithuania with the ability to diversify its gas supply by giving it access to the world market for LNG. The Independence is moored adjacent to a purpose-built jetty and has a storage capacity of 170,000 cbm of LNG and a maximum send-out capacity of 384 MMscf/d of regasified LNG via one pipeline connecting to the existing grid in Lithuania.
On November 3, 2014, Höegh LNG signed a contract with the government owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (“Egas”) for the supply of an FSRU as an LNG import terminal at Ain Sokhna port, located on the Red Sea in Egypt. The FSRU Höegh Gallant will be employed for this contract. The project is scheduled for the start of operations during the second quarter of 2015. The Höegh Gallant was delivered from the shipyard in early November 2014 and employed as an LNG carrier until mid-January 2015 when it entered the shipyard for minor modifications required for the Egas contract. The Höegh Gallant has a storage capacity of 170,000 cbm of LNG and a maximum send-out capacity of 550 MMscf/d of regasified LNG.
On November 1, 2014, Höegh LNG signed a contract with Sociedad Portuaria El Cayao S.A.E.S.P (“SPEC”) for the supply of an FSRU as a new LNG import terminal in Cartagena, on the Atlantic coast of Colombia. The FSRU contract is for up to twenty years, but includes options for SPEC to reduce the term to five, ten or fifteen years. SPEC will confirm the initial contract term before start of operations, which is expected mid-2016. Höegh LNG plans to employ the Höegh Grace for the project. The Höegh Grace will have storage capacity of 170,000 cbm of LNG and a maximum send-out capacity of 500 MMscf/d of regasified LNG.
Pursuant to the terms of the omnibus agreement, we will have the right to purchase the Höegh Gallant and the Höegh Grace following acceptance by the respective charterer of the related FSRU subject to reaching an agreement with Hoegh LNG regarding the purchase price. There can be no assurance that we will purchase any of these additional newbuilding FSRUs.
The following table provides information about the additional newbuilding FSRUs that we will have the right to purchase from Höegh LNG pursuant to the omnibus agreement:
FSRU |
Capacity
(cbm) |
Maximum
Send-Out Capacity (MMscf/d) |
Location of
Operations |
Charter
Commencement |
Charterer |
Charter
Expiration |
Charter
Extension Option Periods |
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Independence | 170,000 | 384 | Lithuania | Fourth Quarter of 2014 | ABKN | 2024 | n/a | |||||||||||
Höegh Gallant | 170,000 | 550 | Egypt | Second Quarter of 2015 | Egas | 2020 | n/a | |||||||||||
Höegh Grace | 170,000 | 500 | Colombia | Mid-2016(1) | SPEC | (2) | n/a |
(1) | Expected charter commencement. |
(2) | Charter is for up to twenty years, but includes options for SPEC to reduce the term to five, ten or fifteen years. |
If Höegh LNG secures a charter of five or more years for one additional newbuilding FSRU, Hull no. 2552 , that is also currently being constructed by HHI and is scheduled for delivery to Höegh LNG from the shipyard in the first quarter of 2017, we will have the right to purchase the FSRU from Höegh LNG following acceptance by the charterer pursuant to the omnibus agreement subject to reaching an agreement with Hoegh LNG regarding the purchase price. Hull no. 2552 will have storage capacity of 170,000 cbm of LNG and a maximum send-out capacity of 750 MMscf/d of regasified LNG.
Technical Specifications
Each FSRU in our initial fleet, as well as the Independence, the Höegh Gallant and the Höegh Grace , has or will have the following onboard equipment for the vaporization of LNG and delivery of high-pressure natural gas:
· | High-Pressure Cryogenic Pumps . Each FSRU has, or will have upon delivery from the shipyard, high-pressure cryogenic pumps, which pressurize the LNG prior to vaporization. |
· | Vaporizers . Each FSRU has, or will have upon delivery from the shipyard, vaporizers, which convert the LNG back to vaporous natural gas using heat generated by either steam boilers or seawater. |
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· | Dual-Fuel Diesel Electric Propulsion Plant . Each FSRU has, or will have upon delivery from the shipyard, a dual-fuel diesel electric propulsion plant, which provides the power for the vessel’s regasification, propulsion and utility systems. |
· | Mooring System . Each of the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann is equipped with a submerged turret loading (“STL”) offshore mooring system and can also be moored to a jetty. The PGN FSRU Lampung is equipped for mooring to a tower yoke. The Independence is equipped for quay-side mooring. The Höegh Gallant and the Höegh Grace will be equipped for quay-side mooring as well. |
· | Gas Export System . The PGN FSRU Lampung has an export pipeline on her bow, which is connected via jumper hoses to the tower yoke. The Independence , the Höegh Gallant and the Höegh Grace have a high-pressure manifold on the side, to connect to the loading arm on the purpose-built jetties. The GDF Suez Cape Ann and GDF Suez Neptune have an STL buoy system, but have also been retrofitted with high-pressure gas manifold on the side, which can be connected to an onshore terminal. |
Each of the Independence , the Höegh Gallant and the Höegh Grace is or will be equipped with the same reinforced membrane-type cargo containment system as our current fleet.
Each of the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann has a closed-loop regasification system, where heat for vaporization is generated by steam boilers. The PGN FSRU Lampung , the Höegh Gallant and the Höegh Grace have open-loop regasification systems, where heat for vaporization is generated by pumping sea water. The Independence is equipped to operate using a regasification system that is closed-loop, open-loop or a combination of closed-loop and open-loop, i.e. any mix of seawater and steam heating.
Each of the GDF Suez Neptune , the GDF Suez Cape Ann , the Independence , the Höegh Gallant and the Höegh Grace is or will be capable of operating as a conventional LNG carrier.
Customers
For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, total revenues in the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of income are from PGN, a subsidiary of PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, an Indonesian publicly listed, government-controlled, gas and energy company that constructs gas pipelines and infrastructure and distributes and transmits natural gas to industrial, commercial and household users. GDF Suez accounted for 100% of our joint ventures’ time charter revenues for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. GDF Suez is a subsidiary of GDF Suez S.A., a French publicly listed, government-backed, electric utility company.
Vessel Time Charters
Our vessels are provided to the applicable charterer by our joint venture or us, as applicable (each, a “vessel owner”), under separate time charters.
A time charter is a contract for the use of a vessel for a fixed period of time at a specified hire rate. Under a time charter, the vessel owner provides the crew, technical and other services related to the vessel’s operation, the majority or all of the cost of which is included in the hire rate, and the charterer generally is responsible for substantially all of the vessel voyage costs (including fuel, port and canal fees and LNG boil-off).
GDF Suez Neptune Time Charter
Initial Term; Extensions
The GDF Suez Neptune time charter commenced upon acceptance of the vessel by the charterer in November 2009. The initial term of the GDF Suez Neptune time charter is 20 years. GDF Suez has the option to extend the time charter for up to two additional periods of five years each.
Performance Standards
Under the GDF Suez Neptune time charter, the vessel owner undertakes to ensure that the vessel meets specified performance standards at all times during the term of the time charter. The vessel must maintain a guaranteed speed, consume no more than a specified amount of fuel oil and not exceed a maximum average daily boil-off, all as specified in the time charter. In addition, the vessel owner undertakes that the vessel will be capable of discharging her cargo within a specified time and regasifying and discharging her cargo at not less than a specified rate.
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Hire Rate
Under the GDF Suez Neptune time charter, hire is payable to the vessel owner monthly, in advance in U.S. Dollars. The hire rate under the GDF Suez Neptune time charter consists of three cost components:
· | Fixed Element . The fixed element is a fixed per day fee providing for ownership costs and all remuneration due to the vessel owner for use of the vessel and the provision of time charter services. |
· | Variable (Operating Cost) Element . The variable (operating cost) element is a fixed per day fee providing for the operating costs of the vessel, which consists of (i) a cost pass-through sub-element, which covers the crew (excluding the extra cost associated with a U.S. crew requirement, which is invoiced separately) , insurance, consumables, miscellaneous services, spares and damage deductible costs and is subject to annual adjustment and (ii) an indexed sub-element, which covers management and is subject to annual adjustment for changes in labor costs and the size of the fleet under management. |
· | Optional (Capitalized Equipment Cost) Element . The optional (capitalized equipment cost) element consists of (i) costs associated with modifications to, changes in specifications of, structural changes in or new equipment for the vessel that become compulsory for the continued operation of the vessel by reason of new class requirements or national or international regulations coming into effect after the date of the time charter, subject to specified caps and (ii) costs associated with any new equipment or machinery that the owner and charterer have agreed should be capitalized. Such costs are distributed over the remaining term of the time charter. |
While the hire rate under the GDF Suez Neptune time charter does not cover drydocking expenses or extra costs associated with a U.S. crew requirement, the charterer will reimburse the vessel owner on a cost pass-through basis.
If GDF Suez exercises its option to extend the GDF Suez Neptune time charter beyond its initial term, the hire rate will be determined as set forth above, provided that the fixed element will be reduced by approximately 30%.
The hire rate is subject to deduction by the charterer by, among other things, any sums due in respect of the vessel owner’s failure to satisfy the undertakings described under “— Performance Standards” and off-hire accruing during the period. The hire rate is also subject to deduction by the charterer if the vessel owner fails to maintain the vessel in compliance with the vessel’s specifications and contractual standards, provide the required crew, keep the vessel at the charterer’s disposal or comply with specified corporate organizational requirements and such failure increases the time taken by the vessel to perform her services or results in the charterer directly incurring costs.
Expenses
The vessel owner is responsible for providing certain items and services, which include the crew; drydocking, overhaul, maintenance and repairs; insurance; stores; necessary spare parts; water; inert gas and nitrogen; communication expenses and fees paid to the classification societies, regulatory authorities and consultants. The variable (operating cost) element of the hire rate is designed to cover these expenses. Except for when the vessel is off-hire, the charterer pays for bunker fuels, marine gas oil and boil-off if used or burned while steaming at a reduced rate. Additionally, except for when the vessel is off-hire, the charterer pays for boil-off used to provide power for discharge and regasification; and fuel for inert gas, nitrogen and diesel generators.
Off-hire
Under the GDF Suez Neptune time charter, the vessel generally will be deemed off-hire if she is not available for the charterer’s use for a specified amount of time due to, among other things:
· | failure of an inspection that prevents the vessel from performing normal commercial operations; |
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· | scheduled drydocking that exceeds allowances; |
· | the vessel’s inability to discharge regasified LNG at normal performance; |
· | requisition of the vessel; or |
· | the vessel owner’s failure to maintain the vessel in compliance with her specifications and contractual standards or to provide the required crew. |
In the event of off-hire, all hire will cease to be due or payable for the duration of off-hire. Notwithstanding the foregoing, hire is not reduced due to an event of off-hire if the event of off-hire does not exceed a specified number of days in any 12-month period.
Ship Management and Maintenance
Under the GDF Suez Neptune time charter, the vessel owner is responsible for the technical management of the vessel, including engagement and provision of a qualified crew, maintaining the vessel, arranging supply of stores and equipment, periodic drydocking and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, including licensing and certification requirements. These services are provided to the vessel owner by Höegh LNG Management pursuant to a ship management agreement.
Termination
Under the GDF Suez Neptune time charter, the vessel owner is entitled to terminate the time charter if the charterer fails to pay its debts, becomes insolvent or enters into bankruptcy or liquidation.
The charterer is entitled to terminate the time charter and, at its option, convert the time charter into a bareboat charter, if (i) either the vessel owner or any guarantor (a) fails to pay its debts or (b) becomes insolvent or enters into bankruptcy or liquidation or (ii) the vessel owner’s guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect. Furthermore, after the fourth anniversary of the delivery date of the vessel, the charterer has the option to terminate the time charter without cause by providing notice at least two years in advance of the charterer’s election. On the date of such termination, the charterer will pay the vessel owner a specified termination fee, which declines over time and is based upon the year in which the time charter is terminated. Furthermore, the charterer may terminate the time charter if any period of off-hire due to (i) the vessel owner’s failure to maintain the vessel in compliance with her specifications and contractual standards or to provide the required crew exceeds a specified number of days, (ii) damage to the vessel’s cargo containment system as a result of the vessel owner’s failure to comply with cargo and filling level restrictions exceeds a specified number of months or (iii) any reason other than scheduled drydocking or damage to the vessel’s cargo containment system exceeds a specified number of months, unless such period of off-hire is due to the vessel owner’s failure to comply with cargo and filling level restrictions.
After attempting to take mitigating steps for a specified number of days, both the vessel owner and the charterer have the right to terminate the time charter if war is declared in any location that materially interrupts the performance of the time charter. The time charter will terminate automatically if the vessel is lost, missing or a constructive or compromised total loss.
Indemnification
No liability is imposed upon the vessel owner for the death or personal injury of the charterer, its representatives or their estates (collectively, the “GDF Charterer’s Group”) while engaged in activities contemplated by the time charter unless such death or personal injury is by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the vessel owner, its employees or its agents. Additionally, no liability is imposed upon the vessel owner if any personal property of the GDF Charterer’s Group is damaged, lost or destroyed as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the vessel owner, its employees or its agents. Similar provisions apply to the charterer in both cases.
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However, if any of the charterer’s representatives dies or is personally injured while engaged in activities contemplated by the time charter and as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the vessel owner, its employees or its agents, the vessel owner will indemnify the GDF Charterer’s Group, as applicable. Additionally, if any personal property of the GDF Charterer’s Group is damaged, lost or destroyed as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the vessel owner, its employees or its agents, the vessel owner will indemnify the GDF Charterer’s Group, as applicable. Reciprocal obligations are imposed on the charterer in both cases.
The charterer will indemnify the vessel owner for losses associated with shipping documents to the extent they were signed as directed by the charterer or based upon information that it provided. In addition, the charterer will indemnify the vessel owner against taxes imposed on the vessel owner or the vessel in respect of hire by any country where loading or discharging of LNG takes place, where the vessel is located or through which she travels, where the charterer is organized, does business or has a fixed place of business or where the charterer makes payments under the time charter, subject to certain exceptions.
The vessel owner will indemnify the charterer, its servants and agents against all losses, claims, responsibilities and liabilities arising from the employment of pilots, tugboats or stevedores, subject to certain exceptions.
The vessel owner will indemnify the charterer against any claim by a third party alleging that the construction or operation of the vessel infringes any right claimed by such third party, including but not limited to patent rights, copyrights, trade secrets, industrial property or trademarks. The charterer will indemnify the vessel owner for all amounts properly payable to the vessel builder if the charterer takes, or requires the vessel owner to take, any action that puts the vessel owner in breach of its intellectual property rights obligations under the vessel building contract.
Guarantee
Pursuant to the GDF Suez Neptune time charter, both Höegh LNG Ltd. and MOL guarantee the performance and payment obligations of the vessel owner under the time charter. Such guarantee is joint and several as to performance obligations and several as to payment obligations. If the guarantee is not maintained, the charterer may terminate the time charter.
Subcharter Provisions
GDF Suez entered into a subcharter with GLNS SA (“GLNS”), a joint venture of GDF Suez and Marubeni Corporation, pursuant to which GDF Suez and SRV Joint Gas Ltd. amended the GDF Suez Neptune time charter in February 2015. Such amendments apply only during the term of the subcharter.
In connection with the subcharter, the charterer has agreed to reimburse the vessel owner for the costs of modifying the GDF Suez Neptune for the subcharter and, the charterer will after the expiration of the subcharter, reimburse the costs of reinstating the vessel in order for her to be in every way fitted for service under the charter, during which times the vessel will be on-hire (so long as the time for the modification does not exceed an agreed-upon drydocking allowance). The charterer is also required to compensate the vessel owner for time spent and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the subcharter and arrange for the importation, stay and exportation into and from Uruguay of the GDF Suez Neptune and any materials or equipment needed for the vessel owner’s performance of the subcharter. The charterer will indemnify the vessel owner for (i) costs, claims or losses that the vessel owner incurs as a consequence of the subcharter, except that the vessel owner’s liability for any tortious act (which includes negligence) to any third party will be treated in the same manner as under the original charter, and for (ii) any Uruguayan tax implications. During the term of the subcharter and while the vessel is not on a voyage as an LNG carrier, certain amendments to the time charter apply, including the following:
· | the charterer will provide port and marine facilities capable of receiving the vessel and berths and places that the vessel can safely reach and return from; |
· | in lieu of the off-hire provision, hire will be reduced proportionately to the extent the vessel does not achieve the specified discharge rate of regasified LNG; |
· | the maintenance provisions and allowances differ; |
· | a right of charterer to change the manager of the GDF Suez Neptune if the average commercial availability of the regasification system falls below certain thresholds; |
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· | performance standards different from those described above under “—Performance Standards,” pursuant to which the vessel owner undertakes to ensure that the vessel consumes no more than a specified amount of fuel oil, delivers the nominated discharge rate in accordance with the daily curve agreed with the charterer, is capable of regasifying LNG in a closed-loop heating mode at a specified pressure and temperature and regasifies and discharges her cargo at neither less nor more than a specified LNG discharge rate; and |
· | with respect to indemnification, the definition of the “GDF Charterer’s Group” includes GLNS. |
GDF Suez Cape Ann Time Charter
Initial Term; Extensions
The GDF Suez Cape Ann time charter commenced upon acceptance of the vessel by the charterer in June 2010. The initial term of the GDF Suez Cape Ann time charter is 20 years. GDF Suez has the option to extend the time charter for up to two additional periods of five years each. Since November 2013, the GDF Suez Cape Ann has been operating as an FSRU pursuant to a subcharter between GDF Suez and CNOOC Tianjin LNG Limited Company (“CNOOC TLNG”) and will do so for a period of three to five years.
GDF Suez entered into a subcharter with CNOOC TLNG, pursuant to which GDF Suez and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. amended the GDF Suez Cape Ann time charter in June 2012 and November 2013. Such amendments apply only during the term of the subcharter. Additionally, GDF Suez, CNOOC TLNG, CNOOC and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. entered into ancillary agreements, pursuant to which they allocated responsibility for liabilities associated with their activities at the Tianjin LNG terminal.
When the subcharter with CNOOC TLNG is not in effect, the terms of the GDF Suez Cape Ann time charter are substantially similar to those of the GDF Suez Neptune time charter while not under its subcharter with GLNS.
Subcharter Provisions
In connection with the subcharter, the charterer reimbursed the vessel owner for the costs of modifying the GDF Suez Cape Ann to an FSRU and, the charterer will after the expiration of the subcharter, reimburse the costs of reinstating the vessel in order for her to be in every way fitted for service under the charter, during which times the vessel will be on-hire. The charterer is also required to compensate the vessel owner for time spent and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the subcharter and arrange for the importation, stay and exportation into and from China of the GDF Suez Cape Ann and any materials or equipment needed for the vessel owner’s performance of the subcharter. The charterer will indemnify the vessel owner for costs, claims or losses that the vessel owner incurs as a consequence of the subcharter, except if such costs, claims or losses resulted directly from the vessel owner’s material failure to comply with the time charter, and for any Chinese tax implications.
During the term of the subcharter and while the vessel is not on a voyage as an LNG carrier, certain amendments to the time charter apply, including the following:
· | additional crew requirements, with the charterer responsible for providing and paying for any Chinese master, officer or crew required to be onboard; |
· | the charterer will provide port and marine facilities capable of receiving the vessel and berths and places that the vessel can safely reach and return from; |
· | in lieu of the off-hire provision, hire will be reduced proportionately to the extent the vessel does not achieve the minimum discharge rate of regasified LNG; |
· | the maintenance provisions and allowances differ; |
· | performance standards different from those described under “— GDF Suez Neptune Time Charter—Performance Standards,” pursuant to which the vessel owner undertakes to ensure that the vessel consumes no more than a specified amount of fuel oil, delivers the nominated discharge rate in accordance with the daily curve agreed with the charterer, is capable of regasifying LNG in a closed-loop heating mode at a specified pressure and temperature and regasifies and discharges her cargo at not less than a regasified LNG discharge rate; and |
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· | with respect to indemnification, the definition of the “GDF Charterer’s Group” includes CNOOC TLNG. |
Guarantee
Pursuant to the GDF Suez Cape Ann time charter, both Höegh LNG Ltd. and MOL guarantee the performance and payment obligations of the vessel owner under the time charter. Such guarantee is joint and several as to performance obligations and several as to payment obligations. If the guarantee is not maintained, the charterer may terminate the time charter.
PGN FSRU Lampung Time Charter
Under a lease, operation and maintenance agreement, which we refer to as a time charter, we provide to PGN the services of the PGN FSRU Lampung , which is moored at the Mooring owned by PGN and located approximately 16 kilometers off the shore of Labuhan Maringgai at the southeast coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Also under the time charter, we operate and maintain the Mooring.
Initial Term; Extensions
The long-term time charter for the PGN FSRU Lampung with PGN has an initial term of 20 years from the acceptance date of October 30, 2014. The time charter hire payments began July 21, 2014 when the project was ready to begin commissioning. At any time on or before 17 years and 183 days after acceptance, PGN may exercise its option to extend the time charter for either five or 10 years. If the term is extended for five years pursuant to such option, at any time on or before the date that is 22 years and 183 days after acceptance, PGN may exercise its option to extend the time charter for a subsequent five years.
Performance Standards
Under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, the vessel owner makes certain performance warranties for the term of the time charter, excluding time during which the vessel is off-hire or in lay-up or a failure to satisfy any such warranty due to a “Lampung Charterer Risk Event” (which includes, among other things, any breach, act, interference or omission by the charterer that prevents or interferes with the vessel owner’s performance under the time charter) or an event of force majeure, including the following:
· | the management warranties, which consist of the following: |
· | the vessel complies with specifications; is classed by Det Norske Veritas GL; is in good order and condition and fit for service; and has onboard all certificates, documents, approvals, permits, permissions and equipment required by Det Norske Veritas GL or any law necessary for the vessel to carry out required operations on the Mooring; |
· | the vessel owner provides shipboard personnel in accordance with specified terms; |
· | the vessel owner loads LNG in accordance with specified procedures; operates all equipment in a safe and proper manner and as required by Indonesian law; keeps up-to-date records and logs; uses reasonable endeavors to cooperate with the charterer to comply with and satisfy any requirements of any governmental authority; stows LNG properly and keeps a strict account of all LNG loaded, boil-off and regasified LNG discharged; and exercises due diligence and good industry practice to minimize venting of boil-off; and |
· | the vessel owner provides and pays for all provisions, wages and discharging fees and all other expenses related to the master, officers and crew; insurance; spare parts and other necessary stores, including lubricating oil; drydocking in emergency cases, maintenance and repairs; certificates; customs or import duties arising in connection with any of the foregoing; and consents, licenses and permits required by governmental authorities to be in the vessel owner’s name (collectively, the “Lampung Vessel Owner Expenses”); |
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· | the vessel receives LNG in accordance with a specified nominating loading rate; |
· | the vessel consumes fuel at or below a specified amount; |
· | during a nomination period, the vessel delivers regasified LNG at a specified average rate; |
· | during a period in which there is no regasification send-out, no LNG transfer or cargo tank cool down ongoing and no LNG pump running in any cargo tank, the amount of boil-off does not exceed a specified percentage of cargo capacity per day; |
· | the boil-off recondenser is able to recondense boil-off gas for the days when the vessel is sending out regasified LNG; and |
· | the cargo capacity of the vessel does not exceed the aggregate volume of LNG that can be stored in the cargo tanks of the vessel. |
Hire Rate
Under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, hire is payable to the vessel owner monthly, in advance in U.S. Dollars. The hire rate under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter consists of three cost components:
· | Capital Element . The capital element is a fixed per day fee, which is intended to cover remuneration due to the vessel owner for use of the vessel and the provision of time charter services. |
· | Operating and Maintenance Element . The operating and maintenance element is a fixed per day fee, subject to annual adjustment, which is intended to cover the operating costs of the vessel, including manning costs, maintenance and repair costs, consumables and stores costs, insurance costs, management and operational costs, miscellaneous costs and alterations not required by Det Norske Veritas GL to maintain class or the IMO. |
· | Tax Element . The tax element is a fixed per day fee, equal to the vessel owner’s reasonable estimate of the tax liability for that charter year divided by the number of days in such charter year. If the vessel owner receives a tax refund or credit, the vessel owner will pay such amount to the charterer. Similarly, if any audit required by the time charter reveals that the vessel owner’s reasonable estimate of the tax liability varied from the actual tax liability, the vessel owner or the charterer, as applicable, will pay to the other party the difference in such amount. |
If PGN exercises an option to extend the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter beyond its initial term, the hire rate will be determined as set forth above, provided that the capital element will be increased by 50% and the operating and maintenance element will equal cost pass-through.
The hire rate is subject to adjustment if any change in Indonesian law or tax occurs that alters the vessel owner’s performance of the time charter or the charterer requires the vessel owner to lay-up the vessel.
Furthermore, the hire rate is subject to deduction by the charterer for sums due in respect of the vessel owner’s failure to satisfy the performance warranties or if, as a result of an event of force majeure and subject to specified exceptions, the regasificiation flow rate is less than that required to meet the quantity nominated. However, any deduction for the vessel owner’s failure to satisfy the performance warranties may not exceed the aggregate of the capital element and the operating and maintenance element for that day; provided, that such cap does not apply to the vessel owner’s failure to satisfy specified fuel consumption or boil-off warranties.
The charterer will pay the vessel owner the hire rate for time lost due to a Lampung Charterer Risk Event.
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Expenses
The vessel owner is responsible for providing certain items and services, which include the Lampung Vessel Owner Expenses and the supply of all LNG required for gassing up and cooling of the vessel. The vessel owner pays for non-Indonesian taxes and alterations required by Det Norske Veritas GL to maintain class or the IMO. The vessel owner also will provide, at its expense, accommodation space for at least two of the charterer’s employees responsible for coordinating terminal operations onshore and offshore, provided that the charterer reimburses the vessel owner for the cost of provisions supplied to such employees.
The charterer pays for make-up of bunker fuels provided by the vessel owner and during tests; regasified LNG for use as fuel; port charges, pilotage, towing, mooring, agency fees or customs or import duties; duties, levies and taxes relating to unloading; costs and expenses relating to terminal security required by the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (the “ISPS Code”); and mooring, periodic maintenance, repairs, insurance, inspections and surveys beyond daily inspections and capital spares. The charterer also pays for Indonesian taxes and alterations not required by Det Norske Veritas GL to maintain class or the IMO.
Off-hire
Under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, the vessel generally will be deemed off-hire if she is not available for the charterer’s use for a specified amount of time due to, among other things:
· | drydocking that exceeds allowances; |
· | the vessel failing to satisfy specified operational minimum requirements, except as a result of a Lampung Charterer Risk Event or an event of force majeure; or |
· | the vessel owner’s failure to satisfy the management warranties described above under “—Performance Standards.” |
In the event of off-hire, all hire will cease to be due or payable for the duration of off-hire. Notwithstanding the foregoing, hire is not reduced due to an event of off-hire if the event of off-hire does not exceed a specified number of hours in any 12-month period.
Technical Support
Under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, the vessel owner is responsible for the technical support services with respect to the vessel, including engagement and provision of a qualified crew, maintaining the vessel, arranging supply of stores and equipment, periodic drydocking and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, including licensing and certification requirements. These services are provided by Höegh LNG Management pursuant to the technical information and services agreement between the vessel owner and Höegh Norway and the sub-technical support agreement between Höegh Norway and Höegh LNG Management.
Termination
Under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, the charterer is entitled to terminate the time charter for the following reasons:
· | if, due to one of several specified events of force majeure (“Lampung Nongovernmental Force Majeure”) that results in physical damage to the vessel or the Mooring in respect of which insurance proceeds are payable under the loss of hire insurance and hull and machinery insurance (“Lampung Vessel Force Majeure”), the vessel owner is unable to comply with nominations for a specified number of days; |
· | if, due to an event of force majeure that is not Lampung Nongovernmental Force Majeure or Lampung Vessel Force Majeure (“Lampung Other Force Majeure”), the vessel owner is unable to comply with nominations for a specified number of days; or |
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· | if there has been an event of force majeure caused by the Indonesian government (“Lampung Governmental Force Majeure”) during a specified number of days. |
If the charterer terminates for Lampung Other Force Majeure or Lampung Governmental Force Majeure, the charterer will pay the vessel owner a specified termination fee based upon the year in which the time charter is terminated.
Additionally, after the occurrence of an event of default by the vessel owner, and while such event of default continues, the charterer may terminate the time charter. If the charterer terminates the time charter for certain events of default that the vessel owner intentionally or deliberately committed for the purpose of terminating the time charter so that the vessel owner could employ the vessel with a third party, the vessel owner will transfer the vessel’s title to the charterer.
The vessel owner may terminate the time charter after the occurrence of an event of default by the charterer while such event of default continues. If the charterer fails to pay invoiced amounts when due and such failure continues for a specified number of days following notice from the vessel owner, the vessel owner may suspend its performance and remain on-hire until such failure is corrected.
If the time charter is terminated by the vessel owner for an event of default of the charterer, the charterer will pay the vessel owner a specified termination fee based upon the year in which the time charter is terminated. Under such circumstances, as well as if the time charter is terminated by the charterer for Lampung Governmental Force Majeure, the vessel owner may require that the parties begin negotiation of terms under which the vessel owner would be willing to sell to the charterer a 50% ownership interest in the vessel for a specified amount that declines over time and is based upon the year in which the time charter is terminated. If the charterer terminates the time charter for force majeure other than Lampung Governmental Force Majeure or an event of default of the vessel owner, the charterer may require the parties to begin such negotiation.
The time charter will terminate automatically if the vessel is lost or a constructive total loss.
Indemnification
For losses arising out of claims for illness or injuries to or death of any employees of the vessel owner, the vessel owner’s affiliates, certain subcontractors of the vessel owner, persons contracting with the vessel owner under the building contract or the Mooring contract and representatives of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Lampung Owner’s Group”), the vessel owner will indemnify the charterer, certain affiliates and subcontractors of the charterer, persons executing tug charters and terminal use agreements, persons receiving regasified LNG delivered by the vessel and representatives of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Lampung Charterer’s Group”). Reciprocal obligations are imposed on the charterer.
For losses arising out of claims for damage to or loss of the vessel or property, equipment or materials owned or leased by any member of the Lampung Owner’s Group, the vessel owner will indemnify the Lampung Charterer’s Group. Similarly, the charterer will indemnify the Lampung Owner’s Group for losses arising out of claims for damage to or loss of property, equipment or materials owned or leased by any member of the Lampung Charterer’s Group or LNG stored on the vessel or the Mooring.
For losses arising from pollution or contamination created by the vessel or the operation thereof or the Mooring, the vessel owner will indemnify the Lampung Charterer’s Group; provided, that the vessel owner’s aggregate liability for each applicable accident will not exceed $150,000,000. For losses arising from pollution or contamination created by, or directly related to, the operation of the downstream pipeline, any LNG carrier or any vessel operating under a tug charter, the charterer will indemnify the Lampung Owner’s Group.
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Purchase Option
PGN was granted an option to purchase the PGN FSRU Lampung at specified prices based upon the year in which the option is exercised. Such option to purchase may be exercised commencing in June 2018; however, it may not be exercised if either of the charter extension options has expired without exercise. The option is exercisable upon PGN giving us notice specifying the time and date of delivery, which must be after the third anniversary of the date of delivery. The option to purchase survives termination of the time charter. While we currently believe that it is unlikely that the purchase option will be exercised and we believe that the compensation we would receive upon any exercise by PGN of its purchase option would adequately compensate us for the loss of the PGN FSRU Lampung , there can be no assurance that any proceeds payable to us upon exercise of the option would adequately compensate us for the loss of the PGN FSRU Lumpung. If PGN exercises its option to purchase the PGN FSRU Lampung , we will attempt to acquire a replacement vessel with the proceeds from such exercise. However, we may be unable to acquire a suitable replacement vessel, because, among other things that are beyond our control, there may be no replacement vessels that are readily available for purchase at a price that is equal to or less than the proceeds from the option exercise and on terms acceptable to us, or the purchase price of a replacement vessel at the time we identify such replacement vessel may be greater than the proceeds we receive from the exercise of the option. In addition, the hire rate of any replacement vessel we are able to acquire may be lower than the hire rate under the charter. Our inability to find a suitable replacement vessel or the chartering of a replacement vessel at a lower hire rate would have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and on our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. Please read “Item 3. D. Risk Factors—Risks Inherent in Our Business—PGN has the option to purchase the PGN FSRU Lampung beginning June 2018. If PGN exercises this option, it could have a material adverse effect on our operating cash flows and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.”
Guarantee
Pursuant to the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, Höegh LNG guarantees the due and proper performance by PT Hoegh of all its obligations and liabilities under the time charter.
Shareholder Agreements
We hold our interests in two vessels in our initial fleet through the following joint ventures:
· | SRV Joint Gas Ltd. (owner of the GDF Suez Neptune ), a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, 50% of the equity interests of which are owned by our operating company, 48.5% of which are owned by MOL, and 1.5% of which are owned by TLT; and |
· | SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (owner of the GDF Suez Cape Ann ), a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, 50% of the equity interests of which are owned by our operating company, 48.5% of which are owned by MOL and 1.5% of which are owned by TLT. |
We also own a 100% equity interest in Höegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd., which owns a 49% equity interest in PT Hoegh LNG Lampung (the owner of the PGN FSRU Lampung ). PT Bahtera, an Indonesian company established in February 2013, owns the remaining 51% equity interest in PT Hoegh in order to comply with local Indonesian regulations. However, pursuant to the shareholders’ agreement between Höegh Lampung and PT Bahtera and the PT Hoegh shareholder loan described under “—PT Hoegh Shareholders’ Agreement,” we have a 100% economic interest in the PGN FSRU Lampung .
The following provides a summary of the governance, distribution and other significant terms of the shareholders’ agreements.
SRV Joint Gas Shareholders’ Agreement
Both SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (collectively, the “SRV Joint Gas joint ventures”) are governed by the SRV Joint Gas shareholders’ agreement. As a result, the terms and conditions for each of the SRV Joint Gas joint ventures are substantially the same.
The SRV Joint Gas shareholders’ agreement provides that the management of each of the SRV Joint Gas joint ventures will be carried out by a board of directors consisting of four members. We have the right to appoint two members to each board of directors, and MOL has the right to appoint the remaining two members. Additionally, as long as TLT holds at least 1.5% of the shares in an SRV Joint Gas joint venture, it may appoint an observer to attend any meeting of the board of directors of such joint venture.
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Pursuant to the SRV Joint Gas shareholders’ agreement, neither we nor our joint venture partners exercise affirmative control over either of the SRV Joint Gas joint ventures. The approval of a majority of the members of the board of directors of an SRV Joint Gas joint venture is required to consent to any proposed action by such joint venture and, as a result, we are unable to cause such joint venture to act in our best interests over the objection of our joint venture partners. Moreover, a deadlocked dispute that cannot be resolved by the board of directors or the senior executives of the applicable joint venture may result in the transfer of our interest in such joint venture to our joint venture partners or a third party. Please read “Item 3.D. Risk Factors—Risks Inherent in Our Business—We are a holding entity that has historically derived a substantial majority of our income from equity interests in our joint ventures. Neither we nor our joint venture partners exercise affirmative control over our joint ventures. Accordingly, we cannot require our joint ventures to act in our best interests. Furthermore, our joint venture partners may prevent our joint ventures from taking action that may otherwise be beneficial to us, including making cash distributions to us. A deadlock between us and our joint venture partners could result in our exchanging equity interests in one of our joint ventures for the equity interests in our other joint venture held by our joint venture counterparties or in us or our joint venture partner selling shares in a joint venture to a third party.”
Additionally, certain matters relating to our joint venture partners require the unanimous approval of the board of directors of the applicable SRV Joint Gas joint venture, including:
· | agreement of any form of time charter to be entered into by such SRV Joint Gas joint venture and any material amendment to such time charter; |
· | agreement of any form of ship management agreement to be entered into by such SRV Joint Gas joint venture; |
· | agreement of the terms of any financing of the GDF Suez Neptune or the GDF Suez Cape Ann , as applicable, or any other financing exceeding $5,000,000; |
· | investments exceeding $2,500,000 for an SRV Joint Gas joint venture or $5,000,000 for both SRV Joint Gas joint ventures; |
· | amendment or change of the articles of association, business or composition of the board of directors of such SRV Joint Gas joint venture; |
· | issuance of, or granting of options or rights to subscribe for, shares in such SRV Joint Gas joint venture, issuance of loan capital or convertible securities of such SRV Joint Gas joint venture, alteration of the share capital of such SRV Joint Gas joint venture or formation of any subsidiary; |
· | granting any security over shares of such SRV Joint Gas joint venture other than in accordance with the applicable security documents; |
· | acquisition of other companies; |
· | entering into joint ventures and other long-term cooperation with third parties; |
· | taking any action in respect of a significant contractual dispute, including commencement and defending any action or settling any dispute; and |
· | sale of the GDF Suez Neptune or the GDF Suez Cape Ann . |
Höegh LNG, MOL and TLT made loans to each of the SRV Joint Gas joint ventures, in part to finance the operations of such joint ventures. In connection with the IPO, Höegh LNG’s shareholder loans to each of the joint ventures were transferred to our operating company. For a description of the shareholder loans, please read “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Activities—Joint Ventures Debt—Loans Due to Owners (Shareholder Loans).”
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Under the SRV Joint Gas shareholders’ agreement, the board of directors of an SRV Joint Gas joint venture is responsible for determining the amount of profits to be distributed each financial year. Distributions must first be used to repay the principal of the shareholder loans. Subsequent distributions are permitted but are subject to (i) preexisting financial agreements between such SRV Joint Gas joint venture and its lenders and (ii) prudent maintenance of reserve accounts.
Pursuant to the SRV Joint Gas shareholders’ agreement, in order for a party to transfer its shares, it must provide written notice and establish a fair price evaluation of the shares proposed to be transferred. Additionally, such party must permit the remaining parties (excluding TLT) to acquire such shares or sell their shares to the proposed transferor at the same price as the proposed transfer.
The SRV Joint Gas shareholders’ agreement also contemplates certain events that, upon occurrence and failure to cure, if a cure period is allowed, will give rise to a potential exchange of shares or a liquidation of such joint venture. These events include a party’s failure to make required payments, default in any material duties and/or obligations, insolvency and change of control, pursuant to which such party is acquired by a direct competitor. If one of these events occurs, we and our joint venture partners will attempt to exchange shares so that our operating company, on the one hand, will own 100% of one SRV Joint Gas joint venture, and MOL and TLT, on the other hand, will own 100% of the other SRV Joint Gas joint venture. If such an exchange cannot be agreed upon, then the party not in default, not insolvent or not undergoing a change of control may either purchase the shares and the shareholder loans from the other parties or demand termination of the SRV Joint Gas shareholders’ agreement and a liquidation of the applicable SRV Joint Gas joint venture.
Until the termination of the SRV Joint Gas shareholders’ agreement, Höegh LNG has agreed to continue to own common units and subordinated units representing a greater than 25% limited partner interest in us in the aggregate. In addition, Höegh LNG will be required to continue to directly or indirectly maintain the ability to control our general partner pursuant to an agreement with MOL.
The SRV Joint Gas shareholders’ agreement terminates when one party holds a 100% interest in the SRV Joint Gas joint ventures or a party not in default, not insolvent or not undergoing a change of control elects to terminate the agreement.
PT Hoegh Shareholders’ Agreement
We own a 100% equity interest in Höegh Lampung, which owns a 49% equity interest in PT Hoegh (the owner of the PGN FSRU Lampung ). PT Bahtera, an Indonesian company established in February 2013, owns the remaining 51% equity interest in PT Hoegh in order to comply with local Indonesian regulations. However, pursuant the Shareholders’ Agreement, dated March 13, 2013, between Höegh Lampung and PT Bahtera (“the PT Hoegh shareholders’ agreement”) and the PT Hoegh shareholder loan, we have a 100% economic interest in the PGN FSRU Lampung .
The board of directors of PT Hoegh manages PT Hoegh, whereas the board of commissioners of PT Hoegh supervise the operation and management of PT Hoegh. Both such board of directors and board of commissioners must consist of between three and five members. Furthermore, Höegh Lampung may appoint three members to each, whereas PT Bahtera may appoint one member. A majority of present members of the board of directors or the board of commissioners, respectively, is required to pass any resolution.
Höegh Lampung and PT Bahtera, in their capacity as shareholders, may also convene general meetings to consider resolutions. Resolutions concerning most matters require the approval of two-thirds of the issued shares for passage. However, resolutions concerning filing for bankruptcy, changes of control, disposal of certain assets or the creation of certain encumbrances require the approval of 75% of the issued shares for passage.
When deadlock (as defined below) occurs, Höegh Lampung has the right to provide notice to, and subsequently confer with, PT Bahtera to resolve the matters giving rise to deadlock. Deadlock occurs under the PT Hoegh shareholders’ agreement if (i) a quorum is not present at a meeting of the board of directors of PT Hoegh, the board of commissioners of PT Hoegh or the shareholders as a result of the absence of PT Bahtera or (ii) any resolution proposed at a meeting of the board of directors of PT Hoegh, the board of commissioners of PT Hoegh and/or the shareholders of PT Hoegh is approved by the directors appointed by Höegh Lampung, the commissioners appointed by Höegh Lampung or Höegh Lampung, as applicable, but is not passed.
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The board of directors of PT Hoegh is responsible for determining the amount of profits to be distributed each financial year. Once this determination is made, and prior to distributing net cash flow, the shares of Höegh Lampung are entitled to 65% of all dividends and distributions, and the shares of PT Bahtera are entitled to 35% of all dividends and distributions.
Höegh Lampung may transfer its shares in PT Hoegh to anyone, subject only to the requirement that, upon the request of PT Bahtera, Höegh Lampung procures from the same transferee or an Indonesian entity an offer to purchase PT Bahtera’s shares. Conversely, PT Bahtera may transfer its shares only to an affiliate it wholly owns and only if both Höegh Lampung and any applicable lenders consent to the transfer.
At any time or in the event of a default, Höegh Lampung may require PT Bahtera to transfer its shares to Höegh Lampung or any other person it designates. Events of default only apply to PT Bahtera and occur if it fails to pay any amount due and payable under the shareholders’ agreement, becomes insolvent, materially breaches the shareholders’ agreement, becomes controlled by other people or breaches a financing requirement.
Additionally, in association with the PT Hoegh shareholders’ agreement, PT Imeco Inter Sarana has guaranteed the performance and obligations of PT Bahtera. Furthermore, pursuant to the PT Hoegh shareholders’ agreement, Höegh Lampung indemnifies PT Bahtera against liabilities it may suffer as a result of a breach of statutory duty or infringement of laws committed by PT Hoegh, a failure by PT Hoegh to pay tax, a dispute, litigation or arbitration relating to PT Hoegh and all costs, losses, liabilities and claims relating to the PGN FSRU Lampung as a result of environmental damage.
The PT Hoegh shareholders’ agreement terminates when:
· | all of the shareholders agree in writing that the agreement should be terminated; |
· | all of the issued shares in PT Hoegh become directly or indirectly owned by the same person; or |
· | Höegh Lampung requires the other shareholders to dissolve PT Hoegh. PT Imeco Inter Sarana has guaranteed the obligations of PT Bahtera under the equity loan agreement pursuant to a deed of guarantee and indemnity. |
PT Hoegh Shareholder Loan
PT Bahtera, as borrower, entered into an equity loan agreement with Höegh Lampung, as lender, the proceeds of which were used to purchase PT Bahtera’s 51% interest in PT Hoegh. In connection with this loan, as security, PT Bahtera collaterally assigned its equity interest and any dividends it may receive from PT Hoegh to Höegh Lampung for as long as amounts remain outstanding. As a result of the above and the PT Hoegh shareholders’ agreement, we will be entitled to all of the net cash flows from PT Hoegh, after the payment of management, agency and local representation fees.
Employees
Other than our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we do not have any employees and rely on the key employees of Höegh Norway and Leif Höegh UK who perform services for us pursuant to the administrative services agreements. Höegh Norway and Höegh LNG Management also provide commercial and technical management services to our fleet pursuant to ship management agreements, a sub-technical support agreement and commercial and administration management agreements. Please read “Maritime Personnel and Competence Development” and “Item 6.A. Directors and Senior Management.”
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Competition
The FSRU and LNG carrier industries are capital-intensive and operational expertise is critical, which create high barriers to entry. These industries are viewed as an integral part of the LNG industry. A company with a solid track record, knowledge of the market and an experienced, well-trained crew is preferred to a new entrant since the cost and impact of vessel downtime is significant for the customer. Our competitors in the FSRU and LNG carrier industries include BW Maritime Pte. Ltd., Dynagas LNG Partners LP, Excelerate Energy L.P., Exmar NV, GasLog Ltd., GasLog Partners LP, Golar LNG Limited, Golar LNG Partners LP, MOL, OLT and Teekay LNG Partners L.P.
Classification, Inspection and Maintenance
Every large, commercial seagoing vessel must be “classed” by a classification society. The classification society certifies that the vessel is “in class,” signifying that the vessel has been built and maintained in accordance with the rules of the classification society and complies with applicable rules and regulations of that particular class of vessel as laid down by that society and the applicable flag state. In addition, where surveys are required by international conventions and corresponding laws and ordinances of a flag state, the classification society will undertake to conduct a survey on application or by official order, acting on behalf of the authorities concerned.
Our FSRUs are “classed” as LNG carriers with the additional class notation REGAS-2 signifying that the regasification installations are designed and approved for continuous operation. To ensure continuous compliance, regular and extraordinary surveys of hull and machinery, including the power plant and any special equipment classed, are required to be performed by a class surveyor. For inspection of the underwater parts and for repairs related to intermediate inspections, vessels generally are drydocked, pursuant to a drydock cycle determined by the classification society and the flag state concerned. However, with FSRUs, certain inspections can be done without drydocking, as special measures are available to inspect the underwater parts. If any defects are found, the class surveyor will issue a “recommendation” which must be rectified by the vessel owner within prescribed time limits. The classification society also undertakes other surveys on request of the flag state and checks that regulations and requirements of that flag state are complied with. These surveys are subject to agreements made for each individual survey and flag state concerned.
It is a condition for insurance coverage (i.e., the “seaworthiness” of the vessel) that the vessel is certified as “in class” with a member of the International Association of Classification Societies. Each of our vessels is certified by Det Norske Veritas GL, compliant with the ISM Code, and “in class.”
The ship manager carries out inspections of the ships on a regular basis; both at sea and while the vessels are in port, while the classification societies carry out inspections and ship audits to verify conformity with manager’s reports. The results of these inspections, which are conducted both in port and underway, are presented in a report containing recommendations for improvements to the overall condition of the vessel, maintenance, improvements to the safety and environmental protection system and to crew welfare. Among others, based on these evaluations, the ship manager creates and implements a program of continuous maintenance and improvement for its vessel and its systems.
Safety, Management of Ship Operations and Administration
Safety is a top priority. Our vessels are operated in a manner intended to protect the safety and health of employees, the general public and the environment. We actively manage the risks inherent in our business and are committed to eliminating incidents that threaten safety, such as groundings, collisions, loss of containment and fire. We are also committed to reducing emissions and waste generation. We have established key performance indicators to facilitate regular monitoring of our operational performance. We set targets on an annual basis to drive continuous improvement, and we review performance indicators monthly to determine if remedial action is necessary to reach our targets. Höegh LNG’s shore staff performs a full range of technical, commercial and business development services for us. This staff also provides administrative support to our operations in accounting, finance and cash management, legal, commercial insurance and general office administration and secretarial services.
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Höegh LNG assists the vessel owners in managing ship operations and maintaining a technical department to monitor and audit ship manager operations. Höegh LNG hold its certifications for and works to the standards of ISO 9001 on Quality Management, ISO 14001 on Environmental Management and OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Services. Additionally, Höegh LNG hold all compliance documents and permits needed to manage and operate LNG carriers and FSRUs. Through Det Norske Veritas GL, Höegh LNG Management has obtained approval of its safety management systems as being in compliance with the ISM Code, on behalf of the appropriate flag state for the vessels in our fleet, which are flagged in Norway and Indonesia. Our vessels’ safety management certificates are being maintained through ongoing internal audits performed by Höegh LNG Management and through intermediate audits performed by the flag states or recognized classification societies on its behalf. To supplement our operational experience, Höegh LNG provides expertise in various functions critical to our operations. This affords an efficient and cost-effective operation and, pursuant to commercial and administration management agreements with Höegh Norway and a technical information and services agreement with Höegh Norway, access to accounting, finance and cash management, legal, commercial insurance and general office administration and secretarial services. Critical ship management or technical support functions that will be provided by Höegh LNG Management through its various offices around the world include:
· | technical management, maintenance and drydocking; |
· | crew management; |
· | procurement, purchasing and forwarding logistics; |
· | marine operations; |
· | oil major and terminal vetting compliance; |
· | shipyard supervision; |
· | insurance; and |
· | financial services. |
These functions are supported by onboard and onshore systems for maintenance, inventory, purchasing and budget management. In addition, Höegh LNG’s day-to-day focus on cost control will be applied to our operations. To some extent, the uniform design of some of our vessels and the adoption of common equipment standards should also result in operational efficiencies, including with respect to crew training and vessel management, equipment operation and repair and spare parts ordering.
Maritime Personnel and Competence Development
As of December 31, 2014, entities in the Höegh LNG group employed approximately 475 seafarers who serve on our and Höegh LNG’s vessels, of whom approximately 410 are employees and 65 are in a crew pool. Norwegian employees are employed by Höegh LNG Management and non-Norwegian/Scandinavian employees, except Indonesian seafarers, are employed by Höegh Maritime Management. The Indonesian seafarers are employed by PT Hoegh. Höegh LNG Management and Höegh Maritime Management will employ and train additional seagoing staff to assist us as we grow. Höegh LNG Management, the ISM-certified company, provides technical management services, including all necessary maritime personnel-related services, to the vessel owners pursuant to the ship management agreements. Please read “Item 7. B. Related Party Transactions—Ship Management Agreements and Sub-Technical Support Agreement.”
We regard attracting and retaining competent and motivated seagoing personnel as a top priority. Like Höegh LNG, we offer our seafarers competitive employment packages and opportunities for personal and career development, which relates to a philosophy of promoting internally. The officers and crew operating our vessels are employed on individual employment contracts, which are based on International Transport Federation-Approved Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAS) and include conditions determined both by the negotiating parties and the flag states. We believe our relationships with these labor unions are good. Höegh LNG currently is a member of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association and is participating in some of the collective bargaining agreement negotiations with trade unions.
Our commitment to training is fundamental to the development of the highest caliber of seafarers for our marine operations. Höegh LNG Management’s cadet training approach is designed to balance academic learning with hands-on training at sea. Höegh LNG Management uses only recognized training institutions in Norway and other countries. Höegh LNG Management has cadets from Europe, Asia and the United States. We believe that high-quality crew and training policies will play an increasingly important role in distinguishing the preferred LNG-experienced independent shipping companies from those that are newcomers to LNG and lacking in-house experienced staff and established expertise on which to base their customer service and safety operations.
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Risk of Loss, Insurance and Risk Management
The operation of FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets has inherent risks. These risks include mechanical failure, personal injury, collision, property loss, vessel or cargo loss or damage and business interruption due to political circumstances in foreign countries or hostilities. In addition, there is always an inherent possibility of marine disaster, including explosion, spills and other environmental mishaps, and the liabilities arising from owning and operating vessels in international trade. We believe that our present insurance coverage is adequate to protect us against the accident-related risks involved in the conduct of our business and that we maintain appropriate levels of environmental damage and pollution insurance coverage consistent with standard industry practice. However, not all risks can be insured, and there can be no guarantee that any specific claim will be paid, or that we will always be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable rates.
We have obtained hull and machinery insurance on all our vessels against marine and war risks, which include the risks of damage to our vessels, including claims arising from collisions with other vessels or contact with jetties or wharves, salvage or towing costs and also insure against actual or constructive total loss of any of our vessels. However, our insurance policies contain deductible amounts for which we will be responsible.
We have also obtained loss of hire insurance to protect us against loss of income in the event the vessel cannot be employed due to damage that is covered under the terms of our hull and machinery insurance. Under our loss of hire policy, our insurer will pay us the hire rate agreed in respect of each vessel for each day, in excess of 20 deductible days, for the time that the vessel is out of service as a result of damage, for a maximum of 180 days.
Protection and indemnity insurance, which covers our third-party legal liabilities in connection with our shipping activities, is provided by a mutual P&I club. This includes third-party liability and other expenses related to the injury or death of crewmembers, passengers and other third-party persons, loss or damage to cargo and other damage to other third-party property, including pollution arising from oil or other substances, and other related costs, including wreck removal.
Our current protection and indemnity insurance coverage for pollution is limited to $3.07 billion for all liabilities, except for pollution, which is limited to $1 billion per vessel per incident. We are a member of the Gard P&I Club, which is one of the 13 P&I clubs that comprises the International Group. Members of the International Group insure approximately 90% of the world’s commercial tonnage, and they have entered into a pooling agreement to reinsure each P&I club’s liabilities. P&I clubs provide the basic layer of insurance, which is currently $9 million. For members of the International Group, the International Group provides the next layer of insurance, covering liability between $9 million and $30 million. For liabilities above $30 million, the International Group has one of the world’s largest reinsurance contracts, with the maximum liability per accident or occurrence currently set at $3 billion. As a member of the Gard P&I Club, we are subject to a call for additional premiums based on the clubs’ claims record, as well as the claims record of all other members of the P&I clubs comprising the International Group. However, our P&I club has reinsured the risk of additional premium calls to limit our additional exposure. This reinsurance is subject to a cap, and there is the risk that the full amount of the additional call would not be covered by this reinsurance.
The insurers providing the covers for hull and machinery, loss of hire and protection and indemnity have confirmed that they will consider the FSRUs as vessels for the purpose of providing insurance.
We will use in our operations Höegh LNG’s thorough risk management program that includes, among other things, computer-aided risk analysis tools, maintenance and assessment programs, a seafarers competence training program, seafarers workshops and membership in emergency response organizations. We expect to benefit from Höegh LNG’s commitment to safety and environmental protection as certain of its subsidiaries assist us in managing our vessel operations. Höegh LNG Management has been certified under the standards reflected in ISO 9001 for quality assurance and is certified in accordance with the International Marine Organization’s International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and Pollution Prevention on a fully integrated basis.
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Environmental and Other Regulation
General
Governmental and international agencies extensively regulate the carriage, handling, storage and regasification of LNG. These regulations include international conventions and national, state and local laws and regulations in the countries where our vessels now or, in the future, will operate or where our vessels are registered. We cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with these regulations or the impact that these regulations will have on the resale value or useful lives of our vessels. Various governmental and quasi-governmental agencies require us to obtain permits, licenses and certificates for the operation of our vessels.
We believe that we are substantially in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and have all permits, licenses and certificates required for our vessels. In many cases where permits are required from countries to whose jurisdictional waters our vessels have been deployed, the charter party or its customer is responsible for obtaining the permit. A variety of governmental and private entities inspect our vessels on both a scheduled and unscheduled basis. These entities, each of which may have unique requirements and each of which conducts frequent inspections, include classification societies, flag state, or the administration of the country of registry, charterers, terminal operators, LNG producers and local port authorities, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, harbor master or equivalent. Our vessels are subject to inspections on an unscheduled basis and we expect, in the future, they will also be subject to inspection by the applicable governmental and private entities on a scheduled basis. However, future noncompliance or failure to maintain necessary permits or approvals could require us to incur substantial costs or temporarily suspend operation of one or more of our vessels.
Höegh LNG Management is operating in compliance with the ISO Environmental Standard for the management of the significant environmental aspects associated with the ownership and operation of a fleet of FSRUs and LNG carriers. Höegh Norway received its ISO 9001 certification (Quality Management Systems) in May 2008, which also includes certification of Höegh LNG Management. Höegh Norway also received its certification to the ISO 14001 Environmental Standard, which requires that we and Höegh LNG Management commit managerial resources to act on our environmental policy through an effective management system.
International Maritime Regulations of FSRUs and LNG Carriers
The IMO is the United Nations’ agency that provides international regulations governing shipping and international maritime trade. The requirements contained in the ISM Code promulgated by the IMO govern our operations. Among other requirements, the ISM Code requires the party with operational control of a vessel to develop an extensive safety management system that includes, among other things, the adoption of a policy for safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for operating its vessels safely and also describing procedures for responding to emergencies. Höegh LNG Management holds a Document of Compliance under the ISM Code for operation of the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , and PT Hoegh holds a Document of Compliance under the ISM Code for operation of the PGN FSRU Lampung . All Documents of Compliance meet the standards set by the IMO.
Vessels that transport gas, including FSRUs and LNG carriers, are also subject to regulation under the International Gas Carrier Code (the “IGC Code”), published by the IMO. The IGC Code provides a standard for the safe carriage of LNG and certain other liquid gases by prescribing the design and construction standards of vessels involved in such carriage. Compliance with the IGC Code must be evidenced by a Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk. Each of our vessels is in compliance with the IGC Code, and each of our newbuildings contracts requires that the vessel receive certification of compliance with applicable regulations before she is delivered. Noncompliance with the IGC Code or other applicable IMO regulations may subject a vessel owner or a bareboat charterer to increased liability, may lead to decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels and may result in the denial of access to, or detention in, some ports.
The IMO also promulgates ongoing amendments to SOLAS. SOLAS provides rules for the construction of and equipment required for commercial vessels and includes regulations for safe operation. It requires the provision of lifeboats and other life-saving appliances, requires the use of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, which is an international radio equipment and watchkeeping standard, afloat and at shore stations, and relates to the Treaty on the Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeeping Officers (“STCW”), also promulgated by the IMO. Flag states that have ratified SOLAS and STCW generally employ the classification societies, which have incorporated SOLAS and STCW requirements into their class rules, to undertake surveys to confirm compliance.
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SOLAS and other IMO regulations concerning safety, including those relating to treaties on training of shipboard personnel, lifesaving appliances, radio equipment and the global maritime distress and safety system, are applicable to our operations. Noncompliance with these types of IMO regulations may subject us to increased liability or penalties, may lead to decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels and may result in the denial of access to, or detention in, some ports. For example, the U.S. Coast Guard and European Union authorities have indicated that vessels not in compliance with the ISM Code are prohibited from trading in U.S. and European Union ports.
In the wake of increased worldwide security concerns, the IMO amended SOLAS and added the ISPS Code as a new chapter to that convention. The objective of the ISPS Code, which came into effect on July 1, 2004, is to detect security threats and take preventive measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities. Höegh LNG Management has developed Security Plans and appointed and trained Ship and Office Security Officers, and all of our vessels have been certified to meet the ISPS Code. Please read “—Vessel Security Regulations” for a more detailed discussion about these requirements.
The IMO continues to review and introduce new regulations. It is impossible to predict what additional regulations, if any, may be passed by the IMO and what effect, if any, such regulation may have on our operations.
Air Emissions
The MARPOL Convention is the principal international convention negotiated by the IMO governing marine pollution prevention and response. The MARPOL Convention imposes environmental standards on the shipping industry relating to oil spills, management of garbage, the handling and disposal of noxious liquids, sewage and air emissions. MARPOL 73/78 Annex VI “Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution” (“Annex VI”) entered into force on May 19, 2005, and applies to all ships, fixed and floating drilling rigs and other floating platforms. Annex VI sets limits on sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts, emissions of volatile compounds from cargo tanks and incineration of specific substances, and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances. Annex VI also includes a global cap on sulfur content of fuel oil and allows for special areas to be established in different regions of the world with more stringent controls on sulfur emissions. The certification requirements for Annex VI depend on size of the vessel and time of periodical classification survey. Ships more than 400 gross tons and engaged in international voyages involving countries that have ratified the conventions, or ships flying the flag of those countries, are required to have an International Air Pollution Certificate (an “IAPP Certificate”). Annex VI came into force in the United States on January 8, 2009. All of our vessels currently have IAPP Certificates.
In March 2006, the IMO amended Annex I to the MARPOL Convention, including a new regulation relating to oil fuel tank protection, which became effective August 1, 2007. The new regulation applies to various ships delivered on or after August 1, 2010. It includes requirements for the protected location of the fuel tanks, performance standards for accidental oil fuel outflow, a tank capacity limit and certain other maintenance, inspection and engineering standards. IMO regulations also require owners and operators of vessels to adopt Ship Oil Pollution Emergency Plans. Periodic training and drills for response personnel and for vessels and their crews are required.
On July 1, 2010, amendments proposed by the United States, Norway and other IMO member states to Annex VI took effect that require progressively stricter limitations on sulfur emissions from ships. In Emission Control Areas (“ECAs”), limitations on sulfur emissions require that fuels contain no more than 1% sulfur. As of January 1, 2012, fuel used to power ships may not contain more than 3.5% sulfur. This cap has begun to decrease progressively and will continue to do so until it reaches 0.5% by January 1, 2020. The European Directive 2005/33/EU, which came into effect January 1, 2010, bans the use of fuel oils containing more than 0.1% sulfur by mass by any merchant vessel while at berth in any European Union country. Annex VI Regulation 14, which came into effect on January 1, 2015, set the same 0.1% sulfur limit in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, North America, and United States Caribbean Sea ECAs. Our FSRUs have achieved compliance through use of gas boil-off and low sulfur marine diesel oil in their diesel generators and boilers. The amendments also establish new stringent standards for emissions of nitrogen oxides from new marine engines, depending on their date of installation.
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Pursuant to further amendments adopted in April 2014, the Tier III Annex VI requirements for nitrogen oxides will apply to certain new-build vessels with marine diesel engines that are constructed on or after January 1, 2016, and that operate in the North American or United States Caribbean Sea ECAs. The amendments are expected to enter into force on September 1, 2015.
As discussed in “—U.S. Clean Air Act” below, U.S. air emissions standards are now equivalent to these amended Annex VI requirements. Additional or new conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted in the future and could require the installation of emission control systems. Because our vessels are largely powered by means other than fuel oil we do not anticipate that any emission limits that may be promulgated will require us to incur any material costs for the operation of our vessels but that possibility cannot be eliminated.
Ballast Water Management Convention
The IMO has negotiated international conventions that impose liability for oil pollution in international waters and the territorial waters of the signatory to such conventions. For example, the IMO adopted an International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (the “BWM Convention”) in February 2004. The BWM Convention’s implementing regulations call for a phased introduction of mandatory ballast water exchange requirements, to be replaced in time with a requirement for treatment. The BWM Convention will not become effective until 12 months after it has been adopted by 30 states, the combined merchant fleets of which represent not less than 35% of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant shipping. Though this standard has not been met, the IMO has passed a resolution encouraging the ratification of the BWM Convention and calling upon those countries that have already ratified to encourage the installation of ballast water management systems (“BWMS”) on new ships. As referenced below, the U.S. Coast Guard issued new ballast water management rules on March 23, 2012, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) issued a new Vessel General Permit in March 2013 that contains numeric technology-based ballast water effluent limitations that will apply to certain commercial vessels with ballast water tanks. Under the requirements of the BWM Convention for units with ballast water capacity more than 5,000 cbm that were constructed in 2011 or before, ballast water management exchange or treatment will be accepted until 2016. From 2016 (or not later than the first renewal date of the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate after 2016), only ballast water treatment will be accepted by the BWM Convention. Installation of ballast water treatment systems will be needed on the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann . Given that ballast water treatment technologies are still at the developmental stage, at this time the additional costs of complying with these rules are unclear, but current estimates suggest that additional costs are not likely to be material.
Bunkers Convention/CLC State Certificate
The International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution 2001 (the “Bunker Convention”) entered into force in signatory states to the Convention on November 21, 2008. The Bunker Convention provides a liability, compensation and compulsory insurance system for the victims of oil pollution damage caused by spills of bunker oil. The Bunker Convention requires the vessel owner that is liable for pollution damage to pay compensation for such damage (including the cost of preventive measures) caused in the territory, including the territorial sea of a State Party, as well as its economic zone or equivalent area. Registered owners of any seagoing vessel and seaborne craft over 1,000 gross tonnage, of any type whatsoever, and registered in a State Party, or entering or leaving a port in the territory of a State Party, are required to maintain insurance that meets the requirements of the Bunker Convention and to obtain a certificate issued by a State Party attesting that such insurance is in force. The State Party-issued certificate must be carried onboard at all times.
P&I clubs in the International Group issue the required Bunkers Convention “Blue Cards” to enable signatory states to issue certificates. All of our vessels have received “Blue Cards” from their P&I club and are in possession of a CLC State-issued certificate attesting that the required insurance coverage is in force.
The flag state, as defined by the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea, has overall responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of international maritime regulations for all ships granted the right to fly its flag. The “Shipping Industry Guidelines on Flag State Performance” evaluates flag states based on factors such as sufficiency of infrastructure, ratification of international maritime treaties, implementation and enforcement of international maritime regulations, supervision of surveys, casualty investigations and participation at the IMO meetings.
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Anti-Fouling Requirements
In 2001, the IMO adopted the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (the “Anti-fouling Convention”). The Anti-fouling Convention, which entered into force on September 17, 2008, prohibits the use of organotin compound coatings to prevent the attachment of mollusks and other sea life to the hulls of vessels after September 1, 2003. Vessels of over 400 gross tons engaged in international voyages must obtain an International Anti-fouling System Certificate and undergo a survey before the vessel is put into service or when the anti-fouling systems are altered or replaced. We have obtained Anti-fouling System Certificates for all of our vessels, and we do not believe that maintaining such certificates will have an adverse financial impact on the operation of our vessels.
U.S. Environmental Regulation of FSRUs and LNG Carriers
Our vessels operating in U.S. waters now or, in the future, will be subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to protection of the environment. In some cases, these laws and regulations require governmental permits and authorizations before we may conduct certain activities. These environmental laws and regulations may impose substantial penalties for noncompliance and substantial liabilities for pollution that occurs. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in substantial civil and criminal fines and penalties. As with the industry generally, our operations will entail risks in these areas, and compliance with these laws and regulations, which may be subject to frequent revisions and reinterpretation, increases our overall cost of business.
Oil Pollution Act and CERCLA
OPA 90 established an extensive regulatory and liability regime for environmental protection and clean-up of oil spills. OPA 90 affects all owners and operators whose vessels trade with the United States or its territories or possessions, or whose vessels operate in the waters of the United States, which include the U.S. territorial waters and the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone of the United States. CERCLA applies to the discharge of hazardous substances whether on land or at sea. While OPA 90 and CERCLA would not apply to the discharge of LNG, they may affect us because we carry oil as fuel and lubricants for our engines, and the discharge of these could cause an environmental hazard. Under OPA 90, vessel operators, including vessel owners, managers and bareboat or “demise” charterers, are “responsible parties” who are all liable regardless of fault, individually and as a group, for all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from oil spills from their vessels. These “responsible parties” would not be liable if the spill results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war. The other damages aside from clean-up and containment costs are defined broadly to include:
· | natural resource damages and related assessment costs; |
· | real and personal property damages; |
· | net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, profits or earnings capacity; |
· | net cost of public services necessitated by a spill response, such as protection from fire, safety or health hazards; and |
· | loss of subsistence use of natural resources. |
Effective as of July 31, 2009, the U.S. Coast Guard adjusted the limits of OPA 90 liability to the greater of $2,000 per gross ton or $17.088 million for any double-hull tanker that is over 3,000 gross tons (subject to possible adjustment for inflation) (relevant to our and Höegh LNG’s vessels). These limits of liability do not apply, however, where the incident is caused by violation of applicable U.S. federal safety, construction or operating regulations, or by the responsible party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. These limits likewise do not apply if the responsible party fails or refuses to report the incident or to cooperate and assist in connection with the substance removal activities. This limit is subject to possible adjustment for inflation. OPA 90 specifically permits individual states to impose their own liability regimes with regard to oil pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries, and some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for discharge of pollutants within their waters. In some cases, states, which have enacted their own legislation, have not yet issued implementing regulations defining vessel owners’ responsibilities under these laws.
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CERCLA, which also applies to owners and operators of vessels, contains a similar liability regime and provides for cleanup, removal and natural resource damages for releases of “hazardous substances.” Liability under CERCLA is limited to the greater of $300 per gross ton or $0.5 million for each release from vessels not carrying hazardous substances as cargo or residue, and $300 per gross ton or $5 million for each release from vessels carrying hazardous substances as cargo or residue. As with OPA 90, these limits of liability do not apply where the incident is caused by violation of applicable U.S. federal safety, construction or operating regulations, by the responsible party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or if the responsible party fails or refuses to report the incident or to cooperate and assist in connection with the substance removal activities. OPA 90 and CERCLA each preserve the right to recover damages under existing law, including maritime tort law. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with OPA 90, CERCLA and all applicable state regulations in the ports where our vessels call.
OPA 90 requires owners and operators of vessels to establish and maintain with the U.S. Coast Guard evidence of financial responsibility sufficient to meet the limit of their potential strict liability under OPA 90/CERCLA. Under the regulations, evidence of financial responsibility may be demonstrated by insurance, surety bond, self-insurance or guaranty. Under OPA 90 regulations, an owner or operator of more than one vessel is required to demonstrate evidence of financial responsibility for the entire fleet in an amount equal only to the financial responsibility requirement of the vessel having the greatest maximum liability under OPA 90/CERCLA. We currently maintain U.S. Coast Guard National Pollution Funds Center-issued three-year Certificates of Financial Responsibility supported by guarantees that we purchased from an insurance-based provider for all of our vessels.
In response to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the U.S. Congress is currently considering a number of bills that could potentially increase or even eliminate the limits of liability under OPA 90. Compliance with any new requirements of OPA 90 may substantially impact our cost of operations or require us to incur additional expenses to comply with any new regulatory initiatives or statutes. Additional legislation or regulation applicable to the operation of our vessels that may be implemented in the future could adversely affect our business and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
U.S. Clean Water Act
The CWA prohibits the discharge of oil or hazardous substances in U.S. navigable waters unless authorized by a permit or exemption, and imposes strict liability in the form of penalties for unauthorized discharges. The CWA also imposes substantial liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages and complements the remedies available under OPA 90 and CERCLA. The EPA has enacted rules governing the regulation of ballast water discharges and other discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels within U.S. waters. The rules require commercial vessels 79 feet in length or longer (other than commercial fishing vessels) (“Regulated Vessels”) to obtain a CWA permit regulating and authorizing such normal discharges. This permit, which the EPA has designated as the Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Vessels (the “VGP”), incorporates the current U.S. Coast Guard requirements for ballast water management, as well as supplemental ballast water requirements, and includes limits applicable to 26 specific discharge streams, such as deck runoff, bilge water and gray water. For each discharge type, among other things, the VGP establishes effluent limits pertaining to the constituents found in the effluent, including best management practices (the “BMPs”) designed to decrease the amount of constituents entering the waste stream. Unlike land-based discharges, which are deemed acceptable by meeting certain EPA-imposed numerical effluent limits, each of the 26 VGP discharge limits is deemed to be met when a Regulated Vessel carries out the BMPs pertinent to that specific discharge stream. The VGP imposes additional requirements on certain Regulated Vessel types that emit discharges unique to those vessels. Administrative provisions, such as inspection, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements, are also included for all Regulated Vessels.
U.S. Ballast Water Regulation
In the United States, two federal agencies regulate ballast water discharges, the EPA, through the VGP, and the U.S. Coast Guard, through approved BWMS. On March 28, 2013, the EPA published a new VGP to replace the existing VGP when it expired in December 2013. The new VGP includes numeric effluent limits for ballast water expressed as the maximum concentration of living organisms in ballast water, as opposed to the current BMPs requirements. The new VGP also imposes a variety of changes for non-ballast water discharges including more stringent BMPs for discharges of oil-to-sea interfaces in an effort to reduce the toxicity of oil leaked into U.S. waters. For certain existing vessels, the EPA has adopted a staggered implementation schedule to require vessels to meet the ballast water effluent limitations by the first drydocking after January 1, 2014 or January 1, 2016, depending on the vessel size. Vessels that are constructed after December 1, 2013 are subject to the ballast water numeric effluent limitations immediately upon the effective date of the new VGP.
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On June 20, 2012, the final rule issued by the U.S. Coast Guard establishing standards for the allowable concentration of living organisms in ballast water discharged in U.S. waters and requiring the phase-in of U.S. Coast Guard-approved BWMS went into effect. The final rule adopts ballast water discharge standards for vessels calling on U.S. ports and intending to discharge ballast water equivalent to those set in the BWM Convention. The final rule requires that ballast water discharge have no more than 10 living organisms per milliliter for organisms between 10 and 50 micrometers in size. For organisms larger than 50 micrometers, the discharge can have 10 living organisms per cbm of discharge. The U.S. Coast Guard will review the practicability of implementing a more stringent ballast water discharge standard and publish the results no later than January 1, 2016. The rule requires installation of U.S. Coast-Guard approved BWMS by new vessels constructed on or after December 1, 2013 and existing vessels as of their first drydocking after January 1, 2016. If U.S. Coast Guard-type approved technologies are not available by a vessel’s compliance date, the vessel may request an extension to the deadline from the U.S. Coast Guard.
U.S. Clean Air Act
The U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended, requires the EPA to promulgate standards applicable to emissions of volatile organic compounds and other air contaminants. Our vessels are subject to vapor control and recovery requirements for certain cargoes when loading, unloading, ballasting, cleaning and conducting other operations in regulated port areas and emission standards for so-called “Category 3” marine diesel engines operating in U.S. waters. The marine diesel engine emission standards are currently limited to new engines beginning with the 2004 model year. On April 30, 2010, the EPA promulgated final emission standards for Category 3 marine diesel engines equivalent to those adopted in the amendments to Annex VI. The emission standards apply in two stages: near-term standards for newly-built engines apply from 2011, and long-term standards requiring an 80% reduction in nitrogen dioxides will apply from 2016. Aligned with the Annex VI Regulation 14 requirements, beginning in January 2015, the EPA emission standards also limit sulfur content in fuel used in Category 3 marine vessels operating in the North America ECA to 1,000 ppm (or 0.1% sulfur by mass). Compliance with these standards may cause us to incur costs to install control equipment on our vessels in the future.
Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol entered into force. Pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol, adopting countries are required to implement national programs to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. In December 2009, more than 27 nations, including the United States and China, signed the Copenhagen Accord, which includes a nonbinding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The IMO is evaluating various mandatory measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, which may include market-based instruments or a carbon tax. The European Commission is currently considering possible European action to introduce monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport as a first step towards measures to reduce these emissions.
On January 1, 2013, the IMO’s approved mandatory measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping went into force. These include amendments to Annex VI for the prevention of air pollution from ships adding a new Chapter 4 to Annex VI on energy efficiency requiring the Energy Efficiency Design Index (the “EEDI”) for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (the “SEEMP”) for all ships. Other amendments to Annex VI add new definitions and requirements for survey and certification, including the format for the International Energy Efficiency Certificate. The regulations apply to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above. These new rules will likely affect the operations of vessels that are registered in countries that are signatories to Annex VI or vessels that call upon ports located within such countries. The implementation of the EEDI and the SEEMP standards could cause us to incur additional compliance costs. The IMO is also considering the development of a market-based mechanism for greenhouse gas emissions from ships, but it is impossible to predict the likelihood that such a standard might be adopted or its potential impact on our operations at this time.
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In the United States, the EPA issued a final finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health and safety and has promulgated regulations that regulate the emission of greenhouse gases, but not from ships. The EPA may decide in the future to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from ships and has already been petitioned by the California Attorney General to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from oceangoing vessels. Other federal and state regulations relating to the control of greenhouse gas emissions may follow, including climate change initiatives that have recently been considered in the U.S. Congress. Any passage of climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives by the IMO, the European Union, the United States or other countries where we operate, or any treaty adopted at the international level, that restrict emissions of greenhouse gases could require us to make significant financial expenditures that we cannot predict with certainty at this time. In addition, even without such regulation, our business may be indirectly affected to the extent that climate change results in sea level changes or more intense weather events.
Other federal and state laws and regulations relating to the control of greenhouse gas emissions may come into effect, including climate change initiatives that have been considered in the U.S. Congress. Any passage of climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives by the IMO, the European Union, the United States or other countries where we operate, or any treaty adopted at the international level to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, that restrict emissions of greenhouse gases could require us to make significant financial expenditures that we cannot predict with certainty at this time. In addition, even without such regulation, our business may be indirectly affected to the extent that climate change results in sea level changes or more intense weather events.
Vessel Security Regulations
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there have been a variety of initiatives intended to enhance vessel security. On November 25, 2002, the Maritime Transportation Act of 2002 (the “MTSA”) came into effect. To implement certain portions of the MTSA, in July 2003, the U.S. Coast Guard issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Similarly, in December 2002, amendments to SOLAS created a new chapter of the convention dealing specifically with maritime security. The new chapter became effective in July 2004 and imposed various detailed security obligations on vessels and port authorities, most of which are contained in the ISPS Code. The ISPS Code is designed to protect ports and international shipping against terrorism. After July 1, 2004, to trade internationally, a vessel must obtain an International Ship Security Certificate (an “ISSC”) from a recognized security organization approved by the vessel’s flag state.
Among the various requirements are:
· | onboard installation of automatic identification systems to provide a means for the automatic transmission of safety-related information from among similarly equipped ships and shore stations, including information on a ship’s identity, position, course, speed and navigational status; |
· | onboard installation of ship security alert systems, which do not sound on the vessel but only alert the authorities onshore; |
· | the development of vessel security plans; |
· | ship identification number to be permanently marked on a vessel’s hull; |
· | a continuous synopsis record kept onboard showing a vessel’s history, including the name of the ship, the state whose flag the ship is entitled to fly, the date on which the ship was registered with that state, the ship’s identification number, the port at which the ship is registered and the name of the registered owner(s) and their registered address; and |
· | compliance with flag state security certification requirements. |
The U.S. Coast Guard regulations, intended to align with international maritime security standards, exempt non-U.S. vessels from obtaining U.S. Coast Guard-approved MTSA vessel security plans provided such vessels have onboard an ISSC that attests to the vessel’s compliance with SOLAS security requirements and the ISPS Code.
Our ship manager has developed Security Plans and appointed and trained Ship and Office Security Officers, and each of the vessels in our fleet complies with the requirements of the ISPS Code, SOLAS and the MTSA.
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Other Regulations
International Conventions
Our vessels may also become subject to the 2010 HNS Convention, if it is adopted by a sufficient number of countries. The Convention creates a regime of liability and compensation for damage from hazardous and noxious substances (“HNS”), including liquefied gases. The 2010 HNS Convention sets up a two-tier system of compensation composed of compulsory insurance taken out by vessel owners and an HNS Fund which comes into play when the insurance is insufficient to satisfy a claim or does not cover the incident. Under the 2010 HNS Convention, if damage is caused by bulk HNS, claims for compensation will first be sought from the vessel owner up to a maximum of 100 million from the supplementary foreign exchange reserve assets defined and maintained by the International Monetary Fund called Special Drawing Rights (“SDR”). If the damage is caused by packaged HNS or by both bulk and packaged HNS, the maximum liability is 115 million SDR. Once the limit is reached, compensation will be paid from the HNS Fund up to a maximum of 250 million SDR. The 2010 HNS Convention has not been ratified by a sufficient number of countries to enter into force, and we cannot estimate the costs that may be needed to comply with any such requirements that may be adopted with any certainty at this time.
Indonesia Environmental Regulation of FSRUs
In Indonesia, the environmental requirements of downstream business activity for the gas industry are regulated and supervised by the Government of Indonesia and controlled through business and technical licenses issued by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and BPH Migas, the regulatory agency for downstream oil and gas activity. Under Law 22, the Government of Indonesia has the exclusive rights to gas exploitation and activities carried out by private entities based on government-issued licenses. Companies engaging in downstream activities must comply with environmental management and occupational health and safety provisions related to operations. This includes obtaining environmental licenses and conducting environmental monitoring and reporting for activities that may have an impact on the environment. Failure to comply with these laws and obtain the necessary business and technical licenses may subject us to sanctions including suspension and/or freezing of the business and responsibility for all damages arising from any violation. We believe we are currently in compliance with these laws and hold all applicable licenses. However, these laws are subject to change, and we cannot predict any future changes in the regulatory environment, which could result in increased costs to our business.
China Environmental Regulation of FSRUs
Effective June 1, 2011, the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) promulgated regulations on Ship-Induced Marine Pollution Emergency Preparation and Response Management (the “Emergency Response Regulations 2011”) together with the Detailed Rules on the implementation of the Ship-Induced Pollution Response Agreement Regime issued by the Marine Safety Administration (the “MSA”) of the PRC. In addition, the Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution from Ships were implemented in 2010, which requires operators of (i) any ship carrying polluting and hazardous cargoes in bulk or (ii) any other ships above 10,000 gross tons to enter into a Ship Pollution Response Agreement with a pollution clean-up company approved by the MSA prior to the vessel entering any PRC port. Under the Emergency Response Regulations 2011, operators are liable for all costs and expenses for any pollution and must be paid or secured with a financial guarantee before the vessel leaves the port.
While we believe we are in compliance with these regulations and have a Ship Pollution Response Agreement in place for our vessels, we cannot predict whether any accidental pollution may occur, whether it will cause us to incur costs and/or penalties or what the amount of any such costs or penalties may be.
Uruguay Environmental Regulation of FSRUs
Uruguayan Law N˚ 16.688 establishes a regime for the prevention and pollution of the waters of Uruguay, which provides for strict, joint and several liability of owners of vessels that cause pollution for any damages, cleanup costs, and fines for violations. In addition, the Hidrovia countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay) are working towards standardizing all requirements and regulations for the prevention, reduction, and control of pollution from vessels in the Hidrovia Region by developing an adapted version of MARPOL, called the RIOCON convention. Moreover, additional conventions, laws, and regulations may be adopted that could materially impact our ability to manage our vessels located in Uruguayan waters.
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Uruguay recently created new oil spill response requirements under Disposicion Maritimia N˚ 149 that establishes rules governing all vessels entering a Uruguayan port or anchoring in Uruguayan waters. Among these requirements, vessel owners must contract with a Uruguayan Coast Guard approved oil spill response organization (“OSRO”) at least 24 hours before entering a Uruguayan port. A certificate of coverage and evidence of P&I coverage must be submitted to the local authorities for all applicable vessels. The regulation generally applies to all tank vessels or barges and vessels engaged in exploration or exploitation of resources in the Uruguayan Exclusive Economic Zone. The regulation was to take effect on February 20, 2015, but has been delayed pending certain clarifications with the OSROs.
While we believe we will be able to comply with these laws and regulations, the adoption of additional international treaties or conventions, as well as national and local laws or regulations, could subject us to material liabilities, materially impact our ability to operate in Uruguayan waters, or materially increase our costs of operation.
In-House Inspections
Höegh LNG Management, our ship manager, regularly inspects our vessels for compliance with laws of host countries; both at sea and while in port. We also inspect and audit our vessels regularly to verify conformity with manager’s reports. These inspections result in a report containing recommendations for improvements to the overall condition of the vessel, maintenance, safety and crew welfare. Based in part on these evaluations, we create and implement a program of continual maintenance for our vessels and their systems.
Taxation of the Partnership
The following are discussions of the material tax considerations applicable to us under U.S., United Kingdom, Marshall Islands, Norway, Singapore and Indonesia law, respectively. This discussion is based upon provisions of the applicable tax law as in effect on the date of this Annual Report, regulations and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities or their interpretation may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below.
United States Taxation
The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us. This discussion is based upon provisions of the Code as in effect on the date of this Annual Report, existing final and temporary Treasury Regulations thereunder, and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities or their interpretation may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. The following discussion does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us.
Election to be Treated as a Corporation
We have elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, we are subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent we earn income from U.S. sources or income that is treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, unless such income is exempt from tax under Section 883 of the Code or otherwise.
Taxation of Operating Income
Substantially all of our gross income is attributable, and we expect it will continue to be attributable, to the transportation, regasification and storage of LNG. Gross income generated from regasification and storage of LNG outside of the United States generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, and gross income generated from such activities in the United States generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis plus a branch profits tax. Gross income that is attributable to transportation that either begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States (“U.S. Source International Transportation Income”) will be considered to be 50.0% derived from sources within the United States and may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a gross basis as described below. Gross income attributable to transportation that both begins and ends in the United States (“U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income”) will be considered to be 100.0% derived from sources within the United States and generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis plus a branch profits tax. Gross income attributable to transportation exclusively between non-U.S. destinations will be considered to be 100.0% derived from sources outside the United States and generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
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We are not permitted by law to engage in transportation that gives rise to U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income, and we currently do not anticipate providing any regasification or storage services within the territorial seas of the United States. However, certain of our activities give rise to U.S. Source International Transportation Income, and future expansion of our operations could result in an increase in the amount of U.S. Source International Transportation Income, all of which could be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless an exemption from U.S. taxation applies under Section 883 of the Code (the “Section 883 Exemption”).
The Section 883 Exemption
In general, the Section 883 Exemption provides that if a non-U.S. corporation satisfies the requirements of Section 883 of the Code and Treasury Regulations thereunder (the “Section 883 Regulations”), it will not be subject to the net basis and branch profits taxes or the 4.0% gross basis tax described below on its U.S. Source International Transportation Income. The Section 883 Exemption applies only to U.S. Source International Transportation Income and does not apply to U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income. As discussed below, we believe that based on our current ownership structure, the Section 883 Exemption applies and we are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on our U.S. Source International Transportation Income.
We qualify for the Section 883 Exemption for a particular taxable year if, among other things, we meet the following three requirements:
· | we are organized in a jurisdiction outside the United States that grants an equivalent exemption from tax to corporations organized in the United States with respect to the types of U.S. Source International Transportation Income that we earn (an “Equivalent Exemption”); |
· | we satisfy the Publicly Traded Test (as described below) or the Qualified Shareholder Stock Ownership Test (as described below); and |
· | we meet certain substantiation, reporting and other requirements. |
In order for a non-U.S. corporation to meet the Publicly Traded Test, its equity interests must be “primarily traded” and “regularly traded” on an established securities market either in the United States or in a jurisdiction outside the United States that grants an Equivalent Exemption. The Section 883 Regulations provide, in pertinent part, that equity interests in a non-U.S. corporation will be considered to be “primarily traded” on an established securities market in a given country if, with respect to the class or classes of equity relied upon to meet the “regularly traded” requirement described below, the number of units of each such class that are traded during any taxable year on all established securities markets in that country exceeds the number of units in such class that are traded during that year on established securities markets in any other single country.
Equity interests in a non-U.S. corporation will be considered to be “regularly traded” on an established securities market under the Section 883 Regulations if one or more classes of such equity interests that, in the aggregate, represent more than 50.0% of the combined vote and value of all outstanding equity interests in the non-U.S. corporation satisfy certain listing and trading volume requirements. These listing and trading volume requirements will be satisfied with respect to a class of equity interests if trades in such class are effected, other than in de minimis quantities, on an established securities market on at least 60 days during the taxable year and the aggregate number of units in such class that are traded on such established securities market during the taxable year is at least 10.0% of the average number of units outstanding in that class during the taxable year (with special rules for short taxable years). In addition, a class of equity interests will be considered to satisfy these listing and trading volume requirements if the equity interests in such class are traded during the taxable year on an established securities market in the United States and are “regularly quoted by dealers making a market” in such class (within the meaning of the Section 883 Regulations).
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Even if a class of equity interests satisfies the foregoing requirements, and thus generally would be treated as “regularly traded” on an established securities market, an exception may apply to cause the class to fail the regularly traded test for a taxable year if, for more than half of the number of days during the taxable year, one or more 5.0% unitholders (i.e., unitholders owning, actually or constructively, at least 5.0% of the vote and value of that class) own in the aggregate 50.0% or more of the vote and value of the class (which we refer to as the Closely Held Block Exception). For purposes of identifying its 5.0% unitholders, a non-U.S. corporation is entitled to rely on Schedule 13D and Schedule 13G filings with the SEC. In addition, an investment company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, is not treated as a 5.0% unitholder. The Closely Held Block Exception does not apply, however, in the event the corporation can establish that a sufficient proportion of such 5.0% unitholders are Qualified Shareholders (as defined below) so as to preclude other persons who are 5.0% unitholders from owning 50.0% or more of the value of that class for more than half the days during the taxable year.
As set forth above, as an alternative to satisfying the Publicly Traded Test, a non-U.S. corporation may qualify for the Section 883 Exemption by satisfying the Qualified Shareholder Stock Ownership Test. A corporation generally will satisfy the Qualified Shareholder Stock Ownership Test if more than 50.0% of the value of its outstanding equity interests is owned, or treated as owned after applying certain attribution rules, for at least half of the number of days in the taxable year by:
· | individual residents of jurisdictions that grant an Equivalent Exemption; |
· | non-U.S. corporations organized in jurisdictions that grant an Equivalent Exemption and that meet the Publicly Traded Test; or |
· | certain other qualified persons described in the Section 883 Regulations (which we refer to collectively as Qualified Shareholders). |
We believe that we currently satisfy all of the requirements for the Section 883 Exemption, and we expect that we will continue to satisfy such requirements for all future taxable years. First, we are organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The U.S. Treasury Department has recognized the Republic of the Marshall Islands as a jurisdiction that grants an Equivalent Exemption with respect to the type of U.S. Source International Transportation Income we earn and are expected to earn. Consequently, our U.S. Source International Transportation Income (including for this purpose, any such income earned by our joint ventures and subsidiaries) should be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation provided we meet either the Publicly Traded Test or the Qualified Shareholder Stock Ownership Test and we satisfy certain substantiation, reporting and other requirements.
Our common units are traded only on the New York Stock Exchange, which is considered to be an established securities market. Although the matter is not free from doubt, based upon our current and expected cash flow and distributions on our outstanding equity interests, we believe that our common units represent more than 50.0% of the total value of all of our outstanding equity interests and therefore our equity interests should be “primarily traded” on an established securities market for purposes of the Publicly Traded Test.
In addition, we believe that we satisfied the listing and trading volume requirements described previously for 2014 and we expect that we will continue to satisfy such requirements for all future taxable years. Further, our partnership agreement provides that any person or group that beneficially owns more than 4.9% of any class of our units then outstanding generally will be treated as owning only 4.9% of such units for purposes of voting for directors. There can be no assurance that this limitation will be effective to eliminate the possibility that we will have any 5.0% unitholders for purposes of the Closely Held Block Exception. Nevertheless, we believe that our common units have not lost eligibility for the Section 883 Exemption as a result of the Closely Held Block Exception based upon the current ownership of our common units. Thus, although the matter is not free from doubt and is based upon our belief and expectations regarding our satisfaction of the factual requirements described above, we believe that we satisfied the Publicly Traded Test for 2014, and we expect that we will satisfy the Publicly Traded Test for the current and all future taxable years.
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The legal conclusions described above are based upon legal authorities that do not expressly contemplate an organizational structure such as ours. In particular, although we have elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we are organized as a limited partnership under Marshall Islands law. Accordingly, it is possible that the IRS would assert that our common units do not meet the “regularly traded” test. In addition, as described previously, our ability to satisfy the Publicly Traded Test depends upon factual matters that are subject to change. Should any of the factual requirements described above fail to be satisfied, we may not be able to satisfy the Publicly Traded Test. Furthermore, our board of directors could determine that it is in our best interests to take an action that would result in our not being able to satisfy the Publicly Traded Test in the future.
In the event we are not able to satisfy the Publicly Traded Test for a taxable year, we may be able to satisfy the Qualified Shareholder Stock Ownership Test for that year provided Höegh LNG owns more than 50.0% of the value of our outstanding equity interests for more than half of the days in such year, Höegh LNG itself met the Publicly Traded Test for such year and Höegh LNG provided us with certain information that we need in order to claim the benefits of the Qualified Shareholder Stock Ownership Test. Based on representations made by Höegh LNG with respect to its present share ownership, exchange-traded shares and trading volumes, we believe Höegh LNG presently meets the Publicly Traded Test, and Höegh LNG has agreed to provide the information referenced above. However, there can be no assurance that Höegh LNG will continue to meet the Publicly Traded Test or be able to provide the information we need to claim the benefits of the Section 883 Exemption under the Qualified Shareholder Ownership Test. Further, the relative values of our equity interests are uncertain and subject to change, and as a result Höegh LNG may not own more than 50.0% of the value of our outstanding equity interests for any future year. Consequently, there can be no assurance that we would meet the Qualified Shareholder Stock Ownership Test based upon the ownership by Höegh LNG of an indirect ownership interest in us.
The Net Basis Tax and Branch Profits Tax
If we earn U.S. Source International Transportation Income and the Section 883 Exemption does not apply, the U.S. source portion of such income (i.e., 50.0% of such income) would be treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (“Effectively Connected Income”) if we have a fixed place of business in the United States involved in the earning of U.S. Source International Transportation Income and substantially all of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income is attributable to regularly scheduled transportation or, in the case of vessel leasing income, is attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States. In addition, if we earn income from regasification or storage of LNG within the territorial seas of the United States, such income would be treated as Effectively Connected Income. Based on our current operations, substantially all of our potential U.S. Source International Transportation Income is not attributable to regularly scheduled transportation or is received pursuant to vessel leasing, and none of our regasification or storage activities occur within the territorial seas of the United States. As a result, we do not anticipate that any of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income or income earned from regasification or storage will be treated as Effectively Connected Income. However, there is no assurance that we will not earn income pursuant to regularly scheduled transportation or vessel leasing attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States (or earn income from regasification or storage activities within the territorial seas of the United States) in the future, which would result in such income being treated as Effectively Connected Income.
Any income we earn that is treated as Effectively Connected Income, net of applicable deductions, would be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax (imposed at rates of up to 35.0%). In addition, a 30.0% branch profits tax could be imposed on any income we earn that is treated as Effectively Connected Income, as determined after allowance for certain adjustments, and on certain interest paid or deemed paid by us in connection with the conduct of our U.S. trade or business.
Taxation of Gain from the Sale of a Vessel
On the sale of a vessel that has produced Effectively Connected Income, we could be subject to the net basis U.S. federal corporate income tax as well as branch profits tax with respect to the gain recognized up to the amount of certain prior deductions for depreciation that reduced Effectively Connected Income. Otherwise, we would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to gain realized on the sale of a vessel, provided the sale is considered to occur outside of the United States under U.S. federal income tax principles. In general, a sale of vessel will be considered to occur outside of the United States for this purpose if title to the vessel, and risk of loss with respect to the vessel, pass to the buyer outside the United States. It is expected that any sale of a vessel by us will be considered to occur outside of the United States.
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The 4.0% Gross Basis Tax
If the Section 883 Exemption does not apply and the net basis tax does not apply, we would be subject to a 4.0% U.S. federal income tax on the U.S. source portion of our gross U.S. Source International Transportation Income, without benefit of deductions. Under the sourcing rules described above under “—Taxation of Operating Income”, 50.0% of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income would be treated as being derived from U.S. sources.
Marshall Islands Taxation
Because we, our operating subsidiary and our controlled affiliates do not, and do not expect to conduct business or operations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, neither we nor our controlled affiliates will be subject to income, capital gains, profits or other taxation under current Marshall Islands law. As a result, distributions by our operating subsidiaries and our controlled affiliates to us will not be subject to Marshall Islands taxation.
Norway Taxation
The following is a discussion of the material Norwegian tax consequences applicable to us. This discussion is based upon existing legislation and current tax authority practice as of the date of this Annual Report. Changes in this legislation and practice may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. The following discussion does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the Norwegian tax considerations applicable to us.
As we do not have any Norwegian incorporated subsidiaries, there is no Norwegian taxation by virtue of being resident in Norway. We, our operating company, our joint ventures and our non-Norwegian incorporated subsidiaries do not contemplate to hold board meetings in Norway, to have a board consisting of a majority of Norwegian residents or to pass resolutions in any board with a majority of Norwegian resident directors.
Taxation of the Partnership and Non-Norwegian Incorporated Subsidiaries .
As we are a partnership and do not expect to be managed and controlled within Norway nor carrying out business in Norway, we do not expect to be subject to taxation in Norway. While certain of our joint ventures and non-Norwegian incorporated subsidiaries will enter into agreements with Höegh Norway and Höegh LNG Management, Norwegian incorporated and resident companies, for the provision of certain management and administrative services, we believe that the terms of these agreements will not result in us, our operating company or any of our non-Norwegian incorporated subsidiaries being treated as being resident in the Norway or having a permanent establishment or carrying out business in Norway. As a consequence, we expect that neither our profits, the profits of our operating company or any of our joint ventures and non-Norwegian incorporated subsidiaries will be subject to Norwegian corporation tax. We do not currently anticipate that any of our joint ventures and non-Norwegian incorporated subsidiaries will be controlled or managed in Norway or have a permanent establishment or otherwise carry on business in Norway. Accordingly, we do not anticipate that any of our joint ventures and non-Norwegian incorporated subsidiaries will be subject to Norwegian corporation tax.
United Kingdom Taxation
The following is a discussion of the material United Kingdom tax consequences applicable to us. This discussion is based upon existing legislation and current H.M. Revenue & Customs practice as of the date of this Annual Report. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. The following discussion does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the United Kingdom tax considerations applicable to us.
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Taxation of the Partnership and non-United Kingdom Incorporated Subsidiaries .
As we are a limited partnership and do not expect to be managed and controlled within the United Kingdom nor trade in the United Kingdom, we do not expect to be subject to taxation in the United Kingdom. While we and our operating company have entered into agreements with Höegh UK and Leif Höegh UK, companies incorporated and resident in the United Kingdom, for the provision of certain administrative services, we believe that the terms of these agreements will not result in us or our operating company being treated as being resident in the United Kingdom or having a permanent establishment or carrying on a trade in the United Kingdom. As a consequence, we expect that neither our profits nor the profits or our operating company will be subject to United Kingdom corporation tax. We do not currently anticipate that any of our other non-United Kingdom incorporated subsidiaries will be controlled or managed in the United Kingdom or have a permanent establishment or otherwise carry on a trade in the United Kingdom. Accordingly, we do not anticipate that any of our non-United Kingdom incorporated subsidiaries will be subject to United Kingdom corporation tax.
Taxation of United Kingdom Incorporated Subsidiaries .
Höegh UK is incorporated in the UK and we anticipate will be centrally managed and controlled in the United Kingdom and therefore will be regarded for the purposes of United Kingdom tax as being resident in the United Kingdom and liable to United Kingdom corporation tax on its worldwide income and chargeable gains. As of December 31, 2014, the generally applicable rate of United Kingdom corporation tax was 21.0% (reduced to 20% from April 1, 2015). Höegh UK (and any other UK resident subsidiaries which we acquire) will generally be liable to tax at this rate on their income, profits and gains after deducting expenses incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the business being undertaken. There is currently no United Kingdom withholding tax on distributions made by UK resident companies (such as Höegh UK).
Singapore Taxation
The following is a discussion of the material Singapore tax consequences applicable to us. This discussion is based upon existing legislation and current Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore practice as of the date of this Annual Report. Changes in the existing legislation and current practice may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. The following discussion does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the Singapore tax considerations applicable to us.
Taxation of the Partnership and non-Singapore Incorporated Subsidiaries .
As we are a limited partnership and do not expect to be managed and controlled within Singapore or carry on a trade or business in Singapore, we do not expect to be subject to taxation in Singapore. Similarly, as the non-Singapore incorporated subsidiaries are not managed and controlled within Singapore or carry on a trade or business in Singapore, the non-Singapore incorporated subsidiaries should not be subject to taxation in Singapore.
Taxation of the Singapore Incorporated Subsidiary .
Höegh Lampung is incorporated in Singapore, and we anticipate that it will be centrally managed and controlled in Singapore. As a result, Höegh Lampung will be regarded for the purposes of Singapore tax as being resident in Singapore and liable to Singapore corporate income tax on income accrued in or derived from Singapore or income received in Singapore from outside Singapore in respect of (i) gains or profits from any trade or business, (ii) income from investment such as dividends, interest and rental, (iii) royalties, premiums and any other profits from property and (iv) other gains of an income nature. The generally applicable rate of Singapore corporation tax is 17%. Höegh Lampung will generally be liable to tax at this rate on its income, profits and gains after deducting revenue expenses incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the business being undertaken.
Under Section 12(6) of the Income Tax Act, Chapter 134 of Singapore (“ITA”), the following payments are deemed to be derived from Singapore:
· | any interest, commission, fee or any other payment in connection with any loan or indebtedness or with any arrangement, management, guarantee, or service relating to any loan or indebtedness which is: |
· | borne, directly or indirectly, by a person resident in Singapore or a permanent establishment in Singapore (except in respect of any business carried on outside Singapore through a permanent establishment outside Singapore or any immovable property situated outside Singapore); or |
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· | deductible against any income accruing in or derived from Singapore; or |
· | any income derived from loans where the funds provided by such loans are brought into or used in Singapore. |
Payments falling within the two bullet points above and made by Höegh Lampung, would fall within Section 12(6) of the ITA. Unless exempted, such payments, where made to a person not known to Höegh Lampung to be a tax resident in Singapore, are generally subject to withholding tax in Singapore.
Indonesian Taxation
The following is a discussion of the material Indonesia tax consequences applicable to us. This discussion is based upon existing legislation and current Directorate General of Taxes of Indonesia practice as of the date of this Annual Report. Changes in the existing legislation and current practice may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. The following discussion does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the Indonesia tax considerations applicable to us.
Taxation of the Partnership and non-Indonesian Incorporated Subsidiaries
As we are a limited partnership and do not expect to be managed and controlled or domiciled within Indonesia or conduct business or carry out activities through a permanent establishment in Indonesia, we do not expect to be subject to taxation in the Indonesia.
We do not currently anticipate that any of our other non-Indonesian incorporated subsidiaries will be controlled, managed or domiciled in Indonesia or conduct business or carry out activities through a permanent establishment in Indonesia. Accordingly, we do not anticipate that any of our non-Indonesian incorporated subsidiaries will be subject to Indonesian corporate income tax.
Taxation of Operating Income
PT Hoegh’s main business activity in Indonesia is to provide the lease, operation, and maintenance of the PGN FSRU Lampung to PGN. As PT Hoegh was established in Indonesia, it is a resident taxpayer. Under Law No. 36 Year 2008 regarding Income Tax (“Income Tax Law” or “ITL”), PT Hoegh is subject to Corporate Income Tax (“CIT”) of 25% on taxable income derived from the business activities performed. Therefore, any income generated by PT Hoegh from PGN in regards to the lease, operation, and maintenance of the PGN FSRU Lampung is subject to CIT of 25% (after deductions for allowable expenses in accordance with the ITL provisions). PT Hoegh’s income would include any gain derived from the sale of the Mooring to PGN, as governed by the LOM agreement.
Taxable income is calculated on the basis of accounting profits as modified by certain tax adjustments. Any tax loss can be carried forward for a maximum period of 5 years. Loss carry back is not permitted in Indonesia.
For tax purposes, costs incurred in relation to the acquisition of fixed assets are deductible (through depreciation) over a useful life of four to twenty years depending on the type of the fixed assets. In this regard, although the commercial useful life of a fixed asset is more than twenty years, such asset shall only be depreciated for a maximum of twenty years for tax purposes.
Depreciation commences in the month when expenditures are incurred. The annual depreciation can be calculated either using the straight line method or double declining balance method.
The ITL taxes the world-wide income of Indonesian tax residents; however, we do not anticipate that PT Hoegh will generate income outside of Indonesia.
Taxation of the Sales of the PGN FSRU Lampung to PGN
PGN was granted an option to purchase the PGN FSRU Lampung from PT Hoegh at specified prices as set out in the PGN FSRU Lampung Time Charter. Any gain arising from the sale of the FSRU (i.e. sales price less tax book value) will be subject to CIT at the rate of 25% to PT Hoegh Lampung.
Withholding Taxes (“WHT”)
PT Hoegh Lampung is required to withhold:
· | WHT under Article 23/26 of the ITL at the following rates: |
· | 2% on payments for rent, fees for technical, management and other services to another resident taxpayer; |
· | 15% on payments of dividends, interest and royalties to another resident taxpayer; and |
· | 20% (or a reduced tax treaty rate) on payments relating to services, dividends, interest and royalties to a non-resident taxpayer. The reduced tax treaty rate is also subject to the availability of the Certificate of Domicile of the counter party in the form prescribed by the Indonesian tax regulations. |
· | WHT under Article 4(2) of the ITL at the rate of 10% on domestic rentals of land and/or buildings and 3% to 6% on payments for domestic construction services. |
· | WHT under Article 15 of the ITL at the rate of 1.2% on payments related to domestic shipping services. |
Salaries and wages paid to resident employees are subject to Employee Income Tax (“EIT”) under Article 21 of the ITL at progressive rates of maximum 30%. Salaries paid to non-resident employees are subject to EIT under Article 26 of the ITL at the rate of 20% from the gross salary amount. PT Hoegh is required to withhold and remit EIT on monthly basis.
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Value Added Tax (“VAT”)
Any fees charged by PT Hoegh for services provided to PGN are subject to VAT at 10%. Such VAT on revenue is called Output VAT. The Output VAT can be offset with the VAT that PT Hoegh pays for the procurement of goods and/or services (“Input VAT”). If the Output VAT exceeds the Input VAT in a particular month, the balance is required to be settled by PT Hoegh. However, if the Input VAT exceeds the Output VAT, the VAT overpayment can be carried forward to the following month or a refund can be requested at year end.
VAT of 10% would also be charged on the sale of the FSRU to PGN, if applicable.
Pursuant to the charter for the PGN FSRU Lampung , PGN will reimburse us for all applicable Indonesian taxes.
We are a publicly traded limited partnership formed on April 28, 2014.
The diagram below depicts our simplified organizational and ownership structure.
We listed our common units on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) in August 2014 under the ticker symbol “HMLP.”
We were formed under the law of the Marshall Islands and maintain our principal executive headquarters at Wessex House, 5th Floor, 45 Reid Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda.
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A full list of our significant operating and vessel-owning subsidiaries is included in Exhibit 8.1.
D. Property, Plant and Equipment
Other than the vessels in our initial fleet, we do not have any material property.
Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments
Not applicable.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with “Item 3.A. Selected Financial Data” and “Item 4. Information on the Partnership” and the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements and related notes of Höegh LNG Partners LP and the combined financial statements and related notes of our joint ventures owning the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , each included elsewhere in this Annual Report. We account for our equity interests in our joint ventures owning the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann as equity method investments in our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. Among other things, those financial statements include more detailed information regarding the basis of presentation for the following information. Such financial statements, including related notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are presented in U.S. Dollars.
The following discussion assumes that our business was operated as a separate entity prior to our IPO on August 12, 2014. The combined carve-out financial statements prior to our IPO have been carved out of the consolidated financial statements of Höegh LNG, which owned our interests in Höegh Lampung, PT Hoegh (the owner of the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring) and our joint ventures, SRV Joint Gas Ltd. (the owner of the GDF Suez Neptune ) and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (the owner the GDF Suez Cape Ann ). Prior to the closing of the IPO, Höegh LNG contributed to us all of its equity interests in and promissory notes due to it from each of the entities owning the GDF Suez Neptune , the GDF Suez Cape Ann and the PGN FSRU Lampung (the “initial fleet”).The transfer was recorded at Höegh LNG’s consolidated book values, as converted to U.S. GAAP.
Our financial position, results of operations and cash flows reflected in the consolidated combined carve-out financial statements include all expenses allocable to our business, but may not be indicative of those that would have been achieved had we operated as a separate public entity for all periods presented or of future results.
Overview
We were formed on April 28, 2014 as a growth-oriented limited partnership by Höegh LNG, to own, operate and acquire FSRUs, LNG carriers and other LNG infrastructure assets under long-term charters, which we define as charters of five or more years.
On August 12, 2014, we completed our IPO. At the closing of the IPO, we sold 11,040,000 common units to the public for net proceeds, after deduction of underwriters’ discount and offering expenses, of $203.5 million. We also issued 2,116,060 common units and 13,156,060 subordinated units, representing approximately 58.0% of the limited partner interest in the Partnership, and 100% of the incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”) to Höegh LNG. A wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG owns a non-economic general partner interest in us.
Our Fleet
Our initial fleet consists of interests in the following vessels:
· | a 50% interest in the GDF Suez Neptune , an FSRU built in 2009 that is currently operating under a time charter with GDF Suez, a subsidiary of GDF Suez S.A., a French publicly listed, government-backed, electric utility company, that expires in 2029, with an option to extend for up to two additional periods of five years each; |
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· | a 50% interest in the GDF Suez Cape Ann , an FSRU built in 2010 that is currently operating under a time charter with GDF Suez that expires in 2030, with an option to extend for up to two additional periods of five years each; and |
· | a 100% economic interest in the PGN FSRU Lampung , an FSRU built in 2014 that is currently operating under a time charter with PGN, a subsidiary of an Indonesian publicly listed, government-controlled, gas and energy company that constructs gas pipelines and infrastructure and distributes and transmits natural gas to industrial, commercial and household users, that expires in 2034, with options to extend either for an additional 10 years or for up to two additional periods of five years each. |
For a description of our joint ventures and our shareholder agreements, please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Shareholder Agreements.”
Pursuant to the omnibus agreement we entered into with Höegh LNG, our general partner, and our operating company at the closing of our IPO, we have the right to purchase from Höegh LNG all or a portion of its interests in an additional newbuilding FSRU, the Independence, within 24 months after acceptance of such vessel by her charterer, subject to reaching an agreement with Höegh LNG regarding the purchase price and other terms in accordance with the provisions of the omnibus agreement and any rights ABKN has under the related time charter. We may exercise this option at one or more times during such 24-month period.
In addition, pursuant to the omnibus agreement, we have a right to purchase from Höegh LNG, any FSRU or LNG carrier operating under a charter of five years or more, in accordance with the provisions set forth in the omnibus agreement. In the fourth quarter of 2014, Höegh LNG secured charters of five or more years for two additional newbuilding FSRUs, the Höegh Gallant and the Höegh Grace and placed an order for an additional FSRU as follows:
· | On November 1, 2014, Höegh LNG signed a contract for a minimum term of five years with Sociedad Portuaria El Cayao S.A. E.S.P. (SPEC) to provide an FSRU (the Höegh Grace ) to service a new LNG import terminal in Colombia. The contract is expected to commence in the middle of 2016. |
· | On November 3, 2014, Höegh LNG signed a five-year contract with the government-owned EGAS of Egypt to provide the FSRU Höegh Gallant commencing in the first half of 2015. |
· | In November 2014, Höegh LNG placed an order for an additional FSRU newbuilding ( Hull no. 2552 ) to be constructed by HHI with an expected delivery in the first quarter of 2017. No charter has yet been agreed to with respect to this vessel. |
We will have the right to purchase the Höegh Gallant , the Höegh Grace and, assuming a charter of five or more years is secured for Hull no. 2552 , Hull no. 2552, from Höegh LNG upon acceptance of such vessels by their respective charterers pursuant to the terms of the omnibus agreement. However, there can be no assurance that we will acquire any vessels from Höegh LNG.
Our Charters
We and our joint ventures generate revenues by chartering the vessels in our initial fleet under long-term time charters. As of December 31, 2014, the average remaining term of the time charters for the vessels in our initial fleet was approximately 16.7 years, excluding the exercise of any options, and 24.9 years, assuming the exercise of all options.
Under our existing charters, the rate charged for the services of each vessel, which we call the “hire rate,” is paid monthly in advance or based on the terms of the charter. Under the time charters, hire payments may be reduced if the vessel does not perform to certain of her specifications, such as the amount of fuel consumed to power the vessel under normal circumstances exceeds a guaranteed amount.
Moreover, when a vessel is “off-hire”—or not available for service—the customer generally is not required to pay any hire rate, and the vessel owner is responsible for all costs. Prolonged off-hire may lead to termination of the time charter.
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Under the time charters for the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , the hire rate includes the following three cost components:
· | Fixed Element . The fixed element is a fixed per day fee providing for ownership costs and all remuneration due to the vessel owner for use of the vessel and the provision of time charter services. |
· | Variable (Operating Cost) Element . The variable (operating cost) element is a fixed per day fee providing for the operating costs of the vessel, which consists of (i) a cost pass-through sub-element, which covers the crew, insurance, consumables, miscellaneous services, spares and damage deductible costs and is subject to annual adjustment and (ii) an indexed sub-element, which covers management and is subject to annual adjustment for changes in labor costs and the size of the fleet under management. |
· | Optional (Capitalized Equipment Cost) Element . The optional (capitalized equipment cost) element consists of (i) costs associated with modifications to, changes in specifications of, structural changes in or new equipment for the vessel that become compulsory for the continued operation of the vessel by reason of new class requirements or national or international regulations coming into effect after the date of the time charter, subject to specified caps and (ii) costs associated with any new equipment or machinery that the owner and charterer have agreed should be capitalized. Such costs are distributed over the remaining term of the time charter. |
Under the GDF Suez Neptune and GDF Suez Cape Ann time charters, a vessel generally will be deemed off-hire if she is not available for the charterer’s use for a specific amount of time due to, among other things:
· | failure of an inspection that prevents the vessel from performing normal commercial operations; |
· | scheduled drydocking that exceeds allowances; |
· | the vessel’s inability to discharge regasified LNG at normal performance; |
· | requisition of the vessel; or |
· | the vessel owner’s failure to maintain the vessel in compliance with her specifications and contractual standards or to provide the required crew. |
The hire rate under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter consists of the following three cost components:
· | Capital Element . The capital element is a fixed per day fee, which is intended to cover remuneration due to the vessel owner for use of the vessel and the provision of time charter services. |
· | Operating and Maintenance Element . The operating and maintenance element is a fixed per day fee, subject to annual adjustment, which is intended to cover the operating costs of the vessel, including manning costs, maintenance and repair costs, consumables and stores costs, insurance costs, management and operational costs, miscellaneous costs and alterations not required by Det Norske Veritas GL to maintain class or the IMO. |
· | Tax Element . The tax element is a fixed per day fee, equal to the vessel owner’s reasonable estimate of the tax liability for that charter year divided by the number of days in such charter year. If the vessel owner receives a tax refund or credit, the vessel owner will pay such amount to the charterer. Similarly, if any audit required by the time charter reveals that the vessel owner’s reasonable estimate of the tax liability varied from the actual tax liability, the vessel owner or the charterer, as applicable, will pay to the other party the difference in such amount. |
Under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, the vessel generally will be deemed off-hire if she is not available for the charterer’s use for a specified amount of time due to, among other things:
· | drydocking that exceeds allowances; |
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· | the vessel failing to satisfy specified operational minimum requirements, except as a result of a Lampung Charterer Risk Event (as defined under “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters—Item 4.B. PGN FSRU Lampung Time Charter—Performance Standards”) or an event of force majeure; or |
· | the vessel owner’s failure to satisfy the management warranties described under “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters— PGN FSRU Lampung Time Charter—Performance Standards.” |
For more information on our time charters, please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters.”
Impact of Our Interests in Joint Ventures on Our Financial Information
Two of the three vessels in our initial fleet are owned by our joint ventures, each of which is owned 50% by us. Please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Shareholder Agreements.” Under applicable accounting guidance, we do not consolidate the financial results of our joint ventures into our financial results, but we record our joint venture results using the equity method of accounting. The following provides a description of the impact of our interests in our joint ventures on select components of our statements of income in our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
· | Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Joint Ventures . Consists of our 50% share of the combined net income of our joint ventures. The net income of our joint ventures gives effect to interest expense associated with payments on the shareholder loans to the owners of our joint ventures as described below. Equity in earnings of joint ventures also includes the unrealized gains or losses on adjusting the interest rate swap contracts to fair value in each period, which can result in significant volatility between years. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, there was no income tax expense for our joint ventures. The equity in earnings of joint ventures is a “one line” consolidation of the results of our joint ventures. Therefore, our joint venture’s revenues and expenses are not included in other lines of the consolidated and combined carve-out income statement. |
· | Interest Income . Interest income represents our share of interest income accrued on the advances to our joint ventures (shareholder loans). The shareholder loans were originally issued by Höegh LNG to our joint ventures and were transferred to our operating company in connection with the IPO. For a description of the shareholder loans, please read “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Activities—Joint Ventures Debt—Loans Due to Owners (Shareholder Loans).” |
The following provides a description of the impact of our interests in our joint ventures on selected components of our balance sheets in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
· | Advances to Joint Ventures . Represents our share of the advances to our joint ventures (shareholder loans). Please read note 13 to our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. |
· | Investment in (Accumulated Losses) of Joint Ventures . Represents our share of the net liabilities of our joint ventures. Our joint ventures entered into interest rate swap contracts, which historically have had unrealized mark-to-market losses on the interest rate swap contracts recorded as derivative financial instrument liabilities on the combined balance sheets. As a result, the liabilities exceed the assets for our joint ventures’ combined balance sheets and result in us having a net liability balance for our investment in our joint ventures. Please read note 16 to our audited historical consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. The investment in (accumulated losses) of our joint ventures is a “one line” consolidation of the balance sheet of our joint ventures. Therefore, our joint ventures’ assets and liabilities are not included in other lines of the historical consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheet. |
We derive cash flows from the operations of our joint ventures from interest and principal payments on our share of the shareholder loans issued to such joint ventures. Under the terms of the shareholders’ agreement, the payments are prioritized over any dividend payment to the owners. Our joint ventures have not paid any dividends to date. The payments of principal and interest are made based upon available cash after servicing our joint ventures’ long-term bank debt. Therefore, the payments of interest have historically been less than interest income accrued for the period. The quarterly payments include a payment of interest for the first month of the quarter and interest is accrued for the last two months of the quarter for repayment in the latter years of the loans The following provides a description of the impacts of our interests in our joint ventures on select components of our statement of cash flows in our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements:
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· | Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities . Receipt of cash payments for interest income on the shareholder loans is reflected in cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, such payments amounted to $0.6 million, $0.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively. All other cash flows used in investing activities relate to our other activities. |
· | Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities . Receipts from repayment of principal of advances to joint ventures represent principal repayments paid by our joint ventures to us on its shareholder loans. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, such payments amounted to $6.7 million, $5.5 million and $6.0 million, respectively. All other cash flows used in investing activities relate to our other activities. |
Please read our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements and the combined financial statements of our joint ventures included elsewhere in this Annual Report for more detailed information.
Historical Employment of Our Fleet
The following table describes the operations of the vessels in our fleet.
Vessel |
Description of Historical Operations |
|
GDF Suez Neptune | Delivered in November 2009. Has operated under a long-term time charter with GDF Suez, which commenced on delivery. | |
GDF Suez Cape Ann | Delivered in June 2010. Has operated under a long-term time charter with GDF Suez, which commenced on delivery. | |
PGN FSRU Lampung | Delivered in April 2014. Has operated under a long-term time charter with PGN, which commenced on July 21, 2014. |
Items You Should Consider When Evaluating Our Historical Financial Performance and Assessing Our Future Prospects
You should consider the following facts when evaluating our historical results of operations and assessing our future prospects:
· | The size of our fleet continues to change . Our historical results of operations reflect changes in the size and composition of our fleet due to certain vessel deliveries. For example, the PGN FSRU Lampung was delivered from the shipyard in April 2014 and commenced operations in July 2014 and, as such, has had limited historical operations. In addition, pursuant to the omnibus agreement, we will have the right to purchase from Höegh LNG any FSRU or LNG carrier operating under a charter of five or more years, and we will have the right to purchase from Höegh LNG all or a portion of its interests in the Independence , if her purchase price is agreed upon in accordance with the provisions of the omnibus agreement. Furthermore, we may grow through the acquisition in the future of additional vessels as part of our growth strategy. |
· | We no longer own the Mooring and will not have construction contract revenue and expenses. Our historical results of operations include revenues and expenses related to the construction of the Mooring, an offshore installation that is used to moor the PGN FSRU Lampung . The construction of the Mooring was 100% complete in the fourth quarter of 2014 and the Mooring was transferred to the charterer. We do not expect to engage in the construction of moorings in the next few years. Höegh LNG may deliver mooring solutions prior to us acquiring FSRUs under the omnibus agreement. However, when time charters expire on existing vessels or if we acquire vessels from third parties, we may offer construction of moorings to new charterers. |
· | Upon completion of the IPO, we have increased interest income . At the closing of the IPO, we lent $140 million to Höegh LNG in exchange for a note bearing interest at a rate of 5.88% per annum, which is repayable on demand or which we can elect to utilize as part of the purchase consideration in the event we purchase all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in the Independence . Interest income attributable to the note is included in our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements subsequent to the IPO and will continue until the demand note is utilized or repaid. |
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· | Our historical results of operations are affected by significant gains and losses relating to derivative transactions . Our historical results of operations reflect significant gains and losses relating to interest rate swap contracts that impact our equity in earnings for our joint ventures and were entered into by our joint ventures. On March 17, 2014, we entered into interest rate swap contracts related to the Lampung facility (as defined below). The interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, however, certain amortization and the ineffective portion of the hedge impacts the results of operations. Refer to note 18 of our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. We may enter into additional (i) interest rate swap contracts to economically hedge all or a portion of our exposure to floating interest rates and (ii) foreign currency swap contracts to economically hedge risk from foreign currency fluctuations. |
· | Our historical results of operations reflect allocated administrative costs that may not be indicative of future administrative costs . The administrative costs included in our historical results of operations prior to the IPO have been determined by allocating certain of Höegh LNG’s administrative costs, after deducting costs directly charged to Höegh LNG’s subsidiaries for services provided by the administrative staff, to us principally based on the size of our fleet (including newbuildings) in relation to the size of Höegh LNG’s fleet (including newbuildings). These allocated costs may not be indicative of our future administrative costs. In connection with the IPO, we and our operating company have entered into an administrative services agreement with Höegh UK and our operating company has entered into an administrative services agreement with Leif Höegh UK, pursuant to which Höegh UK and Leif Höegh UK provide us and our operating company with certain administrative services. Höegh UK also subcontracts certain of the administrative services provided under its administrative services agreement to Höegh Norway and Leif Höegh UK. Subsequent to the IPO, we reimburse Höegh UK and Leif Höegh UK, and Höegh UK reimburses Höegh Norway and Leif Höegh UK, for the reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of the services under such administrative services agreements. In addition, Höegh UK pays to Höegh Norway (and, with respect to certain services, Leif Höegh UK) a service fee in U.S. Dollars equal to 5.0% of the costs and expenses incurred in connection with providing services. |
· | We will incur additional general and administrative expense as a publicly traded limited partnership . Subsequent to our IPO in August 2014, we began to incur costs of being a publicly traded partnership as part of our general and administrative expenses. These costs include costs for implementing internal controls, preparing SEC filings including associated auditor and legal fees, holding the unitholder meetings, travelling for investor relations meetings, registrar and transfer agent fees, and incremental director and officer liability insurance costs and directors’ compensation. |
· | Our results of operations are affected by accounting for the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter as a direct financing lease . When the PGN FSRU Lampung began operating under her charter, we recorded a receivable (net investment in direct financing lease) and removed the PGN FSRU Lampung from our balance sheet. The lease element of time charter payments under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter is split between revenues and the repayment of part of the receivable. The revenues are recorded using the effective interest method, which provides for a constant rate of return on the net investment. As a result, the revenues will decline over time as more of the time charter payments are treated as a repayment of the receivable. However, the cash flows from the PGN FSRU Lampung are not impacted by the accounting treatment. In addition, since the vessel is reclassified to the net investment in direct financing lease on the balance sheet, there is no charge for depreciation expense. |
Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
We believe the principal factors that will affect our future results of operations include:
· | the number of vessels in our fleet; |
· | our ability to successfully employ our vessels at economically attractive hire rates as long-term charters expire or are otherwise terminated; |
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· | our ability to maintain strong relationships with our existing customers and to increase the number of customer relationships; |
· | our ability to acquire additional vessels, including the Independence ; |
· | the levels of demand for FSRU, LNG carrier services and other LNG infrastructure; |
· | the hire rate earned by our vessels, unscheduled off-hire days and the level of our vessel operating expenses; |
· | the effective and efficient technical and maritime management and crewing of our vessels; |
· | economic, regulatory, political and governmental conditions that affect the floating LNG industry; |
· | interest rate changes; |
· | mark-to-market changes in interest rate swap contracts and foreign currency swap contracts; |
· | foreign currency exchange gains and losses; |
· | our access to capital required to acquire additional vessels and/or to implement our business strategy; |
· | increases in crewing and insurance costs; |
· | the level of debt and the related interest expense; and |
· | the level of any distribution on our common units. |
Please read “Item 3.D. Risk Factors” for a discussion of certain risks inherent in our business.
Important Financial and Operational Terms and Concepts
We use a variety of financial and operational terms and concepts when analyzing our and our joint ventures’ performance. These include the following:
Time Charter Revenues . Revenues include fees for the right to use FSRUs for a stated period of time that meet the criteria for lease accounting, in addition to providing a time charter service element. Time charter revenues consist of charter hire payments under time charters, fees for providing time charter services, fees for reimbursement for actual vessel operating expenses and drydocking costs borne by the charterer on a pass-through basis, as well as fees for the reimbursement of certain vessel modifications or other costs borne by the charterer. The lease element of time charters that are accounted for as operating leases and any upfront payments for amounts reimbursed by the charterer are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the charter. The lease element of time charters that are accounted for as direct financing leases is recognized over the charter term using the effective interest rate method and is included in time charter revenues. The PGN FSRU Lampung time charter is accounted for as a financial lease. Under a direct financing lease, we record a receivable (called a net investment in direct financing lease) and remove the related FSRU from our balance sheet. The lease element of time charter payments is split between revenues and the repayment of part of the receivable. The revenues are recorded so there is a constant rate of return on the net investment. As a result, the revenue shows a declining profile over time as more of the time charter payments are treated as a repayment of the receivable. However, the cash flows from time charters are not impacted by the accounting treatment. In addition, since the FSRU is removed from the balance sheet, there is no charge for depreciation expense. Revenues for the lease element of time charters are not recognized for days the FSRUs are off-hire.
Fees for providing time charter services and reimbursements for actual vessel operating expenses are recognized as revenues as services are performed. Revenues for the time charter services element are not recognized for days that the FSRUs are off-hire.
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Upfront payments of fees for reimbursement of drydocking costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the period to the next drydocking.
Under time charters, revenue is not recognized during days a vessel is off-hire. Under time charters, we are responsible for providing the crewing and other services related to the vessel’s operations, the cost of which is included in the daily hire rate, except when off-hire. Revenues are affected by hire rates and the number of days a vessel operates.
Voyage Expenses . Under our time charters, the charterer typically pays the voyage expenses. We, as vessel owner, are responsible for any voyage expenses incurred during periods of off-hire under the time charter.
Vessel Operating Expenses . Vessel operating expenses include crewing, repairs and maintenance, insurance, stores, lube oil, communication expenses and management fees. Vessel operating expenses are paid by the vessel owner under time charters and are recognized when incurred.
Off-hire . Under our time charters, when the vessel is off-hire, or not available for service, the customer generally is not required to pay the hire rate, and the vessel owner is responsible for all costs. Prolonged off-hire may lead to a termination of the time charter. A vessel generally will be deemed off-hire if there is a loss of time due to, among other things, operational deficiencies; unscheduled drydocking for repairs, maintenance or inspection that exceeds a specified period; equipment breakdowns; delays due to accidents, crewing strikes, certain vessel detentions or similar problems; or the vessel owner’s failure to maintain the vessel in compliance with her specifications and contractual standards or to provide the required crew. We have obtained loss of hire insurance to protect us against loss of income in the event one of our vessels cannot be employed due to damage that is covered under the terms of our hull and machinery insurance. Under our loss of hire policy, our insurer will pay us the hire rate agreed in respect of each vessel for each day, in excess of 20 deductible days, for the time that the vessel is out of service as a result of damage, for a maximum of 180 days.
Drydocking . We must periodically have surveys, class renewals and drydocks of our vessels for inspection, repairs and maintenance and any modifications required to comply with industry certification or governmental requirements. For each of the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann after the modifications and first drydock completed in 2012 and 2015, respectively, the vessels are on an approved extended drydock interval. However, the class survey intervals are unchanged. The intermediate survey is carried out after 2.5 years and then every 5 years thereafter. A class renewal survey is conducted every five years. During the first 15 years of operation, the vessels have an approved extended drydock interval which allows them to be drydocked every 7.5 years. After the vessel reaches 15 years old, it must be drydocked every 5 years. Subject to the charterers’ requirements for Condition Assessment Programme (CAP), the drydocking schedule may be changed to every immediate and class renewals, which would require drydocking every 2.5 years. GDF Suez has subchartered the GDF Suez Cape Ann , which resulted in some modifications to the vessel. As a result, certain drydocking procedures were completed at the same time and in advance of the normally scheduled drydocking. As a result, the next scheduled drydocking for the GDF Suez Cape Ann is in 2017. The GDF Suez Neptune started modification and drydocking procedures in March 2015 which were completed in April 2015. The GDF Suez Neptune remained on hire during the drydocking. As a result, the next drydocking for the GDF Suez Neptune is expected to be in 2022. We do not anticipate drydocking the PGN FSRU Lampung for at least 20 years as certain inspections can be done without drydocking. Each of our time charters requires the charterer to pay the hire rate for up to a specified number of days of scheduled drydocking and reimburse us for anticipated drydocking costs. For vessels operating on time charters, we capitalize the costs directly associated with the classification and regulatory requirements for inspection of the vessels or improving the vessel’s operating efficiency, functionality or safety during drydocking. We expense costs related to routine repairs and maintenance performed during drydocking or as otherwise incurred. The number of drydockings undertaken in a given period and the nature of the work performed determine the level of drydocking expenditures.
Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation on vessels and equipment is calculated on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of 35 years. Drydocking cost is amortized on a straight-line basis over the period until the next planned drydocking takes place. For vessels that are newly built or acquired, an element of the cost of the vessel is allocated initially to a drydock component and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period until the next planned drydocking. The estimated economic life for our newbuilding FSRUs is 40 years.
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Impairment of Long-Lived Asset . Vessels, equipment and newbuildings subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset or asset group to be tested for possible impairment, we first compare the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the long-lived asset is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment charge is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds its fair value.
Interest Income and Interest Expense . Interest income principally includes interest income on advances to our joint ventures and demand note from Höegh LNG. Interest expense (including amortization of debt issuance cost) principally relate to financing of the PGN FSRU Lampung and, prior to July 3, 2014, the construction contract expense for the Mooring.
Customers
For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, total revenues in the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of income are from PGN, a subsidiary of PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, an Indonesian publicly listed, government-controlled, gas and energy company that constructs gas pipelines and infrastructure and distributes and transmits natural gas to industrial, commercial and household users. With the commencement of the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter in July 2014, we also have time charter revenue from PGN. Revenues included as a component of equity in earnings of joint ventures are from GDF Suez and accounted for 100% of our joint ventures’ time charter revenues. GDF Suez is a subsidiary of GDF Suez S.A., a French publicly listed, government-backed, electric utility company.
Inflation and Cost Increases
Inflation has not had a significant impact on operating expenses, including crewing costs, for the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann . FSRUs are specialized vessels, and there has been demand for experienced crew, which has led to higher crew costs. The GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann time charters provide for operating cost pass-through, which means that we will be able to pass on the cost increases to the charterer.
A portion of the operating cost for the PGN FSRU Lampung will increase for inflation in Indonesia, including part of the crew and certain supplies. Indonesian inflation has ranged from approximately 3.5% to over 8.0% in recent years. The PGN FSRU Lampung time charter provides that the operating cost component of the hire rate, established at the beginning of the time charter, will increase by a fixed percentage per annum for the first five years and be reset each fifth year based on the average increase over the previous five years, which is expected to mitigate to some extent cost increases.
Insurance
Hull and Machinery Insurance . We have obtained hull and machinery insurance on all our vessels against marine and war risks, which include the risks of damage to our vessels, including claims arising from collisions with other vessels or contact with jetties or wharves, salvage or towing costs and also insure against actual or constructive total loss of any of our vessels. However, our insurance policies contain deductible amounts for which we will be responsible.
Loss of Hire Insurance . We have also obtained loss of hire insurance to protect us against loss of income in the event the vessel cannot be employed due to damage that is covered under the terms of our hull and machinery insurance. Under our loss of hire policy, our insurer will pay us the hire rate agreed in respect of each vessel for each day, in excess of 20 deductible days, for the time that the vessel is out of service as a result of damage, for a maximum of 180 days.
Protection and Indemnity Insurance . Protection and indemnity insurance, which covers our third-party legal liabilities in connection with our shipping or floating regasification activities, is provided by a mutual protection and indemnity association (a “P&I club”). This includes third-party liability and other expenses related to the injury or death of crewmembers, passengers and other third-party persons, loss or damage to cargo and other damage to other third-party property, including pollution arising from oil or other substances, and other related costs, including wreck removal.
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Our current protection and indemnity insurance coverage for pollution is limited to $3.07 billion for all liabilities, except for pollution, which is limited to $1 billion per vessel per incident. We are a member of the Gard P&I Club, which is one of the 13 P&I clubs that comprise the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs (the “International Group”). Members of the International Group insure approximately 90% of the world’s commercial tonnage, and they have entered into a pooling agreement to reinsure each P&I club’s liabilities. P&I clubs provide the basic layer of insurance, which is currently $9 million. For members of the International Group, the International Group provides the next layer of insurance, covering liability between $9 million and $30 million. For liabilities above $30 million, the International Group has one of the world’s largest reinsurance contracts, with the maximum liability per accident or occurrence currently set at $3 billion. As a member of the Gard P&I Club, we are subject to a call for additional premiums based on the clubs’ claims record, as well as the claims record of all other members of the P&I clubs comprising the International Group. However, our P&I club has reinsured the risk of additional premium calls to limit our additional exposure. This reinsurance is subject to a cap, and there is the risk that the full amount of the additional call would not be covered by this reinsurance.
The insurers providing the covers for hull and machinery, loss of hire and protection and indemnity have confirmed that they will consider the FSRUs as vessels for the purpose of providing insurance.
Environmental indemnifications. Under the omnibus agreement, Höegh LNG will indemnify the Partnership until August 12, 2019 against certain environmental and toxic tort liabilities with respect to the assets contributed or sold to the Partnership to the extent arising prior to the time they were contributed or sold to the Partnership. Liabilities resulting from a change in law are excluded from the environmental indemnity. There is an aggregate cap of $5.0 million on the amount of indemnity coverage provided by Höegh LNG for environmental and toxic tort liabilities. No claim may be made unless the aggregate dollar amount of all claims exceeds $500,000, in which case Höegh LNG is liable for claims only to the extent such aggregate amount exceeds $500,000.
Other indemnifications. Under the omnibus agreement, Höegh LNG will also indemnify the Partnership for losses:
· | related to certain defects in title to the assets contributed or sold to the Partnership and any failure to obtain, prior to the time they were contributed to the Partnership, certain consents and permits necessary to conduct the business, which liabilities arise within three years after the closing of the IPO; |
· | related to certain tax liabilities attributable to the operation of the assets contributed or sold to the Partnership prior to the time they were contributed or sold; |
· | in the event that the Partnership does not receive hire rate payments under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter for the period commencing on August 12, 2014 through the earlier of (i) the date of acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung or (ii) the termination of such time charter. The Partnership was indemnified by Höegh LNG for the September 2014 and October 2014 invoices (refer to note 20 of our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements); |
· | with respect to any obligation to pay liquidated damages to PGN under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter for failure to deliver the PGN FSRU Lampung by the scheduled delivery date set forth in the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter; and |
· | with respect to any non-budgeted expenses (including repair costs) incurred in connection with the PGN FSRU Lampung project (including the construction of the Mooring) occurring prior to the date of acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung pursuant to the time charter. The Partnership filed a claim for indemnification with respect to non-budgeted expenses (including repair costs) of $3.1 million and warranty provision of $2.0 million during the first quarter of 2015 (refer to note 20 of our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements). |
Please refer to “A. Operating Results—Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared with the Year ended December 31, 2013—PGN Claims including Delay Liquidated Damages” for additional discussion.
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The following table summarizes our operating results for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Statement of Income Data: | ||||||||||||
Time Charter Revenue | $ | 20,918 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Construction contract revenue | 49,277 | 50,362 | 5,512 | |||||||||
Other revenue | — | 511 | — | |||||||||
Total revenues | 70,195 | 50,873 | 5,512 | |||||||||
Voyage expenses | (1,139 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Vessel operating expenses | (5,297 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Construction contract expenses | (35,384 | ) | (43,272 | ) | (5,512 | ) | ||||||
Administrative expenses | (11,656 | ) | (8,043 | ) | (3,185 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (1,317 | ) | (8 | ) | — | |||||||
Total operating expenses | (54,793 | ) | (51,323 | ) | (8,697 | ) | ||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures | (5,330 | ) | 40,228 | 5,007 | ||||||||
Operating income | 10,072 | 39,778 | 1,822 | |||||||||
Interest income | 4,959 | 2,122 | 2,481 | |||||||||
Interest expense | (9,590 | ) | (352 | ) | (114 | ) | ||||||
Loss on derivative financial instrument | (161 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Other items, net | (2,366 | ) | (1,021 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||
Income before tax | (2,914 | ) | 40,527 | 4,188 | ||||||||
Income tax expense | (505 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 2,409 | $ | 40,527 | $ | 4,188 |
Significant Developments in 2014
The following sets forth highlights of our operations for the year ended December 31, 2014:
· | Total revenues were $70.2 million, including $20.9 million of time charter revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $50.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013; |
· | Operating income was $10.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $39.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013; operating income was impacted by unrealized losses on derivative instruments on the Partnership’s share of equity in earnings of joint ventures for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with gains for the year ended December 31, 2013; |
· | Unrealized losses on derivative instruments were $11.9 million on the Partnership’s share of equity in earnings of joint ventures for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with gains of $35.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013; |
· | Net income was $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $40.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013; net income was also impacted by changes in the unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments on the Partnership’s share of equity in earnings of joint ventures between 2013 and 2014; |
· | Acceptance by PGN was achieved on the PGN FSRU Lampung effective October 30, 2014 after commissioning delays: |
· | I ndemnity claims were made to Höegh LNG pursuant to the omnibus agreement for time charter payments for September and October 2014 invoices, warranty provisions for repairs and non-budgeted expenses. |
· | Subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2014, an understanding was reached with PGN under which no delay liquidated damages will be payable. Due to this subsequent event, no delay liquidated damages are reflected in the construction contract expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014. |
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· | 100% utilization was achieved on the PGN FSRU Lampung after the acceptance date and time charter payments received for November and December, 2014; |
· | Received full payment from the charterer relating to the Mooring during the year ended December 31, 2014; |
· | Made an early repayment of $7.9 million of long-term debt and fully funded the restricted cash balance of $15.2 million required under the Lampung facility; |
· | 100% utilization on joint venture vessels, the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann was achieved in 2013 and 2014 |
· | IPO closed on August 12, 2014, raising net proceeds of $203.5 million; |
· | On September 24, 2014, we held our first annual meeting of unitholders at which four members of our board of directors were elected; |
· | On November 14, 2014, we paid a pro rata $0.1834/unit distribution for the period from August 12, 2014 to September 30, 2014, equivalent to $0.3375 per unit per quarter and $1.35 per unit on an annualized basis; and |
· | On February 13, 2015, we paid a $0.3375 per unit distribution with respect to the fourth quarter of 2014, equivalent to $1.35 per unit on an annualized basis. |
Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2013
Time Charter Revenues . The following table sets forth details of our time charter revenues for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Time charter revenues | $ | 20,918 | $ | — | $ | 20,918 |
Time charter revenues for year ended December 31, 2014 were $20.9 million, an increase of $20.9 million from the year ended December 31, 2013. The time charter hire payments for PGN FSRU Lampung began July 21, 2014 when the project was ready to begin commissioning. However, there were some technical problems with the regasification system of this vessel in September and October 2014. We have been indemnified for the amount payable for the September and October invoices by Höegh LNG. For additional discussion, refer to “—PGN Claims including Delay Liquidated Damages” below and note 20 of our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
Time charter revenues consist of the lease element of the time charter, accounted for as a direct financing lease using the effective interest rate method, as well as fees for providing time charter services, reimbursement for vessel operating expenses and indirect and corporate income taxes borne by the charterer.
Construction Contract Revenues and Related Expenses . The following table sets forth details of our construction contract revenues and construction contract expenses for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
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Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Construction contract revenues | $ | 49,277 | $ | 50,362 | $ | (1,085 | ) | |||||
Construction contract expenses | (35,384 | ) | (43,272 | ) | 7,888 | |||||||
Recognized contract margin | $ | 13,893 | $ | 7,090 | $ | 6,803 |
Construction contract revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $49.3 million, a decrease of $1.1 million from $50.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Construction contract expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $35.4 million, a decrease of $7.9 million from $43.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The recognized contract margin for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $13.9 million, an increase of $6.8 million from $7.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
The Mooring is an offshore installation that is being used to moor the PGN FSRU Lampung to offload the gas into an offshore pipe that transports the gas to a land terminal for the charterer. The Mooring has been constructed in China, installed in Indonesia and was sold to the charterer. Revenue was recognized on the Mooring based upon the percentage of completion method under which construction contract revenue is recognized using the ratio of costs incurred to estimated total costs multiplied by the total estimated contract revenue to determine revenue. The decrease in construction contract revenue is primarily due to progress towards completion of the project for the Mooring, which was 100% as of December 31, 2014, compared with 53% as of December 31, 2013. PGN formally accepted the PGN Lampung project effective October 30, 2014. During the second quarter of 2014, the initial 90% payment for the Mooring was received. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the final 10% payment for the Mooring was invoiced and received from PGN.
PGN issued invoices for delay liquidated damages of $7.1 million related to claims from PGN on the project for the year end December 31, 2014. Subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2014, an understanding with PGN has been reached under which no delay liquidated damages will be payable. Due to this subsequent event, no delay liquated damages are reflected in the construction contract expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014. Refer to “—PGN Claims including Delay Liquidated Damages” below and notes 20 and 23 of the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
A warranty provision of $2.0 million has been recorded for the year ended December 31, 2014 as part of the construction contract expenses. In ramping up operations, a technical issue was identified associated with the Mooring that requires attention. The technical issue requires replacement of equipment and repairs under our warranties for the functionality of the Mooring to PGN. The warranty provision represents our best estimate of cost to obtain replacement parts and install them. Under the omnibus agreement, all costs incurred for repairs under the warranty will be indemnified by Höegh LNG. For additional discussion, refer to “—PGN Claims including Delay Liquidated Damages” below and note 20 of our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
Other Revenue . The following table sets forth details of our other revenue for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Other revenue | $ | — | $ | 511 | $ | (511 | ) |
Other revenue for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $0 million, a decrease of $0.5 million from the year ended December 31, 2014. Other revenue includes incidental revenues prior to the start of the time charter for the PGN FSRU Lampung .
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Voyage and Vessel Operating Expenses . The following table sets forth details of our voyage and vessel operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Voyage expenses | $ | (1,139 | ) | $ | — | $ | (1,139 | ) | ||||
Vessel operating expenses | $ | (5,297 | ) | $ | — | $ | (5,297 | ) |
Voyage expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $1.1 million, an increase of $1.1 million from year ended December 31, 2013. Voyage expenses are typically paid directly by the charterer. Certain bunker fuel and use of LNG during the commissioning and testing of PGN FSRU Lampung were borne by us. In addition, LNG quantities used in running our generators during the period where we had problems with the regasification system were for our own account. As a result, the voyage expenses are not expected to be recurring costs. However, if the vessel is off-hire, voyage expenses, principally fuel, may also be incurred and would be paid by us.
Vessel operating expenses for year ended December 31, 2014 were $5.3 million, an increase of $5.3 million from the year ended December 31, 2014. This reflects crew training costs and certain expenses of the start-up of the time charter hire period beginning July 21, 2014.
Administrative Expenses . The following table sets forth details of our administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Administrative expenses | $ | (11,656 | ) | $ | (8,043 | ) | $ | (3,613 | ) |
Administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $11.7 million, an increase of $3.6 million from $8.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The major reasons for the increase were expenses incurred in preparation for the IPO, higher public company cost and higher activity related to the PGN FSRU Lampung .
Administrative expenses related to the corporate costs of the Partnership were $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $2.7 million from $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Expenses of $3.5 million were incurred principally related to audit fees, legal fees and other charges of ours incurred by Höegh LNG’s staff working on preparation for the IPO, an increase of $1.1 million from $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Approximately $0.2 million relates to fees in establishing the new legal structure in conjunction with the IPO during 2014. The remaining increase in administrative expense of approximately $1.4 million relates to higher costs of being a public company and includes charges for preparation of external reporting, legal fees, audit fees, travel costs and consulting fees on implementation of internal controls under Sarbanes-Oxley.
Administrative expenses related to the PGN FSRU Lampung for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $5.4 million, an increase of $0.9 million from $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The higher costs reflect greater required resources and other expenses in the ramp up phase of operations.
Depreciation and Amortization . The following table sets forth details of our depreciation and amortization for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | $ | (1,317 | ) | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (1,309 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization for the year ended December 31, 2014 related to the PGN FSRU Lampung and for office and IT equipment. In the middle of May 2014, the PGN FSRU Lampung was deemed substantially complete to begin the commissioning under the time charter. The newbuilding was transferred on the balance sheet to vessels until such time as the time charter commenced when the vessel was transferred on the balance sheet to net investment in direct financing lease. However, due to delays unconnected to us and minor damage to the FSRU by a tugboat during the pipeline installation, the time charter hire did not commence until July 21, 2014. As a result, the vessel was depreciated until the start of the direct financing lease. The depreciation expense for the PGN FSRU Lampung for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $1.3 million. The remaining depreciation of $0.02 million relates to office and IT equipment, an increase of $0.01 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
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Total Operating Expenses . The following table sets forth details of our total operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Total operating expenses | $ | (54,793 | ) | $ | (51,323 | ) | $ | (3,470 | ) |
Total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $54.8 million, an increase of $3.5 million from $51.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Excluding construction contract expenses, the total operating expenses were $19.4 million, an increase of $11.3 million from $8.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase was due to higher voyage expenses and vessel operating expenses totaling $6.4 million due to the start of operations of the PGN FSRU Lampung , an increase of $3.6 million in administrative expenses reflecting the ramp up of the PGN FSRU Lampung , costs incurred to complete the IPO and higher public company costs and higher depreciation due to the delay in the commissioning of PGN FSRU Lampung .
Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Joint Ventures . The following table sets forth details of our equity in earnings of joint ventures for the years ended December 30, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures | $ | (5,330 | ) | $ | 40,228 | $ | (45,558 | ) |
Equity in losses of joint ventures for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $5.3 million, a decrease of $45.5 million from equity in earnings of $40.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The reason for the decrease was an unrealized loss on derivative financial instruments in our joint ventures in the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with an unrealized gain in the year ended December 30, 2013.
Our share of our joint ventures’ operating income was $23.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with $23.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our share of other income (expense), net, principally consisting of interest expense, was $17.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, a reduction of $1.0 million from $18.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The reduction was mainly due to lower interest expense due to repayment of principal on debt between the years.
Our share of unrealized loss on derivative financial instruments was $11.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, a decrease of $46.9 million compared to unrealized gain on derivative financial instruments of $35.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The variance in the unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments is the reason for the decline in our equity in earnings of joint ventures for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The joint ventures utilize interest rate swap contracts to exchange a receipt of floating interest for a payment of fixed interest to reduce the exposure to interest rate variability on their outstanding floating-rate debt. The interest rate swap contracts are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. As a result, there is volatility in earnings for the unrealized exchange gains and losses on the interest rate swap contracts. Historically, the joint ventures have accumulated unrealized losses on the interest rate swaps due to declining interest rates, which has resulted in liabilities for derivative financial instruments and an accumulated deficit in equity on their balance sheets.
There was no accrued income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. Our joint ventures did not pay any dividends for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
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Operating Income . The following table sets forth details of our operating income for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Operating income | $ | 10,072 | $ | 39,778 | $ | (29,706 | ) |
Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $10.1 million, a decrease of $29.7 million from the operating income of $39.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease in operating income was impacted by the decrease in the equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures of $45.6 million as a result of the unrealized loss on derivatives for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with an unrealized gain for the year ended December 31, 2013. This decrease was partially offset by the increase in recognized contract margin on the Mooring of $6.8 million, higher time charter revenues of $20.9 million due to the start-up of the PGN FSRU Lampung less the higher operating expenses of $11.3 million.
Interest Income . The following table sets forth details of our interest income for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Interest income | $ | 4,959 | $ | 2,122 | $ | 2,837 |
Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $5.0 million, an increase of $2.8 million from $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Interest income of $3.3 million related to the demand note due from Höegh LNG and $1.7 million related to interest accrued on the advances to our joint ventures for the year ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the entire balance related to interest accrued on the advances to our joint ventures. The decrease in interest income from joint ventures is due to repayment by our joint ventures of a portion of the principal due under the shareholder loans between the periods. The interest rate under the shareholder loans is a fixed rate of 8.0% per year. We lent $140 million to Höegh LNG from net proceeds of the IPO pursuant to a demand note. The note is repayable on demand or we can elect to utilize the note as part of the purchase consideration in the event all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in the FSRU, Independence , are purchased by the Partnership. The note bears interest at a rate of 5.88% per annum.
Interest Expense . The following table sets forth details of our interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Interest expense | $ | (9,163 | ) | $ | (6,110 | ) | $ | (3,052 | ) | |||
Commitment fees | (1,587 | ) | (2,162 | ) | 574 | |||||||
Amortization of debt issuance cost | (4,287 | ) | (379 | ) | (3,908 | ) | ||||||
Capitalized interest | 5,447 | 8,299 | (2,852 | ) | ||||||||
Total interest expense | $ | (9,590 | ) | $ | (352 | ) | $ | (9,238 | ) |
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $9.6 million, an increase of $9.2 million from $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Interest expense consists of the interest incurred, commitment fees and amortization of debt issuance cost less the interest capitalized for the period.
The interest incurred of $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased by $3.1 million compared to $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, principally due to higher outstanding loan balances. During 2013, loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates financed the construction of the PGN FSRU Lampung and the construction contract expenses of the Mooring. On March 4, 2014 and April 8, 2014, we drew $96 million and $161.1 million, respectively, on the Lampung facility. Following the drawdown of the external debt, $48.5 million was repaid on a promissory note to owners and affiliates. In July 3, 2014, the full principal amount of $32.1 million on the Mooring tranche and accrued interest was repaid. As of December 29, 2014, an early repayment of $7.9 million on the other tranches of the Lampung facility occurred and the regularly scheduled quarterly repayment began.
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Commitment fees of $1.6 million and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, were incurred on principally on the Lampung facility for undrawn balances. Although $12.1 million of the Lampung facility was not drawn, the last date for drawdowns expired in 2014. There will not be further commitment fees on the Lampung facility except fees related to the letter of credit facility which expired February 16, 2015.
For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the amortization of debt issuance cost was $4.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively. The increase of $3.9 million related to the start of amortization on the Lampung facility. The deferred debt issuance cost associated with the Mooring tranche of the Lampung facility was fully amortized by the repayment date of July 3, 2014 resulting in a $1.7 million amortization charge for the year ended December 31, 2014. In addition, there was an early repayment of $7.9 million on the facility which resulted in a write down of debt issuance cost of approximately $0.5 million.
Capitalized interest for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $5.4 million, a decrease of $2.9 million from $8.3 million the year ended December 31, 2013. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring were under construction for the entire period and most interest incurred qualified for capitalization. Capitalization of interest ceased in the middle of May, 2014 when the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring were substantially complete.
Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments . The following table sets forth details of our gain/loss on derivative financial instruments for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Loss on derivative financial instruments | $ | (161 | ) | $ | — | $ | (161 | ) |
Loss on derivative financial instruments for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $0.2 million, an increase of $0.2 million the year ended December 31, 2014. This loss was primarily due to the ineffective portion of the hedge of the interest rate swaps and amortization of the amount excluded from hedge effectiveness related to the Lampung facility. The interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges of the variable interest payments on the Lampung facility and the effective portion of the changes in fair value of the hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income.
Other Items, Net . The following table sets forth details of our other items for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Other items, net | $ | (2,366 | ) | $ | (1,021 | ) | $ | (1,345 | ) |
Other items, net for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $2.4 million, an increase of $1.4 million from $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. This is primarily due to withholding tax that is payable on interest expense to parties outside of Singapore and Indonesia. The reason for the increase in withholding taxes is primarily a result of the establishment of PT Hoegh and Hoegh Lampung as of October 1, 2013. Such withholding taxes were only payable on interest expense for three months in 2013.
Income (Loss) Before Tax . The following table sets forth details of our income before tax for the years ended December 30, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Income before tax | $ | 2,914 | $ | 40,527 | $ | (37,613 | ) |
Income before tax for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $2.9 million, a decrease of $37.6 million from $40.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease was largely due to the decrease in the equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures of $45.5 million.
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Income Tax Expense . The following table sets forth details of our income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Income tax expense | $ | (505 | ) | $ | — | $ | (505 | ) |
Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $0.5 million, an increase of $0.5 million compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. We are not subject to Marshall Islands income taxes. However, we are subject to tax for earnings in Indonesia and Singapore starting in the fourth quarter of 2013. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the income taxes expense related to Hoegh Lampung, our Singapore subsidiary, mainly as a result of internal interest income. For the year ended December 31, 2014, PT Hoegh which is incorporated in Indonesia, incurred a tax loss. The tax loss carryforward of $3.6 million expires in 2019.
A deferred tax benefit of $1.9 million, net of valuation allowance of $0.7 million, related to the unrealized losses on interest rate swaps accounted for as a cash flow hedge was recorded as a component of other comprehensive income in the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2014.
A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of the benefit will not be realized. Given the lack of historical operations in Indonesia, management of the Partnership concluded a valuation allowance should be established to reduce the deferred tax assets on temporary differences and the tax loss carryforward for PT Hoegh to the amount deemed more-likely-than-not of realization. A component of the deferred tax asset relates to the cash flow hedge of the interest rate swap. Management concluded that approximately $1.9 million of the deferred tax asset was more-likely-than-not to be realized over the 11 year term of the swap and recognized a deferred tax asset for that amount. Deferred tax expenses for the change in the valuation allowance of $0.2 million and $0.7 million were recorded to income tax expense in the consolidated and combined statement of income and consolidated and combined statement of comprehensive income, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Benefits of uncertain tax positions are recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position taken in a tax return will be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. In 2013, a tax loss was incurred in Indonesia principally due to unrealized losses on foreign exchange that does not impact the income statement prepared in the functional currency of U.S. dollars. In 2014, the Indonesia authorities have approved the change of currency for tax reporting to U.S. dollars. Under existing tax law, it is not clear if the prior year tax loss carryforward from foreign exchange losses can be utilized when the tax reporting currency is subsequently changed. Due to the uncertainty of this tax position, a provision was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the resulting unrecognized tax benefit was $2.3 million. There was no change in the unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2014.
Pursuant to the terms of the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, we will be reimbursed, as a component of time charter revenues, for current income taxes arising in Indonesia related to time charter activities.
Net Income . The following table sets forth details of our net income for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Net income | $ | 2,409 | $ | 40,527 | $ | (38,118 | ) |
As a result of the foregoing, net income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $2.4 million, a decrease of $38.1 million compared with net income of $40.5 million the year ended December 31, 2013.
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PGN Claims Including Delay Liquidated Damages
Following certain delays unconnected to us and minor damage to the PGN FSRU Lampung by a tugboat during the pipeline installation, the time charter hire on the PGN FSRU Lampung commenced July 21, 2014 for the start of commissioning. During the commissioning to test the PGN FSRU Lampung project (including the Mooring) and the pipeline functionality, problems were identified on August 29, 2014 with the regasification system of the FSRU. This required that parts of the regasification system were disassembled and transferred to shore for repair under the provision of the warranties for the vessel. The equipment was reinstalled and all commissioning completed to allow us to deliver the Certificate of Acceptance to PGN. PGN formally accepted and signed the Certificate of Acceptance dated October 30, 2014.
Our subsidiary had commitments to pay a day rate for delay liquidated damages to PGN up to a maximum amount of $10.7 million if the PGN FSRU Lampung was not connected to the Mooring and ready to deliver LNG by the scheduled arrival date or acceptance was not achieved by the scheduled delivery date.
PGN had concerns about requirements under the time charter contract to pay hire rates for periods the regasification system was not functioning and issued invoices for $7.1 million for delay liquidated damages for amounts PGN believed it had claims due to delays in the scheduled arrival date and the acceptance date. PGN did not pay its time charter hire for September or October 2014. Delay liquidated damages cease on the date of the Certificate of Acceptance of October 30, 2014. We had included potential delay liquidated damages due to PGN in its project contingency as part of estimated total construction contract costs for the Mooring (as the first deliverable under the contract) as the basis for computing the percentage of completion.
We are indemnified under the omnibus agreement by Höegh LNG for delay liquidated damages. We filed indemnification claims for the delay liquidated damages invoiced from PGN for $7.1 million and recorded this amount to construction contract expenses for claims for the months of September and October 2014. The amounts were to be paid to us by Höegh LNG prior to any delay liquidated damages being paid to PGN.
We are also indemnified by Höegh LNG for any hire rate payments not received under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter for the period commencing on August 12, 2014 through the earlier of (i) the date of acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung or (ii) the termination of such time charter. We filed indemnification claims for the September and October 2014 invoices not paid by PGN of $6.5 million and $6.7 million, respectively, and received payments from Höegh LNG in September and October, respectively. Indemnification for hire rate payments is accounted for consistent with the accounting policies for loss of hire insurance, and is recognized when the proceeds are received. Therefore, we recognized the payments from Höegh LNG for September and October as revenue, net of value added tax liabilities and certain deferrals. Refer to notes 2 and 20 to the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
Our subsidiary is jointly and severally liable for the delay liquidated damages of the pipeline contractor to the extent the pipeline contractor fails to perform. Similarly, the pipeline contractor is jointly and severally liable for our subsidiary’s delay liquidated damages. Our maximum exposure for the pipeline contractor’s delay liquidated damages is approximately $11.5 million. Further, our subsidiary and the pipeline contractor have an agreement to cover the other party’s delay liquidated damages to the extent caused by the other party’s scope of work. As of December 31, 2014, we had not received any claims from PGN or the pipeline contractor related to the contractor’s delay liquidated damages. We are indemnified by Höegh LNG for any potential delay liquidated damages, net of any recoveries, arising for or from claims of the pipeline contractor.
Subsequent to December 31, 2014, an understanding with PGN, the pipeline contractor and our subsidiary has been reached. As a result, PGN will not pay the time charter hire for September or October 2014, our subsidiary will not pay the delay liquidated damages, our subsidiary is released from joint and several liability for the pipeline contractor’s delay liquidated damages, the pipeline contractor is released from joint and several liability for our subsidiary’s delay liquidated damages and neither our subsidiary nor the pipeline contractor cover the other party’s delay liquidated damages to the extent caused by the other party’s scope of work. Due to this subsequent event, no delay liquidated damages are reflected in the construction contract expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014. Refer to notes 6 and 20 to the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. Because our subsidiary will not pay any delay liquidated damages to PGN, we will not receive any related indemnification from Höegh LNG.
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Additionally, a warranty allowance of $2.0 million was recorded to construction contract expenses for replacement of equipment parts for the year ended December 31, 2014. The replacement parts are expected to be installed in the first half of 2015. Accordingly, we filed indemnification claims for the warranty allowance of $2.0 million. The amount will be paid to us by Höegh LNG when costs are incurred for the warranty. When the funding for the indemnification is received from Höegh LNG, the amount will be recorded as a contribution to equity. Refer to notes 2 and 20 to the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
We are indemnified by Höegh LNG for non-budgeted expenses (including repair costs) incurred in connection with the PGN FSRU Lampung project prior to the date of acceptance. In the first quarter of 2015, we filed indemnification claims for non-budgeted expenses and costs of $3.1 million related to the year ended December 31, 2014. Höegh LNG paid us for this amount by March 31, 2015. The amount is recorded as a contribution to equity in the first quarter of 2015. For additional information, refer to notes 2 and 20 in our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
During January 2015, certain regasification equipment on the PGN FSRU Lampung was upgraded. There was no off-hire as a result. It is expected that warranties will cover the upgrades but, if not, the cost of the upgrade would be indemnified by Höegh LNG.
Segments
We have two segments, which are the “Majority held FSRUs” and the “Joint venture FSRUs.” In addition, unallocated corporate costs that are considered to benefit the entire organization and interest income from advances to our joint ventures and the demand note from Höegh LNG are included in “Other.”
For the year ended December 31, 2014, Majority held FSRUs included the direct financing lease related to the PGN FSRU Lampung and construction contract revenue and expenses of the Mooring. The Mooring was constructed on behalf of, and was sold to, PGN using the percentage of completion method of accounting. The Mooring project was completed as of December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2013, Majority held FSRUs includes a newbuilding, the PGN FSRU Lampung , and construction contract revenues and expenses of the Mooring under construction.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, Joint venture FSRUs include two 50% owned FSRUs, the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , that operate under long term time charters with one charterer, GDF Suez.
We measure our segment profit based on Segment EBITDA. Segment EBITDA is reconciled to operating income and net income for each segment in the segment tables below. Please read “Item 3.A. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a definition of Segment EBITDA and a reconciliation of Segment EBITDA to net income.
Majority Held FSRUs . The following table sets forth details of segment results for the Majority held FSRUs for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Majority held FSRUs |
Year ended
December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Time charter revenues | $ | 20,918 | $ | — | $ | 20,918 | ||||||
Construction contract revenues | 49,277 | 50,362 | (1,085 | ) | ||||||||
Other revenue | - | 511 | (511 | ) | ||||||||
Total revenues | 70,195 | 50,873 | 19,322 | |||||||||
Voyage & vessel operating expenses | (6,436 | ) | — | (6,436 | ) | |||||||
Administration expenses | (5,443 | ) | (4,490 | ) | (953 | ) | ||||||
Construction contract expense | (35,384 | ) | (43,272 | ) | 7,888 | |||||||
Segment EBITDA | 22,932 | 3,111 | 19,821 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (1,317 | ) | (8 | ) | (1,309 | ) | ||||||
Operating income | 21,615 | 3,103 | 18,512 | |||||||||
Financial expense, net | (11,617 | ) | (1,373 | ) | (10,244 | ) | ||||||
Income before tax | 9,998 | 1,730 | 8,268 | |||||||||
Income tax expense | (505 | ) | — | (505 | ) | |||||||
Net income | $ | 9,493 | $ | 1,730 | $ | 7,763 |
99 |
Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $70.2 million, an increase of $19.3 million from $50.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The main reason for the increase was due to time charter revenues for PGN FSRU Lampung , which began July 21, 2014 when the project was ready to begin commissioning.
As discussed in more detail above, the construction contact revenues decreased by $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the year ended December 31, 2013 and reflected the completion of the Mooring project. Construction contract expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014, which included $2.0 million for a warranty allowance, decreased by $7.9 million compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. The recognized project margin was for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $13.9 million compared with $7.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Voyage expenses and vessel operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $6.4 million, an increase of $6.4 million from the year ended December 31, 2013. As discussed in more detail above, this reflects the start up of the time charter hire period beginning July 21, 2014 as well as certain bunker usage during the commissioning and testing of PGN FSRU Lampung .
Administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $5.4 million, an increase of $0.9 million from $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The higher costs reflect greater required resources and other expenses in the ramp up phase of operations for the PGN FSRU Lampung .
Segment EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $22.9 million, an increase of $19.8 million compared to $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase was due mainly to the start of operations of PGN FSRU Lampung on July 21, 2014.
Joint Venture FSRUs the following table sets forth details of segment results for the Joint venture FSRUs for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Joint venture FSRUs |
Year ended
December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Time charter revenues | $ | 41,319 | $ | 41,110 | $ | 209 | ||||||
Vessel operating expenses | (7,514 | ) | (7,702 | ) | 188 | |||||||
Administrative expenses | (971 | ) | (1,061 | ) | 90 | |||||||
Segment EBITDA | 32,834 | 32,347 | 487 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (9,148 | ) | (9,053 | ) | (95 | ) | ||||||
Operating income | 23,686 | 23,294 | 392 | |||||||||
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments | (11,879 | ) | 35,038 | (46,917 | ) | |||||||
Other income (expense), net | (17,137 | ) | (18,104 | ) | 967 | |||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (5,330 | ) | $ | 40,228 | $ | (45,558 | ) |
The segment results for the Joint venture FSRUs are presented using the proportional consolidation method (which differs from the equity method used in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements).
Total time charter revenues were $41.3 million and $41.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Revenues for time charter payments, including fees for reimbursement of operating expenses, were $40.1 million and $40.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The decrease in revenues for time charter payments in 2014 was due to the decrease in fees for reimbursement of vessel operating expenses. The remaining revenues principally related to the amortization of deferred revenues for upfront payments for modifications and drydocking payments from the charterer.
100 |
Vessel operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $7.5 million, a decrease of $0.2 million compared to $7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 declined slightly compared with the year ended December 31, 2013.
Segment EBITDA was $32.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with $32.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Other . The following table sets forth details of other results of Other for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Other | Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | variance | |||||||||
Administrative expenses | $ | (6,213 | ) | $ | (3,553 | ) | $ | (2,660 | ) | |||
Segment EBITDA | (6,213 | ) | (3,553 | ) | (2,660 | ) | ||||||
Operating income loss | (6,213 | ) | (3,553 | ) | (2,660 | ) | ||||||
Interest income | 4,459 | 2,122 | 2,337 | |||||||||
Loss before tax | (1,754 | ) | (1,431 | ) | (323 | ) | ||||||
Income tax expense | — | — | — | |||||||||
Net loss | $ | (1,754 | ) | $ | (1,431 | ) | $ | (323 | ) |
Administrative expenses and Segment EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2014 for each was $6.2 million, an increase of $2.6 million from $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Expenses of $3.5 million were incurred principally related to audit fees, legal fees and other charges of ours incurred by Höegh LNG’s staff working on preparation for the IPO, an increase of $1.1 million from $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Approximately $0.2 million relates to fees in establishing the new legal structure in conjunction with the IPO during 2014. The remaining negative variance of approximately $1.4 million relates to higher costs of being a public company and includes charges for preparation of external reporting, legal fees, audit fees, travel costs and consulting fees on implementation of internal controls under Sarbanes-Oxley.
Interest income, which is not part of the segment measure of profits, is related to the interest accrued on the advances to our joint ventures for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 and interest income on the demand note due from Höegh LNG from the closing of the IPO on August 12, 2014.
Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2012
Construction Contract Revenue and Related Expenses . The following table sets forth details of our construction contract revenues and construction contract expenses for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Construction contract revenues | $ | 50,362 | $ | 5,512 | $ | 44,850 | ||||||
Construction contract expenses | (43,272 | ) | (5,512 | ) | (37,760 | ) | ||||||
Recognized contract margin | $ | 7,090 | $ | — | $ | 7,090 |
Construction contract revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $50.4 million, an increase of $44.9 million from $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Construction contract expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $43.3 million, an increase of $37.8 million from $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
101 |
Revenue was recognized on the Mooring based upon the percentage of completion method under which construction contract revenue was recognized using the ratio of costs incurred to estimated total costs multiplied by the total estimated contract revenue to determine revenue. The increase in construction contract revenue was primarily due to progress towards completion of the project for the Mooring, which was estimated to be 53% as of December 31, 2013 compared with 6.0% for the year ended December 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2012, the initial stages of the contract had recently commenced and sufficient information was not available to estimate profit on the project with a reasonable level of certainty. Therefore, the amount of construction contract revenue recognized for the year ended December 31, 2012 was equal to the cost incurred, and no margin was recognized. As of December 31, 2013, a margin proportional to the percentage completion was recognized.
Other Revenue . The following table sets forth details of our other revenue for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Other revenue | $ | 511 | $ | — | $ | 511 |
Other revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $0.5 million, an increase of $0.5 million from the year ended December 31, 2012. Other revenue includes incidental revenues prior to the start of the time charter for the PGN FSRU Lampung .
Administrative Expenses . The following table sets forth details of our administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Administrative expenses | $ | (8,043 | ) | $ | (3,185 | ) | $ | (4,858 | ) |
Administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $8.0 million, an increase of $4.8 million from $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The major reasons for the increase were expenses incurred in preparation for the IPO and higher activity related to the PGN FSRU Lampung , the Mooring and preparation for the start of operations. Expenses of $2.4 million incurred for the IPO principally related to audit fees, legal fees and charges for hours incurred by Höegh LNG’s staff working on preparation for the IPO.
Depreciation and Amortization . The following table sets forth details of our depreciation and amortization for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | $ | (8 | ) | $ | — | $ | (8 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization for the year ended December 31, 2013 for office and IT equipment related to the start-up of operations. There were no corresponding charges for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Total Operating Expenses . The following table sets forth details of our total operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Total operating expenses | $ | (51,323 | ) | $ | (8,697 | ) | $ | (42,626 | ) |
Total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $51.3 million, an increase of $42.6 million from $8.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 due to an increase in construction contract and administrative expenses.
102 |
Equity in Earnings of Joint Ventures . The following table sets forth details of our equity in earnings of joint ventures for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures | $ | 40,228 | $ | 5,007 | $ | 35,221 |
Equity in earnings of joint ventures for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $40.2 million, an increase of $35.2 million from $5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The primary reason for the increase was higher unrealized gains on derivative instruments in 2013 than in 2012.
Our share of our joint ventures’ operating income was $23.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared with $23.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Other financial expenses, net were $18.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, a reduction of $1.0 million from $19.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The reduction was mainly due to lower interest expense due to repayment of principal on debt during 2013.
Our share of unrealized gains on derivative instruments was $35.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to unrealized gains on derivative instruments of $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 explaining most of the increase in our equity in earnings of joint ventures for 2013 compared to 2012. The joint ventures utilized interest rate swap contracts to exchange a receipt of floating interest for a payment of fixed interest to reduce the exposure to interest rate variability on their outstanding floating-rate debt. The interest rate swap contracts are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. As a result, there is volatility in earnings for the unrealized exchange gains and losses on the interest rate swap contracts. Historically, the joint ventures have accumulated unrealized losses on the interest rate swap due to declining interest rates, which has resulted in liabilities for derivative financial instruments and an accumulated deficit in equity on their balance sheets. Increasing interest rates during 2013 and 2012 have resulted in unrealized gains, which have reduced the liabilities for derivative financial instruments and the accumulated deficit in equity on their balance sheets. There was no income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. Our joint ventures did not pay any dividends for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
Operating Income . The following table sets forth details of our operating income for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Operating income | $ | 39,778 | $ | 1,822 | $ | 37,956 |
Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $39.8 million, an increase of $38.0 million from $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase in operating income was primarily due to the increase in the equity in earnings of joint ventures of $35.2 million and the margin on the construction contract for the Mooring of $7.1 million, which was partially offset by the negative impact of higher administrative expenses.
Interest Income . The following table sets forth details of our interest income for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Interest income | $ | 2,122 | $ | 2,481 | $ | (359 | ) |
Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $2.1 million, a decrease of $0.4 million from $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Interest income is related to the interest accrued on the advances to our joint ventures. The decrease in interest income is due to repayment by our joint ventures of a portion of the principal due under the shareholder loans during 2013. The interest rate is a fixed rate of 8.0% per year based upon the shareholder loans.
103 |
Interest Expense . The following table sets forth details of our interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Interest expense | $ | (6,110 | ) | $ | (3,769 | ) | $ | (2,341 | ) | |||
Commitment fees | (2,162 | ) | (1,729 | ) | (433 | ) | ||||||
Amortization of debt issuance cost | (379 | ) | (379 | ) | — | |||||||
Capitalized interest | 8,299 | 5,763 | 2,536 | |||||||||
Total interest expense | $ | (352 | ) | $ | (114 | ) | $ | (238 | ) |
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $0.4 million, an increase of $0.3 million from $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Interest expense consists of the interest incurred, commitment fees and amortization of debt issuance cost less the interest capitalized for the period. The interest incurred increased from $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 to $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 principally due to higher outstanding loan balances. Loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates have financed the construction of the PGN FSRU Lampung and the construction contract expenses of the Mooring. Commitment fees were for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $2.2 million, an increase of $0.5 million from $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Most of the interest incurred was capitalized as part of the newbuilding or included in the construction contract expense for the Mooring. Capitalized interest was $8.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Other Items, Net . The following table sets forth details of our other items for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Other items, net | $ | (1,021 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (1,020 | ) |
Other items, net for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $1.0 million, primarily due to withholding tax that is payable on interest expense for 2013 to parties outside of Indonesia.
Income before Tax . The following table sets forth details of our income before tax for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Income before tax | $ | 40,527 | $ | 4,188 | $ | 36,339 |
Income before tax for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $40.5 million, an increase of $36.3 million from $4.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase was largely due to the increase in the equity in earnings of joint ventures of $35.2 million and the margin on the construction contract of $7.1 million, which was partially offset by higher administrative expenses of $4.9 million.
Income Tax Expense . There was no income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. We are not subject to Marshall Islands corporate income taxes. However, we are subject to tax for earnings in Indonesia and Singapore starting in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Benefits of uncertain tax positions are recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position taken in a tax return will be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. In 2013, we incurred a tax loss as a result of unrealized foreign exchange losses in local currency used for reporting taxes for PT Hoegh that has the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. In 2014, the Indonesia authorities have approved the change of currency for tax reporting to U.S. dollars. Under existing tax law, it is not clear if the prior year tax loss carryforward from foreign exchange losses can be utilized when the tax reporting currency is subsequently changed. Due to uncertainty of this tax position, a provision was recognized and the resulting unrecognized tax benefit was $2.3 million.
104 |
A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of the benefit will not be realized. Given the lack of historical operations, we concluded a valuation allowance should be established to reduce the other deferred tax assets to amount more-likely-than-not of being realized. As a result, we did not recognize a deferred tax benefit in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2013.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, none of our activities were in jurisdictions subject to tax.
Net Income . The following table sets forth details of our net income for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Net income | $ | 40,527 | $ | 4,188 | $ | 36,339 |
As a result of the foregoing, net income for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $40.5 million, an increase of $36.3 million compared with the year ended December 31, 2012.
Segments
We have two segments, which are the “Majority held FSRUs” and the “Joint venture FSRUs.” In addition, unallocated corporate costs that are considered to benefit the entire organization and interest income from advances to our joint ventures are included in “Other.”
As of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, Majority held FSRUs included the newbuilding, the PGN FSRU Lampung, and construction contract revenue and expenses of the Mooring under construction being constructed on behalf of PGN using the percentage of completion method of accounting.
As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, joint venture FSRUs included two 50.0%-owned FSRUs, the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , each of which operates under a long-term time charter with GDF Suez.
We measure our segment profit based on Segment EBITDA. Segment EBITDA is reconciled to operating income and net income for each segment in the segment tables below. Please read “Item 3.A. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a definition of Segment EBITDA and a reconciliation of Segment EBITDA to net income.
The accounting policies applied to the segments are the same as those applied in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements, except that Joint venture FSRUs are presented under the proportional consolidation method for the segment reporting and under the equity method for the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. Under the proportional consolidation method, 50% of the joint venture FSRUs’ revenues, expenses and assets are reflected in the segment reporting. Management monitors the results of operations of our joint ventures under the proportional consolidation method and not the equity method.
105 |
Majority Held FSRUs . The following table sets forth details of segment results for the Majority held FSRUs for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Majority held FSRUs | Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Construction contract revenues | $ | 50,362 | $ | 5,512 | $ | 44,850 | ||||||
Other revenues | 511 | — | 511 | |||||||||
Total revenues | 50,873 | 5,512 | 45,361 | |||||||||
Operating expenses | (4,490 | ) | (2,372 | ) | (2,118 | ) | ||||||
Construction contract expense | (43,272 | ) | (5,512 | ) | (37,760 | ) | ||||||
Segment EBITDA | 3,111 | (2,372 | ) | 5,483 | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (8 | ) | — | (8 | ) | |||||||
Operating income (loss) | 3,103 | (2,372 | ) | 5,475 | ||||||||
Financial expense, net | (1,373 | ) | (115 | ) | (1,258 | ) | ||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 1,730 | $ | (2,487 | ) | $ | 4,217 |
Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $50.9 million, an increase of $45.4 million from $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. As discussed in more detail above, the main reason for the increase was higher construction contract revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013 reflecting 53% project completion compared with 6% for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $4.5 million, an increase of $2.1 million from $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Higher expenses were due to higher activity related to the PGN FSRU Lampung , the Mooring and preparation for the start of operations.
Construction contract expense increased by $37.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the year ended December 31, 2012 due to progress on the Mooring construction project.
Segment EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $3.1 million, an increase of $5.5 million from the loss of $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 as a result of recognition of the contract margin on the percentage of completion for 2013 and no margin in 2012.
Joint Venture FSRUs . The following table sets forth details of segment results for the Joint venture FSRUs for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Joint venture FSRUs | Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Time charter revenues | $ | 41,110 | $ | 41,076 | $ | 34 | ||||||
Vessel operating expenses | (7,702 | ) | (7,525 | ) | (177 | ) | ||||||
Administrative expenses | (1,061 | ) | (1,127 | ) | 66 | |||||||
Segment EBITDA | 32,347 | 32,424 | (77 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (9,053 | ) | (9,060 | ) | 7 | |||||||
Operating income | 23,294 | 23,364 | (70 | ) | ||||||||
Gain on derivative instruments | 35,038 | 693 | 34,345 | |||||||||
Other expense, net | (18,104 | ) | (19,050 | ) | 946 | |||||||
Net income | $ | 40,228 | $ | 5,007 | $ | 35,221 |
The segment results for the Joint venture FSRUs are presented using the proportional consolidation method (which differs from the equity method used in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements).
Total time charter revenues were $41.1 million and $41.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Revenues for time charter payments, including fees for reimbursement of operating expenses, were $40.3 million and $40.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increase in revenues for time charter payments in 2013 was due to the increase in fees for reimbursement of vessel operating expenses. The remaining revenues principally related to the amortization of deferred revenues for upfront payments for modifications and drydocking payments from the charterer.
Vessel operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $7.7 million, an increase of $0.2 million, compared to $7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 due to slightly higher cost for salary and other cost increases.
106 |
Administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 declined slightly compared with the year ended December 31, 2012. As a result of GDF Suez’s decision to subcharter the GDF Suez Cape Ann , additional administrative hours were incurred. The decline in administrative expenses in 2013 compared with 2012 was primarily related to more administrative hours incurred on the subcharter project in 2012 than in 2013.
Segment EBITDA was $32.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with $32.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Other . The following table sets forth details of other results of Other for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Other | Year ended December 31, |
Positive
(negative) |
||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | variance | |||||||||
Administrative expenses | $ | (3,553 | ) | $ | (813 | ) | $ | (2,740 | ) | |||
Segment EBITDA | (3,553 | ) | (813 | ) | (2,740 | ) | ||||||
Operating loss | (3,553 | ) | (813 | ) | (2,740 | ) | ||||||
Interest income | 2,122 | 2,481 | (359 | ) | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (1,431 | ) | $ | 1,668 | $ | (3,099 | ) |
Administrative expenses and Segment EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2013 for each was $3.6 million, an increase of $2.7 million from $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Other includes unallocated corporate costs. The major reason for the increase was expenses of $2.4 million incurred in preparation for the IPO for the year ended December 31, 2013. Expenses incurred for the IPO principally related to audit fees, legal fees and charges for hours incurred working on preparation for the IPO.
Interest income, which is not part of the segment measure of profits, is related to the interest accrued on the advances to our joint ventures.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity and Cash Needs
We operate in a capital-intensive industry, and we expect to finance the purchase of additional vessels and other capital expenditures through a combination of utilization of the demand note due from Höegh LNG, borrowings from commercial banks and debt and equity financings. Our liquidity requirements relate to paying our unitholder distributions, servicing interest and quarterly repayments on our debt (“debt amortization”), funding working capital and maintaining cash reserves against fluctuations in operating cash flows. The liquidity requirements of our joint ventures relate to the servicing of debt, including repayment of shareholder loans, funding working capital, including drydocking, and maintaining cash reserves against fluctuations in operating cash flows.
Our sources of liquidity include cash balances, the $140 million demand note due from Höegh LNG, cash flows from our operations, interest and repayment of principal from our advances to our joint ventures and our undrawn balance under the $85 million sponsor credit facility. Cash and cash equivalents are denominated primarily in U.S. dollars. We do not currently use derivative financial instruments for other purposes than managing interest rate risks. The advances to our joint ventures (shareholder loans) are subordinated to the joint ventures’ long-term bank debt, consisting of the Neptune facility and the Cape Ann facility. Under terms of the shareholder loan agreements, the repayments shall be prioritized over any dividend payment to the owners of the joint ventures. Dividend distributions from our joint ventures require a) agreement of the other joint venture owners; b) fulfilment of requirements of the long-term bank loans; and c) under Cayman Islands law may be paid out of profits or capital reserves subject to the joint venture being solvent after the distribution. Dividends from Hoegh Lampung may only be paid out of profits under Singapore law. Dividends from PT Höegh may only be paid if the retained earnings are positive under Indonesian law and requirements are fulfilled under the Lampung facility. As of December 31, 2014, PT Hoegh has negative retained earnings and therefore cannot make dividend payments under Indonesia law. However, subject to meeting a debt service ratio of 1:20:1:00, PT Hoegh can distribute cash from its cash flow from operations to us as payment of intercompany accrued interest and / or intercompany debt, after quarterly payments of the Lampung facility and fulfilment of the “waterfall” provisions to meeting operating requirements as defined by the Lampung facility.
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Our joint ventures have a commitment to fund the drydocking and the modifications of the GDF Suez Neptune during 2015. Under the terms of the time charter, GDF Suez will fund the both the drydocking and modifications.
As of December 31, 2014, we do not have material commitments for capital expenditures for the rest of our current business. Our expected expenditures for our current business include funding repairs and replacement parts of approximately $2.0 million for the Mooring. This expenditure is indemnified by Höegh LNG under the omnibus agreement. Therefore, the funding for this expenditure will be provided by Höegh LNG.
We believe our cash flows from operations, including distributions to us from PT Hoegh as payment of intercompany interest and/or intercompany debt, and repayment of principal from our advances to our joint ventures will be sufficient to meet our debt amortization and working capital needs and maintain cash reserves against fluctuations in operating cash flows. In addition, we require liquidity to pay distributions to our unitholders. In connection with the IPO, we entered into an $85 million sponsor credit facility with Höegh LNG, which we believe will provide us with adequate liquidity to fund our distributions given our expected level of debt amortization. The $140 million demand note due from Höegh LNG is repayable on demand or we can elect to utilize it as part of the purchase consideration in the event we purchase all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in the Independence .
Generally, our long-term source of funds will be cash from operations, long-term bank borrowings and other debt and equity financings. Because we will distribute all of our available cash, we expect that we will rely upon external financing sources, including bank borrowings and the issuance of debt and equity securities, to fund acquisitions and other expansion capital expenditures.
We have not made use of derivative instruments for currency risk management purposes. On March 17, 2014, we entered into interest rate swap contracts for the Lampung facility. As of December 31, 2014, we had outstanding interest rate swap agreements for a total notional amount of $212.3 million to hedge against the interest rate risks of our long-term debt under the Lampung facility. We apply hedge accounting for these interest rate swaps. We receive interest based on three month US dollar LIBOR and pay a fixed rate of 2.8%. The swaps amortize over 12 years to match the outstanding balance of the Lampung facility. Refer to “Item 5.F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations.” The carrying value of the liability for derivative financial instruments was $9.2 million as of December 31, 2014. There were no similar outstanding instruments as of December 31, 2013. In addition, our joint ventures have utilized interest rate swap contracts that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Please read note 19 to our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. For information about our joint ventures’ derivative instruments, please read note 13 to our joint ventures’ combined financial statements.
As of December 31, 2014, the Partnership had cash and cash equivalents of $30.5 million and an undrawn sponsor credit facility of $85 million. Current restricted cash for operating obligations of the PGN FSRU Lampung was $21.9 million and long-term restricted cash required under the Lampung facility was $15.2 million as of December 31, 2014. The Partnership has an interest-bearing demand note due from Höegh LNG of $140.0 million. The Partnership’s total long-term debt was $212.3 million as of December 31, 2014, repayable in quarterly installments of $4.8 million.
On November 14, 2014, the Partnership paid its first cash distribution of $4.8 million to its unitholder for the prorated $0.1834 per unit distribution declared for the period from August 12, 2014 to September 30, 2014, which is equivalent to $0.3375 per unit per quarter.
As of December 31, 2014, our total current assets exceeded total current liabilities by $155 million. We believe our current resources, including the sponsor credit facility, are sufficient to meet our working capital requirements for our current business for the next twelve months.
For information regarding estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, impacting our cash distributions, please read “Item 8.A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Estimated Maintenance and Replacement Capital Expenditures.”
Cash Flows
Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013
The following table summarizes our net cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities and our cash and cash equivalents for the years presented:
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Years ended December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 29,040 | $ | (42,083 | ) | |||
Net cash used in investing activities | (292,078 | ) | (30,726 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 293,407 | 72,817 | ||||||
Increase in cash and cash equivalents | 30,369 | 8 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 108 | 100 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 30,477 | $ | 108 |
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $29.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with net cash used in operating activities of $42.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Cash flows from operating activities reflect that the full Mooring payment was received and the time charter hire commenced for the PGN FSRU Lampung during the year ended December 31, 2014. In addition, cash of $26.3 million was used to pay the tax authorities for a refundable value tax on the import of the PGN FSRU Lampung into Indonesia. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the reason for the increased cash used in operating activities was because the PGN FSRU Lampung had not been delivered or started operations and high construction contract expenses were being incurred on the Mooring.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $292.1 million and $30.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Net cash used in investing activities increased by $261.4 million in 2014 compared with 2013 primarily due to expenditures for the newbuilding, the PGN FSRU Lampung and the demand note lent to Höegh LNG . Expenditures for the newbuilding increased by $134.5 million as the result of the final 60% payment and payments for change orders due to the delivery of the PGN FSRU Lampung . This was partially offset by cash provided by the $1.1 million increase in principal payments on advances to joint ventures, the receipt of principal payment on the direct financing lease of $1.3 million and the release of restricted cash for a letter of credit of $10.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2014. Following the closing of the IPO, we lent $140.0 million to Höegh LNG pursuant to an interest-bearing demand note from the net proceeds.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $293.4 million and $72.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2014 was impacted by the closing of the Partnership’s IPO and the application of the net proceeds. We received net proceeds from the IPO, after deduction for the underwriters’ discounts and expenses of the offering, of $203.5 million. We distributed $43.5 million in cash from the net proceeds to Höegh LNG. We kept $20.0 million of the IPO proceeds for general partnership purposes.
We received proceeds of $10.8 million from amounts, loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates during the year ended December 31, 2014. In addition, we drew $257.1 million on the Lampung facility that was used for payments for the contractual commitments for the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring construction contract expenses. We also paid $9.2 million in debt issuance cost related to the facility. Part of the proceeds of the debt and cash flows from operations was used to repay $74.6 million of amounts, loans and promissory notes from owners and affiliates. Following the first Mooring payment, the full Mooring tranche of $32.1 million was repaid on July 3, 2014. Following the final Mooring payment, an early repayment of $7.9 million was made on the Lampung facility and quarterly repayments commenced on December 29, 2014. In total, we repaid $44.8 million of long-term debt for the year ended December 31, 2014. As a result of the early repayment on long-term debt, a cash settlement of $1.1 million was made to reduce the amount of the interest rate swaps that are accounted for as cash flow hedges of the variable interest rate debt to match the outstanding debt balance. The restricted cash required by the Lampung facility of $15.2 million was also fully funded. Net distributions to the owner were $11.2 million.
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On the import of the PGN FSRU Lampung into Indonesia during 2014, we obtained funding from PGN of $26.3 million to pay for the refundable value added tax on import. Refer to “Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities” above.
During the fourth quarter of 2014, we paid our first cash distribution of $4.8 million to our unitholders for the prorated $0.1834 per unit distribution declared for the period from August 12, 2014 to September 30, 2014, which is equivalent to $0.3375 per unit per quarter.
During the year ended December 31, 2013, most of the funding was provided by $116.7 million drawn on amounts, loans and promissory notes from owners and affiliates. Debt issuance cost of $8.6 million was paid related to the Lampung facility and there were net distributions to the owner of $35.3 million.
As a result of the foregoing, cash and cash equivalents increased by $30.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 and by eight thousand dollars for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Cash Flows of for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012
The following table summarizes our net cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities and our cash and cash equivalents for the years presented:
Years ended December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||
Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (42,083 | ) | $ | (7,635 | ) | ||
Net cash used in investing activities | (30,726 | ) | (61,709 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 72,817 | 69,444 | ||||||
Increase in cash and cash equivalents | 8 | 100 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 100 | — | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 108 | $ | 100 |
Net cash used in operating activities was $42.1 million and $7.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Cash flows from operating activities reflect that the PGN FSRU Lampung had not yet been delivered or started operations for either period. The increase in cash used in operating activities of $34.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to 2012 is principally due to higher construction contract expenses for the Mooring under the percentage of completion method. In addition, administrative expenses increased in 2013 compared to 2012 principally due to the costs incurred in preparation for the IPO.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $30.7 million and $61.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Net cash used in investing activities decreased by approximately $31 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 mainly due to fewer scheduled shipbuilding contract payments in 2013 than in 2012. Under the terms of the shipbuilding contract, we paid 10.0%, 20.0% and 10.0% of the contract price in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, based on milestones in the construction. The final 60.0% payment and any payment for change orders were due in the second quarter of 2014 at delivery of the PGN FSRU Lampung . In addition, in 2012 there was an increase in restricted cash of $10.0 million.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $72.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with $69.4 million for the comparable period of 2012.
During 2013 and 2012, the financing for construction of the PGN FSRU Lampung and the construction contract expenses of the Mooring were principally provided by loans and promissory notes from owners and affiliates. Proceeds from lending from owners and affiliates were $116.7 million and $61.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Further, the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring were not historically owned by a separate legal entity or organized as a discrete unit until late in 2013. Therefore, no separate cash operating accounts existed. As a result, certain cash flows from financing activities are reflected as contributions from or distributions to the owner, net in the consolidated and combined carve-out statement of cash flows and the consolidated and combined carve-out statement of equity. The net distributions to the owner were $35.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the net contributions from the owner were $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
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As a result of the foregoing, cash and cash equivalents increased by $8,000 and $100,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Borrowing Activities
Loans and Promissory Notes Due to Owners and Affiliates
The following table sets forth our loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates as of December 31, 2014:
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars) |
As of
December 31, 2014 |
|||
$85.0 million Revolving credit facility due to Höegh LNG Ltd. | $ | 467 | ||
Loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates | $ | 467 |
In connection with the IPO, we entered into an $85 million sponsor credit facility with Höegh LNG. No amounts have been drawn under the facility. The balance as of December 31, 2014 included in the table above reflects the accrued commitment fee.
Included in the combined carve-out equity as of August 12, 2014, were amounts related to promissory notes and related accrued interest due to Höegh LNG. Höegh LNG’s receivables for the promissory notes and related accrued interest of the Partnership’s subsidiaries were contributed to the Partnership in connection with the IPO. Refer to notes 2a and 3 in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements for additional discussion of the contribution. As a result, the liabilities of the Partnership’s subsidiaries are eliminated in consolidation since they are no longer external liabilities to the Partnership as of December 31, 2014.
Sponsor Credit Facility with Höegh LNG
The $85 million sponsor credit facility with Höegh LNG is available for three years, unless otherwise terminated due to an event of default. Interest on drawn amounts is payable quarterly at LIBOR plus a margin of 4.0%. Additionally, we are required to pay a 1.4% annual commitment fee, payable quarterly, to Höegh LNG on undrawn available amounts under the sponsor credit facility. Drawings on the sponsor credit facility are subject to customary conditions precedent, including absence of a default or event of default and accuracy of representations and warranties in all material respects.
The sponsor credit facility identifies various events of default that may trigger acceleration and cancellation of the facility, such as:
· | failure to repay principal and interest; |
· | inaccuracy of representations and warranties; |
· | cross-default to other indebtedness held by us or our subsidiaries; and |
· | bankruptcy and certain other insolvency events. |
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Long-term debt
The following table sets forth our long-term debt as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
As of
December 31, |
||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Lampung facility: | ||||||||
$ 178.6 million Export credit tranche | $ | 168,640 | $ | — | ||||
$ 58.5 million FSRU tranche | 43,693 | — | ||||||
$ 61.9 million Mooring tranche | — | — | ||||||
Total debt | 212,333 | — | ||||||
Less: Current portion of long-term debt | (19,062 | ) | — | |||||
Long-term debt | $ | 193,271 | $ | — |
Refer to “Item 5.F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations” and note 14 in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements for the maturity profile of the debt.
Lampung Facility
In September 2013, PT Hoegh entered into a secured $299 million term loan facility and $10.7 million standby letter of credit facility (the “Lampung facility”) with a syndicate of banks and an export credit agency for the purpose of financing a portion of the construction of the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring. The $10.7 million standby letter of credit facility supports guarantees to PGN for delivery obligations of the PGN FSRU Lampung and Mooring under the lease, operation and maintenance agreement. Höegh LNG is the guarantor for the facility. The facility was drawn in installments as construction was completed. The term loan facility includes two commercial tranches, the FSRU tranche and the Mooring tranche, and the export credit tranche. The interest rates vary by tranche. The letter of credit facility was undrawn as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
On March 4, 2014, PT Hoegh drew $96 million of the Lampung facility, of which $28.4 million, $32.1 million and $35.5 million were drawn on the FSRU tranche, the Mooring tranche and the export credit tranche, respectively. On April 8, 2014, PT Hoegh drew $161.1 million of the Lampung facility, of which $18.0 million and $143.1 million were drawn on the FSRU tranche and export credit tranche, respectively. On July 3, 2014, the full principal amount of $32.1 million on the Mooring tranche and accrued interest was repaid. The final available commitment on the FSRU tranche of $12.1 million was never drawn. On December 29, 2014, PT Hoegh made an early repayment of $7.9 million, of which $1.6 million and $6.3 million was repaid on the FSRU tranche and the Export credit tranche, respectively. The quarterly repayments due under the Lampung facility began on December 29, 2014. As of December 31, 2013, the Lampung facility was undrawn.
The FSRU tranche of $58.5 million has an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 3.4%. The interest rate for the export credit tranche of $178.6 million is LIBOR plus a margin of 2.3%. The first repayment of the both tranches occurred on December 29, 2014. The FSRU tranche is repayable quarterly over 7 years with a final balloon payment of $16.5 million. The export credit tranche is repayable in quarterly installments over 12 years assuming the balloon payment of the FSRU tranche is refinanced. If not, the export credit agent can exercise a prepayment right for repayment of the outstanding balance upon maturity of the FSRU tranche. The Mooring tranche of $61.9 million bore interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin of 2.5%. The Mooring tranche was fully repaid on July 3, 2014.
Commitment fees were 1.4%, 0.9% and 1.0% of the undrawn portions of the FSRU tranche, the export credit tranche and the Mooring tranche, respectively.
The primary financial covenants under the Lampung facility are as follows:
· | PT Hoegh must maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.10:1.00 for the preceding nine-month period tested beginning from the second quarterly repayment date of the export credit tranche and on each quarterly repayment date thereafter; |
· | Höegh LNG’s book equity must be greater than the higher of (i) $200 million and (ii) 25.0% of total assets; and |
· | Höegh LNG’s free liquid assets (cash and cash equivalents or available draws on credit facilities) must be greater than $20 million. |
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As of December 31, 2014, the guarantor was in compliance with the financial covenants. The covenant for the borrower is effective from March 2015. The borrower was in compliance with the financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
Höegh LNG, as guarantor, has issued the following guarantees related to the Lampung facility: (a) an unconditional and irrevocable on-demand guarantee for all amounts due under the financing agreements, to be released after the date falling 180 days after acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung under the time charter subject to the relevant terms and conditions being met; (b) an unconditional and irrevocable on-demand guarantee for the repayment of the balloon repayment installment of the FSRU tranche callable only at final maturity of the FSRU tranche; (c) an unconditional and irrevocable on-demand guarantee for PT Hoegh’s obligation to ensure the required balance is in the debt service reserve account on the eighth repayment date (or such earlier date as is applicable if an event of default occurs); (d) an unconditional and irrevocable on-demand guarantee for all amounts due in respect of the export credit agent in the event that the export credit agent exercises its prepayment right for the export credit tranche if the FSRU tranche is not refinanced; and (e) an undertaking that, if the time charter is terminated for an event of vessel force majeure, that, under certain conditions, a guarantee will be provided for the outstanding debt, less insurance proceeds for vessel force majeure. In addition, all project agreements and guarantees are assigned to the bank syndicate and the export credit agent and all project accounts and the shares in PT Hoegh and Höegh Lampung are pledged in favor of the bank syndicate and the export credit agent.
The Lampung facility contains customary covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of PT Hoegh to change its business, sell or grant liens on its property including the PGN FSRU Lampung , incur additional indebtedness or guarantee other indebtedness, make investments or acquisitions, enter into intercompany transactions and make distributions.
The Lampung facility requires cash reserves that are held for specifically designated uses, including working capital, operations and maintenance and debt service reserves. Distributions are subject to “waterfall” provisions that allocate project revenues to specified priorities of use (such as operating expenses, scheduled debt service, targeted debt service reserves and any other reserves) with the remaining cash being distributable only on certain dates and subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including meeting a 1.20 historical debt service coverage ratio, no default or event of default then continuing or resulting from such distribution and Höegh LNG not being in breach of the financial covenants applicable to it.
The Lampung facility identifies various events that may trigger mandatory reduction, prepayment and cancellation of the facility, including total loss or sale of the PGN FSRU Lampung . The Lampung facility contains customary events of default such as:
· | change of ownership; |
· | inaccuracy of representations and warranties; |
· | failure to repay principal and interest; |
· | failure to comply with the financial or insurance covenants; |
· | cross-default to other indebtedness held by Höegh LNG or PT Hoegh; |
· | bankruptcy and other insolvency events at Höegh LNG or PT Hoegh; |
· | occurrence of certain litigation events at Höegh LNG or PT Hoegh; |
· | the occurrence of a material adverse effect in respect of Höegh LNG, PT Hoegh or the charterer; |
· | breach of O&M agreement by O&M operator; |
· | termination or breach of the charter; and |
· | cross-default to certain material project contracts. |
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Joint Ventures Debt
The debt of our joint ventures is not consolidated on our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements, but it is included as a component in “Investment in and advances to joint ventures” on our combined carve-out balance sheet in accordance with the equity method of accounting.
Loans Due to Owners (Shareholder Loans)
The loans due to owners consist of shareholder loans where the principal amounts, including accrued interest, are repaid based on available cash after servicing of long-term bank debt. As of December 31, 2014, our 50.0% share of the outstanding balance was $19.5 million. The shareholder loans are due not later than the 12th anniversary of the delivery date of each FSRU. The GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann were delivered November 30, 2009 and June 1, 2010, respectively. The shareholder loans are subordinated to the long-term bank debt, consisting of the Neptune facility and the Cape Ann facility (described below). Under terms of the shareholder loan agreements, the repayments shall be prioritized over any dividend payment to the owners of our joint ventures. The shareholder loans bear interest at a fixed rate of 8.0% per year. The Partnership is due 50.0% of the outstanding balance and the other joint venture partners have, on a combined basis, an equal amount of shareholder loans outstanding at the same terms to each of our joint ventures.
The shareholder loans have financed part of the construction of the vessels and operating expenses until the delivery and commencement of operations of the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann . In 2011, our joint ventures began repaying principal and a portion of the interest expense based on available cash after servicing of the external debt. The quarterly payments include a payment of interest for the first month of the quarter and a repayment of principal. Interest is accrued for the last two months of the quarter for repayment in the latter years of the loans. Since the shareholder loans are subordinated to long-term bank debt, the repayment plan is subject to quarterly discretionary revisions based on available cash after servicing of the long-term bank debt.
Neptune Facility . In December 2007, our joint venture owning the GDF Suez Neptune , as the borrower, entered into a $300 million secured facility with a syndicate of banks as long term financing of the construction of the GDF Suez Neptune (the “Neptune facility”). As of December 31, 2014, our 50.0% share of the outstanding balance was $128.8 million. The Neptune facility is secured with a first priority mortgage of the GDF Suez Neptune , an assignment of its rights under the time charter and a pledge of the borrower’s cash accounts. We and the other owners of the borrower have provided a negative pledge of shares in the borrower as security for the facility. In addition, Höegh LNG and MOL guarantee funding of drydocking costs and remarketing efforts in the event of an early termination of the charter.
The Neptune facility is repayable in quarterly installments over 12 years with a final balloon payment of $165 million, of which $82.5 million is our share, due in April 2022. The Neptune facility bears interest at a rate equal to three month LIBOR plus a margin of 0.5%. The syndicate of banks also provides interest rate swap contracts to the borrower, which are not reflected in the LIBOR rate for the facility.
There are no financial covenants in the Neptune facility, but certain other covenants and restrictions apply. The borrower is required to maintain insurance coverage for damage to the FSRU equivalent to 120.0% of the aggregate outstanding loan balance and loss of hire insurance. The borrower must maintain cash accounts with the syndicate of banks for its operating account and restricted cash for debt service for the next 6 months, including interest payments on the facility and associated interest rate swap contracts and certain distribution accounts. Cash in the operating account from hire rates will be applied for the following purposes in the following order; first, to pay operating costs, insurance, taxes and technical management fees; second, to transfer funds to the restricted cash account for debt service until reserve requirements are met; finally, to transfer funds to certain distribution accounts. Certain conditions apply to making distributions from the distribution accounts, including meeting a 1.20 historical and projected debt service coverage ratio, no event of default then continuing and debt service reserve and retention accounts are fully funded. The facility agreement limits the borrower’s ability to raise additional debt, enter into certain material transactions and make guarantees.
The Neptune facility identifies various events that may trigger mandatory reduction, prepayment and cancellation of the facility, including total loss or sale of the GDF Suez Neptune . The Neptune facility contains customary events of default such as:
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· | change of ownership; |
· | inaccuracy of representations and warranties; |
· | failure to repay principal and interest; |
· | cross-default to other indebtedness held by the borrower; |
· | bankruptcy and other insolvency events related to the borrower; and |
· | termination or breach of the charter. |
Cape Ann Facility . In December 2007, our joint venture owning the GDF Suez Cape Ann , as the borrower, entered into a $300 million secured facility with a syndicate of banks as long term financing of the construction of the GDF Suez Cape Ann (the “Cape Ann facility”). As of December 31, 2014, our 50.0% share of the outstanding balance was $132.3 million. The Cape Ann facility is secured with a first priority mortgage of the GDF Suez Cape Ann , an assignment of its rights under the time charter and a pledge of the borrower’s cash accounts. We and the other owners of the borrower have provided a negative pledge of shares in the borrower as security for the facility. In addition, Höegh LNG and MOL guarantee funding of drydocking costs and remarketing efforts in the event of an early termination of the charter.
The Cape Ann facility is repayable in quarterly installments over 12 years with a final balloon payment of $165 million, of which $82.5 million is our share, due in October 2022. The Cape Ann facility bears interest at a rate equal to three month LIBOR plus a margin of 0.5%. The syndicate of banks also provides interest rate swap contracts to the borrower, which are not reflected in the LIBOR rate for the facility.
There are no financial covenants in the Cape Ann facility, but certain other covenants and restrictions apply. The borrower is required to maintain insurance coverage for damage to the FSRU equivalent to 120.0% of the aggregate outstanding loan balance and loss of hire insurance. The borrower must maintain cash accounts with the syndicate of banks for its operating account and restricted cash for debt service for the next 6 months, including interest payments on the facility and associated interest rate swap contracts and certain distribution accounts. Cash in the operating account from hire rates will be applied for the following purposes in the following order; first, to pay operating costs, insurance, taxes and technical management fees; second, to transfer funds to the restricted cash account for debt service until reserve requirements are met; finally, to transfer funds to certain distribution accounts. Certain conditions apply to making distributions from the distribution accounts, including meeting a 1.20 historical and projected debt service coverage ratio, no event of default then continuing and debt service reserve and retention accounts are fully funded. The facility agreement limits the borrower’s ability to raise additional debt, enter into certain material transactions and make guarantees.
The Cape Ann facility identifies various events that may trigger mandatory reduction, prepayment and cancellation of the facility, including total loss or sale of the GDF Suez Cape Ann . The Cape Ann facility contains customary events of default such as:
· | change of ownership; |
· | inaccuracy of representations and warranties; |
· | failure to repay principal and interest; |
· | cross-default to other indebtedness held by the borrower; |
· | bankruptcy and other insolvency events related to the borrower; and |
termination or breach of the charter.
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Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements and of the combined financial statements of our joint ventures in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The following is a discussion of the accounting policies applied by us that are considered to involve a higher degree of judgment in their application. Please read note 2 to the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements and the combined financial statements of our joint ventures included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Time Charter Revenue Recognition
Revenue arrangements include the right to use FSRUs for a stated period of time that meet the criteria for lease accounting, in addition to providing a time charter service element. The lease element of time charters that are accounted for as operating leases and any upfront payments for amounts reimbursed by the charterer are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the charter. The lease element of time charters that are accounted for as direct financing leases is recognized over the charter term using the effective interest rate method and is included in time charter revenues. Direct financing leases are reflected on the balance sheets as net investments in direct financing leases. The PGN FSRU Lampung time charter is accounted for as a financial lease.
Evaluation of whether a time charter should be accounted for as an operating or financial lease requires use of judgment. Our evaluations of each time charter requires that we estimate the fair value of our FSRUs, the estimated useful lives of those vessels, whether the option price, if any, represents a bargain purchase option, whether options to extend the time charter are reasonably assured and other factors.
The impact of the change in such estimates could impact our evaluation of the accounting for the time charters as operating or financial leases. Operating leases recognize revenues on a straight-line basis as time charters are paid while financial leases use the effective interest method. Under the effective interest method, part of the payment is reflected as a repayment of the net investment in the direct financing lease (receivable). As a result, the revenue component of a direct financial lease shows a declining profile over time. However, the cash flows from time charters are not impacted by the accounting treatment applied.
Our time charters may include provisions for the charterer to make upfront payments for fees for certain vessel modifications, drydocking costs or other additions to equipment or spare parts.
Fees for modifications or other additions to equipment are deferred and amortized over the shorter of the remaining charter period or the useful life of the additions. Payments of fees for reimbursement of drydocking costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the period to the next drydocking.
Construction Contract Revenue and Related Expenses
Revenue on construction contracts are recognized under the percentage of completion method using the ratio of costs incurred to estimated total costs. It is our judgment that until a construction contract reaches at least 25.0% completion, there may be insufficient information to determine the estimated profit with a reasonable level of certainty to recognize a margin on the contract. Revenue from contract change orders, if any, is recognized when the owner has agreed to the change order in writing. Provisions are recognized in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements of income for the full amount of estimated losses on uncompleted contracts whenever evidence indicates that the estimated total cost of a contract exceeds its estimated total revenue. All contract costs, including those associated with change orders, are recorded as incurred, and revisions to estimated total costs are reflected as soon as the obligation to perform is determined. Contract costs consist of direct costs on contracts, including labor and materials and amounts payable to subcontractors and interest.
The accuracy of our revenue and recognition of a margin in a given period is dependent on the accuracy of our estimates of the cost to complete each project. The main factors that can contribute to changes in estimates of contract cost include: a) the accuracy of the estimated costs in tendering the original bid at a fixed price, b) higher costs due to weather and other delays (including resulting delay liquidated damages) and c) subcontractor performance issues (including costs of warranty work, if any). These factors may cause fluctuations in the profit margin on the construction contract between periods. As the percentage of completion method relies on the substantial use of estimates, estimates may be revised throughout the life of a construction contract. The construction cost incurred and estimates to complete on construction contracts are reviewed, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis, as well as when information becomes available that would necessitate a review of the current estimate. Adjustments to estimates for a contract’s estimated costs at completion and estimated profit or loss often are required as experience is gained, and as more information is obtained, even though the scope of work required under the contract may not change. The impact of such changes to estimates is made on a cumulative basis in the period when such information has become known. Delays in delivery can result in delay liquidated damages that would be payable by us to our charterer.
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Estimated Useful Lives
The estimated economic life of our FSRUs is 40 years. Depreciation of FSRUs is calculated on a straight-line basis using our estimated useful life, less the estimated residual value. Our estimated useful life represents our best estimate of the period we will use the vessel, while the estimated economic life may involve periods an asset will be used by others. Our business model is to provide time charters of five years or more. Charterers tend to prefer newer vessels for long-term charters. Accordingly, we have estimated that the estimated useful life, or depreciable life, to us is 35 years.
Valuation of Derivative Financial Instruments
Under our risk management policies, we currently use of derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk. For interest rate swaps that are designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, the changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recorded in other comprehensive income (OCI) for that portion that is effective. Amounts included in accumulated OCI are reclassified to earnings in the consolidated combined carve-out statement of income when the hedged transaction is reflected in the statement of income. Ineffective portions of the cash flow hedges and amortization of amounts excluded form hedge effectiveness are recognized in statement of income as they occur or on a systematic basis, respectively. To qualify as a cash flow hedge, an assessment of whether the interest rate swap designated as a hedging instrument is highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of hedged items must be assessed at the designation date and over the life of the instrument. If a hedge is no longer highly effective, hedge accounting is discontinued on a prospective basis. Changes in fair value of interest rate swaps that are not designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes are recognized in the consolidated and combined carve-out statement of income.
The fair values of the interest rates swaps are estimated based on the present value of cash flows over the term of the instruments based on the relevant LIBOR interest rate curves, adjusted for the our credit worthiness given the level of collateral provided and the credit worthiness of the counterparty to the derivative. Determining credit worthiness is highly subjective and requires significant judgment.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
There are no recent accounting pronouncements, the adoption of which had a material impact on the consolidated and combined financial statements in the current year.
In May 2014, a new accounting standard, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Under the new standard, revenue for most contracts with customers will be recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects consideration that the entity expects to be entitled, subject to certain limitations. The scope of this guidance does not apply to leases, financial instruments, guarantees and certain non-monetary transactions. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is not permitted. The Partnership is currently assessing the impact the adoption this standard will have on the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, Etc.
Not applicable.
Outlook and Trends
Our FSRUs operate under long-term fixed rate contracts. Therefore, we believe our results of operations are not impacted by seasonality or short term fluctuations in FSRU charter rates or LNG prices. We believe lower LNG prices will positively impact demand for the commodity and, as a result, the infrastructure necessary for its import. Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Poland and Uruguay are expected to emerge as new sources of LNG demand in 2015. All such countries, except Poland, are expected to utilize FSRUs. We believe that attractive LNG pricing and adoption of FSRU technology will result in new FSRU projects that may become potential opportunities for us in the future.
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Pursuant to the omnibus agreement, the Partnership has the right to purchase from Höegh LNG all or a portion of its interests in the FSRU Independence within 24 months after the acceptance of the vessel by her charterer, subject to reaching an agreement with Höegh LNG regarding the purchase price and other terms in accordance with the provisions of the omnibus agreement. Höegh LNG is also obligated to offer to the Partnership any FSRU or LNG carrier operating under a charter of five or more years.
As discussed at “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Our Fleet,” the Independence began operating under its time charter in November 2014. In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2014, Höegh LNG entered into time charter agreements of five years or more for the Höegh Grace and the Höegh Gallant, which are scheduled to commence in mid-2016 and the second quarter of 2015, respectively. We believe these developments may provide opportunities for us to acquire additional vessels. However, there can be no assurance that we will acquire any vessels from Höegh LNG.
E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2014, there were no off-balance sheet arrangements.
F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2014:
Payments Due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | Total |
Less
than 1 Year |
1-3
Years |
4-5
Years |
More
than 5 Years |
|||||||||||||||
Long term debt | $ | 212,333 | 19,062 | 38,124 | 38,124 | $ | 117,023 | |||||||||||||
Interest commitments on long-term debt and interest rate swaps(1) | 60,483 | 10,853 | 18,551 | 14,440 | 16,639 | |||||||||||||||
Other long-term liabilities(2) | 24,524 | 2,318 | 22,206 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 297,340 | 32,233 | 78,881 | 52,564 | $ | 133,662 |
(1) | Our interest commitments on long-term debt and interest rate swaps are calculated based upon the varying margins by tranche of the Lampung facility and the fixed interest rate of the interest rate swaps since we are fully hedged. We swap a floating LIBOR interest rate on our long-term debt for a fixed interest rate on our swaps. |
(2) | Our consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheet includes other long-term liabilities for an advance provided by the charterer to fund refundable value added tax on the import of the FSRU. The current portion of the advance of $2.3 million is included in our consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheet as accrued liabilities and other payables which is reflected in the table above. |
Please read “Forward-Looking Statements.”
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
Management of Höegh LNG Partners LP
Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner will irrevocably delegate to our board of directors the authority to oversee and direct our operations, management and policies on an exclusive basis, and such delegation will be binding on any successor general partner of the Partnership. Our general partner, Höegh LNG GP LLC, is wholly owned by Höegh LNG. Our officers will manage our day-to-day activities consistent with the policies and procedures adopted by our board of directors.
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Employees of affiliates of Höegh LNG provide services to us under the Administrative Services Agreements. Please read “Item 7. B. Related Party Transactions—Administrative Services Agreements.”
A. Directors and Senior Management
The following table provides information about our directors and executive officer. The business address for each of our directors and executive officer is Wessex House, 5th Floor, 45 Reid Street, Hamilton, HM12, Bermuda.
Name |
Age |
Position |
||
Sveinung Støhle | 56 | Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||
Steffen Føreid | 46 | Director | ||
Claibourne Harris | 65 | Director, Member of the Audit Committee, Member of the Conflicts Committee | ||
Morten W. Høegh | 41 | Director | ||
Andrew Jamieson | 67 | Director, Member of the Audit Committee | ||
Robert Shaw | 59 | Director, Member of the Audit Committee, Member of the Conflicts Committee | ||
David Spivak | 47 | Director, Member of the Audit Committee, Member of the Conflicts Committee | ||
Richard Tyrrell | 41 | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
Sveinung Støhle has served as our director and chairman of our board of directors since April 2014. Since 2005, Mr. Støhle has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Höegh LNG through his employment with Höegh Norway. He has more than 25 years of experience in the LNG industry with both shipping and oil and gas companies. Prior to his employment with Höegh LNG, Mr. Støhle held positions as President of Total LNG USA, Inc., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Golar LNG Limited, General Manager Commercial of Nigeria LNG Limited and various positions with Elf Aquitaine. Mr. Støhle has a Master of Business Administration from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from California State University.
Steffen Føreid has served as our director since April 2014. Since 2010, Mr. Føreid has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Höegh LNG. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Føreid was the Chief Financial Officer of and an advisor to Grenland Group ASA. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Føreid held various positions at a corporate restructuring of Kværner ASA, including Executive Vice President during a management buy-out of Kværner ASA and Vice President of Group Business Development at Aker Kværner ASA. From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Føreid worked within Corporate and Investment Banking at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Mr. Føreid has a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.
Claiborne Harris has served as our director since May 2014. Since May 2013, Mr. Harris has been a member of Gunung Bonito LLC, which provides energy advisory services and LNG consulting. From October 2012 to April 2013, Mr. Harris served as a consultant to GDF Suez Energy North America, advising the President and Chief Executive Officer. From January 2006 to September 2012, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of GDF Suez Gas North America, which was responsible for GDF Suez Energy North America’s natural gas activities. From December 2002 to December 2006, Mr. Harris served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Suez Global LNG, which developed and managed LNG shipping assets. Prior to joining Suez Global LNG, Mr. Harris held various positions at Tractebel LNG Ltd., Enron, VICO Indonesia and UNOCAL. Mr. Harris holds a Bachelor of Science Geology from the University of Oklahoma.
Morten W. Høegh has served as our director since April 2014. Since 2006, Mr. Høegh has served as the Chairman of Höegh LNG, and since 2003, he has been a director of Höegh Autoliners Holdings AS (and its predecessors Leif Höegh & Co. ASA, Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd. and Höegh Autoliners Ltd.). Mr. Høegh is the Chairman of Höegh Eiendom AS and, until October 2014, was a director of Hector Rail AB. He is a director and member of the Executive Committee of Gard P&I (Bermuda) Ltd. He also serves as the Chairman of the UK committee of DNV GL. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Høegh worked as an investment banker with Morgan Stanley. He has a Master in Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Master of Science in Ocean Systems Management and a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also is a graduate of the Military Russian Program at the Norwegian Defense Intelligence and Security School.
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Andrew Jamieson has served as our director since April 2014. He has extensive experience in the energy industry, in general, and in LNG, in particular. Since 2009, Mr. Jamieson has served as a director of Höegh LNG. From 1974 to 2009, Mr. Jamieson held various positions with Royal Dutch Shell plc in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, Australia and Nigeria. Specifically, from 2005 to 2009, he served as Executive Vice President Gas & Projects and Member of the Gas & Power Executive Committee. From 1999 to 2004, he was Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited and Vice President of Bonny Gas Transport Limited. While at Royal Dutch Shell plc, Mr. Jamieson also was in charge of the North West Shelf Project in Australia and served as a director on various Royal Dutch Shell plc companies. Since 2005, 2010 and 2012, Mr. Jamieson has served as a director and chairman of Woodside Petroleum Ltd, Velocys PLC and Seven Energy International, respectively. Mr. Jamieson holds a Ph.D. degree from Glasgow University and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Robert Shaw has served as our director since April 2014. Since 2008, Mr. Shaw has been an owner and a managing director of Mystras Ventures LLC, which makes dry bulk shipping industry-related investments. From 2001 to 2007, Mr. Shaw held various positions at Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., including board member, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and President. From 1985 to 2000, Mr. Shaw was a partner at Healy & Baillie LLP, a law firm specializing in shipping and international commercial law. Since 2013, Mr. Shaw has been a managing director of Sea Trade Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries. Mr. Shaw also is the chairman of the board of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs and a board member of the Society of Maritime Arbitrators, Inc. Mr. Shaw was admitted to the Law Society of England and Wales in 1980 and the New York bar in 1981 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence from St John’s College, Oxford University.
David Spivak has served as our director since April 2014. Mr. Spivak is currently the Managing Director of Brockstreet Consulting, a strategic business and financial consulting firm he founded in 2013. From 1995 to 2012, Mr. Spivak worked at Citigroup as a capital markets professional and investment banker. He held a variety of positions at Citigroup, including serving as a Managing Director in the Investment Banking and Equity Capital Markets Divisions, as well as serving as the Canadian Head of Global Capital Structuring. From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Spivak was head of Citigroup’s shipping equity franchise in New York. Prior to joining Citigroup, Mr. Spivak worked at Coopers & Lybrand in the Financial Advisory Services Group. Mr. Spivak has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Manitoba. He also is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and member of the TSX Listings Advisory Committee.
Richard Tyrrell joined Leif Höegh UK in January 2014 in readiness to serve as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of us and Höegh UK. Prior to joining Leif Höegh UK, Mr. Tyrrell served as a Managing Director in the energy team of Perella Weinberg Partners, a global, independent advisory and asset management firm, from June 2009 until January 2014. From 2008 to February 2009, Mr. Tyrrell was an investment professional with Morgan Stanley Infrastructure, an infrastructure investment and management platform with $4 billion under management, where he evaluated principal investment opportunities. From 2003 to 2008, Mr. Tyrrell worked for various departments of Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Division, including its Global Energy and Utilities Group and its United Kingdom Mergers and Acquisitions Group. From 1994 to 2000, Mr. Tyrrell served as a technical manager and field engineer for Schlumberger Limited in Australia and Southeast Asia. Mr. Tyrrell has a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine.
Reimbursement of Expenses of Our General Partner
Our general partner does not receive compensation from us for any services it provides on our behalf, although it is entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred on our behalf. In addition, PT Hoegh, the owner of the PGN FSRU Lampung , reimburses Höegh Norway pursuant to the technical information and services agreement for expenses Höegh Norway incurs pursuant to the sub-technical support agreement that it is party to with Höegh LNG Management. Our joint ventures reimburse Höegh LNG Management for expenses incurred pursuant to the ship management agreements to which they are party to with Höegh LNG Management. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Ship Management Agreements and Sub-Technical Support Agreement.” Our subsidiary, Höegh UK also reimburses each of Leif Höegh UK and Höegh Norway for expenses pursuant to administrative services agreements. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Administrative Services Agreements.”
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Executive Compensation
We have not paid any compensation to our directors or our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer nor accrued any obligations with respect to management incentive or retirement benefits for our directors and our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer prior to our IPO. Pursuant to the administrative services agreement that we and our operating company entered into with Höegh UK, Richard Tyrrell, as an officer of Höegh UK, provides executive officer functions for our benefit. Mr. Tyrrell is responsible for our day-to-day management subject to the direction of our board of directors. Our officers and employees and officers and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates of Höegh LNG and our general partner may participate in employee benefit plans and arrangements sponsored by Höegh LNG, our general partner or their affiliates, including plans that may be established in the future. Under our administrative services agreement with Höegh UK, we paid $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, including $0.6 million for provision of services to Höegh UK from Höegh Norway under the Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement, under which Höegh UK has subcontracted provision of certain services to Höegh Norway. Höegh UK compensated Richard Tyrrell.
In connection with the IPO, Mr. Tyrrell entered into an employment agreement with Leif Höegh UK dated December 4, 2013 and effective on January 15, 2014, which was assigned from Leif Höegh UK to Höegh UK subsequent to the closing of our IPO. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Tyrrell serves as Höegh UK’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and is based in London. His annualized base salary is GBP 300,000. In addition, the employment agreement also provides for a discretionary annual bonus (as determined by Höegh UK), participation in other employment benefits in which other senior executives of Höegh UK participate, 25 working days of paid vacation per year (plus public holidays), and up to 12 weeks of paid sick leave per year. Mr. Tyrrell’s employment may be terminated on three months’ prior written notice by either Mr. Tyrrell or Höegh UK. In addition, Mr. Tyrrell’s employment agreement provides Höegh UK with the option to make a payment in lieu of notice. Höegh UK may also terminate the employment agreement with immediate effect upon certain specified “cause” events. The employment agreement includes post-termination restrictive covenants prohibiting Mr. Tyrrell from competing or soliciting customers or employees for a period of six months after the termination of his employment.
Compensation of Directors
Our officers who also serve as our directors did not receive additional compensation for their service as directors. Non-management directors receive compensation for attending meetings of our board of directors, as well as committee meetings. Non-management directors each receive a director fee of $50,000 per year. Chairpersons of the audit and conflicts committees each receive a committee fee of $10,000 per year, and other committee members receive a committee fee of $5,000 per year. In addition, each director is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attending meetings of our board of directors or committees. Each director is fully indemnified by us for actions associated with being a director to the extent permitted under Marshall Islands law.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, we did not pay cash compensation to our directors. Director fees are paid annually and will be paid in 2015.
2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan
In connection with our initial public offering, we adopted the Höegh LNG Partners LP 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or the “LTIP,” for our employees, officers, consultants and directors who perform services for us and our subsidiaries. The LTIP provides for the grant of unit options, unit appreciation rights, restricted units, unit awards, phantom units, distribution equivalent rights, cash awards, performance awards, other unit-based awards and substitute awards (collectively, “awards”). These awards are intended to align the interests of employees, officers, consultants and directors with those of our unitholders and to give such individuals the opportunity to share in our long-term performance. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we granted no awards under the LTIP.
Administration
The LTIP is administered by our board of directors, or an alternative committee appointed by our board of directors, which we refer to together as the “committee” for purposes of this summary. The committee administers the LTIP pursuant to its terms and all applicable state, federal or other rules or laws. The committee has the power to determine to whom and when awards will be granted, determine the type and amount of awards (measured in cash or in common units), proscribe and interpret the terms and provisions of each award agreement (the terms of which may vary), accelerate the vesting provisions associated with an award, delegate duties under the LTIP and execute all other responsibilities permitted or required under the LTIP.
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Securities to Be Offered
The maximum aggregate number of common units that may be issued pursuant to any and all awards under the LTIP shall not exceed 658,000 common units, subject to adjustment due to recapitalization or reorganization as provided under the LTIP. In addition, if any common units subject to any award are not issued or transferred, or cease to be issuable or transferable for any reason, including (but not exclusively) because units are withheld or surrendered in payment of taxes or any exercise or purchase price relating to an award or because an award is forfeited, terminated, expires unexercised, is settled in cash in lieu of common units or is otherwise terminated without a delivery of units, those common units will again be available for issue, transfer or exercise pursuant to awards under the LTIP, to the extent allowable by law. Common units to be delivered pursuant to awards under the LTIP may be newly issued common units or common units acquired in the open market, from any person, or any combination of the foregoing.
Awards
Unit Options . We may grant unit options to eligible persons. Unit options are rights to acquire common units at a specified price. The exercise price of each unit option granted under the LTIP will be stated in the unit option agreement and may vary; provided, however, that, the exercise price for a unit option must not be less than 100% of the fair market value per common unit as of the date of grant of the unit option. Unit options may be exercised in the manner and at such times as the committee determines for each unit option. The committee will determine the methods and form of payment for the exercise price of a unit option and the methods and forms in which common units will be delivered to a participant.
Unit Appreciation Rights . A unit appreciation right is the right to receive, in cash or in common units, as determined by the committee, an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of one common unit on the date of exercise over the grant price of the unit appreciation right. The committee may make grants of unit appreciation rights and will determine the time or times at which a unit appreciation right may be exercised in whole or in part. The exercise price of each unit appreciation right granted under the LTIP will be stated in the unit appreciation right agreement and may vary; provided, however, that, the exercise price must not be less than 100% of the fair market value per common unit as of the date of grant of the unit appreciation right.
Restricted Units . A restricted unit is a grant of a common unit subject to a risk of forfeiture, performance conditions, restrictions on transferability and any other restrictions imposed by the committee in its discretion. Restrictions may lapse at such times and under such circumstances as determined by the committee. Cash distributions paid with respect to our common units will be paid to the holder of restricted units without restriction at the same time as such distributions are paid to unitholders generally, unless otherwise specified in the applicable award agreement governing the restricted units.
Unit Awards . The committee may grant common units that are not subject to restrictions to any eligible person in such amounts as the committee, in its sole discretion, may select.
Phantom Units . Phantom units are rights to receive common units, cash or a combination of both at the end of a specified period. The committee may subject phantom units to restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) to be specified in the phantom unit agreement that may lapse at such times and under such circumstances as determined by the committee. Phantom units may be satisfied by delivery of common units, cash equal to the fair market value of the specified number of common units covered by the phantom unit or any combination thereof as determined by the committee. Distribution equivalent rights may be granted in tandem with a phantom unit award, which may provide that cash distribution equivalents will be paid during or after the vesting period with respect to a phantom unit, as determined by the committee.
Distribution Equivalent Rights . The committee may grant distribution equivalent rights in tandem with awards under the LTIP (other than unit awards or an award of restricted units), or distribution equivalent rights may be granted alone. Distribution equivalent rights entitle the participant to receive cash equal to the amount of any cash distributions made by us during the period the distribution equivalent right is outstanding. Payment of cash distributions pursuant to a distribution equivalent right issued in connection with another award may be subject to the same vesting terms as the award to which it relates or different vesting terms, in the discretion of the committee.
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Cash Awards . The committee may grant awards denominated in and settled in cash. Cash awards may be based, in whole or in part, on the value or performance of a common unit.
Performance Awards . The committee may condition the right to exercise or receive an award, or the settlement or vesting of an award, or may increase or decrease the amount payable with respect to an award, based on the attainment of one or more performance conditions deemed appropriate by the committee.
Other Unit-Based Awards . The committee may grant other unit-based awards under the LTIP, which are awards that may be based, in whole or in part, on the value or performance of a common unit or are denominated or payable in common units. Upon settlement, these other unit-based awards may be paid in common units, cash or a combination thereof, as provided in the award agreement.
Substitute Awards . The committee may grant awards in substitution for similar awards held by individuals who become employees, consultants or directors as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition by or involving us, an affiliate of another entity or the assets of another entity. Such substitute awards that are unit options or unit appreciation rights may have exercise prices less than 100% of the fair market value per common unit on the date of the substitution if such substitution complies with applicable laws and exchange rules.
Tax Withholding
At our discretion, and subject to conditions that the committee may impose, tax withholding obligations with respect to an award may be satisfied by withholding from any payment related to an award or by the withholding of common units issuable pursuant to the award based on the fair market value of the common units.
Anti-Dilution Adjustments and Change in Control
In the event of any “equity restructuring” event (such as a unit dividend, unit split, reverse unit split or similar event) with respect to the common units that may result in an additional compensation expense under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”) if adjustments to awards in such event were discretionary, the committee will adjust the number and type of units covered by each outstanding award, the terms and conditions of each such award, the maximum number of units available under the LTIP and the kind of units or other securities available for grant under the LTIP, in each case, to equitably reflect the restructuring event. With respect to any similar event that would not result in a FASB ASC Topic 718 accounting charge if adjustments to awards were discretionary (such as certain recapitalizations, reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers, combinations, exchanges or other relevant changes in capitalization), adjustment will be made by the committee in its discretion in accordance with the terms of the LTIP with respect to, as appropriate, the maximum number of units available under the LTIP, the number of units that may be acquired with respect to an award and, if applicable, the exercise price of an award, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of awards as a result of such events. Upon a “change in control” (as defined in the LTIP), the committee may, in its discretion, (i) remove any forfeiture restrictions applicable to an award, (ii) accelerate the time of exercisability or vesting of an award, (iii) require awards to be surrendered in exchange for a cash payment, (iv) cancel unvested awards without payment or (v) make adjustments to awards as the committee deems appropriate to reflect the change in control.
Termination of Employment or Service
The consequences on outstanding awards under the LTIP of the termination of a participant’s employment, consulting arrangement or membership on our board of directors will be determined by the committee in the terms of the relevant award agreement.
General
Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner irrevocably delegates to our board of directors the authority to oversee and direct our operations, management and policies on an exclusive basis, and such delegation is binding on any successor general partner of the Partnership. Our general partner, Höegh LNG GP LLC, is wholly owned by Höegh LNG. Our officers manage our day-today activities consistent with the policies and procedures adopted by our board of directors.
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Our current board of directors consists of seven members, three of whom were appointed by our general partner and four of whom were elected by our common unitholders. Sveinung Støhle, Steffen Føreid and Claibourne Harris were appointed by our general partner and will serve for terms as determined by our general partner. Morten W. Høegh, Andrew Jamieson, David Spivak and Robert Shaw were elected by our common unitholders on September 24, 2014, and are divided into four classes serving staggered terms. Andrew Jamieson was elected by our common unitholders on September 24, 2014 as the Class I elected director and will serve until our annual meeting of unitholders in 2015. Robert Shaw was designated as the Class II elected director and will serve until our annual meeting of unitholders in 2016. David Spivak was designated as our Class III elected director and will serve until our annual meeting of unitholders in 2017. Morten W. Høegh was designated as our Class IV elected director and will serve until our annual meeting of unitholders in 2018. At each subsequent annual meeting of unitholders, directors will be elected to succeed the class of director whose term has expired by a plurality of the votes of the common unitholders. Directors elected by our common unitholders may be nominated by our board of directors or by any limited partner or group of limited partners that holds at least 10% of the outstanding common units.
Each outstanding common unit is entitled to one vote on matters subject to a vote of common unitholders. However, to preserve our ability to claim an exemption from U.S. federal income tax under Section 883 of the Code, if at any time, any person or group owns beneficially more than 4.9% of any class of units then outstanding, any such units owned by that person or group in excess of 4.9% may not be voted (except for purposes of nominating a person for election to our board of directors). The voting rights of any such unitholders in excess of 4.9% will effectively be redistributed pro rata among the other common unitholders holding less than 4.9% of the voting power of such class of units. Our general partner, its affiliates and persons who acquired common units with the prior approval of our board of directors will not be subject to this 4.9% limitation except with respect to voting their common units in the election of the elected directors.
Committees
We have an audit committee that, among other things, reviews our external financial reporting, engages our external auditors and oversees our internal audit activities and procedures, if any, and the adequacy of our internal accounting controls. Our audit committee is comprised of four directors, Mr. Harris, Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Shaw and Mr. Spivak. Each of Mr. Harris, Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Shaw and Mr. Spivak satisfies the independence standards required for audit committee members of the SEC and the NYSE. Mr. Spivak qualifies as an “audit committee expert” for purposes of SEC rules and regulations.
We also have a conflicts committee comprised of three members of our board of directors. The conflicts committee will be available at our board of directors’ discretion to review specific matters that our board of directors believes may involve conflicts of interest. The conflicts committee will determine if the resolution of the conflict of interest is fair and reasonable to us. The members of the conflicts committee may not be officers or employees of us or directors, officers or employees of our general partner or its affiliates, and must meet the independence standards established by the NYSE to serve on an audit committee of a board of directors and certain other requirements. Any matters approved by the conflicts committee will be conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to us, approved by all of our partners and not a breach by our directors, our general partner or its affiliates of any duties any of them may owe us or our unitholders. Our conflicts committee is comprised of Mr. Harris, Mr. Shaw and Mr. Spivak.
Exemptions from Corporate Governance Rules
Because we qualify as a foreign private issuer under SEC rules, we are permitted to follow the corporate governance practices of the Marshall Islands (the jurisdiction in which we are organized) in lieu of certain of the corporate governance requirements that would otherwise be applicable to us. The NYSE rules do not require a listed company that is a foreign private issuer to have a board of directors that is comprised of a majority of independent directors. Under Marshall Islands law, we are not required to have a board of directors comprised of a majority of directors meeting the independence standards described in the NYSE rules. In addition, the NYSE rules do not require limited partnerships like us to have boards of directors comprised of a majority of independent directors..
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NYSE rules do not require foreign private issuers or limited partnerships like us to establish a compensation committee or a nominating/corporate governance committee. Similarly, under Marshall Islands law, we are not required to have a compensation committee or a nominating/corporate governance committee. Accordingly, we do not have a compensation committee or a nominating/corporate governance committee. For a listing and further discussion of how our corporate governance practices differ from those required of U.S. companies listed on the NYSE, please read “Item 16G. Corporate Governance.”
Employees of Höegh LNG’s affiliates provide administrative services to us pursuant to the administrative services agreements. Our board of directors has the authority to hire other employees as deemed necessary. Certain affiliates of Höegh LNG also provide commercial and technical management services to our fleet pursuant to ship management agreements, a sub-technical support agreement and commercial and administration management agreements. A total crew of approximately 160 people is employed by Höegh LNG’s subsidiaries to operate our FSRUs.
Please read “Item 7.A. Major Unitholders.”
Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our common units and subordinated units as of April 23, 2015, by each of our directors and executive officers and each person that we know to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common or subordinated units:
Common Units
Beneficially Owned |
Subordinated Units
Beneficially Owned |
Percentage of
Total Common and Subordinated Units Beneficially |
||||||||||||||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Owned | |||||||||||||||
Höegh LNG Holding Ltd.(1) | 2,116,060 | 16.1 | % | 13,156,060 | 100 | % | 58.0 | % | ||||||||||||
Clearbridge Investments, LLC(2) | 738,500 | 5.6 | % | — | — | 2.8 | % | |||||||||||||
FMR LLC(3) | 778,655 | 5.9 | % | — | — | 3.0 | % | |||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Asset Management(4) | 2,330,485 | 17.7 | % | — | — | 8.9 | % | |||||||||||||
Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. and Richard A. Kayne(5) | 1,433,935 | 10.9 | % | — | — | 5.4 | % | |||||||||||||
Oceanic Investment Management Limited(6) | 1,048,900 | 8.0 | % | — | — | 4.0 | % | |||||||||||||
Sveinung Støhle (Chairman of the Board of Directors) | * | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||
Steffen Føreid (Director) | * | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||
Claiborne Harris (Director) | * | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||
Morten W. Høegh (Director)(7) | 352,500 | 2.7 | % | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Andrew Jamieson (Director) | * | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||
Robert Shaw (Director) | * | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||
David Spivak (Director) | * | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||
Richard Tyrell (Chief Financial Officer and Chief Financial Officer) | * | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons) | 388,500 | 3.0 | % | — | — | 1.5 | % |
* Less than 1%
(1) | Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. is a public company listed on the Oslo Børs stock exchange. Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd. is the largest shareholder of Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., holding a 44.4% ownership interest. Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd. is indirectly controlled by Leif O. Høegh and a family trust under which Morten Høegh, one of our directors, is the primary beneficiary. |
(2) | This information is based on the Schedule 13G filed by Clearbridge Investments, LLC on February 17, 2015. |
(3) | This information is based on the Schedule 13G filed by FMR LLC on February 13, 2015. |
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(4) | Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and GS Investment Strategies, LLC (collectively, “Goldman Sachs Asset Management”) have shared voting power and shared dispositive power as to 2,330,485 units. This information is based on the Schedule 13G filed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management on September 10, 2014. |
(5) | Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. and Richard A. Kayne have shared voting power as to 644,647 units and shared dispositive power as to 1,433,935 units. This information is based on the Schedule 13G/A filed by Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. and Richard A. Kayne on February 10, 2015. |
(6) | Oceanic Hedge Fund, Oceanic Opportunities Master Fund, L.P., Oceanic CL Fund LP, Tufton Oceanic (Isle of Man) Limited, Oceanic Opportunities GP Limited, Oceanic CL GP Limited, Cato Brahde and Oceanic Investment Management Limited (collectively, “Oceanic Investment Management Limited”) each have shared voting power and shared dispositive power of up to 1,048,900 units. This information is based on the Schedule 13G filed by Oceanic Investment Management Limited on September 3, 2014. |
(7) | Morten W. Høegh may be deemed to have shared beneficial ownership of 352,500 common units through direct and indirect ownership interests in Leif Höegh & Co Ltd. and Aequitas Investments Ltd. Morten W. Høegh has an indirect minority ownership and voting interest in Fraternitas AS, which beneficially owns 50,000 common units. If the common units owned by Fraternitas AS were deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Høegh, then he would share beneficial ownership of a total of 402,500 common units, or 3.1% of the common units issued and outstanding as of April 23, 2015. |
Each outstanding common unit is entitled to one vote on matters subject to a vote of common unitholders. However, to preserve our ability to claim an exemption from U.S. federal income tax under Section 883 of the Code, if at any time any person or group owns beneficially more than 4.9% of any class of units then outstanding, any units beneficially owned by that person or group in excess of 4.9% may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes (except for purposes of nominating a person for election to our board of directors), determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under our partnership agreement, unless otherwise required by law. The voting rights of any such unitholders in excess of 4.9% will effectively be redistributed pro rata among the other common unitholders holding less than 4.9% of the voting power of all classes of units entitled to vote. Our general partner, its affiliates and persons who acquired common units with the prior approval of our board of directors will not be subject to this 4.9% limitation except with respect to voting their common units in the election of the elected directors.
Höegh LNG exercises influence over the Partnership through our general partner, a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG, which in its sole discretion appoints three directors to our board of directors. Please read “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Management of Höegh LNG Partners LP.” Höegh LNG also exercises influence over the Partnership through its ownership of all of our subordinated units. At the end of the subordination period, assuming no additional issuances of common units and the conversion of our subordinated units into common units, Höegh LNG will own approximately 58.0% of our common units.
As a result of our relationships with Höegh LNG and its affiliates, we, our general partner and our subsidiaries have entered into various agreements that were not the result of arm’s length negotiations. A number of agreements were entered into in connection with our IPO. In addition, we may enter into new agreements in the future. We have established a conflicts committee that may review future related party transactions. Please refer to “Item 6.C. Board Practices—Committees.” The related party agreements that we have entered into or were party to since January 1, 2014 are discussed below.
Our partnership agreement sets forth procedures by which future related party transactions may be approved or resolved by our board of directors. Pursuant to our partnership agreement, our board of directors may, but is not required to, seek the approval of a related party transaction from the conflicts committee of our board of directors or from the common unitholders. Affiliated transactions that are not approved by the conflicts committee of our board of directors and that do not involve a vote of unitholders must be on terms no less favorable to us than those generally provided to or available from unrelated third parties or be “fair and reasonable” to us. In determining whether a transaction or resolution is “fair and reasonable,” our board of directors may consider the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly advantageous or beneficial to us. If the above procedures are followed, it will be presumed that, in making its decision, our board of directors acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any limited partner or the Partnership, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption. When our partnership agreement requires someone to act in good faith, it requires that person to believe that he is acting in the best interests of the Partnership, unless the context otherwise requires.
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Our conflicts committee is comprised of at least two members of our board of directors. The conflicts committee is available at our board of directors’ discretion to review specific matters that our board of directors believes may involve conflicts of interest. The conflicts committee may determine if the resolution of the conflict of interest is fair and reasonable to us. The members of the conflicts committee may not be officers or employees of us or directors, officers or employees of our general partner or its affiliates, and must meet the independence standards established by the NYSE to serve on an audit committee of a board of directors and certain other requirements.
Contribution, Purchase and Sale Agreement
On August 8, 2014, in connection with the closing of our IPO, we entered into a contribution, purchase and sale agreement with Höegh LNG that effected the transfer of the ownership interests in the entities that owned the vessels in our initial fleet and related shareholder loans, promissory notes and accrued interest and the use of the net proceeds of our IPO. Please refer to note 3 to our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements for additional information.
Omnibus Agreement
Upon completion of the IPO, we entered into an omnibus agreement with Höegh LNG, our general partner and certain of our other subsidiaries. The following discussion describes certain provisions of the omnibus agreement.
Noncompetition
Under the omnibus agreement, Höegh LNG agrees, and causes its controlled affiliates (other than us, our general partner and our subsidiaries) to agree, not to acquire, own, operate or charter any FSRU or LNG carrier operating under a charter for five or more years. For purposes of this section, we refer to these vessels, together with any related charters and ancillary installations or equipment covered by such charters, as “Five-Year Vessels” and to all other FSRUs and LNG carriers as “Non-Five-Year Vessels.” The restrictions in this paragraph will not prevent Höegh LNG or any of its controlled affiliates (other than us and our subsidiaries) from:
(1) | acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Non-Five-Year Vessel; |
(2) | acquiring one or more Five-Year Vessels if Höegh LNG promptly offers to sell the vessel to us for the acquisition price plus any administrative costs (including re-flagging and reasonable legal costs) associated with the transfer to us at the time of the acquisition; |
(3) | delivering a Non-Five-Year Vessel under charter for five or more years if Höegh LNG offers to sell the vessel to us for fair market value (x) promptly after the time she becomes a Five-Year Vessel and (y) at each renewal or extension of that charter for five or more years; |
(4) | acquiring one or more Five-Year Vessels as part of the acquisition of a controlling interest in a business or package of assets and owning, operating or chartering those vessels; provided, however, that: |
(a) | if less than a majority of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by Höegh LNG’s board of directors, Höegh LNG must offer to sell such Five-Year Vessels to us for their fair market value plus any additional tax or other similar costs Höegh LNG incurs in connection with the acquisition and the transfer of such vessels to us separate from the acquired business; and |
(b) | if a majority or more of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by Höegh LNG’s board of directors, Höegh LNG must notify us of the proposed acquisition in advance. Not later than 10 days following receipt of such notice, we will notify Höegh LNG if we wish to acquire any of such vessels in cooperation and simultaneously with Höegh LNG acquiring the Non-Five-Year Vessels. If we do not notify Höegh LNG of our intent to pursue the acquisition within 10 days, Höegh LNG may proceed with the acquisition and then offer to sell such vessels to us as provided in clause (a) above; |
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(5) | acquiring a non-controlling interest in any company, business or pool of assets; |
(6) | acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Five-Year Vessel if we do not fulfill our obligation to purchase such vessel in accordance with the terms of any existing or future agreement; |
(7) | acquiring, owning, operating or chartering a Five-Year Vessel subject to the offers to us described in clauses (2), (3) and (4) above pending our determination whether to accept such offers and pending the closing of any offers we accept; |
(8) | providing ship management services relating to any vessel; |
(9) | owning or operating any Five-Year Vessel that Höegh LNG owned on the closing date of our IPO and that was not part of our initial fleet; or |
(10) | acquiring, owning, operating or chartering a Five-Year Vessel if we have previously advised Höegh LNG that we consent to such acquisition, ownership, operation or charter. |
If Höegh LNG or any of its controlled affiliates (other than us or our subsidiaries) acquires, owns, operates or charters Five-Year Vessels pursuant to any of the exceptions described above, it may not subsequently expand that portion of its business other than pursuant to those exceptions. However, such Five-Year Vessels could eventually compete with our vessels upon their re-chartering.
In addition, under the omnibus agreement we agree, and cause our subsidiaries to agree, to acquire, own, operate or charter Five-Year Vessels only. The restrictions in this paragraph will not:
(1) | prevent us from owning, operating or chartering any Non-Five-Year Vessel that was previously a Five-Year Vessel while owned by us; |
(2) | prevent us or any of our subsidiaries from acquiring Non-Five-Year Vessels as part of the acquisition of a controlling interest in a business or package of assets and owning, operating or chartering those vessels; provided, however, that: |
(a) | if less than a majority of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Non-Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by us, we must offer to sell such vessels to Höegh LNG for their fair market value plus any additional tax or other similar costs that we incur in connection with the acquisition and the transfer of such vessels to Höegh LNG separate from the acquired business; and |
(b) | if a majority or more of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Non-Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by us, we must notify Höegh LNG of the proposed acquisition in advance. Not later than 10 days following receipt of such notice, Höegh LNG must notify us if it wishes to acquire the Non-Five-Year Vessels in cooperation and simultaneously with us acquiring the Five-Year Vessels. If Höegh LNG does not notify us of its intent to pursue the acquisition within 10 days, we may proceed with the acquisition and then offer to sell such vessels to Höegh LNG as provided in clause (a) above; |
(3) | prevent us or any of our subsidiaries from acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Non-Five-Year Vessels subject to the offer to Höegh LNG described in clause (2) above, pending its determination whether to accept such offer and pending the closing of any offer it accepts; or |
(4) | prevent us or any of our subsidiaries from acquiring, owning, operating or chartering Non-Five-Year Vessels if Höegh LNG has previously advised us that it consents to such acquisition, ownership, operation or charter. |
If we or any of our subsidiaries acquires, owns, operates or charters Non-Five-Year Vessels pursuant to any of the exceptions described above, neither we nor such subsidiary may subsequently expand that portion of our business other than pursuant to those exceptions.
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Upon a change of control of us or our general partner, the noncompetition provisions of the omnibus agreement will terminate immediately. Upon a change of control of Höegh LNG, the noncompetition provisions of the omnibus agreement applicable to Höegh LNG will terminate at the time that is the later of the date of the change of control and the date on which all of our outstanding subordinated units have converted to common units. On the date on which a majority of our directors ceases to consist of directors that were (i) appointed by our general partner prior to our first annual meeting of unitholders and (ii) recommended for election by a majority of our appointed directors, the noncompetition provisions applicable to Höegh LNG shall terminate immediately.
In the event that Höegh LNG is required to make an offer to sell to us a Five-Year Vessel, or we are required to make an offer to sell to Höegh LNG a Non-Five-Year Vessel, and we and Höegh LNG are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such vessel, the fair market value will be determined by a mutually acceptable investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, and we or Höegh LNG, as the case may be, will have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the vessel at such price.
Independence Purchase Option
Under the omnibus agreement, we have the right to purchase from Höegh LNG all or a portion of its interests in the Independence at a purchase price to be agreed upon by us and Höegh LNG at any time within 24 months after Höegh LNG notifies our board of directors of her acceptance by her charterer. We may exercise this option at one or more times during such 24-month period. If we and Höegh LNG are unable to agree upon the fair market value of the Independence , the fair market value will be determined by a mutually acceptable investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, and we will have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the vessel at such price.
On the date on which a majority of our directors ceases to consist of directors that were (i) appointed by our general partner prior to our first annual meeting of unitholders and (ii) recommended for election by a majority of our appointed directors, the Independence purchase option will terminate immediately.
Rights of First Offer on FSRUs and LNG Carriers
Under the omnibus agreement, we and our subsidiaries grant to Höegh LNG a right of first offer on any proposed sale, transfer or other disposition of any Five-Year Vessels or Non-Five-Year Vessels owned by us. Under the omnibus agreement, Höegh LNG agrees (and will cause its subsidiaries to agree) to grant a similar right of first offer to us for any Five-Year Vessels they might own. These rights of first offer will not apply to a (i) sale, transfer or other disposition of vessels between any affiliated subsidiaries or pursuant to the terms of any current or future charter or other agreement with a charter party or (ii) merger with or into, or sale of substantially all of the assets to, an unaffiliated third party.
Prior to engaging in any negotiation regarding any vessel disposition with respect to a Five-Year Vessel with a unaffiliated third party or any Non-Five-Year Vessel, we or Höegh LNG, as the case may be, will deliver a written notice to the other relevant party setting forth the material terms and conditions of the proposed transaction. During the 30-day period after the delivery of such notice, we and Höegh LNG, as the case may be, will negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement on the transaction. If we do not reach an agreement within such 30-day period, we or Höegh LNG, as the case may be, will be able within the next 180 calendar days to sell, transfer, dispose or re-charter the vessel to a third party (or to agree in writing to undertake such transaction with a third party) on terms generally no less favorable to us or Höegh LNG, as the case may be, than those offered pursuant to the written notice.
Upon a change of control of us or our general partner, the right of first offer provisions of the omnibus agreement will terminate immediately. Upon a change of control of Höegh LNG, the right of first offer provisions applicable to Höegh LNG under the omnibus agreement will terminate at the time that is the later of the date of the change of control and the date on which all of our outstanding subordinated units have converted to common units. On the date on which a majority of our directors ceases to consist of directors that were (i) appointed by our general partner prior to our first annual meeting of unitholders and (ii) recommended for election by a majority of our appointed directors, the provisions related to the rights of first offer granted to us by Höegh LNG shall terminate immediately.
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Indemnification
Under the omnibus agreement, Höegh LNG indemnifies us after the closing of the IPO for a period of five years against certain environmental and toxic tort liabilities with respect to the assets contributed or sold to us to the extent arising prior to the time they were contributed or sold to us. Liabilities resulting from a change in law after the closing of the IPO are excluded from the environmental indemnity. There is an aggregate cap of $5.0 million on the amount of indemnity coverage provided by Höegh LNG for environmental and toxic tort liabilities. No claim may be made unless the aggregate dollar amount of all claims exceeds $500,000, in which case Höegh LNG is liable for claims only to the extent such aggregate amount exceeds $500,000.
Höegh LNG also indemnifies us for losses:
· | related to certain defects in title to the assets contributed or sold to us and any failure to obtain, prior to the time they were contributed to us, certain consents and permits necessary to conduct our business, which liabilities arise within three years after August 12, 2014; |
· | related to certain tax liabilities attributable to the operation of the assets contributed or sold to us prior to the time they were contributed or sold; |
· | in the event that we do not receive hire rate payments under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter for the period commencing on the closing date of our IPO through the earlier of (i) the date of acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung or (ii) the termination of such time charter; |
· | with respect to any obligation to pay liquidated damages to PGN under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter for failure to deliver the PGN FSRU Lampung by the scheduled delivery date set forth in the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter; and |
· | with respect to any non-budgeted expenses (including repair costs) incurred in connection with the PGN FSRU Lampung project (including the construction of the related tower yoke mooring system) occurring prior to the date of acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung pursuant to the time charter. |
Amendments
The omnibus agreement may not be amended without the prior approval of the conflicts committee of our board of directors if the proposed amendment will, in the reasonable discretion of our board of directors, adversely affect holders of our common units.
Pursuant to our partnership agreement, our general partner, our board of directors and our conflicts committee are entitled to make decisions in “good faith” if they believe that the decision is in our best interests. Our partnership agreement permits our general partner, our board of directors and our conflicts committee to consult with advisors and consultants, such as, among others, appraisers and investment bankers, selected by either of them to assist them with, among other things, the determination of the fair market value of a vessel. Any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion such advisors as to matters that our general partner, our board of directors and our conflicts committee reasonably believes to be within such advisor’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice.
Administrative Services Agreements
Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement
In connection with the IPO, we and our operating company entered into an administrative services agreement with Höegh UK, pursuant to which Höegh UK will provide us and our operating company certain administrative services. The agreement has an initial term of five years. The services provided under the Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement will be provided in a diligent manner, as we or our operating company may reasonably direct.
The Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement may be terminated prior to the end of its term by us and our operating company upon 90 days’ written notice for any reason in the sole discretion of our and our operating company’s boards of directors. The Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement may also be terminated solely by Höegh UK upon 90 days’ written notice if:
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· | there is a change of control of us or our general partner; |
· | a receiver is appointed for all or substantially all of our property or our operating company’s property; |
· | an order is made to wind up the Partnership or our operating company; |
· | a final judgment, order or decree that materially and adversely affects our or our operating company’s ability to perform the agreement is obtained or entered and not vacated, discharged or stayed; or |
· | we make a general assignment for the benefit of our creditors, file a petition in bankruptcy or for liquidation or commence any reorganization proceedings. |
Under the Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement, Richard Tyrrell, as an officer of Höegh UK, provides executive officer functions for our benefit. Mr. Tyrrell is responsible for providing advice and recommendations to us, subject to the direction of our board of directors. Our board of directors has the ability to terminate the arrangement with Höegh UK regarding the provision of executive officer services to us with respect to Mr. Tyrrell at any time in its sole discretion.
The administrative services provided by Höegh UK to us include:
· | commercial management services : assisting with our commercial management and the execution of our business strategies and investment decisions, although Höegh UK will not make any strategic or investment decisions; |
· | bookkeeping, audit and accounting services : assisting with the maintenance of our corporate books and records, assisting with the preparation of our tax returns and arranging for the provision of audit and accounting services; |
· | legal and insurance services : arranging for the provision of legal, insurance and other professional services and maintaining our existence and good standing in necessary jurisdictions; |
· | administrative and clerical services : assisting with office space, arranging meetings for our common unitholders pursuant to our partnership agreement, arranging the provision of IT services, providing all administrative services required for subsequent debt and equity financings and attending to all other administrative matters necessary to ensure the professional management of our business; |
· | banking and financial services : providing cash management including assistance with preparation of budgets, overseeing banking services and bank accounts, providing assistance and support with our capitalization, financing and future offerings, negotiating and arranging for hedging arrangements and monitoring and maintaining compliance with loan and credit terms; |
· | advisory services : assisting in complying with U.S. and other applicable securities laws; |
· | client and investor relations : providing advisory, clerical and investor relations services to assist and support us in our communications with our common unitholders; and |
· | assisting with the integration of any acquired businesses. |
The administrative services provided by Höegh UK to our operating company include:
· | advising on cash management and services; |
· | arranging for the preparation and provision of accounting information; and |
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· | providing advice on financing and other agreements into which the operating company is considering entering. |
Each month, we and our operating company reimburse Höegh UK for its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of the services under the Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement. In addition, Höegh UK receive a service fee in U.S. Dollars equal to 5.0% of the costs and expenses incurred by them in connection with providing services. Amounts payable by us or our operating company must be paid promptly upon receipt of an invoice for such costs, expenses and supporting detail that may be reasonably required. Our operating company reimbursed Höegh UK approximately $1.2 million in total under the Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Under the Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement, we and our operating company indemnify Höegh UK against all actions that may be brought against them as a result of their performance of the administrative services including, without limitation, all actions brought under the environmental laws of any jurisdiction, and against and in respect of all costs and expenses they may suffer or incur due to defending or settling such actions; provided, however, that such indemnity excludes any or all losses to the extent that they are caused by or due to the fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the subcontractor or its officers, employees and agents.
Höegh Norway Administrative Services Agreement
Under the Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement, Höegh UK is permitted to subcontract to Höegh Norway certain of the above-mentioned administrative services provided to us pursuant to an administrative services agreement with Höegh Norway. This agreement has an initial term of five years. The services provided under the Höegh Norway Administrative Services Agreement, as amended, will be provided in a diligent manner, as Höegh UK may reasonably direct. The Höegh Norway Administrative Services Agreement may be terminated by Höegh UK for any reason in its sole discretion upon 90 days’ written notice. The Höegh Norway Administrative Services Agreement may also be terminated solely by Höegh Norway upon 90 days’ written notice if:
· | there is a change of control of us or our general partner; |
· | a receiver is appointed for all or substantially all of our property; |
· | an order is made to wind up the Partnership; |
· | a final judgment, order or decree that materially and adversely affects the ability of us, our operating company or Höegh UK to perform the agreement is obtained or entered and not vacated, discharged or stayed; or |
· | we, our operating company or Höegh UK make or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, file a petition in bankruptcy or for liquidation or commence any reorganization proceedings. |
The administrative services provided by Höegh Norway to Höegh UK include:
· | bookkeeping, audit and accounting services: assisting with the maintenance of our corporate books and records, assisting with the preparation of our tax returns and arranging for the provision of audit and accounting services; |
· | legal and insurance services: arranging for the provision of legal, insurance and other professional services and maintaining our existence and good standing in necessary jurisdictions; |
· | administrative and clerical services: assisting with office space and arranging the provision of IT services; |
· | advisory services: assisting in complying with U.S. and other applicable securities laws; |
· | assisting with the integration of any acquired businesses. |
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Each month, Höegh UK reimburses Höegh Norway for its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of the services under the Höegh Norway Administrative Services Agreement. In addition Höegh Norway receives a service fee in U.S. Dollars equal to 3.0% of the costs and expenses incurred by them in connection with providing services. Amounts payable by Höegh UK must be paid promptly upon receipt of an invoice for such costs, expenses and supporting detail that may be reasonably required. Höegh UK reimbursed Höegh Norway approximately $0.6 million in total under the Höegh Norway Administrative Services Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2014
Under the Höegh Norway Administrative Services Agreement, Höegh UK will indemnify Höegh Norway against all actions that may be brought against them as a result of their performance of the administrative services including, without limitation, all actions brought under the environmental laws of any jurisdiction, and against and in respect of all costs and expenses they may suffer or incur due to defending or settling such actions; provided, however, that such indemnity excludes any or all losses to the extent that they are caused by or due to the fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the subcontractor or its officers, employees and agents.
Leif Höegh UK Administrative Service Agreement s
Our operating company and Höegh UK have entered into administrative services agreements with Leif Höegh UK, pursuant to which Leif Höegh UK will provide certain administrative services for an indefinite term. The services provided under the Leif Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreements will be rendered using the competence and control systems used for similar third-party services performed for and by Leif Höegh UK. Each of the Leif Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreements may be terminated by either party thereto upon three months’ notice.
The administrative services provided by Leif Höegh UK to Höegh UK include:
· | administration and payroll services; |
· | provision of office facilities; and |
· | secretarial services. |
Höegh UK reimburses Leif Höegh UK for its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with its administrative services agreement with Höegh UK. In addition, Leif Höegh UK receives a services fee equal to 5% of the costs and expenses of secretarial services under the agreement . Höegh UK reimbursed Leif Höegh UK approximately $0.1 million in total under this administrative services agreement for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Leif Höegh UK occasionally performs certain administrative services directly for our operating company, for which it is reimbursed for its reasonable costs and expenses.
Joint Venture Commercial and Administration Management Agreements
Each of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. has entered into a commercial and administration management agreement with Höegh Norway. Pursuant to each agreement, Höegh Norway provides the following services to SRV Joint Gas Ltd. or SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., as applicable:
· | accounting, including budgeting, reporting and annual audited reports; |
· | finance and cash management; |
· | in-house legal; |
· | commercial; |
· | insurance; and |
· | general office administration and secretary functions. |
Each of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. pays Höegh Norway an annual management fee equal to costs incurred plus 3%. Each of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. also will indemnify Höegh Norway and its employees and agents against claims brought against them under the applicable commercial and administration management agreement. The agreements may be terminated by either party upon 90 days’ written notice.
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Ship Management Agreements and Sub-Technical Support Agreement
In order to assist with the technical and maritime management and crewing of the vessels, each of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. has entered into a ship management agreement with Höegh LNG Management, and Höegh Norway entered into a sub-technical support agreement with Höegh LNG Management for the technical management of the PGN FSRU Lampung . Each of these agreements provides that Höegh LNG Management must use its best endeavors to provide technical services, including but not limited to the following:
· | crew management : providing suitably qualified crew for each vessel, arranging for all transportation of the crew, ensuring the crew meets all medical requirements of the flag state, training the crew and conducting union negotiations; |
· | technical management : providing competent personnel to supervise the maintenance and efficiency of the vessel, arranging and supervising drydockings, repairs, alterations and maintenance of the vessel and arranging and supplying the necessary stores, spares and lubricating oils; |
· | provisions : arranging for the supply of provisions; and |
· | accounting : establishing an accounting system that keeps true and correct accounts with respect to ship management services and maintains the records of all costs and expenditures incurred. |
For the ship management agreements between Höegh LNG Management and each of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., either party may terminate upon 90 days’ notice. The sub-technical support agreement between Höegh LNG Management and Höegh Norway for the PGN FSRU Lampung terminates 90 days (or as otherwise agreed) after either party gives notice. Additionally, each of these agreements may be terminated by Höegh LNG Management if the vessel owner fails to pay any amount due under the agreement or employs the vessel in a hazardous or illegal manner. Each of these agreements also may be terminated by the vessel owner if Höegh LNG Management is in material breach of its obligations. If the vessel is sold, becomes a total loss or is requisitioned, or if an order or resolution is passed for the winding up, dissolution, liquidation or bankruptcy of either party or if a receiver is appointed for either party, the agreement terminates.
Höegh LNG Management was paid an annual management fee of approximately $672,000, $672,000 and $424,000 under the ship management agreements or sub-technical support agreement with each of SRV Joint Gas Ltd., SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and Höegh Norway, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2014. In addition, the vessel owner must indemnify Höegh LNG Management and its employees, agents and subcontractors against all actions, proceedings, claims, demands or liabilities arising in connection with the performance of the ship management agreement or the sub-technical support agreement, unless the same resulted solely from the negligence, gross negligence or willful default of Höegh LNG Management or its employees, agents and subcontractors. If a claim is the sole result of the negligence, gross negligence or willful default of Höegh LNG Management or its employees, agents and subcontractors, then Höegh LNG Management is liable in an amount up to 10 times the annual management fee.
Technical Information and Services Agreement
PT Hoegh entered into a technical information and services agreement with Höegh Norway, pursuant to which Höegh Norway provides PT Hoegh certain technical information and services. The technical information and services agreement’s term is concurrent with the term of the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, including any exercised extension options.
The technical information and services agreement may be terminated with immediate effect prior to the end of its term if either PT Hoegh or Höegh Norway (i) fails to pay any amount due under the technical information and services agreement and such failure continues for more than 14 days after notice of such failure was given to the failing party, (ii) commits a material breach of the technical information and services agreement that remains unremedied for more than 30 days after the breaching party was notified of such material breach or (iii) suffers an insolvency event. The technical information and services agreement may also be terminated by PT Hoegh or Höegh Norway upon 30 days’ written notice.
Pursuant to the technical information and services agreement, Höegh Norway provides technical information, consisting of data, commercial information and technical information, to PT Hoegh relating to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring. During the period of the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, including any exercised extension options, Höegh Norway also provides PT Hoegh non-transferrable and non-exclusive intellectual property rights in respect of the technical information, along with the safety management system and certain databases, technology and software.
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The services provided by Höegh Norway to PT Hoegh include:
· | commercial support, including: |
· | assisting in identifying suppliers, liaising with off-shore suppliers of goods and services, assisting in identifying insurance providers; and |
· | assisting in identifying insurance providers; and |
· | assisting in negotiations and reviewing contracts and insurance policies; |
· | technical support and advice, including in relation to: |
· | identification, assessment and resolution of technical issues; |
· | information technology; |
· | health, safety and the environment; and |
· | maintaining, developing and improving a quality assurance system to ensure compliance with relevant mandatory international rules, regulations and standards; |
· | financial and cash management support, including budgeting, reporting and preparation of annual audited reports; |
· | in-house legal support; |
· | general administrative and back-office support; |
· | research and development; and |
· | training for employees. |
Each month, PT Hoegh pays Höegh Norway a fee for the provision of the technical information, including the intellectual property rights, and the services. The monthly fee consists of (i) a license fee and (ii) a service fee consisting of a pro rata payment of the estimated annual costs incurred by Höegh Norway under the technical information and services agreement and a 5.0% fee on such payment. The service fee is reconciled annually with the actual costs incurred by Höegh Norway during the prior calendar year. Any amounts payable after such reconciliation must be paid by the owing party no later than 44 days after the end of each such calendar year. PT Hoegh paid Höegh Norway approximately $0.02 million total under the technical information and services agreement for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Under the technical information and services agreement, PT Hoegh indemnifies Höegh Norway against all losses arising under the technical information and services agreement in connection with (i) losses suffered by third parties, (ii) the personal injury, sickness or death of any person that itself or together with its affiliates holds more than half of PT Hoegh’s issued share capital or any of PT Hoegh’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, advisors and contractors and (iii) loss of or damage to property owned or under the custody of PT Hoegh or any party listed above in section (ii) of this paragraph.
Master Spare Parts Supply Agreement
PT Hoegh and Höegh Asia entered into a master spare parts supply agreement, pursuant to which Höegh Asia supplies certain spare parts and supplies for the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring to PT Hoegh. PT Hoegh, from time to time, submits an order, which may be freely accepted or declined, to Höegh Asia for the supply of spare parts, lubricating oils and other provisions. In respect of each accepted order, Höegh Asia submits an invoice to PT Hoegh consisting of the actual cost of the supplied services and a 5.0% fee on the cost of such supplied services, which must be paid by PT Hoegh no more than 14 days after receipt of such invoice.
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Master Maintenance Agreement
PT Hoegh and Höegh Shipping entered into a master maintenance agreement, pursuant to which Höegh Shipping provides certain maintenance services to PT Hoegh. PT Hoegh, from time to time, submits an order, which may be freely accepted or declined, to Höegh Shipping for the supply of services, including maintenance of the PGN FSRU Lampung , its systems and equipment and the Mooring. In respect of each accepted order, Höegh Shipping submits an invoice to PT Hoegh consisting of the actual cost of the supplied services and a 5.0% fee on the cost of such supplied services, which must be paid by PT Hoegh no more than 14 days after receipt of such invoice.
Sponsor Credit Facility with Höegh LNG
In connection with the closing of the IPO, we entered into a $85 million revolving credit facility with Höegh LNG, to be used to fund acquisitions and our working capital requirements. The sponsor credit facility is for a term of three years and is unsecured. Interest on drawn amounts is payable quarterly at LIBOR plus a margin of 4.0%. Additionally, we pay a 1.4% quarterly commitment fee to Hoegh LNG on undrawn available amounts under the sponsor credit facility.
For a more detailed description of this credit facility, please read “Item 5.B —Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Activities—Sponsor Credit Facility with Höegh LNG.”
Demand Note
At the closing of the IPO, we lent $140 million to Höegh LNG, which is repayable on demand or which we can elect to utilize as part of the purchase consideration in the event we purchase all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in the Independence . The note bears interest at a rate of 5.88% per annum.
License Agreement
At the closing of the IPO, we entered into a license agreement with Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd., pursuant to which Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd. granted to us a worldwide, nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use the name and unregistered trademark “Höegh LNG” and a flag and funnel mark. The license agreement will terminate, upon the election of Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd., if Höegh LNG ceases to control our general partner or Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd. beneficially owns less than 34% of the issued shares of Höegh LNG.
Other Related Party Transactions
Our activities were an integrated part of Höegh LNG until the closing of the IPO on August 12, 2014 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. We entered into several agreements with Höegh LNG for the provision of services. As such, Höegh LNG has provided general and corporate management services to us. As described in note 2 to our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements, certain administrative expenses have been included in the historical combined carve-out financial statements based on actual hours incurred. In addition, management has allocated remaining administrative expenses and Höegh LNG management’s share based payment costs based on the number of vessels, newbuildings and business development projects of Höegh LNG prior to the closing of the IPO. A subsidiary of Höegh LNG has provided the building supervision of the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring and ship management for PGN FSRU Lampung .
Amounts included in the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 or capitalized in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:
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Statement of income: |
Year ended
December 31, |
|||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||
Time charter revenues indemnified by Höegh LNG | $ | 8,375 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||
Vessel operating and administrative expenses(1) | (12,036 | ) | (6,348 | ) | (2,357 | ) | ||||||
Construction contract expenses | (1,451 | ) | (3,738 | ) | (691 | ) | ||||||
Interest income from joint ventures and demand note | 4,959 | 2,122 | 2,481 | |||||||||
Interest expense and commitment fees from Höegh LNG | (998 | ) | (352 | ) | (114 | ) | ||||||
Total income (expense), net | $ | (1,151 | ) | $ | (8,316 | ) | $ | (681 | ) |
Balance sheet |
As of
December 31, |
|||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Newbuilding | ||||||||
Newbuilding supervision cost | $ | 1,228 | $ | 4,935 | ||||
Interest expense capitalized from Höegh LNG | 1,464 | 4,579 | ||||||
Total | $ | 2,692 | $ | 9,514 |
(1) | Includes a fee of approximately $21,000 for the Technical Information and Services Agreement with Höegh LNG and a fee of approximately $423,000 for the Sub-Technical Support Agreement with Höegh Norway. |
Our trade liabilities and shareholder loans to Höegh LNG and affiliates were $6.5 million and $208.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The weighted average interest rates on the outstanding balances on the shareholder loans were 4.48% and 4.29% for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Distributions to Höegh LNG
Since our IPO in August 2014, we have declared and paid quarterly distributions totaling $4.8 million, $2.8 million of which were paid to Höegh LNG for the year ended December 31, 2014.
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
Please read Item 18—Financial Statements below for additional information required to be disclosed under this item.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time we have been, and expect to continue to be, subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of our business, principally personal injury and property casualty claims. These claims, even if lacking merit, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. We are not aware of any legal proceedings or claims that we believe will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on us.
The Partnership’s Cash Distribution Policy
Rationale for Our Cash Distribution Policy
Our cash distribution policy reflects a judgment that our unitholders will be better served by our distributing our available cash (after deducting expenses, including estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures and reserves) rather than retaining it. Because we believe we will generally finance any expansion capital expenditures from external financing sources, we believe that our unitholders are best served by our distributing all of our available cash. Our cash distribution policy is consistent with the terms of our partnership agreement, which requires that we distribute all of our available cash quarterly (after deducting expenses, including estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures and reserves).
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Limitations on Cash Distributions and Our Ability to Change Our Cash Distribution Policy
There is no guarantee that unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from us. Our distribution policy is subject to certain restrictions and may be changed at any time, including:
· | Our unitholders have no contractual or other legal right to receive distributions other than the obligation under our partnership agreement to distribute available cash on a quarterly basis, which is subject to the broad discretion of our board of directors to establish reserves and other limitations. |
· | We will be subject to restrictions on distributions under our financing agreements. Our financing agreements contain material financial tests and covenants that must be satisfied in order to pay distributions. If we are unable to satisfy the restrictions included in any of our financing agreements or are otherwise in default under any of those agreements, as a result of our debt levels or otherwise, we will not be able to make cash distributions to unitholders, notwithstanding our stated cash distribution policy. These financial tests and covenants are described in this Annual Report in “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources.” |
· | A substantial majority of our business is currently conducted through our joint ventures. Under the joint venture agreement that governs our joint ventures that own the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , our joint ventures are prohibited from making distributions under certain circumstances, including when they have outstanding shareholder loans. In addition, we are unable to cause our joint ventures to make distributions without the agreement of our joint venture partners. If our joint ventures are unable to make distributions to us, it could have a material adverse effect on our ability to pay cash distributions to unitholders in accordance with our stated cash distribution policy. |
· | We are required to make substantial capital expenditures to maintain and replace our fleet. These expenditures may fluctuate significantly over time, particularly as our vessels near the end of their useful lives. In order to minimize these fluctuations, our partnership agreement requires us to deduct estimated, as opposed to actual, maintenance and replacement capital expenditures from the amount of cash that we would otherwise have available for distribution to our unitholders. In years when estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures are higher than actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, the amount of cash available for distribution to unitholders will be lower than if actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures were deducted. |
· | Although our partnership agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash, our partnership agreement, including provisions contained therein requiring us to make cash distributions, may be amended. During the subordination period, with certain exceptions, our partnership agreement may not be amended without the approval of non-affiliated common unitholders. After the subordination period has ended, our partnership agreement can be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding common units. Höegh LNG owns approximately 16.1% of our common units and all of our subordinated units. |
· | Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions we pay under our cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our board of directors, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement. |
· | Under Section 51 of the Marshall Islands Act, we may not make a distribution to unitholders if the distribution would cause our liabilities, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interest and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specified property of ours, to exceed the fair value of our assets, except that the fair value of property that is subject to a liability for which the recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in our assets only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds that liability. |
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· | PT Hoegh is subject to restrictions on distributions under Indonesian laws due to its formation under the laws of Indonesia. Under Article 71.3 of the Indonesian Company Law (Law No. 40 of 2007), dividend distributions may be made only if PT Hoegh has positive retained earnings. Hoegh Lampung, our subsidiary holding the ownership interest in PT Hoegh, is subject to restrictions under Singapore law due to its formation under Singapore law. Under Section 403(1) of the Companies Act (Cap. 50) of Singapore, no dividends may be paid to the shareholders of any company except out of profits. As of December 31, 2014, PT Hoegh has negative retained earnings and therefore cannot make dividend payments under Indonesia law. |
· | Our joint ventures for the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann are subject to restrictions on distributions under the laws of the Cayman Islands due to their formation under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Under such laws, a dividend distribution may be paid out of profits or, if profits are insufficient to make a distribution and subject to the joint venture being solvent immediately following the date on which the distribution is made, out of share premium or distributable capital reserve resulting from contributed surplus paid into the joint venture. |
· | We may lack sufficient cash to pay distributions to our unitholders due to decreases in total operating revenues, decreases in hire rates, the loss of a vessel, increases in operating or general and administrative expenses, principal and interest payments on outstanding debt, taxes, working capital requirements, maintenance and replacement capital expenditures or anticipated cash needs. Please read “Item 3.D. Risk Factors” for a discussion of these factors. |
Estimated Maintenance and Replacement Capital Expenditures
Our partnership agreement requires our board of directors to deduct from operating surplus each quarter estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, as opposed to actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, in order to reduce disparities in operating surplus caused by fluctuating maintenance and replacement capital expenditures. Because under both our joint ventures’ time charters and the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter, the charterer reimburses our joint venture or us, as applicable, for anticipated drydocking expenses, these are excluded from maintenance capital expenditures.
Our initial estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditure for us and our joint ventures is $10.2 million per year for future vessel replacement. The $10.2 million is based on assumptions regarding the remaining useful life of the vessels in our initial fleet, a net investment rate equivalent to our current expected long-term borrowing costs, vessel replacement values based on current market conditions, the residual value of the vessels at the end of their useful lives based on current steel prices and an assumed level of inflation. The actual cost of replacing the vessels in our fleet will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing market conditions, hire rates and the availability and cost of financing at the time of replacement.
Our board of directors, with the approval of the conflicts committee, may from time to time determine that one or more of our assumptions should be revised, which could cause our board of directors to adjust the amount of estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures. Furthermore, we may elect to finance some or all of our maintenance and replacement capital expenditures through the issuance of additional common units, which could be dilutive to existing unitholders.
Please read “Item 3.D. Risk Factors—Risks Inherent in Our Business—We must make substantial capital expenditures to maintain and replace the operating capacity of our fleet, which will reduce our cash available for distribution. In addition, each quarter we will be required, pursuant to our partnership agreement, to deduct estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures from operating surplus, which may result in less cash available to unitholders than if actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures were deducted.”
Minimum Quarterly Distribution
Common unitholders are entitled under our partnership agreement to receive a quarterly distribution of $0.3375 per unit, or $1.35 per unit per year, prior to any distribution on the subordinated units to the extent we have sufficient cash on hand to pay the distribution, after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses. There is no guarantee that we will pay the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units and subordinated units in any quarter. Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions paid under our policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our board of directors, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement. We are prohibited from making any distributions to unitholders if it would cause an event of default, or an event of default is then existing, under our financing arrangements. Please read “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Activities” for a discussion of the restrictions contained in our credit facilities.
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During the year ended December 31, 2014, the aggregate amount of cash distributions paid was $4.8 million.
On February 13, 2015, we paid a $0.3375 per unit distribution with respect to the fourth quarter of 2014, equivalent to $1.35 per unit on an annualized basis. The aggregate amount of the cash distributions paid was $8.9 million.
Subordination Period
During the subordination period applicable to the subordinated units currently held by Höegh LNG, the common units will have the right to receive distributions of available cash from operating surplus in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.3375 per unit, plus any arrearages in the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units from prior quarters, before any distributions of available cash from operating surplus may be made on the subordinated units. Distribution arrearages do not accrue on the subordinated units. The purpose of the subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there will be available cash from operating surplus to be distributed on the common units.
Incentive Distribution Rights
Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels have been achieved. Höegh LNG currently holds the incentive distribution rights. The incentive distribution rights may be transferred separately from any other interest, subject to restrictions in our partnership agreement. Except for transfers of incentive distribution rights to an affiliate or another entity as part of a merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of substantially all of its assets to such entity, the approval of a majority of our common units (excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates), voting separately as a class, generally is required for a transfer of the incentive distribution rights to a third party prior to June 30, 2019. Any transfer by Höegh LNG of the incentive distribution rights would not change the percentage allocations of quarterly distributions with respect to such rights.
The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of the additional available cash from operating surplus among the unitholders and the holders of the incentive distribution rights up to the various target distribution levels. The amounts set forth under “Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions” are the percentage interests of the unitholders and the holders of the incentive distribution rights in any available cash from operating surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column “Total Quarterly Distribution Target Amount,” until available cash from operating surplus we distribute reaches the next target distribution level, if any. The percentage interests shown for the unitholders and the holders of the incentive distribution rights for the minimum quarterly distribution are also applicable to quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the minimum quarterly distribution.
Total Quarterly Distribution |
Marginal Percentage Interest
in Distributions |
|||||||||
Target Amount | Unitholders | Holders of IDRs | ||||||||
Minimum Quarterly Distribution | $0.3375 | 100.0 | % | 0 | % | |||||
First Target Distribution | up to $0.388125 | 100.0 | % | 0 | % | |||||
above $0.388125 | ||||||||||
Second Target Distribution | up to $0.421875 | 85.0 | % | 15.0 | % | |||||
above $0.421875 | ||||||||||
Third Target Distribution | up to $0.50625 | 75.0 | % | 25.0 | % | |||||
Thereafter | above $0.50625 | 50.0 | % | 50.0 | % |
Not applicable.
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The high and low sales prices of our common units as reported by the NYSE, for the periods indicated, are as follows:
High | Low | |||||||
Year ended December 31, 2015(1) | $ | 23.97 | $ | 17.80 | ||||
Year ended December 31, 2014(2) | 26.50 | 16.26 | ||||||
Second quarter 2015(3) | 22.15 | 20.31 | ||||||
First quarter 2015 | 23.97 | 17.80 | ||||||
Fourth quarter 2014 | 24.73 | 16.26 | ||||||
Third quarter 2014(4) | 26.50 | 21.75 | ||||||
Month ended April 30, 2015(3) | 22.15 | 20.31 | ||||||
Month ended March 31, 2015 | 23.43 | 21.03 | ||||||
Month ended February 28, 2015 | 23.97 | 20.78 | ||||||
Month ended January 31, 2015 | 23.34 | 17.80 | ||||||
Month ended December 31, 2014 | 21.55 | 16.26 | ||||||
Month ended November 30, 2014 | 24.73 | 18.17 | ||||||
Month ended October 31, 2014 | 24.43 | 18.42 |
(1) | For the period from January 1, 2015 through April 23, 2015. |
(2) | For the period from August 7, 2014 through December 31, 2014. | |
(3) | For the period from April 1, 2015 through April 23, 2015. |
(4) | For the period from August 7, 2014 through September 30, 2014. |
Not applicable.
Our common units started trading on the NYSE under the symbol “HMLP” on August 8, 2014.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Additional Information
Not applicable.
B. Memorandum and Articles of Association
The information required to be disclosed under Item 10B is incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on August 4, 2014.
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The following is a summary of each material contract, other than material contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, to which we or any of our subsidiaries is a party, for the two years immediately preceding the date of this Annual Report, each of which is included in the list of exhibits in “Item 19. Exhibits”:
(1) | Contribution, Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated August 8, 2014, among Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., Höegh LNG Ltd., Höegh LNG Partners LP, Höegh LNG GP LLC and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Contribution, Purchase and Sale Agreement.” |
(2) | Omnibus Agreement, dated August 12, 2014, among Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., Höegh LNG Partners LP, Höegh LNG GP LLC and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Omnibus Agreement.” |
(3) | 2014 Höegh LNG Partners LP Long-Term Incentive Plan |
(4) | Höegh LNG Partners LP Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan |
(5) | Employment Contract, dated November 26, 2013, between Leif Höegh (U.K.) Limited and Richard Tyrrell. |
(6) | Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 2, 2014, among Höegh LNG Partners LP, Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC and Hoegh LNG Services Ltd., as amended. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Administrative Service Agreements–Höegh UK Administrative Service Agreement.” |
(7) | Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 2, 2014, between Hoegh LNG Services Ltd and Höegh LNG AS, as amended. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Administrative Service Agreements—Höegh Norway Administrative Service Agreement.” |
(8) | Administrative Services Agreement, dated October 28, 2014, between Leif Hoegh (U.K.) Limited and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC. “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Administrative Service Agreements—Leif Höegh UK Administrative Service Agreements.” |
(9) | Administrative Services Agreement, dated October 28, 2014, between Leif Hoegh (U.K.) Limited and Hoegh LNG Services Ltd. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Administrative Service Agreements—Leif Höegh UK Administrative Service Agreements.” |
(10) | Commercial Management and Administration Management Agreement, dated November 24, 2009, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and Höegh LNG AS ( GDF Suez Neptune ). Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Joint Venture Commercial and Administration Agreements.” |
(11) | Commercial Management and Administration Management Agreement, dated May 19, 2010, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and Höegh LNG AS ( GDF Suez Cape Ann ). Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Joint Venture Commercial and Administration Agreements.” |
(12) | Baltic and International Maritime Council Standard Ship Management Agreement, dated April 23, 2014, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS ( GDF Suez Neptune ). Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Ship Management Agreements and Sub-Technical Agreements.” |
(13) | Baltic and International Maritime Council Standard Ship Management Agreement, dated April 23, 2014, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS ( GDF Suez Cape Ann ). Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Ship Management Agreements and Sub-Technical Agreements.” |
(14) | Technical Information and Services Agreement, dated April 2, 2014, between PT Höegh LNG Lampung and Höegh LNG AS ( PGN FSRU Lampung ). Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Ship Management Agreements and Sub-Technical Agreements.” |
(15) | Master Spare Parts Supply Agreement, dated April 2, 2014, between PT Höegh LNG Lampung and Höegh LNG Asia Pte. Ltd. ( PGN FSRU Lampung ). Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Master Spare Parts Supply Agreement.” |
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(16) | Master Maintenance Agreement, dated April 2, 2014, between PT Höegh LNG Lampung and Höegh LNG Shipping Services Pte Ltd ( PGN FSRU Lampung ). Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Master Maintenance Agreement.” |
(17) | Sub-Technical Support Agreement, dated April 11, 2014, between Höegh LNG AS and Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Ship Management Agreements and Sub-Technical Agreements.” |
(18) | SRV LNG Carrier Time Charterparty, dated March 20, 2007, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and Suez LNG Trading SA, as novated by the Novation Agreement, dated March 25, 2010, among SRV Joint Gas Ltd., GDF Suez LNG Trading SA (formerly known as Suez LNG Trading SA) and GDF Suez Global LNG Supply SA , as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated February 23, 2015, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA, as amended by Amendment No. 2, dated February 23, 2015, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA, as amended by Amendment No. 3, dated April 23, 2014, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA ( GDF Suez Neptune ). Please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters— GDF Suez Neptune Time Charter.” |
(19) | SRV LNG Carrier Time Charterparty, dated March 20, 2007, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and Suez LNG Trading SA, as novated by the Novation Agreement, dated December 20, 2007, among SRV Joint Gas Ltd., Suez LNG Trading SA and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., as novated by the Novation Agreement, dated March 25, 2010, among SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., GDF Suez LNG Trading SA (formerly known as Suez LNG Trading SA) and GDF Suez Global LNG Supply SA, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated June 20, 2012, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA, as amended by Amendment No. 2, dated June 20, 2012, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA, as supplemented by the Side Letter, dated November 17, 2013, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA, as amended by Amendment No. 3, dated April 23, 2014, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA. ( GDF Suez Cape Ann ). Please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters.” |
(20) | Amendment and Restatement Agreement of the Original Lease, Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated January 25, 2012, between Höegh LNG Ltd. and PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, as novated by the Novation Agreement for Amended & Restated Lease, Operation & Maintenance Agreement, dated September 18, 2013, among PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, Höegh LNG Ltd. and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung, as novated by the Novation Agreement for Amended & Restated Lease, Operation & Maintenance Agreement, dated February 21, 2014, among PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, PT PGN LNG Indonesia and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung ( PGN FSRU Lampung ). Please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Vessel Time Charters— PGN FSRU Lampung Time Charter.” |
(21) | Second Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, dated July 18, 2014, among Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Ltd., Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC and Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. Please read “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Shareholder Agreements.” |
(22) | Shareholders’ Agreement, dated March 13, 2013, between Höegh LNG Lampung Pte Ltd. and PT Bahtera Daya Utama. Please read Item 4.B. Business Overview—Shareholder Agreements.” |
(23) | Novation Deed, dated August 31, 2010, among Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd., Höegh LNG Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Ltd. |
(24) | Novation Deed, dated August 31, 2010, among Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd., Höegh LNG Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. |
(25) | Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated October 9, 2013, among Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte Ltd., PT Bahtera Daya Utama and PT Imeco Inter Sarana. |
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(26) | Revolving Loan Agreement, dated August 12, 2014, between Höegh LNG Partners LP and Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. in the amount of $85,000,000. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Sponsor Credit Facility with Höegh LNG.” |
(27) | Demand Note, dated August 12, 2014, issued by Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. in favor of Höegh LNG Partners LP in the amount of $140,000,000. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Demand Note.” |
(28) | Neptune Facility Agreement, dated December 20, 2007, among SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and the other parties thereto, as amended by the Amendment Agreement, dated March 25, 2010, the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated August 26, 2010, the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated July 25, 2014 and the Amendment Agreement, dated February 24, 2015. Please read “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Activities—Joint Ventures Debt—Neptune Facility.” |
(29) | Cape Ann Facility Agreement, dated December, 20, 2007, among SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and the other parties thereto, as amended by the Amendment Agreement, dated March 25, 2010, the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated August 26, 2010, the Amendment Agreement, dated June 29, 2012 and the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated July 25, 2014. Please read “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Activities—Joint Ventures Debt—Cape Ann Facility.” |
(30) | $299 Million Lampung Facility Agreement, dated September 12, 2013, between PT Hoegh LNG Lampung and the other parties thereto, as amended by the Second Side Letter, dated December 18, 2014. Please read “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowing Activities—Lampung Facility.” |
(31) | License Agreement, between Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd. and Höegh LNG Partners LP. Please read “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—License Agreement.” |
We are not aware of any governmental laws, decrees, regulations or other legislation, including foreign exchange controls, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands that may affect the import or export of capital, including the availability of cash and cash equivalents for use by the Partnership, or the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to non-resident holders of our securities.
The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective unitholders.
This discussion is based upon provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all as in effect or existence on the date of this Annual Report and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences of unit ownership to vary substantially from the consequences described below.
The following discussion applies only to beneficial owners of common units that own the common units as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (i.e., generally, for investment purposes) and is not intended to be applicable to all categories of investors, such as unitholders subject to special tax rules (e.g., financial institutions, insurance companies, broker dealers, tax-exempt organizations, retirement plans or individual retirement accounts or former citizens or long-term residents of the United States), persons who will hold the units as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or persons that have a functional currency other than the U.S. Dollar, each of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. If a partnership or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common units, the tax treatment of its partners generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the limited partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our common units, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to you of the partnership’s ownership of our common units.
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No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us or prospective unitholders. The opinions and statements made herein may be challenged by the IRS and, if so challenged, may not be sustained upon review in a court. This discussion does not contain information regarding any U.S. state or local, estate, gift or alternative minimum tax considerations concerning the ownership or disposition of common units. This discussion does not comment on all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular unitholders in light of their individual circumstances, and each prospective unitholder is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and other tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of common units.
Election to be Treated as a Corporation
We have elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, among other things, U.S. Holders (as defined below) will not directly be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our income, but rather will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on distributions received from us and dispositions of units as described below.
U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders
As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our common units that owns (actually or constructively) less than 10.0% of the value or voting power of our equity and that is:
· | an individual U.S. citizen or resident (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes), |
· | a corporation (or other entity that is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States or any of its political subdivisions, |
· | an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or |
· | a trust if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) the trust has a valid election in effect to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
U.S. Federal Taxation of Distributions
Subject to the discussion below of the rules applicable to PFICs, any distributions to a U.S. Holder made by us with respect to our common units generally will constitute dividends, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits will be treated first as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its common units and thereafter as capital gain. U.S. Holders that are corporations generally will not be entitled to claim a dividends received deduction with respect to distributions they receive from us because we are not a U.S. corporation. Dividends received with respect to our common units generally will be treated as “passive category income” for purposes of computing allowable foreign tax credits for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Dividends received with respect to our common units by a U.S. Holder that is an individual, trust or estate (a “U.S. Individual Holder”) generally will be treated as “qualified dividend income” that is taxable to such U.S. Individual Holder at preferential capital gain tax rates provided that: (i) our common units are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States (such as the NYSE on which our common units are traded); (ii) we are not a PFIC for the taxable year during which the dividend is paid or the immediately preceding taxable year (which we do not believe we are, have been or will be, as discussed below under “—PFIC Status and Significant Tax Consequences”); (iii) the U.S. Individual Holder has owned the common units for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the date on which the common units become ex-dividend (and has not entered into certain risk limiting transactions with respect to such common units); and (iv) the U.S. Individual Holder is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. In addition, the preferential tax rate on dividends does not apply to dividends received by a U.S. Individual Holder to the extent that the U.S. Individual Holder elects to treat such dividends as investment income that may be offset by investment expenses. There is no assurance that any dividends paid on our common units will be eligible for these preferential rates in the hands of a U.S. Individual Holder, and any dividends paid on our common units that are not eligible for these preferential rates will be taxed as ordinary income to a U.S. Individual Holder.
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Special rules may apply to any amounts received in respect of our common units that are treated as “extraordinary dividends.” In general, an extraordinary dividend is a dividend with respect to a common unit that is equal to or in excess of 10.0% of the unitholder’s adjusted tax basis (or fair market value upon the unitholder’s election) in such common unit. In addition, extraordinary dividends include dividends received within a one year period that, in the aggregate, equal or exceed 20.0% of a unitholder’s adjusted tax basis (or fair market value). If we pay an “extraordinary dividend” on our common units that is treated as “qualified dividend income,” then any loss recognized by a U.S. Individual Holder from the sale or exchange of such common units will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of such dividend.
Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Common Units
Subject to the discussion of PFIC status below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of our units in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. Holder from such sale, exchange or other disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such units. The U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in its units generally will be the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the units and that tax basis will be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any distributions on the units that are treated as non-taxable returns of capital (as discussed above under “—U.S. Federal Taxation of Distributions”. Such gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period is greater than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other disposition. Certain U.S. Holders (including individuals) may be eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax in respect of long-term capital gains. A U.S. Holder’s ability to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations. Such capital gain or loss generally will be treated as U.S. source income or loss, as applicable, for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.
Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income
Certain U.S. Holders, including individuals, estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on, among other things, dividends and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of equity interests. For individuals, the additional Medicare tax applies to the lesser of (i) “net investment income” or (ii) the excess of “modified adjusted gross income” over $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or $125,000 if married and filing separately). “Net investment income” generally equals the taxpayer’s gross investment income reduced by deductions that are allocable to such income. Unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from their ownership and disposition of our common units.
PFIC Status and Significant Tax Consequences
Adverse U.S. federal income tax rules apply to a U.S. Holder that owns an equity interest in a non-U.S. corporation that is classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, we will be treated as a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder if, for any taxable year in which the holder held our units, either:
· | at least 75.0% of our gross income (including the gross income of our vessel-owning subsidiaries) for such taxable year consists of passive income (e.g., dividends, interest, capital gains and rents derived other than in the active conduct of a rental business); or |
· | at least 50.0% of the average of the values of the assets held by us (including the assets of our vessel-owning joint ventures and subsidiaries) at the end of each quarter during such taxable year produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. |
Income earned, or treated as earned (for U.S. federal income tax purposes), by us in connection with the performance of services should not constitute passive income for PFIC purposes. By contrast, rental income generally would constitute “passive income” unless we were treated as deriving that rental income in the active conduct of a trade or business under the applicable rules.
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Based on our current and projected methods of operation, we believe that we were not a PFIC for our initial taxable year, and we expect that we will not be a PFIC for the current and any future taxable year. We expect that more than 25.0% of our gross income for each taxable year was or will be nonpassive income, and more than 50.0% of the average value of our assets for each such year was or will be held for the production of such nonpassive income. This belief is based on valuations and projections regarding our assets, income and charters. While we believe these valuations and projections to be accurate, the shipping market is volatile, and no assurance can be given that they will continue to be accurate at any time in the future.
Moreover, there are legal uncertainties in determining whether the income from our time-chartering activities constitutes rental income or income derived from the performance of services While there is legal authority supporting our conclusions, including IRS pronouncements concerning the characterization of income derived from time charters as services income, the Fifth Circuit held in Tidewater Inc. v. United States, 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009) that income derived from certain marine time charter agreements should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a “foreign sales corporation” provision of the Code. In that case, the Fifth Circuit did not address the definition of passive income or the PFIC rules; however, the reasoning of the case could have implications as to how the income from a time charter would be classified under such rules. If the reasoning of this case were extended to the PFIC context, the gross income we derive or are deemed to derive from our time chartering activities may be treated as rental income, and we would likely be treated as a PFIC. The IRS has announced its nonacquiescence with the court’s holding in the Tidewater case and, at the same time, announced the position of the IRS that the marine time charter agreements at issue in that case should be treated as service contracts.
Distinguishing between arrangements treated as generating rental income and those treated as generating services income involves weighing and balancing competing factual considerations, and there is no legal authority under the PFIC rules addressing our specific method of operation. Conclusions in this area therefore remain matters of interpretation. We are not seeking a ruling from the IRS on the treatment of income generated from our time chartering operations, and the opinion of our counsel is not binding on the IRS or any court. Thus, it is possible that the IRS or a court could disagree with this position. In addition, although we intend to conduct our affairs in a manner to avoid being classified as a PFIC with respect to any taxable year, we cannot assure you that the nature of our operations will not change in the future and that we will not become a PFIC in any future taxable year.
As discussed more fully below, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year (and regardless of whether we remain a PFIC for subsequent taxable years), a U.S. Holder would be subject to different taxation rules depending on whether the U.S. Holder makes an election to treat us as a “Qualified Electing Fund,” which we refer to as a “QEF election.” As an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. Holder should be able to make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our common units, as discussed below. If we are a PFIC, a U.S. Holder will be subject to the PFIC rules described herein with respect to any of our subsidiaries that are PFICs. However, the mark-to-market election discussed below will likely not be available with respect to shares of such PFIC subsidiaries. In addition, if a U.S. Holder owns our common units during any taxable year that we are a PFIC, such holder must file an annual report with the IRS.
Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a Timely QEF Election
If a U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF election (an “Electing Holder”), then, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that holder must report as income for its taxable year its pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and net capital gain, if any, for our taxable years that end with or within the taxable year for which that holder is reporting, regardless of whether or not the Electing Holder received distributions from us in that year. The Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common units will be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed earnings and profits. Distributions of earnings and profits that were previously taxed will result in a corresponding reduction in the Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in common units and will not be taxed again once distributed. An Electing Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common units. A U.S. Holder makes a QEF election with respect to any year that we are a PFIC by filing IRS Form 8621 with its U.S. federal income tax return. If contrary to our expectations, we determine that we are treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, we will provide each U.S. Holder with the information necessary to make the QEF election described above.
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Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a “Mark-to-Market” Election
If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and, as we anticipate, our units were treated as “marketable stock,” then, as an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. Holder would be allowed to make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our common units, provided the U.S. Holder completes and files IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the relevant instructions and related Treasury Regulations. If that election is made, the U.S. Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the U.S. Holder’s common units at the end of the taxable year over the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common units. The U.S. Holder also would be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common units over the fair market value thereof at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its common units would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss recognized. Gain recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common units would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the common units would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included in income by the U.S. Holder. Because the mark-to-market election only applies to marketable stock, however, it would not apply to a U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any of our subsidiaries that were determined to be PFICs.
Taxation of U.S. Holders Not Making a Timely QEF or Mark-to-Market Election
If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder that does not make either a QEF election or a “mark-to-market” election for that year (a “Non-Electing Holder”) would be subject to special rules resulting in increased tax liability with respect to (i) any excess distribution (i.e., the portion of any distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder on our common units in a taxable year in excess of 125.0% of the average annual distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the Non-Electing Holder’s holding period for the common units) and (ii) any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the units. These special rules would apply for all periods in which the Non-Electing Holder holds its common units, even if we ceased to be a PFIC. Under these special rules:
· | the excess distribution or gain would be allocated ratably over the Non-Electing Holder’s aggregate holding period for the common units; |
· | the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable year prior to the taxable year we were first treated as a PFIC with respect to the Non-Electing Holder would be taxed as ordinary income in the current year; and |
· | the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax on ordinary income in effect for the applicable class of taxpayers for that year, and an interest charge for the deemed tax deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year. |
U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders
A beneficial owner of our common units (other than a partnership or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. Holder is referred to as a Non-U.S. Holder. If you are a partner in a partnership (or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holding our common units, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to you of the partnership’s ownership of our common units.
Distributions
Distributions we pay to a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax if the Non-U.S. Holder is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. If the Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a U.S. trade or business, our distributions will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same manner as a U.S. Holder to the extent they constitute income effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. trade or business. Effectively connected dividends received by a corporate Non-U.S. Holder may also be subject to an additional U.S. branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate). However, distributions paid to a Non-U.S. Holder that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business may be exempt from taxation under an applicable income tax treaty if the income arising from the distribution is not attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder.
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Disposition of Units
In general, a Non-U.S. Holder is not subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax on any gain resulting from the disposition of our common units provided the Non-U.S. Holder is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. A Non-U.S. Holder that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same manner as a U.S. Holder in the event the gain from the disposition of units is effectively connected with the conduct of such U.S. trade or business (provided, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder entitled to the benefits of an income tax treaty with the United States, such gain also is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment). However, even if not engaged in a U.S. trade or business, individual Non-U.S. Holders may be subject to tax on gain resulting from the disposition of our common units if they are present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year in which those units are disposed and meet certain other requirements.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
In general, payments to a non-corporate U.S. Holder of distributions or the proceeds of a disposition of common units will be subject to information reporting. These payments to a non-corporate U.S. Holder also may be subject to backup withholding if the non-corporate U.S. Holder:
· | fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number; |
· | is notified by the IRS that it has failed to report all interest or corporate distributions required to be reported on its U.S. federal income tax returns; or |
· | in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements. |
Non-U.S. Holders may be required to establish their exemption from information reporting and backup withholding by certifying their status on IRS Form W-8BEN, W-BEN-E, W-8ECI or W-8IMY, as applicable.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, a unitholder generally may obtain a credit for any amount withheld against its liability for U.S. federal income tax (and obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of such liability) by timely filing a U.S. federal income tax return with the IRS.
U.S. Holders purchasing more than $100,000 of our common units generally will be required to file IRS Form 926 reporting that payment to us. For purposes of determining the total dollar value of common units purchased, units purchased by certain related parties (including family members) are included. Substantial penalties may be imposed upon a U.S. Holder that fails to comply with this reporting obligation. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor as to the possible obligation to file IRS Form 926.
In addition, individual citizens or residents of the United States holding certain “foreign financial assets” (which generally includes stock and other securities issued by a foreign person unless held in an account maintained by a financial institution) that exceed certain thresholds (the lowest being holding foreign financial assets with an aggregate value in excess of (i) $50,000 on the last day of the taxable year or (ii) $75,000 at any time during the taxable year) are required to report information relating to such assets. Significant penalties may apply for failure to satisfy these reporting obligations. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their obligations, if any, under this legislation that would result from their purchase, ownership or disposition of our units.
Non-United States Tax Consequences
The following is a discussion of the material non-U.S. tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective unitholders. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we,” “our” or “us” are references to Höegh LNG Partners LP.
Marshall Islands Tax Consequences
The following discussion is based on the current laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands applicable to persons who are not citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and do not reside in, maintain offices in or engage in business in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
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Because we and our subsidiaries do not and do not expect to conduct business or operations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, under current Marshall Islands law you will not be subject to Marshall Islands taxation or withholding on distributions, including upon distribution treated as a return of capital, we make to you as a unitholder. In addition, you will not be subject to Marshall Islands stamp, capital gains or other taxes on the purchase, ownership or disposition of common units, and you will not be required by the Republic of the Marshall Islands to file a tax return relating to your ownership of common units.
Norway Tax Consequences
The following is a discussion of the material Norwegian tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are persons not resident in Norway for taxation purposes, which we refer to as “Non-Norwegian Holders”. Prospective unitholders who are resident in Norway for taxation purposes are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential Norwegian tax consequences to them of an investment in our common units. For this purpose, a company incorporated outside of Norway will be treated as resident in Norway in the event its central management and control is carried out in Norway.
Under the Tax Act on Income and Wealth, Non-Norwegian Holders will not be subject to any taxes in Norway on income or profits in respect of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of the common units, provided that we are not treated as carrying on business in Norway, and the Non-Norwegian Holder is not engaged in a Norwegian trade or business to which the common units are effectively connected, or if the Non-Norwegian Holder is resident in a country that has an income tax treaty with Norway, such holder does not have a permanent establishment in Norway to which the common units are effectively connected.
We believe that we will be able to conduct our affairs so that Non-Norwegian Holders should not be subject to Norwegian tax on the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of the common units. However, this determination is dependent upon the facts existing at such time, including (but not limited to) the place where our board of directors meets and the place where our management makes decisions or takes certain actions affecting our business. We intend to conduct our affairs in a manner consistent with our Norwegian tax practice so that our business should not be treated as managed from or carried on in Norway for taxation purposes, and consequently, Non-Norwegian Holders should not be subject to tax in Norway solely by reason of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of their common units. Nonetheless, there is no legal authority addressing our specific circumstances, and conclusions in this area remain matters of interpretation. Thus, it is possible that the Norwegian taxation authority could challenge, or a court could disagree with, our position.
While we do not expect it to be the case, if the arrangements we propose to enter into result in our being considered to carry on business in Norway for the purposes of the Tax Act on Income and Wealth, unitholders would be considered to be carrying on business in Norway and would be required to file tax returns with the Norwegian Tax Administration and, subject to any relief provided in any relevant double taxation treaty (including, in the case of holders resident in the United States, the U.S.-Norway Tax Treaty), would be subject to taxation in Norway on any income considered to be attributable to the business carried on in Norway.
United Kingdom Tax Consequences
The following is a discussion of the material United Kingdom tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are persons not resident or not domiciled in the United Kingdom for taxation purposes and who do not acquire their units as part of a trade, profession or vocation carried on in the United Kingdom, which we refer to as “Non-UK Holders.”
Prospective unitholders who are resident or domiciled in the United Kingdom for taxation purposes, or who hold their units through a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential United Kingdom tax consequences to them of an investment in our common units and are responsible for filing their own UK tax returns and paying any applicable UK taxes (which may be due on amounts received by us but not distributed). The discussion that follows is based upon current United Kingdom tax law and what is understood to be the current practice of HM Revenue and Customs as at the date of this document, both of which are subject to change, possibly with retrospective effect.
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Taxation of income and disposals . We expect to conduct our affairs so that Non-UK Holders should not be subject to United Kingdom income tax, capital gains tax or corporation tax on income or gains arising from the Partnership. Distributions may be made to Non-UK Holders without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom income tax.
Stamp taxes . No liability to United Kingdom stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax should arise in connection with the issue of units to unitholders or the transfer of units in the Partnership.
Singapore Tax Consequences
The following is a discussion of the material Singapore tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective unitholders. This discussion is based upon existing legislation and current Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore practice as of the date of this Annual Report. Changes in the existing legislation and current practice may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. The following discussion does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the Singapore tax considerations applicable to unitholders.
Prospective unitholders who are persons not resident in Singapore for taxation purposes and who do not acquire their units as part of a trade, profession or vocation carried on in Singapore should not be subject to Singapore income tax, or corporate tax on income or gains arising from the Partnership.
Prospective unitholders who are resident in Singapore for taxation purposes, or who hold their units through a trade, profession or vocation in Singapore are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential Singapore tax consequences to them of an investment in our common units and are responsible for filing their own Singapore tax returns and paying any applicable Singapore taxes (which may be due on amounts received by us but not distributed).
No liability to Singapore stamp duty should arise in connection with the issue of units to unitholders or the transfer of units in the Partnership.
Indonesian Tax Consequences
The following is a discussion of the material Indonesia tax consequences applicable to us. This discussion is based upon existing legislation and current Directorate General of Taxes of Indonesia practice as of the date of this Annual Report. Changes in the existing legislation and current practice may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. The following discussion does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the Indonesia tax considerations applicable to us.
Prospective unitholders who are persons not resident in Indonesia for taxation purposes should not be subject to Indonesian income tax, or corporate tax on income or gains arising from the Partnership.
Prospective unitholders who are resident in Indonesia for taxation purposes or have a permanent establishment in Indonesia are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential Indonesian tax consequences to them of an investment in our common units and are responsible for filing their own Indonesian tax returns and paying any applicable Indonesian taxes (which may be due on amounts received by us but not distributed).
No liability to Indonesian stamp duty should arise in connection with the issue of units to unitholders or the transfer of units in the Partnership.
EACH PROSPECTIVE UNITHOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX COUNSEL OR OTHER ADVISOR WITH REGARD TO THE LEGAL AND TAX CONSEQUENCES OF UNIT OWNERSHIP UNDER ITS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Documents concerning us that are referred to in this Annual Report may be inspected at our offices at Wessex House, 5th Floor, 45 Reid Street, Hamilton, HM12, Bermuda. Those documents electronically filed via the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system may also be obtained from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, free of charge, or from the SEC’s Public Reference Section at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Further information on the operation of the SEC Public Reference Section may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
Not applicable.
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Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to various market risks, including interest rate and foreign currency exchange risks.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate swap contracts can be utilized to exchange a receipt of floating interest for a payment of fixed interest to reduce the exposure to interest rate variability on our outstanding floating rate debt. As of December 31, 2014, there are interest rate swap agreements on the Lampung floating rate debt that are designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes. The notional amounts of the designated interest rate swaps amortize over 12 years to match the outstanding principal on the Lampung facility. No derivative instruments were outstanding as of December 31, 2013. Please read note 14 to our consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
As of December 31, 2014, the following interest rate swap agreements were outstanding:
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Interest
rate index |
Notional
amount |
Fair value
carrying amount liability |
Term |
Fixed
interest rate(1) |
|||||||||||
LIBOR-based debt | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (2) | LIBOR | $ | 212,333 | $ | (9,220 | ) | Sept 2026 | 2.8 | % |
1) | Excludes the margins paid on the floating-rate debt. |
2) | All interest rate swaps are U.S. dollar denominated and principal amount reduces quarterly. |
Our joint ventures have utilized interest rate swap contracts as described in note 13 to our joint ventures’ combined financial statements.
Foreign Currency Risk
All revenues, financing, interest expenses from financing and most expenditures for our assets are denominated in U.S. Dollars. Certain operating expenses can be denominated in currencies other than U.S. Dollars. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, no derivative financial instruments have been used to manage foreign exchange risk.
Credit risk
Credit risk is the exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties related to cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables and interest rate swap agreements, if applicable. In order to minimize counterparty risk, bank relationships are established with counterparties with acceptable credit ratings at the time of the transactions. Credit risk related to receivables is limited by performing ongoing credit evaluations of the customers’ financial condition.
Concentration of Risk
Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Partnership to significant concentrations of risk, consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables and derivative contracts (interest rate swaps). The maximum exposure to loss due to credit risk is the book value at the balance sheet date. The Partnership does not have a policy of requiring collateral or security. Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are placed with qualified financial institutions. Periodic evaluations are performed of the relative credit standing of those financial institutions. In addition, exposure is limited by diversifying among counter parties. There is a single charterer so there is a concentration of risk related to trade receivables. Credit risk related to trade receivables is limited by performing ongoing credit evaluations of the customer’s financial condition. No allowance for doubtful accounts was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2014. While the maximum exposure to loss due to credit risk is the book value of trade receivables at the balance sheet date, should the time charter terminate prematurely, there could be delays in obtaining a new time charter and the rates could be lower depending upon the prevailing market conditions.
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Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
Not applicable.
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Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
As of December 31, 2014, we were in compliance with all applicable covenants under our debt agreements.
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Securities Holders and Use of Proceeds
In August 7, 2014, the Form F-1 relating to our IPO, SEC file number 333-197228, was declared effective. We closed our IPO on August 12, 2014, and issued and sold through the underwriters to the public 11,040,000 common units (including 1,440,000 common units sold pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units). We issued to Höegh LNG 2,116,060 common units and 13,156,060 subordinated units and 100% of the incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”), which will entitle Höegh LNG to increasing percentages of the cash we distribute in excess of $0.388125 per unit per quarter. We issued to Höegh LNG GP LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG, a non-economic general partner interest in us. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as managing underwriters of our IPO. The common units were sold for $20.00 per unit resulting in gross proceeds of $220.8 million. The net proceeds of the offering were approximately $203.5 million. Net proceeds is after deduction of underwriters’ discounts, structuring fees and reimbursements and the incremental direct costs attributable to the IPO that were deferred and charged against the proceeds of the offering. We applied the net proceeds of the offering as follows: (i) $140 million to make a loan to Höegh LNG in exchange for a note bearing interest at a rate of 5.88% per annum, which is repayable on demand or which we can elect to utilize as part of the purchase consideration in the event we purchase all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in the Independence , (ii) $20 million for general partnership purposes and (iii) the remainder of approximately $43.5 million to make a cash distribution to Höegh LNG.
Item 15. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of December 31, 2014, has concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective and ensured that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
This Annual Report does not include a report of management on our internal control over financial reporting due to a transition period established by rules of the SEC for newly public companies.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Partnership’s registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the SEC for newly public companies.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Annual Report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Our board of directors has determined that David Spivak qualifies as an audit committee financial expert and is independent under applicable NYSE and SEC standards.
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We have adopted the Höegh LNG Partners LP Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors. This document is available under the “Governance” section of our website (www.hoeghlngpartners.com). We intend to disclose, under this section of our website, any waivers to or amendments of the Höegh LNG Partners LP Corporate Code of Business Ethics and Conduct for the benefit of any of our directors and executive officers.
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Our principal accountant for 2014 was Ernst & Young AS.
The audit committee of our board of directors has the authority to pre-approve permissible audit-related and non-audit services not prohibited by SEC and PCAOB standards to be performed by our independent auditors and associated fees. Engagements for proposed services either may be separately pre-approved by the audit committee or entered into pursuant to detailed pre-approval policies and procedures established by the audit committee, as long as the audit committee is informed on a timely basis of any engagement entered into on that basis. The audit committee separately pre-approved all engagements and fees paid to our principal accountant in 2014.
Fees Incurred by the Partnership for Ernst & Young AS’ Services
(In thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Audit Fees | $ | 714 | $ | 1,675 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | 319 | — | ||||||
Tax Fees | — | — | ||||||
All Other Fees | — | — | ||||||
$ | 1,033 | $ | 1,675 |
Audit Fees
Audit fees for 2014 and 2013 are the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Partnership’s annual financial statements and services normally provided by the principal accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the two most recent fiscal years.
Audit-Related Fees
Audit-related fees for 2014 are the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant related to assurance work in connection with the comfort letter and review of the prospectus associated with our IPO in August 2014 that have not been reported under “—Audit Fees” above.
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Not applicable.
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
Not applicable.
Item 16F. Change in Registrants’ Certifying Accountant
Not applicable.
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Item 16G. Corporate Governance
Overview
Pursuant to an exemption under the NYSE listing standards for foreign private issuers, the Partnership is not required to comply with the corporate governance practices followed by U.S. companies under the NYSE listing standards. However, pursuant to Section 303A.11 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, we are required to state any significant differences between our corporate governance practices and the practices required by the NYSE for U.S. companies. We believe that our established practices in the area of corporate governance are in line with the spirit of the NYSE standards and provide adequate protection to our unitholders. The significant differences between our corporate governance practices and the NYSE standards applicable to listed U.S. companies are set forth below.
Independence of Directors
The NYSE rules do not require a listed company that is a foreign private issuer to have a board of directors that is comprised of a majority of independent directors. Under Marshall Islands law, we are not required to have a board of directors comprised of a majority of directors meeting the independence standards described in the NYSE rules. In addition, the NYSE rules do not require limited partnerships like us to have boards of directors comprised of a majority of independent directors. However, our board of directors has determined that each of Mr. Harris, Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Shaw and Mr. Spivak satisfies the independence standards established by the NYSE as applicable to us.
Executive Sessions
The NYSE requires that non-management directors of a listed U.S. company meet regularly in executive sessions without management. The NYSE also requires that all independent directors of a listed U.S. company meet in an executive session at least once a year. As permitted under Marshall Islands law and our partnership agreement, our non-management directors do not regularly hold executive sessions without management and we do not expect them to do so in the future.
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee
The NYSE requires that a listed U.S. company have a nominating/corporate governance committee of independent directors and a committee charter specifying the purpose, duties and evaluation procedures of the committee. As permitted under Marshall Islands law and our partnership agreement, we do not currently have a nominating or corporate governance committee.
Compensation Committee
The NYSE requires that a listed U.S. company have a compensation committee of independent directors and a committee charter specifying the purpose, duties and evaluation procedures of the committee. As permitted under Marshall Islands law and our partnership agreement, we do not currently have a compensation committee.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The NYSE requires U.S. companies to adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines. The guidelines must address, among other things: director qualification standards, director responsibilities, director access to management and independent advisers, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, management succession and an annual performance evaluation. We are not required to adopt such guidelines under Marshall Islands law, and we have not adopted such guidelines.
We make available a statement of significant differences on our website (www.hoeghlngpartners.com) in the governance section.
We believe that our established corporate governance practices satisfy the NYSE listing standards.
156 |
Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not applicable.
157 |
Not applicable.
The financial statements and schedule set forth on pages F-1 through F-64 and Exhibit 15.1, together with the related reports of Ernst & Young AS, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm thereon, are filed as part of this Annual Report:
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are not required, are inapplicable or have been disclosed in the notes to the financial statements and therefore have been omitted.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report:
Exhibit | |
Number | Description |
1.1 | Certificate of Limited Partnership of Höegh LNG Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
1.2* | First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Höegh LNG Partners LP, dated August 12, 2014, between Höegh LNG GP LLC and Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. |
4.1* | Contribution, Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated August 8, 2014, among Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., Höegh LNG Ltd., Höegh LNG Partners LP, Höegh LNG GP LLC and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC |
4.2* | Omnibus Agreement, dated August 12, 2014, among Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., Höegh LNG Partners LP, Höegh LNG GP LLC and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC |
4.3* | 2014 Höegh LNG Partners LP Long-Term Incentive Plan |
4.4 | Höegh LNG Partners LP Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.5 | Employment Contract, dated November 26, 2013, between Leif Höegh (U.K.) Limited and Richard Tyrrell (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.6* | Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 2, 2014, among Höegh LNG Partners LP, Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC and Hoegh LNG Services Ltd., as amended |
4.7* | Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 2, 2014, between Hoegh LNG Services Ltd and Höegh LNG AS, as amended |
4.8 | Commercial Management and Administration Management Agreement, dated November 24, 2009, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and Höegh LNG AS ( GDF Suez Neptune ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.9 | Commercial Management and Administration Management Agreement, dated May 19, 2010, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and Höegh LNG AS ( GDF Suez Cape Ann ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
158 |
Exhibit | |
Number | Description |
4.10 | Baltic and International Maritime Council Standard Ship Management Agreement, dated April 23, 2014, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS ( GDF Suez Neptune ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Amendment No. 4 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on August 6, 2014) |
4.11 | Baltic and International Maritime Council Standard Ship Management Agreement, dated April 23, 2014, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS ( GDF Suez Cape Ann ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to Amendment No. 4 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on August 6, 2014) |
4.12 | Technical Information and Services Agreement, dated April 2, 2014, between PT Höegh LNG Lampung and Höegh LNG AS ( PGN FSRU Lampung ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.13 | Master Spare Parts Supply Agreement, dated April 2, 2014, between PT Höegh LNG Lampung and Höegh LNG Asia Pte. Ltd. ( PGN FSRU Lampung ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.14 | Master Maintenance Agreement, dated April 2, 2014, between PT Höegh LNG Lampung and Höegh LNG Shipping Services Pte Ltd ( PGN FSRU Lampung ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.15 | Sub-Technical Support Agreement, dated April 11, 2014, between Höegh LNG AS and Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.16† | SRV LNG Carrier Time Charterparty, dated March 20, 2007, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and Suez LNG Trading SA, as novated by the Novation Agreement, dated March 25, 2010, among SRV Joint Gas Ltd., GDF Suez LNG Trading SA (formerly known as Suez LNG Trading SA) and GDF Suez Global LNG Supply SA ( GDF Suez Neptune ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.16.1*†† | Amendment No 1. to the SRV LNG Carrier Time Charterparty, dated February 23, 2015, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA ( GDF Suez Neptune ) |
4.16.2*†† | Amendment No 2. to the SRV LNG Carrier Time Charterparty, dated February 23, 2015, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA ( GDF Suez Neptune ) |
4.16.3† |
Amendment No. 3, dated April 23, 2014, to the SRV LNG Carrier Time Charterparty ( GDF Suez Neptune ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16.1 to Amendment No. 4 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on August 6, 2014) |
4.17† | SRV LNG Carrier Time Charterparty, dated March 20, 2007, between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and Suez LNG Trading SA, as novated by the Novation Agreement, dated December 20, 2007, among SRV Joint Gas Ltd., Suez LNG Trading SA and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., as novated by the Novation Agreement, dated March 25, 2010, among SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., GDF Suez LNG Trading SA (formerly known as Suez LNG Trading SA) and GDF Suez Global LNG Supply SA, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated June 20, 2012, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA, as amended by Amendment No. 2, dated June 20, 2012, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA, as supplemented by the Side Letter, dated November 17, 2013, between SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and GDF Suez LNG Supply SA ( GDF Suez Cape Ann ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.17.1† |
Amendment No. 3, dated April 23, 2014, to the SRV LNG Carrier Time Charterparty ( GDF Suez Cape Ann ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17.1 to Amendment No. 4 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on August 6, 2014) |
4.18† | Amendment and Restatement Agreement of the Original Lease, Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated January 25, 2012, between Höegh LNG Ltd. and PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, as novated by the Novation Agreement for Amended & Restated Lease, Operation & Maintenance Agreement, dated September 18, 2013, among PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, Höegh LNG Ltd. and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung, as novated by the Novation Agreement for Amended & Restated Lease, Operation & Maintenance Agreement, dated February 21, 2014, among PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, PT PGN LNG Indonesia and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung ( PGN FSRU Lampung ) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
159 |
Exhibit | |
Number | Description |
4.19* | Second Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, dated July 18, 2014, among Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Ltd., Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC and Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. |
4.20 | Shareholders’ Agreement, dated March 13, 2013, between Höegh LNG Lampung Pte Ltd. and PT Bahtera Daya Utama (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.21 | Novation Deed, dated August 31, 2010, among Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd., Höegh LNG Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.22 | Novation Deed, dated August 31, 2010, among Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd., Höegh LNG Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.23 | Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated October 9, 2013, among Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte Ltd., PT Bahtera Daya Utama and PT Imeco Inter Sarana (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 3, 2014) |
4.24* | Revolving Loan Agreement, dated August 12, 2014, between Höegh LNG Partners LP and Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. in the amount of $85,000,000 |
4.25* | Demand Note, dated August 12, 2014, issued by Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. in favor of Höegh LNG Partners LP in the amount of $140,000,000 |
4.26* | Neptune Facility Agreement, dated December 20, 2007, among SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and the other parties thereto, as amended by the Amendment Agreement, dated March 25, 2010, the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated August 26, 2010, the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated July 25, 2014 and the Amendment Agreement, dated February 24, 2015. |
4.27* | Cape Ann Facility Agreement, dated December, 20, 2007, among SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. and the other parties thereto, as amended by the Amendment Agreement, dated March 25, 2010, the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated August 26, 2010, the Amendment Agreement, dated June 29, 2012 and the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated July 25, 2014 |
4.28* | $299 Million Lampung Facility Agreement, dated September 12, 2013, between PT Hoegh LNG Lampung and the other parties thereto, as amended by the Second Side Letter, dated December 18, 2014 |
4.29 | License Agreement, between Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd. and Höegh LNG Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Amendment No. 1 to the registrant’s Form F-1 Registration Statement (333-197228), filed on July 17, 2014) |
4.30* |
Administrative Services Agreement, dated October 28, 2014, between Leif Hoegh (U.K.) Limited and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC |
4.31* |
Administrative Services Agreement, dated October 28, 2014, between Leif Hoegh (U.K.) Limited and Hoegh LNG Services Ltd. |
8.1* | Subsidiaries of Höegh LNG Partners LP |
12.1* | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial Officer |
13.1* | Certification under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial Officer |
15.1* | Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant |
101.INS* | XBRL Instance Document |
101.SCH* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema |
101.CAL* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Calculation Linkbase |
101.DEF* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Definition Linkbase |
101.LAB* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Label Linkbase |
101.PRE* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Presentation Linkbase |
* | Filed herewith. |
† | Certain portions have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment order. Omitted information has been filed separately with the SEC. |
†† | Confidential treatment has been requested for portions of this exhibit. These portions have been omitted from the Annual Report and submitted separately to the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
160 |
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP | ||
By: | /s/ RICHARD TYRRELL | |
Name: | Richard Tyrrell | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
Date: April 24, 2015
161 |
INDEX TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F- 1 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors of Höegh LNG Partners LP
We have audited the accompanying consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheets of Höegh LNG Partners LP as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, as described in Note 2 (a) and (b), and the related consolidated and combined carve-out statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in partners’ capital/owner’s equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014. Our audit also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 18. These consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated combined carve-out financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated and combined carve-out financial position of Höegh LNG Partners LP at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the consolidated and combined carve-out results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
/s/ Ernst & Young AS
Oslo, Norway
April 24, 2015
F- 2 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP |
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT STATEMENTS OF INCOME |
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per unit amounts) |
Notes | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||
REVENUES | ||||||||||||||
Time charter revenues | 5,17,20 | $ | 20,918 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Construction contract revenues | 6,9 | 49,277 | 50,362 | 5,512 | ||||||||||
Other revenue | — | 511 | — | |||||||||||
Total revenues | 5 | 70,195 | 50,873 | 5,512 | ||||||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||
Voyage expenses | (1,139 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||
Vessel operating expenses | 17 | (5,297 | ) | — | — | |||||||||
Construction contract expenses | 6,9,20 | (35,384 | ) | (43,272 | ) | (5,512 | ) | |||||||
Administrative expenses | (11,656 | ) | (8,043 | ) | (3,185 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 12 | (1,317 | ) | (8 | ) | — | ||||||||
Total operating expenses | (54,793 | ) | (51,323 | ) | (8,697 | ) | ||||||||
Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures | 4,16 | (5,330 | ) | 40,228 | 5,007 | |||||||||
Operating income | 4 | 10,072 | 39,778 | 1,822 | ||||||||||
FINANCIAL INCOME (EXPENSES), NET | ||||||||||||||
Interest income | 17 | 4,959 | 2,122 | 2,481 | ||||||||||
Interest expense | 17 | (9,590 | ) | (352 | ) | (114 | ) | |||||||
Loss on derivative financial instruments | 19 | (161 | ) | — | — | |||||||||
Other items, net | (2,366 | ) | (1,021 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Total financial income (expense), net | 7 | (7,158 | ) | 749 | 2,366 | |||||||||
Income before tax | 2,914 | 40,527 | 4,188 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense | 8 | (505 | ) | — | — | |||||||||
Net income | 4 | $ | 2,409 | $ | 40,527 | $ | 4,188 | |||||||
Earnings per unit | 22 | |||||||||||||
Common unit public (basic and diluted) | $ | 0.50 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Common unit Höegh LNG (basic and diluted) | $ | 0.50 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Subordinated unit (basic and diluted) | $ | 0.50 | $ | — | $ | — |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
F- 3 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP |
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Notes | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 2,409 | $ | 40,527 | $ | 4,188 | ||||||||
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedge | 19 | (10,159 | ) | — | — | |||||||||
Income tax benefit | 8,19 | 1,890 | — | — | ||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | (8,269 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (5,860 | ) | $ | 40,527 | $ | 4,188 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
F- 4 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP |
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT BALANCE SHEETS |
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Notes | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 18 | $ | 30,477 | $ | 108 | |||||||
Restricted cash | 18 | 21,935 | — | |||||||||
Unbilled construction contract income | 9 | — | 54,473 | |||||||||
Demand note due from owner | 17,18 | 143,241 | — | |||||||||
Advances to joint ventures | 13,18 | 6,665 | 7,112 | |||||||||
Deferred debt issuance cost | 10 | 2,603 | 2,725 | |||||||||
Current portion of net investment in direct financing lease | 5 | 2,809 | — | |||||||||
Current deferred tax asset | 8 | 318 | — | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other receivables | 5,091 | 705 | ||||||||||
Total current assets | 213,139 | 65,123 | ||||||||||
Long-term assets | ||||||||||||
Restricted cash | 18 | 15,184 | 10,700 | |||||||||
Newbuildings | 4,12,17 | — | 122,517 | |||||||||
Other equipment | 54 | 85 | ||||||||||
Advances to joint ventures | 13,18 | 12,287 | 17,398 | |||||||||
Deferred debt issuance cost | 10 | 11,974 | 6,931 | |||||||||
Deferred charges | — | 3,912 | ||||||||||
Net investment in direct financing lease | 5 | 292,379 | — | |||||||||
Long-term deferred tax asset | 8 | 1,572 | 64 | |||||||||
Other long-term assets | 11 | 21,626 | — | |||||||||
Total long-term assets | 355,076 | 161,607 | ||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 568,215 | $ | 226,730 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
F- 5 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP |
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT BALANCE SHEETS |
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Notes | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 14,18 | $ | 19,062 | $ | — | |||||
Trade payables | 864 | — | ||||||||
Amounts due to owners and affiliates | 17,18 | 6,019 | 15,207 | |||||||
Loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates | 2a,17,18 | 467 | 193,430 | |||||||
Value added and withholding tax liability | 835 | 2,987 | ||||||||
Derivative financial instruments | 18,19 | 4,676 | — | |||||||
Current deferred tax liability | 8 | — | 64 | |||||||
Accrued liabilities and other payables | 15 | 19,201 | 7,843 | |||||||
Total current liabilities | 51,124 | 219,531 | ||||||||
Long-term liabilities | ||||||||||
Accumulated losses of joint ventures | 4,16 | 59,630 | 54,300 | |||||||
Long-term debt | 14,18 | 193,271 | — | |||||||
Derivative financial instruments | 18,19 | 4,544 | — | |||||||
Prepaid and deferred revenue | — | 934 | ||||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 11 | 22,206 | — | |||||||
Total long-term liabilities | 279,651 | 55,234 | ||||||||
Total liabilities | 330,775 | 274,765 | ||||||||
EQUITY | 2a,3 | |||||||||
Owner's equity | — | (48,035 | ) | |||||||
Common units public | 206,979 | — | ||||||||
Common units Höegh LNG | 5,366 | — | ||||||||
Subordinated units | 33,364 | — | ||||||||
Total Partners' capital | 245,709 | — | ||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (8,269 | ) | — | |||||||
Total equity | 237,440 | (48,035 | ) | |||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 568,215 | $ | 226,730 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
F- 6 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP |
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS’ CAPITAL/OWNER’S EQUITY |
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Owner's
Equity |
Common
Units Public |
Common
Units Höegh LNG |
Sub-
ordinated Units |
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income |
Total
Partners' Capital/ Owner's Equity |
|||||||||||||||||||
Combined carve-out balance as of January 1, 2012 | $ | (65,196 | ) | — | — | — | — | $ | (65,196 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Carve-out net income | 4,188 | — | — | — | — | 4,188 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Carve-out distributions to owner, net | 7,779 | — | — | — | — | 7,779 | ||||||||||||||||||
Combined carve-out balance as of December 31, 2012 | (53,229 | ) | — | — | — | — | (53,229 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Carve-out net income | 40,527 | — | — | — | — | 40,527 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Carve-out distributions to owner, net | (35,333 | ) | — | — | — | — | (35,333 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Combined carve-out balance as of December 31, 2013 | (48,035 | ) | — | — | — | — | (48,035 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Carve-out net loss (January 1- August 12, 2014) | (10,786 | ) | — | — | — | — | (10,786 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | (5,900 | ) | (5,900 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Conversion of promissory note to equity | 101,500 | — | — | — | — | 101,500 | ||||||||||||||||||
Carve-out distributions to owner, net | (11,039 | ) | — | — | — | — | (11,039 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Combined carve-out balance as of August 12, 2014 | 31,640 | — | — | — | (5,900 | ) | 25,740 | |||||||||||||||||
Elimination of equity (note 2) | 45,799 | — | — | — | — | 45,799 | ||||||||||||||||||
Allocation of partnership capital to unitholders August 12, 2014 | (77,439 | ) | — | 10,730 | 66,709 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Net proceeds from IPO net of underwriters' discounts, fees and expenses of offering (note 3) | — | 203,467 | — | — | — | 203,467 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash distribution of initial public offering proceeds to Höegh LNG | — | — | (6,023 | ) | (37,444 | ) | — | (43,467 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Post-initial public offering net income (note 3) | 5,537 | 1,061 | 6,597 | — | 13,195 | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash distributions to unitholders | — | (2,025 | ) | (388 | ) | (2,413 | ) | (4,826 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | (2,369 | ) | (2,369 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Distributions to owner, net | — | — | (14 | ) | (85 | ) | — | (99 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Consolidated balance as of December 31, 2014 | $ | — | 206,979 | 5,366 | 33,364 | (8,269 | ) | $ | 237,440 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
F- 7 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP |
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 2,409 | $ | 40,527 | $ | 4,188 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Cash received and recorded as deferred revenue | — | — | 934 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,317 | 8 | — | |||||||||
Equity in losses (earnings) of joint ventures | 5,330 | (40,228 | ) | (5,007 | ) | |||||||
Accrued interest income on advances to joint ventures and demand note | (4,349 | ) | (1,381 | ) | (1,619 | ) | ||||||
Amortization and write off of deferred debt issuance cost | 4,287 | 379 | 379 | |||||||||
Accrued interest expense | 1,146 | 352 | 114 | |||||||||
Refundable value added tax on import | (23,401 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Unrealized loss on financial instruments | 161 | — | — | |||||||||
Other adjustments | 59 | (38 | ) | (2,187 | ) | |||||||
Changes in working capital: | ||||||||||||
Restricted cash | (21,935 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Trade receivables | — | (58 | ) | — | ||||||||
Unbilled construction contract income | 54,473 | (50,362 | ) | (4,111 | ) | |||||||
Prepaid expenses and other receivables | (4,503 | ) | (530 | ) | — | |||||||
Trade payables | 864 | (212 | ) | 143 | ||||||||
Amounts due to owners and affiliates | 6,019 | — | — | |||||||||
Value added and withholding tax liability | (2,459 | ) | 2,987 | — | ||||||||
Accrued liabilities and other payables | 9,622 | 6,473 | (469 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 29,040 | (42,083 | ) | (7,635 | ) | |||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Expenditure for newbuildings and other equipment | (170,755 | ) | (36,268 | ) | (57,768 | ) | ||||||
Demand note made to Höegh LNG | (140,000 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Receipts from repayment of principal on advances to joint ventures | 6,666 | 5,542 | 6,009 | |||||||||
Receipts from repayment of principal on direct financing lease | 1,311 | — | (9,950 | ) | ||||||||
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash | 10,700 | — | — | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | $ | (292,078 | ) | $ | (30,726 | ) | $ | (61,709 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
F- 8 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP |
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt | $ | 257,099 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Proceeds from amounts due to owners and affiliates | 10,193 | 15,207 | — | |||||||||
Proceeds from loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates | 650 | 101,493 | 61,664 | |||||||||
Repayment of long-term debt | (44,766 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Repayment of amounts due to owners and affiliates | (25,400 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Repayment of loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates | (49,150 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Contributions from (distributions to) owner | (11,198 | ) | (35,333 | ) | 7,780 | |||||||
Charterer advance for funding of value added tax on import | 26,297 | — | — | |||||||||
Payment of debt issuance cost | (9,208 | ) | (8,550 | ) | — | |||||||
Proceeds from initial public offering, net of underwriters' discounts and expenses of offering | 203,467 | — | — | |||||||||
Cash from proceeds of initial public offering distributed to Höegh LNG | (43,467 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Cash distributions to unitholders | (4,826 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Cash settlement of derivative financial instruments | (1,100 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash | (15,184 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 293,407 | 72,817 | 69,444 | |||||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 30,369 | 8 | 100 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 108 | 100 | — | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | 30,477 | $ | 108 | $ | 100 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
F- 9 |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
1. Description of business
Höegh LNG Partners LP (the “Partnership”) was formed under the laws of the Marshall Islands on April 28, 2014 as an indirect 100% owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. (“Höegh LNG”) for the purpose of acquiring Höegh LNG’s interests in Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd., PT Hoegh LNG Lampung (the owner of the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Tower Yoke Mooring System), SRV Joint Gas Ltd. (the owner of the GDF Suez Neptune ), and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (the owner of the GDF Suez Cape Ann ) in connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering of its common units (the “IPO”).
On August 12, 2014, the Partnership completed its IPO. Prior to the closing of the IPO, Höegh LNG contributed to the Partnership all of its equity interests and loans and promissory notes due to it and affiliates in each of the entities owning the GDF Suez Neptune , the GDF Suez Cape Ann and the PGN FSRU Lampung . The transfer of the interests was recorded at Höegh LNG’s consolidated book values. At the closing of the IPO (including the exercise by the underwriters of the option to purchase an additional 1,440,000 common units), (i)11,040,000 common units were sold to the public for net proceeds, after deduction of offering expenses, of $203.5 million; (ii) Höegh LNG owned 2,116,060 common units and 13,156,060 subordinated units, representing approximately 58% of the limited partner interests in the Partnership, and 100% of the incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”) and (iii) a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG owned the non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership, as further described in note 3.
The interests in SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., collectively, are referred to as the “joint ventures” and the remaining entities owned by the Partnership, as reflected in the table below are, collectively, referred to as the “subsidiaries” in these consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. The joint ventures and the subsidiaries are, collectively, referred to as the “Combined Entities” in the combined carve-out financial statements. The PGN FSRU Lampung , the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann are floating storage regasification units (“FSRUs”) and, collectively, referred to in these consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements as the vessels or the “FSRUs.” The Tower Yoke Mooring System (the “Mooring”) is an offshore installation that is used to moor the PGN FSRU Lampung to offload the gas into an offshore pipe that transports the gas to a land terminal. PT Hoegh LNG Lampung and the two joint ventures, SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., are collectively referred to as the “FSRU-owning entities.”
The GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann operate under long-term time charters with expiration dates in 2029 and 2030, respectively, and, in each case, with an option for the charterer to extend for up to two additional periods of five years each. The PGN FSRU Lampung , operates under a long term time charter which started in July 2014 with an expiration date in 2034 (with an option for the charterer to extend for up to two additional periods of five years each) and uses the Mooring that was constructed and installed for the charterer and was sold to PT PGN LNG, a subsidiary of Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk (“PGN”).
The following table lists the entities included in these consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements and their purpose as of December 31, 2014.
Jurisdiction of | ||||
Name | Incorporation | Purpose | ||
Höegh LNG Partners LP | Marshall Islands | Holding Company | ||
Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC (100% owned) | Marshall Islands | Holding Company | ||
Hoegh LNG Services Ltd (100% owned) | United Kingdom | Administration Services Company | ||
Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd. (100% owned) | Singapore | Owns 49% of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung | ||
PT Hoegh LNG Lampung (49% owned) (1) | Indonesia | Owns PGN FSRU Lampung | ||
SRV Joint Gas Ltd. (50% owned) (2) | Cayman Islands | Owns GDF Suez Neptune | ||
SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (50% owned) (2) | Cayman Islands | Owns GDF Suez Cape Ann |
(1) PT Hoegh LNG Lampung is a variable interest entity, which is controlled by Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd. and is, therefore, 100% consolidated in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
(2) The remaining 50% interest in each joint venture is owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and Tokyo LNG Tanker Co.
F- 10 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
2. Significant accounting policies
a. | Basis of presentation |
The consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”). All inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated.
As of August 13, 2014, financial statements of the Partnership are consolidated since it was a separate legal entity owning the interests in the subsidiaries and joint ventures. At the closing of the IPO, the transfer of the interests was recorded at Höegh LNG’s consolidated book values. Prior to that date, the income statement, balance sheet and cash flows, as converted to US GAAP, have been carved out of the consolidated financial statements of Höegh LNG and are presented on a combined carve-out basis for the Combined Entities. The combined carve-out financial statements include the related assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and cash flows directly attributable to Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd. and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung. In addition, the investment in 50% of the joint ventures using the equity method of accounting, and the related advances to joint ventures and interest income on the advances, are included in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. The combined carve-out financial statements prior to August 13, 2014, also include allocations of certain administrative expenses.
Included in the combined carve-out equity as of August 12, 2014, were amounts related to promissory notes and related accrued interest due to Höegh LNG. Höegh LNG’s receivables for the promissory notes and related accrued interest of the Partnership’s subsidiaries were contributed to the Partnership as part of the Formation transactions. Refer to note 3 for additional discussion of the contribution. As a result, the liabilities of the Partnership’s subsidiaries are eliminated on consolidation since they were no longer external liabilities to the Partnership. Accordingly, this is equivalent to not transferring the subsidiaries’ liabilities to the Partnership. Therefore, the corresponding amounts have been eliminated for the Partnership’s opening equity position as of August 12, 2014. Details of the liabilities eliminated are as follows:
As of
August 12, |
||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | |||
Accrued interest on $48.5 million Promissory note due to Höegh LNG transferred to Partnership | $ | (1,684 | ) | |
Accrued interest on $101.5 million Promissory note due to Höegh LNG transferred to Partnership | (2,947 | ) | ||
$40.0 million Promissory note and accrued interest due to Höegh LNG transferred to Partnership | (41,168 | ) | ||
Elimination to equity as of August 12, 2014 | $ | 45,799 |
It has been determined that PT Hoegh LNG Lampung, SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. are variable interest entities. A variable interest entity (“VIE”) is defined by US GAAP as a legal entity where either (a) the voting rights of some investors are not proportional to their rights to receive the expected residual returns of the entity, their obligations to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or both, and substantially all of the entity's activities either involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor that has disproportionately few voting rights, or (b) the equity holders have not provided sufficient equity investment to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or (c) equity interest holders as a group lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, including decision making ability and an interest in the entity's residual risks and rewards. The guidance requires a VIE to be consolidated if any of its interest holders are entitled to a majority of the entity's residual returns or are exposed to a majority of its expected losses.
Based upon the criteria set forth in US GAAP, the Partnership has determined that PT Hoegh LNG Lampung is a VIE, as the equity holders, through their equity investments, may not participate fully in the entity's expected residual returns and substantially all of the entity's activities either involve, or are conducted on behalf of, the Partnership. The Partnership is the primary beneficiary, as it has the power to make key operating decisions considered to be most significant to the VIE and receives all the expected benefits or expected losses. Therefore, 100% of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung are included in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. Dividends may only be paid if the retained earnings are positive under Indonesian law and requirements are fulfilled under the Lampung facility. Refer to note 14. As of December 31, 2014, PT Hoegh LNG Lampung has negative retained earnings and therefore cannot make dividend payments under Indonesia law. Under the Lampung facility, there are limitations on cash dividends and loans that can be made to the Partnership. As of December 31, 2014, restricted net assets of the consolidated subsidiaries were $113.4 million.
F- 11 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
In addition, the Partnership has determined that the two joint ventures, SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., are VIEs since each entity did not have a sufficient equity investment to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support at the time of its initial investment. The entities have been financed with third party debt and subordinated shareholders loans. The Partnership is not the primary beneficiary, as the Partnership cannot make key operating decisions considered to be most significant to the VIEs, but has joint control with the other equity holders. Therefore, the joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method of accounting as the Partnership has significant influence. The Partnership's carrying value is recorded in advances to joint ventures and accumulated losses of joint ventures in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheets. For SRV Joint Gas Ltd., the Partnership had a receivable for the advances of $9.8 million and $12.6 million, respectively, and the Partnership’s accumulated losses or its share of net liabilities were $28.4 million and $26.0 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. The Partnership's carrying value for SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., consists of a receivable for the advances of $9.1 million and $11.9 million, respectively, and the Partnership’s accumulated losses or its share of net liabilities of $31.2 million and $28.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. The major reason that the Partnership’s accumulated losses in the joint ventures are net liabilities is due to the fair value adjustments for the interest rate swaps recorded as liabilities on the combined balance sheets of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. The maximum exposure to loss is the carrying value of the receivables, which is subordinated to the joint ventures’ long-term bank debt, the investments in the joint ventures (accumulated losses), as the shares are pledged as security for the joint ventures’ long-term bank debt and Höegh LNG’s commitment under long-term bank loan agreements to fund its share of drydocking costs and remarketing efforts in the event of an early termination of the charters. Dividend distributions require a) agreement of the other joint venture owners; b) fulfilment of requirements of the long-term bank loans; c) and under Cayman Islands law may be paid out of profits or capital reserves subject to the joint venture being solvent after the distribution.
b. | Carve-out principles |
For the period from January 1, 2014 to August 12, 2014 (the date of the IPO) and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the combined carve-out financial statements presented herein have been carved out of the consolidated financial statements of Höegh LNG and adjusted to be in accordance with US GAAP.
These combined carve-out financial statements include the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and cash flows directly attributable to Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd. and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung . In addition, the investment in 50% of the joint ventures, the related advances to joint ventures and interest income on the advances are included in the combined carve-out financial statements.
The combined carve-out financial statements include the financial statements of Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd. and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung since the dates of their inception. Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd. and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung were incorporated on May 31, 2013 and December 10, 2012, respectively. Prior to October 1, 2013, the investment in the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring were not included in a single purpose entity or accounted for as a discrete unit, but held by a subsidiary of Höegh LNG. From October 1, 2013, the PGN FSRU Lampung , the Mooring and all associated contracts are included in PT Hoegh Lampung Pte. Ltd.
Höegh LNG’s accounting system tracks capital expenditures and expenses by project code, including the capitalized cost of newbuilding and projects under construction, administration costs for those working on such projects through Höegh LNG’s time-write system, commitment fees and deferred debt issuance cost for related financing and certain deferred charges related to contracts. Höegh LNG’s time-write system records project team and administration staff hours worked on specific vessels or by project code for purposes on recording associated staff costs and overhead. Accordingly, for periods prior to October 1, 2013, the capitalized cost of the newbuilding, construction contract revenues related to the Mooring, associated costs and related balances have been specifically identified based on project codes for purpose of preparing the combined carve-out financial statements.
Cash, working capital items, amounts due to owners and affiliates and equity balances are not tracked by project code. Cash and restricted cash were not allocated to the carve-out financial statements unless specific accounts were identified specifically related to the project. Working capital items and accruals were reviewed at the transaction level to identify those specifically related to the newbuilding, the Mooring or the associated contracts. The share of loans due to owners and affiliates related to the financing of the construction in progress and the related interest expense have been allocated to the combined carve-out financial statements.
F- 12 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
In addition, there are administrative expenses of Höegh LNG that cannot be attributed to a specific vessel or project directly. The administrative expenses include undistributed corporate and segment management and administrative staffs salary expenses and benefits, and general and administrative expenses. These administrative expenses have been allocated to the combined carve-out financial statements based on the number of vessels, newbuildings and business development projects in Höegh LNG’s fleet, joint ventures and operations.
Related parties have provided the commercial and technical services for the FSRUs, including supervision of newbuilding, and employ the crews that work on the FSRUs. Accordingly, neither the Combined Entities nor the Partnership are liable for any pension or post retirement benefits, since they have no direct employees.
Income tax expense has been allocated to the Combined Entities on a separate returns basis.
Management has deemed the allocations reasonable to present the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Partnership on a stand-alone basis. However, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Partnership may differ from those that would have been achieved had the Partnership operated autonomously for all years presented as the Partnership would have had additional administrative expenses, including legal, accounting, treasury and regulatory compliance and other costs normally incurred by a listed public entity. Accordingly, the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements do not purport to be indicative of the future financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Partnership.
c. | Significant accounting policies |
Foreign currencies
The reporting currency in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements is the U.S. dollar, which is the functional currency of the FSRU-owning entities. All revenues are received in U.S. dollars and a majority of the Partnership's expenditures for investments and all of the long-term debt are denominated in U.S. dollars. Transactions denominated in other currencies during the year are converted into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the time of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Resulting gains or losses are reflected in the accompanying consolidated and combined carve-out statements of income.
Time charter revenues and related expenses
Time charter revenues :
Revenue arrangements may include the right to use FSRUs for a stated period of time that meet the criteria for lease accounting, in addition to providing a time charter service element. Time charter revenues consist of charter hire payments under time charters, fees for providing time charter services, fees for reimbursement for actual vessel operating expenses and drydocking costs borne by the charterer on a pass through basis, as well as fees for the reimbursement of certain vessel modifications or other costs borne by the charterer. Time charter revenues are presented net of any value added tax (“VAT”) or sales tax.
The lease element of time charters accounted for as operating leases and any upfront payments for amounts reimbursed by the charterer are recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the charter.
The lease element of time charters that are accounted for as direct financing leases is recognized over the lease term using the effective interest rate method and is included in time charter revenues. Direct financing leases are reflected on the balance sheets as net investments in direct financing leases. The time charter for the PGN FSRU Lampung is accounted for as a direct financing lease.
Revenues for the lease element of time charters are not recognized for days that the FSRUs are off hire.
Fees for providing time charter services and reimbursements for actual vessel operating expenses are recognized as revenues as services are performed. Revenues for the time charter services element are not recognized for days that the FSRUs are off-hire.
F- 13 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Upfront payments of fees for reimbursement of drydocking costs are recognized on a straight line basis over the period to the next drydocking.
Related expenses :
Voyage expenses include bunker fuel expenses, port fees, cargo loading and unloading expenses, canal tolls and agency fees. Voyage expenses are all expenses unique to a particular voyage and when a vessel is on hire under time charters are the responsibility of, and paid directly by the charterers and not included in the income statement. When the vessel is off-hire, voyage expenses, principally fuel, may also be incurred and are paid by the FSRU-owning entity.
Vessel operating expenses, reflected in expenses in the income statement, include crewing, repairs and maintenance, insurance, stores, lube oils, communication expenses, and management fees. When the vessel is on hire, vessel operating expenses are invoiced as fees to the charterer. When the vessel is off-hire, vessel operating expenses are not invoiced to the charterer.
Voyage expenses, if applicable, and vessel operating expenses are expensed when incurred.
Construction revenues and related expenses
For fixed price construction contracts, when the outcome can be estimated reliably, construction contract revenues are recognized based on the percentage of completion method using the ratio of costs incurred to estimated total costs multiplied by the total estimated contract revenue. Revenue from change orders, if any, is not recognized until agreed in writing by the owner. As the percentage of completion method relies on the substantial use of estimates, estimates may be revised throughout the life of a construction contract. The construction cost incurred and estimates to complete on construction contracts are reviewed, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis, as well as when information becomes available that would necessitate a review of the current estimate. Adjustments to estimates for a contract's estimated costs at completion and estimated profit or loss often are required as experience is gained, and as more information is obtained, even though the scope of work required under the contract may not change. The impact of such changes to estimates is made on a cumulative basis in the period when such information has become known. Expected losses on contracts are fully recognized as soon as they are identified.
Construction contract expenses include direct costs on contracts, including project management, labor and materials, amounts payable to subcontractors and capitalized interest.
Insurance and other claims
Insurance claims for property damage are recorded, net of any deductible amounts, for recoveries up to the amount of loss recognized when the claims submitted to insurance carriers are probable of recovery. Claims for property damage in excess of the loss recognized and for loss of revenue during off-hire, whether from insurance providers or indemnification from Höegh LNG, are considered gain contingencies, which are recognized when the proceeds are received.
Indemnification proceeds from Höegh LNG that cover the Partnership’s costs are accounted for following the guidance of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 1.B and SAB Topic 5. T. SAB Topic 1.B provides that the separate financial statements of a subsidiary should reflect any costs of its operations which are incurred by the owner on its behalf. SAB Topic 5.T provides that costs should be reflected as an expense in the subsidiary's financial statements with a corresponding credit to contributed equity.
Income taxes
Income taxes are based on a separate return basis. Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax and the book bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
F- 14 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Benefits of uncertain tax positions are recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position taken in a tax return will be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. If the more-likely-than-not recognition criterion is met, a tax position is measured based on the cumulative amount that is more-likely-than-not of being sustained upon examination by tax authorities to determine the amount of benefit to be recognized in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions is recognized in income tax expense in the consolidated and combined carve-out statement of income.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash, banks deposits, time deposits and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are recognized as cash and cash equivalents.
Restricted cash
Restricted cash includes balances deposited with a bank as required under debt facilities to settle withholding and other tax liabilities and other current obligations of the entity, principal and interest payments as required by the debt facilities and collateral for a letter of credit related to potential delay liquidated damages to PGN. Restricted cash is classified as long-term when the settlement or collateral period is more than 12 months from the balance sheet date. Classification of restricted cash in the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of cash flows is as an operating, investing or financing activity when the purpose of the restriction is directly related to operations, an investment or as collateral for borrowings, respectively.
Trade receivables and allowance for doubtful accounts
Trade receivables are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is management’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in existing accounts receivable based on historical write-off experience and customer economic data. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when management believes that the receivable will not be recovered. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $0 for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Unbilled construction contract income
Unbilled construction contract income includes accrued revenue on construction contracts.
Deferred debt issuance costs
Debt issuance costs, including arrangement fees and legal expenses, are deferred and presented as deferred debt issuance cost in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheet and amortized on an effective interest rate method over the term of the relevant loan. Amortization of debt issuance costs is included as a component of interest expense. If a loan or part of a loan is repaid early, any unamortized portion of the deferred debt issuance costs is recognized as interest expense proportionate to the amount of the early repayment in the period in which the loan is repaid.
Deferred charges
Deferred charges consist primarily of contract origination costs related directly to the negotiation and consummation of the time charter and are amortized over the term of the time charter. For direct financing leases, origination costs related to the time charter are reclassified to net investment in direct financing lease and amortized over the lease term using the effective interest method.
Investments in (accumulated losses) and advances to joint ventures
Investments in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, investments are stated at initial cost and are adjusted for the Partnership’s proportionate share of earnings or losses and dividend distributions. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Partnership had an accumulated share of losses and the balance is classified on the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheet as a liability on the line item accumulated losses of joint ventures.
Advances to joint ventures represent loan receivables due from the joint ventures and are recorded at cost.
F- 15 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Investments in joint ventures are evaluated for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such investments may have experienced an other-than-temporary decline in value below its carrying value. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, the carrying value is written down to its estimated fair value and the resulting impairment is recorded in the consolidated and combined carve-out statement of income.
Loan receivables are impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the full amount of the receivable will not be collected. The amount of the impairment is measured as the difference between the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate and the carrying amount. The resulting impairment amount is recognized in earnings.
Vessels
All costs incurred during the construction of newbuildings, including interest and supervision and technical costs, are capitalized. Vessels are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over a vessel’s estimated useful life, less an estimated residual value. Depreciation is calculated using an estimated useful life of 35 years for the FSRUs.
Modifications to the vessels, including the addition of new equipment, which improves or increases the operational efficiency, functionality or safety of the vessels are capitalized. These expenditures are amortized over the estimated useful life of the modification.
Expenditures covering recurring routine repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.
Drydocking expenditures are capitalized when incurred and amortized over the period until the next anticipated drydocking. For vessels that are newly built, the "built-in overhaul" method of accounting is applied. Under the built-in overhaul method, costs of the newbuilding are segregated into costs that should be depreciated over the useful life of the vessel and costs that require drydocking at periodic intervals. The drydocking component is amortized until the date of the first drydocking following the delivery, upon which the actual drydocking cost is capitalized and the process is repeated. Costs of drydocking incurred to meet regulatory requirements or improve the vessel’s operating efficiency, functionality or safety are capitalized. Costs incurred related to routine repairs and maintenance performed during dry docking is expensed.
Impairment of long-lived assets
Vessels are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances
indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances are present, the
recoverability of vessels are assessed by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through undiscounted
expected future cash flows. If the vessel’s net carrying value exceeds the net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated
over its remaining useful life, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its estimated fair value. An impairment loss is
recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the vessel.
Derivative instruments
Interest rate swaps are used for the management of interest rate risk exposure. The interest rate swaps have the effect of converting a portion of the outstanding debt from a floating to a fixed rate over the life of the transactions.
All derivative instruments are initially recorded at fair value as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheet and are subsequently remeasured to fair value, regardless of the purpose or intent for holding the derivative. The method of recognizing the resulting gain or loss is dependent on whether the contract qualifies for hedge accounting.
For derivative financial instruments that are not designated or that do not qualify for hedge accounting, the changes in the fair value of the derivative financial instruments are recognized in earnings. In order to designate a derivative as a cash flow hedge, formal documentation of the relationship between the derivative and the hedged item is required. This documentation includes the strategy and risk management objective for undertaking the hedge and the method that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the hedge.
F- 16 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
For derivative financial instruments qualifying as cash flow hedges, changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the derivative financial instruments are initially recorded in other comprehensive income as a component of total equity. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recognized immediately in earnings, as are any gains and losses or amortization on the derivative that are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. In the periods when the hedged items affect earnings, the associated fair value changes on the hedging derivatives are transferred from accumulated other comprehensive income to the corresponding earnings line item in the consolidated and combined carve-out statement of income. If a cash flow hedge is terminated and the originally hedged item is still considered possible of occurring, the gains and losses initially recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income remain there until the hedged item impacts earnings, at which point they are transferred to the corresponding earnings line item (e.g. gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments) in the consolidated and combined carve-out statement of income. If the hedged items are no longer possible of occurring, amounts recognized in total equity are immediately transferred to the earnings line item in the consolidated and combined carve-out statement of income.
Prepaid and deferred revenue
Prepaid revenue includes prepayments of fees for charter hire, vessel operating expenses or other future services. Deferred revenues include payments from charterers for certain vessel modifications which is amortized over the charter.
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates subject to such estimates and assumptions include revenue recognition, the useful lives of vessels, drydocking and the percentage of completion related to the Mooring.
Recent accounting pronouncements
There are no recent accounting pronouncements, whose adoption had a material impact on the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements in the current year. In May 2014, a new accounting standard, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Under the new standard, revenue for most contracts with customers will be recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects consideration that the entity expects to be entitled, subject to certain limitations. The scope of this guidance does not apply to leases, financial instruments, guarantees and certain non-monetary transactions. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is not permitted. The Partnership is currently assessing the impact the adoption this standard will have on the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
3. Formation transactions and Initial Public Offering
During August 2014, the following transactions in connection with the transfer of equity interests, shareholder loans and promissory notes and accrued interest to the Partnership and the IPO occurred:
Capital contribution
Höegh LNG contributed the following to the Partnership:
(i) | Its interests in Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd., PT Hoegh LNG Lampung, SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd.; |
(ii) | Its shareholder loans made by Höegh LNG to each of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., in part to finance the operations of such joint ventures; |
(iii) | Its receivables for the $40 million promissory note due to Höegh LNG as well as accrued interest on such note and two other promissory notes relating to Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd.; |
F- 17 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
(iv) | These transactions have been accounted for as a capital contribution by Höegh LNG to the Partnership. However, for purposes of the combined carve-out financial statements, the (i) net assets of the entities and the (ii) shareholder loans to the joint ventures are included in the combined carve-out balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2014; |
Recapitalization of the Partnership
(i) | The Partnership issued to Höegh LNG 2,116,060 common units and 13,156,060 subordinated units and 100% of incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”), which will entitle Höegh LNG to increasing percentages of the cash the Partnership distributes in excess of $0.388125 per unit per quarter; |
(ii) | The Partnership issued to Höegh LNG GP LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG, a non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership; |
Initial Public Offering
(i) | The Partnership issued and sold through the underwriters to the public 11,040,000 common units (including 1,440,000 common units exercised pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units), representing approximately 42% limited partnership interest in the Partnership. The common units were sold for $20.00 per unit resulting in gross proceeds of $220.8 million. The net proceeds of the offering were approximately $203.5 million. Net proceeds is after deduction of underwriters’ discounts, structuring fees and reimbursements and the incremental direct costs attributable to the IPO that were deferred and charged against the proceeds of the offering. |
(ii) | The Partnership applied the net proceeds of the offering as follows: (i) $140 million to make a loan to Höegh LNG in exchange for a note bearing interest at a rate of 5.88% per annum, which is repayable on demand or which the Partnership can elect to utilize as part of the purchase consideration in the event the Partnership purchases all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in the Independence , (ii) $20 million for general partnership purposes and (iii) the remainder of approximately $43.5 million to make a cash distribution to Höegh LNG. |
Proceeds from IPO and application of funds | ||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | ||||
Gross proceeds from IPO | $ | 220,800 | ||
Underwriters' discounts, structuring fees and incremental direct IPO expenses | (17,333 | ) | ||
Net proceeds from IPO | 203,467 | |||
Loan of initial public offering proceeds to Höegh LNG for demand note | (140,000 | ) | ||
Cash distribution of initial public offering proceeds to Höegh LNG | (43,467 | ) | ||
Cash retained for general partnership purposes | $ | 20,000 |
At the completion of the IPO, Höegh LNG owned 2,116,060 common units and 13,156,060 subordinated units, representing an approximate 58% limited partnership interest in the Partnership.
Agreements
In connection with the IPO the Partnership entered into several agreements including:
(i) | A $85 million revolving credit facility with Höegh LNG, which was undrawn at the closing of the IPO; |
(ii) | An omnibus agreement with Höegh LNG, the general partner, and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC governing, among other things: |
a. | To what extent the Partnership and Höegh LNG may compete with each other; |
b. | The Partnership’s option to purchase from Höegh LNG all or a portion of its interests in an additional FSRU, the Independence , within 24 months after acceptance of such vessel by her charterer, subject to reaching an agreement with Höegh LNG regarding the purchase price and other terms in accordance with the provisions of the omnibus agreement and any rights AB Klaipèdos Nafta has under the related time charter, which the Partnership may exercise at one or more times during such 24-month period; |
F- 18 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
c. | The Partnership’s rights of first offer on certain FSRUs and LNG carriers operating under charters of five or more years; and |
d. | Höegh LNG’s provision of certain indemnities to the Partnership. |
(iii) | An administrative services agreement with Höegh LNG Services Ltd., UK (“Höegh UK”), pursuant to which Höegh UK provides certain administrative services to the Partnership; and |
(iv) | Höegh UK has entered into an administrative services agreement with Höegh LNG AS (“Höegh Norway”) and Leif Höegh (U.K.) Limited, pursuant to which Höegh Norway and Leif Höegh (U.K.) Limited, provides Höegh UK certain administrative services. |
Existing agreements remain in place for provision of certain services to the Partnership’s vessel owning joint ventures or entity, of which the material agreements are as follows:
• | The joint ventures are parties to ship management agreements with Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS (“Höegh LNG Management”) pursuant to which Höegh LNG Management provides the joint ventures with technical and maritime management and crewing of the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , and Höegh Norway is a party to a sub-technical support agreement with Höegh LNG Management pursuant to which Höegh LNG Management provides technical support services with respect to the PGN FSRU Lampung ; and |
• | The joint ventures are parties to commercial and administration management agreements with Höegh Norway, and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung is a party to a technical information and services agreement with Höegh Norway. |
4. Segment information
There are two operating segments. The segment profit measure is Segment EBITDA, which is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other financial items (gains and losses on derivative instruments and other items, net). Segment EBITDA is reconciled to operating income and net income in the segment presentation below. The two segments are “Majority held FSRUs” and “Joint venture FSRUs.” In addition, unallocated corporate costs that are considered to benefit the entire organization and interest income from advances to joint ventures and the demand note due from Höegh LNG are included in “Other.”
For the year ended December 31, 2014, Majority held FSRUs includes the direct financing lease related to the PGN FSRU Lampung , and construction contract revenues and expenses of the Mooring. The Mooring was constructed on behalf of, and was sold to, PGN using the percentage of completion method of accounting. The Mooring project was completed as of December 31, 2014. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, Majority held FSRUs includes a newbuilding, the PGN FSRU Lampung , and construction contract revenues and expenses of the Mooring under construction.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, Joint venture FSRUs include two 50% owned FSRUs, the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann , that operate under long term time charters with one charterer, GDF Suez Global LNG Supply SA.
The accounting policies applied to the segments are the same as those applied in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements, except that Joint venture FSRUs are presented under the proportional consolidation method for the segment note and under equity accounting for the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements. Under the proportional consolidation method, 50% of the Joint venture FSRUs’ revenues, expenses and assets are reflected in the segment note. Management monitors the results of operations of joint ventures under the proportional consolidation method and not the equity method of accounting.
In time charters, the charterer, not the Partnership, controls the choice of locations or routes the FSRUs serve. Accordingly, the presentation of information by geographical region is not meaningful. The following tables include the results for the segments for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
F- 19 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Year ended December 31, 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joint venture | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Majority | FSRUs | Total | and combined | |||||||||||||||||||||
held | (proportional | Segment | Elimin- | carve-out | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | FSRUs | consolidation) | Other | reporting | ations | reporting | ||||||||||||||||||
Time charter revenues | $ | 20,918 | 41,319 | — | 62,237 | (41,319 | ) | $ | 20,918 | |||||||||||||||
Construction contract revenues | 49,277 | — | — | 49,277 | — | 49,277 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 70,195 | 41,319 | — | 111,514 | 70,195 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (11,879 | ) | (8,485 | ) | (6,213 | ) | (26,577 | ) | 8,485 | (18,092 | ) | |||||||||||||
Construction contract expenses | (35,384 | ) | — | — | (35,384 | ) | — | (35,384 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures | — | — | — | — | (5,330 | ) | (5,330 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | 22,932 | 32,834 | (6,213 | ) | 49,553 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (1,317 | ) | (9,148 | ) | — | (10,465 | ) | 9,148 | (1,317 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 21,615 | 23,686 | (6,213 | ) | 39,088 | 10,072 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments | (161 | ) | (11,879 | ) | — | (12,040 | ) | 11,879 | (161 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other financial income (expense), net | (11,456 | ) | (17,137 | ) | 4,459 | (24,134 | ) | 17,137 | (6,997 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before tax | 9,998 | (5,330 | ) | (1,754 | ) | 2,914 | — | 2,914 | ||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | (505 | ) | — | — | (505 | ) | — | (505 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 9,493 | (5,330 | ) | (1,754 | ) | 2,409 | — | $ | 2,409 |
As of December 31, 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joint venture | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Majority | FSRUs | Total |
and
combined |
|||||||||||||||||||||
held | (proportional | Segment | Elimin- | carve-out | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | FSRUs | consolidation) | Other | reporting | ations | reporting | ||||||||||||||||||
Newbuildings | $ | — | — | — | — | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||
Vessels, net of accumulated depreciation | — | 279,670 | — | 279,670 | (279,670 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
Net investment in direct financing lease | 295,188 | 295,188 | 295,188 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Advances to joint ventures | — | — | 18,952 | 18,952 | — | 18,952 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 377,626 | 300,327 | 190,589 | 868,542 | (300,327 | ) | 568,215 | |||||||||||||||||
Accumulated losses of joint ventures | — | — | 50 | 50 | (59,680 | ) | (59,630 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Expenditures for newbuildings, vessels & equipment | 172,173 | 2,358 | — | 174,531 | (2,358 | ) | 172,173 | |||||||||||||||||
Expenditures for drydocking | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Principal repayment direct financing lease | $ | 1,311 | — | — | 1,311 | — | $ | 1,311 |
F- 20 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Year ended December 31, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joint venture | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Majority | FSRUs | Total | and combined | |||||||||||||||||||||
held | (proportional | Segment | Elimin- | carve-out | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | FSRUs | consolidation) | Other | reporting | ations | reporting | ||||||||||||||||||
Time charter revenues | $ | — | 41,110 | — | 41,110 | (41,110 | ) | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
Construction contract revenues | 50,362 | — | — | 50,362 | — | 50,362 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other revenues | 511 | — | — | 511 | — | 511 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 50,873 | 41,110 | — | 91,983 | 50,873 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (4,490 | ) | (8,763 | ) | (3,553 | ) | (16,806 | ) | 8,763 | (8,043 | ) | |||||||||||||
Construction contract expenses | (43,272 | ) | — | — | (43,272 | ) | — | (43,272 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures | — | — | — | — | 40,228 | 40,228 | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | 3,111 | 32,347 | (3,553 | ) | 31,905 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (8 | ) | (9,053 | ) | — | (9,061 | ) | 9,053 | (8 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 3,103 | 23,294 | (3,553 | ) | 22,844 | 39,778 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments | — | 35,038 | — | 35,038 | (35,038 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
Other financial income (expense), net | (1,373 | ) | (18,104 | ) | 2,122 | (17,355 | ) | 18,104 | 749 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before tax | 1,730 | 40,228 | (1,431 | ) | 40,527 | — | 40,527 | |||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 1,730 | 40,228 | (1,431 | ) | 40,527 | — | $ | 40,527 |
As of December 31, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joint venture | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Majority | FSRUs | Total | and combined | |||||||||||||||||||||
held | (proportional | Segment | Elimin- | carve-out | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | FSRUs | consolidation) | Other | reporting | ations | reporting | ||||||||||||||||||
Newbuildings | $ | 122,517 | — | — | 122,517 | — | $ | 122,517 | ||||||||||||||||
Vessels, net of accumulated depreciation | — | 286,460 | — | 286,460 | (286,460 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
Advances to joint ventures | — | — | 24,510 | 24,510 | 24,510 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 202,220 | 307,335 | 24,510 | 534,065 | (307,335 | ) | 226,730 | |||||||||||||||||
Accumulated losses of joint ventures | — | — | 50 | 50 | (54,350 | ) | (54,300 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Expenditures for newbuildings, vessels & equipment | 36,450 | 522 | — | 36,972 | (522 | ) | 36,450 | |||||||||||||||||
Expenditures for drydocking | $ | — | — | — | — | — | $ | — |
F- 21 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Year ended December 31, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joint venture | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Majority | FSRUs | Total | and combined | |||||||||||||||||||||
held | (proportional | Segment | Elimin- | carve-out | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | FSRUs | consolidation) | Other | reporting | ations | reporting | ||||||||||||||||||
Time charter revenues | $ | — | 41,076 | — | 41,076 | (41,076 | ) | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
Construction contract revenues | 5,512 | — | — | 5,512 | — | 5,512 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other revenues | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 5,512 | 41,076 | — | 46,588 | 5,512 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (2,372 | ) | (8,652 | ) | (813 | ) | (11,837 | ) | 8,652 | (3,185 | ) | |||||||||||||
Construction contract expenses | (5,512 | ) | — | — | (5,512 | ) | — | (5,512 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of joint ventures | — | — | — | — | 5,007 | 5,007 | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | (2,372 | ) | 32,424 | (813 | ) | 29,239 | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | — | (9,060 | ) | — | (9,060 | ) | 9,060 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | (2,372 | ) | 23,364 | (813 | ) | 20,179 | 1,822 | |||||||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments | — | 693 | — | 693 | (693 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
Other financial income (expense), net | (115 | ) | (19,050 | ) | 2,481 | (16,684 | ) | 19,050 | 2,366 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before tax | (2,487 | ) | 5,007 | 1,668 | 4,188 | — | 4,188 | |||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (2,487 | ) | 5,007 | 1,668 | 4,188 | — | $ | 4,188 |
For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the percentage of consolidated and combined carve-out total revenues from the following customers accounted for over 10% of the consolidated and combined carve-out total revenues:
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
PGN | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % |
5. Time charter revenues and net investment in direct financing lease
As of December 31, 2014, the minimum contractual future revenues to be received under the time charters during the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | Total | |||
2015 | $ | 39,930 | ||
2016 | 39,930 | |||
2017 | 39,930 | |||
2018 | 39,930 | |||
2019 | 39,930 | |||
Thereafter | 592,460 | |||
Total | $ | 792,110 |
F- 22 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
The long-term time charter for the PGN FSRU Lampung with PGN has an initial term of 20 years from the acceptance date of October 30, 2014 and the contract expires in 2034. The time charter hire payments began July 21, 2014 when the project was ready to begin commissioning. The lease element of the time charter is accounted for as a direct financing lease. The minimum contractual future revenues in the table above include the fixed payments for the lease and services elements for the initial term but exclude the variable fees from the charterer for vessel operating expenses, taxes and drydocking costs. The charterer has an option to purchase the PGN FSRU Lampung, which can be exercised after the third anniversary of the commencement of the charter until the twentieth anniversary, at stated prices in the time charter. The minimum contractual future revenues do not include the option price. The time charter also provides options for the charterer to extend the lease term for two five year periods. Unexercised option periods are excluded from the minimum contractual future revenues.
The lease element of time charter hire for the PGN FSRU Lampung is recognized over the lease term using the effective interest rate method and is included in time charter revenues. The direct financing lease is reflected on the balance sheets as net investment in direct financing lease, a receivable, as follows:
As of
December 31, |
||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | |||
Minimum lease payments | $ | 601,096 | ||
Unguaranteed residual value | 146,000 | |||
Unearned income | (453,692 | ) | ||
Initial direct cost, net | 3,095 | |||
Net investment in direct financing lease at inception | 296,499 | |||
Principal repayment and amortization for July 21 to December 31, 2014 | (1,311 | ) | ||
Net investment in direct financing lease at December 31, 2014 | 295,188 | |||
Less: Current portion | (2,809 | ) | ||
Long term net investment in direct financing lease | $ | 292,379 |
There were no financing leases as of December 31, 2013. There was no allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2014.
6. Construction contract revenues
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Construction contract revenue | $ | 49,277 | 50,362 | $ | 5,512 | |||||||
Construction contract expenses | (35,384 | ) | (43,272 | ) | (5,512 | ) | ||||||
Recognized contract margin (loss) | $ | 13,893 | 7,090 | $ | — |
PGN formally accepted the PGN FSRU Lampung and signed the Certificate of Acceptance on October 30, 2014 which was the condition for the final payment related to the Mooring. As such the Mooring project was 100% completed as of December 31, 2014. PGN issued invoices for delay liquidated damages of $7,116 related to claims from PGN on the project for the year end December 31, 2014. Subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2014, an understanding with PGN has been reached under which no delay liquidated damages will be payable. Due to this subsequent event, no delay liquated damages are reflected in the construction contract expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014. Refer to note 20. As of December 31, 2014 the Partnership recorded a warranty allowance of $2,000 for technical issues that requires the replacement of equipment parts for the Mooring. Refer to note 20.
As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Mooring project was estimated to be 53% and 6% completed, respectively. In the initial stages of the contract, the Partnership’s policy is to record revenue in an amount equal to the cost incurred until sufficient information is available to estimate profit on the project with a reasonable level of certainty. As a result, no contract margin was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2012. Refer to note 9.
F- 23 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
7. Financial income (expenses)
The components of financial income (expenses) are as follows:
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Interest income | $ | 4,959 | 2,122 | $ | 2,481 | |||||||
Interest expense: | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | (9,163 | ) | (6,110 | ) | (3,769 | ) | ||||||
Commitment fees | (1,587 | ) | (2,162 | ) | (1,729 | ) | ||||||
Amortization of debt issuance cost | (4,287 | ) | (379 | ) | (379 | ) | ||||||
Capitalized interest | 5,447 | 8,299 | 5,763 | |||||||||
Total interest expense | (9,590 | ) | (352 | ) | (114 | ) | ||||||
Loss on derivative financial instruments | (161 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Other items, net: | ||||||||||||
Foreign exchange gain (loss) | 92 | 85 | — | |||||||||
Bank charges and fees | (84 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Withholding tax on interest expense and other | (2,374 | ) | (1,106 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||
Total other items, net | (2,366 | ) | (1,021 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||
Total financial income (expense), net | $ | (7,158 | ) | (749 | ) | $ | 2,366 |
Interest income related to the demand note due from Höegh LNG from its inception date of August 12, 2014 and the advances to the joint ventures for each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. Interest expense related to the Lampung facility (note 14) from its initial drawdown on March 4, 2014 and loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates until the closing date of the IPO on August 12, 2014 and for each the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. Refer to note 17.
8. Income tax
The components of income tax expense recognized in the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of income are as follows:
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Total current tax (benefit) expense | $ | 505 | — | $ | — | |||||||
Deferred tax (benefit) expense for: | ||||||||||||
Change in temporary differences | 417 | 13 | — | |||||||||
Tax loss carry forward | (911 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Change in valuation allowance | 494 | (13 | ) | — | ||||||||
Total deferred tax (benefit) expense | — | — | — | |||||||||
Total income tax (benefit) expense | $ | 505 | — | $ | — |
F- 24 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Deferred tax (benefit) expense recognized in the consolidated combined carve-out statements of comprehensive income as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) are as follows:
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Cash flow hedge derivative financial instruments | $ | (2,540 | ) | — | $ | — | ||||||
Valuation allowance | 650 | — | — | |||||||||
Deferred tax (benefit) recognized in OCI | $ | (1,890 | ) | — | $ | — |
The reconciliation of the income before tax at the statutory rate in the Marshall Islands to the actual income tax expense for each year is as follows:
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Income before tax | $ | 2,914 | $ | 40,527 | $ | 4,188 | ||||||
At applicable statutory tax rate | ||||||||||||
Amount computed at corporate tax of 0% | — | — | — | |||||||||
Foreign tax rate differences | 560 | 37 | — | |||||||||
Permanent differences: | ||||||||||||
Tax deduction foreign exchange losses in local currency | — | (2,544 | ) | — | ||||||||
Non deductible withholding taxes | 179 | 187 | — | |||||||||
Tax credits and exemptions | (1,497 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Non deductible other financial items | 520 | — | — | |||||||||
Non deductible foreign exchange loss | 61 | — | — | |||||||||
Other non deductible costs | 188 | 44 | — | |||||||||
Deferred tax asset not probable of realization | — | 2,289 | — | |||||||||
Adjustment for valuation allowance | 494 | (13 | ) | — | ||||||||
Tax expense (benefit) for year recognized in net income | $ | 505 | $ | — | $ | — |
F- 25 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are summarized as follows:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Current deferred tax assets: | ||||||||
Unbilled construction contract income | $ | — | $ | 21 | ||||
Direct financing lease | 80 | — | ||||||
Accrued liabilities and other payables | 500 | 11 | ||||||
Derivative financial instruments | 1,169 | — | ||||||
Current valuation allowance | (1,399 | ) | (32 | ) | ||||
Long-term deferred tax assets: | ||||||||
Newbuildings | — | 7,359 | ||||||
Direct financing lease | 6,589 | — | ||||||
Derivative financial instruments | 1,097 | — | ||||||
Other equipment | 6 | — | ||||||
Prepaid and deferred revenue | — | 233 | ||||||
Tax loss carry forward | 911 | — | ||||||
Long term valuation allowance | (6,882 | ) | (7,104 | ) | ||||
Current deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||
Accrued liabilities and other receivables | (32 | ) | (64 | ) | ||||
Long term deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||
Deferred debt issuance cost | (149 | ) | (276 | ) | ||||
Deferred charges | — | (148 | ) | |||||
Deferred tax assets (liabilities), net | $ | 1,890 | $ | — |
The Partnership is not subject to Marshall Islands corporate income taxes. The Partnership is subject to tax for earnings of its subsidiary incorporated in Singapore and its FSRU-owing entity incorporated in Indonesia. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the current tax expense relates to the Singapore subsidiary mainly due to internal interest income. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the FSRU-owning entity incorporated in Indonesia incurred a tax loss. The tax loss carryforward of $3,643 expires in 2019.
A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of the benefit will not be realized. Given the lack of historical operations in Indonesia, management of the Partnership concluded a valuation allowance should be established to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount deemed more-likely-than-not of realization. A component of the deferred tax asset relates to the cash flow hedge of the interest rate swap with a term of over 11 years. Management concluded that approximately $1,900 of the deferred tax asset was more-likely-than-not of realization over the term of the swap and recognized a deferred tax asset for that amount. Deferred tax expenses for the change in the valuation allowance of $494 and $650 were recorded to income tax expense in the consolidated and combined statement of income and consolidated and combined statement of comprehensive income, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Benefits of uncertain tax positions are recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position taken in a tax return will be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. In 2013, a tax loss was incurred in Indonesia principally due to unrealized losses on foreign exchange that does not impact the income statement prepared in the functional currency of U.S. dollars. In 2014, the Indonesia authorities have approved the change of currency for tax reporting to U.S. dollars. Under existing tax law, it is not clear if the prior year tax loss carryforward from foreign exchange losses can be utilized when the tax reporting currency is subsequently changed. Due to the uncertainty of this tax position, a provision was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the resulting unrecognized tax benefit was $2,289. There was no change in the unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2014.
F- 26 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
9. Unbilled construction contract income
The unbilled construction contract income of $0 and $54,473 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, relate to the construction and installation of the Mooring for PGN. As of December 31, 2014 the Mooring project was completed and all payments received from PGN. The unbilled construction contract income represented the excess of contract costs and profits recognized to the balance sheet date on the percentage of completion accounting method over the amount of contract billings to the balance sheet date.
10. Deferred debt issuance cost
Debt issuance costs are deferred and amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt. The deferred debt issuance costs are comprised of the following amounts:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Total deferred debt issuance cost | $ | 19,655 | $ | 10,447 | ||||
Accumulated amortization and write down | (5,078 | ) | (791 | ) | ||||
Total deferred debt issuance cost, net | 14,577 | 9,656 | ||||||
Current deferred debt issuance cost | 2,603 | 2,725 | ||||||
Long term deferred debt issuance cost | 11,974 | 6,931 | ||||||
Total deferred debt issuance cost | $ | 14,577 | $ | 9,656 |
Amortization of deferred debt issuance cost for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $4,287, $379 and $379, respectively. The Mooring tranche of the Lampung facility was repaid July 3, 2014 and the deferred debt issuance cost for that tranche of $1,747 was fully amortized for the year ended December 31, 2014. Due to an early repayment of the Lampung facility of $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, the amortization included a write down of debt issuance cost of $504.
11. Other long-term assets and other long-term liabilities
The components other long-term assets are as follows:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Refundable value added tax on import | $ | 21,626 | $ | — | ||||
Other long-term assets | $ | 21,626 | $ | — |
Refundable value added tax was paid in Indonesia in local currency on the import of PGN FSRU Lampung into the country. The original balance was reduced for value added tax incurred for the year ended December 31, 2014. A request for a refund from the tax authorities will be made for the outstanding balance as of December 31, 2014. The process to obtain a refund is expected to take more than twelve months. The charterer provided an advance for the funding of the refundable value added tax on import.
F- 27 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
The current portion and long term advance for refundable value added tax, at December 31, 2014 exchange rates, were as follows:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Total advance for refundable value added tax on import | $ | 24,524 | $ | — | ||||
Less: Current portion of advance for refundable value added tax (note 15) | (2,318 | ) | — | |||||
Long-term advances for value added tax recorded in Other long-term liabilities | $ | 22,206 | $ | — |
12. Newbuildings and other equipment
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Newbuilding beginning of period | $ | 122,517 | $ | 86,067 | ||||
Additions | 168,881 | 29,519 | ||||||
Capitalized interest | 3,292 | 6,931 | ||||||
Transfer to vessel/ net investment in direct financing lease | (294,690 | ) | — | |||||
Newbuilding end of period | $ | — | $ | 122,517 |
In the middle of May 2014, the PGN FSRU Lampung was deemed substantially complete to begin the commissioning under the time charter contract. The newbuilding was transferred on the balance sheet to vessels until such time as the time charter commenced. The vessel was transferred on the balance sheet to net investment in direct financing lease at the start of the time charter. However, due to delays by the unrelated pipeline contractor completing the pipeline and minor damage to the FSRU by a tugboat during the pipeline installation, the time charter did not commence until July 21, 2014. As a result, the vessel was depreciated until the start of the direct financing lease. The depreciation expense for the PGN FSRU Lampung for the year ended 2014 was $1,286.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, other equipment consists principally of office equipment and computers. Other equipment of $93 is recorded net of accumulated depreciation of $39 in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheet. Depreciation expense was $31 and $8 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. There was no corresponding expense for the year ended December 31, 2012.
13. Advances to joint ventures
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Current portion of advances to joint ventures | $ | 6,665 | $ | 7,112 | ||||
Long-term advances to joint ventures | 12,287 | 17,398 | ||||||
Advances/shareholder loans to joint ventures | $ | 18,952 | $ | 24,510 |
The Partnership had advances of $9.8 million and $12.6 million due from SRV Joint Gas Ltd. as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Partnership had advances of $9.1 million and $11.9 million due from SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
F- 28 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
The advances consist of shareholders loans where the principal amounts, including accrued interest, are repaid based on available cash after servicing of long-term bank debt. The shareholder loans are due not later than the 12th anniversary of delivery date of each FSRU. The GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann were delivered on November 30, 2009 and June 1, 2010, respectively. The shareholders loans are subordinated to the joint ventures’ long-term bank debt. Under terms of the shareholder loan agreements, the repayments shall be prioritized over any dividend payment to the owners of the joint ventures. The shareholder loans bear interest at a fixed rate of 8.0% per year. The other joint venture partners have, on a combined basis, an equal amount of shareholder loans outstanding at the same terms to each of the joint ventures.
The shareholder loans financed part of the construction of the vessels and operating expenses until the delivery and commencement of the operations of the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann . In 2011, the joint ventures began repaying principal and a portion of the interest expense based on available cash after servicing of the external debt. The quarterly payments include a payment of interest for the first month of the quarter and a repayment of principal. Interest is accrued for the last two months of the quarter for repayment in the latter years of the loans. Since the shareholder loans are subordinated to long-term bank debt, the repayment plan is subject to quarterly discretionary revisions based on available cash after servicing of the long-term bank debt.
14. Long-term debt
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Lampung facility: | ||||||||
$ 178.6 million Export credit tranche | $ | 168,640 | $ | — | ||||
$ 58.5 million FSRU tranche | 43,693 | — | ||||||
$ 61.9 million Mooring tranche | — | — | ||||||
Total debt | 212,333 | — | ||||||
Less: Current portion of long-term debt | (19,062 | ) | — | |||||
Long-term debt | $ | 193,271 | $ | — |
Lampung facility
In September 2013, PT Hoegh LNG Lampung (the “Borrower”) entered into a secured $299 million term loan facility and $10.7 million standby letter of credit facility (the “Lampung facility”) with a syndicate of banks and an export credit agency for the purpose of financing a portion of the construction of the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring. The $10.7 million standby letter of credit facility supports guarantees to PGN for delivery obligations of the FSRU and Mooring under the lease, operation and maintenance agreement (the “LOM”). Höegh LNG is the guarantor for the facility. The facility was drawn in installments as construction was completed. The term loan facility includes two commercial tranches, or the FSRU tranche and the Mooring tranche, and the export credit tranche. The interest rates vary by tranche. The letter of credit facility was undrawn as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
On March 4, 2014, the Borrower drew $96 million of the Lampung facility, of which $28.4 million, $32.1 million and $35.5 million were drawn on the FSRU tranche, the Mooring tranche and the export credit tranche, respectively. On April 8, 2014, the Borrower drew $161.1 million of the Lampung facility, of which $18.0 million and $143.1 million were drawn on the FSRU tranche and export credit tranche, respectively. On July 3, 2014, the full principal amount of $32.1 million on the Mooring tranche and accrued interest was repaid. The final available commitment on the FSRU tranche of $12.1 million was never drawn. On December 29, 2014, the Borrower made an early repayment of $7.9 million, of which $1.6 million and $6.3 million was repaid on the FSRU tranche and the Export credit tranche, respectively. Following the acceptance by PGN of the PGN FSRU Lampung , the quarterly repayments also began on December 29, 2014. As of December 31, 2013, the Lampung facility was undrawn.
F- 29 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
The FSRU tranche of $58.5 million has an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 3.4%. The interest rate for the export credit tranche of $178.6 million is LIBOR plus a margin of 2.3%. The first repayment of the both tranches occurred on December 29, 2014. The FSRU tranche is repayable quarterly over 7 years with a final balloon payment of $16.5 million. The export credit tranche is repayable in quarterly installments over 12 years assuming the balloon payment of the FSRU tranche is refinanced. If not, the export credit agent can exercise a prepayment right for repayment of the outstanding balance upon maturity of the FSRU tranche. The Mooring tranche of $61.9 million bore interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin of 2.5%. The tranche was fully repaid on July 3, 2014.
Commitment fees were 1.4%, 0.9% and 1.0% of the undrawn portions of the FSRU tranche, the export credit tranche and the Mooring tranche, respectively.
The primary financial covenants under the Lampung facility are as follows:
· | Borrower must maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.00 for the preceding nine-month period tested beginning from the second quarterly repayment date of the export credit tranche; |
· | Guarantor’s book equity must be greater than the higher of (i) $200 million and (ii) 25% of total assets; and |
· | Guarantor’s free liquid assets (cash and cash equivalents or available draws on credit facilities) must be greater than $20 million. |
As of December 31, 2014, the guarantor was in compliance with the financial covenants. The covenant for the borrower is effective from March 2015. The borrower was in compliance with the financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
Höegh LNG, as guarantor, has issued the following guarantees related to the Lampung facility: (a) an unconditional and irrevocable on-demand guarantee for all amounts due under the financing agreements, to be released after the date falling 180 days after acceptance of the FSRU under the LOM subject to the relevant terms and conditions being met; (b) an unconditional and irrevocable on-demand guarantee for the repayment of the balloon repayment installment of the FSRU tranche callable only at final maturity of FSRU tranche; (c) an unconditional and irrevocable on-demand guarantee for the Borrower's obligation to ensure the required balance is in the debt service reserve account on the 8 th repayment date (or such earlier date as is applicable if an event of default occurs); (d) an unconditional and irrevocable on-demand guarantee for all amounts due in respect of the export credit agent in the event that the export credit agent exercises its prepayment right for the export credit tranche if the FSRU tranche is not refinanced; and (e) undertaking that, if the LOM is terminated for an event of vessel force majeure, that under certain conditions, a guarantee will be provided for the outstanding debt, less insurance proceeds for vessel force majeure. In addition, all project agreements and guarantees are assigned to the bank syndicate and the export credit agent, all project accounts and the shares in PT Hoegh LNG Lampung and Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte. Ltd. are pledged in favor of the bank syndicate and the export credit agent.
The Lampung facility requires cash reserves that are held for specifically designated uses, including working capital, operations and maintenance and debt service reserves. Distributions are subject to “waterfall” provisions that allocate revenues to specified priorities of use (such as operating expenses, scheduled debt service, targeted debt service reserves and any other reserves) with the remaining cash being distributable only on certain dates and subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including meeting a 1.20 historical debt service coverage ratio, no default or event of default then continuing or resulting from such distribution and the Guarantor not being in breach of the financial covenants applicable to it. The Lampung facility limit, among other things, the ability of the Borrower change its business, sell or grant liens on its property including the PGN FSRU Lampung , incur additional indebtedness or guarantee other indebtedness, make investments or acquisitions, enter into intercompany transactions and make distributions.
$288 million facility
In June 2011, Höegh LNG entered into a $288 million facility for the purpose of providing up to 50% of the financing for two newbuildings, including the PGN FSRU Lampung. Fifty percent of the debt issuance cost on the $288 facility, or $1.9 million, was included in the consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements until September, 2013. In addition, the commitment fees of 1.2% on 50% of the outstanding balance have been included in interest expense until September, 2013. The facility was never drawn for the PGN FSRU Lampung and was replaced by the $299 million Lampung facility, described above, as financing for the PGN FSRU Lampung in September, 2013. The $288 million facility would have required repayment starting three months after delivery of the applicable FSRU and would have been repaid in installments over a three year period.
F- 30 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
The outstanding long-term debt as of December 31, 2014 is repayable as follows:
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | Total | |||
2015 | $ | 19,062 | ||
2016 | 19,062 | |||
2017 | 19,062 | |||
2018 | 19,062 | |||
2019 | 19,062 | |||
2020 and thereafter | 117,023 | |||
Total | $ | 212,333 |
15. Accrued liabilities and other payables
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Accrued administrative expenses | $ | 400 | $ | 75 | ||||
Accrued operating expenses | 2,247 | — | ||||||
Current tax payable | 505 | — | ||||||
Indemnifications and warranty provisions (notes 6, 17 and 20) | 6,894 | — | ||||||
Current portion of advance for refundable value added tax (note 11) | 2,318 | |||||||
Accrued expenditure for newbuilding | — | 645 | ||||||
Accrued construction contract expenses | — | 6,732 | ||||||
Accrued debt issuance cost | — | 391 | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities | 652 | |||||||
Other payables | 6,185 | — | ||||||
Total accrued liabilities and other payables | $ | 19,201 | $ | 7,843 |
16. Investments in joint ventures
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Accumulated losses of joint ventures | $ | 59,630 | $ | 54,300 |
The Partnership has a 50% interest in each of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. (owner of GDF Suez Neptune ) and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (owner of GDF Suez Cape Ann ). The following table presents the summarized financial information for 100% of the combined joint ventures on an aggregated basis.
F- 31 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Time charter revenues | $ | 82,638 | 82,220 | $ | 82,151 | |||||||
Other revenues | — | — | — | |||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 82,638 | 82,220 | $ | 82,151 | |||||||
Operating expenses | (16,970 | ) | (17,526 | ) | (17,303 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (18,912 | ) | (18,722 | ) | (18,735 | ) | ||||||
Operating income | 46,756 | 45,972 | 46,113 | |||||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments | (23,757 | ) | 70,075 | 1,386 | ||||||||
Other financial expense, net | (34,275 | ) | (36,207 | ) | (38,100 | ) | ||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (11,276 | ) | 79,840 | $ | 9,399 | ||||||
Share of joint ventures owned | 50% | 50% | 50% | |||||||||
Share of joint ventures net income (loss) before eliminations | (5,638 | ) | 39,920 | 4,700 | ||||||||
Eliminations | 308 | 308 | 307 | |||||||||
Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures | $ | (5,330 | ) | 40,228 | $ | 5,007 |
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 10,719 | $ | 11,578 | ||||
Other current assets | 3,317 | 2,530 | ||||||
Total current assets | 14,036 | 14,108 | ||||||
Restricted cash | 25,104 | 25,104 | ||||||
Vessels, net of accumulated depreciation | 577,897 | 592,092 | ||||||
Other long-term assets | 2,174 | 2,538 | ||||||
Total long-term assets | 605,175 | 619,734 | ||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 20,768 | 19,522 | ||||||
Amounts and loans due to owners and affiliates | 14,516 | 15,246 | ||||||
Derivative financial instruments | 23,887 | 26,274 | ||||||
Other current liabilities | 8,278 | 8,270 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 67,449 | 69,312 | ||||||
Long-term debt | 501,369 | 522,136 | ||||||
Loans due to owners and affiliates | 24,575 | 34,795 | ||||||
Derivate financial liabilities | 101,910 | 75,766 | ||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 24,612 | 21,261 | ||||||
Total long-term liabilities | 652,466 | 653,958 | ||||||
Net liabilities | $ | (100,704 | ) | $ | (89,428 | ) | ||
Share of joint ventures owned | 50% | 50% | ||||||
Share of joint ventures net liabilities before eliminations | (50,352 | ) | (44,714 | ) | ||||
Eliminations | (9,278 | ) | (9,586 | ) | ||||
Accumulated losses of joint ventures | $ | (59,630 | ) | $ | (54,300 | ) |
F- 32 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
17. Related party transactions
Income (expenses) from related parties
The Combined Entities were an integrated part of Höegh LNG until the close of the IPO on August 12, 2014 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. In connection with the IPO, the Partnership entered into several agreements with Höegh LNG (and certain of its subsidiaries) for the provision of services. Refer to note 3 for additional information. As such, Höegh LNG and its subsidiaries have provided general and corporate management services to the Partnership and the Combined Entities. As described in note 2, certain administrative expenses have been included in the combined carve-out financial statements of the Combined Entities based on actual hours incurred. In addition, management has allocated remaining administrative expenses and Höegh LNG management’s share based payment costs based on the number of vessels, newbuildings and business development projects of Höegh LNG prior to the closing of the IPO. A subsidiary of Höegh LNG has provided the building supervision of the newbuilding and Mooring and ship management for PGN FSRU Lampung .
Amounts included in the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 or capitalized in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:
Year ended | ||||||||||||
Statement of income: | December 31, | |||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||
Time charter revenues indemnified by Höegh LNG (1) | $ | 8,375 | — | $ | — | |||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||
Vessel operating expenses (2) | (5,297 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Hours and overhead (3) | (2,016 | ) | (2,088 | ) | (1,025 | ) | ||||||
Allocated administrative expenses (4) | (4,723 | ) | (4,260 | ) | (1,332 | ) | ||||||
Construction contract expense: supervision cost (5) | (761 | ) | (2,559 | ) | (661 | ) | ||||||
Construction contract expense: capitalized interest (6) | (690 | ) | (1,179 | ) | (30 | ) | ||||||
Financial (income) expense | ||||||||||||
Interest income from joint ventures and demand note (7) | 4,959 | 2,122 | 2,481 | |||||||||
Interest expense and commitment fees from Höegh LNG (8) | (998 | ) | (352 | ) | (114 | ) | ||||||
Total income (expense), net | $ | (1,151 | ) | (8,316 | ) | $ | (681 | ) |
As of | ||||||||
Balance sheet | December 31, | |||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Newbuilding | ||||||||
Newbuilding supervision cost (5) | $ | 1,228 | $ | 4,935 | ||||
Interest expense capitalized from Höegh LNG (6) | 1,464 | 4,579 | ||||||
Total | $ | 2,692 | $ | 9,514 |
1) | Time charter revenues indemnified by Höegh LNG: Höegh LNG has made payments of $6.5 million and $6.7 million for September and October 2014 invoices, respectively, for hire rate payments not received for the PGN FSRU Lampung pursuant to its agreement to indemnify the Partnership under the omnibus agreement. Refer to Indemnifications below and note 20. Revenue, net of value added tax liabilities and certain deferrals, is recorded for these payments. |
F- 33 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
2) | Vessel operating expenses: A subsidiary of Höegh LNG provides ship management of vessels, including crews and the provision of all other services and supplies. |
3) | Hours, travel expenses and overhead: Subsidiaries of Höegh LNG provide management, accounting, bookkeeping and administrative support. These services are charges based upon the actual hours incurred for each individual as registered in the time-write system based on a rate which includes a provision for overhead and any associated travel expenses. Subsequent to the closing of the IPO, this includes services under administrative service agreements. |
4) | Allocated administrative expenses: As described in note 2 until the closing of the IPO on August 12, 2014, administrative expenses of Höegh LNG that could not be attributed to a specific vessel or project based upon the time-write system were allocated to the consolidated and combined carve-out income statement based on the number of vessels, newbuildings and certain business development projects of Höegh LNG. For the period from January 1, 2014 to August 12, 2014 and for the year ended December 31,2013, the allocated expenses also include cost incurred in preparation for the IPO. |
5) | Supervision cost: Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS manages the newbuilding process including site supervision including manning for the services and direct accommodation and travel cost. Manning costs are based upon actual hours incurred. Such costs, excluding overhead charges, are capitalized as part of the cost of the newbuilding and included in the construction contract expense for the Mooring. |
6) | Interest expense capitalized charged from Höegh LNG and affiliates : As described under 8) below, Höegh LNG and its affiliates have provided funding for the PGN FSRU Lampung and the Mooring (a component of the construction contract expense), which qualify under US GAAP as capitalized interest for the construction in progress. |
7) | Interest income from joint ventures and demand note: The Partnership and its joint venture partners have provided subordinated financing to the joint ventures as shareholder loans. Interest income for the Partnership’s shareholder loans to the joint ventures is recorded as interest income. In the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of cash flows, the interest paid from joint ventures is treated as a return on investment and included in net cash flows from operating activities. Interest income also includes interest on the $140 million demand note due from Höegh LNG. Refer to Demand note due from owner below. |
8) | Interest expense charged from Höegh LNG and affiliates: Höegh LNG and its affiliates have provided loans and promissory notes and intercompany funding for the construction of the PGN FSRU Lampung , the construction contract expense of the Mooring. Refer to Amounts, loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates below. Prior to transfer of the newbuilding and contracts to PT Hoegh LNG Lampung and the establishment of the promissory notes in October 2013, the carve-out financial statements include an allocation of debt and interest expense from Höegh LNG for the funding of construction of the PGN FSRU Lampung and the construction contract expense of the Mooring. Refer to 6) above which describes the interest expense, which was capitalized. |
Receivables and payables from related parties
Demand note due from owner
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Demand note due from owner | $ | 143,241 | $ | — |
The Partnership lent $140 million to Höegh LNG from the net proceeds of the IPO. The note is repayable on demand or the Partnership can elect to utilize the note as part of the purchase consideration in the event all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in the Independence are purchased by the Partnership. The note bears interest at a rate of 5.88% per annum. The balances in the table above include outstanding principal and accrued interest of $3,241.
Refer to note 13 for advances to joint ventures.
Amounts, loans and promissory note due to owners and affiliates
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Amounts due to owners and affiliates | $ | 6,019 | $ | 15,207 |
F- 34 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Amounts due to owners and affiliates principally relate to short term funding and trade payables of operating activities as of December 31, 2014 and capital expenditures as of December 31, 2013 by a subsidiary of Höegh LNG. The balance does not bear interest. When the Lampung facility was drawn (note 14), the outstanding amount related to short-term funding of capital expenditures of $25.4 million was repaid on March 5, 2014.
Loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates consist of the following:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
$48.5 million Promissory note due to Höegh LNG | $ | — | $ | 49,507 | ||||
$101.5 million Promissory note due to Höegh LNG | — | 103,606 | ||||||
$40.0 million Promissory note due to Höegh LNG | — | 40,317 | ||||||
$85.0 million Revolving credit facility due to Höegh LNG | 467 | — | ||||||
Loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates | $ | 467 | $ | 193,430 |
At the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2013, PT Hoegh LNG Lampung, in Indonesia, became the owner of the construction in progress for the PGN FSRU Lampung and the unbilled construction contract receivable for the Mooring as discussed in note 2. As a result, promissory notes were entered into due to Höegh LNG in the amounts of $48.5 million, $101.5 million and $40.0 million. All of the promissory notes and accrued interest are payable on demand. The $48.5 million and $101.5 million promissory notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 9% per year. The $40.0 million promissory note bears interest at three month LIBOR plus a margin of 3.2%. As of December 31, 2013, the promissory notes had outstanding balances of $49.5 million, $103.6 million and $40.3 million including outstanding interest of $1.0 million, $2.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively. On February 3, 2014, the $101.5 million promissory note, excluding accrued interest, was converted to equity. On March 5, 2014, the principal on the $48.5 million promissory note was repaid, excluding accrued interest.
In August 2014, upon the closing of the IPO, Höegh LNG’s receivables for the $40 million promissory note and related accrued interest and the outstanding accrued interest on the $48.5 million and $101.5 million promissory notes of the Partnership’s subsidiaries were contributed to the Partnership as part of the formation transactions. Refer to notes 2 and 3 for additional discussion of the contribution. As a result, the liabilities of the Partnership’s subsidiaries eliminate in consolidation since there are no longer external liabilities to the Partnership.
In August 2014, upon the closing of the IPO, the Partnership entered into an $85 million revolving credit facility with Höegh LNG, to be used to fund acquisitions and working capital requirements of the Partnership. The credit facility is for a term of three years and is unsecured. Interest on drawn amounts is payable quarterly at LIBOR plus a margin of 4.0%. Additionally, a 1.4% quarterly commitment fee is due to Höegh LNG on undrawn available amounts. The balance as of December 31, 2014, relates to accrued commitment fees. No amount was drawn on the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2014.
The outstanding loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates are denominated in U.S. dollars and had a weighted average interest rate for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 of 4.48% and 4.29%, respectively.
Indemnifications
Environmental indemnifications:
Under the omnibus agreement, Höegh LNG will indemnify the Partnership until August 12, 2019 against certain environmental and toxic tort liabilities with respect to the assets contributed or sold to the Partnership to the extent arising prior to the time they were contributed or sold to the Partnership. Liabilities resulting from a change in law are excluded from the environmental indemnity. There is an aggregate cap of $5.0 million on the amount of indemnity coverage provided by Höegh LNG for environmental and toxic tort liabilities. No claim may be made unless the aggregate dollar amount of all claims exceeds $500, in which case Höegh LNG is liable for claims only to the extent such aggregate amount exceeds $500.
F- 35 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Other indemnifications:
Under the omnibus agreement, Höegh LNG will also indemnify the Partnership for losses:
1. | related to certain defects in title to the assets contributed or sold to the Partnership and any failure to obtain, prior to the time they were contributed to the Partnership, certain consents and permits necessary to conduct the business, which liabilities arise within three years after the closing of the IPO; |
2. | related to certain tax liabilities attributable to the operation of the assets contributed or sold to the Partnership prior to the time they were contributed or sold; |
3. | in the event that the Partnership does not receive hire rate payments under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter for the period commencing on August 12, 2014 through the earlier of (i) the date of acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung or (ii) the termination of such time charter. The Partnership was indemnified by Höegh LNG for the September and October invoices not paid by PGN (refer to note 20); |
4. | with respect to any obligation to pay liquidated damages to PGN under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter for failure to deliver the PGN FSRU Lampung by the scheduled delivery date set forth in the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter. The Partnership filed a claim for indemnification for PGN’s September and October claims for delay liquidated damages in the total amount of $7.1 million (refer to note 20); and |
5. | with respect to any non-budgeted expenses (including repair costs) incurred in connection with the PGN FSRU Lampung project (including the construction of the Mooring) occurring prior to the date of acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung pursuant to the time charter. The Partnership filed a claim for indemnification with respect to non-budgeted expenses (including repair costs) of $3.1 million and warranty provision of $2.0 million during the first quarter of 2015 (refer to note 20). |
18. Financial Instruments
Fair value measurements
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash – The fair value of the cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash approximates its carrying amounts reported in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheets.
Advances (shareholder loans) to joint ventures – The fair values of the fixed rate subordinated shareholder loans are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities and the current credit worthiness of the joint ventures.
Demand note due from owner affiliates – The fair value of the fixed rate demand note approximates the carrying amount of the receivable and accrued interest reported in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheets since the amount is payable on demand. Refer to note 17.
Amounts due to owners and affiliates – The fair value of the non-interest bearing payable approximates its carrying amounts reported in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheets since it is to be settled consistent with trade payables.
Loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates – The fair values of the variable-rate and the fixed rate loans and promissory notes approximates their carrying amounts of the liabilities and accrued interest reported in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheets since the amounts are payable on demand. Refer to note 17.
Derivative financial instruments – The fair values of the interest rates swaps are estimated based on the present value of cash flows over the term of the instruments based on the relevant LIBOR interest rate curves, adjusted for the subsidiary’s credit worthiness given the level of collateral provided and the credit worthiness of the counterparty to the derivative.
F- 36 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
The fair value estimates are categorized by a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value as follows:
Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
Level 2: Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
The following table includes the estimated fair value and carrying value of those assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis, as well as the estimated fair value of the financial instruments that are not accounted for at a fair value on a recurring basis.
As of | As of | |||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||
Carrying | Fair | Carrying | Fair | |||||||||||||||||
amount | value | amount | value | |||||||||||||||||
Asset | Asset | Asset | Asset | |||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | Level | (Liability) | (Liability) | (Liability) | (Liability) | |||||||||||||||
Recurring: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 1 | $ | 30,477 | 30,477 | 108 | 108 | ||||||||||||||
Restricted cash | 1 | 37,119 | 37,119 | 10,700 | 10,700 | |||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments | 2 | (9,220 | ) | (9,220 | ) | — | — | |||||||||||||
Other: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Advances (shareholder loans) to joint ventures | 2 | 18,952 | 19,629 | 24,510 | 25,242 | |||||||||||||||
Demand note due from owner | 2 | 143,241 | 143,241 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Current amounts due to owners and affiliates | 2 | (6,019 | ) | (6,019 | ) | (15,207 | ) | (15,207 | ) | |||||||||||
Loans and promissory notes due to owners and affiliates | 2 | (467 | ) | (467 | ) | (193,430 | ) | (193,430 | ) | |||||||||||
Lampung facility | 2 | $ | (212,333 | ) | (214,636 | ) | — | — |
Financing Receivables
The following table contains a summary of the loan receivables by type of borrower and the method by which the credit quality is monitored on a quarterly basis:
As of | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
Class of Financing Receivables
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Credit Quality
Indicator |
Grade | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
Advances/ loans to joint ventures | Payment activity | Performing | $ | 18,952 | $ | 24,510 | ||||||
Demand note due from owner | Payment activity | Performing | $ | 143,241 | $ | — |
The shareholder loans to joint ventures are classified as advances to joint ventures in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheet. Refer to note 13.
F- 37 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
19. | Risk management and concentrations of risk |
Derivative instruments can be used in accordance with the overall risk management policy.
Foreign exchange risk
All revenues, financing, interest expenses from financing and most expenditures for newbuildings are denominated in U.S. dollars. Certain operating expenses can be denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, no derivative financial instruments have been used to manage foreign exchange risk.
Interest rate risk
Interest rate swaps are utilized to exchange a receipt of floating interest for a payment of fixed interest to reduce the exposure to interest rate variability on its outstanding floating-rate debt. As of December 31, 2014, there are interest rate swap agreements on the Lampung facility floating rate debt that are designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes. No derivative instruments were outstanding as of December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2014, the following interest rate swap agreements were outstanding:
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Interest
rate index |
Notional
amount |
Fair
value carrying amount liability |
Term |
Fixed
interest rate (1) |
|||||||||||
LIBOR-based debt | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (2) | LIBOR | $ | 212,333 | (9,220 | ) | Sept 2026 | 2.8 | % |
1) Excludes the margins paid on the floating-rate debt. |
2) All interest rate swaps are U.S. dollar denominated and principal amount reduces quarterly. |
The Borrower of the Lampung facility entered five forward starting swap agreements with identical terms for a total notional amount of $237.1 million with an effective date of March 17, 2014. The swaps amortized over 12 years to match the outstanding balance of the Lampung facility and exchange 3 month USD LIBOR variable interest payments for fixed rate payments at 2.8%. The interest rate swaps were designated for accounting purposes as cash flow hedges of the variable interest for $237.1 million of the Lampung facility. As of December 29, 2014, a prepayment of $7.9 million on the Lampung facility occurred. The notional amount of the interest rate swaps was higher than the outstanding balance on the Lampung facility. Therefore, it was decided that the amount of the over hedge of the interest rate swaps would be settled with a cash payment of $1.1 million. This resulted in the amendment of the original interest rate swaps and the hedge was de-designated for accounting purposes. The effective date of the settlement was December 29, 2014. The other terms of the interest rate swaps did not change but the nominal amount of the interest rate swap were reduced to match the outstanding debt. The amended interest rate swaps were re-designated as a cash flow hedge for accounting purposes.
The following table presents the location and fair value amounts of derivative instruments, segregated by type of contract, on the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheets.
Current | Long-term | |||||||
liabilities: | liabilities: | |||||||
derivative | derivative | |||||||
financial | financial | |||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | instruments | instruments | ||||||
As of December 31, 2014 | ||||||||
Interest rate swaps | $ | (4,676 | ) | $ | (4,544 | ) | ||
As of December 31, 2013 | ||||||||
Interest rate swaps | $ | — | $ | — |
F- 38 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
The following effects of cash flow hedges relating to interest rate swaps are included in losses on derivative financial instruments in the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2014. There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses on derivative financial instruments for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2014 | ||||||||||||
Realized | Unrealized | |||||||||||
gains | gains | |||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | (losses) | (losses) | Total | |||||||||
Interest rate swaps: | ||||||||||||
Ineffective portion of cash flow hedge | $ | — | (145 | ) | $ | (145 | ) | |||||
Amortization of amount excluded from hedge effectiveness | — | (11 | ) | (11 | ) | |||||||
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income | — | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | |||||||
Loss on derivative financial instruments | $ | — | (161 | ) | $ | (161 | ) | |||||
The effect of cash flow hedges relating to interest rate swaps and the related tax effects on other comprehensive income included in the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of other comprehensive income and changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (“OCI”) in the consolidated and combined carve-out statements of changes in partner’s capital/ owner’s equity is as follows for the year ended and as of December 31, 2014.
Cash Flow Hedge | ||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Before
tax gains (losses) |
Tax
benefit (expense) |
Net of
tax |
Accumulated
OCI |
||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2013 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||
Effective portion of unrealized loss on cash flow hedge $ | (10,164 | ) | 1,891 | (8,273 | ) | (8,273 | ) | |||||||||
Reclassification of amortization of cash flow hedge to earnings | 5 | (1 | ) | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) for period $ | (10,159 | ) | 1,890 | (8,269 | ) | |||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2014 | $ | (8,269 | ) |
There were no cash flow hedges for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
Refer to note 8 for additional information on the tax effects included in other comprehensive income.
As of December 31, 2014, the estimated amounts to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings during the next twelve months is $855 for amortization of accumulated other comprehensive income for losses on the de-designated interest rate swap and reversal of the related deferred tax benefit of $214.
Credit risk
Credit risk is the exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties related to cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables and interest rate swap agreements, if applicable. In order to minimize counterparty risk, bank relationships are established with counterparties with acceptable credit ratings at the time of the transactions. Credit risk related to receivables is limited by performing ongoing credit evaluations of the customers' financial condition.
F- 39 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Concentrations of risk
Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Partnership to significant concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables and derivative contracts (interest rate swaps). The maximum exposure to loss due to credit risk is the book value at the balance sheet date. The Partnership does not have a policy of requiring collateral or security. Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are placed with qualified financial institutions. Periodic evaluations are performed of the relative credit standing of those financial institutions. In addition, exposure is limited by diversifying among counterparties. There is a single charterer so there is a concentration of risk related to trade receivables. Credit risk related to trade receivables is limited by performing ongoing credit evaluations of the customer’s financial condition. No allowance for doubtful accounts was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2014. While the maximum exposure to loss due to credit risk is the book value of trade receivables at the balance sheet date, should the time charter terminate prematurely, there could be delays in obtaining a new time charter and the rates could be lower depending upon the prevailing market conditions.
20. Commitments and contingencies
Contractual commitments
As of December 31, 2014, there were no material contractual commitments required to be made in 2015.
Claims and Contingencies
PGN claims including delay liquidated damages
Following certain delays by the unrelated pipeline contractor completing the pipeline and minor damage to the FSRU by a tugboat during the pipeline installation, the time charter hire on the PGN FSRU Lampung commenced July 21, 2014 for the start of commissioning. During the commissioning to test the PGN FSRU Lampung project (including the Mooring) and the pipeline functionality, problems were identified on August 29, 2014 with the regasification system for the FSRU. This required that the parts of the regasification system were disassembled and transferred to shore for repair under provision of the warranties for the vessel. The equipment was reinstalled and all commissioning completed to allow the Partnership to deliver the Certificate of Acceptance to PGN. PGN formally accepted and signed the Certificate of Acceptance dated October 30, 2014.
The Partnership’s subsidiary had commitments to pay a day rate for delay liquidated damages to PGN up to a maximum amount of $10.7 million if the PGN FSRU Lampung was not connected to the Mooring and ready to deliver LNG by the scheduled arrival date or acceptance was not achieved by the scheduled delivery date.
PGN had concerns about requirements under the time charter contract to pay hire rates for periods the regasification system was not functioning and issued invoices for $7.1 million for delay liquidated damages for amounts PGN believed it had claims for delays in the scheduled arrival date and the acceptance date. PGN did not pay its time charter hire for September or October 2014. Delay liquidated damages cease on the date of the Certificate of Acceptance of October 30, 2014.The Partnership had included potential delay liquidated damages due to PGN in its project contingency as part of estimated total construction contract costs for the Mooring (as the first deliverable under the contract) as the basis for computing the percentage of completion.
The Partnership is indemnified under the omnibus agreement by Höegh LNG for delay liquidated damages. The Partnership filed indemnification claims for the delay liquidated damages invoiced from PGN for the total of $7.1 million and recorded to this amount to construction contract expenses for claims for the months of September and October 2014. The amounts were to be paid to the Partnership by Höegh LNG prior to any delay liquidated damages being paid to PGN.
The Partnership is also indemnified by Höegh LNG for any hire rate payments not received under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter for the period commencing on August 12, 2014 through the earlier of (i) the date of acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung or (ii) the termination of such time charter. The Partnership filed indemnification claims for the September and October 2014 invoices not paid by PGN of $6.5 million and $6.7 million, respectively, and received payments from Höegh LNG in September and October, respectively. Indemnification for hire rate payments is accounted for consistent with the accounting policies for loss of hire insurance, and is recognized when the proceeds are received. Therefore, the Partnership has recognized the payments from Höegh LNG for September and October 2014 as revenue, net of value added tax liabilities and certain deferrals, and as an increase to cash. For additional information, refer to note 2 significant accounting policies on insurance and other claims.
F- 40 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
The Partnership’s subsidiary is jointly and severally liable for the delay liquidated damages of the pipeline contractor to the extent the pipeline contractor fails to perform. Similarly, the pipeline contractor is jointly and severally liable for the Partnership’s delay liquidated damages. The Partnership’s maximum exposure for the pipeline contractor’s delay liquidated damages is approximately $11.5 million. Further, the Partnership’s subsidiary and the pipeline contractor have an agreement to cover the other party’s delay liquidated damages to the extent caused by the other party’s scope of work. As of December 31, 2014, the Partnership had not received any claims from PGN or the pipeline contractor related to the contractor’s delay liquidated damages. The Partnership is indemnified by Höegh LNG for any potential delay liquidated damages, net of any recoveries, arising for or from claims of the pipeline contractor.
Subsequent to December 31, 2014, an understanding with PGN, the pipeline contractor and the Partnership’s subsidiary has been reached. As a result, PGN will not pay the time charter hire for September or October 2014, the Partnership’s subsidiary will not pay the delay liquidated damages, the Partnership’s subsidiary is released from joint and several liability for the pipeline contractor’s delay liquidated damages, the pipeline contractor is released from joint and several liability for the Partnership’s subsidiary’s delay liquidated damages and neither the Partnership’s subsidiary nor the pipeline contractor cover the other party’s delay liquidated damages to the extent caused by the other party’s scope of work. Due to this subsequent event, no delay liquidated damages are reflected in the construction contract expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014. Refer to note 6. Since the Partnership’s subsidiary will not pay any delay liquidated damages to PGN, the Partnership will not receive any indemnification from Höegh LNG for this item.
As of December 31, 2013, cash collateral of $10.7 million, classified as restricted cash in the consolidated and combined carve-out balance sheet, was provided for in a letter of credit arrangement for the delay liquidated damages. As part of the Lampung facility, a $10.7 million letter of credit facility replaced the original letter of credit arrangement and the restricted cash was released in the first quarter of 2014. No amounts were drawn on the letter of credit facility as of December 31, 2014. On February 16, 2015, the letter of credit expired. Refer to note 23.
Additionally, a warranty allowance of $2.0 million was recorded to construction contract expenses for replacement of equipment parts on the Mooring for the year ended December 31, 2014. The replacement parts are expected to be installed in the first half of 2015. The Partnership filed indemnification claims for the warranty allowance of $2.0 million related to the Mooring. The amount will be paid to the Partnership by Höegh LNG when costs are incurred for the warranty. When the funding for the indemnification is received from Höegh LNG, the amount will be recorded as a contribution to equity. For additional information, refer to note 2 significant accounting policies on insurance and other claims.
The Partnership is indemnified by Höegh LNG for non-budgeted expenses (including repair costs) incurred in connection with the PGN FSRU Lampung project prior to the date of acceptance. In the first quarter of 2015, the Partnership filed indemnification claims for non-budgeted expenses and costs of $3.1 million related to the year ended December 31, 2014. Höegh LNG paid us for this amount by March 31, 2015. The amount is recorded as a contribution to equity in the first quarter of 2015. Refer to note 2 significant accounting policies on insurance and other claims.
During January 2015, certain regasification equipment on the PGN FSRU Lampung was upgraded. There was no off-hire as a result. It is expected that warranties will cover the upgrades but, if not, the cost of the upgrade would be indemnified by Höegh LNG.
F- 41 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
21. Supplemental cash flow information
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities | ||||||||||||
Non-cash capital contribution from conversion of debt | $ | 101,500 | — | $ | — | |||||||
Non-cash elimination to equity at IPO (note 2) | 45,799 | — | — | |||||||||
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities | ||||||||||||
Non-cash capitalized interest for newbuilding | $ | 1,418 | — | $ | — |
22. Earning per unit and cash distributions
The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per unit are presented below
August 12
to December 31, |
||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit and per unit numbers) | 2014 | |||
Post IPO net income attributable to the unitholders of Höegh LNG Partners LP | $ | 13,195 | ||
Less: Dividends paid or to be paid (1) | (13,707 | ) | ||
Under (over) distributed earnings | (512 | ) | ||
Under (over) distributed earnings attributable to: | ||||
Common units public | (215 | ) | ||
Common units Höegh LNG | (41 | ) | ||
Subordinated units Höegh LNG | (256 | ) | ||
(512 | ) | |||
Basic and diluted weighted average units outstanding (in thousands) | ||||
Common units public | 11,040 | |||
Common units Höegh LNG | 2,116 | |||
Subordinated units Höegh LNG | 13,156 | |||
Basic and diluted earnings per unit: | ||||
Common units public | $ | 0.50 | ||
Common units Höegh LNG | $ | 0.50 | ||
Subordinated units Höegh LNG | $ | 0.50 |
(1) | Includes all distributions paid or to be paid in relationship to the period, regardless of whether the declaration and payment dates were prior to the end of the period, and is based the number of units outstanding at the period end. |
Earnings per unit information for the period ended December 31, 2014 is for the period from August 12, 2014 (the date of the Partnership’s IPO) to December 31, 2014. Earnings per unit information has not been presented for any period prior to the Partnership’s IPO as the information is not comparable due to changes in the basis of preparation of the financial statements (refer to note 2) and the Partnership’s structure (refer to note 3).
F- 42 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
As of December 31, 2014, the total number of units outstanding was 26,312,120. Common units outstanding were 13,156,060 of which 11,040,000 common units were held by the public and 2,116,060 common units were held by Höegh LNG. Höegh LNG owned 13,156,060 subordinated units. The General Partner has a non-economic interest and has no units.
Earnings per unit is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of units outstanding during the applicable period.
The common unitholders’ and subordinated unitholders’ interest in net income are calculated as if all net income were distributed according to terms of the Partnerships’ First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”), regardless of whether those earnings would or could be distributed. The Partnership Agreement does not provide for the distribution of net income; rather, it provides for the distribution of available cash. Available cash, a contractual defined term, generally means all cash on hand at the end of the quarter after deduction for cash reserves established by the board of directors and the Partnership’s subsidiaries to i) provide for the proper conduct of the business (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for the anticipated credit needs); ii) comply with applicable law, any of the debt instruments or other agreements; and iii) provide funds for distributions to the unitholders for any one or more of the next four quarters. Therefore, the earnings per unit is not indicative of future cash distributions that may be made. Unlike available cash, net income is affected by non-cash items, such as depreciation and amortization, unrealized gains or losses on derivative financial instruments and unrealized gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions.
During the subordination period, the common units will have the right under the Partnership Agreement to receive distributions of available cash from operating surplus in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.3375 per unit, plus any arrearages in the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units from prior quarters, before any distributions of available cash from operating surplus may be made on the subordinated units. Distribution arrearages do not accrue on the subordinated units.
The amount of minimum distributions is $0.3375 per unit per quarter, or $1.35 per unit on an annual basis, and is made during the subordination period in the following manner:
• | first , 100.0% to the common unitholders, pro rata, until the Partnership distributes for each outstanding common unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.3375 for that quarter; |
• | second , 100.0% to the common unitholders, pro rata, until the Partnership distributes for each outstanding common unit an amount equal to any arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units for any prior quarters during the subordination period; and |
• | third , 100.0% to the subordinated unitholders, pro rata, until the Partnership distributes for each subordinated unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.3375 for that quarter. |
In addition, Höegh LNG currently holds all of the IDRs in the Partnership. IDRs represent the rights to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash for operating surplus after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels have been achieved.
If for any quarter:
• | the Partnership has distributed available cash from operating surplus to the common and subordinated unitholders in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution; and |
• | the Partnership has distributed available cash from operating surplus on outstanding common units in an amount necessary to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution; |
then, the Partnership will distribute any additional available cash from operating surplus for that quarter among the unitholders in the following manner:
• | first , 100.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.388125 per unit for that quarter (the “first target distribution”); |
• | second , 85.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15.0% to the holders of the incentive distribution rights, pro rata, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.421875 per unit for that quarter (the “second target distribution”); |
F- 43 |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CARVE-OUT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
• | third , 75.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25.0% to the holders of the incentive distribution rights, pro rata, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.50625 per unit for that quarter (the “third target distribution”); and |
• | thereafter , 50.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50.0% to the holders of the incentive distribution rights, pro rata. |
In each case, the amount of the target distribution set forth above is exclusive of any distributions to common unitholders to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution. The percentage interests set forth above assume that the Partnership does not issue additional classes of equity securities.
23. Subsequent events
On February 13, 2015, we paid a $0.3375 per unit distribution with respect to the fourth quarter of 2014, equivalent to $1.35 per unit on an annualized basis. The aggregate amount of the cash distribution paid was $8.9 million.
On February 16, 2015, the $10.7 million standby letter of credit under the Lampung facility that supported guarantees to PGN for delivery obligations of the FSRU and Mooring under the LOM expired.
Subsequent to December 31, 2014, an understanding with PGN, the pipeline contractor and the Partnership’s subsidiary has been reached. As a result, PGN will not pay the time charter hire for September or October 2014, the Partnership’s subsidiary will not pay the delay liquidated damages, the Partnership’s subsidiary is released from joint and several liability for the pipeline contractor’s delay liquidated damages, the pipeline contractor is released from joint and several liability for the Partnership’s subsidiary’s delay liquidated damages and neither the Partnership’s subsidiary nor the pipeline contractor cover the other party’s delay liquidated damages to the extent caused by the other party’s scope of work. Due to this subsequent event, the previously recorded delay liquidated damages were reversed from construction contract expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014. Refer to notes 6 and 20. Since the Partnership’s subsidiary will not pay any delay liquidated damages to PGN, the Partnership will not receive any indemnification from Höegh LNG for this item.
On April 23, 2015, the Partnership declared a quarterly cash distribution with respect to the quarter ended March 31, 2015 of $0.3375 per unit. The distribution corresponds to an annualized distribution of $1.35 per unit.
F- 44 |
Report of Independent Auditors
The Board of Directors of Höegh LNG Partners LP
We have audited the accompanying combined financial statements of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., which comprise the combined balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related combined statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, and the related notes to the combined financial statements.
Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these combined financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these combined financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the combined financial position of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the combined results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Ernst & Young AS
Oslo, Norway
April 24, 2015
F- 45 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD. |
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME |
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Notes | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||
REVENUES | ||||||||||||||||
Time charter revenues | 3 | $ | 82,638 | $ | 82,220 | $ | 82,151 | |||||||||
Total revenues | 82,638 | 82,220 | 82,151 | |||||||||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||
Vessel operating expenses | 11 | (15,026 | ) | (15,404 | ) | (15,049 | ) | |||||||||
Administrative expenses | 11 | (1,944 | ) | (2,122 | ) | (2,254 | ) | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 6 | (18,912 | ) | (18,722 | ) | (18,735 | ) | |||||||||
Total operating expenses | (35,882 | ) | (36,248 | ) | (36,038 | ) | ||||||||||
Operating income | 46,756 | 45,972 | 46,113 | |||||||||||||
FINANCIAL INCOME (EXPENSES), NET | ||||||||||||||||
Interest income | 4 | — | — | 1 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | 4, 5, 11 | (34,241 | ) | (36,169 | ) | (38,065 | ) | |||||||||
Gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments | 4, 13 | (23,757 | ) | 70,075 | 1,386 | |||||||||||
Other financial items, net | 4 | (34 | ) | (38 | ) | (36 | ) | |||||||||
Total financial income (expense), net | (58,032 | ) | 33,868 | (36,714 | ) | |||||||||||
Income before tax | (11,276 | ) | 79,840 | 9,399 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (11,276 | ) | $ | 79,840 | $ | 9,399 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the combined financial statements.
F- 46 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD. |
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Net income | $ | (11,276 | ) | $ | 79,840 | $ | 9,399 | |||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | |||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (11,276 | ) | $ | 79,840 | $ | 9,399 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the combined financial statements.
F- 47 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD. |
COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS |
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Notes | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 12 | $ | 10,719 | $ | 11,578 | |||||||
Trade receivables | 154 | 31 | ||||||||||
Deferred debt issuance cost | 5 | 364 | 368 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses | 2,799 | 2,131 | ||||||||||
Total current assets | 14,036 | 14,108 | ||||||||||
Long-term assets | ||||||||||||
Restricted cash | 10,12 | 25,104 | 25,104 | |||||||||
Vessels, net of accumulated depreciation | 6,11,14 | 577,897 | 592,092 | |||||||||
Deferred debt issuance cost | 5 | 2,174 | 2,538 | |||||||||
Total long-term assets | 605,175 | 619,734 | ||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 619,211 | $ | 633,842 | ||||||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 10,12 | $ | 20,768 | $ | 19,522 | |||||||
Trade payables | 40 | — | ||||||||||
Amounts due to owners and affiliates | 7 | 14,516 | 15,246 | |||||||||
Derivative financial instruments | 13 | 23,887 | 26,274 | |||||||||
Prepaid and deferred revenue | 8 | 1,652 | 1,730 | |||||||||
Accrued liabilities | 9 | 6,586 | 6,540 | |||||||||
Total current liabilities | 67,449 | 69,312 | ||||||||||
Long-term liabilities | ||||||||||||
Long-term debt | 10,12 | 501,369 | 522,136 | |||||||||
Loans due to owners | 7,12 | 24,575 | 34,795 | |||||||||
Derivative financial instruments | 13 | 101,910 | 75,766 | |||||||||
Prepaid and deferred revenue | 8 | 24,612 | 21,261 | |||||||||
Total long-term liabilities | 652,466 | 653,958 | ||||||||||
Total liabilities | 719,915 | 723,270 | ||||||||||
EQUITY | ||||||||||||
Paid in capital | 100 | 100 | ||||||||||
Retained deficit | (100,804 | ) | (89,528 | ) | ||||||||
Total equity | (100,704 | ) | (89,428 | ) | ||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 619,211 | $ | 633,842 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the combined financial statements.
F- 48 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD. |
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY |
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||
Other | ||||||||||||||||
Paid in | Retained | Comprehensive | Total | |||||||||||||
Capital | Deficit | Income | Equity | |||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2011 | $ | 100 | (178,767 | ) | — | $ | (178,667 | ) | ||||||||
Net income | — | 9,399 | — | 9,399 | ||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2012 | $ | 100 | (169,368 | ) | — | $ | (169,268 | ) | ||||||||
Net income | — | 79,840 | — | 79,840 | ||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2013 | 100 | (89,528 | ) | — | (89,428 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income | — | (11,276 | ) | — | (11,276 | ) | ||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2014 | $ | 100 | (100,804 | ) | — | $ | (100,704 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the combined financial statements.
F- 49 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD. |
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 |
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) |
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | (11,276 | ) | $ | 79,840 | $ | 9,399 | |||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 18,912 | 18,722 | 18,735 | |||||||||
Unrealized gain on derivative financial instrument | 23,757 | (70,075 | ) | (1,386 | ) | |||||||
Accrued interest expense on loans to owners | 2,217 | 2,763 | 3,239 | |||||||||
Amortization of deferred revenue | (1,718 | ) | (942 | ) | (1,353 | ) | ||||||
Amortization of deferred debt issuance cost | 368 | 371 | 372 | |||||||||
Expenditure for drydocking | — | — | (1,443 | ) | ||||||||
Cash received and recorded as deferred revenue | 4,992 | 722 | 4,314 | |||||||||
Other adjustments | — | (86 | ) | 77 | ||||||||
Changes in working capital: | ||||||||||||
Trade receivables | (123 | ) | 154 | (185 | ) | |||||||
Prepaid expenses | (668 | ) | (842 | ) | (624 | ) | ||||||
Amounts due to owners and affiliates | 165 | (177 | ) | 730 | ||||||||
Trade payables | 40 | — | — | |||||||||
Accrued liabilities | 45 | 312 | 66 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 36,711 | 30,762 | 31,941 | |||||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Expenditure for vessel modification and equipment | (4,717 | ) | (1,043 | ) | (2,870 | ) | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (4,717 | ) | (1,043 | ) | (2,870 | ) | ||||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Repayment of long-term debt | (19,521 | ) | (18,350 | ) | (17,249 | ) | ||||||
Repayment of principal of loans due to owners | (13,332 | ) | (11,084 | ) | (12,018 | ) | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | (32,853 | ) | (29,434 | ) | (29,267 | ) | ||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (859 | ) | 285 | (196 | ) | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 11,578 | 11,293 | 11,489 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | 10,719 | $ | 11,578 | $ | 11,293 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the combined financial statements.
F- 50 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
1. Description of business
Höegh LNG Partners LP (the “Partnership”) was formed under the laws of the Marshall Islands on April 28, 2014 as an indirect 100% owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. (“Höegh LNG”) for the purpose of acquiring certain of Höegh LNG’s interests in entities including SRV Joint Gas Ltd. (the owner of the GDF Suez Neptune) , and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (the owner of the GDF Suez Cape Ann ) in connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering of its common units (the “IPO”). On August 12, 2014, the Partnership completed its IPO. Prior to the closing of the IPO, Höegh LNG contributed to the Partnership its 50% equity in each of the entities owning the GDF Suez Neptune , the GDF Suez Cape Ann and the shareholder loans due to it from those entities.
These combined financial statements which include the individual financial statements of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”) for the purpose of meeting the requirements of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X. The Partnership owns 50% in each of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., and the remaining 50% ownership interests are held by joint venture partners, Mitsui O.S.K.Lines, Ltd. and Tokyo LNG Tanker Co. The GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Anne are floating storage regasification units (“FSRUs”) and are collectively referred to in these combined financial statements as the vessels or the “FSRUs.” SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. are referred to in these combined financial statements individually as the “joint venture” and together as the “joint ventures.”
The GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann operate under long-term time charters with GDF Suez Global LNG Supply S.A., a subsidiary of GDF Suez S.A. (“GDF Suez”), with expiration dates in 2029 and 2030, respectively, and, in each case, with an option to extend for up to two additional periods of five years each. In the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, 100% of the joint ventures’ total revenues were derived from GDF Suez.
Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS, a subsidiary of Höegh LNG, provided commercial and technical operations of the FSRUs for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
The following table lists the entities combined in these combined financial statements and their purpose as of December 31, 2014.
Name |
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation |
Purpose | ||
SRV Joint Gas Ltd. (50% ownership) | Cayman Islands | Owns GDF Suez Neptune | ||
SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (50% ownership) | Cayman Islands | Owns GDF Suez Cape Ann |
2. Significant accounting policies
a. Basis of presentation
The combined financial statements include the financial statements of SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., which are under common management. The combined financial statements are prepared in accordance with the US GAAP policies of the Partnership. All inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated.
b. Accounting policies
Foreign currencies
The reporting currency in the combined financial statements is the U.S. dollar, which is the functional currency of each of the joint ventures. All revenues are received in U.S. dollars and a majority of the expenditures for investments and all of the long-term debt and shareholder loans are denominated in U.S. dollars. Transactions denominated in other currencies during the year are converted into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the time of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Resulting gains or losses are reflected in the accompanying combined statements of income.
F- 51 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Time charter revenues and related expenses
Time charter revenues :
Revenue arrangements may include the right to use FSRUs for a stated period of time that meet the criteria for operating lease accounting, in addition to providing a time charter service element. Time charter revenues consist of charter hire payments under time charters, fees for providing time charter services, fees for reimbursement for actual vessel operating expenses and drydocking costs borne by the charterer on a pass through basis; as well as fees for the reimbursement of certain vessel modifications or other costs borne by the charterer.
The lease element of time charters accounted for as operating leases and any upfront payments for amounts reimbursed by the charterer are recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the charter.
Revenues for the lease element of time charters are not recognized for days that the FSRUs are off-hire.
Fees for providing time charter services and reimbursements for actual vessel operating expenses are recognized as revenues as services are performed. Revenues for the time charter services element are not recognized for days that the FSRUs are off-hire.
Upfront payments of fees for reimbursement of drydocking costs are recognized on a straight line basis over the period to the next drydocking, which is generally between five and seven years.
Related expenses :
Voyage expenses include bunker fuel expenses, port fees, cargo loading and unloading expenses, canal tolls and agency fees. Voyage expenses are all expenses unique to a particular voyage and when a vessel is on hire under time charters are the responsibility of, and paid directly by the charterers and not included in the income statement. When the vessel is off-hire, voyage expenses, principally fuel, may also be incurred and are paid by the joint venture.
Vessel operating expenses, reflected in expenses in the income statement, include crewing, repairs and maintenance, insurance, stores, lube oils, communication expenses and technical management fees. Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS provides the technical operation services of the FSRUs. Therefore, the joint ventures have no employees. When the vessel is on hire, vessel operating expenses are invoiced as fees to the charterer. When the vessel is off-hire, vessel operating expenses are not invoiced to the charterer.
Voyage expenses, if applicable, and vessel operating expenses are expensed when incurred.
Insurance claims
Insurance claims for property damage are recorded, net of any deductible amounts, for recoveries up to the amount of loss recognized when the claims submitted to insurance carriers are probable of recovery. Claims for property damage in excess of the loss recognized and for loss off hire are considered gain contingencies, which are recognized when the proceeds are received.
Income taxes
The joint ventures are not liable for income taxes to the Cayman Islands and therefore would only incur income tax liabilities to the extent assessed by countries in which they operate. As of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the joint ventures believe that they incurred no income tax expenses or liabilities.
Pursuant to Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States (the "Code"), U.S. source income earned by a non-U.S. company from the operation of ships in international transportation is generally exempt from U.S. tax if the company operating the ships meets, among other things, the following three requirements: (1) the company is organized in a country which grants an equivalent exemption from income taxes to U.S. corporations with respect to that type of international transportation income; (2) the company is more than 50% owned, or is treated as owned after applying certain attribution rules, by individuals who are residents, as defined, in such country or another foreign country that grants an equivalent exemption to U.S. corporations; and (3) the company meets certain substantiation, reporting and other requirements. The joint ventures believe that they qualified for the exemption for 2014, 2013 and 2012 and, therefore, they were not subject to tax on their U.S. source income.
F- 52 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash, banks deposits, time deposits and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are recognized as cash and cash equivalents.
Restricted cash
Restricted cash consist of bank deposits, which may only be used to settle payments as required by loan agreements. Restricted cash is classified as long-term when the settlement or required loan agreement period is more than 12 months from the balance sheet date.
Trade receivables and allowance for doubtful accounts
Trade receivables are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is management’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in existing accounts receivable based on historical write-off experience and customer economic data. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when management believes that the receivable will not be recovered. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $0 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
Deferred debt issuance costs
Debt issuance costs, including arrangement fees and legal expenses, are deferred and presented as deferred debt issuance cost in the combined balance sheet and amortized on an effective interest rate method over the term of the relevant loan. Amortization of debt issuance costs is included as a component of interest expense. If a loan is repaid early, any unamortized portion of the deferred debt issuance costs is recognized as interest expense in the period in which the loan is repaid.
Vessels
All costs incurred during the construction of newbuildings, including interest and supervision and technical costs, are capitalized. Vessels are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over a vessel’s estimated useful life, less an estimated residual value. Depreciation is calculated using an estimated useful life of 35 years for the FSRUs.
Modifications to the vessels, including the addition of new equipment, which improves or increases the operational efficiency, functionality or safety of the vessels are capitalized. These expenditures are amortized over the estimated useful life of the modification.
Expenditures covering recurring routine repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.
Drydocking expenditures are capitalized when incurred and amortized over the period until the next anticipated drydocking. For vessels that are newly built, the "built-in overhaul" method of accounting is applied. Under the built-in overhaul method, costs of the newbuilding are segregated into costs that should be depreciated over the useful life of the vessel and costs that require drydocking at periodic intervals. The drydocking component is amortized until the date of the first drydocking following the delivery, upon which the actual drydocking cost is capitalized and the process is repeated. Costs of drydocking incurred to meet regulatory requirements or improve the vessel’s operating efficiency, functionality or safety are capitalized. Costs incurred related to routine repairs and maintenance performed during drydocking are expensed.
F- 53 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Impairment of long-lived assets
Vessels are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances are present, the recoverability of vessels are assessed by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the vessel’s net carrying value exceeds the net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated over its remaining useful life, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its estimated fair value. An impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the vessel.
Derivative instruments
Derivatives are entered into to reduce market risks associated with its operations. The joint ventures have interest rate swaps for the management of interest rate risk exposure. The interest rate swaps have the effect of converting a portion of the outstanding debt from a floating to a fixed rate over the life of the transactions. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the interest rate swaps were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes.
All derivative instruments are initially recorded at fair value as either current or long-term assets or liabilities as derivative financial instruments in the combined balance sheet and are subsequently remeasured to fair value. The changes in the fair value of the derivative financial instruments are recognized in earnings under financial income (expenses), net as gain (loss) on derivative instruments.
Prepaid and deferred revenue
Prepaid revenue includes prepayments of fees for charter hire, vessel operating expenses or other future services. Deferred revenues include payments from charterers for certain vessel modifications and upfront payments for drydocking costs which is amortized over the charter term or until the next planned drydocking, respectively.
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of vessels, drydocking and the valuation of derivatives.
Recent accounting pronouncements
There are no recent accounting pronouncements, whose adoption would have a material impact on the combined financial statements in the current year. In May 2014, a new accounting standard, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Under the new standard, revenue for most contracts with customers will be recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects consideration that the entity expects to be entitled, subject to certain limitations. The scope of this guidance does not apply to leases, financial instruments, guarantees and certain non-monetary transactions. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is not permitted. The joint ventures are currently assessing the impact the adoption this standard will have on the combined financial statements.
F- 54 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
3. Time charter revenues
As at December 31, 2014, the minimum contractual future revenues to be received under the time charters as of December 31, 2014, during the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | Total | |||
2015 | $ | 65,375 | ||
2016 | 65,375 | |||
2017 | 65,375 | |||
2018 | 65,375 | |||
2019 | 65,375 | |||
Thereafter | 664,464 | |||
Total | $ | 991,338 |
The long-term time charters for the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann with GDF Suez have initial terms of 20 years expiring in 2029 and 2030, respectively. The time charters are accounted for as operating leases. The minimum contractual future revenues include the fixed payments for the lease and services elements for the 20 year period but exclude the variable fees from the charterer for vessel operating, subsequent modification and drydocking costs. Additionally, each time charter has options to extend the contract term for two five-year periods. Payments for option periods are not included in minimum contractual future revenues until such time as the options are exercised.
4. Financial income (expenses)
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Interest income | $ | — | — | $ | 1 | |||||||
Interest expense: | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | (33,873 | ) | (35,798 | ) | (37,693 | ) | ||||||
Amortization of deferred debt issuance cost | (368 | ) | (371 | ) | (372 | ) | ||||||
Total interest expense | (34,241 | ) | (36,169 | ) | (38,065 | ) | ||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments | (23,757 | ) | 70,075 | 1,386 | ||||||||
Other financial items, net | (34 | ) | (38 | ) | (35 | ) | ||||||
Total financial income (expense), net | $ | (58,032 | ) | 33,868 | $ | (36,714 | ) |
Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 included interest expense of $3,439, $4,243 and $4,961, respectively, on the subordinated shareholders loans from the Partnership and other joint venture owners (note 11). The unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments related to the mark to market adjustment on the interest rate swaps (note 13).
F- 55 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
5. Deferred debt issuance cost
Deferred debt issuance costs are deferred and amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt. The deferred debt issuance costs are comprised of the following amounts:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Deferred debt issuance cost | $ | 4,607 | $ | 4,607 | ||||
Accumulated amortization | (2,069 | ) | (1,701 | ) | ||||
Total deferred debt issuance cost | 2,538 | 2,906 | ||||||
Current deferred debt issuance cost | 364 | 368 | ||||||
Long-term deferred debt issuance cost | 2,174 | 2,538 | ||||||
Total deferred debt issuance cost | $ | 2,538 | $ | 2,906 |
Amortization expense of deferred debt issuance cost, a component of interest expense, was $368, $371 and $372 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
6. Vessels, net of accumulated depreciation
Dry- | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | Vessel | docking | Total | |||||||||
Historical cost December 31, 2012 | $ | 654,413 | 8,443 | $ | 662,856 | |||||||
Additions | 1,043 | — | 1,043 | |||||||||
Disposals | — | — | — | |||||||||
Historical cost December 31, 2013 | 655,456 | 8,443 | 663,899 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation December 31, 2012 | (49,128 | ) | (3,957 | ) | (53,085 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation for the year | (17,371 | ) | (1,351 | ) | (18,722 | ) | ||||||
Accumulated depreciation December 31, 2013 | (66,499 | ) | (5,308 | ) | (71,807 | ) | ||||||
Vessel, net December 31, 2013 | $ | 588,957 | 3,135 | $ | 592,092 |
Dry- | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | Vessel | docking | Total | |||||||||
Historical cost December 31, 2013 | $ | 655,456 | 8,443 | $ | 663,899 | |||||||
Additions | 4,717 | — | 4,717 | |||||||||
Disposals | — | — | — | |||||||||
Historical cost December 31, 2014 | 660,173 | 8,443 | 668,616 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation December 31, 2013 | (66,499 | ) | (5,308 | ) | (71,807 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation for the year | (17,561 | ) | (1,351 | ) | (18,912 | ) | ||||||
Accumulated depreciation December 31, 2014 | (84,060 | ) | (6,659 | ) | (90,719 | ) | ||||||
Vessel, net December 31, 2014 | $ | 576,113 | 1,784 | $ | 577,897 |
F- 56 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
7. Amounts and loans due to owners and affiliates
Amounts due to owners and affiliates include trade liabilities and the current portion of the long-term loans due to owners. Trade liabilities due to owners and affiliates principally relate to short term funding of operations by affiliates and do not bear interest.
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Trade liabilities due to owners and affiliates | $ | 1,186 | $ | 1,021 | ||||
Current portion of long-term loans due to owners | 13,330 | 14,225 | ||||||
Amounts due to owners and affiliates | $ | 14,516 | $ | 15,246 |
The current portion of long-term loans, included in the table above, and long-term loans due to owners and affiliates are as follows:
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Current portion of long-term loans due to owners | $ | 13,330 | $ | 14,225 | ||||
Long-term loans due to owners | 24,575 | 34,795 | ||||||
Total loans due to owners | $ | 37,905 | $ | 49,020 |
The loans due to owners consist of shareholders loans where the principal amounts, including accrued interest, are repaid based on available cash after servicing of long-term bank debt. The shareholder loans are due not later than the 12th anniversary of delivery date of each FSRU. The GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann were delivered November 30, 2009 and June 1, 2010, respectively. The shareholders loans are subordinated to the long-term bank debt, consisting of the Neptune facility and the Cape Ann facility described in note 10. Under terms of the shareholder loan agreements, the repayments shall be prioritized over any dividend payment to the owners of the joint ventures. The shareholder loans bear interest at a fixed rate of 8.0% per year. The Partnership is due 50% the outstanding balance and the other joint venture partners have, on a combined basis, an equal amount of shareholder loans outstanding at the same terms to each of the joint ventures.
The shareholder loans have financed part of the construction of the vessels and operating expenses until the delivery and commencement of operations of the GDF Suez Neptune and the GDF Suez Cape Ann . In 2011, the joint ventures began repaying principal and a portion of the interest expense based on available cash after servicing of the external debt. The quarterly payments include a payment of interest for the first month of the quarter and a repayment of principal. Interest is accrued for the last two months of the quarter for repayment in the latter years of the loans. However, there is no fixed repayment schedule. Since the shareholder loans are subordinated to long-term bank debt, the repayment plan is subject to quarterly discretionary revisions based on available cash after servicing of the long-term bank debt.
8. Prepaid and deferred revenue
As of | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | December 31, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Current deferred revenue | $ | 1,652 | $ | 1,730 | ||||
Long-term deferred revenue | 24,612 | 21,261 | ||||||
Total prepaid and deferred revenue | $ | 26,264 | $ | 22,991 |
F- 57 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
9. Accrued liabilities
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Accrued external interest expense | $ | 4,998 | $ | 5,189 | ||||
Other accruals | 1,588 | 1,351 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities | $ | 6,586 | $ | 6,540 |
10. Debt
As of | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
$300 million Neptune facility | $ | 257,604 | $ | 267,420 | ||||
$300 million Cape Ann facility | 264,533 | 274,238 | ||||||
Total debt | 522,137 | 541,658 | ||||||
Less: Current portion of long-term debt | (20,768 | ) | (19,522 | ) | ||||
Long-term debt | $ | 501,369 | $ | 522,136 |
Neptune facility
In December 2007, the joint venture owning GDF Suez Neptune , as the borrower, entered into a $300 million secured facility with a syndicate of banks as long term financing of the construction the GDF Suez Neptune (the “Neptune facility”). The facility is secured with a first priority mortgage of the GDF Suez Neptune , an assignment of its rights under the time charter and a pledge of the borrower’s cash accounts. The Partnership and the other owners of the borrower have provided a negative pledge of shares in the borrower as security for the facility. In addition, Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. and MOL guarantee funding of drydocking costs and remarketing efforts in the event of an early termination of the charter.
The Neptune facility is repayable in quarterly installments over twelve years with a final balloon payment of $165 million due in April 2022. The Neptune facility bears interest at a rate equal to three month LIBOR plus a margin of 0.5%. The syndicate of banks also provides interest rate swaps to the borrower (see note 13), which are not reflected in the LIBOR rate for the facility.
There were no financial covenants in the Neptune facility as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, but certain other covenants and restrictions apply. The borrower is required to maintain insurance coverage for damage to the FSRU equivalent to 120% of the aggregate outstanding loan balance and loss of hire insurance. The borrower must maintain cash accounts with the syndicate of banks for its operating account, restricted cash for debt service for the next six months including interest payment on the facility and associated interest rate swap agreements and certain distribution accounts. Cash in the operating account from charter hire will be applied for the following purposes in the following order; first, to pay operating costs, insurance, taxes and technical management fees; second, to transfer funds to the restricted cash account for debt service until reserve requirements are met; finally, to transfer funds to certain distribution accounts. Certain conditions apply to making disbursements or paying dividends from the distribution accounts, including meeting a 1.20 historical and projected debt service coverage ratio, no event of default then continuing and debt service reserve, retention accounts are fully funded, or the written consent of the lenders. The facility agreement limits the borrower’s ability to raise additional debt, enter into certain material transactions and make guarantees.
F- 58 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Cape Ann facility
In December 2007, the joint venture owning GDF Suez Cape Ann , as the borrower, entered into a $300 million secured facility with a syndicate of banks as long term financing of the construction the GDF Suez Cape Ann (the “Cape Ann facility”). The facility is secured with a first priority mortgage of the GDF Suez Cape Ann , an assignment of its rights under the time charter and a pledge of the borrower’s cash accounts. The Partnership and the other owners of the borrower have provided a negative pledge of shares in the borrower as security for the facility. In addition, Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. and MOL guarantee funding of drydocking costs and remarketing efforts in the event of an early termination of the charter.
The Cape Ann facility is repayable in quarterly installments over twelve years with a final balloon payment of $165 million due in October 2022. The Cape Ann facility bears interest at a rate equal to three month LIBOR plus a margin of 0.5%. The syndicate of banks also provides interest rate swaps to the borrower (see note 13), which are not reflected in the LIBOR rate for the facility.
There are no financial covenants in the Cape Ann facility as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, but certain other covenants and restrictions apply. The borrower is required to maintain insurance coverage for damage to the FSRU equivalent to 120% of the aggregate outstanding loan balance and loss of hire insurance. The borrower must maintain cash accounts with the syndicate of banks for its operating account, restricted cash for debt service for the next six months including interest payment on the facility and associated interest rate swap agreements and certain distribution accounts. Cash in the operating account from charter hire will be applied for the following purposes in the following order; first, to pay operating costs, insurance, taxes and technical management fees; second, to transfer funds to the restricted cash account for debt service until reserve requirements are met; finally, to transfer funds to certain distribution accounts. Certain conditions apply to making disbursements or paying dividends from the distribution accounts, including meeting a 1.20 historical and projected debt service coverage ratio, no event of default then continuing and debt service reserve, retention accounts are fully funded, or the written consent of the lenders. The facility agreement limits the borrower’s ability to raise additional debt, enter into certain material transactions and make guarantees.
The debt is denominated in U.S. dollars and bears interest at floating rates at a weighted average interest rate for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 of 0.80%, 0.90% and 1.09 % respectively.
The outstanding debt as of December 31, 2014 is repayable as follows:
Year Ending December 31, | ||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | ||||
2015 | $ | 20,768 | ||
2016 | 22,093 | |||
2017 | 23,503 | |||
2018 | 25,003 | |||
2019 | 26,599 | |||
2020 and thereafter | 404,171 | |||
Total | $ | 522,137 |
11. Related party transactions
The joint ventures are single purpose joint ventures owning and operating the FSRUs. See note 7 for amounts and loans due to owners and affiliates. The joint ventures do not have any employees. As described in note 1, a subsidiary of Höegh LNG, has charged the joint ventures for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 for the provision of technical and commercial management of the FSRUs. Amounts included in the combined statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 or capitalized in the combined balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:
F- 59 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Year ended | ||||||||||||
Statement of income: | December 31, | |||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Vessel operating expenses: | ||||||||||||
Technical management fees for FSRUs (1) | $ | 1,344 | 1,300 | $ | 1,300 | |||||||
Other vessel operating expenses (2) | 13,682 | 14,104 | 13,749 | |||||||||
Administrative expenses: | ||||||||||||
Commercial management fees for FRSUs (1) | 570 | 750 | 780 | |||||||||
Other fees (3) | 755 | 749 | 760 | |||||||||
Financial income (expense): | ||||||||||||
Interest expense from shareholder loans (4) | 3,439 | 4,243 | 4,961 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 19,790 | 21,146 | $ | 21,550 |
As of | ||||||||
Balance sheet | December 31, | |||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Vessels | ||||||||
Supervision cost for modifications (5) | $ | 203 | $ | 22 | ||||
Total long-term assets | $ | 203 | $ | 22 |
1) | Technical and commercial management fees for FSRUs: Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS, a subsidiary of Höegh LNG, provided commercial and technical operations of the FSRUs as well as bookkeeping and administrative support for which it was paid a fixed annual fee as agreed with the charterer and other owners, respectively. |
2) | Other vessel operating expenses: In addition to the technical management fees, Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS, invoices the joint ventures for the actual costs incurred for vessel operating expenses such as crewing, repairs and maintenance, insurance, stores, lube oils and communication expenses. |
3) | Other fees : In addition to the commercial management fees, Höegh LNG charges an annual fee to the joint ventures in accordance with agreements with the joint venture owners. |
4) | Interest expense from shareholder loans: The Partnership and the other owners have provided subordinated financing to the joint ventures as shareholder loans. Interest expense is accrued monthly for the shareholder loans and recorded to interest expense. Under terms of the shareholders’ loan agreement, the principal and interest is repaid based upon available cash after servicing other debt (note 7) and, accordingly, only a portion of the accrued interest expense has been paid for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. In the combined statements of cash flows, the interest expense paid for the period is included in net cash flows provided from operating activities. |
5) | Supervision cost for modifications: Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS manages the process for major modifications to vessels including site supervision at the shipyard. Costs include manning for the services and direct accommodation and travel cost. Manning costs are based upon actual hours incurred. Such costs, excluding overhead charges, are capitalized as part of the cost of the modification of the vessel. |
12. | Financial Instruments |
Fair value measurements
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash – The fair value of the cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash approximates its carrying amounts reported in the combined carve-out balance sheets.
Loan due to owners – The fair values of the fixed rate subordinated shareholder loans are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities and the current credit worthiness of the joint ventures.
F- 60 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Total debt – The fair values of the variable-rate debt are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities and the current credit worthiness of the joint ventures.
Derivative financial instruments– The fair values of the interest rates swaps are estimated based on the present value of cash flows over the term of the instrument based on the relevant LIBOR interest rate curves, adjusted for the joint ventures’ credit worthiness given the level of collateral provided and the credit worthiness of the counterparty to the derivative, as appropriate.
The fair value estimates are categorized by a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value as follows:
Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
Level 2: Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
The following table includes the estimated fair value and carrying value of those assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis, as well as the estimated fair value of the financial instruments that are not accounted for at a fair value on a recurring basis.
As of | As of | |||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||
Carrying | Fair | Carrying | Fair | |||||||||||||||||
amount | value | amount | value | |||||||||||||||||
Asset | Asset | Asset | Asset | |||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | Level | (Liability) | (Liability) | (Liability) | (Liability) | |||||||||||||||
Recurring: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 1 | $ | 10,719 | 10,719 | 11,578 | $ | 11,578 | |||||||||||||
Restricted cash | 1 | 25,104 | 25,104 | 25,104 | 25,104 | |||||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps | 2 | (125,797 | ) | (125,797 | ) | (102,040 | ) | (102,040 | ) | |||||||||||
Other: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loans due to owners | 2 | (37,905 | ) | (39,258 | ) | (49,020 | ) | (50,485 | ) | |||||||||||
Total debt | 2 | $ | (522,137 | ) | (468,916 | ) | (541,658 | ) | $ | (427,669 | ) |
13. | Risk management and concentrations of risk |
Derivative instruments can be used in accordance with the overall risk management policy. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, there are no derivative instruments designated as hedges for accounting purposes.
Foreign Exchange Risk
All revenues, financing, interest expenses from financing and most expenditures for newbuildings and vessel modifications are denominated in U.S. dollars. Certain operating expenses can be denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, no derivative financial instruments have been used to manage foreign exchange risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate swaps can be utilized to exchange a receipt of floating interest for a payment of fixed interest to reduce the exposure to interest rate variability on its outstanding floating-rate debt. As at December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were interest rate swap agreements on the floating rate debt that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes.
F- 61 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
As of December 31, 2014, the following interest rate swap agreements were outstanding:
Fair | ||||||||||||||||
value | Fixed | |||||||||||||||
Interest | carrying | interest | ||||||||||||||
rate | Notional | amount | rate | |||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | index | amount | liability | Term | (1) | |||||||||||
LIBOR-based debt | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (2) | LIBOR | $ | 25,555 | $ | 6,400 | Oct 2029 | 5.345 | % | ||||||||
Interest rate swaps (2) | LIBOR | 36,927 | 9,086 | July 2029 | 5.353 | % | ||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (2) | LIBOR | 184,548 | 45,663 | Oct 2029 | 5.363 | % | ||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (2) | LIBOR | 26,064 | 6,686 | Jan 2030 | 5.385 | % | ||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (2) | LIBOR | 37,662 | 9,667 | Apr 2030 | 5.389 | % | ||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (2) | LIBOR | $ | 188,223 | 48,295 | Jan 2030 | 5.399 | % | |||||||||
$ | 125,797 |
1) Excludes the margins paid on the floating-rate loans of 0.5%. |
2) All interest rate swaps are U.S. dollar denominated and principal amount reduces quarterly. |
The following table presents the location and fair value amounts of derivative instruments, segregated by type of contract, on the combined balance sheets.
Current | Long-term | |||||||
liabilities: | liabilities: | |||||||
derivative | derivative | |||||||
financial | financial | |||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | instruments | instruments | ||||||
As of December 31, 2014 | ||||||||
Interest rate swaps | $ | 23,887 | $ | 101,910 | ||||
As of December 31, 2013 | ||||||||
Interest rate swaps | $ | 26,274 | $ | 75,766 |
Unrealized and realized gains (losses) of the interest rate swap are recognized in earnings and reported in gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the combined statements of income.
Year ended | ||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Realized gains (losses) | $ | — | — | $ | — | |||||||
Unrealized gains (losses) | (23,757 | ) | 70,075 | 1,386 | ||||||||
Total | $ | (23,757 | ) | 70,075 | $ | 1,386 |
F- 62 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Credit risk and concentrations of risk
Credit risk is the exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties related to cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables and interest rate swap agreements. In order to minimize counterparty risk, bank relationships are established with counterparties with acceptable credit ratings at the time of the transactions. Periodic evaluations are performed of the relative credit standing of those financial institutions. In addition, exposure is limited by diversifying among counter parties. There is a single charterer for both vessels so there is a concentration of risk related to trade receivables. Credit risk related to trade receivables is limited by performing ongoing credit evaluations of the charterer's financial condition. In addition, time charters generally require the payment of the time charter rates on the first banking day of the month of hire which limits the risk of non-performance. Accordingly, no collateral or other security is required. No losses were incurred relating to the charterer for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. While the maximum exposure to loss due to credit risk is the book value at the balance sheet date, should the time charter terminate prematurely, there could be delays in obtaining a new time charter and the rates could be lower depending upon the prevailing market conditions.
14. Commitments and contingencies
Assets Pledged
The following table summarizes the assets pledged for debt facilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Year ended | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Book value of vessel secured against long-term loans | $ | 577,897 | $ | 592,092 |
Commitments:
The GDF Suez Neptune was subject to regular drydocking and modification work in March and April 2015. Committed orders for parts were $1.1 million as of December 31, 2014. Refer to note 16 for additional information.
Contingencies:
The GDF Suez Cape Ann is operating in China on a sub-charter entered into by GDF Suez. GDF Suez has informed SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. that the sub-charterer is covering any potential corporate income taxes directly with the authorities on the joint venture’s behalf. To the extent that income tax liabilities would arise, the joint venture would be compensated by GDF Suez under terms of the time charter.
15. Supplemental cash flow information
Year ended | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Supplemental cash flow information: | ||||||||
Interest paid | $ | 35,980 | $ | 35,980 |
F- 63 |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. AND SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
16. Subsequent events
On February 20, 2015 a contract with a shipyard was entered for regular drydocking and modification work for GDF Suez Neptune . The contractual commitment under the shipyard contract is EUR 7.3 million.
GDF Suez entered into a subcharter in Uruguay, pursuant to which GDF Suez and SRV Joint Gas Ltd. amended the GDF Suez Neptune time charter in February 2015. Such amendments apply only during the term of the subcharter. In connection with the subcharter, the charterer has agreed to reimburse the joint venture owner for the costs of modifying the GDF Suez Neptune for the subcharter and, the charterer will after the expiration of the subcharter, reimburse the costs of reinstating the vessel in order for her to be in every way fitted for service under the charter, during which times the vessel will be on-hire (so long as the time for the modification does not exceed an agreed-upon drydocking allowance). The charterer is also required to compensate the vessel owner for time spent and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the subcharter and arrange for the importation, stay and exportation into and from Uruguay of the GDF Suez Neptune and any materials or equipment needed for the vessel owner’s performance of the subcharter.
Management evaluated subsequent events through April 24, 2015.
F- 64 |
Exhibit 1.2
Execution Version
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I | ||
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION | ||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 |
Section 1.2 | Construction | 20 |
ARTICLE II | ||
ORGANIZATION | ||
Section 2.1 | Formation | 20 |
Section 2.2 | Name | 21 |
Section 2.3 | Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices | 21 |
Section 2.4 | Purpose and Business | 21 |
Section 2.5 | Powers | 21 |
Section 2.6 | Term | 21 |
Section 2.7 | Title to Partnership Assets | 22 |
ARTICLE III | ||
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS | ||
Section 3.1 | Limitation of Liability | 22 |
Section 3.2 | Management of Business | 22 |
Section 3.3 | Outside Activities of the Limited Partners | 22 |
Section 3.4 | Rights of Limited Partners | 22 |
ARTICLE IV | ||
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | ||
Section 4.1 | Certificates | 23 |
Section 4.2 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates | 24 |
Section 4.3 | Record Holders | 25 |
Section 4.4 | Transfer Generally | 25 |
Section 4.5 | Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests | 25 |
Section 4.6 | Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest | 26 |
Section 4.7 | Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights | 27 |
Section 4.8 | Restrictions on Transfers | 27 |
ARTICLE V | ||
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | ||
Section 5.1 | Contributions Prior to the Closing Date | 28 |
Section 5.2 | Initial Unit Issuances; Tax Election | 28 |
Section 5.3 | Interest and Withdrawal | 28 |
Section 5.4 | Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests | 28 |
Section 5.5 | Limitations on Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests | 29 |
Section 5.6 | Conversion of Subordinated Units to Common Units | 29 |
Section 5.7 | Limited Preemptive Right | 30 |
Section 5.8 | Splits and Combinations | 30 |
Section 5.9 | Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests | 31 |
i |
Section 5.10 | Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights | 31 |
Section 5.11 | Capital Accounts | 32 |
ARTICLE VI | ||
DISTRIBUTIONS | ||
Section 6.1 | Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders | 32 |
Section 6.2 | Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus | 33 |
Section 6.3 | Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus | 35 |
Section 6.4 | Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels | 35 |
Section 6.5 | Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units | 35 |
Section 6.6 | Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights | 36 |
ARTICLE VII | ||
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS | ||
Section 7.1 | Management | 36 |
Section 7.2 | The Board of Directors; Election and Appointment; Term; Manner of Acting | 37 |
Section 7.3 | Nominations of Elected Directors | 38 |
Section 7.4 | Removal of Members of Board of Directors | 39 |
Section 7.5 | Resignations of Members of the Board of Directors | 39 |
Section 7.6 | Vacancies on the Board of Directors | 39 |
Section 7.7 | Meetings; Committees; Chairman | 39 |
Section 7.8 | Officers | 41 |
Section 7.9 | Compensation of Directors | 41 |
Section 7.10 | Certificate of Limited Partnership | 41 |
Section 7.11 | Restrictions on the Authority of the Board of Directors and the General Partner | 42 |
Section 7.12 | Reimbursement of the General Partner | 42 |
Section 7.13 | Outside Activities | 43 |
Section 7.14 | Indemnification | 44 |
Section 7.15 | Liability of Indemnitees | 46 |
Section 7.16 | Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties | 47 |
Section 7.17 | Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and the Board of Directors | 49 |
Section 7.18 | Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests | 49 |
Section 7.19 | Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates | 50 |
Section 7.20 | Reliance by Third Parties | 52 |
ARTICLE VIII | ||
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS | ||
Section 8.1 | Records and Accounting | 53 |
Section 8.2 | Fiscal Year | 53 |
ii |
Section 8.3 | Reports | 53 |
ARTICLE IX | ||
TAX MATTERS | ||
Section 9.1 | Tax Elections and Information | 54 |
Section 9.2 | Tax Withholding | 54 |
Section 9.3 | Conduct of Operations | 54 |
ARTICLE X | ||
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS | ||
Section 10.1 | Admission of Initial Limited Partners | 54 |
Section 10.2 | Admission of Additional Limited Partners | 55 |
Section 10.3 | Admission of Successor General Partner | 55 |
Section 10.4 | Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership | 56 |
ARTICLE XI | ||
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS | ||
Section 11.1 | Withdrawal of the General Partner | 56 |
Section 11.2 | Removal of the General Partner | 58 |
Section 11.3 | Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner | 59 |
Section 11.4 | Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages | 60 |
Section 11.5 | Withdrawal of Limited Partners | 60 |
ARTICLE XII | ||
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION | ||
Section 12.1 | Dissolution | 61 |
Section 12.2 | Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution | 61 |
Section 12.3 | Liquidating Trustee | 62 |
Section 12.4 | Liquidation | 62 |
Section 12.5 | Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership | 64 |
Section 12.6 | Return of Contributions | 64 |
Section 12.7 | Waiver of Partition | 64 |
ARTICLE XIII | ||
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE | ||
Section 13.1 | Amendments to be Adopted Without Approval of the Limited Partners or the General Partner | 64 |
Section 13.2 | Amendment Procedures | 66 |
Section 13.3 | Amendment Requirements | 66 |
Section 13.4 | Special Meetings | 67 |
Section 13.5 | Notice of a Meeting | 68 |
Section 13.6 | Record Date | 68 |
Section 13.7 | Adjournment | 68 |
Section 13.8 | Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes | 68 |
Section 13.9 | Quorum and Voting | 69 |
Section 13.10 | Conduct of a Meeting | 69 |
iii |
Section 13.11 | Action Without a Meeting | 69 |
Section 13.12 | Right to Vote and Related Matters | 70 |
ARTICLE XIV | ||
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION | ||
Section 14.1 | Authority | 70 |
Section 14.2 | Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 71 |
Section 14.3 | Approval by Limited Partners of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 73 |
Section 14.4 | Certificate of Merger or Conversion | 74 |
Section 14.5 | Amendment of Partnership Agreement | 74 |
Section 14.6 | Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 74 |
ARTICLE XV | ||
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS | ||
Section 15.1 | Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests | 75 |
ARTICLE XVI | ||
GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||
Section 16.1 | Addresses and Notices | 77 |
Section 16.2 | Further Action | 77 |
Section 16.3 | Binding Effect | 78 |
Section 16.4 | Integration | 78 |
Section 16.5 | Creditors | 78 |
Section 16.6 | Waiver | 78 |
Section 16.7 | Counterparts | 78 |
Section 16.8 | Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction | 78 |
Section 16.9 | Invalidity of Provisions | 79 |
Section 16.10 | Consent of Partners | 79 |
Section 16.11 | Facsimile Signatures | 80 |
Section 16.12 | Third-Party Beneficiaries | 80 |
iv |
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP, dated as of August 12, 2014, is entered into by and between Höegh LNG GP LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company, as the General Partner, and Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda company, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
Section 1.1 Definitions . The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
“ Acquisition ” means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing the operating capacity and/or asset base of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity and/or asset base of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction; provided , however , that any acquisition of properties or assets of another Person that is made solely for investment purposes shall not constitute an Acquisition under this Agreement.
“ Adjusted Operating Surplus ” means, with respect to any period, Operating Surplus generated with respect to such period (a) less (i) the amount of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) with respect to such period and (ii) the amount of any net decrease in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net decrease in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) over such period to the extent such reduction does not relate to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such period, and (b) plus (i) the amount of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) with respect to such period; (ii) the amount of any net increase in cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net increase in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) for Operating Expenditures over such period to the extent such reserve is required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium; and (iii) the amount of any net decrease made in subsequent periods in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures initially established with respect to such period to the extent such decrease results in a reduction in Adjusted Operating Surplus in subsequent periods pursuant to clause (a)(ii) above.
“ Affiliate ” or “ Affiliates ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “ control ” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“ Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(a) .
“ Agreed Value ” means the fair market value of the applicable property or other consideration at the time of contribution or distribution, as the case may be, as determined by the Board of Directors.
“ Agreement ” means this First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Höegh LNG Partners LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“ Annual Meeting ” means the meeting of Limited Partners to be held every year, commencing in 2014, to elect the Elected Directors as provided in Section 7.2 and to vote on any other matters brought before the meeting in accordance with this Agreement.
“ Appointed Directors ” means the members of the Board of Directors appointed by the General Partner in accordance with the provisions of Article VII .
“ Associate ” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person: (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or other governing body as such entity; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.
“ Audit Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors which, within one year of the effective date of the Registration Statement, will be composed of a minimum of three members of the Board of Directors then serving who meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and meet the standards for audit committee composition established by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.
“ Available Cash ” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:
2 |
(a) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter, (ii) if the Board of Directors so determines, all or any portion of additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter, and (iii) all cash and cash equivalents on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash resulting from cash distributions received after the end of such Quarter from any Group Member’s equity interest in any Person (other than a Subsidiary), which distributions are paid by such Person in respect of operations conducted by such Person during such Quarter, less
(b) the amount of any cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) established by the Board of Directors to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject and/or (iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.2 or Section 6.3 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may not establish cash reserves pursuant to (iii) above if the effect of establishing such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units, plus any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on all Common Units, with respect to such Quarter; provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the Board of Directors so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “ Available Cash ” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“ Board of Directors ” means the board of directors of the Partnership, composed of Appointed Directors and Elected Directors appointed or elected, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of Article VII and a majority of whom are not United States citizens or residents, which, pursuant to Section 7.1 , and subject to Section 7.11 , oversees and directs the operations, management and policies of the Partnership. The Board of Directors shall constitute a committee within the meaning of Section 30(2)(g) of the Marshall Islands Act.
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“ Business Day ” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of New York shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
“ Capital Contribution ” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership or that is contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership on behalf of a Partner (including, in the case of an underwritten offering of Units, the amount of any underwriting discounts or commissions).
“ Capital Improvement ” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member, (b) acquisition of existing, construction of new or improvement or replacement of existing, capital assets by any Group Member or (c) capital contribution by a Group Member to a Person that is not a Subsidiary, in which a Group Member has, or after such capital contribution will have, an equity interest, to fund the Group Member’s pro rata share of the cost of the addition or improvement to or the acquisition of existing, or the construction of new, or the improvement or replacement of existing, capital assets by such Person, in each case if such addition, improvement, replacement, acquisition or construction is made to increase the operating capacity and/or asset base of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity and/or asset base of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, existing immediately prior to such addition, improvement, replacement, acquisition or construction; provided, however , that any such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction that is made solely for investment purposes shall not constitute a Capital Improvement.
“ Capital Surplus ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(a) .
“ Cause ” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding a Person liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership or as a member of the Board of Directors, as the case may be.
“ Certificate ” means a certificate (a) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, (b) issued in global or book entry form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (c) in such other form as may be adopted by the Board of Directors, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the Board of Directors, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Interests.
“ Certificate of Limited Partnership ” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Registrar of Corporations of the Marshall Islands as referenced in Section 7.10 as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“ claim ” (as used in Section 7.19(c) ) has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.19(c) .
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“ Closing Date ” means the first date on which Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement.
“ Closing Price ” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the respective Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by any quotation system then in use with respect to such Limited Partner Interests, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the Board of Directors, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the Board of Directors.
“ Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.
“ Combined Interest ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a) .
“ Commences Commercial Service ” and “ Commenced Commercial Service ” shall mean the date a Capital Improvement is first put into commercial service by a Group Member (or other Person that is not a subsidiary of a Group Member, as contemplated in the definition of “Capital Improvement”) following, if applicable, completion of construction, acquisition, development and testing.
“ Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Common Unit ” means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term “ Common Unit ” does not refer to a Subordinated Unit prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.
“ Common Unit Arrearage ” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, as to any Quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any, of (a) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all Available Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter pursuant to Section 6.2(a)(i) .
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“ Conflicts Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors composed entirely of two or more directors who are not any of the following: (a) security holders, officers or employees of the General Partner, (b) officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the General Partner or (c) holders of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group (other than Common Units or awards granted to such director under any long-term incentive plan of any Group Member) or in the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner and who also meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.
“ Contributed Property ” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Marshall Islands Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership.
“ Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution, Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2014, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Company, Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd., together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder or entered into in connection therewith.
“ Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage ” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum of the Common Unit Arrearage with respect to an Initial Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the Subordination Period ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any distributions theretofore made pursuant to Section 6.2(a)(ii) and the second sentence of Section 6.3 with respect to an Initial Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in respect of the last of such Quarters).
“ Current Market Price ” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.
“ Deferred Issuance and Distribution ” means both (a) the issuance by the Partnership of additional Common Units that is equal to the excess, if any, of (x) 1,440,000 minus (y) the aggregate number, if any, of Common Units actually purchased by and issued to the Underwriters pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option on the Option Closing Date(s), and (b) distributions of cash pursuant to the Contribution Agreement in an amount equal to the total amount of cash contributed by the Underwriters to the Partnership on or in connection with any Option Closing Date with respect to Common Units issued by the Partnership upon the applicable exercise of the Over-Allotment Option in accordance with Section 5.2 , if any.
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“ Departing General Partner ” means a former General Partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 .
“ Depositary ” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.
“ Elected Directors ” means the members of the Board of Directors who are elected as such in accordance with the provisions of Article VII and at least three (3) of whom are not: (a) security holders, officers or employees of the General Partner, (b) officers or employees of any Affiliate of the General Partner, (c) holders of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group (other than Common Units or awards granted to such director under any long-term incentive plan of any Group Member) and who also meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading or (d) United States citizens or residents.
“ Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means an estimate made in good faith by the Board of Directors (with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) of the average quarterly Maintenance Capital Expenditures that the Partnership will need to incur to maintain over the long term the operating capacity and asset base of the Partnership Group (including the Partnership’s proportionate share of the average quarterly Maintenance Capital Expenditures of its Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) existing at the time the estimate is made. The Board of Directors (with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) will be permitted to make such estimate in any manner it determines reasonable. The estimate will be made at least annually and whenever an event occurs that is likely to result in a material adjustment to the amount of Maintenance Capital Expenditures on a long-term basis. The Partnership shall disclose to its Partners any change in the amount of Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures in its reports made in accordance with Section 8.3 to the extent not previously disclosed. Any adjustments to Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall be prospective only.
“ Event of Withdrawal ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a) .
“ Expansion Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital Improvements. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall not include Maintenance Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest payments (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued, in each case, to fund the construction of a Capital Improvement and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that a Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence construction of the Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service or the date that such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred or equity issued to fund any such construction period interest payments, or such construction period distributions on equity paid in respect of such period shall also be deemed to be debt incurred or equity issued, as the case may be, to fund the construction of a Capital Improvement, and the Incremental Incentive Distributions paid in respect of such newly issued equity shall be deemed to be distributions paid on equity issued to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement.
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“ First Target Distribution ” means $0.388125 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2014, it means the product of $0.388125 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is the total number of days in the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.10 and Section 6.4 .
“ Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis ” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for any period, a basis that includes (a) the weighted average number of Outstanding Units plus (b) all Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (i) that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units or for which Units are issuable, in each case, that are senior to or pari passu with the Subordinated Units, (ii) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such calculation, (iii) that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end of the period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any contingency beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the compliance with administrative mechanics applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange and (iv) that were not converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the calculation is being made; provided, however , that for purposes of determining the number of Outstanding Units on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis when calculating whether the Subordination Period has ended, such Partnership Interests, options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights shall be deemed to have been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that comprise the last four Quarters of the measurement period; and provided, further , that if consideration will be paid to any Group Member in connection with such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be included in such calculation shall be that number equal to the difference between (y) the number of Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange and (z) the number of Units that such consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.
“ General Partner ” means Höegh LNG GP LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).
“ General Partner Interest ” means the non-economic ownership interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner and without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which includes any and all benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
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“ Group ” means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power over or disposing of any Partnership Interests with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.
“ Group Member ” means a member of the Partnership Group.
“ Group Member Agreement ” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or similar organizational documents) of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, in each case as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“ Hedge Contract ” means any exchange, swap, forward, future, cap, floor, collar or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of hedging the Partnership Group’s exposure to fluctuations in the price of interest rates, currencies or commodities in their operations and not for speculative purposes.
“ Höegh LNG ” means Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd.
“ Holder ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.19(a) .
“ IDR Reset Common Units ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(a) .
“ IDR Reset Election ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(a) .
“ Incentive Distribution Right ” means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest, which Partnership Interest will confer upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law.
“ Incentive Distributions ” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Section 6.2 .
“ Incremental Incentive Distributions ” means, with respect to any newly issued equity securities of the Partnership, the incremental amount of any Incentive Distributions payable under Section 6.2 based solely upon the amount of distributions paid in respect of such newly issued equity securities.
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“ Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.19(c) .
“ Indemnitee ” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any Person which any of the preceding clauses of this definition describes, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person ( provided, however , that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services), (f) the members of the Board of Directors, (g) the Officers, and (h) any other Person the Board of Directors designates as an “ Indemnitee ” for purposes of this Agreement because such Person’s service, status or relationship exposes such Person to potential claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings relating to the Partnership Group’s business and affairs.
“ Initial Common Units ” means the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering.
“ Initial Limited Partners ” means Höegh LNG and the Underwriters, in each case upon being admitted as Partners to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1 .
“ Initial Offering ” means the initial public offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement, including any Common Units sold pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.
“ Initial Unit Price ” means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the Subordinated Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters first offered the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first became effective or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the Board of Directors, in each case adjusted as the Board of Directors determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.
“ Interim Capital Transactions ” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests of any Group Member (including the Common Units sold to the Underwriters in the Initial Offering or pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option); (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member (including assets acquired using Investment Capital Expenditures) other than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements; (d) capital contributions received; and (e) corporate reorganizations or restructurings.
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“ Investment Capital Expenditures ” means capital expenditures other than Maintenance Capital Expenditures and Expansion Capital Expenditures.
“ Limited Partner ” means, unless the context otherwise requires, the Organizational Limited Partner, each Initial Limited Partner, each additional Person that becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3 , in each case, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership; provided, however , that when the term “ Limited Partner ” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV , such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to its Incentive Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may otherwise be required by law. Limited Partners may include custodians, nominees or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.
“ Limited Partner Interest ” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Interests or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement; provided, however , that when the term “ Limited Partner Interest ” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV , such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may otherwise be required by law.
“ Liquidation Date ” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2 , the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.
“ Liquidating Trustee ” means one or more Persons selected by the Board of Directors to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 .
“ Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the addition or improvement to, or the replacement of, the capital assets owned by any Group Member or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction or development of new, capital assets) if such expenditure is made to maintain, including over the long term, the operating capacity and/or asset base of the Partnership Group. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall not include Expansion Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall include interest payments (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions in respect of equity issued, in each case, to finance the construction or development of a replacement asset and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that the Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence constructing or developing a replacement asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such replacement asset Commences Commercial Service or the date that such replacement asset is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to pay or equity issued to fund the construction or development period interest payments, or such construction or development period distributions on equity shall also be deemed to be debt incurred or equity issued, as the case may be, to finance the construction or development of a replacement asset, and the Incremental Incentive Distributions paid in respect of such newly issued equity shall be deemed to be distributions paid on equity issued to finance the construction or development of a replacement asset.
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“ Marshall Islands Act ” means the Limited Partnership Act of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“ Merger Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1 .
“ Minimum Quarterly Distribution ” means $0.3375 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2014, it means the product of $0.3375 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the total number of days in the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.10 and Section 6.4 .
“ National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“ Net Agreed Value ” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed, and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Agreed Value of such property, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution.
“ Notice of Election to Purchase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b) .
“ Officers ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.8(a) .
“ Omnibus Agreement ” means that Omnibus Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Partnership, the General Partner, the Operating Company and Höegh LNG.
“ Operating Company ” means Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company, and any successors thereto.
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“ Operating Expenditures ” means all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned), including taxes, employee and director compensation, reimbursements of expenses of the General Partner, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments, capital expenditures, payments made in the ordinary course of business under any Hedge Contracts ( provided, (y) with respect to amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase of any Hedge Contract, such amounts shall be amortized over the life of the Hedge Contract and (z) that payments made in connection with the termination of any Hedge Contract prior to the expiration of its stipulated settlement or termination date shall be included in Operating Expenditures in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract), subject to the following:
(a) deemed repayments of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus pursuant to clause (b)(iii) of the definition of Operating Surplus shall not constitute Operating Expenditures when actually repaid;
(b) payments (including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of and premium on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures; and
(c) Operating Expenditures shall not include any of (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, Investment Capital Expenditures or actual Maintenance Capital Expenditures, but shall include Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures, (ii) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (iii) distributions to Partners or (iv) repurchases of Partnership Interests, other than repurchases of Partnership Interests by the Partnership to satisfy obligations under employee benefit plans,
where capital expenditures consist of both (y) Maintenance Capital Expenditures and (z) Expansion Capital Expenditures and/or Investment Capital Expenditures, the Board of Directors shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each.
“ Operating Surplus ” means, with respect to any period ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on a cumulative basis and without duplication:
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(a) the sum of (i) $25.0 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, other than cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions (excluding return on capital from Investment Capital Expenditures); provided , that cash receipts from the termination of a Hedge Contract prior to its specified termination date shall be included in Operating Surplus in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract, (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period resulting from Working Capital Borrowings and (iv) the amount of cash distributions paid on equity issued (including Incremental Incentive Distributions) in connection with the construction of a Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital asset and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that the Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence the construction of such Capital Improvement or replacement of such capital asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement or replacement capital asset Commences Commercial Service or the date that it is abandoned or disposed of (equity issued to fund the construction period interest payments on debt incurred (including periodic net payments under related Hedge Contracts), or construction period distributions on equity issued (including Incremental Incentive Distributions), to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital asset shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement or replacement of such capital asset for purposes of this clause (iv) ), less
(b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning immediately after the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, (ii) the amount of cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned) established by the Board of Directors to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures, (iii) all Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within 12 months after having been incurred or repaid within such 12-month period with the proceeds of additional Working Capital Borrowings and (iv) any cash loss realized on disposition of an Investment Capital Expenditure; provided, however , that disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a Group Member), cash received or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such period but on or before the date on which cash or cash equivalents will be distributed with respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, received, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the Board of Directors so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “ Operating Surplus ” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero. Cash receipts from Investment Capital Expenditures shall be treated as cash receipts only to the extent they are a return on capital, but in no event shall a return of capital be treated as cash receipts.
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“ Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the Board of Directors.
“ Option Closing Date ” means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.
“ Organizational Limited Partner ” means Höegh LNG, in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership.
“ Outstanding ” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of the date of determination; provided, however , that if at any time any Person or Group beneficially owns more than 4.9% of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding (or would own such percentage in the event this limitation were applied to other Persons or Groups), all Partnership Interests owned by such Person or Group in excess of such limitation shall not be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes (except for purposes of nominating a Person for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 7.3 ), determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Interests so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Interests shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement); provided, further , that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (a) the General Partner or its Affiliates or (b) any Person or Group who acquired more than 4.9% of any Partnership Interests with the prior approval of the Board of Directors after considering the potential effects of such approval on the Partnership, except, in each case, such limitation shall remain applicable with respect to the voting of Common Units in the election of the Elected Directors as provided in Section 7.2(a)(ii) .
“ Over-Allotment Option ” means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
“ Partners ” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.
“ Partnership ” means Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership, and any successors thereto.
“ Partnership Group ” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, including the Operating Company, treated as a single consolidated entity.
“ Partnership Interest ” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership, which shall include any Limited Partner Interests and the General Partner Interest but shall exclude any options, rights, warrants, restricted units and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership.
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“ Percentage Interest ” means as of any date of determination as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units held by such Unitholder by (B) the total number of all Outstanding Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.4 , the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero.
“ Person ” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, governmental agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
“ Plan of Conversion ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1 .
“ Pro Rata ” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with respect to Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned equally among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder.
“ Purchase Date ” means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner Interests owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV .
“ Quarter ” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter, or, with respect to the first fiscal quarter including the Closing Date, the portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date, of the Partnership.
“ Record Date ” means the date established by the Board of Directors or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.
“ Record Holder ” means (a) the Person in whose name a Common Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the closing of business on a particular Business Day, or (b) with respect to other Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the Board of Directors has caused to be kept as of the closing of business on such Business Day (which books may be kept, at the Board of Directors’ option, by the Transfer Agent).
“ Registration Statement ” means the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-197228) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.
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“ Reset MQD ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(e) .
“ Reset Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(b) .
“ Second Target Distribution ” means $0.421875 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2014, it means the product of $0.421875 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the total number of days in the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.10 and Section 6.4 .
“ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
“ Securities Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
“ Special Approval ” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee.
“ Subordinated Unit ” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term “ Subordinated Unit ” does not include a Common Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.
“ Subordination Period ” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the first to occur of the following dates:
(a) the second Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(a) in respect of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2019, in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution during each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date and (B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis with respect to each such period and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages; and
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(b) the date on which the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership upon the requisite vote by holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist and no Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are voted in favor of such removal.
“ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries (as defined, but excluding subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary (as defined, but excluding subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries (as defined, but excluding subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person, or a combination thereof, (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries (as defined, but excluding subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person, or (d) any other Person in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries (as defined, but excluding this subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) less than a majority ownership interest or (ii) less than the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person, provided , that (A) such Person, one or more Subsidiaries (as defined, but excluding this subsection (d) of this definition) of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of the determination, has at least a 20% ownership interest in such other Person, (B) such Person accounts for such other Person (under U.S. GAAP, as in effect on the later of the date of investment in such other Person or material expansion of the operations of such other Person) on a consolidated or equity accounting basis, (C) such Person has directly or indirectly material negative control rights regarding such other Person including over such other Person’s ability to materially expand its operations beyond that contemplated at the date of investment in such other Person, and (D) such other Person is (i) formed and maintained for the sole purpose of owning or leasing, operating and chartering vessels or liquefied natural gas infrastructure assets and (ii) obligated under its constituent documents or as a result of unanimous agreement of its owners, to distribute to its owners all of its income on at least an annual basis (less any cash reserves that are approved by such Person). For the avoidance of doubt, SRV Joint Gas Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. shall be deemed to be Subsidiaries.
“ Surviving Business Entity ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b)(ii) .
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“ Third Target Distribution ” means $0.50625 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2014, it means the product of $0.50625 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the total number of days in the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.10 and Section 6.4 .
“ Trading Day ” means, for the purpose of determining the Current Market Price of any class of Limited Partner Interests, a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is listed or admitted for trading is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.
“ transfer ” or “ transfers ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a) .
“ Transfer Agent ” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the Partnership to act as registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units; provided , however , that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any other Partnership Interests, the Partnership shall act in such capacity.
“ Underwriter ” means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.
“ Underwriting Agreement ” means the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 7, 2014, among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner, the Operating Company and Höegh LNG, providing for the purchase of Common Units from the Partnership by such Underwriters in connection with the Initial Offering.
“ Unit ” means a Partnership Interest that is designated as a “ Unit ” and shall include Common Units and Subordinated Units, but shall not include (a) the General Partner Interest or (b) the Incentive Distribution Rights.
“ Unitholders ” means the holders of Units.
“ Unit Majority ” means (a) during the Subordination Period, (i) a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class and (ii) a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units, voting as a single class, and (b) after the end of the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, voting as a single class.
“ Unit Register ” means the register of the Partnership for the registration and transfer of Limited Partnership Interests as provided in Section 4.5 .
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“ Unrecovered Capital ” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the Board of Directors determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.
“ U.S. GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
“ Volume-Weighted Average Market Price ” means, for a specified period of consecutive Trading Days for the Common Units, an amount equal to (a) the cumulative sum of the products of (x) the sale price for each trade of Common Units occurring during such period multiplied by (y) the number of Common Units sold at such price, divided by (b) the total number of Common Units so traded during such period.
“ Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b)(i) .
“ Working Capital Borrowings ” means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to Partners made pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or similar financing arrangement available to a Group Member, provided , that when such borrowing is incurred it is the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within 12 months from sources other than additional Working Capital Borrowings.
Section 1.2 Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation; and (d) the terms “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation . The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Marshall Islands Act. The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner hereby amend and restate the original Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Marshall Islands Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes and a Partner has no interest in specific Partnership property.
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Section 2.2 Name . The name of the Partnership shall be “Höegh LNG Partners LP”. The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the Board of Directors. The words “Limited Partnership” or the letters “LP” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The Board of Directors may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time in compliance with the requirements of the Marshall Islands Act and shall notify the General Partner and the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices . Unless and until changed by the Board of Directors, the registered office of the Partnership in the Marshall Islands shall be located at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Island, Ajeltake Road, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the Marshall Islands at such registered office shall be The Trust Company of the Marshall Islands, Inc. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 2 Reid Street, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda, or such other place as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate by notice to the General Partner and the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the Marshall Islands as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be at 2 Reid Street, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business . The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the Board of Directors and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Marshall Islands Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member.
Section 2.5 Powers . The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary and appropriate for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.
Section 2.6 Term . The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Marshall Islands Act and shall continue in existence until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII . The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Marshall Islands Act.
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Section 2.7 Title to Partnership Assets . Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the Board of Directors may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however , that the General Partner shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the Board of Directors determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable; and, provided, further , that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to the Board of Directors. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Partnership assets is held.
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability . The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Marshall Islands Act.
Section 3.2 Management of Business . No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Marshall Islands Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be participation in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 30 of the Marshall Islands Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.
Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners . Subject to the provisions of Section 7.13 and the Omnibus Agreement, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners, each Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner.
Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners .
(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by the Marshall Islands Act, and except as limited by Section 3.4(b) , each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense, to:
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(i) have furnished to him a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;
(ii) obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by each Partner and which each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner;
(iii) have furnished to him a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto;
(iv) obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of the Partnership Group; and
(v) obtain such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is just and reasonable.
(b) The Board of Directors may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the Board of Directors deems reasonable, (i) any information that the Board of Directors reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the Board of Directors in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.4 ).
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1 Certificates . Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary herein, unless the Partnership shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by certificates. Certificates that may be issued shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, Chief Executive Officer or any Executive Vice President or Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Partnership. If a Transfer Agent has been appointed for a class of Partnership Interests, no Certificate for such class of Partnership Interests shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided, however , that if the Partnership elects to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. If Common Units are evidenced by Certificates, on or after the date on which Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.6 , the Record Holders of such Subordinated Units (a) if the Subordinated Units are evidenced by Certificates, may exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units or (b) if the Subordinated Units are not evidenced by Certificates, shall be issued Certificates evidencing Common Units.
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Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates .
(a) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) or the Partnership (for Partnership Interests other than Common Units), the appropriate Officers on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of Partnership Interests as the Certificate so surrendered.
(b) The appropriate Officers on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent (for Common Units), as applicable, shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued, or issue uncertificated Units, if the Record Holder of the Certificate:
(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the Partnership, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate or the issuance of uncertificated Units before the Partnership has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
(iii) if requested by the Partnership, delivers to the Partnership a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the Partnership, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the Board of Directors may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and
(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Board of Directors.
If a Limited Partner fails to notify the Partnership within a reasonable period of time after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate or uncertificated Units.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate or uncertificated Units under this Section 4.2 , the Partnership may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.
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Section 4.3 Record Holders . The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person (a) shall be the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest and (b) shall be bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner hereunder and as, and to the extent, provided for herein.
Section 4.4 Transfer Generally .
(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall mean a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to another Person or by which a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights assigns its Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest (other than an Incentive Distribution Right) assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, excluding a pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage, but including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.
(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV . Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be null and void.
(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner of any or all of the shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner, and the term “transfer” shall not mean any such disposition.
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests .
(a) The Partnership shall keep or cause to be kept a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b) , the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units and transfers of such Common Units as herein provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5 . Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b) , the appropriate Officers on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Common Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.
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(b) The Partnership shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the Partnership for such transfer; provided, however , that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5 , the Partnership may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.
(c) By acceptance of the transfer of a Limited Partner Interest in accordance with this Section 4.5 and except as otherwise provided in Section 4.8 , each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership and such Limited Partner becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) makes the consents, acknowledgments and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.
(d) Subject to the provisions set forth in this Article IV and applicable securities laws, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.
(e) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Subordinated Units and Common Units to one or more Persons.
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest .
(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to June 30, 2024, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with (y) the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such other Person or (z) the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.
(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after June 30, 2024, the General Partner may transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner or of any limited partner or member of any other Group Member under the laws of any such entity’s jurisdiction of formation and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6 , the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.3 , be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.
Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights . Prior to June 30, 2019, a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of the Incentive Distribution Rights held by such holder without any consent of the Unitholders to (a) an Affiliate of such holder (other than an individual) or (b) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with (i) the merger or consolidation of such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights with or into such other Person or (ii) the transfer by such holder of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person. Any other transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to June 30, 2019 shall require the prior approval of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by Höegh LNG and its Affiliates). On or after June 30, 2019, any holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder approval. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (a) the transfer of Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.10 shall not be treated as a transfer of all or any part of the Incentive Distribution Rights and (b) no transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person shall be permitted unless the transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement. The General Partner and any transferee or transferees of the Incentive Distribution Rights may agree in a separate instrument as to the General Partner’s exercise of its rights with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights under Section 11.3 .
Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers .
(a) Except as provided in Section 4.8(b) below, but notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV , no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws, laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer or (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership or any Group Member under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation.
(b) Nothing contained in this Article IV , or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.
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ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1 Contributions Prior to the Closing Date . In connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Marshall Islands Act, the General Partner was admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership and the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital Contribution in the amount of $1,000 in exchange for a Limited Partner Interest equal to a 100% Percentage Interest and was admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of the Closing Date, and effective with the admission of another Limited Partner to the Partnership, the interests of the Organizational Limited Partner will be redeemed as provided in the Contribution Agreement and the initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner will be refunded.
Section 5.2 Initial Unit Issuances; Tax Election .
(a) On the Closing Date, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, (i) Höegh LNG will sell, assign and transfer to the Partnership 100% of the equity interests in the Operating Company and the SRV and Lampung Promissory Note (as defined in the Contribution Agreement), in exchange for (A) 13,156,060 Subordinated Units and 2,116,060 Common Units, (B) all of the Incentive Distribution Rights and (C) the right to receive the Deferred Issuance and Distribution and (ii) the General Partner will continue to own the General Partner Interest.
(b) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter shall pay cash to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
(c) Upon the exercise, if any, of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter shall pay cash to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
(d) Effective on or before the Closing Date, the Partnership shall elect to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Section 5.3 Interest and Withdrawal . No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon dissolution of the Partnership may be considered and permitted as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions.
Section 5.4 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests .
(a) The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Interests for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors shall determine, all without the approval of any Partners.
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(b) Each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.4(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests), as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, including (i) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (ii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iii) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Interest (including sinking fund provisions); (iv) whether such Partnership Interest is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (v) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Interest will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vi) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest; and (vii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest.
(c) The Board of Directors shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.4 , including Common Units issued in connection with the Deferred Issuance and Distribution, (ii) the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.10 , (iv) the admission of additional Limited Partners and (v) all additional issuances of Partnership Interests. The Board of Directors shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests being so issued. The Board of Directors shall do all things necessary to comply with the Marshall Islands Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests or in connection with the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.
Section 5.5 Limitations on Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests . The Partnership may issue an unlimited number of Partnership Interests (or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights related thereto) pursuant to Section 5.4 without the approval of the Partners; provided, however , that no fractional units shall be issued by the Partnership; and provided, further , that without the approval of the General Partner, the Partnership shall not issue any equity where such issuance (as determined by the Board of Directors) (a) is not reasonably expected to be accretive to equity within 12 months of issuance or (b) would otherwise have a material adverse impact on the General Partner, the General Partner Interest or the ability of the Partnership to satisfy the tests set forth in the definition of Subordination Period.
Section 5.6 Conversion of Subordinated Units to Common Units .
(a) The Subordinated Units shall convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis upon the expiration of the Subordination Period.
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Subordinated Units will automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set forth in, and pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4 .
Section 5.7 Limited Preemptive Right . Except as provided in this Section 5.7 or as otherwise provided in a separate agreement by the Partnership, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Interest, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Interests from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Interests to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Interests.
Section 5.8 Splits and Combinations .
(a) Subject to Section 5.8(d) and Section 6.4 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including any Common Unit Arrearage or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.
(b) Whenever such a Pro Rata distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests is declared, the Board of Directors shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice. The Board of Directors also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Interests to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.
(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates or uncertificated Partnership Interests to the Record Holders of Partnership Interests as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Interests held by such Record Holders, or the Board of Directors may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Interests Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate or uncertificated Partnership Interest, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.
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(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of this Section 5.8(d) , each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).
Section 5.9 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests . All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by the Marshall Islands Act.
Section 5.10 Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights .
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.10 , the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right, at any time when there are no Subordinated Units Outstanding and the Partnership has made a distribution pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(v) for each of the four most recently completed Quarters and the amount of each such distribution did not exceed Adjusted Operating Surplus for such Quarter, to make an election (the “ IDR Reset Election ”) to cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.10(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive their respective proportionate shares of a number of Common Units (“ IDR Reset Common Units ”) derived by dividing (i) the average of the aggregate amount of cash distributions made by the Partnership for each of the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights by (ii) the average of the cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of each Common Unit for each of the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (the number of Common Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the “ Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units ”). The making of the IDR Reset Election in the manner specified in Section 5.10(b) shall cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.10(c) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive IDR Reset Common Units on the basis specified above, without any further approval required by the General Partner, the Board of Directors or the Unitholders, at the time specified in Section 5.10(c) , unless the IDR Reset Election is rescinded pursuant to Section 5.10(d) .
(b) To exercise the right specified in Section 5.10(a) , the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall deliver a written notice (the “ Reset Notice ”) to the Partnership. Within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the Partnership of such Reset Notice, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights of the Partnership’s determination of the aggregate number of Common Units that each holder of Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive.
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(c) The holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units on the 15 th Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of the Reset Notice, and the Partnership may issue Certificates for the Common Units or uncertificated Partnership Interests to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights.
(d) If the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded has not approved the listing or admission for trading of the Common Units to be issued pursuant to this Section 5.10 on or before the 30 th calendar day following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice and such approval is required by the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange, then the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right to either rescind the IDR Reset Election or elect to receive other Partnership Interests having such terms as the Board of Directors may approve, with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, that will provide (i) the same economic value, in the aggregate, as the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units would have had at the time of the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice, as determined by the Board of Directors, and (ii) for the subsequent conversion (on terms acceptable to the National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded) of such Partnership Interests into Common Units within not more than 12 months following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).
(e) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of Common Units or other Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.10 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution shall be reset to equal to the average cash distribution amount per Common Unit for the two Quarters immediately prior to the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice (the “ Reset MQD ”), (ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 115% of the Reset MQD, (iii) the Second Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 150% of the Reset MQD.
Section 5.11 Capital Accounts . The Partnership shall not maintain capital accounts.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders .
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(a) Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ending on September 30, 2014, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall, subject to Section 51 of the Marshall Islands Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the Board of Directors. All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date following the Closing Date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners following the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.2 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3 , be deemed to be “ Capital Surplus .” Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership shall not make a distribution to any Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate the Marshall Islands Act or any other applicable law.
(b) Notwithstanding the first three sentences of Section 6.1(a) , in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs, other than from borrowings described in (a)(ii) of the definition of Available Cash, shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4 .
(c) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.
Section 6.2 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus .
(a) During Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter or portion thereof within the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1 or Section 6.3 shall, subject to Section 51 of the Marshall Islands Act, be distributed as follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.4 in respect of other Partnership Interests issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First , 100% to all the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii) Second , 100% to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage existing with respect to such Quarter;
(iii) Third , 100% to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
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(iv) Fourth , 100% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(v) Fifth , (A) 15% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (B) 85% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(vi) Sixth , (A) 25% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (B) 75% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(vii) Thereafter , (A) 50% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (B) 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata;
provided, however , that if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.4 , the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.2(a)(vii) .
(b) After Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1 or Section 6.3 , shall subject to Section 51 of the Marshall Islands Act, be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.4(b) in respect of additional Partnership Interests issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First , 100% to the Unitholders Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter
(ii) Second , 100% to the Unitholders Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iii) Third , (A) 15% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (B) 85% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
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(iv) Fourth , (A) 25% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (B) 75% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(v) Thereafter , (A) 50% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (B) 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata;
provided, however , that if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.4 , the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.2(b)(v) .
Section 6.3 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus . Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(a) shall, subject to Section 51 of the Marshall Islands Act, be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.1 require otherwise, 100% to the Unitholders Pro Rata, until the Minimum Quarterly Distribution is reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.4 . Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus shall then be distributed 100% to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage. Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.2 .
Section 6.4 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels . The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution, Third Target Distribution, Common Unit Arrearages and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Interests in accordance with Section 5.8 . In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be reduced in the same proportion that the distribution had to the fair market value of the Common Units prior to the announcement of the distribution. If the Common Units are publicly traded on a National Securities Exchange, the fair market value will be the Current Market Price before the announcement of the distribution. If the Common Units are not publicly traded, the fair market value will be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.5 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units . Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the right to participate in distributions made with respect to Common Units, the holder of a Subordinated Unit shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder; provided, however , that immediately upon the conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units, the Unitholder holding a Subordinated Unit shall possess all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder, including the right to vote as a Common Unitholder and the right to participate in distributions made with respect to Common Units.
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Section 6.6 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights (a) shall possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Articles III and VII and (b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, or (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Section 6.2(a)(v) , 6.2(a)(vi) and 6.2(a)(vii) , 6.2(b)(iii) , Section 6.2(b)(iv) and 6.2(b)(v) , and Section 12.4 .
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1 Management .
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the Board of Directors and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors and in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.8 , the Officers. Neither the General Partner (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement), nor any Limited Partner shall have any management power or control over the business and affairs of the Partnership. Thus, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, and the day-to-day activities of the Partnership shall be conducted on the Partnership’s behalf by the Officers. In order to enable the Board of Directors to manage the business and affairs of the Partnership, the General Partner, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, hereby irrevocably delegates to the Board of Directors all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership that it may now or hereafter possess under applicable law. The General Partner further agrees to take any and all action necessary and appropriate, as determined by the Board of Directors, to effect any duly authorized actions by the Board of Directors, including executing or filing any agreements, instruments or certificates, delivering all documents, providing all information and taking or refraining from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the effective delegation of power described in this Section 7.1(a) . Each of the Partners and each Person who may acquire an interest in a Partnership Interest hereby approves, consents to, ratifies and confirms such delegation. The delegation by the General Partner to the Board of Directors of management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall not cause the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership nor shall it cause the Board of Directors or any member thereof to be a general partner of the Partnership or to have or be subject to the liabilities of a general partner of the Partnership.
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Marshall Islands Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests hereby (i) approves, consents to, ratifies and confirms the General Partner’s delegation of management powers to the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 7.1 ; (ii) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement, the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, any Group Member Agreement of any other Group Member and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (iii) agrees that the General Partner (on behalf of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (ii) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement or described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, in each case, on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests; and (iv) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the Board of Directors, the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV ) shall not constitute a breach by the Board of Directors or the General Partner of any duty that the Board of Directors or the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.
Section 7.2 The Board of Directors; Election and Appointment; Term; Manner of Acting .
(a) The initial Board of Directors shall consist of the following seven individuals, all of whom shall be Appointed Directors and serve until the 2014 Annual Meeting: Sveinung Støhle, Steffen Føreid, Claibourne Harris, Morten W. Høegh, Andrew Jamieson, Robert Shaw and David Spivak. Following the 2014 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall consist of seven individuals, three of whom shall be Appointed Directors and four of whom shall be Elected Directors. The Elected Directors shall be divided into four classes: Class I, comprising one Elected Director, Class II, comprising one Elected Director, Class III, comprising one Elected Director and Class IV, comprising one Elected Director. Any vacancy among the Appointed Directors shall be filled as if an Appointed Director had resigned, in accordance with Section 7.6 . The successors of the initial members of the Board of Directors shall be appointed or elected, as the case may be, as follows:
(i) The Appointed Directors shall be appointed by the General Partner on the date of the 2014 Annual Meeting, and each Appointed Director shall hold office until his successor is duly appointed by the General Partner and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation or removal; and
(ii) The Class I Elected Director shall be elected at the 2014 Annual Meeting for a one-year term expiring on the date of the first succeeding Annual Meeting, the Class II Elected Director shall be elected at the 2014 Annual Meeting for a two-year term expiring on the second succeeding Annual Meeting, the Class III Elected Director shall be elected at the 2014 Annual Meeting for a three-year term expiring on the third succeeding Annual Meeting and the Class IV Director shall be elected at the 2014 Annual Meeting for a four-year term expiring on the fourth succeeding Annual Meeting, in each case by a plurality of the votes of the Outstanding Common Units present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting with each Outstanding Common Unit having one vote. At each subsequent Annual Meeting, Elected Directors will be elected to succeed the class of Elected Directors whose term has expired by a plurality of the votes of the Outstanding Common Units present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting with each Outstanding Common Unit having one vote.
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(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(ii) above with respect to the Elected Directors elected at the 2014 Annual Meeting, each member of the Board of Directors appointed or elected, as the case may be, at an Annual Meeting shall hold office until the fourth succeeding Annual Meeting and until his successor is duly elected or appointed, as the case may be, and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal.
(c) Each member of the Board of Directors shall have one vote. The vote of the majority of the members of the Board of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. A majority of the number of members of the Board of Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, but if less than a quorum is present at a meeting, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors present at such meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 7.3 Nominations of Elected Directors . The Board of Directors shall be entitled to nominate individuals to stand for election as Elected Directors at an Annual Meeting. In addition, any Limited Partner or Group of Limited Partners that beneficially owns 10% or more of the Outstanding Common Units shall be entitled to nominate one or more individuals to stand for election as Elected Directors at an Annual Meeting by providing written notice thereof to the Board of Directors not more than 120 days and not less than 90 days prior to the date of such Annual Meeting; provided, however , that in the event that the date of the Annual Meeting was not publicly announced by the Partnership by mail, press release or otherwise more than 100 days prior to the date of such meeting, such notice, to be timely, must be delivered to the Board of Directors not later than the close of business on the 10 th day following the date on which the date of the Annual Meeting was announced. Such notice shall set forth (a) the name and address of the Limited Partner or Limited Partners making the nomination or nominations, (b) the number of Common Units beneficially owned by such Limited Partner or Limited Partners, (c) such information regarding the nominee(s) proposed by the Limited Partner or Limited Partners as would be required to be included in a proxy statement relating to the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission had the nominee(s) been nominated or intended to be nominated to the Board of Directors, (d) the written consent of each nominee to serve as a member of the Board of Directors if so elected and (e) a certification that such nominee(s) qualify as Elected Directors.
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Section 7.4 Removal of Members of Board of Directors . Members of the Board of Directors may only be removed as follows:
(a) Any Appointed Director may be removed at any time, (i) without Cause, only by the General Partner and, (ii) with Cause, by (x) the General Partner, (y) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units at a properly called meeting of the Limited Partners or (z) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the other members of the Board of Directors.
(b) Any Elected Director may be removed at any time, with Cause, only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the other members of the Board of Directors or at a properly called meeting of the Limited Partners only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.
Section 7.5 Resignations of Members of the Board of Directors . Any member of the Board of Directors may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein.
Section 7.6 Vacancies on the Board of Directors . Vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only as follows:
(a) If any Appointed Director is removed, resigns or is otherwise unable to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, the General Partner shall, in its individual capacity, appoint an individual to fill the vacancy.
(b) If any Elected Director is removed, resigns or is unable to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, the vacancy shall be filled by a majority of the Elected Directors then serving.
(c) A director appointed or elected pursuant to this Section 7.6 to fill a vacancy shall be appointed or elected, as the case may be, for no more than the unexpired term of his predecessor in office.
Section 7.7 Meetings; Committees; Chairman .
(a) Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Notice of such regular meetings shall not be required. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors and shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of two members of the Board of Directors, on at least 48 hours prior written notice to the other members. Any such notice, or waiver thereof, need not state the purpose of such meeting except as may otherwise be required by law. Attendance of a member of the Board of Directors at a meeting (including pursuant to the penultimate sentence of this Section 7.7(a) ) shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such member attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all the members of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in and hold meetings by means of conference telephone, videoconference or similar communications equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such meetings shall constitute presence in person at the meeting. The Board of Directors may establish any additional rules governing the conduct of its meetings that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
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(b) The Board of Directors shall appoint the members of the Audit Committee and the Conflicts Committee. The Audit Committee and the Conflicts Committee shall, in each case, perform the functions delegated to it pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and such other matters as may be delegated to it from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, may appoint one or more additional committees of the Board of Directors to consist of one or more members of the Board of Directors, which committee(s) shall have and may exercise such of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors (including in respect of Section 7.1 ) with respect to the management of the business and affairs of the Partnership as may be provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors. Any committee designated pursuant to this Section 7.7(b) shall choose its own chairman, shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when requested, shall fix its own rules or procedures and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by such rules or by resolution of such committee or resolution of the Board of Directors. At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the members thereof shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for the taking of any action. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all the members of the committee of the Board of Directors. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 7.7(b) , the Board of Directors may designate one or more members of the Board of Directors as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 7.7(b) , in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
(c) The Appointed Directors may designate one of the members of the Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Initial Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be Sveinung Støhle. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, and if present and acting, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, another member of the Board of Directors chosen by the Appointed Directors shall preside. If, at any time, the Board of Directors consists solely of Elected Directors, the Board of Directors may designate one of its members as Chairman of the Board of Directors and shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors, designate another member of the Board of Directors to preside at the meeting.
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Section 7.8 Officers .
(a) The Board of Directors, as set forth below, shall appoint or designate agents of the Partnership, referred to as “ Officers ” of the Partnership as described in this Section 7.8 . Such Officers may be employed by any Group Member directly or may be employed by one or more third parties, including Höegh LNG and its Affiliates, and designated by the Board of Directors to perform officer functions for the benefit of the Partnership.
(b) The Board of Directors shall appoint or designate such Officers and agents as may from time to time appear to be necessary or advisable in the conduct of the affairs of the Partnership, who shall hold such titles, exercise such powers and authority and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Officers may include a Chairman of the Board of Directors, an Executive Vice Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, any and all Vice Presidents, a Secretary, any and all Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer, any and all Assistant Treasurers and any other Officers appointed or designated by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 7.8 . Any person may hold two or more offices.
(c) The Officers, including any Officer employed by a third party and designated by the Board of Directors to perform officer services for the benefit of the Partnership, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at such time and for such terms as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any Officer may be removed, with or without Cause, only by the Board of Directors. Vacancies in any office may be filled only by the Board of Directors.
(d) The Board of Directors may grant powers of attorney or other authority as appropriate to establish and evidence the authority of the Officers and other Persons.
(e) Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, no Officer shall have the power or authority to delegate to any Person such Officer’s rights and powers as an Officer to manage the business and affairs of the Partnership.
Section 7.9 Compensation of Directors . The members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Partnership, the General Partner or its Affiliates shall receive such compensation for their services as members of the Board of Directors or members of a committee of the Board of Directors shall determine. In addition, the members of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in the course of their service hereunder.
Section 7.10 Certificate of Limited Partnership . The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Registrar of Corporations of the Marshall Islands as required by the Marshall Islands Act. The General Partner shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the Marshall Islands or any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the Board of Directors determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file or cause to be filed amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the Marshall Islands or of any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a) , the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.
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Section 7.11 Restrictions on the Authority of the Board of Directors and the General Partner . Except as provided in Articles XII and XIV , the Board of Directors may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation, other combination or sale of ownership interests in the Partnership’s Subsidiaries) without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority and the General Partner; provided, however , that this provision shall not preclude or limit the ability of the Board of Directors to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. The transfer of the General Partner Interest to and the election of a successor general partner of the Partnership shall be made in accordance with Section 4.6 , Section 11.1 and Section 11.2 .
Section 7.12 Reimbursement of the General Partner .
(a) Except as provided in this Section 7.12 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.
(b) The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the Board of Directors may determine, for any direct and indirect expenses it incurs that are allocable to the Partnership Group or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner, to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group, which amounts shall also include reimbursement for any Common Units purchased to satisfy obligations of the Partnership under any of its equity compensation plans). The Board of Directors shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.14 .
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(c) Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed, the Board of Directors, without the approval of the Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Interests or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights or phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the Partnership, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees and directors of the Partnership, the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate thereof, or any of them, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Interests that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees and directors pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner or its Affiliates in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Interests purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership or otherwise to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.12(b) . Any and all obligations of the General Partner or its Affiliates under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.12(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 .
Section 7.13 Outside Activities .
(a) After the Closing Date, the General Partner, for so long as it is the general partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a limited partner in the Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities in any Group Member.
(b) Höegh LNG, the Partnership, the General Partner and the Operating Company have entered into the Omnibus Agreement, which agreement sets forth certain restrictions on the ability of Höegh LNG and certain of its Affiliates to acquire or own any Five-Year Vessels (as such term is defined in the Omnibus Agreement).
(c) Except as specifically restricted by Section 7.13(a) or the Omnibus Agreement, each Indemnitee (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty expressed or implied by law to any Group Member or any Partner. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the possessing of competitive interests and engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.13 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners and (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership.
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(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to an Indemnitee (including the General Partner) and, subject to the terms of Section 7.13(a) , Section 7.13(b) , Section 7.13(c) and the Omnibus Agreement, no Indemnitee (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and, subject to the terms of Section 7.13(a) , Section 7.13(b) , Section 7.13(c) and the Omnibus Agreement, such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires such opportunity for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership; provided , that such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) does not engage in such business or activity as a result of using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Indemnitee (including the General Partner).
(e) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may own and acquire Units or other Partnership Interests in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership Interests acquired by them. The term “ Affiliates ” as used in this Section 7.13(e) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.
Section 7.14 Indemnification .
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the Marshall Islands Act but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee; provided, however , that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.14 , the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; and, provided, further , that no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.14 shall be available to the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than a Group Member) with respect to its or their obligations incurred pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement or the Contribution Agreement (other than obligations incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership). Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.14 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.
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(b) To the fullest extent permitted by the Marshall Islands Act, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.14(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 7.14 .
(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 7.14 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any capacity under the Underwriting Agreement), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the Board of Directors and the General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the Board of Directors shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or law.
(e) For purposes of this Section 7.14 , the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by the Indemnitee of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 7.14(a) ; and action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.
(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.
(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.14 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
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(h) The provisions of this Section 7.14 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.14 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.14 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
Section 7.15 Liability of Indemnitees .
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners or any other Persons who have acquired Partnership Interests or are otherwise bound by this Agreement, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.
(b) Subject to their obligations and duties as members of the Board of Directors or as the General Partner, respectively, set forth in Section 7.1(a) , members of the Board of Directors and the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to them and perform any of the duties imposed upon them hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the members of the Board of Directors and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the Board of Directors or the General Partner in good faith.
(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.
(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.15 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 7.15 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
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Section 7.16 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties .
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any member of the Board of Directors, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner and the Board of Directors may but shall not be required in connection with the resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution, and the General Partner or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. If Special Approval is sought, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or law that would otherwise apply, (x) the Conflicts Committee will be authorized in connection with its determination of whether to provide Special Approval to consider any and all factors as it determines to be relevant or appropriate under the circumstances and (y) it will be presumed that, in making its decision, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if Special Approval is not sought and the Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision the Board of Directors, acted in good faith, and, in either case, in any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or of any duty hereunder or existing at law, in equity or otherwise.
(b) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership, unless the context otherwise requires.
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(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action in its capacity as a Partner, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, any Record Holder or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “at the option of the General Partner,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Units, General Partner Interest or Incentive Distribution Rights, if any, to the extent permitted under this Agreement, or refrains from voting or transferring its Units, General Partner Interest or Incentive Distribution Rights, as appropriate, it shall be acting in its individual capacity. The General Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner is a limited partnership.
(d) Whenever the Board of Directors makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the Board of Directors, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership, unless the context otherwise requires.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) approve the sale or other disposition of any asset of the Partnership Group (if such approval is required pursuant to Section 7.11 ) or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall, in each case, be at their option.
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(f) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor the Board of Directors or any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the Board of Directors or the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Board of Directors or the General Partner or such other Indemnitee.
(g) The Unitholders hereby authorize the Board of Directors, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 7.16 .
Section 7.17 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and the Board of Directors .
(a) The General Partner and the Board of Directors may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(b) The General Partner and the Board of Directors may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by either of them, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner or the Board of Directors reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
(c) The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership.
Section 7.18 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests . The Board of Directors may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Interests; provided that the Board of Directors may not cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. As long as Partnership Interests are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Interests shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner may purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Interests for its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X .
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Section 7.19 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates .
(a) If (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes of this Section 7.19 , any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds Partnership Interests that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such holder of Partnership Interests (the “ Holder ”) to dispose of the number of Partnership Interests it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Interests covered by such registration statement have been sold, a registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of Partnership Interests specified by the Holder; provided, however , that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations in total pursuant to this Section 7.19(a) , no more than one of which shall be required to be made at any time that the Partnership is not eligible to use Form F-3 (or a comparable form) for the registration under the Securities Act of its securities; and, provided, further , that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that the requested registration would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such registration would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, merger, disposition, corporate reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such requested registration for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such right pursuant to this Section 7.19(a) not to be utilized more than once in any 12-month period. The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any deferral with respect to any such registration and/or filing. Except as provided in the first sentence of this Section 7.19(a) , the Partnership shall be deemed not to have used all its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the registration statement effective during the applicable period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Partnership Interests covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Partnership Interests at any time during such period, unless such action is required by applicable law or regulations. In connection with any registration pursuant to this Section 7.19(a) , the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request ( provided, however , that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration), and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Interests subject to such registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Interests in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.19(c) , all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
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(b) If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering of equity interests of the Partnership for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of Partnership Interests held by any Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided, however , that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take any action to so include the Partnership Interests of the Holder once the registration statement becomes or is declared effective by the Commission, including any registration statement providing for the offering from time to time of Partnership Interests pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.19(b) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership Interests would adversely and materially affect the success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of Partnership Interests held by the Holder that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.19(c) , all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
(c) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this Section 7.19 , the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under Section 7.14 , the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “ Indemnified Persons ”) from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, actions, causes of action, assessments, damages, liabilities (joint or several), costs and expenses (including interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements), resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the Indemnified Persons, directly or indirectly, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.19(c) as a “ claim ” and in the plural as “ claims ”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership Interests were registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (if used prior to the effective date of such registration statement), or in any summary, free writing or final prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the Partnership is required to keep the registration statement current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading; provided, however , that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, such preliminary, summary, free writing or final prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
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(d) The provisions of Section 7.19(a) and Section 7.19(b) shall continue to be applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner’s Affiliates) after it ceases to be a general partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to sell all of the Partnership Interests with respect to which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed; provided, however , that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration statements covering the same Partnership Interests for which registration was demanded during such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.19(c) shall continue in effect thereafter.
(e) The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 7.19 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of such Partnership Interests, provided (i) the Partnership is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the Partnership Interests with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned, and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Section 7.19 .
(f) Any request to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 7.19 shall (i) specify the Partnership Interests intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such Partnership Interests for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Interests, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Interests.
Section 7.20 Reliance by Third Parties . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the Board of Directors, the General Partner and any Officer authorized by the Board of Directors to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such Officer as if it were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such Officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such Officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such Officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Board of Directors, the General Partner, the Officers or representatives of the General Partner authorized by the General Partner or the Board of Directors shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
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ARTICLE VIII
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting . The Partnership shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.4(a) . Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders of Units or other Partnership Interests, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, however , that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Partnership shall not be required to keep books on a cash basis and the Board of Directors shall be permitted to calculate cash-based measures, including Operating Surplus and Adjusted Operating Surplus, by making such adjustments to its accrual basis books to account for non-cash items and other adjustments as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.
Section 8.3 Reports .
(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the Partnership shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website), to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the Board of Directors, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the Board of Directors.
(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the Partnership shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website), to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the Board of Directors, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.
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(c) The Board of Directors shall be deemed to have made a report available to each Record Holder as required by this Section 8.3 if it has either (i) filed such report with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System and such report is publicly available on such system or (ii) made such report on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership.
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1 Tax Elections and Information .
(a) The Partnership is authorized and shall elect to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes effective on or before the Closing Date. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Board of Directors shall determine whether the Partnership should make any other elections permitted by any applicable tax law.
(b) The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for U.S. federal income tax reporting purposes with respect to a calendar taxable year shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of each calendar year.
(c) Each Partner shall provide the Partnership with all information reasonably requested by the Partnership to enable the Partnership to claim the exemption from U.S. federal income tax under Section 883 of the Code.
Section 9.2 Tax Withholding . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Board of Directors is authorized to take any action that may be required or advisable to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements with respect to any tax established under any U.S. federal, state or local or any non-U.S. law. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount with respect to a distribution or payment to or for the benefit of any Partner, the Board of Directors may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash to such Partner in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.
Section 9.3 Conduct of Operations . The Board of Directors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct the business of the Partnership and its Affiliates in a manner that does not require a holder of Common Units to file a tax return in any jurisdiction with which the holder has no contact other than through ownership of Common Units.
ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1 Admission of Initial Limited Partners . Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights to Höegh LNG and the Underwriters as described in Section 5.1 and Section 5.2 , such parties will be automatically admitted to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them.
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Section 10.2 Admission of Additional Limited Partners .
(a) From and after the Closing Date, by acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with Article IV or the acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to Article V or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to Article XIV , each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when any such transfer, issuance or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership and such Limited Partner becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee or other recipient has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) makes the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person may become a Limited Partner or Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest without the consent or approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner until such Person acquires a Limited Partner Interest and until such Person is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest.
(b) The name and mailing address of each Limited Partner shall be listed on the books and records of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent. The General Partner shall update the books and records of the Partnership from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable). A Limited Partner Interest may be represented by a Certificate, as provided in Section 4.1 .
(c) Any transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to receive distributions or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.2(a) .
Section 10.3 Admission of Successor General Partner . A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all or part of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner, pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 ; provided, however , that no such Person shall be admitted to the Partnership as a successor or additional General Partner until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such Person has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor or additional General Partner is hereby authorized to and shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.
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Section 10.4 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership . To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the Board of Directors shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Marshall Islands Act to amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the Board of Directors shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership.
ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner .
(a) The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “ Event of Withdrawal ”):
(i) The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners;
(ii) The General Partner transfers all of its rights as General Partner pursuant to Section 4.6 ;
(iii) The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2 ;
(iv) The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy; (C) files a voluntary petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A) , (B) or (C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv) ; or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor in possession), receiver or liquidating trustee of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;
(v) The General Partner is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or has entered against it an order for relief in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding;
(vi) (A) in the event the General Partner is a corporation, the filing of a certificate of dissolution, or its equivalent, for the corporation or the revocation of its charter and the expiration of 90 days after the date of notice to the General Partner of revocation without a reinstatement of its charter; (B) in the event the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) in the event the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) in the event the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the General Partner.
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If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv) , 11.1(a)(v) or 11.1(a)(vi)(A) , 11.1(a)(vi)(B) , 11.1(a)(vi)(C) or 11.1(a)(vi)(E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.
(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances:
(i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on June 30, 2024, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice; provided, however , that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“ Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel ”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or any Group Member;
(ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on June 30, 2024, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice ( provided , that, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the General Partner delivers to the Partnership a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel);
(iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2 ; or
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(iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this Section 11.1(b) , at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i) , the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or, if applicable, the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1 . Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3 .
Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner . The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 75% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders or the Board of Directors for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the majority vote of the outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, voting together as a single class. Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.3 . The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 , such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.3 , automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3 .
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Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner .
(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 , (A) the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest and its or its Affiliates’ general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of its or its Affiliates’ Incentive Distribution Rights, if any, (collectively, the “ Combined Interest ”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its departure and (B) the other holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner, to require such successor to purchase such holders’ Incentive Distribution Rights in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Incentive Distribution Rights, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of the Departing General Partner’s departure. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest in exchange for an amount in cash equal to such fair market value of such Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.12 , including any employee related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.
For purposes of this Section 11.3(a) , the fair market value of the Combined Interest and the value of the Incentive Distribution Rights held by holders other than the Departing General Partner shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s departure, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such departure, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest and the value of the Incentive Distribution Rights held by holders other than the Departing General Partner. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the value of the Units, including then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the value of the Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner Interest, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner and other factors it may deem relevant.
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(b) If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a) , the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and the Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a) , without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed the Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.
(c) If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall, at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of (i) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner and (ii) the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership’s assets on such date. In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled. In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.
Section 11.4 Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and no Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are voted in favor of such removal, (a) the Subordination Period will end and all Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis, (b) all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units will be extinguished, (c) the General Partner will have the right to convert its General Partner Interest and its Incentive Distribution Rights into Common Units or to receive cash in exchange therefor, as provided in Section 11.3 and (d) the other holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will have the right to convert their Incentive Distribution Rights into Common Units or to receive cash in exchange therefor, as provided in Section 11.3 .
Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners . No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however , that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.
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ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 12.1 Dissolution . The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor or additional General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the removal or withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 , the Partnership shall not be dissolved and the Board of Directors shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2 ) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner and our Board of Directors that is approved by the holders of a Unit Majority;
(b) at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Marshall Islands Act;
(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Marshall Islands Act; or
(d) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a ) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii) ), unless a successor is elected and an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 11.1(b) or Section 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.3 .
Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution . Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or 11.1(a)(iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 , then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv) , 11.1(a)(v) or 11.1(a)(vi) , then, to the maximum extent permitted by the Marshall Islands Act, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect in writing to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing, effective as of the date of the Event of Withdrawal, as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall dissolve and conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:
(i) the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII ;
(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3 ; and
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(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement; provided, however , that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to reconstitute and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner.
Section 12.3 Liquidating Trustee . Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 , the Board of Directors shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidating Trustee. The Liquidating Trustee (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, voting as a single class. The Liquidating Trustee (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidating Trustee, a successor and substitute Liquidating Trustee (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidating Trustee) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, voting as a single class. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidating Trustee in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidating Trustee approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII , the Liquidating Trustee approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the Board of Directors and the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.11 ) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidating Trustee hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.
Section 12.4 Liquidation . The Liquidating Trustee shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidating Trustee, subject to the Marshall Islands Act and the following:
(a) The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidating Trustee and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value, and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidating Trustee may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidating Trustee may distribute the Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.
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(b) The Liquidating Trustee shall first satisfy the liabilities of the Partnership. Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidating Trustee as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3 ) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI . With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidating Trustee shall either settle such claim for such amount as it deems appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.
(c) All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in this Section 12.4 shall be distributed as follows:
(i) If the Current Market Price of the Common Units as of the date three trading days prior to the announcement of the proposed liquidation exceeds the Unrecovered Capital for a Common Unit plus the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage:
(A) First, to all the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to such Current Market Price of a Common Unit;
(B) Second, to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to such Current Market Price of a Common Unit; and
(C) Thereafter, (x) 50% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (y) 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata;
(ii) If the Current Market Price of the Common Units as of the date three trading days prior to the announcement of the proposed liquidation is equal to or less than the Unrecovered Capital for a Common Unit plus the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage:
(A) First, to all the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Unrecovered Capital for a Common Unit;
(B) Second, to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage;
(C) Third, to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Unrecovered Capital for a Common Unit (as calculated prior to the distribution specified in clause (ii)(A) above); and
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(D) Thereafter, (x) 50% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (y) 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata.
Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership . Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the Marshall Islands shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions . The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition . To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Without Approval of the Limited Partners or the General Partner . The General Partner and each Limited Partner agree that the Board of Directors, without the approval of any Limited Partner or, subject to Section 5.5 , the General Partner, may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(a) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;
(b) admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;
(c) a change that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or an entity in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the Marshall Islands Act;
(d) a change that the Board of Directors determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any Marshall Islands authority (including the Marshall Islands Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed, or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.8 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
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(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the Board of Directors shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;
(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, the members of the Board of Directors, or the General Partner or its or their directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such regulations are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(g) an amendment that the Board of Directors, and if required by Section 5.5 , the General Partner, determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.4 ;
(h) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate for the authorization of additional Partnership Interests or rights to acquire Partnership Interests, including any amendment that the Board of Directors determines is necessary or appropriate in connection with:
(i) the adjustments of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution in connection with the IDR Reset Election in accordance with Section 5.10 ;
(ii) the implementation of the provisions relating to Höegh LNG’s right to reset its Incentive Distribution Rights in exchange for Common Units;
(iii) any modification of the Incentive Distribution Rights made in connection with the issuance of additional Partnership Interests or rights to acquire Partnership Interests, provided , that, with respect to this clause (iii) , any such modifications to the Incentive Distribution Rights and the related issuance of Partnership Interests have received Special Approval; or
(iv) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the Board of Directors acting alone;
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(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 14.3 ;
(j) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other Person, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4 ;
(k) a conversion, merger or conveyance pursuant to Section 14.3(d) ; or
(l) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures . Except as provided in Section 13.1 and Section 13.3 , all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by, or with the written consent of, the Board of Directors; provided, however , that the Board of Directors shall have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, any Record Holder or any other Person and, in declining to propose an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law, rule or regulation. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the Board of Directors and, if applicable, the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by the Marshall Islands Act. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the Board of Directors shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The Board of Directors shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed amendments.
Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements .
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2 , no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of (i) in the case of any provision of this Agreement other than Section 11.2 or Section 13.4 , reducing such percentage or (ii) in the case of Section 11.2 or Section 13.4 , increasing such percentage, unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.
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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such enlargement shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c) or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at the General Partner’s option.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3 , and without limitation of the Board of Directors’ authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners as contemplated in Section 13.1 , any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected. If the Board of Directors determines an amendment does not satisfy the requirements of Section 13.1(d)(i) because it adversely affects one or more classes of Partnership Interests, as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests, in any material respect, such amendment shall only be required to be approved by the adversely affected class or classes.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b) , no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a single class unless the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable law.
(e) Except as provided in Section 13.1 , this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.
Section 13.4 Special Meetings . All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII . Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner, the Board of Directors or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the Board of Directors one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called, it being understood that the purposes of such special meeting may only be to vote on matters that require the vote of the Unitholders pursuant to this Agreement. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the Board of Directors shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the mailing of notice of the meeting. Limited Partners shall not vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Marshall Islands Act or the law of any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.
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Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting . Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1 at least 10 days in advance of such meeting. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.
Section 13.6 Record Date . For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11 , the Board of Directors may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the Board of Directors to give such approvals. If the Board of Directors does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 13.11 .
Section 13.7 Adjournment . When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII .
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes . The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.
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Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting . The holders of 33⅓% of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a greater or different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates). In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 13.7 .
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting . The Board of Directors shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4 , the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting . If authorized by the Board of Directors, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved the action in writing. The Board of Directors may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the Board of Directors. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the Board of Directors, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the Board of Directors, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the Board of Directors to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the applicable statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.
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Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters .
(a) Only those Record Holders of the Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding”) shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act. All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units.
(b) With respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3 .
ARTICLE XIV
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section 14.1 Authority . The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)) or convert into any such entity, pursuant to a written agreement of merger or consolidation (“ Merger Agreement ”) or a written plan of conversion (“ Plan of Conversion ”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XIV .
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Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .
(a) Merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the approval of the Board of Directors and the prior consent of the General Partner; provided, however , that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Marshall Islands Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.
(b) If the Board of Directors and the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger, consolidation or conversion, the Board of Directors and the General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:
(i) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(ii) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “ Surviving Business Entity ”);
(iii) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (A) if any interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other Person (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (B) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other Person (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;
(v) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;
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(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement ( provided , that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein); and
(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the Board of Directors and the General Partner determine to be necessary or appropriate.
(c) If the Board of Directors and the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion the Board of Directors and the General Partner shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:
(i) the name of the converting entity and the converted entity;
(ii) a statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational form of the converted entity;
(iii) a statement as to the type of entity that the converted entity is to be and the state or country under the laws of which the converted entity is to be incorporated, formed or organized;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the converted entity or another entity, or for the cancellation of such equity securities;
(v) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership;
(vi) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership, certificate of formation, articles of incorporation, or other organizational documents of the converted entity;
(vii) the effective time of the conversion, which may be the date of the filing of the articles of conversion or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Plan of Conversion ( provided , that if the effective time of the conversion is to be later than the date of the filing of such articles of conversion, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain and stated in such articles of conversion); and
(viii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed conversion the Board of Directors and the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
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Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .
(a) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and 14.3(e) , the Board of Directors, upon its and the General Partner’s approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation or conversion contemplated thereby, as applicable, be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII . A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.
(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority, unless the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, effects an amendment to any provisions of this Agreement that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement adopted pursuant to Article XIII, would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the Outstanding Units or of any class of Partnership Interests, in which case such greater percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and 14.3(e) , after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or certificate of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4 , the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the Board of Directors is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity which shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the Board of Directors has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner, (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners, the General Partner and the Board of Directors with the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.
(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the Board of Directors, with the prior consent of the General Partner, is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (i) the Board of Directors has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner, (ii) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1 , (iii) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv) each Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (v) the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Interests Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.
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Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger or Conversion . Upon the required approval by the Board of Directors, the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed in conformity with the requirements of the Marshall Islands Act.
Section 14.5 Amendment of Partnership Agreement . Pursuant to Section 20(2) of the Marshall Islands Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with Section 20(2) of the Marshall Islands Act may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for a limited partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.5 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
Section 14.6 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .
(a) At the effective time of the certificate of merger:
(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business entity;
(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;
(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
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(b) At the effective time of the certificate of conversion, for all purposes of the laws of the Marshall Islands:
(i) the Partnership shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the organizational form of the converted entity rather than in its prior organizational form;
(ii) all rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the Partnership shall remain vested in the converted entity in its new organizational form without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;
(iii) all liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall continue to be liabilities and obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without impairment or diminution by reason of the conversion;
(iv) all rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the prior interest holders or other owners of the Partnership in their capacities as such in existence as of the effective time of the conversion will continue in existence as to those liabilities and obligations and are enforceable against the converted entity by such creditors and obligees to the same extent as if the liabilities and obligations had originally been incurred or contracted by the converted entity; and
(v) the Partnership Interests that are to be converted into partnership interests, shares, evidences of ownership, or other rights or securities in the converted entity or cash as provided in the Plan of Conversion shall be so converted, and Partners shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of Conversion.
ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests .
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time from and after the Closing Date the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.
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(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a) , the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “ Notice of Election to Purchase ”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class or classes (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a) ) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, if any, in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1 . If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date to the extent Certificates for the Limited Partner Interests are outstanding, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Articles IV , V , VI and XII ) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the applicable purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a) ) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Articles IV , V , VI and XII ).
(c) At any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in Section 15.1(a) , without interest thereon.
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ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices .
(a) Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interests at his address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by a member of the Board of Directors, the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner or the Board of Directors at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3 . The General Partner and the Board of Directors may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.
(b) The terms “in writing,” “written communications,” “written notice” and words of similar import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communication.
Section 16.2 Further Action . The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
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Section 16.3 Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
Section 16.4 Integration . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
Section 16.5 Creditors . None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.
Section 16.6 Waiver . No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 16.7 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Limited Partner Interest, pursuant to Section 10.2(a) , immediately upon the acquisition of such Limited Partner Interests without execution hereof.
Section 16.8 Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction .
(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of The Republic of the Marshall Islands, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.
(b) Each of the Partners and each Person holding any beneficial interest in the Partnership (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise):
(i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of this Agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among Partners or of Partners to the Partnership, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Partners or the Partnership), (B) brought in a derivative manner on behalf of the Partnership, (C) asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Marshall Islands Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction), unless otherwise provided for by Marshall Islands law, in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or are derivative or direct claims;
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(ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction), unless otherwise provided for by Marshall Islands law, in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding;
(iii) agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or of any other court to which proceedings in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper;
(iv) expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding; and
(v) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such services shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided , nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
Section 16.9 Invalidity of Provisions . If any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement is or becomes for any reason, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions and part thereof contained herein shall not be affected thereby and this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reformed and construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, or part of a provision, had never been contained herein, and such provision or part reformed so that it would be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.
Section 16.10 Consent of Partners . Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners (including any amendment to this Agreement), such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action (including any amendment to this Agreement).
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Section 16.11 Facsimile Signatures . The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.
Section 16.12 Third-Party Beneficiaries . Each Partner agrees that any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership as a Deed as of the date first written above.
GENERAL PARTNER: | |
Höegh LNG GP LLC |
By: | /s/ Sveinung Støhle | |
Name: Sveinung Støhle | ||
Title: Director |
LIMITED PARTNER: | |
Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. |
By: | /s/ Camilla Nyhus-Møller | |
Name: Camilla Nyhus-Møller | ||
Title: Attorney-in-fact |
Signature
Page to
First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership
EXHIBIT A
to the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
No. | Common Units |
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Höegh LNG Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of the above designated number of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at 2 Reid Street, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (a) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (b) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and (c) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.
This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. This Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Marshall Islands.
Dated: |
Countersigned and Registered by: | HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP |
By: | ||||
as Transfer Agent and Registrar | Title: | |||
By: | By: | |||
Authorized Signature | Secretary |
A- 1 |
[Reverse of Certificate]
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM | — | as tenants in common |
UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT ____________ Custodian ____________ (Cust) (Minor) |
TEN ENT | — | as tenants by the entireties | |
JT TEN | — | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | under Uniform Gifts /Transfers to CD Minors Act (State) |
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS
in
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _______________________ hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto
(Please print or typewrite name and address of Assignee) | (Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of Assignee) |
_________ Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this Certificate, subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint as its attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to transfer the same on the books of Höegh LNG Partners LP.
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No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.
A- 3 |
Exhibit 4.1
Execution Version
CONTRIBUTION, PURCHASE AND Sale AGREEMENT
Dated as of August 8, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I | ||
DEFINITIONS | 4 | |
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 4 |
ARTICLE II | ||
The pre-offering TRANSACTIONS | 8 | |
Section 2.1 | Sale of 50% of SRV Joint Gas, 50% of SRV Joint Gas Two and 100% of Höegh Lampung | 8 |
Section 2.2 | Payment of Intercompany Obligations | 8 |
ARTICLE III | ||
The Offering and Concurrent Transactions | 8 | |
Section 3.1 | Sale of the Operating Company and the SRV and Lampung Promissory Note | 8 |
Section 3.2 | The Offering | 9 |
Section 3.3 | Use of the IPO Proceeds | 9 |
ARTICLE IV | ||
Deferred Issuance And Distribution | 9 | |
Section 4.1 | Deferred Issuance and Distribution | 9 |
ARTICLE V | ||
Other Agreements | 9 | |
Section 5.1 | Use of Net Available Cash from the Mooring | 9 |
ARTICLE VI | ||
Representations and Warranties of Höegh lng and Höegh lng LTd.; Disclaimer | 10 | |
Section 6.1 | Representations and Warranties | 10 |
Section 6.2 | Disclaimer of Warranties | 13 |
ARTICLE VII | ||
FURTHER ASSURANCES | 13 | |
Section 7.1 | Further Assurances | 13 |
Section 7.2 | Attorney-in-Fact | 14 |
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ARTICLE VIII | ||
Miscellaneous | 14 | |
Section 8.1 | Survival of Representations and Warranties | 14 |
Section 8.2 | Taxes | 14 |
Section 8.3 | Headings; References, Interpretation | 15 |
Section 8.4 | Successors and Assigns | 15 |
Section 8.5 | No Third-Party Rights | 15 |
Section 8.6 | Counterparts | 15 |
Section 8.7 | Governing Law | 15 |
Section 8.8 | Severability | 15 |
Section 8.9 | Deed; Bill of Sale; Assignment | 16 |
Section 8.10 | Amendment or Modification | 16 |
Section 8.11 | Integration | 16 |
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CONTRIBUTION, Purchase AND Sale AGREEMENT
This CONTRIBUTION, PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of August 8, 2014, is made by and among Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company (“ Höegh LNG ”), Höegh LNG Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company (“ Höegh LNG Ltd. ”), Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), Höegh LNG GP LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “ General Partner ”), and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company (the “ Operating Company ”). The above-named entities are sometimes referred to in this Agreement each as a “ Party ” and collectively as the “ Parties .”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, Höegh LNG formed the General Partner pursuant to the Marshall Islands Limited Liability Company Act of 1996 for the purposes set forth in the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner, dated April 14, 2014.
WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, Höegh LNG and the General Partner formed the Partnership pursuant to the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act for the purposes set forth in the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated April 28, 2014.
WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, Höegh LNG formed the Operating Company and contributed to it $1,000, in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in the Operating Company.
WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, the Operating Company formed Höegh LNG Services Ltd, a private limited company registered in England and Wales (“ Höegh UK ”), pursuant to the Companies Act of England and Wales.
WHEREAS, on the date hereof:
1. | Höegh LNG Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG. |
2. | Höegh LNG, as lender, and Höegh LNG Ltd., as borrower, are parties to an Inter-Company Loan Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2009, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 9, 2010, Amendment No. 2, dated as of September 13, 2011, Amendment No. 3, dated as of August 15, 2012, Amendment No. 4, dated as of May 22, 2013 and Amendment No. 5, dated as of December 18, 2013 (as amended, the “ Höegh LNG Intercompany Loan ”). |
3. | Höegh LNG Ltd. owns 50% of the equity interests, comprising 25,000 ordinary shares (the “ SRV JG Shares ”), in SRV Joint Gas Ltd., a Cayman Islands company and the owner of the GDF Suez Neptune , a floating storage and regasification unit (“ SRV Joint Gas ”), and is party to that certain Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Loan Agreement, dated August 31, 2010, among Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (“ MOL ”), Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. (“ TLT ”), Höegh LNG Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas, pursuant to which Höegh LNG Ltd. has made a loan to SRV Joint Gas (the “ SRV Joint Gas Shareholders’ Loan ”). |
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4. | Höegh LNG Ltd. owns 50% of the equity interests, comprising 25,000 ordinary shares (the “ SRV JG 2 Shares ”), in SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd., a Cayman Islands company and the owner of the GDF Suez Cape Ann , a floating storage and regasification unit (“ SRV Joint Gas Two ”), and is party to that certain Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Loan Agreement, dated August 31, 2010, among MOL, TLT, Höegh LNG Ltd. and SRV Joint Gas Two, pursuant to which Höegh LNG Ltd. has made a loan to SRV Joint Gas Two (the “ SRV Joint Gas Two Shareholders’ Loan ”). |
5. | Höegh LNG Ltd. owns 100% of the equity interests in Hoegh LNG Lampung Pte Ltd., a Singapore company (“ Höegh Lampung ”), comprising 100,000 ordinary shares and 101,500,000 redeemable preference shares. |
6. | Höegh Lampung owns 9,800 Class A shares of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung, an Indonesian company and the owner of the PGN FSRU Lampung , a floating storage and regasification unit (“ PT Hoegh ”), representing 49% of the issued and outstanding share capital of PT Hoegh, and PT Bahtera Daya Utama, an Indonesian company (“ PT Bahtera ”), owns 10,200 Class B shares of PT Hoegh, representing 51% of the issued and outstanding share capital of PT Hoegh. |
7. | Höegh Lampung, as lender, is party to that certain Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated October 9, 2013, with PT Bahtera, as borrower, the proceeds of which were used by PT Bahtera’s to purchase its 51% ownership interests in PT Hoegh described above. |
8. | Höegh Lampung is the borrower under (i) the Intercompany Loan Agreement, dated October 9, 2013, evidencing $40 million payable on demand to Höegh LNG Ltd. (the “ $40 Million Promissory Note ”) and (ii) a $101.5 million promissory note payable to Höegh LNG Ltd., the principal of which is no longer outstanding (the “ $101.5 Million Promissory Note ”). |
9. | PT Hoegh is the borrower under a $48.5 million promissory note payable to Höegh LNG Ltd., the principal of which is no longer outstanding (the “ $48.5 Million Promissory Note ”). |
10. | The General Partner is a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG. |
11. | Höegh LNG owns a 100% limited partner interest in the Partnership, and the General Partner owns a non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership. |
12. | Höegh LNG owns 100% of the equity interests in the Operating Company. |
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13. | The Operating Company owns 100% of the equity interests in Höegh UK. |
WHEREAS, pursuant to this Agreement, the following will occur on the date that is two business days prior to the closing of the underwritten initial public offering of the Partnership (such offering, the “ Offering ,” and such time, the “ Initial Effective Time ”):
1. | Höegh LNG Ltd. sells, assigns and transfers to the Operating Company (a) the SRV JG Shares, (b) the SRV JG 2 Shares, (c) its share of the receivable (including all rights to accrued interest) associated with (i) the SRV Joint Gas Shareholders’ Loan, such transfer to be evidenced by a novation deed effective as of the Initial Effective Time, and (ii) the SRV Joint Gas Two Shareholders’ Loan, such transfer to be evidenced by a novation deed effective as of the Initial Effective Time, (d) 100% of the equity interests in Höegh Lampung and (e) its receivable associated with (i) the $40 Million Promissory Note issued by Höegh Lampung (including all rights to accrued interest) (ii) the remaining accrued interest on the $48.5 Million Promissory Note and (iii) the remaining accrued interest on the $101.5 Million Promissory Note, in exchange for a promissory note dated the Initial Effective Time from the Operating Company in the amount of $123,248,000 (the “ SRV and Lampung Promissory Note ”). |
WHEREAS, pursuant to this Agreement, the following will occur on the date that is one business day prior to the closing of the Offering (the “ Second Effective Time ”):
1. | Höegh LNG Ltd. sells, assigns and transfers to Höegh LNG the SRV and Lampung Promissory Note, in exchange for the reduction of $123,248,000 of Höegh LNG Ltd.’s outstanding debt pursuant to the Höegh LNG Intercompany Loan. |
WHEREAS, pursuant to this Agreement, each of the following will occur on the closing date of the Offering (the “ Third Effective Time ”):
1. | Höegh LNG sells, assigns and transfers to the Partnership (a) 100% of the equity interests in the Operating Company and (b) the SRV and Lampung Promissory Note. |
2. | As consideration for the assignment and transfer in Paragraph 1 of this recital, the Partnership issues to Höegh LNG 2,116,060 Common Units, 13,156,060 Subordinated Units, the IDRs and the deferred issuance and distribution rights set forth in Section 4.1 . |
3. | The Partnership issues to the public 9,600,000 Common Units in the Offering in exchange for $192,000,000 (the “ IPO Proceeds ”). |
4. | The Partnership uses $15,660,000 of the IPO Proceeds to pay underwriting discounts, structuring fees and estimated offering expenses. |
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5. | The Partnership uses $140,000,000 of the IPO Proceeds to make an intercompany loan to Höegh LNG, in exchange for a note bearing interest at a rate of 5.88%, which is repayable on demand or which the Partnership can elect to utilize as part of the purchase consideration in the event the Partnership purchases all or a portion of Höegh LNG’s interests in the floating storage and regasification unit the Independence (the “ $140 Million Demand Note ”). |
6. | The Partnership retains $20,000,000 of the IPO Proceeds to be used for general partnership purposes. |
7. | The Partnership distributes the remaining $16,340,000 of the IPO Proceeds to Höegh LNG. |
agreement
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions . The following defined terms have the meanings given below:
“ $40 Million Promissory Note ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ $48.5 Million Promissory Note ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ $101.5 Million Promissory Note ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ $140 Million Demand Note ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Attorney-in-Fact ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2 .
“ Common Unit ” means a common unit representing a limited partner interest in the Partnership having the rights set forth in the Partnership Agreement.
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“ Conveying Party ” or “ Conveying Parties ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2 .
“ Firm Units ” means Common Units to be sold to the Underwriters pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, excluding Option Units.
“ FSRU Financing Agreements ” means the (i) Neptune Facility Agreement, dated December 20, 2007, between SRV Joint Gas and the other parties thereto, as amended by the Amendment Agreement, dated March 25, 2010, the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated August 26, 2010 and the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated July 25, 2014, (ii) Cape Ann Facility Agreement, dated December, 20, 2007, between SRV Joint Gas Two and the other parties thereto, as amended by the Amendment Agreement, dated March 25, 2010, the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated August 26, 2010, the Amendment Agreement, dated June 29, 2012 and the Letter from the Agent for the Lenders, dated July 25, 2014, and (iii) $299 Million Lampung Facility Agreement, dated September 12, 2013, between PT Hoegh and the other parties thereto.
“ FSRU-Owning Subsidiaries ” means collectively SRV Joint Gas, SRV Joint Gas Two and PT Hoegh.
“ FSRUs ” means collectively the GDF Suez Neptune , the GDF Suez Cape Ann and the PGN FSRU Lampung .
“ General Partner ” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Höegh Lampung ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ Höegh LNG ” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Höegh LNG Intercompany Loan ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ Höegh LNG Ltd. ” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Höegh UK ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ IDRs ” means the incentive distribution rights of the Partnership having the rights set forth in the Partnership Agreement.
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“ Initial Effective Time ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ IPO Proceeds ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ Laws ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(c) .
“ MOL ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ Mooring ” means the tower yoke mooring system related to the PGN FSRU Lampung , a floating storage and regasification unit.
“ Mooring Price ” means the total amount payable by PGN for the price of the Mooring.
“ Net Available Cash from the Mooring ” is the Mooring Price less all unpaid, accrued or expected remaining payments for the Mooring.
“ Offering ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ Operating Company ” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Option Units ” means Common Units that the Partnership will agree to issue upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.
“ Over-Allotment Option ” means the number of Common Units equal to 15% of the Firm Units, which the Partnership will agree to sell to the Underwriters, at their option, to cover over-allotments in connection with the Offering.
“ Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, substantially in the form attached as Appendix A to the Registration Statement.
“ Party ” or “ Parties ” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
“ PGN ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(g) .
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“ PT Bahtera ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ PT Hoegh ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Registration No. 333-197228), including the preliminary prospectus contained therein, as amended.
“ Subordinated Unit ” means a subordinated unit representing a limited partner interest in the Partnership having the rights set forth in the Partnership Agreement.
“ SRV JG Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ SRV JG 2 Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ SRV Joint Gas ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ SRV Joint Gas Shareholders’ Loan ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ SRV Joint Gas Two ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ SRV Joint Gas Two Shareholders’ Loan ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ SRV and Lampung Promissory Note ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ Third Effective Time ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ TLT ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“ Transferred Subsidiaries ” means collectively the Operating Company, Höegh UK, Höegh Lampung and the FSRU-Owning Subsidiaries.
“ Underwriters ” means the underwriters listed in the Underwriting Agreement.
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“ Underwriting Agreement ” means a firm commitment underwriting agreement to be entered into between the Partnership, Höegh LNG, the Operating Company, the General Partner and the underwriters named in the Registration Statement.
ARTICLE II
The pre-offering TRANSACTIONS
The following transactions shall be completed, as of the times set forth below and in the order set forth below.
Section 2.1 Sale of 50% of SRV Joint Gas, 50% of SRV Joint Gas Two and 100% of Höegh Lampung. As of the Initial Effective Time, Höegh LNG Ltd. hereby sells, assigns and transfers to the Operating Company (a) the SRV JG Shares, together with all rights now or hereafter attached or accruing thereto, (b) the SRV JG 2 Shares, together with all rights now or hereafter attached or accruing thereto, (c) its share of the receivable (including all rights to accrued interest) associated with (i) the SRV Joint Gas Shareholders’ Loan, such transfer to be evidenced by a novation deed effective as of the Initial Effective Time, and (ii) the SRV Joint Gas Two Shareholders’ Loan, such transfer to be evidenced by a novation deed effective as of the Initial Effective Time, (d) 100% of the equity interests in Höegh Lampung and (e) its receivables associated with (i) the $40 Million Promissory Note issued by Höegh Lampung (including all rights to accrued interest) (ii) the remaining accrued interest on the $48.5 Million Promissory Note and (iii) the remaining accrued interest on the $101.5 Million Promissory Note, in exchange for the SRV and Lampung Promissory Note.
Section 2.2 Payment of Intercompany Obligations . As of the Second Effective Time, Höegh LNG Ltd. hereby sells, assigns and transfers to Höegh LNG (without recourse or warranty other than as set forth in Article VI ) the SRV and Lampung Promissory Note, in exchange for the reduction of $123,248,000 of Höegh LNG Ltd.’s outstanding debt pursuant to the Höegh LNG Intercompany Loan.
ARTICLE III
The Offering and Concurrent Transactions
After the consummation of the transactions occurring as of the Initial Effective Time and as of the Second Effective Time, as described in Article II , the following transactions will be completed in the order set forth below, as of the Third Effective Time:
Section 3.1 Sale of the Operating Company and the SRV and Lampung Promissory Note . Höegh LNG hereby (a) sells, assigns and transfers to the Partnership 100% of the equity interests in the Operating Company and (b) sells, assigns and transfers to the Partnership (without recourse or warranty other than as set forth in Article VI ) the SRV and Lampung Promissory Note, in exchange for 2,116,060 Common Units, 13,156,060 Subordinated Units, the IDRs and the deferred issuance and distribution rights set forth in Section 4.1 .
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Section 3.2 The Offering. The Partnership shall issue 9,600,000 Common Units to the public in the Offering pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, in exchange for the IPO Proceeds.
Section 3.3 Use of the IPO Proceeds.
(a) The Partnership shall use $15,660,000 of the IPO Proceeds to pay underwriting discounts, structuring fees and estimated offering expenses.
(b) The Partnership shall use $140,000,000 of the IPO Proceeds to make an intercompany loan to Höegh LNG, in exchange for the $140 Million Demand Note.
(c) The Partnership shall retain $20,000,000 of the IPO Proceeds to be used for general partnership purposes.
(d) The Partnership shall distribute the remaining $16,340,000 of the IPO Proceeds to Höegh LNG.
ARTICLE IV
Deferred Issuance And Distribution
Section 4.1 Deferred Issuance and Distribution . Upon the earlier to occur of the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option period or the exercise in full of the Over-Allotment Option, the Partnership shall issue to Höegh LNG a number of additional Common Units that is equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the total number of Option Units over (b) the aggregate number of Common Units, if any, actually purchased by and issued to the Underwriters pursuant to the exercise(s) of the Over-Allotment Option. Upon each exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, the Partnership shall distribute to Höegh LNG an amount of cash equal to the proceeds therefrom net of the underwriters’ discount and structuring fees of each such exercise.
ARTICLE V
Other Agreements
Section 5.1 Use of Net Available Cash from the Mooring . As part of the transfer to the Partnership of Höegh LNG’s equity interest in the Operating Company, which indirectly owns equity interest in PT Hoegh, Höegh LNG hereby agrees that Net Available Cash from the Mooring will be used to fund (a) the remaining costs of the PGN FSRU Lampung , to avoid further draws on the external debt facilities, (b) payment of approximately $16 million to a restricted cash account required by the external debt facilities, (c) the repayment of amounts due to owners and affiliates of PT Hoegh used to finance operations until the start of time charter hire under the PGN FSRU Lampung time charter and (d) the repayment of approximately $7.9 million under the external debt facilities.
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ARTICLE VI
Representations and Warranties of Höegh lng and Höegh lng LTd.; Disclaimer
Section 6.1 Representations and Warranties. Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd., severally and jointly, hereby represent and warrant that:
(a) Each of the Transferred Subsidiaries has been duly formed or incorporated, is validly existing, is in good standing under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of formation or incorporation and has all requisite power and authority to operate its assets and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, and all documents, instruments and agreements required to be executed and delivered by Höegh LNG and/or Höegh LNG Ltd. pursuant to this Agreement in connection with the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd., as applicable. Furthermore, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd. and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd., as applicable, enforceable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, reconstruction and other similar Laws of general application affecting the enforceability of remedies and rights of creditors and except that equitable remedies such as specific performance and injunction are in the discretion of a court.
(c) The execution, delivery and performance by Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd. of this Agreement will not (i) conflict with, result in any violation of or constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, (ii) result in the acceleration of any obligation under or (iii) constitute a default under any provision of (A) the certificate of formation, certificate of incorporation, agreement of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, memorandum and articles of association, bylaws or other organizational documents of Höegh LNG, Höegh LNG Ltd. or any Transferred Subsidiary; (B) any lien, encumbrance, security interest, pledge, mortgage, charge, other claim, bond, indenture, agreement, contract, franchise license, permit or other instrument or obligation to which Höegh LNG, Höegh LNG Ltd. or any Transferred Subsidiary is a party, is subject or by which any of the assets of Höegh LNG, Höegh LNG Ltd. or any Transferred Subsidiary is bound; (C) any applicable laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations promulgated by a governmental authority, orders of a governmental authority, judicial decisions, decisions of arbitrators or determinations of any governmental authority or court (collectively, “ Laws ”); or (D) any time charter to which any Transferred Subsidiary is a party or any material provision of any material contract to which Höegh LNG, Höegh LNG Ltd. or any Transferred Subsidiary is a party or by which any of the assets of Höegh LNG, Höegh LNG Ltd. or any Transferred Subsidiary is bound.
(d) Except as has already been obtained or that will be obtained in the ordinary course of business, no consent, permit, approval or authorization of, notice or declaration to or filing with any governmental authority or any other person, including those related to any environmental Laws or regulations, is required in connection with the execution and delivery by Höegh LNG or Höegh LNG Ltd. of this Agreement or the consummation by Höegh LNG or Höegh LNG Ltd. of the transactions contemplated hereunder.
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(e) All of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each Transferred Subsidiary are duly authorized, validly issued in accordance with the certificate of formation, certificate of incorporation, agreement of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, bylaws or other organizational documents of such Transferred Subsidiary and fully paid and non-assessable.
(f) Höegh LNG owns 100% of the equity interests in the Operating Company. The Operating Company owns 100% of the equity interests in Höegh UK. Höegh LNG Ltd. owns (i) 100% of the equity interests in Höegh Lampung, (ii) 50% of the equity interests in SRV Joint Gas and (iii) 50% of the equity interests in SRV Joint Gas Two. Höegh Lampung owns 49% of the equity interests in PT Hoegh. Höegh LNG, Höegh LNG Ltd., the Operating Company or Höegh Lampung, as applicable, has good and marketable title to such equity interests, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, pledges, mortgages, charges or other claims, other than those arising under the FSRU Financing Agreements.
(g) There is no outstanding agreement, contract, option, commitment or other right or understanding in favor of, or held by, any person other than the Partnership to acquire the Transferred Subsidiaries or the assets of the Transferred Subsidiaries, including the FSRUs, that has not been waived, other than (i) the purchase option set forth in Clause 36 of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement of the Original Lease, Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated October 17, 2012, between Höegh LNG Ltd. and PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk (“ PGN ”), as novated by the Novation Agreement for Amended & Restated Lease, Operation & Maintenance Agreement, dated September 18, 2013, among PGN, Höegh LNG Ltd. and PT Hoegh, as novated by the Novation Agreement for Amended & Restated Lease, Operation & Maintenance Agreement, dated February 21, 2014, among PGN, PT PGN LNG Indonesia and PT Hoegh and (ii) the Second Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, among MOL, TLT and Höegh LNG Ltd.
(h) Correct and complete copies of the organizational documents of each Transferred Subsidiary (as amended to the date of this Agreement) and each time charter to which any Transferred Subsidiary is a party have been made available to the Partnership.
(i) Each time charter to which any Transferred Subsidiary is a party is a valid and binding agreement of such Transferred Subsidiary, enforceable in accordance with its terms and, to the knowledge of Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd., of all other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, winding up, reorganization, reconstruction and other similar Laws of general application affecting the enforceability of remedies and rights of creditors and except that equitable remedies such as specific performance and injunction are in the discretion of a court.
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(j) Except as described in the Registration Statement, each FSRU-Owning Subsidiary has fulfilled all material obligations required pursuant to its respective time charter to have been performed by it prior to the date of this Agreement and has not waived any material rights thereunder. No material default or breach exists in respect thereof on the part of any FSRU-Owning Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd., any of the other parties thereto. To the knowledge of Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd., no event has occurred that, after giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute such a material default or breach.
(k) Except for such liabilities, debts obligations, encumbrances, defects, restrictions or claims of a general nature and magnitude that would arise in connection with the operation of floating storage and regasification units of the same type as the FSRUs in the ordinary course of business, there are no liabilities, debts or obligations of, encumbrances, defects or restrictions with respect to, or claims against the Transferred Subsidiaries or any of the assets owned by the Transferred Subsidiaries, including the FSRUs, other than those arising under or in connection with the FSRU Financing Agreements and shareholder loans. For the avoidance of doubt, Höegh LNG will retain any and all obligations arising in connection with agents agreements related to contractual arrangements in Indonesia.
(l) Each FSRU is (i) adequate and suitable for use by the applicable Transferred Subsidiary in such Transferred Subsidiary’s business as presently conducted by it in all material respects as described in the Registration Statement, ordinary wear and tear excepted, (ii) in good running order and repair, (iii) insured against all risks, and in amounts, consistent with common industry practices, (iv) in compliance with applicable Laws and regulations, (v) duly registered under the flag set forth opposite such FSRU’s name on Schedule A hereto and (vi) in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of its present class and classification society. All class certificates of each FSRU are clean, valid and free of overdue recommendations affecting class.
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Section 6.2 Disclaimer of Warranties. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER DOCUMENT, INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT NONE OF THE PARTIES HAS MADE, NONE OF THE PARTIES DOES MAKE AND EACH PARTY SPECIFICALLY NEGATES AND DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, PROMISES, COVENANTS, AGREEMENTS OR GUARANTIES OF ANY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, ORAL OR WRITTEN, PAST OR PRESENT, REGARDING (A) THE VALUE, NATURE, QUALITY OR CONDITION OF THE ASSETS OWNED BY THE TRANSFERRED SUBSIDIARIES , INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THE ASSETS GENERALLY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE PRESENCE OR LACK OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR OTHER MATTERS ON SUCH ASSETS, (B) THE INCOME TO BE DERIVED FROM SUCH ASSETS, (C) THE SUITABILITY OF SUCH ASSETS FOR ANY AND ALL ACTIVITIES AND USES THAT MAY BE CONDUCTED THEREON OR THEREWITH, (D) THE COMPLIANCE OF OR BY SUCH ASSETS OR THEIR OPERATION WITH ANY LAWS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY ZONING, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, POLLUTION OR LAND USE LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS, ORDERS OR REQUIREMENTS) OR (E) THE HABITABILITY, MERCHANTABILITY, MARKETABILITY, PROFITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF SUCH ASSETS. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN ANY OTHER DOCUMENT, INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT SUCH PARTY HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THE ASSETS OF THE Transferred Subsidiaries , AND SUCH PARTY IS RELYING SOLELY ON ITS OWN INVESTIGATION OF THE ASSETS OF THE Transferred Subsidiaries AND NOT ON ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED OR TO BE PROVIDED BY ANY OF THE OTHER PARTIES. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN ANY OTHER DOCUMENT, INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, NONE OF THE PARTIES IS LIABLE OR BOUND IN ANY MANNER BY ANY VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS OR INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE ASSETS OF THE Transferred Subsidiaries FURNISHED BY ANY AGENT, EMPLOYEE, SERVANT OR THIRD PARTY. THIS SECTION 6.2 SURVIVES THE CONTRIBUTION AND CONVEYANCE OF THE INTERESTS OR THE TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 6.2 HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED BY THE PARTIES AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION AND ARE INTENDED TO BE A COMPLETE EXCLUSION AND NEGATION OF ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSETS OF THE Transferred Subsidiaries THAT MAY ARISE PURSUANT TO ANY LAW NOW OR HEREAFTER IN EFFECT, OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT, INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.
ARTICLE VII
FURTHER ASSURANCES
Section 7.1 Further Assurances. From time to time after the date of this Agreement, and without any further consideration, the Parties agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver all such additional deeds, assignments, bills of sale, conveyances, instruments, notices, releases, acquittances and other documents, and will do all such other acts and things, all in accordance with applicable Law, as may be necessary or appropriate (a) more fully and effectively to assure that the applicable Parties own all of the properties, rights, titles, interests, estates, remedies, powers and privileges granted by this Agreement, or which are intended to be so granted, (b) more fully and effectively to vest in the applicable Parties and their respective successors and assigns beneficial and record title to the interests contributed and assigned by this Agreement or intended so to be and (c) more fully and effectively to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.
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Section 7.2 Attorney-in-Fact. Each Party that has conveyed any interests as reflected by this Agreement (collectively, the “ Conveying Parties ”) hereby constitutes and appoints Richard Tyrrell (the “ Attorney-in-Fact ”) as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution for it and in its name, place and stead or otherwise on behalf of the applicable Conveying Party and its successors and assigns, and for the benefit of the Attorney-in-Fact (a) to demand and receive from time to time the interests conveyed by this Agreement (or intended so to be), (b) to execute in the name of the applicable Conveying Party and its successors and assigns instruments of conveyance or instruments of further assurance, (c) to give receipts and releases in respect of the same, and (d) from time to time to institute and prosecute in the name of the applicable Conveying Party for the benefit of the Attorney-in-Fact any and all proceedings at Law, in equity or otherwise that the Attorney-in-Fact deems proper in order to (i) collect, assert or enforce any claims, rights or titles of any kind in and to such interests, (ii) defend and compromise any and all actions, suits or proceedings in respect of such interests and (iii) do any and all such acts and things in furtherance of this Agreement as the Attorney-in-Fact deems advisable. Each Conveying Party hereby declares that the appointment hereby made and the powers hereby granted are coupled with an interest, and are and will be irrevocable and perpetual and will not be terminated by any act of any Conveying Party or its successors or assigns or by operation of Law.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous
Section 8.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd. in this Agreement, and in or under any documents, instruments and agreements delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will survive the completion of the transactions contemplated hereby regardless of any independent investigations that the Partnership may make or cause to be made, or knowledge it may have, prior to the date of this Agreement and will continue in full force and effect for a period of one year from the date of this Agreement. At the end of such period, such representations and warranties will terminate, and no claim may be brought by the Partnership against Höegh LNG and Höegh LNG Ltd. in respect of such representations and warranties, except for claims that have been asserted by the Partnership prior to the date of this Agreement.
Section 8.2 Taxes . The Partnership shall pay any and all sales, use and similar taxes arising out of the contributions, conveyances and deliveries to be made hereunder and shall pay all documentary, filing, recording, transfer, deed and conveyance taxes and fees required in connection therewith; provided, however, that Höegh LNG shall pay, or reimburse the Operating Company for, any and all Singapore corporate income tax, stamp duties, indirect taxes or withholding taxes arising out of the contributions, conveyances and deliveries to be made hereunder.
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Section 8.3 Headings; References, Interpretation. All Article and Section headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and will not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole, including, without limitation, all Schedules attached hereto, and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All references herein to Articles, Sections and Schedules will, unless the context requires a different construction, be deemed to be references to the Articles and Sections of this Agreement and the Schedules attached hereto, and all such Schedules attached hereto are hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all purposes. All personal pronouns used in this Agreement, whether used in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender, include all other genders, and the singular includes the plural and vice versa. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter will not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation,” “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather will be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.
Section 8.4 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.
Section 8.5 No Third-Party Rights. The provisions of this Agreement are intended to bind the Parties as to each other and are not intended to, and do not create, rights in any other person or confer upon any other person any benefits, rights or remedies. No person is or is intended to be a third-party beneficiary of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 8.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all Parties had signed the same document. All counterparts will be construed together and constitute one and the same instrument. The delivery of an executed counterpart copy of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission in PDF format will be deemed to be the equivalent of delivery of the originally executed copy thereof.
Section 8.7 Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the state of New York, United States of America, applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly within such jurisdiction without giving effect to conflict-of-Law principles thereof other than Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law, except to the extent that it is mandatory that the Law of some other jurisdiction applies.
Section 8.8 Severability. If any of the provisions of this Agreement are held by any court of competent jurisdiction to contravene, or to be invalid under, the Laws of any governmental body having jurisdiction over the subject matter hereof, such contravention or invalidity will not invalidate the entirety of this Agreement. Instead, this Agreement will be construed as if it did not contain the particular provision or provisions held to be invalid, and an equitable adjustment will be made and necessary provision added so as to give effect, as nearly as possible, to the intention of the Parties as expressed in this Agreement at the time of execution of this Agreement.
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Section 8.9 Deed; Bill of Sale; Assignment. To the extent required and permitted by applicable Law, this Agreement will also constitute a “deed,” “bill of sale” or “assignment” of the interests referenced herein.
Section 8.10 Amendment or Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all the Parties. Each such instrument will be reduced to writing and designated on its face as an amendment to this Agreement.
Section 8.11 Integration. This Agreement and the instruments referenced herein supersede all previous understandings or agreements among the Parties, whether oral or written, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and such instruments. This Agreement and such instruments contain the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. No understanding, representation, promise or agreement, whether oral or written, is intended to be or will be included in or form part of this Agreement unless it is contained in a written amendment hereto executed by the Parties after the date of this Agreement.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
HÖEGH LNG HOLDINGS LTD. | ||
By: | /s/ Camilla Nyhus-Møller | |
Name: | Camilla Nyhus-Møller | |
Title: | Attorney-in-fact | |
HÖEGH LNG LTD. | ||
By: | /s/ Camilla Nyhus-Møller | |
Name: | Camilla Nyhus-Møller | |
Title: | Attorney-in-fact | |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP | ||
By: | /s/ Richard Tyrrell | |
Name: | Richard Tyrrell | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer | |
HÖEGH LNG GP LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Sveinung Støhle | |
Name: | Sveinung Støhle | |
Title: | Director |
Signature Page
to
Contribution, Purchase and Sale Agreement
Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Richard Tyrrell | |
Name: | Richard Tyrrell | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and | |
Chief Financial Officer |
Signature Page
to
Contribution, Purchase and Sale Agreement
SCHEDULE A
FSRU-Owning Subsidiaries and FSRUs
FSRU-Owning Subsidiary |
Jurisdiction of Registration |
FSRU |
Flag |
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SRV Joint Gas | Cayman Islands | GDF Suez Neptune | Norway | |||
SRV Joint Gas Two | Cayman Islands | GDF Suez Cape Ann | Norway | |||
PT Hoegh | Indonesia | PGN FSRU Lampung | Indonesia |
Schedule A
To
Contribution, Purchase and Sale Agreement
Exhibit 4.2
Execution Version
OMNIBUS AGREEMENT
AMONG
HÖEGH LNG HOLDINGS LTD.,
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP,
HÖEGH LNG GP LLC
AND
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS OPERATING LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
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Section 1.1. | Definitions | 1 |
ARTICLE II FIVE-YEAR VESSEL RESTRICTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES |
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Section 2.1. | Five-Year Vessel Restricted Businesses | 6 |
Section 2.2. | Permitted Exceptions | 6 |
ARTICLE III NON-FIVE-YEAR VESSEL RESTRICTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES |
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Section 3.1. | Non-Five-Year Vessel Restricted Businesses | 7 |
Section 3.2. | Permitted Exceptions | 7 |
ARTICLE IV BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCEDURES |
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Section 4.1. | Procedures | 8 |
Section 4.2. | Scope of Prohibition | 10 |
Section 4.3. | Enforcement | 10 |
ARTICLE V RIGHTS OF FIRST OFFER |
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Section 5.1. | Rights of First Offer | 11 |
Section 5.2. | Procedures for Rights of First Offer | 11 |
ARTICLE VI INDEPENDENCE INTERESTS PURCHASE OPTION |
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Section 6.1. | Option to Purchase the Independence Interests | 12 |
Section 6.2. | Procedures | 13 |
ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION |
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Section 7.1. | Höegh Indemnification | 15 |
Section 7.2. | Limitation Regarding Indemnification | 15 |
Section 7.3. | Indemnification Procedures | 15 |
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS |
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Section 8.1. | Choice of Law; Submission To Jurisdiction | 16 |
Section 8.2. | Notice | 17 |
Section 8.3. | Entire Agreement | 17 |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
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Section 8.4. | Termination | 17 |
Section 8.5. | Waiver; Effect of Waiver or Consent | 17 |
Section 8.6. | Amendment or Modification | 17 |
Section 8.7. | Assignment | 18 |
Section 8.8. | Counterparts | 18 |
Section 8.9. | Severability | 18 |
Section 8.10. | Gender, Parts, Articles and Sections | 18 |
Section 8.11. | Further Assurances | 18 |
Section 8.12. | Withholding or Granting of Consent | 18 |
Section 8.13. | Laws and Regulations | 18 |
Section 8.14. | Negotiation of Rights of Höegh, Limited Partners, Assignees and Third Parties | 18 |
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OMNIBUS AGREEMENT
THIS OMNIBUS AGREEMENT is entered into on, and effective as of, the Closing Date (as defined herein), among Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., a limited company organized under the laws of Bermuda (“ Höegh ”), Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ MLP ”), Höegh LNG GP LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company and the general partner of the MLP (including any permitted successors and assigns under the MLP Agreement (as defined herein)) (the “ General Partner ”), and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the MLP.
RECITALS:
1. The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Articles II and IV , with respect to (a) those business opportunities that the Höegh Entities (as defined herein) shall not pursue during the term of this Agreement and (b) the procedures whereby such business opportunities are to be offered to the Partnership Group (as defined herein) and accepted or declined.
2. The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Articles III and IV , with respect to (a) those business opportunities that the Partnership Group shall not pursue during the term of this Agreement and (b) the procedures whereby such business opportunities are to be offered to Höegh and accepted or declined.
3. The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Article V , with respect to (a) Höegh’s right of first offer relating to Five-Year Vessels (as defined herein) or Non-Five-Year Vessels (as defined herein) owned by the MLP and (b) the MLP’s right of first offer relating to Five-Year Vessels that Höegh might own.
4. The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Article VI , with respect to the rights of the MLP to purchase the Independence Interests (as defined herein) from Höegh.
5. The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Section 6.2(c)(ii) and Article VII , with respect to certain indemnification obligations of Höegh.
In consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:
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“ ABKN ” means AB Klaipèdos Nafta, the charterer of the Independence after its delivery.
“ Acquiring Party ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.1 .
“ Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “ control ” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of Voting Securities, by contract or otherwise.
“ Agreement ” means this Omnibus Agreement, as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with Section 8.6 .
“ Applicable Independence Interests ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(a) .
“ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the MLP.
“ Break-up Costs ” means the aggregate amount of any and all additional taxes, flag administration, financing, legal and other similar costs (except with respect to Section 2.2(b) where Break-up Costs are deemed to include only administrative costs associated with transfer and re-flagging, including related legal costs) to (a) the Höegh Entities that would be required to transfer Five-Year Vessels acquired by the Höegh Entities as part of a larger transaction to a Partnership Group Member pursuant to Section 2.2(b) or 2.2(d)(i) or (b) the Partnership Group that would be required to transfer Non-Five-Year Vessels acquired by the Partnership Group as part of a larger transaction to a Höegh Entity pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(i) .
“ Change of Control ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ Applicable Person ”), any of the following events: (a) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the Applicable Person’s assets to any other Person, unless immediately following such sale, lease, exchange or other transfer such assets are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Applicable Person; (b) the consolidation or merger of the Applicable Person with or into another Person pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person are changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where (i) the outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person are changed into or exchanged for Voting Securities of the surviving Person or its parent and (ii) the holders of the Voting Securities of the Applicable Person immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the outstanding Voting Securities of the surviving Person or its parent immediately after such transaction; and (c) a “ person ” or “ group ” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than Höegh or its Affiliates with respect to the General Partner, being or becoming the “ beneficial owner ” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person, except in a merger or consolidation that would not constitute a Change of Control under clause (b) above.
“ Closing Date ” means August 12, 2014, the date of the closing of the initial public offering of common units representing limited partner interests in the MLP.
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“ Conflicts Committee ” means the Conflicts Committee of the Board.
“ Contribution Assets ” has the meaning given such term in Section 7.1 .
“ Covered Environmental Losses ” means all Losses suffered or incurred by the Partnership Group by reason of, arising out of or resulting directly from:
(i) any violation or correction of violation of Environmental Laws; or
(ii) any event or condition relating to environmental or human health and safety matters, in each case, associated with the ownership or operation by the Partnership Group or the Höegh Entities of the Contribution Assets (including, without limitation, the presence of Hazardous Substances on, under, about or migrating to or from the Contribution Assets or the disposal or release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Substances generated by or otherwise related to operation of the Contribution Assets), including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented cost and expense of (a) any investigation, assessment, evaluation, monitoring, containment, cleanup, repair, restoration, remediation or other corrective action required or necessary under Environmental Laws, (b) the preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial, corrective action or other plans required or necessary under Environmental Laws and (c) any environmental or toxic tort (including, without limitation, personal injury or property damage claims) pre-trial, trial or appellate legal or litigation support work;
but only to the extent that such violation complained of under clause (i) , or such events or conditions included in clause (ii) , occurred before the Closing Date; and, provided that, in no event will Losses to the extent arising from a change in any Environmental Law after the Closing Date be deemed “ Covered Environmental Losses .”
“ Environmental Laws ” means all international, federal, state, foreign and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations, treaties, conventions, orders, judgments and ordinances having the force and effect of law and relating to protection of natural resources, health and safety and the environment, each in effect and as amended through the Closing Date.
“ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“ First Offer Negotiation Period ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(c) .
“ Five-Year Vessel ” means any LNG Carrier or FSRU that has commenced operating under a charter for a remaining period, not including options, of five or more years, together with the related charter and any ancillary installations or equipment also covered by that charter.
“ FSRU ” means a floating storage and regasification unit.
“ General Partner ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
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“ Hazardous Substances ” means (a) each substance defined, designated or classified as a hazardous waste, hazardous substance, hazardous material, solid waste, contaminant or toxic substance under Environmental Laws; (b) petroleum and petroleum products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof; (c) natural gas, synthetic gas and any mixtures thereof; (d) any radioactive material; and (e) any asbestos-containing materials in a friable condition.
“ Höegh ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ Höegh Entities ” means Höegh and any Person controlled, directly or indirectly, by Höegh, other than the Partnership Entities.
“ Höegh Potential Transferee ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b) .
“ Höegh Sale Assets ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b) .
“ Höegh Transfer Notice ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b) .
“ Höegh Transferring Party ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b) .
“ Independence ” means the newbuild FSRU that, upon delivery, will operate under a time charter with ABKN.
“ Independence Interests ” means all of Höegh’s rights, title and interests in the Independence , including interests in any Höegh Entity holding interests in the Independence and any charters or other agreements relating to the operation of the Independence then in effect.
“ LNG Carrier ” means a liquefied natural gas carrier.
“ Losses ” means losses, damages, liabilities, claims, demands, causes of action, judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees) of any and every kind or character; provided, however, that such term does not include any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages.
“ MLP ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ MLP Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the MLP, dated as of August 12, 2014, as such agreement is in effect on the Closing Date, to which reference is hereby made for all purposes of this Agreement. No amendment or modification to the MLP Agreement subsequent to the Closing Date will be given effect for purposes of this Agreement unless consented to by each of the Parties.
“ Non-Five-Year Vessel ” means any LNG Carrier or FSRU that is not a Five-Year Vessel.
“ Offer ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.1 .
“ Offer Period ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.1 .
“ Offered Assets ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.1 .
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“ Offeree ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.1 .
“ Parties ” means the parties to this Agreement and their successors and permitted assigns.
“ Partnership Entities ” means the General Partner, the MLP and any Person controlled by any such entity.
“ Partnership Group ” means the MLP and any Person controlled by any such entity.
“ Partnership Group Member ” means any Person in the Partnership Group.
“ Partnership Potential Transferee ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(a) .
“ Partnership Sale Assets ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(a) .
“ Partnership Transfer Notice ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(a) .
“ Partnership Transferring Party ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(a) .
“ Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or any other entity.
“ PGN ” means PT PGN LNG Indonesia, a limited liability company established under the laws of Indonesia.
“ PGN FSRU Lampung ” means the floating storage and regasification unit PGN FSRU Lampung .
“ PGN FSRU LOM ” means the Amendment and Restatement Agreement of the Original Lease, Operation and Maintenance Agreement dated January 25, 2012, between PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk and Höegh LNG Ltd., dated October 17, 2012, as novated by the Novation Agreement for Amended & Restated Lease, Operating & Maintenance Agreement, dated September 18, 2013, between PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, Höegh LNG Ltd. and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung, as novated by the Novation Agreement for Amended and Restated Lease, Operating & Maintenance Agreement, dated February 21, 2014, among PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, PT PGN LNG Indonesia and PT Hoegh LNG Lampung, as further amended, novated or modified from time to time.
“ Potential Transferee ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b) .
“ Sale Assets ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b) .
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“ Transfer ” means any transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any Non-Five-Year Vessel by a Höegh Entity or of any Five-Year Vessel or Non-Five-Year Vessel by a Partnership Group Member; provided , however , that such term does not include: (a) transfers, assignments, sales or other dispositions from a Höegh Entity to another Höegh Entity, or from a Partnership Group Member to another Partnership Group Member; (b) transfers, assignments, sales or other dispositions pursuant to the terms of any related charter or other agreement with a charter party; (c) transfers, assignments, sales or other dispositions pursuant to Article II or III ; or (d) grants of security interests in or mortgages or liens on such Five-Year Vessels or Non-Five-Year Vessels in favor of a bona fide third-party lender and the foreclosing of any such security interest, mortgage or lien or other exercise of remedies by a bona fide third-party lender.
“ Transfer Notice ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b) .
“ Transferring Party ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b) .
“ Voting Securities ” means securities of any class of Person entitling the holders thereof to vote in the election of members of the board of directors or other similar governing body of the Person.
ARTICLE II
FIVE-YEAR VESSEL RESTRICTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Section 2.1. Five-Year Vessel Restricted Businesses . Subject to Section 8.4 and except as permitted by Section 2.2 , each of the Höegh Entities shall be prohibited from acquiring, owning, operating or chartering Five-Year Vessels.
Section 2.2. Permitted Exceptions . Notwithstanding any provision of Section 2.1 to the contrary, the restrictions in this Agreement do not prevent any Höegh Entity from:
(a) acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Non-Five-Year Vessel;
(b) acquiring one or more Five-Year Vessels if such Höegh Entity offers to sell the vessel to the MLP for the acquisition price plus any Break-up Costs in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.1 ;
(c) delivering a Non-Five-Year Vessel under charter for five or more years if such Höegh Entity offers to sell the vessel to the MLP for fair market value (x) after the time it becomes a Five-Year Vessel and (y) at each renewal or extension of that charter for five or more years, in each case in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.1 ;
(d) acquiring one or more Five-Year Vessels as part of the acquisition of a controlling interest in a business or package of assets and owning, operating or chartering such Five-Year Vessel(s); provided , however , that:
(i) if less than a majority of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by Höegh’s board of directors, the Höegh Entity must offer to sell such Five-Year Vessel(s) to the MLP for their fair market value plus any Break-up Costs in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.1 ; and
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(ii) if a majority or more of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by Höegh’s board of directors, Höegh shall notify the MLP of the proposed acquisition in writing. The MLP shall, not later than the 10 th calendar day following receipt of such notice, notify Höegh if it or any other Partnership Group Member wishes to acquire any Five-Year Vessel forming part of that business or package of assets in cooperation and simultaneously with the Höegh Entity acquiring the Non-Five-Year Vessels forming part of that business or package of assets. If the MLP does not notify Höegh of its intent to pursue the acquisition within such 10 calendar days, the Höegh Entity may proceed with the acquisition and then offer to sell such vessels to the MLP as provided in Section 2.2(d)(i) ;
(e) acquiring a non-controlling interest in any company, business or pool of assets;
(f) acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Five-Year Vessel if the MLP does not fulfill its obligation to purchase such Five-Year Vessel in accordance with the terms of any existing or future agreement;
(g) acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Five-Year Vessel that is subject to an offer to purchase by a Partnership Group Member as described in Sections 2.2(b) , 2.2(c) and 2.2(d) , in each case pending the offer of such Five-Year Vessel to the MLP and the MLP’s determination pursuant to Section 4.1 whether to purchase the Five-Year Vessel and, if the MLP has determined to purchase or to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase such Five-Year Vessel, pending the closing of such purchase;
(h) providing ship management services relating to any vessel;
(i) subject to Section 6.1 , owning or operating any Five-Year Vessel that Höegh owns on the Closing Date and that is not part of the Partnership Group’s initial fleet on the Closing Date; or
(j) acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Five-Year Vessel if the MLP has previously advised Höegh that it consents to such acquisition, operation or charter.
ARTICLE III
NON-FIVE-YEAR VESSEL RESTRICTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Section 3.1. Non-Five-Year Vessel Restricted Businesses . Subject to Section 8.4 and except as permitted by Section 3.2 , each Partnership Group Member shall be prohibited from acquiring, owning, operating or chartering Non-Five-Year Vessels.
Section 3.2. Permitted Exceptions . Notwithstanding any provision of Section 3.1 to the contrary, the restrictions in this Agreement shall not prevent any Partnership Group Member from:
(a) owning, operating or chartering any Non-Five-Year Vessel that was previously a Five-Year Vessel while owned by any Partnership Group Member;
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(b) acquiring one or more Non-Five-Year Vessels as part of the acquisition of a controlling interest in a business or package of assets and owning, operating or chartering those Non-Five-Year Vessels; provided, however, that:
(i) if less than a majority of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Non-Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by the Board, such Partnership Group Member must offer to sell such Non-Five-Year Vessels to Höegh for their fair market value plus any applicable Break-up Costs in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.1 ; and
(ii) if a majority or more of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Non-Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by the Board, the MLP shall notify Höegh of the proposed acquisition in writing. Höegh shall, not later than the 10 th calendar day following receipt of such notice, notify the MLP if it or any other Höegh Entity wishes to acquire any Non-Five-Year Vessel forming part of that business or package of assets in cooperation and simultaneously with the Partnership Group Member acquiring the Five-Year Vessels forming part of that business or package of assets. If Höegh does not notify the MLP of its intent to pursue the acquisition within such 10 calendar days, the Partnership Group Member may proceed with the acquisition and then offer to sell such Non-Five-Year Vessels to Höegh as provided in Section 3.2(b)(i) ;
(c) acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Non-Five-Year Vessel that is subject to an offer to purchase by a Höegh Entity as described in Section 3.2(b) pending the offer of such Non-Five-Year Vessel to Höegh and Höegh’s determination pursuant to Section 4.1 whether to purchase the Five-Year Vessel and, if Höegh has determined to purchase or cause any Höegh Entity to purchase such Five-Year Vessel, pending the closing of such purchase; or
(d) acquiring, owning, operating or chartering Non-Five-Year Vessels if Höegh has previously advised the MLP that it consents to such acquisition, ownership, operation or charter.
ARTICLE IV
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCEDURES
Section 4.1. Procedures . In the event that (a) a Partnership Group Member acquires, operates or puts under charter Non-Five-Year Vessels in accordance with Section 3.2(b)(i) , or (b) a Höegh Entity acquires, operates or puts under charter Five-Year Vessels in accordance with Section 2.2(b) , 2.2(c) or 2.2(d)(i), then simultaneously or in any event not later than 30 calendar days after the consummation of the acquisition or the commencement of operations or charter, such acquiring Party (the “ Acquiring Party ”) shall notify (a) Höegh, in the case of an acquisition by a Partnership Group Member, or (b) the Board, in the case of an acquisition by a Höegh Entity, and offer such party to be notified (each an “ Offeree ”) the opportunity for any Höegh Entity or Partnership Group Member, as applicable, to purchase such Non-Five-Year Vessels or Five-Year Vessels, as applicable (the “ Offered Assets ”), for their fair market value (or, in the case of an acquisition in accordance with Section 2.2(b) , the acquisition price) plus, in the case of an acquisition in accordance with Section 2.2(b) , 2.2(d)(i) or 3.2(b)(i), any applicable Break-up Costs, in each case on commercially reasonable terms in accordance with this Section 4.1 (the “ Offer ”). The Offer will set forth the Acquiring Party’s proposed terms relating to the purchase of the Offered Assets by the applicable Höegh Entity or Partnership Group Member, including any liabilities to be assumed by the applicable Höegh Entity or Partnership Group Member as part of the Offer. As soon as practicable after the Offer is made, the Acquiring Party shall deliver to the Offeree all information prepared by or on behalf of or in the possession of such Acquiring Party relating to the Offered Assets and reasonably requested by the Offeree. As soon as practicable, but in any event, within 30 calendar days after receipt of the Offer, the Offeree shall notify the Acquiring Party in writing that either:
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(a) Höegh has elected not to purchase (or not to cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase) or the Board has elected not to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase, as applicable, such Offered Assets, in which event the Acquiring Party and its Affiliates will, subject to the other terms of this Agreement (including Section 2.2(b) ), be forever free, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to continue to own, operate and charter such Offered Assets; or
(b) Höegh has elected to purchase (or to cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase) or the Board has elected to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase, as applicable, such Offered Assets, in which event the following procedures will be followed:
(i) After the receipt of the Offer by the Offeree, the Acquiring Party and the Offeree shall negotiate in good faith regarding the fair market value (and any applicable Break-up Costs) of the Offered Assets that are subject to the Offer and the other terms of the Offer on which the Offered Assets will be sold to the applicable Höegh Entity or Partnership Group Member. If the Acquiring Party and the Offeree agree on the fair market value (and any applicable Break-up Costs) of the Offered Assets that are subject to the Offer and the other terms of the Offer during the 30-calendar-day period (the “ Offer Period ”) after receipt by the Acquiring Party of Höegh’s election to purchase (or election to cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase) or of the Board’s election to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase, as applicable, the Offered Assets, Höegh shall purchase (or cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase) or the Board shall cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase, as applicable, the Offered Assets on such terms as soon as commercially practicable after such agreement has been reached.
(ii) If the Acquiring Party and the Offeree are unable to agree on the fair market value (and any applicable Break-up Costs) of the Offered Assets that are subject to the Offer or on any other terms of the Offer during the Offer Period, the Acquiring Party and the Offeree shall engage a mutually-agreed-upon investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor prior to the end of the Offer Period to determine the fair market value of the Offered Assets and/or the other terms on which the Acquiring Party and the Offeree are unable to agree. In determining the fair market value of the Offered Assets and other terms on which the Offered Assets are to be sold, the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as applicable, will have access to the proposed sale and purchase values and terms for the Offer submitted by the Acquiring Party and the Offeree, respectively, and to all information prepared by or on behalf of the Acquiring Party relating to the Offered Assets and reasonably requested by such investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor. Such investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor will determine the fair market value (and any applicable Break-up Costs) of the Offered Assets and/or the other terms on which the Acquiring Party and the Offeree are unable to agree within 30 calendar days of its engagement and furnish the Acquiring Party and the Offeree its determination. The fees and expenses of the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as applicable, will be divided equally between the Acquiring Party and the Offeree. Upon receipt of such determination, the Offeree will have the option, but not the obligation:
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(A) in the case that the Offeree is Höegh, to purchase or cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase, or in the case that the Offeree is the Board, to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase the Offered Assets for the fair market value (and any applicable Break-up Costs), and on the other terms determined by the ship broker or investment banking firm, as soon as commercially practicable after determinations have been made; or
(B) in the case that the Offeree is Höegh, to elect not to cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase, or in the case that the Offeree is the Board, not to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase such Offered Assets, in which event the Acquiring Party and its Affiliates will, subject to the other terms of this Agreement, be forever free to continue to own and operate such Offered Assets.
Section 4.2. Scope of Prohibition . If any Party or its Affiliates engages in the ownership or operation of Five-Year Vessels in the case of a Höegh Entity, or Non-Five-Year Vessels in the case of a Partnership Group Member, pursuant to any of the exceptions described in Section 2.2 or 3.2 , as applicable, the Party and its Affiliates may not subsequently expand that portion of their business other than pursuant to the exceptions contained in such Section 2.2 or 3.2 . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the MLP Agreement, each Party and its Affiliates will be free to engage in any business activity whatsoever, including those that may be in direct competition with the Höegh Entities or the Partnership Group Members.
Section 4.3. Enforcement . Each Party agrees and acknowledges that the other Parties do not have an adequate remedy at law for the breach by any such Party of its covenants and agreements set forth in this Article IV , and that any breach by any such Party of its covenants and agreements set forth in this Article IV would result in irreparable injury to such other Parties. Each Party further agrees and acknowledges that any other Party may, in addition to the other remedies which may be available to such other Party, file a suit in equity to enjoin such Party from such breach, and consent to the issuance of injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this Article IV .
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ARTICLE V
RIGHTS OF FIRST OFFER
Section 5.1. Rights of First Offer .
(a) The Partnership Group hereby grants Höegh a right of first offer on any proposed Transfer by any Partnership Group Member of any Five-Year Vessels or any Non-Five-Year Vessels owned or acquired by any Partnership Group Member. With respect to any such proposed Transfer, the Partnership Group need not offer any particular Five-Year Vessel or Non-Five-Year Vessel to Höegh if Höegh has previously advised the MLP that it does not wish to acquire such vessel.
(b) The Höegh Entities hereby grant the MLP a right of first offer on any proposed Transfer of any Five-Year Vessels owned or acquired by any Höegh Entity. With respect to any such proposed Transfer, the Höegh Entities need not offer any particular Five-Year Vessel to the MLP if the MLP has previously advised the Höegh Entities that it does not wish to acquire such vessel.
(c) The Parties acknowledge that all potential Transfers of Five-Year Vessels or Non-Five-Year Vessels pursuant to this Article V are subject to obtaining any and all written consents of governmental authorities and other non-affiliated third parties (including, without limitation, lenders and other providers of financing) and to the terms of all agreements (including, without limitation, debt and other financing arrangements) in respect of such Five-Year Vessels or Non-Five-Year Vessels, as applicable.
Section 5.2. Procedures for Rights of First Offer .
(a) In the event that a Partnership Group Member (a “ Partnership Transferring Party ”) proposes to Transfer any Non-Five-Year Vessels (the “ Partnership Sale Assets ”), prior to engaging in any negotiation for such Transfer with any non-affiliated third party or otherwise offering to Transfer the Partnership Sale Assets to any non-affiliated third party, such Partnership Transferring Party shall give Höegh (a “ Partnership Potential Transferee ”), written notice setting forth all material terms and conditions (including, without limitation, the purchase price or the terms of the charter agreement and a description of the Partnership Sale Asset(s) on which such Partnership Transferring Party desires to Transfer the Partnership Sale Assets) (a “ Partnership Transfer Notice ”).
(b) In the event that a Höegh Entity (a “ Höegh Transferring Party ” and, together with a Partnership Transferring Party, a “ Transferring Party ”) proposes to Transfer any Five-Year Vessels (the “ Höegh Sale Assets ” and, together with the Partnership Sale Assets, the “ Sale Assets ”), prior to engaging in any negotiation for such Transfer with any non-affiliated third party or otherwise offering to Transfer the Höegh Sale Assets to any non-affiliated third party, such Höegh Transferring Party shall give the MLP (a “ Höegh Potential Transferee ” and, together with a Partnership Potential Transferee, a “ Potential Transferee ”), written notice setting forth all material terms and conditions (including, without limitation, the purchase price or the terms of the charter agreement and a description of the Höegh Sale Asset(s) on which such Höegh Transferring Party desires to Transfer the Höegh Sale Assets) (a “ Höegh Transfer Notice ” and, together with a Partnership Transfer Notice, each a “ Transfer Notice ”).
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(c) After delivery of a Transfer Notice, the Transferring Party then shall be obligated to negotiate in good faith for a 30-calendar-day period following the delivery by the Transferring Party of the Transfer Notice (the “ First Offer Negotiation Period ”) to reach an agreement for the Transfer of such Sale Assets to the Potential Transferee or any of its Affiliates on the terms and conditions set forth in the Transfer Notice. If no such agreement with respect to the Sale Assets is reached during the First Offer Negotiation Period, and the Transferring Party has not Transferred, or agreed in writing to Transfer, such Sale Assets to a third party within 180 calendar days after the end of the First Offer Negotiation Period on terms generally no less favorable to the Transferring Party than those included in the Transfer Notice, then the Transferring Party shall not thereafter Transfer any of the Sale Assets without first offering such assets to the applicable Potential Transferee in the manner provided above.
ARTICLE VI
INDEPENDENCE INTERESTS PURCHASE OPTION
Section 6.1. Option to Purchase the Independence Interests .
(a) Subject to ABKN’s purchase option rights under the existing charter for the Independence , Höegh hereby grants to the Partnership Group the right and option to purchase, in one or more transactions and subject to no condition other than as set forth in Section 6.1(b) , for fair market value at any time within 24 months after Höegh notifies the Board pursuant to Section 6.2(a) that the Independence has been accepted by ABKN, all or a portion of the Independence Interests (such interests, the “ Applicable Independence Interests ”). For the avoidance of doubt, if the Partnership Group purchases a portion, but not all, of the Independence Interests in accordance with this Article VI , the Partnership Group has the right and option to purchase, in one or more transactions and subject to no condition other than as set forth in Section 6.1(b) , for fair market value at any time within 24 months after Höegh notifies the Board pursuant to Section 6.2(a) that the Independence has been accepted by ABKN, all or a portion of the remaining Independence Interests.
(b) The Parties acknowledge that the potential transfer of the Applicable Independence Interests pursuant to this Article VI is subject to obtaining any and all written consents of governmental authorities and other third parties, including providers of financing and other holders of security interests in the Applicable Independence Interests, and to the terms of all agreements existing as of the date hereof in respect of the Applicable Independence Interests including, without limitation, (i) any rights of first refusal of the parties to such agreements to purchase the Applicable Independence Interests and (ii) any rights of lenders or other providers of financing. Höegh hereby covenants and agrees to use its reasonable efforts to obtain any such consents required to be obtained by it in connection with the transfer of the Applicable Independence Interests pursuant to this Article VI .
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Section 6.2. Procedures .
(a) Not later than 30 calendar days after the date of acceptance of the Independence by ABKN, Höegh shall notify the Board and offer the Board the opportunity to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase the Applicable Independence Interests for fair market value pursuant to Section 6.1(a) .
(b) If a Partnership Group Member decides to exercise the option to purchase the Applicable Independence Interests, it shall provide written notice to Höegh of such exercise, the fair market value it proposes to pay for the Applicable Independence Interests, and the other material terms of the purchase. The decision to purchase the Applicable Independence Interests, the fair market value to be paid for the Applicable Independence Interests, and the other terms of the purchase will be approved by the Conflicts Committee. If the Partnership Group Member and Höegh are unable to agree on the fair market value of the Applicable Independence Interests and/or the other material terms, the Partnership Group Member and Höegh shall engage a mutually-agreed-upon investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor to determine the fair market value of the Applicable Independence Interests and/or the other material terms on which the Partnership Group Member and Höegh are unable to agree. In determining the fair market value of the Applicable Independence Interests and/or the other material terms on which the Applicable Independence Interests are to be sold, the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as applicable, will have access to the proposed sale and purchase values and terms for the offer submitted by the Partnership Group Member and Höegh, respectively, and to all information prepared by or on behalf of the Partnership Group Member and Höegh with respect to the Applicable Independence Interests and reasonably requested by such investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor. Such investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor will determine the fair market value of the Applicable Independence Interests and/or the other terms on which the Partnership Group Member and Höegh are unable to agree within 30 calendar days of its engagement and furnish the Partnership Group Member and Höegh its determination. The fees and expenses of the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as applicable, will be divided equally between the Partnership Group Member and Höegh. Upon receipt of such determination, the Partnership Group Member will have the option, but not the obligation, to purchase the Applicable Independence Interests for the fair market value and on the other terms, which includes those specified in Section 6.2(c)(i) through Section 6.2(c)(vi) , as determined by the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as soon as commercially practicable after determinations have been made.
(c) If a Partnership Group Member chooses to exercise its option to purchase the Applicable Independence Interests under Section 6.2(a) , the applicable parties shall enter into a purchase and sale agreement for the purchase and sale of the Applicable Independence Interests pursuant to which Höegh shall be obligated to sell the Applicable Independence Interests to the Partnership Group Member and the Partnership Group Member shall be obligated to purchase the Applicable Independence Interests from Höegh. The terms of the purchase and sale agreement will include the following:
(i) the Partnership Group Member shall deliver a cash purchase price (unless the Partnership Group Member and Höegh agree that the consideration will be paid by means of equity of the MLP, an interest-bearing promissory note or other form of consideration);
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(ii) the Partnership Group will be entitled to the benefit of the indemnification contained in Article VII for the remaining term of such indemnification with respect to events or conditions associated with the operation of the Independence and occurring before the date of acquisition of the Applicable Independence Interests by the Partnership Group Member;
(iii) Höegh shall provide customary representations and warranties with respect to title to the Applicable Independence Interests and any other such matters as the Partnership Group Member may approve, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld;
(iv) Höegh shall grant to the Partnership Group Member the right, exercisable at the Partnership Group Member’s risk and expense, to make such surveys, tests and inspections of the Independence as the Partnership Group Member may deem desirable, so long as such surveys, tests or inspections do not damage the Independence or interfere with the activities of the Höegh Entities or ABKN thereon and so long as the Partnership Group Member has furnished Höegh with evidence that adequate liability insurance is in full force and effect;
(v) the Partnership Group Member will have the right to terminate its obligation to purchase the Applicable Independence Interests under this Article VI and the related purchase and sale agreement if the results of any searches, surveys, tests or inspections conducted pursuant to Section 6.2(c)(iv) are, in the reasonable opinion of the Partnership Group, unsatisfactory; and
(vi) neither Höegh nor the applicable Partnership Group Member will have any obligation to sell or buy the Applicable Independence Interests if any of the consents referred to in Section 6.1(b) have not been obtained.
(d) If the Board, on behalf of a Partnership Group Member, chooses or is deemed to have chosen not to exercise its option to purchase all of the Independence Interests within 24 months after Höegh notifies the Board pursuant to Section 6.2(a) that the Independence has been accepted by ABKN , all future rights to purchase any of the Independence Interests by the Partnership Group will be extinguished.
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ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.1. Höegh Indemnification. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.2 and Section 7.3, Höegh shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Partnership Group from and against: (a) any Covered Environmental Losses relating to the assets contributed by the Höegh Entities to the Partnership Group prior to or on the Closing Date (the “ Contribution Assets ”) to the extent that Höegh is notified by the MLP of any such Covered Environmental Losses within five years after the Closing Date; (b) Losses to the Partnership Group arising from (i) the failure of the Partnership Group, immediately after the Closing Date, to be the owner of such valid leasehold interests or fee ownership interests in and to the Contribution Assets as are necessary to enable the Partnership Entities to own and operate the Contribution Assets in substantially the same manner that the Contribution Assets were owned and operated by the Höegh Entities immediately prior to the respective dates on which each such Contribution Asset was acquired by the Partnership Entities or (ii) the failure of the Partnership Entities to have by the Closing Date any governmental or third-party consent or governmental permit necessary to allow the Partnership Entities to own or operate the Contribution Assets from the Closing Date in substantially the same manner that the Contribution Assets were owned and operated by the Höegh Entities immediately prior to the respective dates on which each such Contribution Asset was acquired by the Partnership Entities, in each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the extent that Höegh is notified by the MLP of such Losses within three years after the Closing Date; (c) all federal, state, foreign and local income tax liabilities attributable to the operation of the Contribution Assets prior to the Closing Date, including any such income tax liabilities of the Höegh Entities that may result from the consummation of the formation transactions for the Partnership Group and the MLP, but excluding any federal, state, foreign and local income taxes reserved on the books of the Partnership Group on the Closing Date; and (d) Losses (i) in the event hire rate payments under the PGN FSRU LOM are not received from PGN with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date through the earlier of (x) the date of acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung pursuant to the PGN FSRU LOM and (y) termination of the PGN FSRU LOM for failure to receive PGN’s acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung , (ii) with respect to the obligation to pay Delay Liquidated Damages (as defined in the PGN FSRU LOM) to PGN pursuant to Section 6.4 of the PGN FSRU LOM and (iii) with respect to any non-budgeted expenses (including repair costs) incurred in connection with the PGN FSRU Lampung project (including the construction of the related tower yoke mooring system) occurring prior to the date of acceptance of the PGN FSRU Lampung pursuant to the PGN FSRU LOM.
Section 7.2. Limitation Regarding Indemnification . The aggregate liability of Höegh under Section 7.1(a) will not exceed $5,000,000. Furthermore, no claim may be made against Höegh for indemnification pursuant to Section 7.1(a) , unless the aggregate dollar amount of all claims for indemnification pursuant to such section exceeds $500,000, in which case Höegh shall be liable for claims for indemnification only to the extent such aggregate amount exceeds $500,000.
Section 7.3. Indemnification Procedures .
(a) The Partnership Group Members agree that within a reasonable period of time after they become aware of facts giving rise to a claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 7.1 , they shall provide notice thereof in writing to Höegh specifying the nature of and specific basis for such claim.
(b) Höegh will have the right to control all aspects of the defense of (and any counterclaims with respect to) any claims brought against the Partnership Group that are covered by the indemnification set forth in Section 7.1 , including, without limitation, the selection of counsel, determination of whether to appeal any decision of any court and the settling of any such matter or any issues relating thereto; provided , however , that no such settlement will be entered into without the consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) of the Partnership Group unless it includes a full release of the Partnership Group from such matter or issues, as the case may be.
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(c) The Partnership Group Members agree to cooperate fully with Höegh with respect to all aspects of the defense of any claims covered by the indemnification set forth in Section 7.1 , including, without limitation, the prompt furnishing to Höegh of any correspondence or other notice relating thereto that the Partnership Group may receive, permitting the names of the members of the Partnership Group to be utilized in connection with such defense, the making available to Höegh of any files, records or other information of the Partnership Group that Höegh considers relevant to such defense and the making available to Höegh of any employees of the Partnership Group; provided , however , that in connection therewith Höegh agrees to use reasonable efforts to minimize the impact thereof on the operations of the Partnership Group and further agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all files, records and other information furnished by a Partnership Group Member pursuant to this Section 7.3 . In no event will the obligation of the Partnership Group to cooperate with Höegh as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence be construed as imposing upon the Partnership Group an obligation to hire and pay for counsel in connection with the defense of any claims covered by the indemnification set forth in this Article VII ; provided , however , that the Partnership Group Members may, at their own option, cost and expense, hire and pay for counsel in connection with any such defense. Höegh agrees to keep any such counsel hired by the Partnership Group reasonably informed as to the status of any such defense (including providing such counsel with such information related to any such defense as such counsel may reasonably request), but Höegh will have the right to retain sole control over such defense.
In determining the amount of any Loss for which any of the members of the Partnership Group is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, the gross amount of the indemnification will be reduced by (i) any insurance proceeds realized by the Partnership Group, and such correlative insurance benefit will be net of any incremental insurance premium that becomes due and payable by the Partnership Group as a result of such claim, (ii) all amounts recovered by the Partnership Group under contractual indemnities from third Persons and (iii) in the case of Losses pursuant to Section 7.1(d) , all amounts recovered by the Partnership Group from PGN or third parties in respect of hire rate or Delay Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 7.1(d) . The Partnership Group hereby agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to realize any applicable insurance proceeds or amounts recoverable under such contractual indemnities; provided, however, that the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Partnership Group in connection with such efforts will be promptly reimbursed by Höegh in advance of any determination of whether such insurance proceeds or other amounts will be recoverable.
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1. Choice of Law; Submission To Jurisdiction . This Agreement is subject to and governed by the laws of the State of New York. Each Party hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York and to venue in New York, New York.
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Section 8.2. Notice . All notices, requests or consents provided for or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement must be in writing and must be given by depositing the same in the mail, addressed to the Person to be notified, postpaid, and registered or certified with return receipt requested or by delivering such notice in person or by private-courier, prepaid, or by telecopier to such Party. Notice given by personal delivery or mail is effective upon actual receipt. Couriered notices are deemed delivered on the date the courier represents that delivery will occur. Notice given by telecopier is effective upon actual receipt if received during the recipient’s normal business hours, or at the beginning of the recipient’s next business day after receipt if not received during the recipient’s normal business hours. All notices to be sent to a Party pursuant to this Agreement will be sent to or made at the address set forth below such Party’s signature to this Agreement, or at such other address as such party may stipulate to the other Parties in the manner provided in this Section 8.2 .
Section 8.3. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the matters contained herein.
Section 8.4. Termination . Upon a Change of Control of the General Partner or of the MLP, the provisions of Articles II , III , IV and V (but not less than all of such Articles) terminate immediately. Upon a Change of Control of Höegh, the provisions of Articles II , III , IV and V applicable to Höegh (but not less than all of such Articles) terminate at the time that is the later of (a) the date on which all of the MLP’s outstanding subordinated units have converted to common units of the MLP and (b) the date of the Change of Control of Höegh. On the date on which a majority of the members of the Board ceases to consist of members of the Board that were (a) appointed by the General Partner prior to the 2014 annual meeting of unitholders and (b) recommended for election to the Board by a majority of the Appointed Directors (as defined in the MLP Agreement), the provisions of Articles II and VI and, to the extent applicable to any Höegh Entity, Section 5.1(b) and Section 5.2(b) shall terminate immediately.
Section 8.5. Waiver; Effect of Waiver or Consent . Any Party may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any other Party or (b) waive compliance with any agreement or condition contained herein. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, any such extension or waiver is valid only if set forth in a written instrument duly executed by the Party or Parties to be bound thereby; provided , however , that the MLP may not, without the prior approval of the Conflicts Committee, agree to any extension or waiver of this Agreement that, in the reasonable discretion of the Board, will adversely affect the holders of common units of the MLP. No waiver or consent, express or implied, by any Party of or to any breach or default by any Person in the performance by such Person of its obligations hereunder will be deemed or construed to be a waiver or consent of or to any other breach or default in the performance by such Person of the same or any other obligations of such Person hereunder. Failure on the part of a Party to complain of any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default, irrespective of how long such failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by such Party of its rights hereunder until the applicable statute of limitations period has run.
Section 8.6. Amendment or Modification . This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all the Parties; provided, however, that the MLP may not, without the prior approval of the Conflicts Committee, agree to any amendment or modification of this Agreement that, in the reasonable discretion of the Board, will adversely affect the holders of common units of the MLP.
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Section 8.7. Assignment . No Party has the right to assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other Parties.
Section 8.8. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory Parties had signed the same document. All counterparts are to be construed together and constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 8.9. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances will not be affected thereby and will be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
Section 8.10. Gender, Parts, Articles and Sections . Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine and neuter, and the number of all words includes the singular and plural. All references to Article numbers and Section numbers refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.
Section 8.11. Further Assurances . In connection with this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each signatory Party hereto agrees to execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and all such transactions.
Section 8.12. Withholding or Granting of Consent . Each Party may, with respect to any consent or approval that it is entitled to grant pursuant to this Agreement, grant or withhold such consent or approval in its sole and uncontrolled discretion, with or without cause, and subject to such conditions as it deems appropriate.
Section 8.13. Laws and Regulations . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Party is required to take any act, or fail to take any act, under this Agreement if the effect thereof would be to cause such Party to be in violation of any applicable law, statute, rule or regulation.
Section 8.14. Negotiation of Rights of Höegh, Limited Partners, Assignees and Third Parties . The provisions of this Agreement are enforceable solely by the Parties, and no shareholder of Höegh and no limited partner, member, assignee or other Person of the MLP has the right, separate and apart from Höegh or the MLP, as applicable, to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to compel any Party to comply with the terms of this Agreement. Höegh is entitled to enforce the rights on behalf of any Höegh Entity, and the MLP is entitled to enforce the rights on behalf of any Partnership Group Member.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on, and effective as of, the Closing Date.
HÖEGH LNG HOLDINGS LTD. | ||
By: | /s/ Camilla Nyhus-Møller | |
Name: Camilla Nyhus-Møller | ||
Title: Attorney-in-fact |
Address for Notice: | ||
c/o Höegh LNG AS | ||
Drammensveien 134 | ||
N-0277 Oslo, Norway | ||
Phone: | +4797557400 | |
Fax: | +4797557401 | |
Attention: | SVP Legal & Compliance |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP | |||
By: | /s/ Richard Tyrrell | ||
Name: | Richard Tyrrell | ||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
Address for Notice: | ||
Suite 616 | ||
48 Par-La-Ville Road | ||
Hamilton HM 11 Bermuda | ||
Phone: | +441-295-6815 | |
Fax: | +441-295-6101 | |
Attention: | Linda Longworth |
[ Signature Page to Omnibus Agreement ]
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS OPERATING LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Richard Tyrrell | ||
Name: | Richard Tyrrell | ||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
Address for Notice: | ||
Suite 616 | ||
48 Par-La-Ville Road | ||
Hamilton HM 11 Bermuda | ||
Phone: | +441-295-6815 | |
Fax: | +441-295-6101 | |
Attention: | Linda Longworth |
HÖEGH LNG GP LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Sveinung Støhle | ||
Name: | Sveinung Støhle | ||
Title: | Director |
Address for Notice: | ||
c/o Höegh LNG AS | ||
Drammensveien 134 | ||
0277 Oslo, Norway | ||
Phone: | +4797557400 | |
Fax: | +4797557401 | |
Attention: | Steffen Føreid |
[ Signature Page to Omnibus Agreement ]
Exhibit 4.3
Höegh
LNG PARTNERS LP
LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Section 1. Purpose of the Plan . The Höegh LNG Partners LP Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) has been adopted on July 23, 2014 (the “ Effective Date ”) by Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”). The Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Partnership and its Affiliates by providing to Employees, Consultants and Directors who perform services for the Partnership and its subsidiaries incentive compensation awards based on Units to encourage superior performance. The Plan is also contemplated to enhance the ability of the Partnership and its Affiliates to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the Partnership and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to advancing the business of the Partnership.
Section 2. Definitions . For purposes of the Plan, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth below. In interpreting any terms defined in this Plan, the term shall, where it appears appropriate to do so, be taken to include in each case the equivalent in any other jurisdiction.
(a) “ Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
(b) “ Award ” means an Option, Unit Appreciation Right, Restricted Unit, Phantom Unit, Unit Award, Substitute Award, Other Unit Based Award, Cash Award, Distribution Equivalent Rights (whether granted alone or in tandem with respect to another Award, other than a Restricted Unit or Unit Award), or Performance Award, in each case, granted under the Plan.
(c) “ Award Agreement ” means the written or electronic agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced.
(d) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Partnership.
(e) “ Cash Award ” means an award denominated in cash.
(f) “ Change of Control ” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon one or more of the following events:
(i) any “person” or “group” within the meaning of those terms as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, other than members, limited partners or other owners (as applicable) of the General Partner, the Partnership, or an Affiliate of either the General Partner or the Partnership, shall become the beneficial owner, by way of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise, of 50% or more of the voting power of the voting securities of the General Partner or the Partnership;
(ii) the members or limited partners (as applicable) of the General Partner or the Partnership approve, in one transaction or a series of transactions, a plan of complete liquidation of the General Partner or the Partnership;
(iii) the sale or other disposition by either the General Partner or the Partnership of all or substantially all of its assets in one or more transactions to any Person other than an Affiliate;
(iv) the General Partner or an Affiliate of the General Partner or of the Partnership ceases to be the general partner of the Partnership; or
(v) any other event specified as a “ Change of Control ” in an applicable Award Agreement.
(g) “ Committee ” means the Board or such committee as may be appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, which alternative committee may be the board of directors or managers of any Affiliate or a committee thereof.
(h) “ Consultant ” means an individual who renders consulting or advisory services to the General Partner, the Partnership or an Affiliate of either.
(i) “ Director ” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee or a Consultant (other than in that individual’s capacity as a Director).
(j) “ Distribution Equivalent Right ” or “ DER ” means a contingent right, granted alone or in tandem with a specific Award (other than a Restricted Unit or Unit Award), to receive with respect to each Unit subject to the Award an amount in cash, Units and/or Phantom Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, equal in value to the distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit during the period such Award is outstanding.
(k) “ Employee ” means an employee of the Partnership, the General Partner or an Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership.
(l) “ Fair Market Value ” means, on any relevant date, the closing sales price of a Unit on the principal national securities exchange or other market in which trading in Units occurs on the last market trading day prior to the applicable day (or, if there is no trading in the Units on such date, on the next preceding day on which there was trading) as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or other reporting service approved by the Committee). If Units are not traded on a national securities exchange or other market at the time a determination of Fair Market Value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in good faith.
(m) “ General Partner ” means Höegh LNG GP LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership.
(n) “ Option ” means an option to purchase Units.
(o) “ Other Unit Based Award ” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 6(f).
(p) “ Participant ” means an Employee, Consultant or Director who has been granted an Award under the Plan.
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(q) “ Performance Award ” means a right granted pursuant to Section 6(i) to receive an Award based upon performance conditions specified by the Committee.
(r) “ Person ” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, governmental agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
(s) “ Phantom Unit ” means a notional Unit that, upon vesting, entitles the Participant to receive, at the time of settlement, a Unit or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
(t) “ Restricted Period ” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award during which the Award remains subject to forfeiture and is not exercisable by or payable to the Participant, as the case may be.
(u) “ Restricted Unit ” means a Unit that is subject to a Restricted Period.
(v) “ SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.
(w) “ Substitute Award ” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(h).
(x) “ Unit Distribution Right ” or “ UDR ” means a distribution made by the Partnership with respect to a Restricted Unit.
(y) “ Unit ” means a common unit of the Partnership.
(z) “ Unit Appreciation Right ” or “ UAR ” means a contingent right that entitles the holder to receive, in cash or Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the exercise date of the Unit Appreciation Right (or another specified date) over the exercise price of the Unit Appreciation Right.
(aa) “ Unit Award ” means a grant of a Unit that is not subject to a Restricted Period.
Section 3. Administration .
(a) Authority of the Committee . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of the members of the Committee who are present at any meeting thereof at which a quorum is present, or acts unanimously approved by the members of the Committee in writing, shall be the acts of the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Employees, Consultants and Directors as Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Units to be covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award, consistent with the terms of the Plan, which terms may include any provision regarding the acceleration of vesting or waiver of forfeiture restrictions or any other condition or limitation regarding an Award, based on such factors as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be vested, settled, exercised, canceled, or forfeited; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and delegate to and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (viii) adopt sub-plans, not inconsistent with the Plan, in jurisdictions where it appears appropriate to do so; and (ix) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or an Award Agreement in such manner and to such extent as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons.
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(b) Limitation of Liability . The Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the Partnership, the General Partner or their Affiliates, the General Partner’s or the Partnership’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Partnership, the General Partner or any of their Affiliates acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to this Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless with respect to any such action or determination.
Section 4. Units .
(a) Limits on Units Deliverable . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) and Section 7, the number of Units that may be delivered with respect to Awards under the Plan will not exceed 658,000 Units withheld from an Award or surrendered by a Participant to satisfy the Partnership’s or an Affiliate’s tax withholding obligations (including the withholding of Units with respect to Restricted Units) or to satisfy the payment of any exercise price with respect to the Award shall not be considered to be Units delivered under the Plan for this purpose. If any Award is forfeited, cancelled, exercised, settled in cash, or otherwise terminates or expires without the actual delivery of Units pursuant to such Award (the grant of Restricted Units is not a delivery of Units for this purpose), the Units subject to such Award shall again be available for Awards under the Plan (including Units not delivered in connection with the exercise of an Option or Unit Appreciation Right). There shall not be any limitation on the number of Awards that may be granted and paid in cash.
(b) Sources of Units Deliverable Under Awards . Any Units delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of newly issued Units, Units acquired in the open market, from any Affiliate, the Partnership or any other Person, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(c) Anti-dilution Adjustments . Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 7, with respect to any “equity restructuring” event that could result in an additional compensation expense to the General Partner or the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standards Codification, Topic 718—Stock Compensation (“ ASC Topic 718 ”) if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary, the Committee shall equitably adjust the number and type of Units covered by each outstanding Award and the terms and conditions, including the exercise price and performance criteria (if any), of such Award to equitably reflect such restructuring event and shall adjust the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted after such event. With respect to any other similar event that would not result in an accounting charge under ASC Topic 718 if the adjustment to Awards with respect to such event were subject to discretionary action, the Committee shall have complete discretion to adjust Awards in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event. In the event the Committee makes any adjustment pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 4(c), the Committee shall make a corresponding and proportionate adjustment with respect to the maximum number of Units that may be delivered with respect to Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 4(a) and the kind of Units or other securities available for grant under the Plan.
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Section 5. Eligibility . Any Employee, Consultant or Director, in each case, who provides services to the Partnership and/or its subsidiaries shall be eligible to be designated a Participant and receive an Award under the Plan. If the Units issuable pursuant to an Award are intended to be registered with the SEC on Form S-8, then only “employees,” “directors,” or “consultants” of the Partnership or a parent or subsidiary of the Partnership (within the meaning of General Instruction A.1(a) to Form S-8) will be eligible to receive such an Award.
Section 6. Awards .
(a) General . Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 7(a)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment or service, and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award. Subject to Section 7(a), the Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan.
(b) Options . The Committee may grant Options to any eligible Employee, Consultant or Director. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the number of Units to be covered by each Option, the purchase price therefor and the Restricted Period and other conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.
(i) Exercise Price . The exercise price per Unit purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted but, except with respect to Substitute Awards, may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of grant of the Option. For purposes of this Section 6(b)(i), the Fair Market Value of a Unit shall be determined as of the date of grant.
(ii) Time and Method of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the exercise terms and the Restricted Period with respect to an Option grant, which may include, without limitation, a provision for accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance conditions or other events, and the method or methods by which payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made, which may include, without limitation, cash, check acceptable to the Partnership, withholding Units from an Award, a “cashless-broker” exercise through procedures approved by the Committee, or any combination of the above methods, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price.
(iii) Forfeitures . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment or service, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all unvested Options shall be forfeited by the Participant. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Options.
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(c) Unit Appreciation Rights . The Committee may grant Unit Appreciation Rights to any eligible Employee, Consultant or Director. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Unit Appreciation Rights shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each grant, whether Units or cash shall be delivered upon exercise, the exercise price therefor and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Unit Appreciation Rights, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.
(i) Exercise Price . The exercise price per Unit Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Unit Appreciation Right is granted but, except with respect to Substitute Awards, may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of grant of the Unit Appreciation Right. For purposes of this Section 6(c)(i), the Fair Market Value of a Unit shall be determined as of the date of grant.
(ii) Time of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the Restricted Period and the time or times at which a Unit Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part, which may include, without limitation, accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance conditions or other events.
(iii) Forfeitures . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment or service, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding Unit Appreciation Rights awarded to the Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Unit Appreciation Rights.
(d) Restricted Units and Phantom Units . The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Restricted Units or Phantom Units shall be granted, the number of Restricted Units or Phantom Units to be granted to each such Participant, the Restricted Period, the conditions under which the Restricted Units or Phantom Units may become vested or forfeited and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.
(i) UDRs . To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Restricted Units may provide that the distributions made by the Partnership with respect to the Restricted Units shall be subject to the same forfeiture and other restrictions as the Restricted Unit and, if restricted, such distributions shall be held, without interest, until the Restricted Unit vests or is forfeited with the UDR being paid or forfeited at the same time, as the case may be. In addition, the Committee may provide that such distributions be used to acquire additional Restricted Units for the Participant. Such additional Restricted Units may be subject to such vesting and other terms as the Committee may prescribe. Absent such a restriction on the UDRs in the Award Agreement, UDRs shall be paid to the holder of the Restricted Unit without restriction at the same time as cash distributions are paid by the Partnership to its unitholders.
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(ii) Forfeitures . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment or service, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding, unvested Restricted Units and Phantom Units awarded to the Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units.
(iii) Lapse of Restrictions .
(A) Phantom Units . Following the vesting of and at the time of settlement specified for each Phantom Unit, subject to the provisions of Section 8(b), the Participant shall be entitled to payment of such Phantom Unit and shall receive one Unit or an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(B) Restricted Units . Upon the vesting of each Restricted Unit, subject to satisfying the tax withholding obligations of Section 8(b), the Participant shall be entitled to have the restrictions removed from his or her Award so that the Participant then holds an unrestricted Unit.
(e) Unit Awards . The Committee shall have the authority to grant a Unit Award under the Plan to any Employee, Consultant or Director in a number determined by the Committee in its discretion, as a bonus or additional compensation or in lieu of cash compensation the individual is otherwise entitled to receive, in such amounts as the Committee determines to be appropriate.
(f) Other Unit Based Awards . The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Employees, Consultants and Directors such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Units, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of this Plan, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Units, purchase rights for Units, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Partnership or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Units or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Other Unit Based Awards. Units delivered pursuant to an Other Unit Based Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(f) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Units, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine. Cash Awards, as an element of or supplement to, or independent of any other Award under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(f).
(g) DERs . To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, an Employee, Consultant or Director may be granted a stand-alone DER or another Award (other than a Restricted Unit or Unit Award) granted to an Employee, Consultant or Director may include a tandem DER grant, in either case, which may provide that such DERs shall be paid directly to the Participant, be reinvested into additional Awards, be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the Committee) subject to the same vesting restrictions as the tandem Award (if any), or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Absent a contrary provision in the Award Agreement, DERs shall be paid to the Participant without restriction at the same time as ordinary cash distributions are paid by the Partnership to its unitholders.
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(h) Substitute Awards . Awards may be granted under the Plan in substitution for similar awards held by individuals who become Employees, Consultants or Directors as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition by the Partnership or an Affiliate of another entity, including an acquisition of the assets of another entity. Such Substitute Awards that are Options or Unit Appreciation Rights may have exercise prices less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the date of the substitution if such substitution complies with applicable laws and exchange rules.
(i) Performance Awards . The right of an Employee, Consultant or Director to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the vesting or timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee.
(i) Performance Conditions Generally . The performance conditions for such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria or individual performance criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee may determine that such Performance Awards shall be granted, exercised, vested and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance condition or that two or more performance conditions must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise, vesting and/or settlement of such Performance Awards. Performance conditions may differ for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.
(ii) Performance Periods . Achievement of performance conditions in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period of up to ten years, as specified by the Committee.
(iii) Settlement . At the end of the applicable performance period, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of the potential Performance Award that will be granted or will become vested, exercised and/or settled. Settlement of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Units, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce or increase the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance Awards.
(j) Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards .
(i) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem and Substitute Awards . Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the Partnership or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to, in substitution for, or in tandem with other Awards or awards granted under any other plan of the Partnership or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. Awards under the Plan may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the General Partner, the Partnership, or any Affiliate, in which the value of Units subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation, or in which the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Units minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered.
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(ii) Limits on Transfer of Awards .
(A) Except as provided in Section 6(j)(ii)(C) below, each Option and Unit Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or by the Person to whom the Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
(B) Except as provided in Section 6(j)(ii)(C) below, no Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the General Partner, the Partnership or any Affiliate.
(C) To the extent specifically provided by the Committee with respect to an Option or Unit Appreciation Right, an Option or Unit Appreciation Right may be transferred by a Participant without consideration to immediate family members or related family trusts, limited partnerships or similar entities or on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish.
(iii) Term of Awards . The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.
(iv) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals . Subject to the terms of the Plan, any applicable Award Agreement and applicable law, payments to be made by the General Partner, the Partnership, or any Affiliate upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation cash, Units, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis. Except as otherwise provided herein, the settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Units in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change of Control). Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of DERs or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Units. This Plan shall not constitute an “employee benefit plan” for purposes of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
(v) Evidencing Units . The Units or other securities of the Partnership delivered pursuant to an Award may be evidenced in any manner deemed appropriate by the Committee in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, in the form of a certificate issued in the name of the Participant or by book entry, electronic or otherwise, and shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Units or other securities are then listed, and any applicable federal, state or other laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be inscribed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(vi) Consideration for Grants . Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine.
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(vii) Delivery of Units or other Securities and Payment by Participant . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, delivery of Units pursuant to the exercise, vesting and/or settlement of an Award may be deferred for any period during which, in the good faith determination of the Committee, the Partnership is not reasonably able to obtain Units to deliver pursuant to such Award without violating applicable law or the applicable rules or regulations of any governmental agency or authority or securities exchange. No Units or other securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement (including, without limitation, any exercise price or tax withholding) is received by the Partnership.
(viii) Additional Agreements . Each Employee, Consultant or Director to whom an Award is granted under this Plan may be required to agree in writing, as a condition to the grant of such Award or otherwise, to subject an Award that is exercised or settled following such Person’s termination of services with the General Partner, the Partnership or their Affiliates to a general release of claims and/or a noncompetition agreement in favor of the General Partner, the Partnership, and their Affiliates, with the terms and conditions of such agreement(s) to be determined in good faith by the Committee.
(ix) Termination of Employment or Service . Except as provided herein, the treatment of an Award upon a termination of employment or any other service relationship by and between a Participant and the General Partner, the Partnership, or any Affiliate shall be specified in the Award Agreement controlling such Award.
Section 7. Amendment and Termination . Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:
(a) Amendments to the Plan and Awards . Except as required by applicable law or the rules of the principal securities exchange, if any, on which the Units are traded, the Board or the Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan in any manner, including increasing the number of Units available for Awards under the Plan, without the consent of any partner, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore granted, provided that no change, other than pursuant to Section 7(b), 7(c), 7(d), 7(e), or 7(g) below, in any Award shall materially reduce the rights or benefits of a Participant with respect to an Award without the consent of such Participant.
(b) Subdivision or Consolidation of Units . The terms of an Award and the number of Units authorized for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a) shall be subject to adjustment from time to time, in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If at any time, or from time to time, the Partnership shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a Unit split, by the issuance of a distribution on Units payable in Units, or otherwise) the number of Units then outstanding into a greater number of Units, or in the event the Partnership distributes an extraordinary cash dividend, then, as appropriate, (A) the maximum number of Units available for the Plan or in connection with Awards as provided in Section 4(a) shall be increased proportionately, and the kind of Units or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of Units (or other kind of securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be increased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the exercise price) for each Unit (or other kind of securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be reduced proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.
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(ii) If at any time, or from time to time, the Partnership shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, by reverse Unit split, or otherwise) the number of Units then outstanding into a lesser number of Units, then, as appropriate, (A) the maximum number of Units for the Plan or available in connection with Awards as provided in Section 4(a) shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of Units or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of Units (or other kind of securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the exercise price) for each Unit (or other kind of securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.
(iii) Whenever the number of Units subject to outstanding Awards and the price for each Unit subject to outstanding Awards are required to be adjusted as provided in this Section 7(b), the Committee shall promptly prepare a notice setting forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring adjustment, the amount of the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated, the change in price and the change in the number of Units, other securities, cash, or property subject to each Award after giving effect to the adjustments. The Committee shall promptly provide each affected Participant with such notice.
(iv) Adjustments under Sections 7(b)(i) and (ii) shall be made by the Committee, and its determination as to what adjustments shall be made and the extent thereof shall be final, binding, and conclusive. No fractional interest shall be issued under the Plan on account of any such adjustments.
(c) Recapitalizations . If the Partnership recapitalizes, reclassifies its equity securities, or otherwise changes its capital structure (a “ recapitalization ”) without a Change of Control, the number and class of Units covered by an Award theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Award shall thereafter cover the number and class of Units or other securities to which the holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to the recapitalization, the holder had been the holder of record of the number of Units then covered by such Award and the Unit limitation provided in Section 4(a) shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with the recapitalization.
(d) Additional Issuances . Except as expressly provided herein, the issuance by the Partnership of units of any class or securities convertible into units of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of units or obligations of the Partnership convertible into such units or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of Units subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per Unit, if applicable.
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(e) Change of Control . Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, upon a Change of Control, the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any holder, may affect one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual holders and which may vary among Awards: (i) remove any applicable forfeiture restrictions on any Award; (ii) accelerate the time of exercisability or the time at which the Restricted Period shall lapse to a specific date, before or after such Change of Control, specified by the Committee; (iii) require the mandatory surrender to the General Partner or the Partnership by selected holders of some or all of the outstanding Awards held by such holders (irrespective of whether such Awards are then subject to a Restricted Period or other restrictions pursuant to the Plan) as of a date, before or after such Change of Control, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Awards and pay to each holder an amount of cash per Unit equal to the amount calculated in Section 7(f) (the “ Change of Control Price ”) less the exercise price, if any, applicable to such Awards; provided , however , that to the extent the exercise price of an Option or a Unit Appreciation Right exceeds the Change of Control Price, no consideration will be paid with respect to that Award; (iv) cancel Awards that remain subject to a Restricted Period as of the date of a Change of Control without payment of any consideration to the Participant for such Awards; or (v) make such adjustments to Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change of Control (including, but not limited to, the substitution of Awards for new awards); provided , however , that the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Awards then outstanding.
(f) Change of Control Price . The “ Change of Control Price ” shall equal the amount determined in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), whichever is applicable, as follows: (i) the per Unit price offered to unitholders in any merger or consolidation, (ii) the per Unit value of the Units immediately before the Change of Control without regard to assets sold in the Change of Control and assuming the General Partner or the Partnership, as applicable, has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets, (iii) the amount distributed per Unit in a dissolution transaction, (iv) the price per Unit offered to unitholders in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change of Control takes place, or (v) if such Change of Control occurs other than pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this Section 7(f), the Fair Market Value per Unit of the Units that may otherwise be obtained with respect to such Awards or to which such Awards track, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Awards. In the event that the consideration offered to unitholders of the Partnership in any transaction described in this Section 7(f) or Section 7(e) consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash.
(g) Impact of Events on Awards Generally . In the event of changes in the outstanding Units by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the date of the grant of any Award and not otherwise provided for by this Section 7, any outstanding Awards and any Award Agreements evidencing such Awards shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee at its discretion, which adjustment may, in the Committee’s discretion, be described in the Award Agreement and may include, but not be limited to, adjustments as to the number and price of Units or other consideration subject to such Awards, accelerated vesting (in full or in part) of such Awards, conversion of such Awards into awards denominated in the securities or other interests of any successor Person, or the cash settlement of such Awards in exchange for the cancellation thereof. In the event of any such change in the outstanding Units, the aggregate number of Units available under this Plan may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive.
Section 8. General Provisions .
(a) No Rights to Award . No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.
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(b) Tax Withholding . Unless other arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the Partnership, the Partnership, the General Partner or an Affiliate is authorized to deduct, withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Units, Units that would otherwise be issued pursuant to such Award or other property) of any applicable taxes payable in respect of the grant or settlement of an Award, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any other payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Partnership or Affiliate to satisfy its withholding obligations for the payment of such taxes.
(c) No Right to Employment or Services . The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continue to be employed, to continue providing consulting services, or to remain on the Board, as applicable. Furthermore, the Partnership, the General Partner or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or his or her service relationship free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, any Award Agreement or other agreement.
(d) Governing Law . The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.
(e) Severability . If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable law or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(f) Other Laws . The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other consideration under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Units or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are then traded, and any payment tendered to the Partnership by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.
(g) No Trust or Fund Created . Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Partnership or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Partnership or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Partnership or such Affiliate.
(h) No Fractional Units . No fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such fractional Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated with or without consideration.
(i) Headings . Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
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(j) Facility of Payment . Any amounts payable hereunder to any individual under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to manage properly his financial affairs, may be paid to the legal representative of such individual, or may be applied for the benefit of such individual in any manner that the Committee may select, and the Partnership shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.
(k) Allocation of Costs . Nothing herein shall be deemed to override, amend, or modify any cost sharing arrangement, omnibus agreement, or other arrangement between the General Partner, the Partnership, and any Affiliate regarding the sharing of costs between those entities.
(l) Gender and Number . Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.
(m) No Guarantee of Tax Consequences . The Committee will attempt to structure Awards with terms and conditions and to exercise its powers and authority under the Plan in a manner that will not result in adverse tax consequences to Participants under any applicable laws; however, none of the Board, the Committee, the Partnership nor the General Partner makes any commitment or guarantee that any federal, state, local or other tax treatment will (or will not) apply or be available to any Participant.
(n) Clawback . To the extent required by (i) applicable law, including without limitation the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, any SEC rule or any applicable securities exchange listing standards and/or (ii) any policy that may be adopted by the Board, Awards and amounts paid, payable or realized pursuant to or with respect to Awards shall be subject to clawback to the extent necessary to comply with such law(s), rules, standards, and/or policy, which clawback may include forfeiture, repurchase and/or recoupment of Awards and amounts paid, payable or realized pursuant to or with respect to Awards.
Section 9. Term of the Plan . The Plan shall be effective on the date immediately preceding the close of the initial public offering of Units and shall continue until the earliest of (i) the date terminated by the Board, (ii) all Units available under the Plan have been delivered to Participants, or (iii) the 10th anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. However, any Award granted prior to such termination, and the authority of the Board or Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan shall extend beyond such termination date until the final disposition of such Award.
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Exhibit 4.6
administrative services AGREEMENT
AMONG
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP,
HÖEGH LNG Partners Operating LLC
and
Hoegh LNG Services Ltd
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
Section 1. | Definitions | 1 |
Section 2. | General | 3 |
Section 3. | Subcontracting | 3 |
Section 4. | Covenants | 4 |
Section 5. | Exclusivity | 4 |
Section 6. | Confidential Information | 5 |
Section 7. | VAT | 5 |
Section 8. | General Relationship Between the Parties | 5 |
Section 9. | Indemnity | 5 |
Section 10. | Term and Termination | 5 |
Section 11. | Subcontractor Costs and Expenses Upon Termination | 6 |
Section 12. | Surrender of Books and Records | 6 |
Section 13. | Entire Agreement | 7 |
Section 14. | Severability | 7 |
Section 15. | Law and Arbitration | 7 |
Section 16. | Notice | 8 |
Section 17. | Variation | 9 |
Section 18. | Waiver | 9 |
Section 19. | Assignment | 9 |
Section 20. | Third Parties | 9 |
Section 21. | Counterparts | 9 |
Schedule A | — | MLP Administrative Services |
Schedule B | — | Operating Company Administrative Services |
Schedule C | — | Managers |
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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT is entered into on, and effective as of, 2 July, 2014 (this “ Agreement ”), among Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ MLP ”), Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the MLP (the “ Operating Company ”), and Hoegh LNG Services Ltd, a company limited by shares registered in England and Wales with company number 9058496 and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Company (“ Höegh UK ”), each a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties .”
RECITALS:
1. | The MLP, a limited partnership whose common units representing limited partner interests in the MLP will be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and the Operating Company are holding entities that indirectly own interests in FSRUs and LNG carriers and require certain administrative services in connection with the management of the group. |
2. | The MLP and the Operating Company wish to engage Höegh UK to provide, or procure the provision of, administrative services to the MLP and the Operating Company on the terms set out herein. |
In consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:
“ Administrative Services ” means the MLP Administrative Services and the Operating Company Administrative Services.
“ Agreement ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ Change of Control ” means, with respect to any entity, an event in which securities of any class entitling the holders thereof to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors or other similar governing body of the entity are acquired, directly or indirectly, by a “ person ” or “ group ” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), who did not immediately before such acquisition own securities of the entity entitling such person or group to elect such majority (and for the purpose of this definition, any such securities held by another person who is related to such person are deemed to be owned by such person).
“ Closing Date ” means the closing date of the initial public offering of the MLP.
“ Dispute ” has the meaning given such term in Section 15 .
“ General Partner ” means Höegh LNG GP LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company and the general partner of the MLP.
“ Höegh UK ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ LCIA ” has the meaning given such term in Section 15 .
“ LIBOR ” means the London Interbank Offered Rate.
“ Managers ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4(a) .
“ MLP ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ MLP Administrative Services ” means the services described in Schedule A .
“ MLP Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the MLP, dated as of the Closing Date, as from time to time amended.
“ MLP Board ” means the Board of Directors of the MLP.
“ Officers ” has the meaning given such term in the MLP Agreement.
“ Operating Company ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ Operating Company Administrative Services ” means the services described in Schedule B .
“ Operating Company Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Operating Company.
“ Partnership Group ” means the MLP, the General Partner and the subsidiaries of the MLP.
“ Party ” or “ Parties ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or any other entity.
“ Subcontractor Costs and Expenses ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3(b) .
“ Subcontractor Due Date ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3(e) .
“ Subcontractor Services Fees ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3(c) .
“ Tribunal ” has the meaning given such term in Section 15 .
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“ Unitholders ” means holders of common units representing limited partnership interests in the MLP.
“ VAT ” means value added, goods, sales or any similar tax.
Section 2. General .
(a) Höegh UK shall provide, or procure the provision of, the MLP Administrative Services to the MLP (acting reasonably) and subject to the supervision of the MLP Board. Höegh UK may subcontract such part of the MLP Administrative Services as the MLP may authorize from time to time; provided, however, that Höegh UK may only subcontract such portion of the MLP Administrative Services to Höegh LNG AS, a Norwegian private limited liability company (“ Höegh Norway ”), or any other Norwegian entity as described in Schedule A of that certain Administrative Services Agreement, dated on or about the same date as this Agreement, between Höegh UK and Höegh Norway (the “ Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement ”), with any amendment of such Schedule A to be approved by the MLP. Notwithstanding any such subcontracting, Höegh UK shall remain responsible and primarily liable for the provision of the MLP Administrative Services. For the avoidance of doubt, Höegh UK shall not take any decisions relating to the business strategies of the MLP.
(b) Höegh UK shall provide, or procure the provision of, the Operating Company Administrative Services to the Operating Company (acting reasonably) and subject to the supervision of the Operating Company Board. Höegh UK may subcontract such part of the Operating Company Administrative Services as it deems advisable or appropriate in its sole discretion and with the prior written consent of the Operating Company; provided, however, that Höegh UK may only subcontract such portion of the Operating Company Administrative Services to Höegh Norway or any other Norwegian entity as described in Schedule A of the Höegh UK Administrative Services Agreement, with any amendment of such Schedule A to be approved by the Operating Company. Notwithstanding any such subcontracting, Höegh UK shall remain responsible and primarily liable for the provision of the Operating Company Administrative Services. For the avoidance of doubt, Höegh UK shall not take any decisions relating to the business strategies of the Operating Company.
Section 3. Subcontracting . If the MLP, the Operating Company and Höegh UK agree that Höegh UK shall perform all or part of the Administrative Services, the terms of such subcontracting arrangement will be as follows:
(a) Höegh UK shall comply with the covenants set out in Section 4 , Section 5 and Section 12 ;
(b) the MLP or the Operating Company shall reimburse Höegh UK on a monthly basis in arrears for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by Höegh UK (the “ Subcontractor Costs and Expenses ”) in connection with the provision of the Administrative Services for the preceding month;
(c) the MLP or the Operating Company shall pay to Höegh UK on a monthly basis in arrears a services fee equal to 5.00% of the Subcontractor Costs and Expenses that relate to salary and benefits for the preceding month (the “ Subcontractor Services Fees ”);
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(d) within 20 days after the end of each calendar month, Höegh UK shall submit to the Operating Company for payment an invoice covering the Subcontractor Costs and Expenses and the Subcontractor Services Fees. Each invoice will contain such supporting detail as may be reasonably required to validate such amounts due; and
(e) the MLP or the Operating Company shall make payment owed pursuant to this Section 2(a) promptly upon receipt of each invoice (any such day on which a payment is due, a “ Subcontractor Due Date ”). All invoices for the Subcontractor Costs and Expenses and the Subcontractor Services Fees will be submitted in and paid in U.S. Dollars. All amounts not paid within 10 days after the Subcontractor Due Date bear interest at the rate of 3.00% per annum above the three-month US$ LIBOR rate as at the Subcontractor Due Date from such Subcontractor Due Date until the date payment is received in full by Höegh UK.
Section 4. Covenants . During the term of this Agreement, Höegh UK shall:
(a) cause those of its officers set forth on Schedule C and any other of its officers or employees as the MLP Board may from time to time reasonably request (collectively, the “ Managers ”) to hold the positions, and provide the services associated with such positions, set forth on Schedule C ;
(b) procure that the Managers hold the positions, and provide the services associated with such positions, set forth on Schedule C to the same level of skill and care as would be required of them by applicable law and the terms of the MLP Agreement if they were Officers of the MLP;
(c) perform, or procure the performance of, the Administrative Services in a diligent manner;
(d) retain, or procure at all times the retention by any Person to whom performance of the Administrative Services is subcontracted from time to time of, sufficiently qualified staff to provide the Administrative Services;
(e) keep, and procure the keeping by any Person to whom performance of the Administrative Services is subcontracted of, full and proper books, records and accounts showing clearly all transactions relating to the provision of the Administrative Services in accordance with established general commercial practices and in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and provide or procure access to the MLP and the Operating Company and their representatives to audit and examine such books, records and accounts at any time during customary business hours; and
(f) comply, and procure the compliance by any Person to whom performance of the Administrative Services is subcontracted, with all laws and regulations applicable to the Parties, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977 and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 and any other anti-corruption legislation.
Section 5. Exclusivity . Höegh UK and its employees shall not, without the prior written consent of the MLP and the Operating Company (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provide services of a nature similar to the Administrative Services to any other Person.
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Section 6. Confidential Information . Höegh UK shall, and shall procure that any Person to whom performance of any of the Administrative Services is subcontracted, keep confidential, all information it has acquired or developed in the course of providing the Administrative Services.
Section 7. VAT .
(a) All amounts payable under this Agreement are deemed to be exclusive of VAT, which will be payable upon receipt of a valid VAT invoice, if subject to VAT.
(b) Where this Agreement requires one Party to reimburse another for any costs or expenses, the payer shall, at the same time, pay the payee all VAT incurred by the payee in respect of those costs or expenses. The amount payable will be the amount that the payee reasonably determines is the amount that neither it, nor any other member of any group of which it is a member for VAT purposes, is entitled to recover from the relevant tax authority in respect of the VAT.
Section 8. General Relationship Between the Parties . Höegh UK and any subcontractors shall perform the Administrative Services as independent contractors and the Parties do not intend, and nothing herein will be interpreted so as, to create a partnership or joint venture relationship or agency relationship between Höegh UK and any one or more of the MLP, the Operating Company, the General Partner or any other member of the Partnership Group. Nothing in this Agreement creates any employment relationship between the MLP, on the one hand, and the Managers or any other Person performing the Administrative Services, on the other.
Section 9. Indemnity . The MLP and the Operating Company shall indemnify and hold harmless any Person to whom provision of the Administrative Services is subcontracted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including Höegh UK and its subcontractors) and their officers, employees and agents against all actions, proceedings, claims, demands or liabilities that may be brought against them due to the performance of the Administrative Services, including, without limitation, all actions, proceedings, claims, demands or liabilities brought under the environmental laws of any jurisdiction, and against and in respect of all costs and expenses (including legal costs and expenses on a full indemnity basis) they may suffer or incur due to defending or settling same; provided, however, that such indemnity excludes any or all losses, actions, proceedings, claims, demands, costs, damages, expenses and liabilities whatsoever to the extent that they are caused by or due to the fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence of such subcontractor or its officers, employees or agents. Any such subcontractor and each of its officers, employees and agents may enforce the provisions of this Section 9 in accordance with the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
Section 10. Term and Termination . This Agreement terminates on the fifth anniversary of the date at the head of this Agreement or if terminated:
(a) by the MLP Board and the board of directors of the Operating Company upon 90 days’ written notice for any reason in its sole discretion; or
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(b) by Höegh UK upon 90 days’ written notice if:
(i) there is a Change of Control of the MLP or the General Partner;
(ii) a receiver is appointed for all or substantially all of the property of the MLP or the Operating Company ;
(iii) an order is made to wind up the MLP or the Operating Company;
(iv) a final judgment, order or decree that materially and adversely affects the ability of the MLP or the Operating Company to perform under this Agreement will have been obtained or entered against the MLP or the Operating Company, and such judgment, order or decree will not have been vacated, discharged or stayed; or
(v) the MLP makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, files a petition in bankruptcy or for liquidation, is adjudged insolvent or bankrupt, commences any proceeding for a reorganization or arrangement of debts, dissolution or liquidation under any law or statute or of any jurisdiction applicable thereto or if any such proceeding is commenced.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and as provided in Schedule C , the arrangement with respect to the positions held, and the provision of services associated with such positions, by any or all of the Managers may be terminated at any time with respect to any or all of such Managers by the MLP Board in its sole discretion. Such positions, and the provision of services associated with such positions, terminate immediately upon delivery by the MLP Board of written notice to the Operating Company. The termination of the positions held, and the provision of services associated with such positions, by any or all of the Managers does not constitute a termination of the other provisions of this Agreement.
Any termination of this Agreement is without prejudice to any accrued rights and liabilities of any Party subsisting as at the date of termination. Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, the provisions of Section 6 , Section 9 , Section 10 , Section 11 , Section 12 , Section 13 , Section 14 , Section 15 , Section 17 , Section 18 and Section 19 shall survive the termination and will remain in force and binding on the Parties.
Section 11. Subcontractor Costs and Expenses Upon Termination . Upon termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10 , the MLP and the Operating Company shall be obligated to pay any and all amounts payable pursuant to Section 3 for the applicable Administrative Services provided prior to the time of termination.
Section 12. Surrender of Books and Records . Upon termination of this Agreement, Höegh UK shall forthwith surrender to the MLP and the Operating Company, or procure the surrender to the MLP and the Operating Company, of any and all books, records, documents and other property relating to this Agreement and to the business, finance, technology, trademarks or affairs of the MLP and any member of the Partnership Group and, except as required by law, shall not retain any copies of same.
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Section 13. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the matters contained herein.
Section 14. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances will not be affected thereby and will be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
Section 15. Law and Arbitration . This Agreement (including the agreement as to arbitration contained herein) and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it (including disputes as to regarding its existence, validity or termination) or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) (a “ Dispute ”) will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of England and Wales without reference to any choice of law principle that would result in the application of any other law.
The Parties specifically acknowledge that the terms of this Agreement represent their sole and express intent, to the exclusion of any other intent, and they specifically disclaim the application of any provision of the applicable law, legal doctrine, or principle that would permit variance or avoidance of these terms.
Any Dispute will be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the rules of arbitration of the London Court of International Arbitration (the “ LCIA ”), which rules are deemed to be incorporated herein. The seat (or legal place) of arbitration will be London, England. The language of the arbitration will be English.
The tribunal (the “ Tribunal ”) will consist of one arbitrator. The Parties shall jointly nominate the sole arbitrator within 30 days of the request for arbitration. If the Parties fail to agree on the sole arbitrator within such time, the LCIA court shall appoint the arbitrator on an expedited basis.
Any award will be final and binding on the Parties and may be confirmed in, and judgment upon the award entered by, any court having jurisdiction. The Parties hereby waive any reference to the courts under Sections 45 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
The Tribunal shall render a final award in any arbitration within six months of the appointment of the Tribunal by the LCIA court. This time limit may only be extended with the consent of the Parties or by the Tribunal for good cause shown, provided, that no award will be invalid even if it is not rendered within the time period herein specified, or not rendered within any extended period. At the earliest opportunity, the Tribunal shall, in consultation with the Parties, set out a procedural timetable for the service of pleadings and evidence. Any pleading or evidence served otherwise than in compliance with such timetable will be struck out by the Tribunal, unless the submitting Party shows good cause for the deviation and has been granted an appropriate extension by the Tribunal (ahead of the expiration of the relevant deadline), bearing in mind the effect such extension will or may have on the case timetable.
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The Parties agree that there will be a presumption that there will be no disclosure or discovery of documents, save for the documents that each Party intends to rely upon. To the extent that the Tribunal considers that it may be appropriate to order any document production beyond this, it will be guided by the IBA Rules of the Taking of Evidence in International Commercial Arbitration in doing so.
The Parties agree that, if any provision of this Agreement is not performed in accordance with its terms, irreparable damage may occur and, notwithstanding this Section 15 , the Party affected thereby is entitled to apply to the courts of England and Wales for an interim injunction to prevent such breach, or continuing breach, of this Agreement and/or specific performance of the provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy available under English law, including those prescribed by Section 44 of the Arbitration Act 1996. The Parties agree that any application to the courts of England and Wales made hereunder is one of urgency, and legal proceedings may be immediately commenced in the English courts, notwithstanding that the arbitration procedure prescribed in this Section 15 has not yet been initiated. Any injunction or order so issued will be enforceable in any court having jurisdiction over any Party.
Section 16. Notice . Notice under this Agreement will be given (via hand delivery or facsimile) as follows:
If to the MLP :
Attn: Richard Tyrrell
c/o Hoegh LNG Services Ltd
150 Minories
London, England, United Kingdom
EC3N 1LS
Telephone: +44 207 347 5396
Fax: +44 207 347 5405
If to the Operating Company :
Attn: Richard Tyrrell
c/o Hoegh LNG Services Ltd
150 Minories
London, England, United Kingdom
EC3N 1LS
Telephone: +44 207 347 5396
Fax: +44 207 347 5405
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If to Höegh UK :
Attn: Richard Tyrrell
Hoegh LNG Services Ltd
150 Minories
London, England, United Kingdom
EC3N 1LS
Telephone: +44 207 347 5396
Fax: +44 207 347 5405
Section 17. Variation . Any variation to this Agreement will not be effective unless it is made in writing and signed by all of the Parties.
Section 18. Waiver . The failure of either Party to enforce any term of this Agreement does not act as a waiver. Any waiver must be specifically stated as such in writing.
Section 19. Assignment . No Party is permitted to assign or otherwise dispose of the benefit of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties. This Agreement is binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties’ successors and assigns.
Section 20. Third Parties . Save as expressly provided by this Agreement, a Person who is not a Party has no right to enforce or to receive the benefit of this Agreement under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties may terminate, rescind or agree to any variation, waiver or settlement under this Agreement without the consent of any other Person.
Section 21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory Parties had signed the same document. All counterparts are to be construed together and constitute one and the same instrument.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on, and effective as of, the date first above written.
HÖegh lng partners lp | ||
By: | /s/ Richard Tyrrell | |
Name: Richard Tyrrell | ||
Title: CEO/CFO | ||
HÖEGH LNG Partners Operating LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Richard Tyrrell | |
Name: Richard Tyrrell | ||
Title: CEO/CFO | ||
Hoegh LNG Services Ltd | ||
By: | /s/ Richard Tyrrell | |
Name: Richard Tyrrell | ||
Title: Director |
Signature
Page to the
Administrative Services Agreement
among the MLP, the Operating Company and Höegh UK
SCHEDULE A
MLP ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Höegh UK shall provide, or subcontract the provision of, such of the following administrative services (the “ MLP Administrative Services ”) to the MLP, as the MLP Board may from time to time request and direct Höegh UK to provide pursuant to this Agreement:
(a) Assist with the commercial management of the MLP and the execution of the business strategies of the MLP and investment decisions taken by the MLP Board, provided, that nothing herein permits or authorizes Höegh UK to make any strategic or investment decisions for or on behalf of the MLP;
(b) Keep and maintain at all times books, records and accounts that contain particulars of receipts and disbursements relating to the assets and liabilities of the MLP, and such books, records and accounts will be kept pursuant to normal commercial practices that permit the MLP to prepare or cause to be prepared financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and in each case will also be in accordance with those financial statements required to be kept by the MLP under applicable federal securities laws and regulations in the United States and as the MLP is required to keep and file under applicable foreign taxing regulations and the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations applicable with respect thereto, all as amended from time to time, provided that any register of members of the MLP shall be kept outside the United Kingdom;
(c) Prepare all such returns, filings and documents, for review and approval by the MLP as may be required under the MLP Agreement, as well as such other returns, filings, documents and instruments as may from time to time be requested or instructed by the MLP, and file such documents, as applicable, as directed by the MLP with the relevant authority;
(d) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, advisory services to the MLP with respect to the MLP’s obligations under applicable securities laws and regulations in the United States and assist the MLP in arranging for compliance with continuous disclosure obligations under applicable securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 and any other securities exchange upon which the MLP’s securities are listed, including the preparation for review, approval and filing by the MLP of reports and other documents with all applicable regulatory authorities, provided, that nothing herein permits or authorizes Höegh UK to act for or on behalf of the MLP in its relationship with regulatory authorities, except to the extent that specific authorization may from time to time be given by the MLP;
(e) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, advisory, clerical and investor relations services to assist and support the MLP, attending roadshows and promoting investment in the MLP, planning and executing investor relations activities and communications with potential investors, the financial community and the Unitholders, including in connection with disclosures that may be required for regulatory compliance to the Unitholders and the wider financial markets, as the MLP may from time to time request or direct, provided, that nothing herein permits or authorizes Höegh UK to determine the content of any such communications by the MLP to the Unitholders and the wider financial markets;
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(f) At the request and under the direction of the MLP, handle, or arrange for the handling of, all administrative and clerical matters in respect of (i) the call and arrangement of all meetings of the Unitholders pursuant to the MLP Agreement, (ii) the preparation of all materials (including notices of meetings and information circulars) in respect thereof and (iii) the submission of all such materials to the MLP in sufficient time prior to the dates upon which they must be mailed, filed or otherwise relied upon so that the MLP has full opportunity to review, approve, execute and return them to Höegh UK for filing or mailing or other disposition as the MLP may require or direct;
(g) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, or secure sufficient and necessary office space, equipment and personnel, including all accounting, clerical, secretarial, corporate, administrative and information technology services, as may be reasonably necessary for the performance of the MLP’s business (outside the United Kingdom);
(h) Arrange for the provision of such audit, accounting, legal, insurance and other professional services as are reasonably required by the MLP from time to time in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities under the MLP Agreement (including the review of quarterly and annual reports), to the extent such advice and analysis can be reasonably provided or arranged by Höegh UK, provided, that nothing herein permits or authorizes Höegh UK to select the auditor of the MLP, which will be selected in accordance with the provisions for the appointment of the auditor pursuant to the MLP Agreement or as otherwise required by law governing the MLP, or to communicate with the auditor other than in the ordinary course of making such books and records available for review as the auditor may require and to respond to queries from the auditor with respect to the accounts and statements prepared by, or arranged by, Höegh UK, and in particular Höegh UK shall not have any of the authorities, rights or responsibilities of the audit committee of the MLP Board, but shall provide, or arrange for the provision of, information to such committee as may from time to time be required or requested, and provided further, that nothing herein entitles Höegh UK to retain legal counsel for the MLP unless such selection is specifically approved by the MLP Board;
(i) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, such assistance and support as the MLP may from time to time request in connection with any new or existing capitalization or financing of the MLP, including executing bank financing and capital markets transactions, such assistance and support to be provided in accordance with the direction, and under the supervision, of the MLP Board, provided that Höegh UK shall not take any decision on entering into such transactions;
(j) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, such administrative and clerical services as may be required by the MLP to support and assist the MLP in considering any future acquisitions or divestments of assets of the MLP and for the integration of any businesses or assets acquired by the MLP, all in accordance with the direction and under the supervision of the MLP Board;
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(k) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, such support and assistance to the MLP as the MLP may from time to time request in connection with any future offerings of equity or debt securities that the MLP may at any time determine is desirable for the MLP, all under the direction and supervision of the MLP Board;
(l) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, at the request and under the direction of the MLP Board, such communications to the transfer agent for the MLP as may be necessary or desirable;
(m) Prepare and provide, or arrange for the preparation and provision of, regular cash reports and other accounting information for review by the MLP, so as to permit and enable the MLP Board to make all determinations of financial matters required to be made pursuant to the MLP Agreement, including the determination of amounts available for distribution by the MLP to the Unitholders, and to assist the MLP in making arrangements with the transfer agent for the MLP for the payment of distributions to the Unitholders in accordance with the MLP Agreement;
(n) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, such assistance to the MLP as the MLP Board may request or direct with respect to the performance of the obligations to the Unitholders under the MLP Agreement and to provide monitoring of various obligations and rights under agreements entered into by the MLP and to provide advance reports on a timely basis to the MLP advising of steps, procedures and compliance issues under such agreements, so as to enable the MLP to make all such decisions as would be necessary or desirable thereunder;
(o) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, such additional administrative and clerical services pertaining to the MLP, the assets and liabilities of the MLP and the Unitholders and matters incidental thereto as may be reasonably requested by the MLP Board from time to time;
(p) Negotiate and arrange, at the request and under the direction of the MLP Board, for interest rate swap agreements, foreign currency contracts, forward exchange contracts and any other hedging arrangements, provided that Höegh UK shall not have authority to execute such agreements;
(q) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, information technology services;
(r) Maintain, or arrange for the maintenance of, the MLP’s and the MLP’s subsidiaries’ existence and good standing in necessary jurisdictions;
(s) Monitor and maintain compliance with loan and credit terms with lenders; and
(t) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, at the request and under the direction of the MLP Board, cash management and services, including assistance with preparation of budgets, overseeing banking services and bank accounts and arranging for the deposit of funds.
A- 3 |
SCHEDULE B
Operating Company ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Höegh UK shall provide, or subcontract the provision of, such of the following administrative services (the “ Operating Company Administrative Services ”) to the Operating Company, as the board of directors of the Operating Company may from time to time request and direct Höegh UK to provide pursuant to this Agreement:
(a) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, advice on cash management and services;
(b) Arrange for the preparation and provision of regular cash reports and other accounting information for review by the Operating Company, so as to permit and enable the board of directors of the Operating Company to make the determination of amounts available for distribution by the Operating Company to the MLP; and
(c) Provide, or arrange for the provision of, advice on financing and other agreements into which the Operating Company is considering entering.
B- 1 |
SCHEDULE C
MANAGERS
Name |
Position with the Operating Company |
Position with the MLP | ||
Richard Tyrrell |
Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer |
Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer |
C- 1 |
Exhibit 4.7
administrative services AGREEMENT
between
Hoegh LNG Services Ltd
AND
Höegh LNG AS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1. | Definitions | 1 |
Section 2. | General | 3 |
Section 3. | Subcontracting | 3 |
Section 4. | Covenants | 3 |
Section 5. | Exclusivity | 4 |
Section 6. | Confidential Information | 4 |
Section 7. | VAT | 4 |
Section 8. | General Relationship Between the Parties | 4 |
Section 9. | Indemnity | 5 |
Section 10. | Term and Termination | 5 |
Section 11. | Subcontractor Costs and Expenses Upon Termination | 6 |
Section 12. | Surrender of Books and Records | 6 |
Section 13. | Entire Agreement | 6 |
Section 14. | Severability | 6 |
Section 15. | Law and Arbitration | 6 |
Section 16. | Notice | 8 |
Section 17. | Variation | 8 |
Section 18. | Waiver | 8 |
Section 19. | Assignment | 8 |
Section 20. | Third Parties | 8 |
Section 21. | Counterparts | 8 |
Schedule A — Administrative Services
i |
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT is entered into on, and effective as of, 2 July, 2014 (this “ Agreement ”), between Hoegh LNG Services Ltd, a company limited by shares registered in England and Wales with company number 9058496 and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Company (as defined below) (“ Höegh UK ”), and Höegh LNG AS, a Norwegian private limited liability company (“ Höegh Norway ”), each a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties .”
RECITALS:
1. | Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership whose common units representing limited partner interests in it will be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “ MLP ”), and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the MLP (the “ Operating Company ”), are holding entities that indirectly own interests in FSRUs and LNG carriers and require certain administrative services in connection with the management of the group. |
2. | Pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement, dated on or about the same date as this Agreement, among the MLP, the Operating Company and Höegh UK, as amended from time to time (the “ MLP Administrative Services Agreement ”), the MLP and the Operating Company have engaged Höegh UK to provide, or procure the provision of, administrative services to the MLP and the Operating Company. |
3. | Pursuant to the MLP Administrative Services Agreement, Höegh UK may, as authorized from time to time by the MLP and the Operating Company, subcontract to Höegh Norway the Administrative Services. |
4. | Höegh UK wishes to engage Höegh Norway to provide, or procure the provision of, the Administrative Services on the terms set out herein. |
In consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:
“ Administrative Services ” means the services described in Schedule A , as delegated to Höegh Norway from time to time.
“ Agreement ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the MLP.
“ Change of Control ” means, with respect to any entity, an event in which securities of any class entitling the holders thereof to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors or other similar governing body of the entity are acquired, directly or indirectly, by a “ person ” or “ group ” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), who did not immediately before such acquisition own securities of the entity entitling such person or group to elect such majority (and for the purpose of this definition, any such securities held by another person who is related to such person are deemed to be owned by such person).
“ Closing Date ” means the closing date of the initial public offering of the MLP.
“ Dispute ” has the meaning given such term in Section 15 .
“ General Partner ” means Höegh LNG GP LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company and the general partner of the MLP.
“ Höegh Norway ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ Höegh UK ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ LCIA ” has the meaning given such term in Section 15 .
“ LIBOR ” means the London Interbank Offered Rate.
“ MLP ” has the meaning given such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ MLP Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the MLP, dated as of the Closing Date, as from time to time amended.
“ Operating Company ” means Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the MLP.
“ Partnership Group ” means the MLP, the General Partner and the subsidiaries of the MLP.
“ Party ” or “ Parties ” has the meaning given such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or any other entity.
“ Subcontractor Costs and Expenses ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3(b) .
“ Subcontractor Due Date ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3(e) .
“ Subcontractor Services Fees ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3(c) .
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“ Tribunal ” has the meaning given such term in Section 15 .
“ Unitholders ” means holders of common units representing limited partnership interests in the MLP.
“ VAT ” means value added, goods, sales or any similar tax.
Section 2. General . Höegh Norway shall provide, or procure the provision of, the Administrative Services to Höegh UK (acting reasonably) and subject to the supervision of the board of directors of Höegh UK. Höegh Norway may not subcontract all or part of the Administrative Services, save that it may subcontract all or such portion of the Administrative Services as it deems advisable or appropriate in its sole discretion, with the prior written consent of Höegh UK, to any other Person.
Section 3. Subcontracting . If Höegh UK and Höegh Norway agree that Höegh Norway shall perform certain of the Administrative Services, the terms of such subcontracting arrangement will be as follows:
(a) Höegh Norway shall comply with the covenants set out in Section 4 , Section 5 and Section 12 ;
(b) Höegh UK shall reimburse Höegh Norway on a monthly basis in arrears for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by Höegh Norway (the “ Subcontractor Costs and Expenses ”) in connection with the provision of the Administrative Services for the preceding month;
(c) Höegh UK shall pay to Höegh Norway on a monthly basis in arrears a services fee equal to 3.00% of the Subcontractor Costs and Expenses for the preceding month (the “ Subcontractor Services Fees ”);
(d) within 20 days after the end of each calendar month, Höegh Norway shall submit to Höegh UK for payment an invoice covering the Subcontractor Costs and Expenses and the Subcontractor Services Fees. Each invoice will contain such supporting detail as may be reasonably required to validate such amounts due; and
(e) Höegh UK shall make payment owed pursuant to this Section 2 promptly upon receipt of each invoice (any such day on which a payment is due, a “ Subcontractor Due Date ”). All invoices for the Subcontractor Costs and Expenses and the Subcontractor Services Fees will be submitted in and paid in U.S. Dollars. All amounts not paid within 10 days after the Subcontractor Due Date bear interest at the rate of 3.00% per annum above the three-month US$ LIBOR rate as at the Subcontractor Due Date from such Subcontractor Due Date until the date payment is received in full by Höegh Norway.
Section 4. Covenants . During the term of this Agreement, Höegh Norway shall:
(a) perform, or procure the performance of, the Administrative Services in a diligent manner;
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(b) retain, or procure at all times the retention by any Person to whom performance of the Administrative Services is subcontracted from time to time of, sufficiently qualified staff to provide the Administrative Services;
(c) keep, and procure the keeping by any Person to whom performance of the Administrative Services is subcontracted of, full and proper books, records and accounts showing clearly all transactions relating to the provision of the Administrative Services in accordance with established general commercial practices and in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and provide or procure access to Höegh UK and its representatives to audit and examine such books, records and accounts at any time during customary business hours; and
(d) comply, and procure the compliance by any Person to whom performance of the Administrative Services is subcontracted, with all laws and regulations applicable to the Parties, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977 and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 and any other anti-corruption legislation.
Section 5. Exclusivity . Höegh Norway and its employees shall not, without the prior written consent of Höegh UK (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provide services of a nature similar to the Administrative Services to any other Person other than Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
Section 6. Confidential Information . Höegh Norway shall, and shall procure that any Person to whom performance of any of the Administrative Services is subcontracted, keep confidential, all information it has acquired or developed in the course of providing the Administrative Services.
Section 7. VAT .
(a) All amounts payable under this Agreement are deemed to be exclusive of VAT, which will be payable upon receipt of a valid VAT invoice, if subject to VAT.
(b) Where this Agreement requires one Party to reimburse another for any costs or expenses, the payer shall, at the same time, pay the payee all VAT incurred by the payee in respect of those costs or expenses. The amount payable will be the amount that the payee reasonably determines is the amount that neither it, nor any other member of any group of which it is a member for VAT purposes, is entitled to recover from the relevant tax authority in respect of the VAT.
Section 8. General Relationship Between the Parties . Höegh Norway and any subcontractors shall perform the Administrative Services as independent contractors and the Parties do not intend, and nothing herein will be interpreted so as, to create a partnership or joint venture relationship or agency relationship between Höegh Norway and any one or more of the MLP, the Operating Company, the General Partner or any other member of the Partnership Group. Nothing in this Agreement creates any employment relationship between the MLP, on the one hand, and any other Person performing the Administrative Services, on the other.
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Section 9. Indemnity . Höegh UK shall indemnify and hold harmless any Person to whom provision of the Administrative Services is subcontracted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including any subcontractors of Höegh Norway) and their officers, employees and agents against all actions, proceedings, claims, demands or liabilities that may be brought against them due to the performance of the Administrative Services, including, without limitation, all actions, proceedings, claims, demands or liabilities brought under the environmental laws of any jurisdiction, and against and in respect of all costs and expenses (including legal costs and expenses on a full indemnity basis) they may suffer or incur due to defending or settling same; provided, however, that such indemnity excludes any or all losses, actions, proceedings, claims, demands, costs, damages, expenses and liabilities whatsoever to the extent that they are caused by or due to the fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence of such subcontractor or its officers, employees or agents. Any such subcontractor and each of its officers, employees and agents may enforce the provisions of this Section 9 in accordance with the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
Section 10. Term and Termination . This Agreement terminates on the fifth anniversary of the date at the head of this Agreement or if terminated:
(a) by the board of directors of Höegh UK upon 90 days’ written notice for any reason in its sole discretion; or
(b) by the board of directors of Höegh Norway upon 90 days’ written notice if:
(i) there is a Change of Control of the MLP or the General Partner;
(ii) a receiver is appointed for all or substantially all of the property of the MLP;
(iii) an order is made to wind up the MLP;
(iv) a final judgment, order or decree that materially and adversely affects the ability of the MLP or the Operating Company to perform under the MLP Administrative Services Agreement will have been obtained or entered against the MLP or the Operating Company, and such judgment, order or decree will not have been vacated, discharged or stayed;
(v) the MLP or the Operating Company makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, files a petition in bankruptcy or for liquidation, is adjudged insolvent or bankrupt, commences any proceeding for a reorganization or arrangement of debts, dissolution or liquidation under any law or statute or of any jurisdiction applicable thereto or if any such proceeding is commenced;
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(vi) a final judgment, order or decree that materially and adversely affects the ability of Höegh UK to perform under this Agreement will have been obtained or entered against Höegh UK, and such judgment, order or decree will not have been vacated, discharged or stayed; or
(vii) Höegh UK makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, files a petition in bankruptcy or for liquidation, is adjudged insolvent or bankrupt, commences any proceeding for a reorganization or arrangement of debts, dissolution or liquidation under any law or statute or of any jurisdiction applicable thereto or if any such proceeding is commenced.
Any termination of this Agreement is without prejudice to any accrued rights and liabilities of any Party subsisting as at the date of termination. Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, the provisions of Section 6 , Section 9 , Section 10 , Section 11 , Section 12 , Section 13 , Section 14 , Section 15 , Section 17 , Section 18 and Section 19 shall survive the termination and will remain in force and binding on the Parties.
Section 11. Subcontractor Costs and Expenses Upon Termination . Upon termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10 , Höegh UK shall be obligated to pay any and all amounts payable pursuant to Section 3 for the applicable Administrative Services provided prior to the time of termination.
Section 12. Surrender of Books and Records . Upon termination of this Agreement, Höegh Norway shall forthwith surrender to Höegh UK, or procure the surrender to Höegh UK, of any and all books, records, documents and other property relating to this Agreement and to the business, finance, technology, trademarks or affairs of the MLP and any member of the Partnership Group (including Höegh UK) and, except as required by law, shall not retain any copies of same.
Section 13. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the matters contained herein.
Section 14. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances will not be affected thereby and will be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
Section 15. Law and Arbitration . This Agreement (including the agreement as to arbitration contained herein) and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it (including disputes as to regarding its existence, validity or termination) or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) (a “ Dispute ”) will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of England and Wales without reference to any choice of law principle that would result in the application of any other law.
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The Parties specifically acknowledge that the terms of this Agreement represent their sole and express intent, to the exclusion of any other intent, and they specifically disclaim the application of any provision of the applicable law, legal doctrine or principle that would permit variance or avoidance of these terms.
Any Dispute will be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the rules of arbitration of the London Court of International Arbitration (the “ LCIA ”), which rules are deemed to be incorporated herein. The seat (or legal place) of arbitration will be London, England. The language of the arbitration will be English.
The tribunal (the “ Tribunal ”) will consist of one arbitrator. The Parties shall jointly nominate the sole arbitrator within 30 days of the request for arbitration. If the Parties fail to agree on the sole arbitrator within such time, the LCIA court shall appoint the arbitrator on an expedited basis.
Any award will be final and binding on the Parties and may be confirmed in, and judgment upon the award entered by, any court having jurisdiction. The Parties hereby waive any reference to the courts under Sections 45 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
The Tribunal shall render a final award in any arbitration within six months of the appointment of the Tribunal by the LCIA court. This time limit may only be extended with the consent of the Parties or by the Tribunal for good cause shown, provided, that no award will be invalid even if it is not rendered within the time period herein specified, or not rendered within any extended period. At the earliest opportunity, the Tribunal shall, in consultation with the Parties, set out a procedural timetable for the service of pleadings and evidence. Any pleading or evidence served otherwise than in compliance with such timetable will be struck out by the Tribunal, unless the submitting Party shows good cause for the deviation and has been granted an appropriate extension by the Tribunal (ahead of the expiration of the relevant deadline), bearing in mind the effect such extension will or may have on the case timetable.
The Parties agree that there will be a presumption that there will be no disclosure or discovery of documents, save for the documents that each Party intends to rely upon. To the extent that the Tribunal considers that it may be appropriate to order any document production beyond this, it will be guided by the IBA Rules of the Taking of Evidence in International Commercial Arbitration in doing so.
The Parties agree that, if any provision of this Agreement is not performed in accordance with its terms, irreparable damage may occur and, notwithstanding this Section 15 , the Party affected thereby is entitled to apply to the courts of England and Wales for an interim injunction to prevent such breach, or continuing breach, of this Agreement and/or specific performance of the provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy available under English law, including those prescribed by Section 44 of the Arbitration Act 1996. The Parties agree that any application to the courts of England and Wales made hereunder is one of urgency, and legal proceedings may be immediately commenced in the English courts, notwithstanding that the arbitration procedure prescribed in this Section 15 has not yet been initiated. Any injunction or order so issued will be enforceable in any court having jurisdiction over any Party.
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Section 16. Notice . Notice under this Agreement will be given (via hand delivery or facsimile) as follows:
If to Höegh UK :
Attn: Richard Tyrrell
Hoegh LNG Services Ltd
150 Minories
London, England, United Kingdom
EC3N 1LS
Telephone: +44 207 347 5396
Fax: +44 207 347 5405
If to Höegh Norway :
Attn: Vida Beemer
Höegh LNG AS
Drammensveien 134
0277 Oslo, Norway
Telephone: + 47 97 55 74 00
Fax: +47 97 55 74 01
Section 17. Variation . Any variation to this Agreement will not be effective unless it is made in writing and signed by all of the Parties; provided, however, that any amendment to Schedule A must also be approved by the MLP.
Section 18. Waiver . The failure of either Party to enforce any term of this Agreement does not act as a waiver. Any waiver must be specifically stated as such in writing.
Section 19. Assignment . No Party is permitted to assign or otherwise dispose of the benefit of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties. This Agreement is binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties’ successors and assigns.
Section 20. Third Parties . Save as expressly provided by this Agreement, a Person who is not a Party has no right to enforce or to receive the benefit of this Agreement under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties may terminate, rescind or agree to any variation, waiver or settlement under this Agreement without the consent of any other Person.
Section 21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory Parties had signed the same document. All counterparts are to be construed together and constitute one and the same instrument.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on, and effective as of, the date first above written.
Hoegh LNG Services Ltd | ||
By: | /s/ Richard Tyrrell | |
Name: Richard Tyrrell | ||
Title: CEO/CFO/Director | ||
Höegh LNG AS | ||
By: | /s/ Steffen Føreid | |
Name: Steffen Føreid | ||
Title: CFO |
Signature Page to the
Administrative Services Agreement
between Höegh UK and Höegh Norway
SCHEDULE A
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Höegh Norway shall provide, or subcontract the provision of, such of the following administrative services (the “ Administrative Services ”) to Höegh UK, as the board of directors of Höegh UK may from time to time request and direct Höegh Norway to provide pursuant to this Agreement:
(a) Keep and maintain at all times books, records and accounts that contain particulars of receipts and disbursements relating to the assets and liabilities of the MLP, the Operating Company and Höegh UK, and such books, records and accounts will be kept pursuant to normal commercial practices that permit the MLP and the Operating Company to prepare or cause to be prepared financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and in each case will also be in accordance with those financial statements required to be kept by the MLP under applicable federal securities laws and regulations in the United States and as the MLP and the Operating Company is required to keep and file under applicable foreign taxing regulations and the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations applicable with respect thereto, all as amended from time to time, provided that any register of members of the MLP shall be kept outside the United Kingdom;
(b) Assist in preparing all such returns, filings and documents, for review and approval by the MLP and the Operating Company as may be required under the MLP Agreement, as well as such other returns, filings, documents and instruments as may from time to time be requested or instructed by the MLP and the Operating Company, and assist in filing such documents, as applicable, as directed by the MLP and the Operating Company with the relevant authority, except that such returns, filings and documents may not be approved by Höegh Norway;
(c) Assist in providing, or arranging for the provision of, advisory services to the MLP with respect to the MLP’s obligations under applicable securities laws and regulations in the United States and assist in arranging for compliance by the MLP with continuous disclosure obligations under applicable securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 and any other securities exchange upon which the MLP’s securities are listed, including to assist in the preparation for review, approval and filing by the MLP of reports and other documents with all applicable regulatory authorities, provided, that nothing herein permits or authorizes Höegh Norway to act for or on behalf of the MLP in its relationship with regulatory authorities, except to the extent that specific authorization may from time to time be given by the MLP;
(d) Assist in providing, or arranging for the provision of, or secure sufficient and necessary office space, equipment and personnel, including all accounting, clerical, secretarial, corporate, administrative and information technology services, as may be reasonably necessary for the performance of the MLP and the Operating Company’s business (outside the United Kingdom) (if any);
A- 1 |
(e) Assist in arranging for the provision of such audit, accounting, legal, insurance and other professional services as are reasonably required by the MLP and the Operating Company from time to time in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities under the MLP Agreement (including the review of quarterly and annual reports), to the extent such advice and analysis can be reasonably provided or arranged by Höegh Norway, provided, that nothing herein permits or authorizes Höegh Norway to select the auditor of the MLP and the Operating Company, which will be selected in accordance with the provisions for the appointment of the auditor pursuant to the MLP Agreement or as otherwise required by law governing the MLP, or to communicate with the auditor other than in the ordinary course of making such books and records available for review as the auditor may require and to respond to queries from the auditor with respect to the accounts and statements that Höegh Norway has assisted to prepare or arrange, and in particular Höegh Norway shall not have any of the authorities, rights or responsibilities of the audit committee of the Board, but shall assist to provide, or arrange for the provision of, information to such committee as may from time to time be required or requested, and provided further, that nothing herein entitles Höegh Norway to retain legal counsel for the MLP unless such selection is specifically approved by the Board;
(f) Assist in providing, or arranging for the provision of, such administrative and clerical services as may be required by the MLP and the Operating Company to support and assist the MLP in considering any future acquisitions or divestments of assets of the MLP and for the integration of any businesses or assets acquired by the MLP (other than acquisitions from Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiaries), all in accordance with the direction and under the supervision of Höegh UK;
(g) Assist in providing technical information, describing business cases, drafting information memoranda and performing calculations for the purpose of the financing of possible investments, and such other assistance as may be required from time to time of similar nature or in project development; and
(h) Assist in providing consultancy on insurance matters, both in respect of arranging suitable cover and settling claims, and coordinating legal services.
For the avoidance of doubt, no other services may be subcontracted by Höegh UK to Höegh Norway save as set out in this Schedule A .
A- 2 |
Exhibit 4.16.1
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
AMENDMENT NO. 1
Dated 23 February 2015
to
SRV LNG CARRIER
TIME CHARTERPARTY
(HULL 1688 / GDF SUEZ NEPTUNE)
between
SRV JOINT GAS LTD.
and
GDF SUEZ LNG SUPPLY SA
dated 20 March 2007
EXECUTION VERSION | 1 |
This amendment (the “ Amendment No. 1 ”) to the Charter (as defined in Recital A below) is made on this 23 of February 2015, and forms an integral part of the Charter.
BY AND BETWEEN:
(i) | SRV Joint Gas Ltd. , a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Cayman Island (the “ Owner ”); and |
(ii) | GDF SUEZ LNG Supply SA (ex GDF SUEZ Global LNG Supply SA), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Luxembourg (the “ Charterer ”); |
(each a “ Party ” and together the “ Parties ”).
WHEREAS
(A) | The Owner and the Charterer are Parties to an SRV LNG Carrier Time Charterparty dated 20 March 2007, as novated and/or amended from time to time, (the “ Charter ”), whereby the Owner has agreed to let and the Charterer has agreed to hire the use and service of a Shuttle and Regasification Vessel being built by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (Hull no. 1688) (the “ Vessel ”); |
(B) | The Parties have agreed to make certain amendments to the Charter as set out below. |
NOW THEREFORE the Parties agree as follows:
1. | Definitions and Interpretation |
(a) | In this Amendment No. 1 “ Effective Date ” means the date on which this Amendment No. 1 has been signed by both Parties. Unless otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, words and expressions shall have the meanings given to them in the Charter. |
(b) | References in this Amendment No. 1 to Clauses are, unless otherwise specified, references to clauses of this Amendment No. 1. |
(c) | Clause headings are for ease of reference only. |
2. | Effectiveness of Amendment No. 1 and amendment of the Charter |
(a) | This Amendment No. 1 shall take effect in all respects on and from the Effective Date. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 2 |
(b) | The Parties specifically agree that the terms of the Charter shall continue to apply, provided that this Amendment No. 1 shall be deemed to form an integral part of, and shall be read as one with, the Charter, and that, with effect from the Effective Date, the terms and conditions contained in this Amendment No. 1, to the extent set out in Clause 3 below, shall amend and/or replace, as the case may be, the terms of the Charter. |
(c) | The Parties further agree that, save as amended by the provisions of this Amendment No. 1 as provided for in Sub-clause 2(b) above, all other provisions of the Charter, including in particular, the Schedules thereto, shall remain in full force and effect save that, with effect from the Effective Date: |
(i) | Schedule I to the Charter ( Main Particulars of Vessel/Gas Form C ), including Appendix I ( Vessel Performance Standards ) to Schedule I, shall be amended and replaced; |
(ii) | Schedule III to the Charter ( Hire Rate and Adjustments ) shall be amended and, in the case of Attachment 3 to that Schedule, replaced; and |
(iii) | Schedule IV to the Charter ( Insurance ) shall be amended, |
each as provided for in, and in accordance with, Clause 4 below.
3. | Amendments to the Charter |
The Parties hereby agree that:
(a) | The name of the ” Charterer ” whenever it appears in the Charter shall be, and is hereby amended, from ” Suez LNG Trading SA ” to “ GDF Suez LNG Supply SA ”. |
(b) | Paragraph b) of Clause 5 of the Charter shall be amended by deleting the words from “Except when insurance can be obtained in relation to such transfer operations or unless mutually agreed [...]” until “to the actual fault or privity of Owner”. |
(c) | A new paragraph (d) shall be inserted in Clause 5 of the Charter as follows: |
“ d)
(i) Charterer shall have the option to transfer cargo by Ship-To-Ship transfer between the Vessel and another standard LNG/c or regasification vessel, (each of the two vessels involved in the transfer being an “Approved Vessel”), subject to following terms and conditions:
“STS Transfer” shall mean the transfer of the cargo of the Vessel either to or from an Approved Vessel moored alongside the Vessel;
“STS Equipment” shall mean the equipment necessary, including without limitation, all hoses and an adequate fendering system, to perform the STS Transfer;
EXECUTION VERSION | 3 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
“Storage Place” shall mean either an Approved Vessel or a safe place for storage of the Equipment designated by Charterer;
(ii) The STS Transfer shall be carried out subject to Owner’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed providing a risk assessment has been carried out to the reasonable satisfaction of Owner and Charterer.
(iii) The STS Transfer shall be carried out at Charterer’s risk, cost and expense and Charterer shall provide a safe area for the conduct of the STS Transfer where the Vessel can safely proceed to, lie and depart from, always afloat but always subject to the Master’s approval.
(iv) Owner shall have the right to inspect the intended receiving or delivery vessel(s). In the event that Owner conducts a physical inspection of the intended receiving vessel(s) prior to giving approval, any reasonable delays, costs or expenses resulting from such inspection shall be for Charterer’s account;
(v) Unless otherwise agreed, Owner is not responsible for the provision, maintenance, repair or transportation of the STS Equipment. Charterer agrees to make arrangements in respect thereof with the Owner;
(vi) All time used in STS Transfer or preparation for STS Transfer, whether or not they are discontinued, shall count as time on hire, including time lost as a result of transportation or delays in transportation of or loss of or damage to the STS Equipment or Vessel for any reason whatsoever, and all time used for repair of STS Equipment or the Vessel caused by ship-to-ship operations. The performance warranties contained in Clause 27 shall not apply in the case of such ship-to-ship operations;
(vii) Prior Notice: Charterer shall give Owner at least ***** working days prior notice in writing of its intention to carry out such ship-to-ship operation.
(viii) Authorities: Charterer shall obtain any and all relevant permissions from proper authorities to perform STS Transfer and all expenses, including any taxes, in this connection shall be for Charterer’s account.
(ix) Any STS Transfer shall be carried out in conformity with the provisions of the latest published edition of the SIGTTO Ship-to-Ship Transfer Guide (Liquefied Natural Gas), if and when adopted and as amended from time to time, but always at the discretion of the Vessel’s Master and if the Master, at any time, considers that the STS Transfer is or may become unsafe, then he may order them to be discontinued. If the Owner is obliged to extend its existing insurance policies to cover STS Transfer or incur any other additional cost/expense, the Charterer shall reimburse the Owner for any additional premium or cost/expense incurred.
(x) Owner shall not be liable for damage sustained to the vessel receiving the transfer or delivering the transfer unless such damage was caused by the Owner’s gross negligence.”
EXECUTION VERSION | 4 |
(d) | Paragraph (n) of Clause 10 of the Charter shall be, and is hereby amended, by correcting the reference to “ paragraph 1.1(f) of Schedule III ” in the last sentence of Clause 10(n) to read “ paragraph 1.1(e) of Schedule III ” such that the last sentence of Clause 10(n) reads as follows: |
“ Unless otherwise agreed, the Fixed Element shall be adjusted in accordance with paragraph 1.1(e) of Schedule III by the amount of all cost incurred, or (as the case may be) all savings realized, by Owner as a result of such change orders .”
(e) | Clause 27(a)(iii) of the Charter shall be, and is hereby amended, by replacing “0,15%” with “0,16%” so that clause 27(a)(iii) reads as follows: |
“a maximum average daily boil-off of no more than 0,16% of the Vessel’s total cargo capacity measured on a laden voyage basis and no more than 0,10% of the Vessel’s total cargo capacity measured on a ballast voyage basis; and”
(f) | Clause 60(a) ( Notices ) of the Charter shall be, and is hereby amended, so that the addresses and other contact details appearing read as follows: |
“ Notice to Charterer:
GDF SUEZ LNG SUPPLY SA
65 avenue de la Gare
L-1611 Luxembourg
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Tel: +352 26 48 43 03
Fax: +352 26 48 43 13
Attn: Managing Director
With a copy to:
GDF SUEZ SA
1 place Samuel de Champlain
Faubourg de L'Arche
92930 Paris La Défense Cedex
Facsimile: +33 1 56 65 46 87
Phone: +33 1 56 65 45 81
Attn: Executive Vice-President Shipping
Notice to Owner:
SRV Joint Gas Ltd.
c/o Höegh LNG AS
Drammensveien 134
P.O. Box 4 Skøyen
0212 Oslo, Norway
Fax: +47 97 55 74 01
EXECUTION VERSION | 5 |
Attn: Head of Commercial Management
Email: operation@hoeghlng.com
With a copy to:
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
1-1, Toranomon 2-Chome, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-8688, Japan
Fax: +81-3-3587-7737
Attn: General Manager, LNG Carrier Division
Email: lgcmo@mail.mol.co.jp ”.
(g) | Clause 74(b) (Safety Management) of the Charter shall be, and is hereby amended, by replacing the word “monthly” with the word “quarterly” so that clause 74(b) reads as follows: |
“ Owner shall submit to Charterer a quarterly written report detailing all accidents/incidents (including casualties suffered by her crew and any other personnel on board) and environmental reporting requirements, and in regard to maintenance of and repairs to the Vessel ”.
4. | Amendments to/Replacements of Schedules to the Charter |
The Parties hereby agree that:
(a) | Schedule 1 to the Charter shall be replaced by the “ Main Particulars of Vessel/Updated Gas Form C ” attached hereto as Schedule 1. For the avoidance of doubt, Appendix I to Schedule 1 ( Vessel Performance Standards ) to the Charter shall remain unchanged, subject to sub-clause (c) below. |
(b) | A new Appendix II to Schedule 1 to the Charter shall be inserted describing the additional equipment, including their respective specifications, that Charterer has ordered and paid for or will pay for, including but not limited to a minimum send-out compressor (the “ MSO ”) and a low capacity regas pump skid (hereinafter referred to as the “ Additional Equipment ”). The Additional Equipment will be transferred from the Charterer (or a company nominated by the Charterer) to the Owner pursuant to the terms and conditions of an ownership transfer agreement to be entered into by Charterer (or a company nominated by the Charterer) and Owner on the same date as the Effective Date. From such Effective Date, the Additional Equipment shall be part of the Vessel’s equipment for purposes of interpretation of the Charter, including but not limited to the provisions related to maintenance, performance, liabilities and insurance. Notwithstanding the above, Owner shall operate and maintain the MSO prudently and in accordance with the instructions of the supplier of the MSO, but Owner shall have no obligations or liabilities for the performance of the MSO. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 6 |
(c) | Paragraph 11(b) of Appendix I to Schedule 1 to the Charter (Adjustment of Normal Performance) shall be, and is hereby amended, so that Paragraph 11(b) of Appendix 1 to Schedule I read as follows: |
“Upon the Vessel’s Actual Discharge Rate being higher than 250 mmscf/day during continuous regasification of LNG and discharge of gas over a 24 (twenty-four) hour period, such Actual Discharge Rate shall immediately replace the current Normal Performance of 250 mmscf/day and be formalised by signature of an addendum to the Charter.
From that time on, in each case where the Actual Discharge Rate is higher than then-current Normal Performance during continuous regasification of LNG and discharge of gas over a twenty-four (24) hour period without any unplanned shutdown in the twenty four (24) hour period, the Actual Discharge Rate shall immediately replace the then-current Normal Performance until subsequently re-adjusted, but such adjustment shall at all times not exceed 450 mmscf/day or 600 mmscf/day, depending on the month during which a discharge is taking place as set out in paragraph 11 c) below.”
(d) | Paragraph 1.2(a) of Schedule III ( Hire Rate and Adjustments ) to the Charter shall be amended by adding the words “ and excluding also the extra cost associated with the US crew requirement ” after the words “ but excluding regular drydocking ” such that the second sentence reads as follows: |
“ The operating costs, subject to annual approval by Charterer, shall be included in the Hire Rate on a cost-pass-through basis including general maintenance work (but excluding regular drydocking and excluding also the extra cost associated with the US crew requirement). ” |
and shall further be amended so that the last sentence of paragraph 1.2 (a) reads as follows: |
“ Regular drydocking and the extra cost associated with the US crew requirement, whilst also paid by Charterer on a pass-through basis, shall not be included in the Hire Rate but shall be invoiced separately in accordance with paragraph 1.2(e). ” |
(e) | Paragraph 1.2(b) of Schedule III ( Hire Rate and Adjustments ) to the Charter shall be amended by replacing the words “ August 30 ” in the sentence reading “ Thereafter, not later than August 30 of each subsequent calendar year during the Term, Owner and Charterer shall meet for the purposes of establishing such estimated costs with respect to that year ” with the words “ October 15 ” such that the aforementioned sentence reads as follows: |
“ Thereafter, not later than October 15 of each subsequent calendar year during the Term, Owner and Charterer shall meet for the purposes of establishing such estimated costs with respect to that year. ”
EXECUTION VERSION | 7 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
(f) | Paragraph 1.2(c)(ii) of Schedule III ( Hire Rate and Adjustments ) to the Charter shall be amended by: |
(i) | adding the words “ (except the extra cost associated with the US crew requirement to which paragraph 1.2(e) shall apply) ” after the words “ the manning component of the Variable Element in paragraph 1.2 ”; |
(ii) | replacing the words “ a complement of fifteen (15) European and/or American officers and fourteen (14) European, American and/or Filipino crew ” with the words “ a complement of thirteen (13) European and/or American officers and fifteen (15) European, American and/or Filipino crew ”; and |
(iii) | replacing the words “ Total Crew: twenty-nine (29) (excluding cadets) ” with the words “ Total Crew: twenty-eight (28) (excluding trainees and cadets) ”. |
(g) | Paragraph 1.2(c)(iii) of Schedule III ( Hire Rate and Adjustments ) to the Charter shall be deleted and replaced in its entirety by the following paragraph : |
“ Insurance - which shall cover all net insurance premiums paid with respect to the Vessel for Reimbursable Insurances and any other insurance requested by Charterer pursuant to Schedule IV (save for any extra premium incurred as a result of conditions of use not ordinarily covered by any insurer, club or association or as a result of trading in a war risk area in accordance with Clause 37 of the Charter, which shall be invoiced to Charterer pursuant to paragraph 6 of Schedule IV and shall not be included in the Variable Element of hire) ”. |
(h) | A new paragraph 1.2(e) of Schedule III ( Hire Rate and Adjustments ) to the Charter shall be inserted to read as follows: |
“ The extra cost, if any, associated with the US crew requirement shall be invoiced to Charterer at the end of each calendar quarter for that calendar quarter (or part thereof) and such cost shall be paid by Charterer no later than ***** days after receipt of each invoice (and each such amount due from Charterer may include interest (at LIBOR) from the time such costs are actually incurred by Owner to the time such costs are reimbursed by Charterer) ”. |
(i) | Paragraph 2.4(c) of Schedule III to the Charter shall be amended by replacing the words “within ***** days of the completion of the applicable audit” with the words “within ***** days of the completion of the applicable audit” . |
(j) | Attachment 3 to Schedule III to the Charter shall be replaced by the updated “ Depot spare part list ” as set out in the updated Attachment 3 to Schedule III to the Charter set forth in Schedule 2 hereto. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 8 |
(k) | Paragraph 6 of Schedule IV ( Insurance ) to the Charter shall be amended by adding the words “ save for any extra premium incurred as a result of conditions of use not ordinarily covered by any insurer, club or association or as a result of trading in a war risk area in accordance with Clause 37 of the Charter, which shall be invoiced to Charterer on a pass-through basis upon such extra premium being incurred by Owner (and such amount due from Charterer may include interest (at LIBOR) from the time such extra premiums are actually incurred by Owner to the time such extra premiums are reimbursed by Charterer) ” after the words “ (i.e. part of the Insurance category under the Variable Element) ” such that that sentence reads as follows: |
“ Reimbursable Insurances shall be the insurance for which Owner is reimbursed as provided in Schedule III of the Charter (i.e. part of the Insurance category under the Variable Element) save for any extra premium incurred as a result of conditions of use not ordinarily covered by any insurer, club or association or as a result of trading in a war risk area in accordance with Clause 37 of the Charter, which shall be invoiced to Charterer on a pass-through basis upon such extra premium being incurred by Owner (and such amount due from Charterer may include interest (at LIBOR) from the time such extra premiums are actually incurred by Owner to the time such extra premiums are reimbursed by Charterer). ” |
(l) | Paragraph 12 of Schedule IV ( Insurance ) to the Charter shall be amended by inserting the words “ with Charterer’s prior consent ” after the words “ At least annually during the Term, Owner shall deliver to Charterer ”. |
5. | Law |
This Amendment No. 1 shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and any disputes arising out of or by virtue of this Amendment No. 1 shall be referred to arbitration as provided for in Clause 53 ( Law and Arbitration ) of the Charter. The provisions of Clause 53 ( Law and Arbitration ) of the Charter shall be deemed to be incorporated herein and to apply, mutatis mutandis , to this Amendment No. 1.
6. | Counterparts |
This Amendment No. 1 may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the Parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
7. | Miscellaneous |
(a) | The provisions of Clause 60 ( Notices ) of the Charter, as amended by Clause 3(f) above, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein and to apply hereto. |
(b) | Each Party shall be responsible for its own costs and expenses in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment No. 1. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 9 |
(c) | To the extent that this Amendment No. 1 is inconsistent in any way with the terms of the Charter, the Regas Acceptance Tests Certificate and Side Letter dated 30 November 2010, the terms of this Amendment No. 1 shall take priority over and operate to the exclusion of the inconsistent terms of the Charter, the Regas Acceptance Tests Certificate and Side Letter dated 30 November 2010. |
(d) | The execution by each Party of this Amendment No. 1 shall be without prejudice to, and shall not be construed as a waiver of, any rights which may have accrued to that Party under the Charter or otherwise. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties have duly executed this Amendment No. 1 in duplicate as of the date above first written.
For and on behalf of Charterer: | Witness | |
/s/ Francis Bretnacher | /s/ Gilles Billet | |
Name: Francis Bretnacher | Gilles Billet | |
Title: Managing Director | Director |
For and on behalf of Charterer: | Witness | |
/s/ Guy-Hubert De Sola | /s/ illegible Signature | |
Name: Guy-Hubert De Sola | ||
Title: Director |
For and on behalf of Owner: | Witness | |
/s/ Marthe Solaas | /s/ illegible Signature | |
Name: Marthe Solaas | ||
Title: Attorney-in-fact |
For and on behalf of Owner: | Witness | |
Name: | Title: |
EXECUTION VERSION | 10 |
Schedule 1
MAIN PARTICULARS OF VESSEL / UPDATED GAS FORM C
1.1 | PREAMBLE |
Ship’s name | GDF SUEZ NEPTUNE |
Owner | SRV Joint Gas Ltd. |
Flag - Registry | NIS |
Builder | Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd, Korea |
Delivery | 30 November 2009 |
Class |
X Det Norske Veritas, + A1Tanker for Liquefied gas, ship type 2G (Membrane tank, Maximum pressure 25 kPa, Minimum temperature – 163degC), NAUTICUS (Newbuilding) PLUS-2, CSA- 2, COAT-2, CLEAN E0, F-AMC, ICS, TMON, DYNPOS -AUT, STL, BIS, NAUT-AW |
GRT/NRT | |
International | 97,100 |
Suez | 98,727.21 |
Is vessel approved? | |
USCG | Yes |
IMO | Yes |
1.2 | HULL |
Meters | Feet | |
LOA | 283.0611 | 928,54 |
LBP | 270.04 | 885.83 |
Breadth | 43.40 | 142.39 |
Depth | 26.00 | 85.30 |
Keel to highest point | 55.3 | 181.4 |
Air draught (folded mast) | 40.4 | 132.5 |
Assumed ballast draught | 9.6 | 31.5 |
Summer Load Line | 12.4 m | Corresponding deadweight | 80,857mt |
EXECUTION VERSION | 11 |
TPC at design draft 11.4 m | 100.3 mt/cm |
Mean draft with full bunkers and full cargo | ||
Specific Gravity | Mean draft | Corresponding DW |
0.47 mt/m^3 | 11.64 m | 73,143 mt |
1.3 MACHINERY
Main Engine | |
Type |
Wartsila: 12V50DF x 3 units Wartsila: 6L50DF x 1 unit |
Max Cont. | 3 x 11,400 kW + 1 x 5,700 kW |
Grade fuel used |
Marine diesel oil (ISO 8217:1996, DMB) , Boil-off gas Heavy Fuel Oil (Low Sulphur <1.5% m/m) |
Other machinery | |
Propeller | 1 Fixed Pitch, |
Bow Thrusters |
2,000 kW x 2 units 6.6 kV, Controllable Pitch, 4-bladed, Ni-Al-Bronze |
Stern Thrusters |
1,200 kW x 2 units 6.6 kV, Controllable Pitch, 4-bladed, Ni-Al-Bronze |
EXECUTION VERSION | 12 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
Speed/Consumption (propulsion power only) | |
Guaranteed speed (Round trip, Beaufort Force 5) | 19.5 knots |
Average consumption on guaranteed speed |
***** tons MDO/day (main engine) ***** tons HFO/day (main engine) |
Permanent bunkers capacity | |||
HFO | 4,311,3 m3 | MDO/MGO | 1,398,6 m3 |
TOTAL | 5,719 m3 |
1.4 CARGO INSTALLATION
Transportable products and respective quantities *) |
|||||||
Tank No. |
20
°
C
100% M 3 |
-163
°
C
98.5 % M 3 |
-163
°
C
MT S.G. 0.47 |
-163 ° C 70%H M 3 |
-163 ° C 70%H m |
-163 ° C 10% H M 3 |
-163 ° C 10%H m |
1 | 19,375 | 19,084 | 8,969 | 13,192 | 19.275 | 1,488 | 2.754 |
2 | 41,882 | 41,254 | 19,389 | 31,222 | 19.268 | 3,944 | 2.753 |
3 | 41,883 | 41,255 | 19,390 | 31,221 | 19.265 | 3,944 | 2.752 |
4 | 41,897 | 41,269 | 19,396 | 31,234 | 19.270 | 3,946 | 2.753 |
Total | 145,037 | 142,862 | 67,145 | 106,869 | 13,322 |
(Please Note that Heights and Volume for 10 % and 70% of Tank Height were calculated from Cargo Tank Gauging Tables) ( off 100% range of the tank )
*) Approx. figures per 1 July 2009 based on a cargo specific gravity of 470 kg/m^3
The cargo tank system is GTT Mark III, reinforced to all cargo tank area except tank bottom in accordance with GTT document N500 CR009.
Scantlings of the cargo tanks are based on a maximum density of cargo of 500 kg/m3. |
Tank working pressure | |
Maximum pressure | 25 kPa gauge |
Minimum pressure | -1 kPa gauge |
Minimum temperature acceptable in tanks | -163ºC |
EXECUTION VERSION | 13 |
Acceptable cargo filling levels | |
Lower criteria | Below 10% of cargo tank height |
Upper criteria | Above 70% of cargo tank height |
Loading & discharging time for LNG | 12 hours, excluding time for connecting, disconnecting, cooling down, topping up and custody transfer measurement |
1.5 | CARGO MACHINERY |
Cargo pumps |
1,700 m^3/h @155 mlc x 8 units |
Cargo pump location | 2 in each cargo tank |
Max permissible specific gravity | 500 kg/m |
Time for discharging full cargo using all cargo pumps against no backpressure | 12 hours, excluding time for connecting, disconnecting, cooling down, topping up and custody transfer measurement |
Unpumpable cargo volume | 491 m3 |
Heel LNG for cooling down | 500 m^3 |
Fuel LNG for ballast voyage | 3,300 m^3 |
Cargo remaining onboard in cargo tanks after completion pumping | 3,841 m^3 |
Spray pumps | 50m^3/h @145 mlc x 4 units |
Fuel Gas Pumps |
40m3/h@215mlc x 2 units Located in tank No. 3 and 4 |
Emergency cargo pump/ LNG Feed Pump |
650m^3/h @155 mlc x 3 units Located in tank No. 2, 3 and 4 |
High duty cargo compressor | 32,000 m^3/h x 2 units |
Low duty cargo compressor | 4,350 m^3/h x 2 units |
Nitrogen plant | 120 Nm^3 x 2 units |
Inert gas plant | 14,000 Nm^3/h x 1 unit |
EXECUTION VERSION | 14 |
Composition of inert gas
|
|
Carbon dioxide, CO2 | Max 14% by volume |
Oxygen max., O2 | 1.0% by volume |
Carbon monoxide max. ; CO | 100 ppm |
HC | 0% |
Soot | Bacharach 0 |
Sulphur oxides max., Sox | 10 ppm |
Nitrogen oxides max. ; NOx | 100 ppm |
Remainder | N2, H2, Air |
Dewpoint | -45ºC at atm. |
Grade fuel used | DMA: ISO 8217 |
Discharge pressure | Max. 25 kPaG |
State if any shore supply of liquid nitrogen may be required NO | |
May be required for purging of tanks and insulation spaces | |
What quantity? |
Gas freeing | |
Can this operation be carried out at sea? | Yes |
Heaters | |
Cargo Vapor Heater (warm-up) | 16,939 kg/h x 2 units (-117ºC to 0ºC) |
Cargo Vapor Heater (boil-off) | 4,621 kg/h x 2 units (-140ºC to 45ºC) |
Guaranteed boil-off rates | |
Laden condition | 0.16% / 24h |
Ballast condition | 0.10% / 24h |
Fuel Gas Vaporizers | |
LNG vaporizer | 23,970 kg/h x 1 unit |
Forcing vaporizer | 5,800 kg/h x 1 unit |
EXECUTION VERSION | 15 |
1.6 | MEASURING APPARATUS |
|
Type and location | Number |
Primary level gauge system Secondary level gauge system |
Radar sensor, top of each tank Radar sensor |
4 4 |
Cargo temperature |
Temperature Sensor; Vapor space at liquid dome + Liquid space (0,10,50,95%) on tank bottom and pump column |
40 2 x 5 in each tank |
Absolute pressure transmitter | Vapor dome of each tank | 4 |
1.7 | CARGO LINES |
Is vessel fitted with midship manifolds | Yes, 2 |
Distance from cargo manifold to stem (FP) | 132 m |
Distance from manifold to stern (AP) | 138 m |
Height cargo manifold above deck | 4.8 m |
Height manifold above working platform | 1.4 m |
Height cargo manifold above waterline when light | 21.2 m |
Height cargo manifold above waterline when loaded | 19.4 m |
Distance manifold from ship’s rail | 3.15 m |
Distance between loading and vapor return connections | 3.0 m |
Is vessel fitted with stern discharge | No |
Is vessel fitted with fore discharge | No |
Dimension of lines | ||
Diameter | Flange size | |
Liquid | 400 mm | 16” |
Vapour Line | 400 mm | 16” |
What reducers onboard | ||
Number | Diameter | Pressure rating |
3 | 16”/12” | 10 kg/cm^2 |
EXECUTION VERSION | 16 |
1.8 | LNG REGASIFICATION SYSTEM |
Liquid inlet conditions: Pressure Temperature Liquid volume flow Composition (mass %) |
5 bara -160ºC (256ºF) 479.8 m^3/h x 3 units Typical Trinidad composition as given in Appendix I to Schedule 1, para 11 (c) |
Gas outlet condition: Volume Pressure Temperature |
250 mmscuf/day x 3 units 105 bar 10 ºC |
Capacity |
210,000 kg/hr x 3 units
|
LNG booster pump number | 6 units |
LNG booster pump discharge pressure | 120 bar |
LNG booster pump suction pressure | 5 bar |
LNG booster pump temperature | -160 ° C |
Steam pressure from boilers (saturated) | 28 kg/cm^2 |
LNG/brine Shell & Tube Heat exchanger | 3 units |
Steam/brine PCHE |
3 units Separate steam and condensate section each unit |
Brine circulation pump | 680 m^3/h x 6 units |
EXECUTION VERSION | 17 |
1.9 | GAS METERING SYSTEM |
Ultrasonic Gas Metering System |
Ultrasonic gas flow meters x 2 units Pressure transmitters x 2 units Temperature transmitters x 2 units |
Gas Analyser System |
Sample probe x 2 unit Gas chromatographs x 2 units Supplementary Gas Chromatograph x 1 unit Analyzer cabinet x 1 unit |
Metering Control System |
Metering cabinet x 1 unit Flow computers x 2 units Supplementary flow computers x 2 units |
1.10 | BALLAST SYSTEM |
Pumps |
Particular |
No. | Three (3) |
Type | Vertical single stage, centrifugal |
Prime mover | Electric motor |
Discharge rate | 2,500 m3/h |
Total head | 30 mwc (S.G.: 1.025) |
1.11 | ODORANT INJECTION SYSTEM |
Odorant | Mercaptan Mixture |
Injection Rate | 1.0lb/mmscf |
Injection Pumps | 2 x 100% |
Injection Controllers | 2 x 100% |
Injection Point | 1 |
Storage Tank |
EXECUTION VERSION | 18 |
1.12 | LIFTING DEVICE |
Location |
Aft | Amidships | fwd |
STB and Port |
Manifold area Stb and Port |
Regas and STL area | |
Number and lifting capacity |
1 x 15 mt SWL (STB) 1 x 5 mt SWL (Port) |
2 x 12 mt SWL |
1 x 10 mt SWL (Hs < 0.5m) 1 x 8 mt SWL (Hs < 1.0m) |
Max. distance from ship’s side of lifting hook | 5 m | 5 m | 6 m |
EXECUTION VERSION | 19 |
Appendix II to Schedule I
List of Additional Equipment / Specifications
Will be provided as per as built documentation following completion of modification works.
EXECUTION VERSION | 20 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
Schedule 2
UPDATED ATTACHMENT 3 TO SCHEDULE III OF THE CHARTER
DEPOT SPARE PART LIST
Item | Description | Cost |
1 | Tail shaft with propeller nut | $***** |
Transport & handling (6,914 Euro) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
2 | Propeller | $***** |
Transport & handling (59,094 Euro) | $***** | |
Insurance (8,878 NOK) | $***** | |
3 | Main wheel with output shaft and both pinion gears w/shaft | $***** |
Transport & handling (18,595 Euro) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
4 | One set of turbocharger rotor for 12V engines (26,613 GBP + 28,054 Euro) EuroEuro) | $***** |
Transport & handling | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
5 | Cargo pump, complete (15,100,000 JPY) | $***** |
Transport & handling | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
6 | LNG Booster pump | $***** |
Transport & handling (1,226 Euro) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
7 | Regas feed pump | $***** |
Transport & handling | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
8 | Cargo spray pump (7,800,000 JPY) | $***** |
Transport & handling | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
9 | Fuel gas pump (8,200,000 JPY) | $***** |
Transport & handling | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
10 | Spares for frequency/speed converter and HV transformers (985,360 Euro) | $***** |
Transport & handling (Estimated 2.5 Euro/kg X 2000kg) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
11 | Rotating parts for forced draft fan | $***** |
Transport & handling (Estimated) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
12 | Boiler safety valves (one each size) (1,779,500 JPY) | $***** |
Transport & handling (653 Euro) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
13 | Cargo safety valve incl. pilot valve (one each size) (356,451 NOK) | $***** |
Transport & handling (653+414 Euro) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
14 | Manifold valve incl. actuator (liquid only) (33,078 Euro) | $***** |
Handling (640 Euro) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** |
EXECUTION VERSION | 21 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
15 | Cargo pump discharge valve w/actuator (3,825,000 JPY) | $***** |
Transport & handling (414 Euro) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
16 | Essential motors (HD/LD compressor motors only) | $***** |
Transport & handling (Estimated) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
17 | Stern tube bearings (43,620 Euro) | $***** |
Handling (1,432 Euro) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
18 | Hydraulic pump/motor for APL system (139,165 WOK) | $***** |
Transport & handling (Estimated) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
19 | EPA equipment spares | $***** |
Transport & handling (Estimated) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
20 | Various HGS/Regas skids (Estimated) | $***** |
Transport & handling (Estimated) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
21 | STL. compartment spares (Estimated) | $***** |
Transport & handling (Estimated) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
22 | Printed Circuit heater (112,000 GBP) | $***** |
Transport & handling (876 +215 Euro) | $***** | |
insurance | $***** | |
23 | Gear Coupling (50,935 Euro) | $***** |
Transport & handling (Estimated 2,5 Euro/kg X 600kg) | $***** | |
Insurance | $***** | |
Total | $***** |
EXECUTION VERSION | 22 |
Exhibit 4.16.2
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
AMENDMENT NO. 2
To
SRV LNG CARRIER
TIME CHARTERPARTY
DATED 20 March 2007
Between
SRV JOINT GAS LTD.
And
GDF SUEZ LNG SUPPLY SA
DATED 23 February 2015
EXECUTION VERSION | 1 |
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO SRV LNG CARRIER TIME CHARTERPARTY
This amendment no. 2 (the “ Amendment No. 2 ”) to the Charter (as defined in the Recitals below) is made on this 23 of February 2015, and forms an integral part of the Charter.
BY AND BETWEEN:
(i) | SRV Joint Gas Ltd., a company incorporated and existing under the laws of Cayman Island (“Owner”); and |
(ii) | GDF SUEZ LNG Supply SA, a company organized and existing under the laws of Luxembourg (“Charterer”); |
(each a “Party” and together the “Parties”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS , Owner and SUEZ LNG Trading SA, predecessor of Charterer, have entered into an SRV LNG Carrier Time Charterparty dated 20 March 2007 as amended by Amendment No. 3 dated 23 April 2014 and as further novated and/or amended from time to time, (the “ Charter ”), whereby Owner has agreed to let and Charterer has agreed to hire the use and service of a Shuttle and Regasification Vessel built by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. with reference Hull no. 1688 and now named GDF SUEZ Neptune (the “ Vessel ”);
WHEREAS , Charterer wishes to use the Vessel in FSRU Mode or alternatively in LNG Carrier Mode under a sub-charter arrangement with GNLS for the Project (all as defined below); and
WHEREAS , Owner is willing to accommodate Charterer’s wish to use the Vessel as an FSRU and accept that Charterer uses the Vessel under the Sub-Charter (as defined below) for the Project, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Amendment No. 2;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, Owner and Charterer agree as follows:
EXECUTION VERSION | 2 |
1. | Definitions |
For purposes of this Amendment No. 2 (including the Recitals), the capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Charter (unless the context requires otherwise) or below (as the case may be).
“Critical Equipment” shall mean the regasification skids consisting of high pressure pump, LNG vaporiser and associated pipework and controls and the HP compressor.
“FSRU” means floating storage and regasification unit.
“FSRU Mode” means the use of the Vessel at all times during the Sub-Charter Period, except when a Voyage is occurring.
“FSRU Neptune Uruguay” means Eklur SA, now FSRU Neptune LNG Uruguay SA.
“FSRU Terminal” means the Montevideo FSRU terminal located offshore near Punta Sayago West of Montevideo, Uruguay, in the estuary of Rio de la Plata.
“Group Agreement” means the contractual agreement between the Charterer and FSRU Neptune Uruguay.
“GNLS” means GNLS SA or any assignee or sub-charterer of GNLS SA approved in writing by Owner.
“HLNG” means Höegh LNG AS and its affiliates acting as manager for the Vessel.
“LNG Carrier Mode” has the meaning given to it in Clause 6 (Voyage).
“Major Equipment” means cargo tank LP in-tank pumps, cargo stripping pumps, HP compressor, LD & HD LP compressors and DFDE engines.
“Modification Specification” means the document to be mutually agreed between Parties and defining the scope of the Modification Work which shall be based on and always include the items set out in Appendix 1 to this Amendment No. 2, and once agreed shall replace the current Appendix 1.
EXECUTION VERSION | 3 |
“Modification Work” means any and all work; design, engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation, commissioning and testing required for the modification of the Vessel to FSRU in accordance with the Modification Specification.
“Modification Yard” means such yard as mutually agreed between the Parties for the performance of the Modification Work.
“Mortgagee” means DNB Bank ASA (previously called DnB NOR Bank ASA) as agent on behalf of the lenders.
“Project” means Charterer’s project with GNLS, consisting of using the Vessel in FSRU Mode at the FSRU Terminal or in LNG Carrier Mode.
“Reinstatement Specification” means the scope of work mutually agreed between Parties so that the Vessel is fitted in every way as an SRV for service under the Charter.
“Reinstatement Work” means (i) any and all work, design, engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation, commissioning and testing required to reinstate the Vessel in accordance with the Reinstatement Specification and (ii) dry-docking, cleaning and painting of the Vessel’s bottom and effecting scheduled maintenance, so that the Vessel is fitted in every way for service under the Charter.
“Reinstatement Yard” means such yard as mutually agreed between the Parties for the performance of the Reinstatement Work.
“Shipyard” means the shipyard as agreed between Owner and Charterer which will implement the Modification Work.
“Sub-Charter” means the agreement signed between FSRU Neptune Uruguay and GNLS for sub-chartering of the Vessel to GNLS.
“Sub-Charter Period” means a period at GNLS’s option, beginning on the earlier of (i) the date of delivery of the Vessel to GNLS, or (ii) the Vessel is all fast at the FSRU Terminal and ending on the later of (i) the date of redelivery of the Vessel by GNLS under the Sub-Charter or such earlier date as the Sub-Charter may be terminated in accordance with its terms, or (ii) the date the Vessel is permanently unmoored and disconnected from the FSRU Terminal and is ready and free to depart from the FSRU Terminal.
EXECUTION VERSION | 4 |
“Uruguayan Taxes” means Uruguayan tax liabilities specifically suffered or incurred by Owner or any other member of Owner Group (as defined in Clause 8.2) whatsoever and howsoever arising due to the presence of the Vessel as an FSRU in Uruguay when the Vessel acts in FSRU Mode, including but not limited to business tax, local surcharges, wealth tax, income tax and individual income tax, personal tax of employees, VAT, withholding tax on hire, withholding tax on loan repayments or interest, and any tax relating to the importation, stay or exportation into and from Uruguay (as the case may be) of the Vessel (including related materials and/or equipment).
“Voyage” means a legitimate voyage under the Charter ordered pursuant to and in accordance with Clause 6 of this Amendment No. 2, the duration of which shall always be deemed to be from when the Vessel is unmoored and disconnected from the FSRU Terminal for the purpose of commencing the Voyage until the Vessel is all fast again at the FSRU Terminal.
2. | Purpose, Intention and Interpretations |
The purpose of this Amendment No. 2 is to set forth the terms and conditions under which the Vessel may be utilized as an FSRU on the Project and to permit the Sub-Charter with GNLS in respect of the Vessel and to set out the specific conditions applicable between the Parties when the Vessel is operating in FSRU Mode.
It is Owner’s and Charterer’s clear intention, which is hereby declared, that this Amendment No. 2 shall not imply or impose greater or more onerous obligations exposures and/or liabilities on Owner or any member of Owner Group (as defined in Clause 8.2) (except for the undertaking to arrange for the Modification Work and the Reinstatement Work at the expense of Charterer and any other provisions of this Amendment No. 2 expressly providing to the contrary) than it would otherwise have under the Charter.
In case of conflict between the provisions of the Charter and this Amendment No. 2, the provisions of this Amendment No. 2 shall prevail.
3. | Modification of the Vessel to FSRU |
Owner shall arrange for the Modification Work being carried out at the Modification Yard at a time mutually agreed with Charterer for Charterer’s time, risk and expense.
EXECUTION VERSION | 5 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
Without prejudice to the aforesaid, Owner shall obtain a quote for the Modification Work from the Modification Yard, and include such quote in a budget which is to be approved as soon as reasonably practicable by Charterer. Any comment to or rejection of any parts of the budget or Modification Work, including its scope and costs shall be discussed in good faith and resolved by the Parties. After the budget has been agreed, Owner shall promptly inform Charterer of any cost overrun and/or any matter which affects the budget and take reasonable steps to seek to reduce an adverse cost effect.
Charterer shall reimburse Owner for the documented cost of the Modification Work and compensate Owner for Owner’s own reasonable and documented cost related to the Modification Work to the extent not covered by paragraph 1.2 of Schedule III of the Charter, including but not limited to the cost of supervision, administration and follow up of the Modification Work (not covered by paragraph 1.2 (c) (i) of Schedule III of the Charter) within ***** days of receipt by Charterer of Owner’s invoice together with supporting documentation.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Charter, the Vessel shall be on hire, and the performance warranties set out in Clause 27 of the Charter shall not apply, for the duration of the Modification Work. For the avoidance of doubt, Vessel’s deviation time, time spent at, and time spent returning from the Modification Yard until the Vessel has regained a position equivalent to that when the Vessel deviated for the Modification Work shall not count against the Maintenance Allowance set forth in Clause 25(d) as amended herein.
A drydock specification for scheduled maintenance work and the Modification Works will be supplied to Charterer ***** months before the agreed timing of the drydock. Charterer and Owner have agreed that the duration of the Modification Work in dry dock shall be ***** days (the “ Drydock Period ”). Scheduled maintenance shall be carried out on the Vessel while it is in drydock, which shall also be a scheduled drydock for the purposes of Clause 25 of the Charter. Owner will be entitled to the Drydocking Allowances (as defined in Clause 25(g) of the Charter) in respect of scheduled maintenance work. If the Drydocking Allowances are exceeded in respect of scheduled maintenance work the Vessel will be off-hire in accordance with Clause 25 of the Charter but only if the overall period of drydock exceeds the Drydock Period, so that the Vessel shall actually be off-hire for the lesser of (i) the period of off-hire in respect of scheduled maintenance work determined in accordance with Clause 25(g) and (ii) the period by which the drydock exceeds the Drydock Period. Owner shall keep records of the time taken in respect of scheduled maintenance work and Modification Work, respectively, and shall make those records available to Charterer.
Any compensation in respect of delays and performance received by the Owner from the Shipyard in accordance with the terms of the agreement between the Owner and the Shipyard for the Modification Works will be reimbursed from the Owner to the Charterer. Owner agrees with Charterer that it will exercise its rights in respect of delay and performance against the Shipyard with due diligence according to the standards of a reasonable and prudent operator.
EXECUTION VERSION | 6 |
4. | Importation, Stay and Exportation |
Any importation, stay and exportation into and from Uruguay (as the case may be) of the Vessel and all materials and/or equipment necessary for Owner’s performance of the Charter and/or any Voyage during or related to the Sub-Charter Period, shall be arranged by Charterer, in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, for its own time, risk and expense, but with all reasonable practical assistance from Owner.
5. | FSRU Mode specific modifications |
5.1 | At all times during the Sub-Charter Period, except when a Voyage is occurring, the Charter shall be modified by the following amendments, additions and other modifications: |
(a) | Modifications to Clause 1 (“Definitions”) of the Charter : |
i. | The definition of “ Actual Discharge Rate ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety: “ “ Actual Discharge Rate ” has the meaning set out in Clause 27(b)(iv).” |
ii. | The definition of “ Adverse Weather Periods ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. |
iii. | The definition of “ Allowance Period ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. |
iv. | The definition of “ BOE ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. |
v. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ GNLS ” means GNLS or any assignee or sub-charterer of GNLS approved in writing by Owner.” |
vi. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ Charterer’s Group ” has the meaning set out in Clause 68(a)”. |
vii. | The definition of “ Discharge Period ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted . Any other use of the term “Discharge Period” in the Charter shall be replaced with the term “FSRU Discharge Period”. |
viii. | The definition of “ Discharge Point ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 7 |
ix. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ FSRU ” means floating storage and regasification unit.” |
x. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ FSRU Discharge Period ” has the meaning set out in Clause 27(b)(vi).” |
xi. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ FSRU Gas Day ” has the meaning set out in Clause 27(b)(iv).” |
xii. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures ” means the procedures for requesting and establishing Send Out Profile and Intraday Nominations as set forth in Schedule X.” |
xiii. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ FSRU Terminal ” means the Montevideo FSRU terminal located offshore Montevideo, Uruguay.” |
xiv. | The definition of “ Gas Day ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. Any other use of the term “Gas Day” in the Charter shall be replaced with the term “FSRU Gas Day”. |
xv. | The definition of “ Gas Nomination Procedures ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. Any other use of the term “Gas Nomination Procedures” in the Charter shall be replaced with the term “FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures”. |
xvi. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ Lowest Performance ” has the meaning set out in Clause 27(b)(i)”. |
xvii. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ Maintenance Allowance ” has the meaning set out in Clause 25(d).” |
EXECUTION VERSION | 8 |
xviii. | The definition of “ Nominated Discharge Rate ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety: ““ Nominated Discharge Rate ” has the meaning set out in Clause 27(b)(iv).” |
xix. | The definition of “ Normal Performance ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety: ““ Normal Performance ” has the meaning set out in Clause 27(b)(i).” |
xx. | The definition of “ Off-hire Allowance ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. |
xxi. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ Owner’s Group ” has the meaning set out in Clause 68(a)”. |
xxii. | The definition of “ Performance Period ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. |
xxiii. | The definitions of “ Primary Terminals ” and “ Primary Terminal ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. |
xxiv. | The definition of “ Reduced Performance ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety: ““ Reduced Performance ” has the meaning set out in Clause 27(b)(iv).” |
xxv. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ Reduced Rate ” has the meaning set out in Clause 27(b)(iv)”. |
xxvi. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ Maintenance ” has the meaning set out in Clause 25 (d)”. |
xxvii. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ Send Out Profile ” has the meaning set out in Clause 27(b)(iii)”. |
xxviii. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ Start Up Period ” has the meaning set out in Clause 27(b)(i)”. |
xxix. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ Sub-Charter ” means the agreement signed between Eklur SA, now FSRU Neptune LNG Uruguay SA, and GNLS for sub-chartering of the Vessel to GNLS.” |
EXECUTION VERSION | 9 |
xxx. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads ““ Commercial Availability ” means the Commercial Availability in relation to regas performance as measured by the compliance on a particular FSRU Gas Day with the nominated daily quantity for such FSRU Gas Day in case of shortfall where: |
AQ: (actual) Regasified LNG Delivered Quantity
FQ: Nominated Daily Quantity”.
xxxi. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads ““ Guaranteed Nominal Regas Capacity ” means the regasifying LNG in closed loop at a discharge rate equal to any discharge rate within the operational envelope between the Lowest Performance up to the Normal Performance”. |
xxxii. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads ““ Minimum Aggregate Availability ” has the meaning set out in clause 27(b)(x)”. |
xxxiii. | A new definition shall be included in Clause 1 of the Charter, which reads: ““ Sub-Charter Period ” means a period of time beginning on the earlier of (i) delivery of the Vessel to GNLS, or (ii) the Vessel is all fast at the FSRU Terminal and ending on the later of (i) the date of redelivery of the Vessel by GNLS under the Sub-Charter or such earlier time as the Sub-Charter is terminated in accordance with its terms, or (ii) the Vessel is permanently unmoored and disconnected from the FSRU Terminal and is ready and free to depart from the FSRU Terminal.” |
xxxiv. | The definition of “ Unscheduled Maintenance ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. |
xxxv. | The definition of “ Unscheduled Maintenance Allowance ” in Clause 1 of the Charter shall be deleted. |
(b) | In Clause 3 (a)(i) of the Charter, the reference to “SRV” shall be amended to read: “FSRU” . |
EXECUTION VERSION | 10 |
(c) | Clause 3 a) of the Charter shall be completed with the following bullet points: |
“ (vi) | Owner will use reasonable endeavours to have on board one person with a good working knowledge of the Spanish language. For avoidance of doubt, Owner shall not be obligated to incur additional costs with regard to this requirement. |
(vii) | the master and chief officer shall combined in total have not less than twelve (12) months’ sailing and cargo operations experience in the past five (5) calendar years exercising responsibilities of a senior rank (master and/or chief officer) on board an gas tanker/FSRU. The chief engineer, one cargo engineer and the second engineer shall combined in total have not less than eighteen (18) months’ sailing and cargo operations experience in the past five (5) calendar years exercising responsibilities of a senior rank (chief engineer, cargo engineer and/or second engineer) on board a gas tanker/FSRU. |
(viii) | prior to the commencement of the Sub-Charter Period, the Owner shall, using Owner’s standard format and subject always to GNLS first having duly executed a “no poaching declaration” in a wording acceptable to Owner, provide the GNLS with professional LNG tanker/FSRU histories in rank of the master, chief officer, chief engineer and cargo engineer (if applicable) serving on board the Vessel at the time of delivery. Prior to their assignment, similar histories shall be furnished for any new master chief officer, chief engineer or cargo engineer assigned to the Vessel during the Sub Charter Period.” |
(d) | Clause 3 c) of the Charter shall be completed with the following new paragraph: |
“ | If during the Sub-Charter Period, Owner should change or replace the manager of the Vessel, it shall give reasonable consideration to any input from GNLS in this respect. Owner confirms that under the present circumstances it has no intention of changing or replacing the manager of the Vessel.” |
(e) | A new paragraph (e) shall be included in Clause 5 (“Period and Trading Limits”) and shall read: |
“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Clauses 5(a), (b), and (c), Charterer shall, at no expense to Owner, provide or cause to be provided, at the FSRU Terminal, port and marine facilities capable of receiving the Vessel and berths and places which the Vessel can safely reach and return from without exposure to danger, and at which the Vessel can safely lie, load or discharge (as the case may be) always afloat. Furthermore, Charterer shall provide to Owner all relevant information required to meet the interface requirements of the FSRU Terminal as soon as reasonably possible. All reasonable costs incurred in implementing such modifications to the Vessel (and their later removal, if required to comply with the terms of this Charter), including the time taken to implement such modifications and to comply with such regulations necessary to allow the Vessel to load or discharge at the FSRU Terminal, shall be for Charterer’s account and shall be reimbursed to Owner in accordance with Schedule III. Charterer shall also be responsible, and shall reimburse Owner in accordance with Schedule III, for all such reasonable costs incurred, including the necessary time taken, should the interface requirements of or the regulations applicable to the FSRU Terminal be altered.”
EXECUTION VERSION | 11 |
Charterer’s definition of a safe Port is specified in Appendix 5.
(f) | A new paragraph (f) shall be included in Clause 5 (“Period and Trading Limits”) and shall read: |
“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Charter, Owner shall not under any circumstances whatsoever be obliged to go to and/or stay at an FSRU Terminal which has not entered into a Port Liability Agreement, acceptable to Owner’s P&I Club, with Owner.”
(g) | Clause 14 a) shall be completed with the following bullet point : |
“(v) During the Sub Charter Period, GNLS shall have the right to fly the GNLS or Montevideo FSRU project flag on the Vessel.”
(h) | Clause 24 (“Off-hire”) of the Charter shall be amended to read: “ Not Used ” . Any use of the term “off-hire” elsewhere in the Charter and any references in the Charter to Clause 24 thereof shall be deemed deleted in their entirety when the Vessel is being used in FSRU Mode. |
(i) | Modification to Clause 25 (“Dry-docking; Time for Scheduled Maintenance”) of the Charter: |
i. | Clause 25 (d) of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety: |
“Owner may carry out scheduled or unscheduled maintenance and take the Vessel out of service, if so required by such maintenance, but always keeping a minimum of 10MSm 3 /day capacity available unless Owner can demonstrate from its operating experience that, in the reasonable opinion of Owner, after consulting with Charterer, scheduling such maintenance would be necessary (“ Maintenance ”).
EXECUTION VERSION | 12 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
Owner shall make reasonable efforts to minimize impact of maintenance on services to be provided by the Charterer as part of the Project.
The Owner shall implement a process to record the status of the Critical Equipment and of the Major Equipment and rotate use of Critical Equipment over a period not exceeding ***** months period pursuant to Appendix 3.
Owner shall be entitled to an allowance of up to ***** days per every ***** days, commencing from the first day of the Sub-Charter Period for all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance (“ Maintenance Allowance ”) which may have an impact on actual regas send-out. Owner shall not use more time for maintenance than is necessary and shall notify Charterer of any Maintenance Allowance taken or to be taken and shall consult with Charterer as far in advance as possible as regards the timing of any such Maintenance. There will be no scheduled dry docking during the Sub-Charter Period unless mutually agreed by Owner and Charterer.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Charter, the Vessel shall always be on hire without any reduction for all time used of the Maintenance Allowance and all items to be provided and paid for by Charterer pursuant to Clause 9(a) shall be for Charterer’s account, and Owner’s use of the Maintenance Allowance shall not in any way or to any extent whatsoever be regarded as a default, non-performance or breach by Owner of any obligation under or any provision of the Charter.”
ii. | Clause 25 (e) shall be amended to read: “ Not Used ” . |
(j) | Clause 27 (“Performance”) of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety: |
“(a)
(i) | Owner undertakes and guarantees that at all times during the Sub-Charter Period the Vessel shall be capable of maintaining a maximum average daily boil-off of no more than 0.16% of the Vessel’s total cargo capacity. For purposes of establishing whether the Vessel has achieved performance as required under this Clause 27(a), the Parties shall discount periods when the Vessel (i) is discharging regasified LNG and/or loading or discharging LNG and (ii) when due to loading of LNG the saturated vapour pressure is above 170 mbarg. |
(ii) | Boil-off calculation: Boil-off shall be measured by subtracting the volume of LNG contained in the Vessel’s tanks at gauging at the end of a 24 hour period of no discharging regasified LNG and/or loading or discharging LNG, but where the Vessel is still connected within Montevideo Port, from the volume of LNG contained in the Vessel’s tanks at gauging at the start of a 24 hour period of no discharging regasified LNG and/or loading or discharging LNG, but where the Vessel is still connected within Montevideo Port. Actual boil-off shall be calculated using the mean value from 5 (five) distinct but consecutive measurements. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 13 |
(b)
(i) | Owner further undertakes, subject to the provisions of this Clause 27(b) and subject always to a start up period which shall end upon completion of the commissioning procedure (including the tests specified in Appendix 2) which the Parties will use reasonable endeavors to develop and agree by three (3) months prior to the start of the Sub-Charter Period (“ Start Up Period ” ), that the Regasification Components will, throughout the Term, enable the Vessel’s cargo to be regasified and discharged at a maximum regasified LNG discharge rate of two hundred and fifty (250) MMScf/day (“ Normal Performance ”), and at a minimum regasified LNG discharge rate of sixty (60) MMScf/day (“ Lowest Performance” ). |
(ii) | Upon every case that the Vessel’s Actual Discharge Rate being higher than the Normal Performance but less than five hundred (500) MMScf/day during regasification of LNG and has been in operation for three (3) periods of at least eight (8) hours without any unplanned shut down so that total testing time accumulates to twenty-four (24) hours, this Actual Discharge Rate shall immediately replace the current Normal Performance and such increase in the Normal Performance shall be formalized by the signing of the Parties of the Discharge Performance Certificate attached as Appendix 6 to the Amendment No. 2 to the Charter dated [ ] 2015 and made between the Owner and the Charterer. Normal Performance may be re-adjusted up to a maximum of five hundred (500) MMScf/day using this process. |
Upon every case that the Vessel’s Actual Discharge Rate being lower than the Lowest Performance but more than eleven (11) MMScf/day during regasification of LNG and has been in operation for three (3) periods of at least eight (8) hours without any unplanned shut down so that total testing time accumulates to twenty-four (24) hours, this Actual Discharge Rate shall immediately replace the current Lowest Performance and such decrease in the Lowest Performance shall be formalized by the signing of the Parties of the Discharge Performance Certificate attached as Appendix 6 to the Amendment No. 2 to the Charter dated [ ] 2015 and made between the Owner and the Charterer. Lowest Performance may be re-adjusted down to a minimum of eleven (11) MMScf/day using this process.
EXECUTION VERSION | 14 |
(iii) | Subject always to the provisions of Clause 27(b)(iv) below, Owner shall, subject to applicable terms of the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures, deliver the Nominated Discharge Rate in accordance with the daily curve agreed with Charterer in accordance with the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures (“ Send Out Profile ”), subject to such Send-Out Profile for that FSRU Gas Day being agreed no later than twelve (12) hours before the commencement of the relevant FSRU Gas Day . In case the Owner fails to deliver gas in accordance with the Send Out Profile as required pursuant to the applicable terms of the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures, then the applicable terms of the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures will apply to such failure (provided always that such terms are fair, reasonable and proportionate to the failure). Owner shall use reasonable endeavors to accommodate any change to the Send Out Profile requested by Charterer, less than twenty nine ((29) hours before the end of the relevant FSRU Gas Day (“ Intraday Nomination ”), but Owner shall not be liable for any failure in this respect. |
During a FSRU Gas Day, Owner and Charterer agree to a maximum of five (5) different Nominated Discharge Rates in total resulting in no more than 4 start-up/stop per day, being understood that those Nominated Discharge Rates that have been requested intraday will be treated the same way as an Intraday Nomination.
(iv) | Whenever Charterer requests a Nominated Discharge Rate above Normal Performance or below Lowest Performance, Owner shall use reasonable endeavors to make such rate available, subject always to the maximum and minimum capacity of the Regasification Components. Notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately following paragraph, if the Vessel is incapable of discharging its cargo at such higher or lower rates, such performance shall not be considered Reduced Performance and Charterer shall not be entitled to pay hire at a rate equal to the Reduced Rate or claim a reduction in hire. |
If, on any day, commencing from 06.00 A.M. (Uruguay local time) on that day and ending at 05.59 A.M. (Uruguay local time) on the immediately following day (an “ FSRU Gas Day ”), the Vessel’s actual discharge rate calculated over that FSRU Gas Day as measured in accordance with Clause 27(b)(vi)-(vii) (the “ Actual Discharge Rate ”), is less than the daily nominated discharge rate requested by Charterer in accordance with the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures for that FSRU Gas Day (the “ Nominated Discharge Rate ”), and such Actual Discharge Rate is lower than Normal Performance (such deficient performance hereinafter being referred to as “ Reduced Performance ”), then a Hire Rate equal to a reduced rate determined by multiplying the Fixed Element of the Hire Rate by a factor calculated by dividing the Actual Discharge Rate by the lower of (i) the Nominated Discharge Rate or (ii) the Normal Performance (the “ Reduced Rate ”) shall be payable for each of such FSRU Gas Day in respect of which an Actual Discharge Rate lower than the Nominated Discharge Rate and the Normal Performance has been determined during the FSRU Discharge Period in question. This Reduced Rate in case of Reduced Performance shall replace in its entirety Paragraph 4 of Schedule III. For the avoidance of doubt, any reduction of hire to which Charterer is entitled under this Clause 27(b)(iv) shall be credited against hire payments in accordance with Clause 12(a) as promptly as possible. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 15 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
(v) | If on any day, commencing from 06.00 A.M. (Uruguay local time) on that day and ending at 05.59 A.M. (Uruguay local time) on the immediately following day, the Vessel’s Actual Discharge Rate calculated over that FSRU Gas Days as measured in accordance with Clause 27(b)(vi)-(vii) is over ***** percent ***** above the Nominated Discharge Rate (“ Daily Over Delivery ”), being understood that such Nominated Discharge Rate is lower than Normal Performance and higher than Lowest Performance, then a Hire Rate equal to a reduced rate determined by multiplying the Fixed Element of the Hire Rate by a factor calculated by dividing the Nominated Discharge Rate by the Actual Discharge Rate shall be payable for each of such FSRU Gas Day in respect of which an Actual Discharge Rate above ***** percent ***** than the Nominated Discharge Rate. |
(vi) | If no discharge of regasified LNG is currently ongoing from the Vessel, measurement of the Actual Discharge Rate shall commence when the vaporizers, piping and pressurizing risers are cooled down and the last high pressure pump required to achieve the ordered discharge rate is placed on line and the Vessel starts the discharge of Regasified LNG, and shall terminate when the first high pressure pump is secured near the end of the discharge (“ FSRU Discharge Period ”). |
Prior to the commencement of a FSRU Discharge Period a notification of FSRU Readiness to Discharge Gas (as defined in the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures) shall be delivered by Charterer to Owner in accordance with the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures and an FSRU Discharge Period shall start no later than six (6) hours after Owner’s receipt of the above notification, unless such time is extended by reasons attributable to Charterer, GNLS, the FSRU Terminal, governmental or regulatory authorities or Force Majeure (as defined in the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures).
The Actual Discharge Rate shall be the rate of regasified LNG discharged as measured by the Vessel’s metering station. When measuring the Actual Discharge Rate against Normal Performance, Lowest Performance or Nominated Discharge Rate a variation of one percent (1%) shall be allowed.
Normal Performance or Lowest Performance shall be based upon LNG with a chemical composition pursuant to Appendix 4.
EXECUTION VERSION | 16 |
(vii) | The performance of the Vessel in relation to the warranty contained in this Clause 27(b) shall be reviewed on the 25 th of each calendar month, and the results accumulated and compensation, if any, shall be assessed and paid at the next hire payment due at the beginning of the following calendar month. For purposes of establishing whether the Vessel has achieved performance as required under Clause 27(b) and calculating the Hire Rate, the Parties shall discount any FSRU Gas Day (or in case of (g) below, only the relevant part of the FSRU Gas Day, provided that the volumes required in such part of the FSRU Gas Day in accordance with the Send Out Profile shall be disregarded and the Nominated Discharge Rate for that FSRU Gas Day shall be adjusted accordingly): |
(a) | where the FSRU Terminal is not ready or able to receive the Nominated Discharge Rate specified by Charterer in accordance with the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures and at the corresponding pressures and temperatures ; |
(b) | where Charterer has requested Intraday Nominations as per clause 27 b) (iii); |
(c) | where Charterer has instructed the Vessel to proceed from the FSRU Terminal; |
(d) | where the Vessel is prevented from approaching or remaining and/or operating at the FSRU Terminal by any relevant regulatory or governmental authority by reason other than a failure or default on part of the Vessel or Owner; |
(e) | where the Vessel is required to disconnect and/or to depart from the FSRU Terminal or is prevented from discharging her cargo as regasified LNG by reason of compliance with the applicable requirements and guidelines of the Classification Society, the Vessel’s Flag State or any other relevant regulatory authority and/or with such requirements as set out in the FSRU operating manual in relation to the Vessel’s safe operation, cargo management and/or filling level restrictions; |
(f) | where there is not a required amount of LNG onboard the Vessel to obtain the Nominated Discharge Rate in accordance with the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedure; |
(g) | where the Owner is using the Maintenance Allowance; |
(h) | where the ship-to-ship transfer system and/or the Downstream Systems are not ready or able to provide or receive the Nominated Discharge Rate specified by Charterer in accordance with the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures and at the corresponding pressures and temperatures; |
EXECUTION VERSION | 17 |
(i) | where the Vessel is prevented from discharging by other events within the port or where there is a wider risk to safety or the environment; |
(j) | where the Nominated Discharge Rate is between forty-four (44) MMscf/day and sixty (60) MMscf/day and can only be achieved using the low capacity regas pump skid, unless a 4 th pump has been delivered by WOGS onboard the Vessel before starting of operations in Montevideo or the cause of failure is operator’s error or negligence; |
(k) | Where the Nominated Discharge Rate is between eleven (11) MMscf/day and forty four (44) MMscf/day, during a period of the first thirty (30) FSRU Gas Days; |
(l) | Any Nominated Discharge Rate that can only be achieved using the HP compressor and the HP Compressor is not available. |
If, during the period of the first thirty (30) FSRU Gas Days, a long term failure (>2 months) of the ability to provide 11-44 MMscfd occurs then Owner and Charterer will meet to discuss reasonable solution and adjusted penalty mechanism.
(viii) | Notwithstanding the provisions of this Clause 27(b), if at any stage the Actual Discharge Rate achieved by the Vessel is less than Normal Performance due to a defect in the Regasification Components (and such lower discharge rate has not been requested by Charterer in accordance with the FSRU Gas Nomination Procedures), Owner shall be entitled to repair such defect in the Regasification Components and/or the Vessel by the Vessel proceeding to dry-docking in accordance with the provisions of Clause 25(h). Before committing to a dry dock, Owner shall always consult with the Charterer to assess alternative solutions. The Owner shall make its reasonable endeavours to implement solutions in-situ if requested by the Charterer. |
(ix) | The Vessel shall be capable of regasifying LNG in a closed-loop heating mode using steam from the Vessel’s regas boilers as the primary heating medium at a daily Nominated Discharge Rate with a pressure of 40 to 104 barg and a temperature of +5 to 45 ◦ C at the outlet of the regas skid. |
(x) | If the average Commercial Availability of the regas system (inclusive of the Annual Maintenance Allowance) measured over a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, or twenty-four (24) nonconsecutive months is below seventy per cent (70%) at the Guaranteed Nominal Regas Capacity (the " Minimum Aggregate Availability "), the Charterer shall have the right to require the Owner to change the Manager pursuant to Clause 3(e) of the Charter”. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 18 |
(k) | Clause 52(c)(iv) of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety: “ Not Used ”. |
(l) | The second sentence of Clause 53 of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety: |
“ The foregoing notwithstanding, no term of this Charter, other than Clauses 68(a) and (b), is enforceable under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 by a person or entity who is not a party to it .”
(m) | Clause 68(a) of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety: “ No member of Owner’s Group shall be under any liability whatsoever to Charterer, Charterer’s Representatives, GNLS, or their estates (“ Charterer’s Group ”) for their death or personal injury during the time when they are engaged in the activities contemplated under this Charter unless death or personal injury is caused, in whole or in part, by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Owner, its employees or its agents (“ Owner’s Group ”). Likewise, no member of Owner’s Group shall be under any liability to any member of Charterer’s Group in respect of damage to, or loss or destruction of, their personal property unless such damage to, or loss or destruction of, personal property is caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any member of Owner’s Group.” |
Clause 68(b) of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety:
“No member of Charterer’s Group shall be under any liability whatsoever to any member of Owner’s Group for their death or personal injury during the time when they are engaged in the activities contemplated under this Charter unless death or personal injury is caused, in whole or in part, by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of a member of Charterer’s Group. Likewise, no member of Charterer’s Group shall be under any liability to any member of Owner’s Group in respect of damage to, or loss or destruction of, their personal property unless such damage to, or loss or destruction of, personal property is caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any member of Charterer’s Group.”
(n) | Appendix I to Schedule I of the Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety: “ Not Used ” . Any references in the Charter to Appendix I to Schedule I thereof, any uses of the term “Primary Terminal” in the Charter shall be deemed deleted in their entirety. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 19 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
(o) | Schedule X of the Charter (Gas Nomination Procedures) shall be deleted in its entirety and shall be replaced with a new Schedule X (FSRU Gas Nomination Procedure). The Parties will use their reasonable endeavors to develop and agree said procedures. |
5.2 | All terms and conditions of the Charter, except to the extent modified or changed by Clauses 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of this Amendment No. 2 shall remain in full force and effect. However, such terms and conditions shall be interpreted in light of and in such way to give effect to the intention of the Parties set out in Clause 2 above, provided however that, any further amendment or modification to the Charter that may be required during the Sub-Charter Period shall always be agreed in writing between the Parties. |
5.3 | For the avoidance of doubt and with reference to paragraph 1.2(c)(ii) to Schedule III of the Charter, Owner shall not in any circumstances whatsoever be forced or obliged to lay off any of the Vessel’s master, officers or crew. However, Owner shall use reasonable endeavours to mitigate the Variable Element cost ( i.e. manning and crew travel expenses). |
5.4 | For the avoidance of doubt and without prejudice to Clauses 1-4, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6, and 6-13 of this Amendment No. 2, for any Voyage the Charter shall apply without the amendments and/or additions set out in Clause 5.1 of this Amendment No. 2. |
5.5 | For the avoidance of doubt and without prejudice to Clauses 1-4, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, and 7-13 of this Amendment No. 2, upon expiry of the Sub-Charter Period the Charter shall apply without the amendments and/or additions set out in Clauses 5.1, 5.6, 6, 8, 9, 10 16 of this Amendment No. 2 but without prejudice to any rights, obligations or liabilities that may have accrued prior to the expiry of Sub-Charter. |
5.6 | At any time during the Sub-Charter Period when a Voyage is occurring, each of the Unscheduled Maintenance Allowance specified in Clause 25(d) of the Charter and each of the Off hire Allowance specified in Clause 24(h) of the Charter shall be reduced to an allowance equal to the original Unscheduled Maintenance and Off-hire Allowances, multiplied by the number of days in the then-current year of the Sub-Charter Period during which a Voyage has occurred, divided by ***** days. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 20 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
6. | Voyage |
At any time during the Sub-Charter Period, the Charterer is entitled to use the Vessel in LNG carrier mode (“ LNG Carrier Mode ”) and order the Vessel on a Voyage. Charterer shall inform in writing Owner of its intention to use the Vessel in LNG Carrier Mode and Owner shall as soon as reasonably possible and in all cases within a maximum ***** days of receipt of said notice, inform the Charterer when at the soonest the Vessel can proceed to said Voyage, being understood that this date shall not be later than ***** days after receipt of Charterer’s notice.
If Owner is requested by Charterer to prepare the Vessel for a Voyage including but not limited to removal of any fouling, then to the extent not covered by paragraph 1.2 of Schedule III, Charterer shall reimburse Owner for the documented related costs within ***** days of receipt of Owner’s invoice.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Charter, during a Voyage Owner shall not be deemed to be in breach of any provisions of the Charter to the extent such breach is caused by or otherwise directly attributable to the use of the Vessel in FSRU Mode.
Unless Owner has been allowed to perform Voyage preparations in order for the Vessel to meet its original performance guarantees of the Charter, Clauses 27(a)(i)-(ii), the part of Clauses 27(c)(i) pertaining to speed and the part of Clause 27(c)(ii) pertaining to fuel oil consumption (not related to excess boil off) shall not apply to any Voyage.
7. | Reinstatement Work to the Vessel |
At the expiry of the Sub-Charter Period the Charterer in coordination with the Owner shall carry out reinstatement work in-situ in Uruguay or proceed to the Reinstatement Yard where Owner shall arrange for the Reinstatement Work being carried out for Charterer’s time, risk and expense.
Owner shall provide to Charterer a proposed Reinstatement Specifications, which scope time and related costs shall be mutually agreed to by the Parties. Charterer shall reimburse Owner for the documented cost of the Reinstatement Work and compensate Owner for Owner’s own reasonable and documented costs related to the Reinstatement Work to the extent not covered by paragraph 1.2 of Schedule III, including but not limited to the cost of supervision, administration and follow up of the Reinstatement Work (to the extent not covered by paragraph 1.2 (c) (i) of Schedule III), within ***** days of receipt of Owner’s invoice.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Charter, the Vessel shall be on hire, and the performance warranties set out in Clause 27 of the Charter shall not apply, for the duration of the Reinstatement Work. Vessel’s deviation time, time spent at, and time spent returning from the yard for Reinstatement Work until the Vessel has regained a position equivalent to that when the Vessel deviated for the Reinstatement Work shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, count against the Drydocking Allowances or the Unscheduled Maintenance Allowances set forth in the original Clause 25(d) of the Charter.
EXECUTION VERSION | 21 |
8. | Indemnities |
8.1 |
(a) | Charterer shall indemnify and hold Owner Group harmless from any charges, costs, expenses, claims, liabilities and losses whatsoever (except for charges, costs, expenses, claims, liabilities and losses relating to the tax implications addressed in Clause 8.2 below) which Owner Group may incur as a consequence of the Sub-Charter, and, for the avoidance of doubt, that exceed charges, costs expenses, claims, liabilities and losses that Owner Group would have otherwise been liable for under the Charter . |
(b) | It is agreed between Owner and Charterer that the Sub-Charter and any other documents to be entered into pursuant to or in connection with the Sub-Charter are not intended to impose upon Owner Group any greater liability than that contemplated by the Charter and further, the indemnity by Charterer in sub-clause (a) above, subject only to the confirmation, clarification and agreement below, covers all liabilities which would not, under the original Charter, without any Sub-Charter to GNLS, have been suffered by Owner or any other member of Owner Group. |
(c) | It is confirmed, clarified and agreed as follows: |
(i) | that sub-clause (a) above shall not apply to any liability specifically addressed by Clause 68 of the Charter as amended ("Specified Liabilities"), which shall subsist and be construed in accordance with their terms regardless of where any Specified Liabilities may be suffered or incurred (including during any use or operation of the Vessel as an FSRU in Uruguay or as a conventional LNG carrier in Uruguay) and regardless of the nationality of the Party or Parties to whom any Specified Liabilities are incurred (and Specified Liabilities are hereby confirmed to be liabilities which do not fall within the scope of the words "as a consequence of the Sub-Charter" in sub-clause (a) above); |
EXECUTION VERSION | 22 |
(ii) | that Owner's liability for any tortious act (which includes negligence) by Owner or any member of the Owner's Group to any third party shall be treated in the same manner as such tortious act would be treated under the Charter, and the fact that any such tortious act may be committed during operation of the Vessel as an FSRU in Uruguay or as a conventional LNG carrier in Uruguay) or elsewhere shall not change the allocation of liability which would otherwise apply as a consequence of such tort occurring under the Charter; nor shall the geographical location of any tortious act or the nationality of the Party or Parties injured by such tortious act(s) affect in any way the allocation of liability therefor. The fact that a tortious act to any third party is committed by Owner or any other member of the Owner Group while operations are conducted under the Sub-Charter does not affect in any way the culpability and liability of Owner or any member of the Owner Group for such tortious act(s) (and liability for such acts shall be treated as if they had occurred under the Charter); and any resulting loss suffered by Owner or any member of Owner Group shall not be covered by the indemnity in sub-clause (a) above (i.e., such acts are not contemplated by Owner and Charterer as falling within the scope of the words "as a consequence of the Sub-Charter" in sub-clause (a) above) save and except that any indemnities or limitations or exclusions of liability available to Owner under the Charter (excluding sub-clause (a) above) shall apply and shall be available to Owner in respect of any liability arising from use of the Vessel by GNLS SA as an FSRU in Uruguay or as a conventional LNG carrier in Uruguay or elsewhere; |
(iii) | that the indemnities in sub-clause (a) above and in Clause 8.2 below shall extend to and for the benefit of each member of Owner Group and that each member of Owner Group shall have the benefit of and may enforce those provisions notwithstanding Clause 13 of this Amendment No. 2. |
8.2
a) | Charterer shall always be liable for and shall indemnify and hold harmless Owner and each other member of Owner Group, on a net, after tax basis, against all Uruguayan Taxes; it being understood that any tax credit that Owner obtains, or would have obtained if a relevant tax credit claim had been made by Owner or other member of Owner Group, in relation to such Uruguayan Taxes shall be deducted from Charterer’s future indemnification amounts when the creditable amount has been confirmed based on a final tax assessment. If Charterer is entitled to a deduction in future indemnification amounts according to the above, but such deduction cannot be made, Owner shall reimburse Charterer accordingly. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Clause 52 (Taxes) shall apply to taxes other than Uruguayan Taxes. |
b) | Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-clause (a) above, Owner and any member of Owner Group shall take reasonable measures to mitigate where reasonably and practically possible its tax exposure related to its presence in Uruguay by rotating where reasonably practicable the crew thereby mitigating Owner and any member of Owner Group’s liability to pay income tax or social security charges for its crew in Uruguay. |
“ Owner Group ”, for the purposes of this Clause 8 and Clause 9 below means Owner or its successor in application of the provisions of Clause 21(b) of the Charter, Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., Höegh LNG Ltd., Höegh LNG AS, Höegh LNG Fleet Management AS, Höegh LNG Maritime Management Pte. Ltd., Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Ltd., Tokyo LNG Tanker Co. Ltd., Höegh LNG Partners L.P and Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC and such other directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. that is providing management services to the Owner in relation to the Vessel.
EXECUTION VERSION | 23 |
9. | Compliance with laws when in FSRU Mode |
9.1. | Owner shall use best efforts to comply and cause each applicable member of Owner Group to comply with all relevant Uruguayan laws and regulations applicable to the Vessel's operation in Uruguay in FSRU Mode, including the provision (either directly to government authorities or to Charterer, as applicable) of any documentation required by Uruguayan law and governmental authorities (with a copy to Charterer in the event such documentation is directly sent to government authorities). |
9.2 | The following is agreed in respect of Owner's obligations under Clause 9.1: |
a) | Subject to the provisions of Clauses 9.1 and 9.2: |
i) | Charterer’s indemnity shall extend to Owner's costs of compliance, if any, with Uruguayan law both current law and any future changes of law; |
ii) | Charterer’s indemnity shall cover Owner and Owner Group for the consequences of failure to comply with Uruguayan law provided that Owner and Owner Group shall have used best efforts to comply. For the avoidance of doubt, Owner shall have no liability to Charterer for the consequences of failure to comply with Uruguayan law provided Owner and Owner Group use best efforts; and |
b) | Charterer shall inform Owner of applicable provisions of Uruguayan law which are not available from public sources and of proposed or imminent new laws or amendments to laws that Charterer is aware of and which may be relevant to Owner for purposes of the Project. For the avoidance of doubt, it shall never be held liable for not transmitting such information that it would have no knowledge of or for which it would be submitted to confidentiality restrictions. |
c) | Charterer shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain information from GNLS about agreements between GNLS and any Uruguayan governmental authorities relating to the Project which may affect the Vessel, Owner and/or any member of Owner Group and supply same to Owner for purposes of the Project. For the avoidance of doubt, it shall never be held liable for not transmitting such information that it would have no knowledge of or for which it would be submitted to confidentiality restrictions. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 24 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
10. | Exclusion of Consequential Loss |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in, or implied by, this Amendment No. 2 or any conditions of use, each Party shall each bear its own Consequential Loss and shall be responsible for, and shall protect, defend, indemnify and hold harmless the other Party in respect of any Consequential Loss suffered or sustained by the indemnifying Party and/or the indemnifying Party Group irrespective of the negligence, breach of duty (statutory or otherwise), breach of contract, breach of warranty, or strict liability of the person to be indemnified. The term "Consequential Loss" as used in this Clause 10 shall mean (a) any consequential or indirect loss under English law; and/or (b) loss and/or deferral of production, loss of product, loss of use, loss of revenue, profit or anticipated profit (if any), losses or damages under other contracts or loss of opportunity, in each case whether direct or indirect to the extent that these are not included in paragraph (a) above, and whether or not foreseeable and in each case howsoever arising out of or related to the use or operation of the FSRU Terminal or otherwise in connection with the Terminal and not just limited (by implication or otherwise) to the subject-matter of this Agreement. The term "Group" as used in this provision shall mean the parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, agents and sub-contractors (of any tier) of a Party.
11. | Costs and Expenses |
Charterer shall compensate Owner for all time spend and all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred by Owner in connection with or related to (i) GNLS, the Project and/or the Sub-Charter, and/or (ii) the negotiation, preparation and completion of this Amendment No. 2 and any other documents related to the Sub-Charter, including but not limited to reasonable travel expenses and legal costs, provided however that such costs have been approved in advance and in writing by Charterer.
The following costs are deemed to be approved in advance and in writing by Charterer as per the date of this Amendment No. 2:
(a) | Any legal costs incurred or which may incur, for the owner’s account under the Facility Agreement between the Owner and Owner’s Financiers in connection with or related to the negotiation, preparation and completion of this Amendment No. 2 and any other documents related to the Sub-Charter; |
(b) | Up to USD ***** for Owner’s external legal cost in connection with or related to the negotiation, preparation and completion of this Amendment No. 2 and any other documents related to the Sub-Charter, documented by copies of the relevant invoices; and |
(c) | Up to USD ***** for Owner’s reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred by Owner in connection with or related to (i) GNLS, the Project and/or Sub-Charter and /or (ii) the negotiation, preparation and completion of this Amendment No. 2 and any other documents related to the Sub-Charter, provided these costs are not already included as operating costs or in the management fee paid for by Charterer to Owner under the Charter. |
(d) | MOSS Maritime has been hired as a consultant for the modification work. All costs generated by MOSS Maritime shall be for Charterer’s account. Costs will be closely monitored in cooperation with the Charterer. The Charterer has received and approved the offer given by MOSS Maritime. |
EXECUTION VERSION | 25 |
12. | Confirmation |
12.1 | The Charterer hereby represents, warrants and confirms that the Group Agreement and the Sub-Charter contains provisions: |
(a) | expressly acknowledging the existence of the mortgage over the Vessel executed by the Owner in favour of the Mortgagee as Security Trustee for a syndicate of lenders and registered at the Norwegian International Ship Register; |
(b) | expressly acknowledging that GNLS’s rights under the Sub-Charter are subject and subordinate to the Owners’ rights under the Charter (with effect that, without limitation, GNLS shall not assert any claim against the Owner or the Vessel by reason of any breach by the Charterer of the Sub-Charter); and |
(c) | agreement that GNLS shall not assert any claim against the Owner for wrongful interference with GNLSs’ rights (or any similar or equivalent claim) in respect of any actions taken by the Owner in compliance with the Charter. |
12.2 | The Charterer hereby represents, warrants and confirms that the Group Agreement shall automatically terminate at the end of the Sub-Charter Period. |
12.3 | The Charterer confirms, for the avoidance of doubt, that Clause 29(b) of the Charter covers any lien on the Vessel or claim against the Owner asserted by GNLS or FSRU Neptune Uruguay arising out of or in connection with the Sub-Charter or the Group Agreement, or in breach of the provisions of the Sub-Charter referred to in Clause 12.1 or of the provisions of the Group Agreement referred to in Clause 12.2 and the Charterer shall indemnify the Owner against the consequences of (i) any such lien or claim and (ii) any breach by the Charterer of Clause 12.1 or Clause 12.2. |
13. | Third party rights |
No one who is not a party to the Amendment No.2 shall have any rights under it by reason of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 except that the Mortgagee shall have the benefit of and may enforce the provisions of Clause 12 above.
EXECUTION VERSION | 26 |
14. | Law and arbitration |
14.1 | This Amendment No. 2 shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. |
14.2 | The dispute resolution provisions of clause 53 of the Charter shall apply to this Amendment No. 2 as if set out in full in this Amendment No. 2. |
15. | Effective date |
This Amendment No. 2 shall be fully effective on the later of the date it is executed by both parties and the date the Mortgagee’s consent is given, as required by the terms of the Owner’s financing documents (and the Owner shall promptly confirm to the Charterer on such consent being given by the Mortgagee). However, Clause 11 of this Amendment No. 2 shall be fully effective starting on 15 th September 2013 and include for the avoidance of doubt all costs and expenses generated in relation to the Project prior to the date of this Amendment No. 2.
16. | Miscellaneous |
16.1 Adverse Weather Conditions
All operational limits set out in this Clause 16 shall be subject to the results of a maneuvering study to be undertaken and accepted by the port authority at Punta Sayago, the Charterer and the Owner to ascertain the safe operating conditions. In any event, during all maneuvering operations suitable capacity tugs shall be required.
Weather conditions outside the below operating window for the different operating modes shall be considered as “Adverse Weather Conditions”.
EXECUTION VERSION | 27 |
E. | Operational limit FSRU on eastern side : HP NG transfer (fixed by the HP arm operating limit) | Maximum current near terminal | 0.5 m/s for all directions |
Maximum wind speed | 25 m/s (3” average) | ||
Maximum wave height | Hs=1.25m | ||
F. | Safety limit FSRU on the eastern side : staying at berth with HP arm connected but without HP NG transfer (fixed by the HP gas arm operating limit) | Maximum current near terminal | 0.5 m/s for all directions |
Maximum wind speed | 26.7 m/s (3” average) | ||
Maximum wave height | Hs=1.50m | ||
G. | Safety limit FSRU on the eastern side : staying at berth disconnected (fixed by the mooring) | Maximum current near terminal | 0.5 m/s for all directions |
Maximum wind speed | 40.1 m/s | ||
Maximum wave height | Hs=1.25 |
“ Abnormal Weather Conditions ” are weather conditions which are above the values provided in the following table:
Condition | Wind | Waves | Current | ||||
Vel. (kn) | Dir (°) | Hs(m) | Dir (°) | Tz 's) | Vel. (kn) | Dir (°) | |
1 | 73 | 0 | 0,5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 270 |
2 | 72 | 30 | 0,9 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 90 |
3 | 70 | 60 | 0,7 | 60 | 3,5 | 1 | 90 |
4 | 75 | 90 | 1,1 | 90 | 3,75 | 1 | 90 |
5.a | 70 | 120 | 2,75 | 105 | 5,5 | 1 | 90 |
5.b | 80 | 120 | 1,5 | 105 | 5,5 | 1 | 90 |
6 | 81 | 150 | 1,45 | 120 | 5,5 | 1 | 90 |
7 | 83 | 180 | 0,75 | 120 | 5,5 | 1 | 90 |
8 | 84 | 210 | 0,75 | 120 | 5,5 | 1 | 90 |
9 | 85 | 240 | 0,5 | 300 | 4,75 | 1 | 270 |
10 | 87 | 270 | 0,8 | 300 | 5 | 1 | 270 |
11 | 89 | 300 | 0,8 | 300 | 4,25 | 1 | 270 |
12 | 89 | 330 | 1,15 | 330 | 3,75 | 1 | 270 |
16.2 Schedule X: FSRU Gas nomination Procedures to be detailed at a later stage
16.3 Accuracy of Measuring Equipment
For purposes of this Charter, the accuracy of the measuring instrumentation and devices shall be:
· | Cargo tank instrumentation. |
Pressure:
EXECUTION VERSION | 28 |
approx. +/- 1%
Temperature:
approx. +/- 0.2 deg C between the range of – 165 deg C to – 145 deg C
approx. +/- 0.3 deg C between the range of – 145 deg C to – 120 deg C
approx. +/- 1.5 deg C between the range of – 120 deg C to + 80 deg C
Nitrogen flow meter:
approx. +/- 1.35%, based on the orifice type
16.4 Acceptance Test Procedure
EXECUTION VERSION | 29 |
A specific set of performance tests will be carried out during commissioning. These are specified in Appendix 2.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties have executed this Amendment No. 2 in triplicate as of the date above first written.
For and on behalf of Charterer: | Witness |
/s/ Francis Bretnacher | /s/ Gilles Billet |
Name: Francis Bretnacher | Gilles Billet |
Title: Managing Director | Director |
For and on behalf of Charterer: | Witness |
/s/ Guy-Hubert De Sola | /s/ Illegible Signature |
Name: Guy-Hubert De Sola | |
Title: Director | |
For and on behalf of Owner: | Witness |
/s/ Marthe Solaas | /s/ Illegible Signature |
Name: Marthe Solaas | |
Title: Attorney-in-fact | |
Witness | |
For and on behalf of Owner: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
EXECUTION VERSION | 30 |
Schedule 1
GAS FORM C
1.1 | PREAMBLE |
Ship’s name | GDF SUEZ NEPTUNE |
Owner | SRV Joint Gas Ltd. |
Flag - Registry | NIS |
Builder | Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd, Korea |
Delivery | 30 November 2009 |
Class |
X Det Norske Veritas, + A1Tanker for Liquefied gas, ship type 2G (Membrane tank, Maximum pressure 25 kPa, Minimum temperature – 163degC), NAUTICUS (Newbuilding) PLUS-2, CSA- 2, COAT-2, CLEAN E0, F-AMC, ICS, TMON, DYNPOS -AUT, STL, BIS, NAUT-AW
|
GRT/NRT | |
International | 97,100 |
Suez | 98,727.21 |
Is vessel approved? | |
USCG | Yes |
IMO | Yes |
1.2 HULL
Meters | Feet | |
LOA | 283.0611 | 928,54 |
LBP | 270.04 | 885.83 |
Breadth | 43.40 | 142.39 |
Depth | 26.00 | 85.30 |
Keel to highest point
Air draught (folded mast)
Assumed ballast draught
|
55.3
40.4
9.6
|
181.4
132.5
31.5
|
EXECUTION VERSION | 31 |
Summer Load Line | 12.4 m | Corresponding deadweight | 80,857mt |
TPC at design draft 11.4 m | 100.3 mt/cm |
Mean draft with full bunkers and full cargo | ||
Specific Gravity | Mean draft | Corresponding DW |
0.47 mt/m^3 | 11.64 m | 73,143 mt |
1.3 | MACHINERY |
Main Engine | |
Type |
Wartsila: 12V50DF x 3 units
Wartsila: 6L50DF x 1 unit
|
Max Cont. | 3 x 11,400 kW + 1 x 5,700 kW |
Grade fuel used |
Marine diesel oil (ISO 8217:1996, DMB) ,
Boil-off gas
Heavy Fuel Oil (Low Sulphur <1.5% m/m)
|
EXECUTION VERSION | 32 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
Other machinery | |
Propeller | 1 Fixed Pitch, |
Bow Thrusters |
2,000 kW x 2 units
6.6 kV, Controllable Pitch, 4-bladed, Ni-Al-Bronze
|
Stern Thrusters |
1,200 kW x 2 units
6.6 kV, Controllable Pitch, 4-bladed, Ni-Al-Bronze
|
Note:
Gas consumption at DF engine(s) and 2 regas boilers based on Low Calorific Value (LCV) of 49,900 KJ/kg
Diesel oil consumption as pilot fuel at DF engine(s) based on Low Calorific Value (LCV) of 42,700 KJ/kg
EXECUTION VERSION | 33 |
Permanent bunkers capacity | |||
HFO | 4,311,3 m3 | MDO/MGO | 1,398,6 m3 |
TOTAL | 5,719 m3 |
1.4 | CARGO INSTALLATION |
Transportable products and respective quantities *) | |||||||
Tank No. |
20
°
C
100% M 3 |
-163
°
C
98.5 % M 3 |
-163
°
C
MT
S.G. 0.47
|
-163 ° C
70%H
M 3
|
-163 ° C
70%H
m
|
-163 ° C
10% H
M 3
|
-163 ° C
10%H
m
|
1 | 19,375 | 19,084 | 8,969 | 13,192 | 19.275 | 1,488 | 2.754 |
2 | 41,882 | 41,254 | 19,389 | 31,222 | 19.268 | 3,944 | 2.753 |
3 | 41,883 | 41,255 | 19,390 | 31,221 | 19.265 | 3,944 | 2.752 |
4 | 41,897 | 41,269 | 19,396 | 31,234 | 19.270 | 3,946 | 2.753 |
Total | 145,037 | 142,862 | 67,145 | 106,869 | 13,322 |
(Please Note that Heights and Volume for 10 % and 70% of Tank Height were calculated from Cargo Tank Gauging Tables) ( off 100% range of the tank )
*) Approx. figures per 1 July 2009 based on a cargo specific gravity of 470 kg/m^3
The cargo tank system is GTT Mark III, reinforced to all cargo tank area except tank bottom in accordance with GTT document N500 CR009.
Scantlings of the cargo tanks are based on a maximum density of cargo of 500 kg/m3. |
Tank working pressure | |
Maximum pressure | 25 kPa gauge |
Minimum pressure | -1 kPa gauge |
Minimum temperature acceptable in tanks | -163ºC |
Acceptable cargo filling levels | |
Lower criteria | Below 10% of cargo tank height |
Upper criteria | Above 70% of cargo tank height |
EXECUTION VERSION | 34 |
Loading & discharging time for LNG | 12 hours, excluding time for connecting, disconnecting, cooling down, topping up and custody transfer measurement |
1.5 | CARGO MACHINERY |
Cargo pumps | 1,700 m^3/h @155 mlc x 8 units |
Cargo pump location | 2 in each cargo tank |
Max permissible specific gravity | 500 kg/m |
Time for discharging full cargo using all cargo pumps against no backpressure | 12 hours, excluding time for connecting, disconnecting, cooling down, topping up and custody transfer measurement |
Unpumpable cargo volume | 491 m3 |
Heel LNG for cooling down | 500 m^3 |
Fuel LNG for ballast voyage | 3,300 m^3 |
Cargo remaining onboard in cargo tanks after completion pumping | 3,841 m^3 |
Spray pumps | 50m^3/h @145 mlc x 4 units |
Fuel Gas Pumps |
40m3/h@215mlc x 2 units
Located in tank No. 3 and 4
|
Emergency cargo pump/ LNG Feed Pump |
650m^3/h @155 mlc x 3 units
Located in tank No. 2, 3 and 4
|
High duty cargo compressor | 32,000 m^3/h x 2 units |
Low duty cargo compressor | 4,350 m^3/h x 2 units |
Nitrogen plant | 120 Nm^3 x 2 units |
Inert gas plant | 14,000 Nm^3/h x 1 unit |
EXECUTION VERSION | 35 |
Composition of inert gas | |
Carbon dioxide, CO2 | Max 14% by volume |
Oxygen max., O2 | 1.0% by volume |
Carbon monoxide max. ; CO | 100 ppm |
HC | 0% |
Soot | Bacharach 0 |
Sulphur oxides max., Sox | 10 ppm |
Nitrogen oxides max. ; NOx | 100 ppm |
Remainder | N2, H2, Air |
Dewpoint | -45ºC at atm. |
Grade fuel used | DMA: ISO 8217 |
Discharge pressure | Max. 25 kPaG |
State if any shore supply of liquid nitrogen may be required NO | |
May be required for purging of tanks and insulation spaces | |
What quantity? |
Gas freeing | |
Can this operation be carried out at sea? | Yes |
Heaters | |
Cargo Vapor Heater (warm-up) | 16,939 kg/h x 2 units (-117ºC to 0ºC) |
Cargo Vapor Heater (boil-off) | 4,621 kg/h x 2 units (-140ºC to 45ºC) |
Guaranteed boil-off rates | |
Laden condition | 0.16% / 24h |
Ballast condition | 0.10% / 24h |
Fuel Gas Vaporizers | |
LNG vaporizer | 23,970 kg/h x 1 unit |
Forcing vaporizer | 5,800 kg/h x 1 unit |
EXECUTION VERSION | 36 |
1.6 | MEASURING APPARATUS |
Type and location | Number | |
Primary level gauge system
Secondary level gauge system
|
Radar sensor, top of each tank
Radar sensor
|
4
4
|
Cargo temperature |
Temperature Sensor;
Vapor space at liquid dome +
Liquid space (0,10,50,95%) on tank bottom and pump column
|
40
2 x 5 in each tank
|
Absolute pressure transmitter | Vapor dome of each tank | 4 |
1.7 | CARGO LINES |
Is vessel fitted with midship manifolds | Yes, 2 |
Distance from cargo manifold to stem (FP) | 132 m |
Distance from manifold to stern (AP) | 138 m |
Height cargo manifold above deck | 4.8 m |
Height manifold above working platform | 1.4 m |
Height cargo manifold above waterline when light | 21.2 m |
Height cargo manifold above waterline when loaded | 19.4 m |
Distance manifold from ship’s rail | 3.15 m |
Distance between loading and vapor return connections | 3.0 m |
Is vessel fitted with stern discharge | No |
Is vessel fitted with fore discharge | No |
Dimension of lines | ||
Diameter | Flange size | |
Liquid | 400 mm | 16” |
Vapour Line | 400 mm | 16” |
EXECUTION VERSION | 37 |
What reducers onboard | ||
Number | Diameter | Pressure rating |
3 | 16”/12” | 10 kg/cm^2 |
1.8 | LNG REGASIFICATION SYSTEM |
Liquid inlet conditions:
Pressure
Temperature
Liquid volume flow
Composition (mass %)
|
5 bara
-160ºC (256ºF)
479.8 m^3/h x 3 units
Typical Trinidad composition as given in Appendix I to Schedule 1, para 11 (c)
|
Gas outlet condition:
Volume
Pressure
Temperature
|
250 mmscuf/day x 3 units
105 bar
10 ºC
|
Capacity |
210,000 kg/hr x 3 units
|
LNG booster pump number | 6 units |
LNG booster pump discharge pressure | 120 bar |
LNG booster pump suction pressure | 5 bar |
LNG booster pump temperature | -160 ° C |
EXECUTION VERSION | 38 |
Steam pressure from boilers (saturated) | 28 kg/cm^2 |
LNG/brine Shell & Tube Heat exchanger | 3 units |
Steam/brine PCHE |
3 units
Separate steam and condensate section each unit
|
Brine circulation pump | 680 m^3/h x 6 units |
1.9 | GAS METERING SYSTEM |
Ultrasonic Gas Metering System |
Ultrasonic gas flow meters x 2 units
Pressure transmitters x 2 units
Temperature transmitters x 2 units
|
Gas Analyzer System |
Sample probe x 2 unit
Gas chromatographs x 2 units
Supplementary Gas Chromatograph x 1 unit
Analyzer cabinet x 1 unit
|
Metering Control System |
Metering cabinet x 1 unit
Flow computers x 2 units
Supplementary flow computers x 2 units
|
1.10 | BALLAST SYSTEM |
Pumps | Particular |
No. | Three (3) |
Type | Vertical single stage, centrifugal |
Prime mover | Electric motor |
Discharge rate | 2,500 m3/h |
Total head | 30 mwc (S.G.: 1.025) |
EXECUTION VERSION | 39 |
1.11 | ODORANT INJECTION SYSTEM |
Odorant | Mercaptan Mixture |
Injection Rate | 1.0lb/mmscf |
Injection Pumps | 2 x 100% |
Injection Controllers | 2 x 100% |
Injection Point | 1 |
Storage Tank |
1.12 | LIFTING DEVICE |
Location | Aft | Amidships | fwd |
STB and Port |
Manifold area
Stb and Port
|
Regas and STL area | |
Number and lifting capacity |
1 x 15 mt SWL (STB)
1 x 5 mt SWL (Port)
|
2 x 12 mt SWL |
1 x 10 mt SWL (Hs < 0.5m)
1 x 8 mt SWL (Hs < 1.0m)
|
Max. distance from ship’s side of lifting hook | 5 m | 5 m | 6 m |
EXECUTION VERSION | 40 |
Appendix 1
(Preliminary) Description of Modification Work
1. | High Pressure Gas Manifolds |
4 pcs DN400 high pressure gas manifolds will be installed with automatic valves, two each side (one as a forward extension of existing cargo manifold and one further forward). The valves will have automatic closing functionality from the existing ESD system.
The piping for the high pressure gas manifolds will be routed from gas send out from regasification plant to the high pressure manifolds via T-piece and 1 pcs manual valve in order to select whether to send gas to shore manifolds or via turret. If gas is sent to high pressure gas manifolds, the turret will be blinded with 1 pcs spectacle flange. A manual valve is also installed on the starboard side of gas export crossover to port side to allow segregation.
New pressure transmitters are installed in each new port/stb. main HP export pipe, and separately on shore side of each new HP manifold.
New walkway across transversal HP Gas line between starboard to port side will be provided.
Two new Davits/Cranes to be installed on forward HP Gas Export Platforms in order to lift down FMC valve to Upper Deck. Crane Capacity 3 tonnes at 2 m. arm.
See general arrangement drawing for the high pressure manifolds (3797-MM-ZD-101-001 General Arrangement), HP Gas Line Piping Arrangement (3797-MM-PD-355-001, Manifold Platforms (3797-MM-ND-263-001 to 004 HP Manifold Platforms,) P&ID Gas Export System (3797-MM-PD-900-003), material list (TBC) and valve list for same (37979-MM-PB-900-001 Actuated valves datasheets LNG and NG system).
2. | Segregation of Individual Regasification Skids, existing units |
In order to allow maintenance on individual skids without interrupting regas operation, approximately 25manual valves and spectacle flanges will be installed on each regas skid. In addition, one manual valve and a drain line will be installed to allow draining and purging of isolated skids back to cargo tanks.
See P&ID for regasification plant (3797-MM-PD-900-006 P&ID REGASIFICATION PLAN) and valve list for same (similar as for Sister Vessel: Valve List Redundancy Upgrade Rev05.xlsx).
EXECUTION VERSION | 41 |
3. | Installation of Low Capacity Regas Pump Skid. |
A pump skid with three small capacity booster pumps will be installed to reduce minimum regas capacity down from approximately 60mmscf/d to 11 mmscf/d. Each pump has a maximum capacity of 22 mmscf/d. The three booster pumps are installed in a separate skid on the forward port side, forward of the glycol storage tank. The three pumps are interconnected to the three regas skids, downstream the existing booster pumps. The new pumps will be installed with same segregation philosophy as with the existing regas skids in order to allow in service maintenance.
The reduced gas flow through the vaporizers will also require reduced heat input from the steam/glycol system, hence additional smaller capacity steam inlet control valves are installed in parallel with existing control valves on each regas skid.
New Electrical Steam Boiler with low steam generation capacity to be installed in Boson Store forward, if not existing Boiler burners can be downgraded sufficiently in order to reduce fuel gas cost.
Cryogenic spill protection with drainage down to sea level will be incorporated in order to ensure safety.
One new CCTV camera will be installed to allow video monitoring of Pump Skid area.
Existing Glycol Tank has to be relocated in order to provide access to Pump Skid.
See P&ID for regasification plant ( P&ID - LNG low send-out pump skid - Neptune Pump Skid (01-DRAWING - 1347730 - 1 - 02) - 1.PDF) and valve list for same (Copy of Valve list - Neptune pump skid (01-LIST - 1349306 - 1 - 02) - 1.PDF).
4. | Increase Redundancy on Key Components of the Regasification Plant |
Control of LNG inlet to suction drum: 2 pcs automatic valves, 4 pcs block valves and 8 pcs bleed valves.
Control of vapour return from suction drum: 2 pcs automatic valves, 4 pcs block valves and 4 pcs bleed valves.
Control of gas supply to suction drum: 1 pcs automatic valve, 4 pcs block valves, 2 pcs spectacle flanges and 10 pcs bleed valves.
Pressure relief from suction drum to safety header: 1 pc safety relief valve, 4 pcs block valves and 2 pcs bleed valve.
Pressure relief valve from LNG inlet on suction drum to safety header: 2 pcs block valves and 1 pcs bleed valve.
EXECUTION VERSION | 42 |
Pressure relief valve from suction drum drain line to safety header: 2 pcs block valves and 1 pc bleed valve.
Pressure relief on gas supply to suction drum from gas export system: 1 pce safety relief valve, 4 pcs block valves and 2 pcs bleed valves.
See P&ID for regasification plant (3797-MM-PD-900-005) and valve list for same (Valve List Redundancy Upgrade Rev05.xlsx).
5. | Installation of High Pressure Gas Compressor |
A high pressure gas compressor ( “HP Compressor” ) will be permanently installed in order to deliver any excess boil off gas to shore via export line. The compressor skid will be installed forward of the cargo compressor room on starboard side. The suction pressure will be 1,15 bara and delivery pressure up to 100 bara with a rated capacity of 5 tons/hr.
Two new CCTVs will be installed to allow video monitoring of major areas in HP Compressor unit. The cameras will be relocated from the SRV system.
See P&ID for cargo system (3797-MM-PD-900-006 P&ID REGASIFICATION PLAN).
6. | Upgrade of Cargo Control-, ESD- and SSL Systems |
Install new process and control cabinet for the HP compressor. Provide new software, safety functionality, mimic screen pictures, etc.
Integrate operation of the new booster pumps skid within the existing IAS.
Provide various hardware and software changes for the existing regas units.
Control and feedback of additional valves need to be incorporated in the control system.
Feedback from additional pressure transmitters will be incorporated in the control system.
Isolation of individual components/systems, e.g. isolate individual skids to prevent alarms during maintenance.
Ensure cargo loading and gas production can run simultaneously.
Incorporate new safety functionality according to revised C&E diagram within the existing ESDS system for high pressure manifold valves.
EXECUTION VERSION | 43 |
Prepare system for site-specific communication and data information exchange via Ship-Shore Link.
7. | Installation of Customer equipment on bridge |
The Jetty is planned to be un-manned when gas export only is in progress from the FSRU. During these periods, remote control will be arranged from a separate Jetty control centre located in aft Stb. corner of the Wheel House. This area will then be integrated into the existing FSRU cargo control room.
Among equipment that will be installed in the new Jetty control centre, the following items can be mentioned. All items are supplied by Owner/Jetty operator:
· | Monitors for remote indication of jetty status. The monitors are interfaced towards the jetty DCS. |
· | CCTV monitors for indication of jetty views |
· | Mooring system with monitor for indication of loads in jetty mooring hooks |
· | Hot line telephones |
· | OPC cabinet for interface purposes of Jetty and FSRU control and monitoring systems |
Conversion work.
Installation of Jetty OPC cabinet
8. | Sea Water Cooling System Upgrade |
Marine growth prevention system upgraded to ten (10) times capacity for efficient marine growth prevention at low salinity.
Installation of manual valves, re-arranged and added piping in engine room, allowing any of the general service pumps to be used for sea water cooling and back flushing of atmospheric condenser for regasification boilers.
Installation of new FW Cooling Pumps for HP Compressor, including new piping to HP compressor cooling..
Installation of 3x50% regas capacity strainers to prevent mud and silt entering the sea water cooling system.
See piping diagram for engine room (3797-MM-LD-722-001), Sea Water Pumps and Filters (3797-MM-LD-721-005).
EXECUTION VERSION | 44 |
Appendix 2
Site Acceptance Tests and Performance Tests at Delivery Point with the Vessel
A. | Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) to be performed during the Commissioning Period |
1.1. | Site Acceptance Test (SAT) - Unloading transfer rate between the LNGC and the Vessel |
The transfer rate will be limited to max. 4 000 m 3 /h through the unloading arms L-131A/B located on the jetty at LNGC side and into the FSRU through the loading arms L-121A/B located on the jetty at FSRU side, loading rate to be adjusted taking into account the send-out and the fuel gas consumption required for the close loop system and the design capacity of the CGU and the steam dump. This reduced maximum transfer rate is caused by the limited capacity of the boil-off handling system installed on board of the Neptune vessel, which has been designed as a SRV intending to download her cargo in some days into the grid.
Purpose of this unloading transfer rate test is to confirm the 4 000m 3 /h transfer rate could be reached in stable mode.
1.2. | Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) – nominal send-out capacity |
The nominal send-out of 10 Mm3 (st)/day in (N+1 configuration) will be checked during the performance tests on site during 3 periods of 2 hours, at nominal pressure of 100 barg in stable conditions (average value of the 3 performance tests) and at temperature of minimum 5°C temperature at the outlet FSRU HP gas manifold. Detail procedure will be developed to define the operating conditions of the performance test.
1.3. | Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) – Guaranteed fuel consumption |
The ramp-up from 0,3 Mm3 (st)/day up to 10 Mm3 (st)/day will be checked on site with associated fuel consumptions for guaranteed points without LNG loading (0,3; 0,6; 1; 3; 5; 10 Mm3 (st)/day), in stable conditions and as per an agreed procedure to be developed during the detail design between the FSRU provider and the Charterer.
Site Acceptance Tests are scheduled with the intention to be performed within one week to avoid delay in the deliverance of the provisional acceptance test certificate.
Detailed Commissioning Period, scopes and procedures and the exact required duration covering Site Acceptance Tests shall be discussed and developed between the Owner and the Charterer.
EXECUTION VERSION | 45 |
Performance tests described in paragraph B of this Appendix 2 (“ Performance Tests ”) will be conducted in order to demonstrate proper operation of the Vessel’s Regas facilities in different operating mode.
B. | Performance Tests required by the Charterer |
Additional Performance Tests will be performed at Charterer’s request after the completion of the Site Acceptance Tests, in order to check the proper operation of the various pumping and regasification systems all together and in various combinations.
In particular, the minimum sendout of 0.3 MSm 3 /d, with and without the HP compressor; will be tested during such Performance Tests.
Period, scopes and procedures shall be discussed between the Owner and the Charterer and shall be submitted by the Owner for Charterer’s approval.
EXECUTION VERSION | 46 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
Appendix 3
Technical availability
The Owner shall implement a process to record the status of the Critical Equipment and of the Major Equipment and report such status on the shift log at the end of each shift. Each such shift log shall be consolidated into one log for each Gas Day (the “ Consolidated Shift Log ”). This Consolidated Shift Log will be used to determine the unavailability of each item of Critical Equipment for such Gas Day. Any unavailability of one item of Critical Equipment below N shall be considered as an event of " Technical Unavailability " as shown in the Consolidated Shift Log for the applicable Gas Day.
In addition, the Owner shall implement a process to regularly check the recorded technical availability of the regasification of LNG and the transfer of high-pressure natural gas, as stated in (a) above, through the testing of the Critical Equipment on a rotating schedule (" Rotary Verification Tests "), as well as the testing of the Guaranteed Nominal Regas Capacities.
The sequence and frequency of Rotary Verification Tests in respect of the Critical Equipment shall be based on and conducted in accordance with the Master Maintenance and Repair Plan. The intention is to rotate the running equipment and to get evidence that all equipment is able to perform the services. The rotation cycle will be of maximum two (2) months for a complete cycle.
For each Verification Test, the procedure shall take into account, but not be limited to, equipment running hours, mandatory Classification Society survey requirements, cargo system containment and equipment manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations, spare parts inventory and historical data from previous inspections.
The Critical Equipment will be tested without disrupting normal operation of the Vessel, in terms of the schedule, including cargo scheduling, LNG unloading and the Preliminary Gas Nomination Schedule, including Nominated Daily Quantities.
The Owner shall submit to the Charterer for each set of Guaranteed Nominal Regas Capacities Verification Tests the detailed test procedures, including protocols, conditions of acceptance and rejection, and the schedule of such Verification Tests not less than ***** days in advance of such Verification Tests. The Guaranteed Nominal Regas Capacities Verification Tests may be conducted no more than twice in each Contract Year at the Charterer’s request or otherwise at any other time deemed appropriate by the Owner, and if such Verification Tests are requested by the Charterer, the same shall be performed no later than ***** days following the Charterer's request.
The Owner shall issue to the Charterer a reasonably detailed report of each Verification Test, containing a summary of such Verification Test, the raw data, calculations and results thereof within ***** days of the date on which such Verification Test was performed.
EXECUTION VERSION | 47 |
For the avoidance of doubt, actual fuel consumption recorded during the Guaranteed Nominal Regas Capacities Verification Tests shall not be considered in determining a reduction in the Hire Rate as a result of a deficiency in Warranty Fuel Consumption.
If during a Rotary Verification Test an item of Critical Equipment fails, the subsequent unit from the same item of Critical Equipment shall immediately be tested in the test sequence of the Rotary Verification Tests.
EXECUTION VERSION | 48 |
Appendix 4
LNG composition
The range of LNG compositions considered for Normal Performance is indicated in the following table. This range of LNG compositions covers a large range of LNG qualities (excluded: Lybia & Heaviest Algeria).
Typical LNG compositions shown here below and referred to them as design case, Lean LNG and Rich LNG:
Design Case (Rich Rich Peru) | Lean LNG (Trinidad) | Rich LNG (Algeria) | ||||
Mol % | Mol % | Mol % | ||||
Nitrogen | 0.5 | 0.01 | 0.01 | |||
Methane | 88.51 | 96.7 | 84.19 | |||
Ethane | 10.64 | 2.80 | 11.0 | |||
Propane | 0.32 | 0.4 | 3.15 | |||
i-Butane | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.6 | |||
n-Butane | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.8 | |||
Pentane | 0.01 | 0 | 0.25 |
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES |
Design Case (Rich Rich Peru) |
Lean LNG
(Trinidad) |
Rich LNG
(Algeria) |
|||||
Molecular Weight | Kg/kmole | 17.7 | 16.59 | 19.2 | ||||
Boiling Temperature | °C | -160.8 | -161.2 | -159.8 | ||||
Density at standard conditions | kg/Sm³ | 0.749 | 0.702 | 0.817 | ||||
Density (LNG) | Kg/m³ | 456 | 434.2 | 479.5 | ||||
High Heating Value HHV (Volume) | MJ/Sm³ | 40.3 | 38.47 | 43.75 | ||||
High Heating Value HHV (Mass) | MJ/kg | 54.0 | 54.9 | 53.85 | ||||
Wobbe index | MJ/Sm³ | 52.2 | 51.32 | 54.2 |
Some of these compositions (including the design case) do not respect the High heating value and/or the wobbe index and/or the nitrogen content of the pipeline specification and it is expected that in some operating modes (by running the HP compressors, due to ageing, the gas will be outside the gas pipeline specification requirements (Decreto N° 78/999 del 13/04/1999). Owner takes no liability or responsibility for the discharge gas quality.
EXECUTION VERSION | 49 |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
Appendix 5
Port Safety Requirements
The Charterer warrants that the Vessel will operate in a Designated Port which is a safe Port, meaning a Port which through adherence to international standards and best practice, and under the required operating conditions set out in this Agreement has the facilities, operations and procedures to ensure the safety of the Vessel, its crew and the Port environment whilst at the berth, or maneuvering within the Designated Port limit and its contiguous zone/traffic scheme (existing channel).
Charterer will operate under the requirements imposed by any governmental authority, which requirements must:
- | regulate and control the entry of vessels into Ports, and their stay, movements or operations in and departures from Ports; |
- | regulate and control pollution and the protection of the environment within the Port limits; |
- | exercise licensing and controlling functions in respect of Port services and Port facilities; and |
- | exercise the licensing of the erection and operation of off-shore cargo-handling facilities and services relating thereto. |
By 31 st December 2014 a Port operations manual must be developed by Charterer. At the latest ***** months before start of the operation, such manual will have been verified by both the Owner and a suitable and mutually agreed independent 3rd party.
The Port operations manual must include at a minimum:
- | a description of the Port; |
- | a description of authorisation of different parties; |
- | a description of operations, including emergency contract structure (e.g. emergency contact list), |
- | a description of communication procedures; |
- | environmental operating restrictions; |
- | emergency response procedures including emergency departure; |
- | pollution control procedures; and |
- | appendices covering drawings, regulations and standard forms. |
The Port must provide a safe means of transferring all of the Vessel’s waste and oil products to ensure that the Vessel can comply with the International Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973/78 (MARPOL 73/78) regulations and all subsequent amendment whilst in Port.
The Port must comply with the relevant sections of the 2004 International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) as amended from time to time.
EXECUTION VERSION |
SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH FIVE ASTERISKS (*****).
The Port must be provided with suitable Fi-Fi 1 rated standby vessels available on continual service at all times whilst the Vessel is at one of the berths. This standby vessel must be capable of towing the Vessel at 3 knots and in Beaufort Force 5 conditions.
The company operating the standby vessel must have experience in LNG operations, fire fighting response, and oil pollution response. It must also comply with all applicable and necessary design, procedural and operational regulations.
An exclusion zone to all vessels and non-authorised Port vessels must be in operation around the Vessel when operating as an FSRU. Various levels of response and control by the Charterer must be agreed for ships coming within other specified distances of the Vessel at the Port. These distances must be developed based upon the risk of incident and the ability of the Charterer/the passing ship to respond to control actions.
Any pilotage duties must be conducted by suitably qualified harbour pilots who have suitably conducted full mission simulator training of LNG carrier movements and operations in the Designated Port. Charterer will co-operate with Owner to ensure that the form of pilot training is appropriate for the Vessel.
Charterer is to monitor expected weather conditions at the site for ***** days ahead, and inform the Owner and Vessel master of such conditions. In the event that expected weather conditions may result in the Vessel being required to disconnect from the berth, then the Charterer shall cooperate with the Owner to ensure that filling limits inside the Vessels tanks are within the safe fill level specified in Schedule 1.
At all times the Vessel master has the right to take the Vessel to sea at his or her sole discretion if the master at any time considers that remaining at berth is or will become unsafe and the Vessel master will give notice thereof to Charterer as soon as reasonably practicable. During this period the Vessel will remain on hire and will not be considered as non-performing or under performing for purposes of paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 to Schedule I, or any other provision of this Agreement.
EXECUTION VERSION | 51 |
Appendix 6
Discharge Performance Certificate
[ date ]
Discharge Performance Certificate
Reference is made to Clause 27 ( Performance ) (b) (ii) of the Time Charterparty dated 20 March 2007 (as amended) (the “ Charter ”) and made between SRV Joint Gas Ltd. as owner (the “ Owner ”) and GDF SUEZ LNG Supply SA as charterer (the “ Charterer ”).
Terms defined in the Charter shall have the same meaning when used in this certificate unless given a different meaning herein.
On [ date ] the Actual Discharge Rate was [reduced] [increased] from [ ] MMScf/day to [ ] MMScf/day during regasification of LNG and has been in operation for three (3) periods of at least eight (8) hours. As of [ date ] such [reduced] [increased] Actual Discharge Rate, being [ ] MMScf/day, shall be the [Lowest Performance] [Normal Performance].
For and on behalf of Owner | For and on behalf of Charterer | |
Name: | Name: | |
Title: | Title: |
EXECUTION VERSION |
Exhibit 4.19
Execution Version
Dated 18 July 2014
MITSUI O.S.K. LINES, LTD.
and
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS OPERATING LLC
and
TOKYO LNG TANKER CO., LTD
AMENDED AND RESTATED
SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT
Execution Version
INDEX
Article | Page | |
1 | DEFINITIONS | 2 |
2 | purpose of EACH company | 6 |
3 | MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL AGREEMENT | 6 |
4 | CAPITALISATION OF THE COMPANY - SHARE CAPITAL OF THE COMPANIES | 6 |
5 | FINANCING OF THE VESSELs | 6 |
6 | fees | 7 |
7 | GUARANTEE/support undertaking | 8 |
8 | articles OF each COMPANY | 8 |
9 | DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS AND OTHER MATTERS | 8 |
10 | DIVIDEND AND DISTRIBUTION POLICY | 11 |
11 | general meetings | 11 |
12 | AUDITORS | 11 |
13 | TRANSFER OF SHARES - SYNDICATION OF OWNERSHIP INTERESTS | 11 |
14 | PLEDGE OF SHARES | 16 |
15 | TERMINATION | 17 |
16 | CONFIDENTIALITY | 19 |
17 | REPLACEMENT and Effective Time | 19 |
18 | duration | 20 |
19 | GOVERNING LAW AND ARBITRATION | 20 |
20 | NOTICES | 20 |
21 | general provisions | 21 |
22 | further assurances | 22 |
SCHEDULE | 24 | |
DETAILS OF COMPANY 1 | 24 | |
DETAILS OF COMPANY 2 | 25 |
Execution Version
THIS Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement is made on 18 July 2014 by and
BY AND BETWEEN:
(1) | Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd . , a company incorporated under the laws of Japan, having its principal office at 1-1, Toranomon, 2-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 105-8688 (“ MOL ”); |
(2) | Höegh LNG PARTNERS OPERATING LLC , a company incorporated pursuant to the laws of Marshall Islands, having its address at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960 (“ HLPO ”); and |
(3) | Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. , a company incorporated under the laws of Japan, having its address at 1-5-20 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 105-8527 (“ TLT ”). |
WHEREAS:
(A) | By an Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement dated 31 August 2010, which amended and restated the Shareholders’ Agreement dated 26 April 2006 as amended and restated on 20 December 2007, the Shareholders agreed matters in relation to their participation in the ownership, funding and management of SRV Joint Gas Limited and SRV Joint Gas Two Limited, which each participate in the Neptune LNG Project through ownership of GDF Suez Neptune (Hull Number 1688) and GDF Suez Cape Ann (Hull Number 1689), respectively. |
(B) | GDF Suez Neptune was delivered to SRV Joint Gas Limited as buyer from Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. as builder and from SRV Joint Gas Limited as owner to GDF Suez Global LNG Supply SA as charterer on 30 November 2009. |
(C) | GDF Suez Cape Ann was delivered to SRV Joint Gas Two Limited as buyer from Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. as builder and from SRV Joint Gas Two Limited as owner to GDF Suez Global LNG Supply SA as charterer on 1 June 2010. |
(D) | Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. has sponsored the formation of a master limited partnership, Höegh LNG Partners LP (the " HMLP "), units of which have been or will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In connection with the listing of HMLP, certain assets of Höegh LNG Ltd. (the " Previous Shareholder ") have been or are to be transferred to HLPO (wholly-owned by HMLP), including all of the Previous Shareholders' shares in each of the Companies, as consented to by MOL in the letter to the Previous Shareholder dated 3 March 2014. |
(E) | Following the transfer of the shares in the Companies described above, each Company’s share capital is held as follows: |
(i) | HLPO – 25,000 shares – 50% |
(ii) | MOL – 24,250 shares – 48.5% |
(iii) | TLT – 750 shares – 1.5% |
(F) | The Parties have agreed that the relationship between them as Shareholders shall be regulated on the terms of this Agreement, which shall replace the terms of the Previous Shareholders’ Agreement in their entirety. |
(G) | The Shareholders shall participate in the ongoing ownership, funding and management of the Companies on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement. |
1 |
NOW THEREFORE , it is hereby agreed as follows:
1 | DEFINITIONS |
In this Shareholders’ Agreement the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:
“ Accounts ” means, in relation to each Company, its audited financial statements as at, and for the accounting reference period ended on, the Accounts Date, to be prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standards.
“ Accounts Date ” means 31 December in each year.
“ Articles ” means the Memorandum and Articles of Association of each Company .
“ Board ” means the Board of Directors of each Company as from time to time constituted.
“ Builder ” means Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
“ Business Day ” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which clearing banks in London, New York and Japan are open for business.
“ Charterer ” means GDF Suez Global LNG Supply SA.
“ Change in Control ” shall mean, in relation to any Person (a “relevant person”), any other Person or group of Connected Persons not having control of the relevant person at the Effective Time directly or indirectly acquiring or obtaining a Controlling Interest in the relevant person provided that in relation to HLPO the foregoing shall not be a Change in Control if all of the following conditions remain satisfied and a Change in Control shall in any event be deemed to occur in relation to HLPO if any of the following conditions ceases to be satisfied (with such conditions to apply for the purposes of Article 13.7, with any necessary consequential amendments to a Permitted Transferee of HLPO):
(a) | HLNG Holdings retains direct or indirect ownership of at least such percentage of the total common and unsubordinated units of HMLP as shall give HLNG Holdings the power to veto the removal of the general partner of HMLP; |
(b) | HMLP retains ownership of 100% of the units of HLPO; |
(c) | the general partner of HMLP shall be a directly or indirectly owned Subsidiary of HLNG Holdings or HLNG Holdings (directly or through a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries) has the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the general partner of HMLP, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. |
“ Company ” means Company 1 or Company 2 and “ Companies ” means both of them.
“ Company 1 ” means SRV Joint Gas Limited, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands with an authorised share capital of fifty thousand Dollars ($50,000), divided into fifty thousand (50,000) shares of par value one Dollar ($1) each, of which all shares are issued and owned as to 25,000 shares by HLPO, 24,250 shares by MOL and 750 shares by TLT .
2 |
“ Company 2 ” means SRV Joint Gas Two Limited, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands with an authorised share capital of fifty thousand Dollars ($50,000), divided into fifty thousand (50,000) shares of par value one Dollar ($1) each, of which all shares are issued and owned as to 25,000 shares by HLPO, 24,250 shares by MOL and 750 shares by TLT .
" Confidential Information " as used in this Shareholders' Agreement means all information relating to the Höegh Group, the HMLP Group, the MOL Group and the TG Group disclosed to a Party (the " Recipient ") by another Party (the " Disclosing Party "), including any business, technical, marketing, financial or other information, whether in electronic, oral or written form, and all notes, analyses, compilations, studies or other documents prepared by Recipient, which contain or reflect such information. The contents or existence of discussions or negotiations related to the above shall constitute Confidential Information. Confidential Information shall not include information that:
(a) | was in the public domain prior to the date of disclosure of such information to Recipient or information that later becomes part of the public domain by publication or otherwise, except by an unauthorised act or omission on the part of Recipient; or |
(b) | becomes available to Recipient on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Disclosing Party, provided that, to Recipient's actual knowledge after reasonable inquiry, such source is not prohibited from disclosing such information by a contractual, legal, or other obligation to Disclosing Party; or |
(c) | was in Recipient's possession prior to disclosure of the same by Disclosing Party; or |
(d) | can be shown by Recipient to have been independently developed by its Representatives (as defined below) without access to the Confidential Information. |
“ Connected Person ” means in relation to a Person:
(a) | any Group Undertaking of that Person; |
(b) | any director, officer or shareholder of that Person; and |
(c) | any company in respect of which that Person is a director, officer or shareholder, |
and references in this Agreement to a person being “connected” with another shall be construed accordingly.
“ Controlling Interest ” shall mean an interest in shares or similar rights of ownership conferring in aggregate, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total voting rights conferred by all the shares in the equity share capital or similar rights of ownership of the relevant Person at any time in issue and conferring the right to (i) vote at all general meetings on all or substantially all matters or (ii) obtain the right to appoint or remove directors holding a majority of the voting rights at meetings of the board of directors of the relevant Person on all or substantially all matters.
“ Directors ” means the Directors (or any of them) of a Company as from time to time appointed.
“ Dollars ”, “ US $ ” or “ $ ” means the lawful currency of the United States of America.
" Effective Time " means the time at which this Shareholders' Agreement comes into effect in accordance with Article 17.1.
3 |
“ Group Undertaking ” means, in relation to a Person, any holding company or subsidiary, and any subsidiary of such holding company (as such terms are defined in section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006) of that Person.
" HLNG Holdings " means Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. (formerly called Leif Höegh & Co. Limited), a company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda.
" HMLP Group " means HMLP and its Subsidiaries.
“ Höegh Group ” means HLNG Holdings and its Subsidiaries.
“ HLPO Directors ” shall have the meaning as described in Article 9.1.
“ Insolvency Event ” means, in respect of a body corporate, that it has ceased to trade or has a receiver, examiner, administrative receiver, administrator or manager appointed over the whole or the majority of its assets or undertakings, or has become insolvent or gone into liquidation (unless such liquidation is for the purpose of a solvent reconstruction or amalgamation), compounded with its creditors generally or has otherwise been unable to meet its debts as they fall due or has suffered any similar event in consequence of debt.
“ International Accounting Standards ” means the financial reporting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, the financial reporting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Committee and generally accepted interpretation thereof.
“MOL Directors ” shall have the meaning as described in Article 9.1.
“ MOL Group ” means MOL and its Subsidiaries.
“ Neptune LNG Project ” means the LNG project located off the coast of Massachusetts, United States of America, involving the discharge of regasified LNG from shuttle regasification vessels into offshore buoys.
“ Party ” means a party who at the date of signing or (including in the case of a Permitted Transferee) later has become a party to this Shareholders’ Agreement.
“ Parties ” means all the parties to this Shareholders’ Agreement.
“ Person ” shall mean any juridical entity and natural persons.
“ Permitted Transferee ” means, in the case of MOL, any company in the MOL Group, in the case of HLPO, any company in the HMLP Group and in the case of TLT, any company in the TG Group.
“ Previous Shareholders’ Agreement ” means the amended and restated shareholders’ agreement dated 31 August 2010 referred to in Recital (A).
“ Qualified Decision ” means a decision of the Board in respect of any matter listed in Article 9.4.
“ Relevant Proportion ” means, in relation to each Shareholder, the percentage which the number of Shares held by it bears to the total number of Shares in issue at the relevant time (or, as the case may be, the total number of Shares held at the relevant time by all Shareholders in respect of whom the relevant percentage is to be calculated at the relevant time).
4 |
" Representatives " means, as to any Person, such Person's affiliates and its and their directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors (including, without limitation, financial advisors, counsel, financing sources, and accountants) and controlling Persons.
“ Security Documents ” means the (i) negative pledges of shares in each Company entered into between HLPO, MOL, TLT and DNB Bank ASA on or about the date hereof (ii) vessel sponsor’s undertakings in respect of each Vessel entered into between HLNG, MOL and DNB Bank ASA dated 20 December 2007 and (iii) the deeds of guarantee in relation to each Time Charterparty given by the Previous Shareholder and MOL in favour of the Charterer on 25 March 2010.
“ Share ” means a share of US$1 in the Share Capital.
“Share Capital ” means, in relation to each Company, its authorised share capital from time to time as issued from time to time.
“ Shareholder ” means a Party to this Shareholders’ Agreement or, as the context requires, a Permitted Transferee.
“ Shareholder Loan ” means the loans made from time to time to a Company by the Shareholders in accordance with Article 5.1, Article 5.2 and Article 5.3.
“ Shipbuilding Contract (1688) ” means the shipbuilding contract dated 7 April 2006 (together with all supplements and addenda thereto) entered into between Company 1 and the Builder in respect of the construction of the shuttle and regasification vessel with Builder’s Hull number 1688 (GDF Suez Neptune).
“ Shipbuilding Contract (1689) ” means the shipbuilding contract dated 7 April 2006 (together with all supplements and addenda thereto) entered into between Company 1 and the Builder in respect of the construction of the shuttle and regasification vessel with Builder’s Hull number 1689 (GDF Suez Cape Ann) (as the same has been novated from Company 1 to Company 2).
“ Shipbuilding Contracts ” means Shipbuilding Contract (1688) and Shipbuilding Contract (1689) and “ Shipbuilding Contract ” means either of them.
“ Subsidiary ” means a body corporate from time to time of which another (a) has direct or indirect control, or (b) owns directly or indirectly more than fifty (50) per cent. of the share capital or similar right of ownership (and in this definition “control” means the power to direct the management and the policies of a body corporate, whether through the ownership of voting capital, by contract or otherwise) and “ Subsidiaries ” shall be construed accordingly.
“ TG ” means Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd, being the sole shareholder of TLT.
“ TG Group ” means TG and its Subsidiaries.
“ Time Charterparty (Cape Ann) ” means the time charterparty dated 20 March 2007 (together with all supplements and addenda thereto) entered into between Company 1 and the Charterer in respect of the time chartering of the shuttle and regasification vessel GDF Suez Cape Ann (Builder’s Hull number 1689), which became effective and unconditional on 28 March 2007 (as the same has been novated from Company 1 to Company 2).
“ Time Charterparty (Neptune) ” means the time charterparty dated 20 March 2007 (together with all supplements and addenda thereto) entered into between Company 1 and the Charterer in respect of the time chartering of the shuttle and regasification vessel GDF Suez Neptune (Builder’s Hull number 1688), which became effective and unconditional on 28 March 2007.
5 |
“ Time Charterparties ” means the Time Charterparty (Neptune) and the Time Charterparty (Cape Ann) and “ Time Charterparty ” means either of them.
“ Vessels ” and each a “ Vessel ” means the shuttle and regasification vessels GDF Suez Neptune and GDF Suez Cape Ann, owned by Company 1 and Company 2 respectively, and time chartered to the Charterer.
2 | purpose of EACH company |
2.1 | The business of each Company is to own a Vessel and time charter out a Vessel to the Charterer or any other charterer acceptable to the Parties. The intended business of each Company is to own and charter a vessel for the purposes of the Neptune LNG Project or otherwise as agreed with the Charterer. Each Company is party to a Shipbuilding Contract with the Builder . The Parties shall procure that the Vessels shall be delivered (if not already delivered) according to the requirements of the Charterer or any other charterer approved by the Board pursuant to Article 9.4 as applicable. |
2.2 | The details of Company 1 and Company 2 are as set out in the Schedule to this Shareholders’ Agreement. |
3 | MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL AGREEMENT |
The technical and crewing management of the Vessels shall be carried out by a company from the Höegh Group (determined or to be determined by HLPO after consulting with MOL) on the terms of a ship management agreement approved in accordance with the Previous Shareholders’ Agreement. MOL will be entitled to second an appropriate and reasonable number of persons to such Höegh Group management company for participation in the management of the Vessels.
The commercial management of the Vessels shall be carried out by a company from the Höegh Group (determined or to be determined by HLPO after consulting with MOL) on the terms of a commercial management agreement which was approved in accordance with the Previous Shareholders’ Agreement.
4 | CAPITALISATION OF THE COMPANY - SHARE CAPITAL OF THE COMPANIES |
4.1 | Each Company was formed and exists as described in the definition of “Company 1” and “Company 2” in Article 1, with each of HLPO, MOL and TLT owning 50%, 48.5% and 1.5% (respectively) of the Share Capital of each Company as described in such definition and in the Schedule hereto . |
5 | FINANCING OF THE VESSELs |
5.1 | It is the intention of the Parties to seek limited recourse finance for the Vessels if such can be arranged at competitive cost. The Parties agree that each Company should seek to secure the most efficient funding for its Vessel and each Shareholder undertakes subject to Article 5.5 to subscribe for additional Shares and/or provide Shareholder Loans in each case in its Relevant Proportion to the extent that the funding required by a Company for its Vessel is not available through non-Shareholder debt or other sources on terms reasonably acceptable to the Board of that Company. Until a Company has obtained finance for its Vessel, the Parties shall subject to Article 5.5 procure that instalments payable to the Builder under each Shipbuilding Contract shall be financed by Shareholder Loans to be provided by the Parties in the Relevant Proportions. |
6 |
5.2 | Each Shareholder Loan referred to in Article 5.1 above shall bear an interest rate of eight percent (8%) per annum and such interest shall be calculated on a quarterly basis and added to the outstanding principal amount. |
5.3 | Save as set out in Article 5.1, each Company shall be financed, so far as possible, from external sources on a non-recourse basis to the Shareholders, on such terms as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of that Company (but subject always to the prior approval of each of HLPO and MOL (on behalf of itself and TLT)) and so that any security required to be provided in respect of such finance shall, if possible, be provided by that Company which shall, if necessary and if so, from time to time, by its Board (but subject always to the prior approval of each of HLPO and MOL (on behalf of itself and TLT), be empowered to create any security interests required to obtain such finance. To the extent that the working capital requirements of a Company exceed that Company’s resources and cannot be financed from external sources in accordance with this Article (or cannot be financed on terms acceptable to HLPO and MOL (on behalf of itself and TLT)), the amount or amounts so required may be contributed to that Company by the Shareholders (in the Relevant Proportions) in such form (whether by way of additional share capital subscriptions, Shareholder Loans or otherwise) and on such terms as shall be agreed (and, for the avoidance of doubt, subject always to agreement between the Shareholders but subject as provided below) between the Shareholders within 30 Business Days after written notice served by any of the Shareholders upon the others specifying the amount required to be so contributed and the Business Day on which it is required. It is agreed and acknowledged by the Parties that, save for paying for fully paid-up shares in each Company, and as set out in Article 5.1, no Shareholder shall have any obligation to provide any funding to a Company, so that any such funding shall only be required to be provided by the Shareholders if and to the extent that the Shareholders so agree in writing from time to time Provided that each Shareholder agrees that it shall use its best endeavours to reach agreement regarding such funding from the Shareholders and the terms of any such funding. |
5.4 | The obligations of each Shareholder under this Article 5 shall automatically cease and determine in relation to a Company if a Company shall be the subject of an Insolvency Event. |
5.5 | The total amount which each Shareholder shall be required to contribute in aggregate to the Companies under this Article 5 shall be limited as follows: |
(a) | in the case of Company 1; |
(i) | to a maximum of US$25 million in the case of HLPO; and |
(ii) | to a maximum of US$25 million in the case of MOL and TLT (who shall be liable on a several basis in accordance with their Relevant Proportions), |
(b) | in the case of Company 2; |
(i) | to a maximum of US$25 million in the case of HLPO; and |
(ii) | to a maximum of US$25 million in the case of MOL and TLT (who shall be liable on a several basis in accordance with their Relevant Proportions), |
or such greater amount as may be mutually agreed in writing by the Shareholders having regard to the capital requirements of each Company from time to time.
6 | fees |
6.1 | The fees to be paid by MOL to HLPO in connection with this Shareholders’ Agreement shall be separately agreed between MOL and HLPO. |
7 |
7 | GUARANTEE/support undertaking |
7.1 | The Charterer and/or finance providers to the Companies may require the performance of a Company to be guaranteed or otherwise supported, in which case each Party will provide guarantees or support undertakings on a several basis in its Relevant Proportion on terms to be agreed with the relevant Charterer and/or finance provider, save that a ny guarantees or support undertakings required to be provided by TLT under this Article 7 shall be provided subject to Article 7.3. Should any guarantee or support undertaking be provided by a Party otherwise than severally by reference to Relevant Proportions, the relevant Parties shall indemnify and keep indemnified the other Party from and against its proportion of its liability in excess of its Relevant Proportion. No fee shall be payable by a Company to the Parties in connection with the provision of such guarantees or support undertakings. |
7.2 | Acknowledging that the deeds of guarantee in relation to each Time Charterparty given by the Previous Shareholder and MOL in favour of the Charterer on 25 March 2010 will continue in full force and effect, MOL and the Previous Shareholder have entered into or will enter into on or around the date of this Shareholders' Agreement an agreement in respect of any joint and several liability thereunder to reflect indemnification for liability in excess of Relevant Proportion in a similar manner as is contained in Article 7.1. |
7.3 | In respect of any guarantee or support undertaking required to be provided by TLT under Article 7.1: |
(i) | such guarantee or support undertaking shall be provided by MOL on behalf of TLT in addition to any guarantee and support undertaking MOL is itself required to provide under Article 7.1 and TLT agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified MOL from and against all liability in respect of any guarantee or support undertaking provided by MOL on behalf of TLT, save to the extent that HLPO is required to indemnify MOL under this Article (or save to the extent that the Previous Shareholder is required to indemnify MOL as referred to in Article 7.2); and |
(ii) | where such guarantee or support undertaking has been provided by MOL prior to the date hereof pursuant to MOL’s obligations under the Previous Shareholders’ Agreement, including under any of the Security Documents, TLT agrees to indemnify MOL in respect of an amount equal to its Relevant Proportion of the guarantee or support undertaking provided by MOL. |
8 | articles OF each COMPANY |
If there is a conflict between the Articles and the provisions of this Shareholders’ Agreement, the provisions of this Shareholders’ Agreement shall prevail and the Shareholders shall procure that the Articles are amended accordingly and shall not exercise any rights conferred on them by the Articles which are or may be inconsistent with or in conflict with this Shareholders’ Agreement.
9 | DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS AND OTHER MATTERS |
9.1 | Unless otherwise agreed by the Shareholders, the Board of each Company shall consist of a total number of four (4) Directors, who shall be appointed as follows: |
(i) | MOL shall, whilst and so long as this Shareholders’ Agreement is in force and it and its Permitted Transferees continue to hold no less than 48.5% of the total number of Shares in issue, be entitled to nominate or appoint two (2) Directors to the Board of each Company (the “ MOL Directors ”); and |
(ii) | HLPO shall, whilst and so long as this Shareholders’ Agreement is in force and it and its Permitted Transferees continue to hold no less than 50% of the total number of Shares in issue, be entitled to nominate or appoint two (2) Directors to the Board of each Company (the “ HLPO Directors ”). |
8 |
MOL and HLPO undertake to elect or appoint the number of Directors as set out in this Article 9.1 in accordance with this Shareholders’ Agreement and the Articles.
9.2 | The chairmanship of each Board meeting shall alternate between MOL and HLPO. |
The Board shall also appoint a president or vice-president, or alternatively a deputy chairman, if required.
A Director may at any time be replaced by the Shareholder that has appointed him. Such removal of a Director and appointment of a new Director shall be made by written notice from the Shareholder to the Director(s) in question and to the relevant Company and shall be in accordance with the Articles. Such notice shall take effect upon lodgement at the registered office of the relevant Company. The Shareholder removing the Director shall be responsible for and shall indemnify each other Shareholder and the relevant Company against any loss, liability or cost that any of them may suffer or incur as a result of any claim by such Director for unfair or wrongful dismissal or otherwise howsoever arising out of such removal.
Each Director shall have one vote. The Chairman shall not have a second vote.
9.3
(a) | The quorum for the transaction of business at any Board meeting shall be at least one (1) MOL Director, and one (1) HLPO Director present in person or by proxy. |
(b) | A Board meeting can be held by means of telephone or other communication facilities as to permit all persons to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously and participation in such meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. A Board meeting held in this way shall be considered held in the place where the minutes of the meeting are signed. |
(c) | A resolution signed by sufficient Directors to form a quorum shall be as valid and effectual as a resolution passed at a Board meeting. |
(d) | If there is a deadlock with the same number of votes in favour of and against a decision, or if there is no quorum at a Board meeting duly called, a new Board meeting may be called with five (5) days prior notice to each Director, at which the Directors present at the next meeting shall form a quorum for decisions in those matters which were on the agenda at the first Board meeting, but always subject to the provisions of Article 9.4. In the event that there is still a deadlock or no quorum is present, no decision is made. The dispute creating the deadlock shall then promptly be referred to the top management of the respective Shareholders (excluding TLT). The top management shall meet within 30 days of such referral. In the event that the respective representatives of the top management are unable to resolve the dispute within a reasonable time not to exceed 60 days: |
(i) | if there are the same Shareholders in each Company and the Relevant Proportion of the ownership of the Shares in each Company (MOL and TLT’s shareholdings being taken together for this purpose and them being treated as a single Shareholder) is 50% (or if there are the same Shareholders in each Company and the ownership of the Shares in each Company is in different Relevant Proportions but those Relevant Proportions are such that each Shareholder (MOL and TLT’s shareholdings being taken together for this purpose and them being treated as a single Shareholder) has a 50% interest in the Shares of both Companies taken together), the Shareholders (excluding TLT) shall attempt to agree within 30 days that their shareholdings shall be exchanged so that MOL and TLT between them (in the proportions 97% and 3% respectively) acquire 100% of the Shares in a Company and HLPO acquires 100% of the Shares in a Company; |
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(ii) | if the position in relation to the ownership of the Shares in both Companies is otherwise than described in (i) above or if agreement as described in (i) above is not achieved within 30 days, a Shareholder (excluding TLT) may take the steps referred to in Article 13. Such steps may be invoked in relation to the Shares in one Company only, if the dispute relates to that Company alone, or may be invoked in relation to both Companies if the dispute is common to the running of both Companies. |
9.4 | A Qualified Decision requires the unanimous approval of the Directors. |
The following matters require a Qualified Decision of the Directors:
(i) | the agreement of any form of time charter to be entered into between a Company and the Charterer or any other charterer or any material amendment to the Time Charterparties; |
(ii) | the agreement of any form of ship management agreement to be entered into between a Company and any member of the Höegh Group or any other manager; |
(iii) | the agreement of the terms of any financing of the Vessels or any other financing exceeding US$5,000,000 pursuant to Article 5; |
(iv) | the amendment of either Shipbuilding Contract unless such amendment: |
(A) | is required under the terms of the Time Charterparty relating to the relevant Vessel (which has been approved under this Article 9.4); or |
(B) | is in the opinion of HLPO, acting reasonably and having consulted with MOL, necessary in the context of the Neptune LNG Project; |
(v) | making investments exceeding US$2,500,000 per Company or US$5,000,000 in aggregate in respect of the Companies; |
(vi) | amendment of the Articles or commencement or change of the business or operations of a Company or amendments to the composition of the Board (other than as provided in Article 9.1 or 9.2 above); |
(vii) | issuance of any new Shares or the granting of any options or rights to subscribe for Shares or issuance of loan capital or convertible securities, alteration of the nature of the share capital of a Company or formation of any subsidiary; |
(viii) | the granting of any security over any Shares other than in accordance with the Security Documents; |
(ix) | acquisition of other companies; |
(x) | entering into joint ventures and other long-term co-operations with third parties; |
(xi) | taking any action in respect of a significant contractual dispute including commencement and defending any action or settling any dispute; and |
(xii) | sale of either Vessel. |
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9.5 | All other decisions and resolutions of the Board shall be passed by simple majority. |
9.6 | For so long as TLT holds at least 1.5% of the Shares in issue in a Company, it shall have the right to appoint a representative to attend as an observer at each and any meeting of the Board of that Company or any other meetings of MOL and HLPO (in their capacity as Shareholders of that Company), provided that the subject matter of such meeting, in the opinion of the commercial manager of that Company, is a matter that is of material importance to the Neptune LNG Project. |
10 | DIVIDEND AND DISTRIBUTION POLICY |
Subject to the maintenance of prudent profits by way of reserve, and compliance with any financial covenant given by a Company to its lenders in respect of its financing, and subject to the determination by the Board as to the working capital requirements and cash flow conditions of a Company, the Board shall declare and distribute, in respect of each financial year of each Company, the maximum amount of its profits as are determined by the Board to be available for distribution in accordance with applicable laws provided that any such distribution shall be firstly by way of the repayment of principal of any outstanding Shareholders’ Loans (in the Relevant Proportions).
11 | general meetings |
When, under the Cayman Islands corporate law, a decision of a general meeting of shareholders (“ General Meeting ”) is required, or the matter is referred to a General Meeting, any decisions, resolutions and transactions shall be resolved or approved by the Shareholders of a Company in accordance with the Articles and applicable Cayman law.
Such meetings shall be established only when all Shareholders are properly called to a General Meeting in accordance with the Articles and applicable Cayman law.
The chairmanship of each General Meeting shall alternate between MOL and HLPO .
12 | AUDITORS |
12.1 | The Shareholders shall coordinate with the appointed auditor of each Company in connection with the preparation of an annual audit of its annual accounts. |
12.2 | HLPO shall procure that there are despatched to the Board of each Company within 120 days after each Accounts Date, final Accounts for the accounting reference period ended on such Accounts Date. |
12.3 | Each Party shall promptly after it becomes aware of the same notify the Board of: |
(i) | details of any claims made or (so far as the relevant Party is aware) threatened against either Company or either Vessel; and |
(ii) | details of any litigation or other proceedings commenced or (so far as the relevant Party is aware) threatened against either Company or either Vessel. |
13 | TRANSFER OF SHARES - SYNDICATION OF OWNERSHIP INTERESTS |
13.1 | Unless otherwise mutually agreed by all Shareholders, sale or transfer of the Shares shall not take place except as provided in this Article 13. |
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13.2 | A Shareholder (excluding TLT) intending to sell its Shares in either or both of the Companies (the “ Withdrawing Shareholder ”) shall give written notice (the “ First Notice ”) to the other Shareholder(s) (excluding TLT) (the “ Remaining Shareholder(s) ”) of its intention to dispose of its Shares. In the event that MOL is the Withdrawing Shareholder, MOL shall be deemed to be exercising rights under this clause in respect of Shares held by MOL and TLT and in the event that MOL transfers all or a proportion (the “ MOL Proportion ”) of its shareholding in a Company under this Article 13, TLT agrees to transfer its entire shareholding or the MOL Proportion of its shareholding (as applicable) in that Company to such transferee on and subject to the same terms of sale as the MOL Shares are transferred. MOL shall be entitled to exercise (or not to exercise) TLT’s rights under this Article in respect of all of the Shares held by TLT and any notices to be given to Shareholders under this Article shall be given to MOL for itself in respect of Shares held by MOL and on behalf of TLT in respect of Shares held by TLT. Within thirty (30) days of issuing the First Notice, the Withdrawing Shareholder shall establish a fair cash price evaluation of its Shares at its own cost and expense as follows: |
(A) | the Withdrawing Shareholder and the Remaining Shareholder(s) shall jointly select three (3) independent valuers chosen from internationally recognised LNG shipbrokers to prepare three (3) independent cash price valuations of the applicable Vessel or, as the case may be, the Vessels (taking into account any employment) in t he prevailing market conditions assuming a sale was to take place within ninety (90) days. |
(B) | the average value of the applicable Vessel or, as the case may be, the Vessels (taking into account any employment) shall be determined from the average of the three (3) cash price valuations received from the three (3) independent valuers chosen from internationally recognised LNG shipbrokers. Such average value shall represent an indicative fair cash price of the applicable Vessel or, as the case may be, the Vessels. In the event that the Shareholders are unable to agree on the three valuers within 15 days, each Shareholder shall appoint its valuer and the average of the value assessed by these valuers shall be used as average value hereunder. |
(C) | the value of the Company’s or, as the case may be, the Companies’ other assets and liabilities shall be assessed by the Company’s Auditor (acting as an expert and not as an arbitrator) adopting the average value of the Vessels determined in Article 13.2 (B). |
(D) | upon receipt of the three (3) independent valuations in Article 13.2(A) and the Company Auditor’s valuation in Article 13.2(C), the Withdrawing Shareholder shall give the Remaining Shareholder(s) a further notice (the “ Second Notice ”) and at the same time forward to the Remaining Shareholder(s) the valuations referred to in Article 13.2(A) and (C). The Shareholders shall as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of the Second Notice, at mutually convenient times and locations, meet and negotiate in good faith for a period of ninety (90) days for the purpose of concluding the terms for a sale of the Shares of the Withdrawing Shareholder to one or more of the Remaining Shareholders. If there is more than one Remaining Shareholder, each Remaining Shareholder shall have the right to purchase the number of the offered Shares calculated by expressing the relevant Remaining Shareholder’s shareholding (expressed as a percentage of the total issued capital held by all Remaining Shareholders) in the Company or, as the case may be, the Companies as a percentage of the total number of offered Shares. |
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13.3
(A) | If after receipt of the Second Notice, no Remaining Shareholder meets with the Withdrawing Shareholder or in the event that the good faith negotiations in Article 13.2(D) have not resulted in the conclusion of terms for a sale of the Shares of the Withdrawing Shareholder within the period referred to in Article 13.2(D), the Withdrawing Shareholder shall be entitled to proceed with the sale of its Shares to a third party. Once the Withdrawing Shareholder and a proposed third party transferee (“ Transferee ”) have fully negotiated the final terms and conditions of a transfer such final terms and conditions and the identity of the Transferee shall be disclosed in detail to the Remaining Shareholder(s) in a written notice (the “ Third Notice ”) by the Withdrawing Shareholder to the Remaining Shareholder(s). The Remaining Shareholder(s) shall have, and if more than one then each severally shall have: |
(1) | a preferential right to acquire the Withdrawing Shareholder’s Shares on the same terms and conditions proposed by the Transferee (save that the only warranties to be given by the Withdrawing Shareholder in respect of such shares would be warranties relating to title). The Remaining Shareholder(s) preferential right shall be exercised within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Third Notice by the Remaining Shareholder(s) delivering to all other Shareholders written notice of its intention to accept the same terms and conditions of the proposed transfer to the third party without reservations or conditions (the “ Acceptance ”); and |
(2) | a right to sell its Shares to the Withdrawing Shareholder at the same price set out in the Third Notice. The Remaining Shareholder(s) right shall be exercised within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Third Notice by the Remaining Shareholder(s) exercising the right to sell its Shares (the “ Issuing Shareholder(s) ”) delivering to all other Shareholders written notice (the “ Buy Out Notice ”) to all Shareholders of the Issuing Shareholder(s) election to sell its Shares to the Withdrawing Shareholder. Once the Buy Out Notice is issued, the Withdrawing Shareholder shall be obliged to purchase the Issuing Shareholder(s) Shares, at the price stated in the Third Notice, for value within sixty (60) days of the date of the Buy Out Notice. The sale by the Issuing Shareholder pursuant to this Article 13.3 (A)(2) shall not be subject to any pre-emption rights of any Shareholder. |
(B) | If no Acceptance or Buy Out Notice is delivered by the Remaining Shareholder(s) within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the Third Notice, the Withdrawing Shareholder shall be entitled to proceed with the sale to the proposed third party transferee, subject to compliance with the other provisions of this Shareholders’ Agreement, under terms and conditions no more favourable to the proposed third party transferee than those set forth in the Third Notice to the Remaining Shareholder(s), provided that the transfer to the proposed third party transferee shall be concluded within ninety (90) days from the date of the Third Notice plus such reasonable additional period not to exceed thirty (30) days as may be required to secure the written approval of the Charterer and any mortgagee(s) of the Vessel(s); |
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(C) | If more than one Remaining Shareholder issues an Acceptance to acquire the Withdrawing Party’s Shares under Article 13.3(A), then each such Remaining Shareholder may acquire a proportion of the Withdrawing Shareholder’s Shares equal to the ratio that its own shareholding (expressed as a percentage of the total issued capital in the Company held by all Remaining Shareholders) bears to the total number of Withdrawing Party’s Shares on offer, unless the Remaining Shareholders otherwise agree amongst themselves; and |
(D) | In the event that the Withdrawing Shareholder’s proposed transfer to the third party of part or all of its Shares involves consideration other than cash or involves other assets included in a wider transaction (a “ Package Deal ”), then the Withdrawing Shareholder’s Shares shall be allocated a reasonable and justifiable cash value by the Withdrawing Shareholder in the Third Notice to the Remaining Shareholder(s) to reflect the value of the Shares in the package deal to the proposed third party transferee. The Remaining Shareholder(s) may exercise their pre-emption rights in Article 13.3(A) by issuing either (i) an Acceptance agreeing to pay the cash value stated in lieu of the Package Deal consideration in the Third Notice or (ii) a Buy Out Notice at the cash value stated in lieu of the Package Deal consideration in the Third Notice. |
13.4 | Any sale of Shares pursuant to the above provision of this Article 13 shall be subject to the written approval of the Charterer and any mortgagee(s) of the Vessel(s), if required and also subject to the purchaser of the Shares entering into a deed of accession to this Shareholders’ Agreement on terms acceptable to the Company and the other Shareholder. |
13.5 | A Shareholder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, TLT) shall have the right to sell, transfer or assign its Shares (or a part thereof) in either or both of the Companies to a Permitted Transferee subject to the consent of the other Shareholder(s), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld. The Shareholder intending to transfer its Shares (or part thereof) (the “ Transferor Shareholder ”) to the Permitted Transferee shall at the time of its request for the consent of the other Shareholder(s) (the “ Consenting Shareholder(s) ”) provide documentation to the reasonable satisfaction of the Consenting Shareholder(s) of the Permitted Transferee’s financial ability to meet payment obligations and liabilities under this Shareholders’ Agreement and demonstrating that the Permitted Transferee has the technical and managerial resources to discharge its obligations if it were a Shareholder. It shall be deemed reasonable grounds to withhold consent to any sale, transfer or assignment to a Permitted Transferee if either: |
(i) | the Consenting Shareholder(s) is or are not satisfied as to the financial standing of the proposed Permitted Transferee ; or |
(ii) | the Consenting Shareholder(s) is or are not satisfied as to the management or technical resources available to the Permitted Transferee to discharge its obligations under this Shareholders Agreement. |
Any consent given by the Consenting Shareholder(s) shall be subject to the written approval of any mortgagee(s) of the Vessel(s) if required and also subject to the Transferor Shareholder and the Permitted Transferee entering into a deed of accession to this Shareholders’ Agreement on terms acceptable to the Company and the other Shareholders before any such share transfer shall become effective.
13.6 | In the event of a sale, transfer or assignment of Shares hereunder, all costs incurred by the Withdrawing Shareholder(s), Remaining Shareholder(s), Consenting Shareholder(s) or Issuing Shareholder(s) as applicable in relation to the transaction, including all legal and financial costs, break costs and other costs (inclusive of VAT), (collectively the “ Costs ”) shall be borne and paid for as follows: |
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(i) | t he Withdrawing Shareholder shall pay the Remaining Shareholder(s) Costs if the terms of sale are concluded during the ninety (90) day period after the receipt of the Second Notice under Article 13.2(D); |
(ii) | the Withdrawing Shareholder shall pay the Remaining Shareholder(s) Costs if any Acceptance is issued under Article 13.3(A)(1) by any Remaining Shareholder(s); |
(iii) | the Withdrawing Shareholder shall pay the Remaining Shareholder(s) Costs if a Buy Out Notice is delivered in accordance with Article 13.3(A)(2) by the Issuing Shareholder(s). The Issuing Shareholder(s) shall bear their own cost of such sale; and |
(iv) | the Transferor Shareholder shall pay the Consenting Shareholder(s) Costs in respect of any transaction in accordance with Article 13.5. |
13.7 | Where there is a Change in Control of a Permitted Transferee which has received from the Transferor Shareholder Shares under Article 13.5, the following provisions shall apply as between the Permitted Transferee and the Remaining Shareholder(s) from the date the Permitted Transferee signs and delivers unconditionally the deed of accession to this Shareholders’ Agreement: |
(i) | the Permitted Transferee shall be obliged to notify the Remaining Shareholder(s) of any Change in Control of the Permitted Transferee ; |
(ii) | on the date of the Permitted Transferee’ s notice under Article 13.7(A) or in the event of a failure to give notice as soon as the Remaining Shareholder(s) become aware of a Change in Control of the Permitted Transferee , the Permitted Transferee shall be deemed to have made an offer to sell its Shares to the Remaining Shareholder(s); |
(iii) | the Permitted Transferee and the Remaining Shareholder(s) shall, within thirty (30) days of the Remaining Shareholder(s) becoming aware of the Change in Control, at the Permitted Transferee’ s expense, jointly select three (3) independent valuers chosen from internationally recognised LNG shipbrokers to prepare three (3) independent cash price valuations of the applicable Vessel, or as the case may be, the Vessels (taking into account any employment) in the prevailing market conditions assuming for, the purposes of the valuation that a sale was to take place within ninety (90) days; |
(iv) | the average of the three (3) independent cash price valuations (the “ Average Value ”) shall for the purpose of determining the price of the Permitted Transferee ’s Shares represent the cash price of the applicable Vessel or, as the case may be, the Vessels. The cash price of the Permitted Transferee ’s Shares shall be calculated by expressing the Permitted Transferee ’s shareholding (expressed as a percentage of the total issued capital in the Company held by all Remaining Shareholders) as a percentage and multiply that percentage by the Average Value. In the event that the Shareholders are unable to agree on the three valuers within fourteen (14) days, each Shareholder shall appoint its valuer and the average of the value assessed by these valuers shall be used as average value; |
(v) | the Permitted Transferee shall deliver copies of the three (3) independent cash price valuations. The Remaining Shareholders shall have thirty (30) days from the date of receipt by them of the three (3) independent cash price valuations to accept or reject the Permitted Transferee’s offer to sell its Shares; and |
(vi) | if there is more than one Remaining Shareholder accepting the Permitted Transferee ’s offer to sell its Shares then each such Remaining Shareholder may acquire a proportion of the Permitted Transferee ’s Shares equal to the ratio that its own shareholding (expressed as a percentage of the total issued capital in the Company held by all Remaining Shareholders) bears to the total number of Permitted Transferee ’s Shares, unless the Remaining Shareholders otherwise agree amongst themselves. |
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13.8 | Where MOL is the Withdrawing Shareholder, TLT shall indemnify MOL for such proportion of costs paid by MOL as TLT’s Shares bear to the total number of Shares transferred by MOL. |
13.9 | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 13, TLT shall be entitled to sell and MOL shall purchase, TLT’s shareholding in a Company at a price to be agreed between MOL and TLT at the relevant time in the event that: |
(i) | a board or shareholder resolution of the Company which, in TLT’s reasonable opinion, materially conflicts with one or more of the assumptions used by TLT in deciding to participate in the Neptune LNG Project is passed; or |
(ii) | there is in TLT’s reasonable opinion a material change in the business of the Company from that assumed by TLT in deciding to participate in the Neptune LNG Project; or |
(iii) | such sale is required by, or TLT is prevented from maintaining its shareholding in a Company by, any securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body to which TLT is subject. |
In the event that the price to be paid for the Shares being transferred under Article 13.9 cannot be agreed between MOL and TLT within thirty (30) days of TLT expressing its intention to sell its shareholding, then the procedure set out in Article 13.2 (A), (B) and (C) shall be employed in order to obtain a valuation.
TLT shall exercise its right to sell its Shares under this Article 13.9 by giving written notice to MOL (the “ TLT Sale Notice ”). Once the TLT Sale Notice has been given, MOL shall be obliged to purchase TLT’s Shares in the relevant Company at the price as determined above for value within ninety (90) days of the TLT Sale Notice. The sale by TLT pursuant to this Article 13.9 shall not be subject to any pre-emption rights of any Shareholder.
In the event of a sale of Shares under this Article 13.9, all Costs (as defined in Article 13.6) incurred by HLPO shall be borne and paid for by TLT or, if not paid for by TLT, by MOL.
13.10 | Save as otherwise provided in this Agreement, where a Shareholder transfers any Shares under this Article 13 or otherwise under this Agreement, it shall also simultaneously transfer a corresponding proportion of its Shareholder Loans made to the relevant Company at a price to be agreed between the transferor and the transferee. |
14 | PLEDGE OF SHARES |
14.1 | None of the Shareholders shall be entitled to pledge, charge, mortgage, encumber or hypothecate its Shares unless the pledgee undertakes to respect and be bound by the obligations of the pledgor as a Shareholder and a party to this Shareholders’ Agreement as if they applied to the pledge. |
14.2 | Subject to the preceding paragraph, the Parties are permitted to pledge their Shares for the purpose of financing the Vessels. |
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15 | TERMINATION |
In the event that:
15.1 | any of the Parties default in making any payments hereunder (including, without limitation, pursuant to Article 5.1) and such default continues for a period of fourteen (14) days after notice thereof has been given to the defaulting Party; |
15.2 | any of the Parties default in any of its material duties and/or obligations hereunder (other than such default described under Article 15.1 above) (including, without limitation, pursuant to Article 7) which if capable of remedy is not remedied to the satisfaction of the other Parties within thirty (30) days of giving notice thereof ; |
15.3 | any of the Parties do any of the following: |
(i) | apply for or appoint to it a receiver, trustee, liquidator of itself or any part of its assets (other than a voluntary liquidation for the purpose of amalgamation or reconstruction, the terms of which have been previously approved by the other Shareholders in writing); |
(ii) | stop or threaten to stop payment or cease to carry on its business or substantially the whole of its business; |
(iii) | make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; |
(iv) | go into liquidation or be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent or commit an act of insolvency; |
(A) | file a voluntary petition for its bankruptcy or petition of a re-organisation; |
(B) | make any arrangement with creditors to take advantage of any insolvency law; or |
(C) | anything analogous to the foregoing under the laws of the country of its incorporation; |
15.4 | a Change in Control shall occur in relation to any of the Parties, (the " Change in Control Party ") and the Person who has acquired or obtained a Controlling Interest in the Change of Control Party is a major and direct competitor (in the LNG business) of any other Party such that it would be (as determined by the other Party; acting reasonably) commercially unfeasible for such other Party and the Change in Control Party to continue in the joint venture constituted by this Shareholders' Agreement, |
(Shareholders in default under 15.1 or 15.2 above or being in any such circumstance as described under 15.3 or 15.4 above hereinafter referred to as the “ Affected Shareholder ”)
then in such event:
(i) | if there are the same Shareholders in each Company and the Relevant Proportion of the ownership of the Shares in each Company (MOL and TLT’s shareholdings being taken together for this purpose and them being treated as a single shareholder) is 50% (or if there are the same Shareholders in each Company and the ownership of the Shares in each Company is in different Relevant Proportions but those Relevant Proportions are such that each Shareholder (MOL and TLT’s shareholdings being taken together for this purpose and them being treated as a single shareholder) has a 50% interest in the Shares of both Companies taken together), the Shareholders shall attempt to agree within 30 days that their shareholdings shall be exchanged so that MOL and TLT between them (in the proportions 97% and 3% respectively) acquire 100% of the Shares in a Company and HLPO acquires 100% of the Shares in a Company; |
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(ii) | if the position in relation to the ownership of the Shares in both Companies is otherwise than described in (i) above or if agreement as described in (i) above is not achieved within 30 days, any Party other than the Affected Shareholder shall be entitled to: |
(A) | demand immediate termination of this Shareholders’ Agreement by reason thereof as regards the relevant Company or Companies and a liquidation of the relevant Company (if the Affected Shareholder is a Shareholder in one Company only) or the Companies (if the Affected Shareholder is a Shareholder in both Companies) shall thereupon be effected as soon as all the obligations of the relevant Company or, as the case may be, each Company towards any third parties have been fulfilled and have expired; or |
(B) | purchase the Shares and the Shareholder Loan(s) of the Affected Shareholder in the relevant Company (if the Affected Shareholder is a Shareholder in one Company only) or the Companies (if the Affected Shareholder is a Shareholder in both Companies) at a price based on a fair price evaluation by three independent evaluators who shall be appointed jointly by the parties. This pre-emption right is subject to a request for appointment of evaluators being made within thirty (30) days from a written notice given to the other Parties stating that a default exists. The evaluators shall be chosen from internationally recognized LNG shipbrokers. The fair price evaluation of the Shares (in the relevant Company or both Companies, as the case may be) is to be based on the total value of the relevant Company or the Companies, as the case may be. If the Parties cannot agree on the appointment of evaluators within thirty (30) days from receipt of such notice, such appointment shall be made by the president of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association. The evaluators shall determine the fair price of the Shares (in the relevant Company, or both Companies, as the case may be) within ninety (90) days from the time of the notice stating the default. The fair price evaluation shall be established on the basis of cash payment against delivery of the Shares at the end of a one-hundred-and-fifty (150) day-period from the aforementioned notice. However, if any of the other Parties does not find the price for the Shares (in the relevant Company or both Companies, as the case may be) based on the fair price evaluation acceptable, then the pre-emption rights may be withdrawn in writing to the Affected Shareholder at the latest seven (7) days after notice has been provided that the fair price evaluation by the independent evaluators has not been accepted by the Parties and the Parties shall remain Shareholders. Settlement shall take place at the latest one-hundred-and-fifty (150) day- period from the aforementioned notice. |
PROVIDED ALWAYS that such right of termination of this agreement shall be without prejudice to any other right which the other Parties may have towards the Affected Shareholder in respect of such default and the termination or exercise of pre-emption rights shall thus take effect without prejudice to any rights accrued between the Parties.
In the event of such default by a Party described under 15.1 above, the other Shareholders shall have the option to make the shortfall caused by such default and to the extent a Shareholder shall remit such funds, it shall be entitled to an indemnity from the Affected Shareholder to include interest at the three month USD LIBOR rate at the relevant time plus two percent (2%) per annum on the amount so paid, such interest to be calculated from the date of the default until payment by the Affected Shareholder.
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16 | CONFIDENTIALITY |
16.1 | Each Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to any third party, save to the extent permitted by this Article 16 and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information. |
16.2 | Confidential Information received shall be disclosed by a Recipient only to that limited number of Representatives who need to know such information, each of whom shall be informed of the confidential nature of the information and agree to be bound by the terms of this Article 16. The Recipient shall be liable for any breach of this Article 16 by Representatives to whom Confidential Information is disclosed. |
16.3 | Each of the Parties acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose. |
16.4 | In the event that a Recipient is legally compelled, pursuant to a subpoena, civil investigative demand, regulatory demand or similar process or pursuant to applicable law, rule, regulation or pursuant to any applicable stock exchange rule or any rule of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or disclosure requirement to disclose any Confidential Information, the Recipient shall provide the Disclosing Party with prompt notice of such request or requirement as far in advance of its disclosure as is reasonably practicable. The Recipient agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Disclosing Party to obtain a protective order or other appropriate remedy in order to limit such disclosure. |
16.5 | For the avoidance of doubt, no Party has disclosed or will disclose (nor is any Party obliged to disclose) to any other Party or any Company or any other Person information which is confidential in respect of LNG projects other than the Neptune LNG Project. |
16.6 | In this Article 16 the expressions "Disclosing Party" and "Recipient" shall have the meanings given in the definition of "Confidential Information". |
17 | REPLACEMENT and Effective Time |
17.1 | This Shareholders' Agreement shall be effective as from the time at which the shares representing the Previous Shareholders' 50% holding in the share capital of each Company are transferred by the Previous Shareholder to, and registered in the name of, HLPO, such time of the transfer by the Previous Shareholder to HLPO having been notified in writing by the Previous Shareholder to MOL and TLT, whereupon the Previous Shareholders' Agreement shall cease to have effect, without prejudice to any accrued rights and obligations which are unsatisfied or unperformed under the Previous Shareholders' Agreement. |
17.2 | With effect from the Effective Time the confidentiality agreement dated 20 February 2006 between Leif H ö egh & Co AS and MOL shall cease to have effect but without prejudice to rights and obligations accrued before the Effective Time (and, as among the Parties, shall be superseded by Article 16 of this Agreement). |
19 |
18 | duration |
This Shareholders’ Agreement shall be binding on the Parties from the Effective Time until this Shareholders’ Agreement is terminated by the Parties hereto in accordance with Article 13 or Article 15 or otherwise ceases to apply as provided herein.
19 | GOVERNING LAW AND ARBITRATION |
19.1 | This Shareholders’ Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. |
19.2 | Any claim, dispute or controversy arising among the Parties out of or in relation to this Agreement, shall be settled through friendly consultations between the Parties. In the event that no settlement is reached within 30 days from the date of notification by either Party to the other that it intends to submit a claim, dispute or controversy to arbitration then such claim, dispute or controversy shall be finally settled by arbitration in accordance with the rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce by three arbitrators appointed in accordance with the said rules. The place of arbitration shall be London, UK. The arbitration proceeding shall be conducted in English. |
20 | NOTICES |
Unless otherwise specified herein, any notice required to be given hereunder by and Party shall be deemed to have been well and sufficiently given if mailed by prepaid registered mail, sent by facsimile or delivered to the address of the other Parties hereinafter set forth:
HLPO: | Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC | |
c/o Höegh LNG AS | ||
Drammensveien 134 | ||
0277 Oslo | ||
Norway | ||
Attention: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Facsimile: | + 47 2103 9013 | |
MOL: | 1-1, Toranomon, | |
2-Chome, Minato-ku, | ||
Tokyo, Japan 105-8688 | ||
Attention: | General Manager, LNG Carrier Division | |
Facsimile: | +81 33587 7748 | |
TLT: | Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. | |
1-5-20 Kaigan | ||
Minato-ku | ||
Tokyo, Japan 105-8527 | ||
Attention: | General Manager, Business Development Division I | |
Facsimile: | +81 3 3432 5834 |
or such address as any Party may from time to time direct in writing, and any such notice shall be deemed to have been received, if mailed, on the fifth business day after the time of mailing, if sent by facsimile on the day sent, and if delivered on the date of delivery, in each case Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays excepted. If normal mail service is interrupted by strike, slowdown, force majeure or other cause, a notice sent by mail will not be deemed to be received until actually received, and the Party sending the notice shall utilize any other means of communication which have not been so interrupted or shall deliver such notice in order to ensure prompt receipt thereof.
20 |
21 | general provisions |
21.1 | Illegality . If any one or more of the provisions contained in this Shareholders’ Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect in any competent jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision or provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby in any other competent jurisdiction and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired. |
21.2 | Entire agreement . The provisions herein constitute the entire agreement among the Parties regarding the Companies and supersede all other agreements between the Parties regarding the same (including the heads of agreement dated 21 March 2006 made between the Parties), save for any related or supplemental agreements having the same date as the Previous Shareholders’ Agreement or the Shareholders’ Agreement dated 26 April 2006 (as amended and restated on 20 December 2007). |
21.3 | Amendment . This Shareholders’ Agreement may be amended only by written agreement executed by the Parties hereto which agreement specifically states that it amends this Shareholders’ Agreement. |
21.4 | No Waiver . Failure on any Party to insist upon strict observance of or compliance with any term of this Shareholders’ Agreement in one or more instances shall not be deemed to be a waiver of its rights to insist upon such observance or compliance with the other terms hereof, or in the future. |
21.5 | Headings. The headings preceding the text of the sections and subsections hereof are inserted solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of this Shareholders’ Agreement, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction or effect. |
21.6 | Counterparts . This Shareholders’ Agreement may be entered into in any number of counterparts and by the Parties on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original but shall not be effective until each Party has executed at least one counterpart, but all the counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. |
21.7 | Responsibility for costs. Any ongoing administrative costs of the Companies shall be borne between the Parties in accordance with their Relevant Proportions. Except where expressly provided otherwise, each Party shall pay its own costs connected with the negotiation, preparation, execution and implementation of this Shareholders Agreement and any matters connected therewith but this is without prejudice to any Party’s rights to recover its costs (in whole or in part) under the general law. |
21.8 | Third party rights . This Shareholders’ Agreement is made for the benefit of the Parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns only and is not intended to benefit, and no term thereof shall be enforceable by, any other person by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) HLNG Holdings shall have the benefit of and may enforce the provisions of Article 16 and Article 17.1 and (ii) Leif H ö egh & Co AS shall have the benefit of and may enforce the provisions of Article 17.2; provided that this Shareholders' Agreement may be rescinded or varied by the Parties hereto without the consent of HLNG Holdings or Leif H ö egh & Co AS (or any person who is not a party to it) in all other respects. |
21.9 | Assignment. This Shareholders’ Agreement shall be binding on and enure for the benefit of each Party’s successors and assigns save that: |
(a) | any purported assignment, charge, transfer or other disposition by a Party of the benefit of this Shareholders’ Agreement (or any related document) or of any of its claims or rights (whether to damages or otherwise) or obligations arising under or in connection with this Agreement (or any related document) which is made without the other Parties’ prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be void for all purposes; and |
21 |
(b) | any Party in breach of this Article 21.9 shall not be entitled to recover damages or exercise any other remedy in respect of any loss which may be sustained by any other person who at any time has any right or interest relating to this Shareholders’ Agreement as a result of any such breach. |
21.10 | Warranties of authority. Each Party represents and warrants as regards itself that as at the date hereof: |
(a) | it is duly incorporated and in existence and has full power and authority to enter into, and perform all its obligations under, this Shareholders’ Agreement; |
(b) | this Shareholders’ Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against it in accordance with its terms; |
(c) | the entry into and performance by it of this Shareholders’ Agreement does not and will not violate in any respect any law or regulation or any agreement to which it is a party; and |
(d) | all consents, licences, approvals and authorisations required by it in connection with this Shareholders’ Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been obtained and are in full force and effect. |
22 | further assurances |
Subject always to the other provisions of this Shareholders’ Agreement, each Party shall, and shall procure that any nominee for it and/or any Group Undertaking of it shall, and each Shareholder shall use such voting and other powers available to it in relation to each Company to procure that each Company shall execute any deeds or documents and exercise or waive any rights and generally take any and all action which may be necessary for this Shareholders’ Agreement to be carried into effect including, but not limited to, entering into and performing its obligations under the agreements to which each Company is, or is to be, a party and passing (or ensuring that there are passed) any resolution of a Company which may be required or desirable in connection with this Shareholders’ Agreement.
22 |
IN WITNESS whereof this Shareholders’ Agreement has been executed on the day and year first be fore written.
Executed by affixing a seal of | ) /s/ Koichi Muto |
Mr. Koichi Muto, | ) |
a Representative Director of : | ) |
MITSUI O.S.K. LINES, LTD. | ) |
Executed and delivered by | ) /s/ Emeline Yew |
) Attorney in fact | |
an Attorney on behalf of | ) |
HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS | ) |
OPERATING LLC | ) |
Executed by affixing a seal of | ) /s/ Tadashi Narushima |
Mr. Tadashi Narushima, | ) |
a Representative Director of : | ) |
TOKYO LNG TANKER CO., LTD | ) |
23 |
Execution Version
SCHEDULE
DETAILS OF COMPANY 1
Name | SRV Joint Gas Limited |
Date of incorporation | 4 April 2006 |
Registered number | HL-165287 |
Registered office | Clifton House, 75 Fort Street, George Town, P.O. Box 1350 GT, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands |
Directors |
Nobuo Ishihara
Takeshi Hashimoto Morten Høegh Sveinung Støhle |
Secretary | Appleby Corporate Services (Cayman) Limited |
Authorised share capital | $50,000 divided into 50,000 shares of $1 each |
Issued share capital | $50,000 divided into 50,000 shares of $1 each |
Registered shareholders (with numbers of shares and beneficial owners) |
Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC - 25,000 shares
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd – 24,250 shares
Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd – 750 shares |
Loan capital | None |
Bankers | None |
Auditors | Ernst & Young |
Accounting reference date | 31 December |
24 |
DETAILS OF COMPANY 2
Name | SRV Joint Gas Two Limited |
Date of incorporation | 13 August 2007 |
Registered number | HL - 193196 |
Registered office | Clifton House, 75 Fort Street, George Town, P.O. Box 1350 GT, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands |
Directors |
Nobuo Ishihara
Takeshi Hashimoto Morten Høegh Sveinung Støhle |
Secretary | Appleby Corporate Services (Cayman) Limited |
Authorised share capital | $50,000 divided into 50,000 shares of $1 each |
Issued share capital | $50,000 divided into 50,000 shares of $1 each |
Registered shareholders (with numbers of shares and beneficial owners) |
Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC - 25,000 shares
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd – 24,250 shares
Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd – 750 shares |
Loan capital | None |
Bankers | None |
Auditors | Ernst & Young |
Accounting reference date | 31 December |
25 |
Exhibit 4.24
Execution Version
REVOLVING LOAN AGREEMENT
dated as of August 12, 2014
between
Höegh LNG Partners LP
as Borrower
and
Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd.
as Lender
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article I DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION |
||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 |
Section 1.2 | Other Definitional Provisions | 5 |
Section 1.3 | Accounting Terms and Principles | 5 |
Article II AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE LOANS |
||
Section 2.1 | Loan Commitment | 6 |
Section 2.2 | Borrowing Procedure | 6 |
Section 2.3 | Optional Reduction and Termination of Loan Commitment | 6 |
Section 2.4 | Repayment of Loans | 6 |
Section 2.5 | Prepayment | 6 |
Section 2.6 | Interest on Loans | 6 |
Section 2.7 | Computation of Interest | 7 |
Section 2.8 | Fees | 7 |
Section 2.9 | Evidence of Debt | 7 |
Section 2.10 | Payments Generally | 7 |
Section 2.11 | Taxes | 7 |
Section 2.12 | Illegality | 8 |
Section 2.13 | Subordination | 8 |
Article III CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS |
||
Section 3.1 | Conditions to Effectiveness | 8 |
Section 3.2 | Conditions to Making of each Loan | 9 |
Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
||
Section 4.1 | Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law | 9 |
Section 4.2 | Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations | 9 |
Section 4.3 | No Legal Bar | 10 |
Section 4.4 | No Material Litigation | 10 |
Section 4.5 | No Default | 10 |
Section 4.6 | Use of Proceeds | 10 |
i |
Article V COVENANTS |
||
Section 5.1 | Delivery of Financial Information | 10 |
Section 5.2 | Notice of Default | 11 |
Section 5.3 | Distributions | 11 |
Section 5.4 | Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence, etc | 11 |
Article VI EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
||
Section 6.1 | Events of Default | 11 |
Article VII MISCELLANEOUS |
||
Section 7.1 | Notices | 13 |
Section 7.2 | Waiver; Amendments | 13 |
Section 7.3 | Expenses; Indemnification | 14 |
Section 7.4 | Successors and Assigns | 15 |
Section 7.5 | Governing Law | 15 |
Section 7.6 | Counterparts; Integration | 15 |
Section 7.7 | Survival | 15 |
Section 7.8 | Severability | 15 |
ii |
THIS REVOLVING LOAN AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of August 12, 2014 by and among Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda company (the “ Lender ”) and Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS , the Borrower has requested that the Lender make loans to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount of up to $85,000,000; and
WHEREAS , subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lender is willing to make the requested loans to the Borrower.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Borrower and the Lender agree as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION
Section 1.1 Definitions
. The following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
“ Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Applicable Margin ” shall mean 4.00% per annum .
“ Availability Period ” shall mean the period from and including the Closing Date to, but excluding, the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date and (ii) the date of termination of the Loan Commitment pursuant to Section 2.3 or Section 6.1 .
“ Borrower Affiliate ” shall mean the Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof.
“ Borrower ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Business Day ” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in London, New York, the Marshall Islands, Norway or Bermuda are authorized or required by law to close.
“ Capital Lease Obligations ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP as of the date hereof; and, for the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.
1 |
“ Closing Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
“ Code ” shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“ Commitment Fee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.8 .
“ Default ” shall mean any of the events specified in Article VI , whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.
“ Default Interest ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(c) of this Agreement.
“ Default Interest Rate ” shall mean the Loan Interest Rate, plus an additional 2.00% per annum .
“ Dollars ” and “ $ ” shall mean the lawful currency of the United States of America.
“ Event of Default ” shall mean any of the events specified in Article VI of this Agreement; provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.
“ Excluded Taxes ” shall mean, with respect to the Lender, taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income, franchise taxes, and any branch profits or similar tax imposed on it by any jurisdiction.
“ GAAP ” shall mean United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis.
“ Governmental Authority ” shall mean any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
“ Guarantee Obligation ” shall mean as to any Person (the “ guaranteeing person ”), any obligation of (a) the guaranteeing person or (b) another Person (including, without limitation, any bank under any letter of credit), if to induce the creation of such obligation of such other Person the guaranteeing person has issued a reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation, in either case guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (the “ primary obligations ”) of any other third Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly; provided, however , that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation, unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
2 |
“ Hedge Agreements ” shall mean all interest rate or currency swaps, caps or collar agreements, foreign exchange agreements, commodity contracts or similar arrangements entered into by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries providing for protection against fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodity prices or the exchange of nominal interest obligations, either generally or under specific contingencies.
“ Indebtedness ” shall mean of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property or assets acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property or assets), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under acceptance, letter of credit or similar facilities, (g) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any equity interests of such Person, (h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above; (i) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation and (j) all obligations of such Person in respect of Hedge Agreements.
“ Interest Period ” shall mean, with respect to each Loan: (a) initially, the period commencing on the borrowing date with respect to such Loan and ending three months thereafter; and (b) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period applicable to such Loan and ending three months thereafter; provided that if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month in which event such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day.
“ IPO ” shall mean the initial public offering of equity interests in the Borrower.
“ Lender ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Lender Indemnitee ” shall mean the Lender and each of the directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, representatives, attorneys, consultants and advisors of or to the Lender.
3 |
“ LIBOR ” shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the three (3) month LIBOR rate published in The Wall Street Journal two (2) Business Days before, as applicable, the first day of the initial or each subsequent Interest Period applicable to such Loan.
“ Lien ” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
“ Loan ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.
“ Loan Commitment ” shall mean the obligation of the Lender to make Loans hereunder in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not exceeding $85,000,000.
“ Loan Documents ” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement and each Notice of Borrowing.
“ Loan Interest Rate ” shall mean, with respect to any Loan, LIBOR applicable to such Loan plus the Applicable Margin.
“ Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, liabilities, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or (c) the ability of the Lender to enforce this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“ Maturity Date ” shall mean the third (3 rd ) anniversary of the Closing Date.
“ MUSD 412 Facility ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13 of this Agreement.
“ Notice of Borrowing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.
“ Obligations ” shall mean the unpaid principal of and interest on (including, without limitation, interest accruing after the maturity of the Loans and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) the Loans, the Commitment Fee, and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Lender, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, any Loan Document.
“ Outstanding Amount ” shall mean, on any date, the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding on such date after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.
4 |
“ Payment Office ” shall mean the office of the Lender located at the address set forth in Section 7.1(a) , or such other location as to which the Lender shall have given written notice to the Borrower.
“ Person ” shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.
“ Quarterly Payment Date ” shall mean the fifth Business Day of each January, April, July and October.
“ Subordination Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13 of this Agreement.
“ Subsidiary ” shall mean as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.
“ Taxes ” shall mean all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto, provided that “Taxes” shall not include Excluded Taxes.
Section 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.
(a) Unless otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in the other Loan Documents or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.
(b) The words “ hereof ”, “ herein ” and “ hereunder ” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
(c) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.
(d) The terms “Lender” shall include, without limitation, its successors and permitted assigns.
Section 1.3 Accounting Terms and Principles. Except as set forth below, all accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in conformity with GAAP and all accounting determinations required to be made pursuant hereto shall, unless expressly otherwise provided herein, be made in conformity with GAAP.
5 |
Article II
AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE LOANS
Section 2.1 Loan Commitment.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lender agrees to make revolving loans (each, a “ Loan ” and, collectively, the “ Loans ”) to the Borrower during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the Loan Commitment.
(b) During the Availability Period, the Borrower shall be entitled to borrow, prepay or repay, and re-borrow the Loans in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 2.2 Borrowing Procedure. The Borrower shall give the Lender written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each borrowing to be made substantially in the form of Exhibit A (a “ Notice of Borrowing ”), each such Notice of Borrowing to be delivered prior to noon (Oslo time) three (3) Business Days before the requested date of each borrowing. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the aggregate principal amount of such borrowing (which shall be in an aggregate principal amount no less than $500,000 or any multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof); and (ii) the date of such borrowing (which shall be a Business Day).
Section 2.3 Optional Reduction and Termination of Loan Commitment. Upon three (3) Business Days’ written notice to the Lender, the Borrower may terminate the Loan Commitment, or permanently reduce the Loan Commitment to an amount not less than the then Outstanding Amount at such time; provided that each partial reduction of the Loan Commitment shall be in integral multiples of $100,000 or more.
Section 2.4 Repayment of Loans. Subject to Section 2.13 hereof, on the Maturity Date the Borrower shall repay any Loans then outstanding in full and shall additionally pay to the Lender all other sums, if any, then owing or accrued under this Agreement. If at any time the Outstanding Amount exceeds the Loan Commitment, the Borrower shall, subject to Section 2.13 hereof, immediately repay Loans in an amount equal to such difference.
Section 2.5 Prepayment. Upon three (3) Business Days’ written notice from the Borrower to the Lender, the Borrower may, subject to Section 2.13 hereof, voluntarily prepay in whole or in part any Loans without premium or penalty.
Section 2.6 Interest on Loans.
(a) Each Loan shall accrue interest at the Loan Interest Rate applicable to such Loan.
(b) Subject to Section 2.13 hereof, the Borrower shall pay interest due and payable on the Loans in arrears on each Quarterly Payment Date.
(c) While an Event of Default exists or after acceleration of the Loans in accordance with Article VI of this Agreement, at the option of the Lender, interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Loans (and any unpaid interest with respect thereto) will accrue at the Default Interest Rate (the “ Default Interest ”). Subject to Section 2.13 hereof, all Default Interest will be payable by the Borrower upon demand by the Lender.
6 |
Section 2.7 Computation of Interest. All computations of interest shall be made by the Lender on the basis of a year of 360 days. Each determination by the Lender of an interest amount hereunder shall, except for manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.
Section 2.8 Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Lender, quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Payment Date (subject to Section 2.13 hereof), an unused commitment fee (the “ Commitment Fee ”) at the rate of 1.40% per annum of the difference between (x) the Loan Commitment and (y) the average daily Outstanding Amount during the immediately preceding calendar quarter (or other applicable shorter period).
Section 2.9 Evidence of Debt. The Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Lender shall be conclusive evidence, absent manifest error, of the amount of the Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure so to record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Loans.
Section 2.10 Payments Generally.
(a) All payments by the Borrower to the Lender hereunder shall be made to the Lender at the Payment Office in immediately available funds without setoff or counterclaim. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of the payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be made payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.
(b) If on the Maturity Date, insufficient funds are received by and available to the Lender to pay fully all amounts of all Obligations due hereunder, such funds shall be applied as follows: (i) first, toward payment of accrued but unpaid interest (including Default Interest) on the Loans; (ii) second, toward payment of the Commitment Fee and all other Obligations (other than principal); and (iii) third, toward payment of principal of the Loans.
Section 2.11 Taxes. Any and all payments by the Borrower under each Loan Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction for, any and all present or future Taxes. If any Taxes shall be required by law to be deducted from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the Lender, then the Lender shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings of Taxes applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.11 ) the Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
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Section 2.12 Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the Lender determines that it is unlawful for the Lender to make Loans or to continue to fund or maintain Loans, then, on notice thereof and demand therefor by the Lender to the Borrower: (i) the obligation of the Lender to make or to continue Loans shall be suspended; and (ii) if Loans are then outstanding, the Borrower shall, subject to Section 2.13, immediately prepay such Loans.
Section 2.13 Subordination. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, from and after the date (the “Subordination Date”) that the Borrower shall become a “Corporate Guarantor” pursuant to Clause 32.2 of that certain Facilities Agreement, dated April 11, 2014, among Höegh LNG FSRU III Ltd. and Höegh LNG FSRU IV Ltd., as borrowers, the guarantors, financial institutions and agents party thereto from time to time and Nordea Bank Norge ASA as Agent, Security Trustee and Account Bank (as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “MUSD 412 Facility”), payment of the Obligations (the “Junior Obligations”) shall be subordinated to the prior payment in full of the principal, interest, fees and any other amounts outstanding under the MUSD 412 Facility (the “Senior Obligations”). From and after the Subordination Date, holders of the Senior Obligations will be entitled to receive payment in full of all Senior Obligations before the Lender will be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the Junior Obligations in the event of any distribution to creditors of the Borrower: (i) in a liquidation or dissolution of the Borrower; (ii) in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Borrower and its properties; (iii) in an assignment for the benefit of creditors; (iv) in any marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Borrower; or (v) at any time after a Default (as defined in the MUSD 412 Facility) has occurred and is continuing. Notwithstanding the occurrence of the Subordination Date, for so long as no Default (as defined in the MUSD 412 Facility) has occurred and is continuing at such time, the Borrower may make (and the Lender may receive and retain and apply in satisfaction of the Junior Obligations) payments of the Junior Obligations from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion. Amounts received by the Lender in respect of the Junior Obligations when payment thereof is prohibited by this Section 2.13 shall be held by the Lender in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Senior Obligations and turned over to the holders of the Senior Obligations upon the written request of the Security Trustee (as defined under the MUSD 412 Facility).
Article III
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS
Section 3.1 Conditions to Effectiveness. This Agreement shall not become effective until the date (such date, the “ Closing Date ”) on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 7.2 of this Agreement):
(a) The Lender shall have received a counterpart of this Agreement signed by the Borrower.
(b) No Default or Event of Default shall exist on and as of the Closing Date.
(c) All representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.
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(d) The closing of the IPO shall have occurred.
Section 3.2 Conditions to Making of each Loan. The obligations hereunder of the Lender to make each Loan are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 7.2 of this Agreement) of the following conditions as of the date each Loan is made:
(a) The Lender shall have received a signed Notice of Borrowing from the Borrower requesting the making of a Loan on the date specified therein (which shall be no later than the last day of the Availability Period).
(b) At the time of, and immediately after giving effect to, the making of the requested Loan, the Outstanding Amount shall not be in excess of the Loan Commitment.
(c) At the time of, and immediately after giving effect to, the making of the requested Loan, no Default or Event of Default shall exist.
(d) At the time of, and immediately after giving effect to, the requested Loan, all representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects.
(e) The Closing Date shall have occurred.
(f) No Default (as defined in the MUSD 412 Facility) shall have occurred and be continuing and any Obligations not paid due to operation of Section 2.13 hereof shall have been fully paid.
Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To induce the Lender to enter into this Agreement and to make each Loan, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Lender that:
Section 4.1 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the limited partnership, limited liability company, corporate or other organizational power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property and assets, to lease the property and assets it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, and (c) is in compliance with all requirements of applicable law except to the extent that the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.2 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.
(a) The Borrower has the power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents and to borrow hereunder. The Borrower has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents and to authorize the borrowings on the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
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(b) No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required to be obtained by the Borrower in connection with: (i) the borrowings hereunder; (ii) the execution, delivery, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents; or (iii) the performance of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except, in each case, for routine consents, authorizations, filings and notices required to be made in the ordinary course of business.
(c) This Agreement has been, and upon execution each Loan Document shall have been, duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower.
(d) This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document upon execution will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).
Section 4.3 No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by the Borrower, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not violate any applicable law or any material agreement of the Borrower and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its properties or revenues pursuant to any requirement of applicable law or any such agreement.
Section 4.4 No Material Litigation. No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened by or against the Borrower or any Borrower Affiliate, or against any of its or their respective properties or revenues (a) with respect to any of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (b) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.5 No Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Section 4.6 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of each Loan shall be used for general corporate purposes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the funding of distributions by the Borrower).
Article V
COVENANTS
Section 5.1 Delivery of Financial Information. The Borrower will deliver to the Lender such financial or other information in respect of its business and financial status as the Lender may reasonably require including, but not limited to, copies of its unaudited quarterly and audited annual financial statements.
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Section 5.2 Notice of Default. The Borrower shall give notice to the Lender of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default within five (5) Business Days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know thereof. Immediately after the occurrence thereof, the Borrower shall give notice to the Lender of any Default (as defined under the MUSD 412 Facility).
Section 5.3 Distributions. The Borrower shall not make, directly or indirectly, any Distribution (as hereinafter defined) unless, at the time of such Distribution, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(i) or (iii) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 5.3 , “ Distribution ” shall mean (i) the declaration and payment of distributions, dividends or any other payment made in cash, property, payment obligations or promissory notes (other than payments made by the issuance of other equity interests of the Borrower), in each case made with respect to the equity interests of the Borrower, (ii) the making of any loans or advances by the Borrower to any Affiliate of the Borrower (other than to a Subsidiary of the Borrower) or (iii) any purchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Borrower) of any of the Borrower’s equity interests.
Section 5.4 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence, etc. The Borrower will: (a) (i) preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its corporate or other existence and (ii) except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business; and (b) except to the extent that failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, comply with all agreements and requirements of applicable law.
Article VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Section 6.1 Events of Default. If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:
(a) (i) The Borrower shall fail to pay the principal of any Loans on the date when due (including the Maturity Date) in accordance with the terms hereof; (ii) the Borrower shall breach Section 5.3 of this Agreement; or (iii) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loans, or any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document within three (3) Business Days after any such interest or other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof; or
(b) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Borrower herein or in any other Loan Document or that is contained in any certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished by it at any time under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall prove to have been inaccurate in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made or furnished; or
(c) The Borrower shall default in the observance or performance of any agreement contained in this Agreement to be performed by it (other than as provided in clause (a) of this Section 6.1 ), and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date on which an officer of the Borrower becomes aware of such failure and (ii) the date on which written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Lender; or
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(d) (i) The Borrower or any Borrower Affiliate shall fail to make any payment on any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) of the Borrower or any Borrower Affiliate or on any Guarantee Obligation in respect of Indebtedness of any other Person, and, in each case, such failure relates to Indebtedness having a principal amount of $8,000,000 or more, when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) and the effect of such failure is to accelerate the maturity of such Indebtedness, (ii) any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate the maturity of such Indebtedness, (iii) any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness, if the effect of such event or condition is to permit the acceleration of the maturity of such Indebtedness or (iv) any such Indebtedness shall become or be declared to be due and payable, or be required to be prepaid or repurchased (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof; or
(e) (i) The Borrower shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or the Borrower shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (ii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above that (A) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of sixty (60) days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution, distraint or similar process against all or any substantial part of its assets that results in the entry of an order for any such relief that shall not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within sixty (60) days from the entry thereof; or (iv) the Borrower shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i) , (ii) , or (iii) above; or (v) the Borrower shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due;
then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (e) above, (i) the Loan Commitment shall terminate immediately and the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all Obligations and other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall immediately become due and payable, and (B) if such event is any other Event of Default, the Lender may, by notice to the Borrower, terminate the Loan Commitment, whereupon the Loan Commitment shall terminate immediately, and declare the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all Obligations and other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable.
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Article VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 Notices.
(a) Addresses for Notices . All notices, demands, requests, consents and other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be given in writing, and addressed to the party to be notified as follows:
Any party hereto may change its address, telephone number or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and other communications shall, when transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered for overnight (next-day) delivery, or transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the mail or if delivered, upon delivery.
(b) Effectiveness of Notices . All notices, demands, requests, consents and other communications described in Section 7.1(a) of this Agreement shall be effective (i) if delivered by hand, including any overnight courier service, upon personal delivery and (ii) if delivered by mail, when deposited in the mails.
Section 7.2 Waiver; Amendments. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and (x) in the case of any such waiver or consent, signed by the Lender and (y) in the case of any other amendment, by the Lender and the Borrower, and then any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
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Section 7.3 Expenses; Indemnification.
(a) The Borrower shall be obligated to pay all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of outside counsel for the Lender) incurred by the Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section 7.3 , including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of the Loans.
(b) The Borrower shall be obligated to indemnify each Lender Indemnitee against, and hold each Lender Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Lender Indemnitee) incurred by any Lender Indemnitee or asserted against any Lender Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or (ii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Lender Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Lender Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Lender Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against any Lender Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Lender Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) The Borrower shall be obligated to pay, and hold the Lender harmless from and against, any and all present and future stamp, documentary, and other similar taxes with respect to this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, any collateral described therein, or any payments due thereunder, and save the Lender harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission to pay such taxes.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, each party shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Lender Indemnitee or the other party, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to actual or direct damages) arising out of, in connection with or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated therein, the Loans or the use of proceeds thereof.
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(e) All amounts due under this Section 7.3 shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.
Section 7.4 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder, and the Lender may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Borrower. Any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, each Lender Indemnitee) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 7.5 Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Section 7.6 Counterparts; Integration. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Section 7.7 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lender and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans. The provisions of Section 7.3 of this Agreement shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
Section 7.8 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
[ Signature Pages Follow ]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
Höegh LNG Partners LP , | |||
as Borrower | |||
By: | /s/ Richard Tyrrell | ||
Name: | Richard Tyrrell | ||
|
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer | |
Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd., | |||
as Lender | |||
By: | /s/ Camilla Nyhus-Møller | ||
Name: | Camilla Nyhus-Møller | ||
Title: | Attorney-in-fact |
Signature Page to Revolving Loan Agreement
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING
[DATE]
Höegh LNG Partners LP
2 Reid Street
Hamilton HM 11
Bermuda
Dear Sirs:
Reference is made to that certain Revolving Loan Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2014 (the “ Loan Agreement ”), by and between Höegh LNG Holdings, Ltd., a Bermuda company (the “ Lender ”) and Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.
The Borrower hereby requests the following Loan under the Loan Agreement, and in that connection specifies the following information with respect to such Loan:
(a) Principal amount of Loan: $[___________]
(b) Date of Loan: [___________]
The Borrower hereby certifies as follows:
(c) Immediately after giving effect to the making of the requested Loan, the Outstanding Amount is not in excess of the Loan Commitment.
(d) At the time of, and immediately after giving effect to, the making of the requested Loan, no Default or Event of Default exists.
(e) At the time of, and immediately after giving effect to, the making of the requested Loan, all representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects.
(f) The Closing Date has occurred.
(g) At the time of the making of the requested Loan, no Default (as defined in the MUSD 412 Facility) has occurred and is continuing and all Obligations not paid due to the operation of Section 2.13 of the Loan Agreement have been paid in full.
In witness whereof , the undersigned has caused this Notice of Borrowing to be executed on the date first written above.
Höegh LNG Partners LP , | ||
as Borrower | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 4.25
THIS DEMAND NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (AS AMENDED, THE “ SECURITIES ACT ”) OR QUALIFIED PURSUANT TO ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW. THIS DEMAND NOTE MAY BE RESOLD ONLY IF REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND QUALIFIED PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR IF AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION AND QUALIFICATION IS AVAILABLE, EXCEPT UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE NONE OF SUCH REGISTRATION, QUALIFICATION NOR EXEMPTION IS REQUIRED BY LAW.
DEMAND NOTE
$140,000,000
August 12, 2014
HÖEGH LNG HOLDINGS LTD., a Bermuda company (together with its successors and permitted assigns, the “ Payor ”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Höegh LNG Partners LP (“ Payee ”), or its registered assigns, the principal sum of One Hundred Forty Million Dollars ($140,000,000.00 ) payable upon the earlier to occur of: (i) three (3) Business Days after receipt by Payor of written demand from Payee, which demand may be made at any time in the sole and absolute discretion of Payee without presentment, further demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Payor; and (ii) acceleration of this Demand Note pursuant to Section 6 of this Demand Note (such earlier date, the “ Maturity Date ”). Payor, for value received, hereby further promises to pay to Payee interest on the outstanding principal amount of this Demand Note on each Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, at a rate per annum equal to the Interest Rate; provided , however , that Payor agrees to pay interest at the Default Interest Rate on all amounts under this Demand Note during the continuance of an Event of Default, and such interest shall be payable promptly after demand of Payee. Interest on this Demand Note shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days. Payment of principal, interest and any other amounts in respect of this Demand Note shall be made in Dollars, in immediately-available funds, by wire-transfer to the payment office most recently notified to Payee in writing by Payor.
1. DEFINED TERMS
Capitalized terms used in this Demand Note shall have the meanings set forth herein, and the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
“ Bankruptcy Code ” shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.
“ Business Day ” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in London, New York, the Marshall Islands, Norway or Bermuda are authorized or required by law to close.
“ Default ” means the occurrence of any event that, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default.
“ Default Interest Rate ” shall mean 7.88% per annum .
“ Demand Note ” shall mean this Demand Note, dated August 12, 2014.
“ Dollars ” and “ $ ” shall mean the lawful currency of the United States of America.
“ Event of Default ” has the meaning given in Section 5 of this Demand Note.
“ Governmental Authority ” shall mean any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
“ IFRS ” shall mean International Financial Reporting Standards applied on a consistent basis.
“ Insolvency Proceeding ” shall mean (a) any case, action or proceeding before any court or other Governmental Authority or authority relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, dissolution, winding-up or relief of debtors, or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshalling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in respect of its creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors, in each case undertaken under United States federal, state or foreign law, including the Bankruptcy Code.
“ Interest Payment Date ” shall mean the fifth Business Day of each January, April, July and October.
“ Interest Rate ” shall mean 5.88% per annum .
“ Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, liabilities, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of Payor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of Payor to perform its obligations under this Demand Note or (c) the ability of Payee to enforce this Demand Note.
“ Person ” shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.
2. PREPAYMENT
The outstanding principal amount of this Demand Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time by Payor, without premium or penalty, upon ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice to Payee, which notice shall be irrevocable once delivered. Any prepayment of this Demand Note shall be accompanied by all accrued and unpaid interest on the amount so prepaid. In the event this Demand Note is prepaid in part, a new Note or Notes of like tenor for the outstanding principal amount hereof will be issued in the name of the Payee upon request of the Payee. Amounts in respect of this Demand Note which are prepaid may not be reborrowed.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Payor represents and warrants to Payee that:
(a) | Payor (i) has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Bermuda and (ii) is qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the ownership of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification except where the failure so to qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) | The execution, delivery and performance by Payor of this Demand Note have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of Payor and do not and will not: (i) contravene the terms of the organizational documents of Payor; (ii) result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any lease, instrument, contract or other agreement to which Payor is a party or by which it or its properties may be bound or affected that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iii) violate any provision of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or the like binding on or affecting Payor. |
(c) | This Demand Note constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Payor, enforceable against Payor in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and equitable principles of general applicability. |
(d) | No authorization, consent, approval, license, exemption of, or filing or registration with, any Person is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by Payor of this Demand Note. |
(e) | To the knowledge of Payor, on the date hereof there are no actions, suits, or proceedings pending or threatened against Payor before any Governmental Authority that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(f) | The consolidated audited financial statements of Payor and its consolidated subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Payor and its consolidated subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 in conformity with IFRS applied on a consistent basis. |
(g) | Payor has filed all material tax returns and reports required to be filed (or obtained extensions with respect thereto) and has paid all taxes required to have been paid by it, except (i) taxes the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and with respect to which Payor, to the extent required by IFRS, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (ii) to the extent any failures to do so (individually or in the aggregate) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(h) | No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. |
(i) | The making of the loan evidenced by this Demand Note does not require any authorization, consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Person (including shareholders or any class of directors, whether interested or disinterested, of Payor or any other Person), nor is any such authorization, consent, approval, registration, filing or other action necessary for the validity or enforceability of this Demand Note, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect. |
4. COVENANTS
So long as any principal, interest, fee or other amount in respect of this Demand Note shall remain unpaid, Payor agrees that:
(a) | Payor shall furnish to Payee, promptly after Payor has knowledge or becomes aware thereof, notice of (i) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default; (ii) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting Payor that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) any other development that results in, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) | Payor shall comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where any failures to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(c) | Payor will at all times maintain, and will cause its subsidiaries to maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance of the kinds and covering the risks and in the relative proportionate amounts (including as to self-insurance) consistent with that carried by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses and similarly situated; provided that Payor shall not be required to maintain insurance against risks or in amounts no longer available on commercially reasonable terms, on a de novo or renewal basis, as applicable, to Payor and other companies engaged in the same or similar businesses and similarly situated. |
5. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Any of the following events which shall occur shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:
(a) | Payor shall fail to pay when due any amount of principal under this Demand Note; or |
(b) | Payor shall fail to pay when due any interest under this Demand Note or any other amount payable in respect of this Demand Note (other than principal), and such failure shall continue unremedied for five (5) Business Days; or |
(c) | Any representation or warranty by Payor under or in connection with this Demand Note shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made; or |
(d) | Payor shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Demand Note on its part to be performed or observed, and such failure shall remain unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days from the date Payee provides written notice of such occurrence; or |
(e) | (i) Payor shall be dissolved, liquidated, wound up or cease its corporate existence or cease to conduct its business in the ordinary course; or (ii) Payor (1) shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall generally fail to pay, or admit in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, subject to applicable grace periods, if any, whether at stated maturity or otherwise; (2) shall commence any voluntary Insolvency Proceeding; or (3) shall take any action to effectuate or authorize any of the foregoing; or |
(f) | (i) Any involuntary Insolvency Proceeding is commenced or filed against Payor, or any writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process is issued or levied against a substantial part of Payor’s properties and such Insolvency Proceeding shall not be dismissed, or such writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process shall not be released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after commencement, filing or levy; (ii) Payor admits the material allegations of a petition against it in any Insolvency Proceeding, or an order for relief (or similar order under non-United States law) is ordered in any Insolvency Proceeding; or (iii) Payor acquiesces in the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, mortgagee in possession (or agent therefor), or other similar Person for itself or a substantial portion of its property or business; or |
(g) | Payor shall (i) default in the payment of principal of any indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $8,000,000 (other than this Demand Note) beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such indebtedness was created as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall have resulted in such indebtedness being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any such indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, and such default shall have resulted in such indebtedness being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity; or |
(h) | one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $8,000,000 shall be rendered against Payor and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of Payor to enforce any such judgment. |
6. REMEDIES
If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, Payee may, by notice to Payor, declare the entire unpaid principal amount of this Demand Note, all interest accrued and unpaid hereon and all other amounts due hereunder to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the outstanding principal amount of this Demand Note, all such accrued interest and all such other amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Payor; provided that if an Event of Default described in paragraph (e) or (f) of Section 5 of this Demand Note shall occur, the result which would otherwise occur only upon giving of notice by Payee to Payor as specified above shall occur automatically, without the giving of any such notice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and for the avoidance of doubt, all outstanding amounts under this Demand Note may be called by Payee at any time as provided in the first paragraph of this Demand Note, whether or not a Default or an Event of Default has occurred.
7. MISCELLANEOUS
Payor agrees to pay on demand all the losses, costs, and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements) which Payee incurs in connection with enforcement of this Demand Note, or the protection or preservation of Payee’s rights under this Demand Note, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise. Such costs and expenses include, without limitation, those incurred in connection with any workout or refinancing, or any bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceedings.
No single or partial exercise of any power under this Demand Note shall preclude any other or further exercise of such power or exercise of any other power. No delay or omission on the part of Payee in exercising any right under this Demand Note shall operate as a waiver of such right or any other right hereunder.
This Demand Note shall be binding on each of Payor and Payee and their respective successors and assigns. Neither party may assign or transfer this Demand Note or any of its obligations hereunder without the other party’s prior written consent.
No provision of this Demand Note shall alter or impair the obligation of Payor, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Demand Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed, subject to Payor’s right to redeem all or a portion of this Demand Note as provided herein or as otherwise agreed to by the parties.
This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Payor has caused this instrument to be duly executed this 12 th day of August, 2014.
HÖEGH LNG HOLDINGS LTD. |
By: | / s/ Camilla Nyhus-Møller | ||
Name: Camilla Nyhus-Møller | |||
Title: Attorney-in-fact |
Signature Page to Höegh LNG Holdings
Ltd.
Demand Note
EXHIBIT 4.26
USD300,000,000
FACILITY AGREEMENT
Dated 20 December 2007
for
SRV JOINT GAS LTD
arranged by
CALYON
DNB NOR BANK ASA
FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH
with
DNB NOR BANK ASA
acting as Agent, Security Trustee and Account Bank
and
CALYON
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH
acting as Bookrunners
and
CALYON
DNB NOR BANK ASA
FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
acting as Swap Banks
INCE & CO
International House
1 St Katherine’s Way
London, E1W 1AY
Tel: +44 (0)20 7481 0010
Fax: +44 (0)20 7481 4968
(Ref: 1.07.9285.00)
CONTENTS
Clause | Page | |
SECTION 1 INTERPRETATION | 1 | |
1. | Definitions and Interpretation | 1 |
SECTION 2 THE FACILITY | 24 | |
2. | The Facility | 24 |
3. | Purpose | 24 |
4. | Conditions of Utilisation | 25 |
SECTION 3 UTILISATION | 26 | |
5. | Utilisation | 26 |
SECTION 4 REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION | 28 | |
6. | Repayment | 28 |
7. | Prepayment and cancellation | 28 |
SECTION 5 COSTS OF UTILISATION | 34 | |
8. | Interest | 34 |
9. | Interest Periods | 35 |
10. | Changes to the calculation of interest | 36 |
11. | Fees | 37 |
SECTION 6 ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS | 38 | |
12. | Tax gross up and indemnities | 38 |
13. | Increased costs | 40 |
14. | Other indemnities | 41 |
15. | Mitigation by the Lenders | 43 |
16. | Costs and expenses | 43 |
SECTION 7 REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 45 | |
17. | Representations | 45 |
18. | Information Undertakings | 49 |
THIS AGREEMENT is dated 20 December 2007 and made between:
(1) | SRV JOINT GAS LTD a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands having its registered office address at Clifton House, PO Box 1350, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108, Cayman Islands as borrower (the " Borrower "); |
(2) | CALYON, DNB NOR BANK ASA, FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH, LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC, MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD . and SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH as mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together the " Arranger "); |
(3) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 as lenders (the " Original Lenders "); |
(4) | DNB NOR BANK ASA acting through its office at Stranden 21, 0021 Oslo, Norway as agent of the other Finance Parties (the “ Agent ”); |
(5) | DNB NOR BANK ASA acting through its office at Stranden 21, 0021 Oslo, Norway as security trustee for Secured Parties (the “ Security Trustee ”); |
(6) | DNB NOR BANK ASA acting through its office at Stranden 21, 0021 Oslo, Norway as account bank (the “ Account Bank ”); |
(7) | CALYON, LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC, MizuHo Corporate Bank, Ltd . and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, BRUSSELS BRANCH as bookrunners (the “Bookrunners” ); and |
(8) | CALYON, DNB NOR BANK ASA, FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC, MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD. and SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC. as swap banks (the “ Swap Banks ”). |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
SECTION 1
INTERPRETATION
1. | Definitions and Interpretation |
1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement:
“Accelerated Equity” means an amount equal to the Estimated Total Project Cost (excluding Shareholder Loan Interest) less the lower of (i) USD300,000,000 and (ii) the Relevant Percentage of the Estimated Total Project Cost (excluding Shareholder Loan Interest) less Base Equity payable by the Vessel Sponsors to the Borrower, whether by way of a Shareholder Loan or otherwise, pursuant to Clause 3 of the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking and a notice served by the Agent pursuant to Clause 24.14(b);
“ Accounts ” means, together, the Operating Account, the Debt Service Retention Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account, the Dividend Lock-Up Account and the Dividend Distribution Account;
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“ Additional Equity ” means the sum in the amount of up to USD75,000,000 payable by the Vessel Sponsors to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 4 of the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking;
“ Additional Equity Debt Service Provision ” means, at the commencement of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period, the amount estimated by the Agent (following consultation with the Borrower) to be necessary to provide for the Borrower to meet its payment obligations under this Agreement and the Swap Contracts during the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period (taking account of Swap Payments receivable by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts);
“Additional Equity Interest and Swap Payments” means the payments made by the Borrower under Clause 8.2 ( Payment of interest ) and the Swap Payments made by the Borrower under a Swap Contract prior to the commencement of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period, which have been funded by the Additional Equity;
“ Additional Equity Prepayment ” means USD75,000,000 less the Additional Equity Interest and Swap Payments less the Additional Equity Debt Service Provision;
“ Additional Swap Bank ” means Fortis Bank (Nederland) NV, Oslo Branch;
“Additional Swap Contract ” means the contract made between the Additional Swap Bank and the Borrower comprising an ISDA Master Agreement dated 14 November 2007 and the Swap Confirmation executed pursuant thereto, in respect of a Swap Transaction entered into on 14 November 2007 for a notional principal amount of USD30,000,000, as shall be amended on the first Utilisation Date pursuant to Clause 8.5 ( Interest Rate Hedging );
“Affiliate " means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company;
“ Approved Flag ” means the Norwegian International Ship Registry, the Bahamas, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Panama, the United Kingdom or such other flag as may be approved in accordance with Clause 20.1 ( Ship’s name and registration );
" Authorisation " means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration;
" Availability Period " means
(a) | for the Utilisation of a Regas Acceptance Loan, the period from and including the date of this Agreement, to and including the date which is the earliest of: (i) 5 Business Days after the Regas Acceptance Date (ii) the Regas Rejection Date and (iii) the date on which the Total Commitments are reduced to zero; or |
(b) | for the Utilisation of any other Loan, the period from and including the date of this Agreement, to and including the date which is the earliest of: (i) 10 Business Days after the Delivery Date and (ii) the date on which the Total Commitments are reduced to zero; |
" Available Commitment " means a Lender's Commitment minus:
(a) | the amount of its participation in any outstanding Loans; and |
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(b) | in relation to any proposed Loan, the amount of its participation in any other Loans that are due to be made on or before the proposed Utilisation Date; |
“ Available Facility ” means the aggregate for the time being of each Lender’s Available Commitment;
“ Base Equity” means the aggregate amount of the Equity Payments which has been paid at any relevant time;
" Break Costs " means the amount (if any) by which:
(a) | the interest which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or an Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that 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 London 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; |
“ Builder ” means Samsung Heavy Industries Co Limited of 647-9, Yeoksam-Dong, Kangnam-Ku, Seoul, Korea 135-080;
" Business Day " means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London , Oslo, Tokyo and New York City;
“ Casualty Amount ” means USD7,500,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency);
“ Certified Copy ” means in relation to any document delivered or issued by or on behalf of any company, a copy of such document certified as a true, complete and up to date copy of the original by any of the directors or officers for the time being of such company or by such company’s attorneys or solicitors;
“ Charged Property ” means all of the assets which from time to time are, or are expressed to be, the subject of the Transaction Security;
“Charter” means the time charterparty of the Ship dated 20 March 2007 entered into between the Borrower and the Charterer;
“Charterer” means, Suez LNG Trading SA, a company incorporated under the laws of the Duchy of Luxembourg, having its principal office address at 76, Avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg, Grand Duché de Luxembourg;
“Charter Assignment ” means the assignment of the rights of the Borrower under the Charter required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in the agreed form;
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“ Charter Consent and Agreement ” means the agreement entered into or to be entered into between the Charterer, the Borrower and the Security Trustee substantially in the form of Schedule VII of the Charter;
“Charter Hire” means hire paid by the Charterer to the Borrower under the Charter;
“Charter Hire Payment Date” means each date on which Charter Hire is paid;
“Charter Ownership Undertaking ” means the undertaking from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower dated 20 March 2007;
“ Charter Termination Fee ” means any fee payable by the Charterer to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 6(r) of the Charter;
“Classification ” means, in relation to the Ship, the highest class available for a vessel of her type with the relevant Classification Society or such other classification as the Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower, have agreed in writing shall be treated as the Classification Society in relation to the Ship;
“ Classification Society ” means Det norske Veritas or such other classification society which the Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower, have agreed in writing shall be treated as the Classification Society in relation to the Ship (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);
“Comfort Letter ” means the letter dated 20 March 2007 from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower;
" Commitment " means:
(a) | in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name under the heading " Commitment" in Schedule 1 ( The Original Lenders ) and the amount of any other Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement; and |
(b) | in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement, |
to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement;
" Confidentiality Undertaking " means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a recommended form of the LMA or in any other form agreed between the Borrower and the Agent;
“ Contract Instalment ” means an instalment of the Contract Price of the Ship payable under the Shipbuilding Contract;
“ Contract Price ” means the price payable by the Borrower to the Builder for the Ship under the Shipbuilding Contract as such may be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Shipbuilding Contract;
“Current Project Cost” means that part of the Project Cost against which a Loan will be applied on the relevant Utilisation Date;
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“Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 8 ( Form of Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate );
“Debt Service Reserve” means the amount estimated by the Agent (following consultation with the Borrower) and notified to the Borrower as the amount as shall be necessary to provide for the Borrower to meet its payment obligations under this Agreement and under the Swap Contracts during the following six Months (taking account of Swap Payments receivable by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts);
“ Debt Service Reserve Account” means an interest-bearing USD account of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes any sub-accounts thereof and any other account designated in writing by the Agent to be a Debt Service Reserve Account, for the purposes of this Agreement;
“Debt Service Retention Account” means an interest-bearing USD account of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes any sub-accounts thereof and any other account designated in writing by the Agent to be a Debt Service Retention Account for the purposes of this Agreement;
“Debt Service Retention Amount” means, in relation to any Debt Service Retention Date, such sum as shall be the aggregate of:
(a) | one-third (1/3rd) of the repayment instalment falling due for payment pursuant to Clause 6.1 ( Repayment of Loans ) (as the same may have been reduced by any prepayment) on the next Repayment Date after the relevant Debt Service Retention Date; and |
(b) | the applicable fraction (as hereinafter defined) of the aggregate amount of interest falling due for payment in respect of each part of such Utilisation during and at the end of each Interest Period current at the relevant Debt Service Retention Date in respect of such Utilisation, reduced by the amount of any Swap Payment due from a Swap Bank to the Borrower or increased by the amount of any Swap Payment due from the Borrower to a Swap Bank (as applicable) on the same date and reduced by the amount of interest which has then accrued to the Debt Service Retention Account and, for this purpose, the expression “applicable fraction” in relation to each Interest Period shall mean a fraction having a numerator of one and a denominator equal to the number of Debt Service Retention Dates in respect of such Utilisation falling within the relevant Interest Period; |
“Debt Service Retention Dates” means the first Charter Hire Payment Date after the Regas Acceptance Date and each of the Charter Hire Payment Dates after such date and prior to the Termination Date;
“ Deed of Covenant ” means in relation to the Ship the deed of covenant collateral to the Mortgage for the Ship and creating charges over the Ship, its Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in the agreed form;
" Default " means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in Clause 24 ( Events of Default ) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default;
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“Delegate” means any delegate, agent, attorney or co-trustee appointed by the Security Trustee;
“ Delivery Loan ” means the Loan to be made available in respect of the Contract Instalment due on the Delivery Date;
“ Delivery Date ” means the date on which the Ship is delivered to the Borrower in accordance with the Shipbuilding Contract;
" Disruption Event " means either or both of:
(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, |
and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted;
“ Dividend Distribution Account ” means an interest-bearing USD Account of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes any sub-accounts thereof and any other account designated in writing by the Agent to be a Dividend Distribution Account for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Dividend Lock-Up Account ” means an interest-bearing USD Account of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes any sub-accounts thereof and any other account designated in writing by the Agent to be a Dividend Lock-Up Account for the purposes of this Agreement;
“Drydocking Cost” means each cost incurred by the Borrower in relation to a scheduled drydocking of the Ship;
“Drydocking Cost Payment” means each payment made by the Vessel Sponsors to the Borrower under Clause 5 of the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking to finance the payment by the Borrower of a Drydocking Cost which has not been funded or, as the case may be, paid by a Drydocking Cost Reimbursement on or before the due date for payment of a Drydocking Cost;
“Drydocking Cost Reimbursement” means each payment made by the Charterer to the Borrower under the Charter in reimbursement of a Drydocking Cost or, as the case may be, each payment made by the Charterer to the relevant shipyard under the Charter in direct settlement of a Drydocking Cost;
“ Earnings ” has the meaning given to that expression in the Deed of Covenant;
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“ Environmental Affiliate ” means any agent or employee of the Borrower or the Operator or any person having a contractual relationship with the Borrower or the Operator in connection with the Ship or its operation or the carriage of cargo and/or passengers thereon and/or the provision of goods and/or services on or from the Ship;
“ Environmental Approvals ” means all authorisations, consents, licences, permits, exemptions or other approvals whatsoever required by the Borrower or the Operator under applicable Environmental Laws;
“ Environmental Claim ” means (i) any claim by, or directive from, any applicable Government Entity alleging breach of, or non-compliance with, any Environmental Laws or Environmental Approvals or otherwise howsoever relating to or arising out of an Environmental Incident or (ii) any claim by any other third party howsoever relating to or arising out of an Environmental Incident (and, in each such case, “claim” shall include a claim for damages and/or direction for and/or enforcement relating to clean-up costs, removal, compliance, remedial action or otherwise) or (iii) any Proceedings arising from any of the foregoing but excluding any claim of a vexations or frivolous nature which is being contested in good faith;
“ Environmental Incident ” means, regardless of cause, (i) any actual discharge or release of Environmentally Sensitive Material from the Ship; (ii) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is discharged or released from a vessel other than the Ship which involves collision between the Ship and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, where the Ship, the Manager and/or the Borrower and/or the Operator are actually, contingently or allegedly at fault or otherwise howsoever liable (in whole or in part) or (iii) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is discharged or released from a vessel other than the Ship and where the Ship is actually or potentially liable to be arrested as a result and/or where the Manager and/or the Borrower and/or the Operator are actually, contingently or allegedly at fault or otherwise howsoever liable;
“ Environmental Laws ” means all laws, regulations, conventions and agreements whatsoever applicable to the Borrower, the Operator or the Ship and relating to pollution, human or wildlife well-being or protection of the environment (including, without limitation, the United States Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and any comparable laws of the individual States of the United States of America);
“ Environmentally Sensitive Material ” means oil, oil products or any other products or substance which are polluting, toxic or hazardous or any substance the release of which into the environment is howsoever regulated, prohibited or penalised by or pursuant to any Environmental Law;
“Equity Payment” means each payment made by the Vessel Sponsors to the Borrower, whether by a Shareholder Loan or otherwise, pursuant to its obligations under Clause 2 of the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking to finance the payment by the Borrower of that part of the Current Project Cost not financed by a Loan;
“ Estimated Total Project Cost ” means the Borrower’s estimate of the total costs for the construction of the Ship, being on the date hereof USD335,000,000, as such amount may be increased or reduced by the Agent at each Utilisation Date (in consultation with the Borrower, subject to no Event of Default having occurred and continuing) having regard to any variation with the Project Cost at such date;
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" Event of Default " means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 24 ( Events of Default );
“ Facility ” means the term loan facility made available under this Agreement as described in Clause 2 ( The Facility );
" Facility Office " means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days' written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement;
" Fee Letter " means any letter or letters dated on or about the date of this Agreement setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 11 ( Fees );
" Finance Document " means:
(a) | any Fee Letter; |
(b) | any Security Document; |
(c) | any Selection Notice; |
(d) | any Swap Contract; |
(e) | the Trust Agreement; |
(f) | any Utilisation Request; and |
(g) | any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Borrower; |
"Finance Party" means the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Trustee, a Bookrunner, a Swap Bank or a Lender;
"Financial Indebtedness" means any indebtedness for or in respect of:
(a) | moneys borrowed and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions; |
(b) | any acceptance under any acceptance credit or bill discounting facility or dematerialised equivalent; |
(c) | 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 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 (and, when calculating the value of that 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 transaction, that amount) shall be taken into account); |
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(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 classified as borrowings under IFRS; |
(i) | any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if (i) one of the primary reasons behind entering into the agreement is to raise finance or 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 30 days after the date of supply; |
(j) | 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; and |
(k) | the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (j) above; |
“First Repayment Date ” means the date which is the earlier of:
(a) | three Months after the Regas Acceptance Date; and |
(b) | 240 days after the Delivery Date, |
provided that if such date is not the last day of an Interest Period, the date shall be the last day of the Interest Period then current;
“Flag State” means the state or territory of the Approved Flag;
“Further Additional Swap Contracts ” means any contract (other than an Original Swap Contract, an Additional Swap Contract or a MLA Swap Contract) made or to be made between a Swap Bank and the Borrower comprising an ISDA Master Agreement and any Swap Confirmation executed pursuant thereto, as shall be amended on the first Utilisation Date pursuant to Clause 8.5.1(b), pursuant to which a Swap Bank enters into a Swap Transaction;
“Government Entity” means any national or local government body, tribunal, court or regulatory or other agency and any organisation of which such body, tribunal, court or agency is a part or to which it is subject;
“Hedging Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 9 ( Form of Hedging Compliance Certificate );
"Historical Debt Service" means, at any time, the aggregate of the amounts payable (excluding any prepayments) by the Borrower under this Agreement plus the net amount payable (or, as the case may be, minus the net amount receivable) by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts during the twelve-Month period ending on the date of a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate;
"Historical Debt Service Cover Ratio" means, at any time, the ratio of the Historical Net Earnings to the Historical Debt Service;
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"Historical Net Earnings" means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Charter Hire payments less the aggregate amount of the withdrawals made from the Operating Account pursuant to Clause 19.2.1 (a) during the twelve-Month period ending on the date of a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate;
“HLNG ” means Höegh LNG Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda, having its address at c/o Appleby, Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, HM12, Hamilton, Bermuda;
"Holding Company" means, in relation to a company or corporation, any other company or corporation in respect of which it is a Subsidiary;
"IFRS" means international accounting standards within the meaning of the IAS Regulation 1606/2002;
“Information Sharing Letter” means the letter from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower dated 20 March 2007;
“Insurances” has the meaning given to that expression in the Deed of Covenant;
"Interest Period" means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 9 ( Interest Periods ) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with Clause 8.3 ( Default interest );
“ISM Code” means the International Safety Management Code (including the guidelines on its implementation), adopted by the International Maritime Organisation Assembly as Resolutions A.741(18) and A.788 (19), as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time);
“ISM Code Documentation” means the document of compliance (DOC) and safety management certificate (SMC) issued by a Classification Society pursuant to the ISM Code in relation to the Ship within the periods specified by the ISM Code;
“ISM SMS” means the safety management system which is required to be developed, implemented and maintained under the ISM Code;
“ISPS Code” means the International Ship and Port Security Code of the International Maritime Organisation and includes any amendments or extensions thereto and any regulations issued pursuant thereto;
“ISSC” means an International Ship Security Certificate issued in respect of the Ship pursuant to the ISPS Code;
“Lease Arranger” means Calyon, acting in such capacity through its office at Ruselokkveien 6, PO Box 1675 Vika, N-0120 Oslo, Norway;
"Lender" means:
(a) | any Original Lender; and |
(b) | any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party in accordance with Clause 25 ( Changes to the Parties ), |
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which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
“LHC” means Leif Höegh & Co Ltd a company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda, having its address at c/o Appleby, Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda;
“LHC Undertaking” means the undertaking to be provided by LHC to the Security Trustee in respect of the obligations of HLNG under the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking, in agreed form;
"LIBOR" means, in relation to any Loan:
(a) | the applicable Screen Rate; or |
(b) | (if no Screen Rate is available for dollars for the Interest Period of that Loan) the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Agent at its request quoted by the Reference Banks to leading banks in the London interbank market, |
as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the offering of deposits in dollars and for a period comparable to the Interest Period for that Loan;
“Loan” means a loan made or to be made under the Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that Loan;
"LMA" means the Loan Market Association;
“Loss Payable Clauses” has the meaning given to that expression in the Deed of Covenant;
"Majority Lenders" means:
(a) | if there are no Loans then outstanding, a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 66⅔% of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 66⅔% of the Total Commitments immediately prior to the reduction); or |
(b) | at any other time: |
(i) | prior to an Event of Default, a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loans then outstanding aggregate more than 66⅔% of all Loans then outstanding; or |
(ii) | following an Event of Default: |
(aa) | a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loans then outstanding; and |
(bb) | a Swap Bank (which is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender) or Swap Banks (who are Lenders or Affiliates of Lenders) whose Swap Exposure then current |
together aggregates more than 66⅔% of the aggregate of all the Loans then outstanding and the Swap Exposure;
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“Management Agreement” means the agreement to be made between the Borrower and Höegh LNG AS in relation to the management of the Ship, in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders;
“Manager” means Höegh LNG AS, a Vessel Sponsor, or any other person appointed by the Borrower, with the prior written consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), as the manager of the Ship;
“Manager's Undertaking” means the manager’s undertaking required to be executed hereunder by the Manager in favour of the Security Trustee in respect of the Ship in agreed form;
"Mandatory Cost" means the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Agent in accordance with Schedule 4 ( Mandatory Cost formula );
"Margin" means 0.50 per cent per annum;
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on:
(a) | the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower; |
(b) | the ability of a Security Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents provided that, for this purpose, HLNG, LHC and MOL shall each cease to be a “Security Party” on (i) the Regas Acceptance Date or, as the case may be, the end of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period; or |
(c) | the validity or enforceability of the Finance Documents or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under the Finance Documents; |
“MII Policy” means a mortgagee’s interest and pollution risks insurance policy (including additional perils cover) in respect of the Ship to be effected by the Agent on behalf of the Lenders (for the cost of the Lenders) on or before the first Utilisation Date and renewed or replaced annually thereafter and maintained throughout the Security Period through such brokers, with such underwriters and containing such coverage as may be acceptable to the Agent in its sole discretion, insuring a sum of at least 110% of the Loan;
“MLA Swap Contracts ” means each contract to be made between a Swap Bank and the Borrower by a novation and amendment of the Original Swap Contract on the first Utilisation Date pursuant to Clause 8.5.1, comprising an ISDA Master Agreement and a Swap Confirmation in respect of the relevant Swap Transaction;
“MOL” means Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Japan, having its principal office address at 1-1, Toranomon, 2-Chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, 105-8688.
"Month" means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that:
(a) | subject to paragraph (c) below if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, that period shall end on the next Business Day in that calendar month in which that period is to end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately preceding Business Day; |
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(b) | if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which that period is to end, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that calendar month; and |
(c) | if an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month, that Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day in the calendar month in which that Interest Period is to end. |
The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period;
“Mortgage” means the first priority mortgage of the Ship required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in agreed form;
“Negative Pledge ” means a negative pledge of the shares of the Borrower to be executed by the Vessel Sponsors in favour of the Security Trustee in agreed form;
“No-Fault Termination Remarketing Period” means the period commencing on the No-Fault Termination Date and ending on the earlier of (a) the date falling six Months thereafter and (b) the date of the Replacement Charter;
“ No-Fault Termination Right ” means the right of termination of the charter by the Charterer pursuant to Clause 6 (r) of the Charter;
“ No-Fault Termination Date” means any date upon which the Charter has been terminated pursuant to the exercise by the Charterer of its No-Fault Termination Right;
“Notice of Assignment of Insurances” , means the notice of assignment relating to the Insurances on the Ship in the form set out in the Deed of Covenant or such other form as may from time to time be required or agreed by the Agent;
“Operating Account” means an interest-bearing USD account of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes any sub-accounts thereof and any other account designated in writing by the Agent to be the Operating Account for the purposes of this Agreement;
“Operator” means the Manager and/or any other person who is from time to time during the Security Period concerned in the operation of the Ship and falls within the definition of “Company” set out in rule 1.1.2 of the ISM Code;
“Original Swap Bank ” means Calyon
“ Original Swap Contract ” means the contract made between the Original Swap Bank and the Borrower comprising an ISDA Master Agreement dated 2 April 2007 and a Swap Confirmation executed pursuant thereto, in respect of a Swap Transaction entered into on 2 April 2007 for a notional principal amount of USD260,000,000;
“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Communities that adopts or has adopted the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Community relating to Economic and Monetary Union;
"Party" means a party to this Agreement;
“Permitted Liens”
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(a) | liens in favour of suppliers up to the Casualty Amount; |
(b) | liens arising in respect of loss, damage, or expense in respect of which a bond or other security has been posted to prevent the arrest or secure the release of the Ship from arrest on account of such claim; |
(c) | liens arising by the operation of law for not more than two months’ prepaid hire under the Charter; |
(d) | liens arising by the operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of operation, repair or maintenance of the Ship where the Charterer is contesting the claim giving rise to such lien in good faith by appropriate steps and for the payment of which adequate reserves have been made in case the Charterer finally has to pay such claim so long as any such proceedings shall not, and may not reasonably be considered unlikely to, lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of the Ship, or any interest in the Ship; |
(e) | liens created in favour of a plaintiff or defendant in any action of the court or tribunal before whom such action is brought as security for costs and expenses where the Charterer is prosecuting or defending such action in good faith by appropriate steps or which are subject to a pending appeal and for which there shall have been granted a stay of execution pending such appeal and for the payment of which adequate reserves have been made so long as any such proceedings or the continue existence of such lien shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of the Ship, or any interest in the Ship; |
(f) | liens arising by operation of law in respect of Taxes which are not overdue for payment or Taxes which are overdue for payment but which are being contested in good faith by appropriate steps and in respect of which appropriate reserves have been made so long as any such proceedings or the continued existence of such lien shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of the Ship, or any interest in the Ship; |
(g) | liens (including possessory liens) for classification or scheduled dry docking whose aggregate cost does not exceed the Casualty Amount at any one time in respect of the Ship; |
(h) | liens for collision or salvage; and |
(i) | any other lien, the creation of which has been expressly permitted in writing by the Agent; |
“ Performance Liquidated Damages ” means the amount of (i) the aggregate of all sums received by the Borrower under Article III and Article VII, Clause 8 of the Shipbuilding Contract and under the Regas Performance Guarantee, in excess of (ii) the aggregate of all sums paid or payable by the Borrower to the Charterer under Clause 6 and Clause 7 of the Charter;
“Permitted Security” means any Security in favour of the Secured Parties or any of them created pursuant to the Security Documents and Permitted Liens;
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“Pre-delivery Security Assignment” means the assignment of the Shipbuilding Contract and the Refund Guarantee required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee, in agreed form;
“Pledge of Accounts” means the pledge of the Accounts required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee;
“Proceedings” means any litigation, arbitration, legal action or complaint or judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative proceedings whatsoever arising or instigated by anyone in any court, tribunal, public office or other forum whatsoever and wheresoever (including, without limitation, any action for provisional or permanent attachment of any thing or for injunctive remedies or interim relief and any action instigated on an ex parte basis);
“Project Cost” means the aggregate at any time of costs then due or already paid in respect of:
(a) | the Contract Instalments; |
(b) | plan approval costs, supervision costs, commissioning and other costs incurred in connection with the construction, delivery and outfitting of the Ship; |
(c) | costs of training and familiarisation of persons to be employed as crew of the Ship; |
(d) | fees (including legal fees), costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower prior to the Delivery Date in connection with the Transaction Documents; |
(e) | interest payable prior to the Delivery Date under this Agreement; |
(f) | Shareholder Loan Interest; and |
(g) | any other cost which the Agent and the Borrower agree to be included within the definition of Project Cost; |
“ Project Sponsor ” means Suez SA, a company incorporated under the laws of France, having its registered office address at 16, rue de la Ville L’Evêque-75383, Paris, Cedex 08, France;
"Projected Debt Service" means, at any time, the projected aggregate of the amounts payable (excluding any prepayments) by the Borrower under this Agreement plus the net amount payable (or, as the case may be, minus the net amount receivable) by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts during the twelve-Month period following the date of a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate;
"Projected Debt Service Cover Ratio" means, at any time, the ratio of the Projected Net Earnings to the Projected Debt Service;
"Projected Net Earnings" means, at any time, the projected aggregate amount of the Charter Hire payments to be made to the Operating Account less the aggregate amount of the withdrawals to be made from the Operating Account pursuant to Clause 19.2.1(a) during the twelve-Month period following the date of a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate;
"Quotation Day" means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined, two Business Days before the first day of that period unless market practice differs in the London Interbank Market in which case the Quotation Day will be determined by the Agent in accordance with market practice in the London Interbank Market (and if quotations would normally be given by leading banks in the London Interbank Market on more than one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of those days);
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“Receiver” means a receiver or receiver and manager or administrative receiver of the whole or any part of the Charged Property;
"Reference Banks" means the principal London offices of Calyon, DnB NOR Bank ASA and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Brussels Branch or such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower;
“Refund Guarantee” means the letter of guarantee issued by the Refund Guarantor in favour of the Borrower in respect of the Builder’s obligations under the Shipbuilding Contract;
“Refund Guarantor” means the Export-Import Bank of Korea;
“Regas Acceptance Date ” means any date upon which the Ship has been accepted by Charterer under the Charter following successful completion of regasification trials;
“Regas Acceptance Loan” means the Loan to be made available on the Regas Acceptance Date for the payment of Shareholder Loan Interest;
“Regas Performance Guarantee” means the guarantee to be executed by the Regas Performance Guarantor on or before the Delivery Date in favour of the Borrower;
“Regas Performance Guarantee Assignment” means the assignment of the Regas Performance Guarantee required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee, in agreed form;
“Regas Performance Guarantor” means the Export-Import Bank of Korea or the Korea Development Bank;
“ Regas Rejection Date ” means any date upon which the Ship has been rejected by the Charterer under the Charter following three consecutive failures of the regasification trials;
“Regas Rejection Remarketing Period” means the period commencing on the Regas Rejection Date and ending on the earlier of (a) the date falling six Months thereafter or (b) the date of the Replacement Charter;
“ Regas Rejection Termination Right ” means the right of termination of the Charter by the Charterer pursuant to Clause 7 of the Charter;
“Regas Tests Acceptance Certificate” means a certificate in the form of Schedule VI of the Charter, signed by the Borrower and the Charterer;
“Registry” means the office of such registrar, commissioner or representative of the Flag State who is duly authorised and empowered to register the Ship, the Borrower's title to the Ship and the Mortgage under the laws and flag of the Flag State;
“Relevant Jurisdiction” means any jurisdiction in which the Borrower is incorporated;
“Relevant Percentage” means 90 per cent., as such percentage may be reduced pursuant to Clause 7.11 (Effect on Commitment of other Lenders);
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“Remarketing Conditions” means the conditions in the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking for the effectiveness of the Remarketing Undertaking, being the exercise by the Charterer of its No-Fault Termination Right or Regas Rejection Termination Right;
“Remarketing Period” means the No-Fault Termination Remarketing Period or the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period;
“ Remarketing Undertaking ” means the undertaking of the Vessel Sponsors to remarket the Ship as set out in the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking;
“Repayment Date” means the First Repayment Date and each of the dates falling at three-Monthly intervals thereafter up to and including the Termination Date;
"Repeating Representations" means each of the representations set out in Clause 17 ( Representations ) other than Clauses 17.3, 17.4, 17.5, 17.8, 17.9, 17.10, 17.12, 17.13, 17.20(c) and (d), 17.24 and 17.25;
“Replacement Charter” means a time charter of the Ship entered into by the Borrower with a charterer approved by the Lenders and on terms approved by the Lenders (acting reasonably);
“Requisition” means requisition for title or other compulsory acquisition, requisition, appropriation, expropriation, deprivation, forfeiture or confiscation howsoever for any reason of the Ship by any Government Entity or other competent authority, whether de jure or de facto, but shall exclude requisition for use or hire not involving requisition of title;
“Requisition Compensation” has the meaning given to that expression in the Deed of Covenant;
“Required Authorisation” means any authorisation, consent, declaration, licence, permit, exemption, approval or other document, whether imposed by or arising in connection with any law, regulation, custom, contract, security or otherwise howsoever which must be obtained at any time from any person, Government Entity, central bank or other self-regulating or supra-national authority in order to enable the Borrower lawfully to draw the Loan and/or perform all its obligations whatsoever whensoever arising and/or grant security under the relevant Security Documents and/or to ensure the continuous validity and enforceability thereof;
"Screen Rate" means the British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rate for dollars for the relevant period, displayed on the appropriate page of the Reuters screen; if the agreed page is replaced or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the appropriate rate after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders;
“Secured Parties” means each Finance Party from time to time party to this Agreement and any Receiver or Delegate;
"Security" means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect;
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“Security Documents” means
(a) | this Agreement; |
(b) | the Charter Assignment; |
(c) | the Charter Consent and Agreement; |
(d) | the Deed of Covenant; |
(e) | the LHC Undertaking; |
(f) | the Manager’s Undertaking; |
(g) | the Mortgage; |
(h) | the Negative Pledge; |
(i) | the Pledge of Accounts; |
(j) | the Pre-delivery Security Assignment; |
(k) | the Regas Performance Guarantee Assignment; |
(l) | the Supervision Agreement Assignment; |
(m) | the Swap Contracts Assignment; |
(n) | the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking; and |
(o) | any other documents as may have been or shall from time to time after the date of this Agreement be executed (by, or with the agreement of, the Borrower) to guarantee and/or to govern and/or secure all or any part of the Loan, interest thereon and other moneys from time to time owing by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (whether or not any such document also secures moneys from time to time owing pursuant to any other document or agreement). |
“Security Party” means any person (except a Finance Party) who, as a surety or mortgagor, as a party to any subordination or priorities arrangement, or in any similar capacity, executes a Finance Document;
“Security Period” means the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and continuing for so long as any moneys are owing actually or contingently under the Security Documents and while any Loan and/or the Swap Liabilities remain outstanding;
"Selection Notice" means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part II of Schedule 3 ( Requests ) given in accordance with Clause 9 ( Interest Periods );
“Shareholder Agreement” means the agreement amended and restated on, or about, the date of this Agreement entered into between MOL and HLNG;
“Shareholder Loan” means a loan made by a Vessel Sponsor to the Borrower to finance part of the Project Cost;
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“Shareholder Loan Agreement” means each agreement entered into between a Vessel Sponsor and the Borrower under which a Vessel Sponsor makes available Shareholder Loans to the Borrower;
“Shareholder Loan Interest” means at any time the interest that has accrued (using a notional interest rate of 8 per cent. per annum) in respect of a Shareholder Loan;
“Shareholder Loan Principal” means at any time the principal amount of a Shareholder Loan;
“Ship” means the 145,000 cbm shuttle and regasification LNG-carrier vessel currently known as Hull No. 1688, to be constructed and sold by the Builder to the Borrower pursuant to the Shipbuilding Contract;
“Shipbuilding Contract” means the shipbuilding contract dated 7 April 2006 as amended and supplemented by a side letter and a supplemental agreement no. 1 each dated 7 April 2006, each entered into between the Borrower and the Builder in relation to the Ship;
“Specified Time" means a time determined in accordance with Schedule 6 ( Timetables );
"Subsidiary" means a subsidiary within the meaning of section 736 of the Companies Act 1985;
“Supervision Agreement” means the construction management agreement in respect of the supervision of the construction of the Ship dated on, or about, the date of this Agreement entered into between the Borrower, MOL and Höegh LNG AS;
“Supervision Agreement Assignment” means the assignment of the Supervision Agreement required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee;
“Swap Confirmation ” in relation to any Swap Transaction, shall have the meaning given in the relevant Swap Contract;
“Swap Contract” means each MLA Swap Contract, the Additional Swap Contract and any Further Additional Swap Contract;
“Swap Contracts Assignment ” means the assignment of the Swap Contracts by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in agreed form;
“Swap Exposure” means at any date, the amount which a Swap Bank certifies would be the aggregate net amount in dollars which would be payable by the Borrower to that Swap Bank under the relevant Swap Contract if an Early Termination Event (as defined in the relevant Swap Contract) had occurred on that date in respect of all Swap Transactions entered into under the relevant Swap Contract;
“Swap Liabilities” means indebtedness incurred by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts;
“Swap Payment” means each net periodic payment payable under a Swap Contract or a net termination payment payable under a Swap Contract, by the Borrower to a Swap Bank or by a Swap Bank to the Borrower;
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“Swap Transaction” means a transaction entered into by the Borrower pursuant to a Swap Contract for the purpose of hedging the Borrower’s exposure under this Agreement to changes in LIBOR;
"Tax" means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same);
“Termination Date” means the date which is twelve years after the Delivery Date;
"Total Commitments" means the aggregate of the Commitments being USD300,000,000 at the date of this Agreement;
“Total Loss” means:
(a) | actual, constructive, compromised or arranged total loss of the Ship; or |
(b) | Requisition; or |
(c) | the hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Ship (other than Requisition) by any Government Entity, or by persons allegedly acting or purporting to act on behalf of any Government Entity, unless the Ship be released and restored to the Borrower within twelve Months after such incident; |
“Transaction Documents” means the Finance Documents and the Underlying Documents;
“Transaction Security” means the security constituted or intended to be constituted by the Security Documents;
"Transfer Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 ( Form of Transfer Certificate ) or any other form agreed between the Agent and the Borrower;
"Transfer Date" means, in relation to a transfer, the later of:
(a) | the proposed Transfer Date specified in the Transfer Certificate; and |
(b) | the date on which the Agent executes the Transfer Certificate; |
“Trust Agreement” means the agreement required to be executed hereunder between the Borrower, the Lenders, the Swap Banks, the Agent and the Security Trustee in agreed form;
“Underlying Documents” means;
(a) | the Charter; |
(b) | the Charter Ownership Undertaking; |
(c) | the Comfort Letter; |
(d) | the Information Sharing Letter; |
(e) | the Refund Guarantee; |
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(f) | the Regas Performance Guarantee; |
(g) | the Shareholder Agreement; |
(h) | the Shareholder Loan Agreements; |
(i) | the Shipbuilding Contract; |
(j) | the Supervision Agreement; and |
(k) | the Management Agreement; |
"Unpaid Sum" means any sum due and payable but unpaid by the Borrower under the Finance Documents;
"Utilisation" means a utilisation of the Facility;
"Utilisation Date" means the date of a Utilisation, being the date on which the relevant Loan is to be made;
"Utilisation Request" means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part I of Schedule 3 ( Requests );
"VAT" means value added tax as provided for in the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and any other tax of a similar nature;
“Vessel Sponsors” means, together, HLNG and MOL; and
“Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking” means the undertaking to be provided by the Vessel Sponsors to the Security Trustee, in agreed form.
1.2 | Construction |
1.2.1 | Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in this Agreement to: |
(a) | the " Agent ", the " Arranger ", any " Finance Party ", any " Lender ", the “ Borrower ” any “ Swap Bank ”, any “ Security Party ”, the “ Security Trustee ” or any " Party " shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees; |
(b) | a document in “ agreed form ” is a document which is previously agreed in writing by or on behalf of, the Borrower and the Agent, or, if not so agreed, is in the form specified by the Agent; |
(c) | " assets " includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description; |
(d) | a “ Finance Document ” or " Transaction Document " or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document, that Transaction Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated, supplemented, extended or restated; |
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(e) | " indebtedness " includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent; |
(f) | 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); |
(g) | 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 regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation; |
(h) | a “ provision of law ” is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted; and |
(i) | a “ time of day ” is a reference to London time. |
1.2.2 | Section, Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
1.2.3 | A term defined in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ) in the singular shall include the plural and in the plural shall include the singular. |
1.2.4 | 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. |
1.2.5 | A Default or an Event of Default is " continuing " if it has not been remedied or waived. |
1.2.6 | If any party (the “ First Party ”) to a Transaction Document shall, subject to any required consents required by the terms of the Finance Documents, be replaced by way of transfer, assumption or novation by another party (the “ Second Party ”), upon such transfer, assumption or novation taking effect: |
(a) | all references in the Finance Documents to the First Party shall be deemed to be, and shall be construed as, references to the Second Party; and |
(b) | all Security constituted by the Security Documents shall continue in full force and effect including, where applicable, as Security for any obligations of the Second Party, |
without the need for any amendment or supplement to the Finance Documents unless any amendment or supplement is otherwise required in connection with such transfer, assumption or novation.
1.3 | Currency Symbols and Definitions |
“ dollars ” and “ USD ” denote the lawful currency of the United States of America.
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1.4 | Third party rights |
Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document, a person who is not a Party has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.
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SECTION 2
THE FACILITY
2. | The Facility |
2.1 | The Facility |
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrower a dollar term loan facility in an aggregate amount up to the Total Commitments.
2.2 | Finance Parties' rights and obligations |
2.2.1 | 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. |
2.2.2 | 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 the Borrower shall be a separate and independent debt. |
2.2.3 | A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents. |
3. | Purpose |
3.1 | Purpose |
The Borrower agrees that all amounts borrowed by it under the Facility shall be applied towards financing part of the Project Cost, provided that Shareholder Loan Interest may be financed only by a Regas Acceptance Loan.
3.2 | Lease financing |
3.2.1 | In the event that the Borrower intends to enter into a UK or French tax-advantaged lease financing for the Ship with the Lease Arranger, the Finance Parties shall agree to amend the Finance Documents and enter into such other documentation as may be required so that the facility provided hereby can be used to support such lease financing, provided that: |
(a) | the terms and conditions of any amendments to the Finance Documents and any other documentation to be entered into by the Lenders are acceptable to the Finance Parties; and |
(b) | the Security to be provided to the Lenders and the Swap Banks shall, in the opinion of the Lenders and the Swap Banks, be of at least equivalent value to the Transaction Security. |
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3.2.2 | In connection with the matters referred to in Clause 3.2.1, the Finance Parties shall act in good faith and in accordance with their respective normal internal procedures for considering these and similar matters. |
3.3 | Monitoring |
No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement.
4. | Conditions of Utilisation |
4.1 | Initial conditions precedent |
4.1.1 | The Borrower may not deliver a Utilisation Request unless the Agent has received all the documentation and other evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 ( Conditions Precedent ) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied. |
4.1.2 | Subject to Clause 4.1.1, the Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ Participation ) in relation to any Utilisation (other than in respect of a Delivery Loan or a Regas Acceptance Loan) if, by the Specified Time on the proposed Utilisation Date for that Utilisation, the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) in relation to the Ship in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied. |
4.1.3 | The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ Participation ) in relation to a Utilisation in respect of a Delivery Loan, if, by the Specified Time on the proposed Utilisation Date, the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part III of Schedule 2 ( Conditions Precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied. |
4.1.4 | The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 (Lenders’ Participation) in relation to a Utilisation in respect of a Regas Acceptance Loan, if by the Specified Time on the proposed Utilisation Date, the Agent has received a Certified Copy of the Regas Tests Acceptance Certificate. The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied. |
4.2 | Further conditions precedent |
4.2.1 | The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders' participation ) if on the proposed Utilisation Date: |
(a) | it has received evidence of payment by the Borrower of the Equity Payment in settlement of that part of the Current Project Cost which will not be financed by the proposed Loan; |
(b) | no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan; |
(c) | the Repeating Representations to be made by the Borrower are true in all material respects. |
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SECTION 3
UTILISATION
5. | Utilisation |
5.1 | Delivery of a Utilisation Request |
The Borrower may utilise the Facility by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than the Specified Time.
5.2 | Completion of a Utilisation Request |
5.2.1 | Each Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless: |
(a) | the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period; |
(b) | the currency and amount of the Utilisation comply with Clause 5.3 ( Currency and amount ); and |
(c) | the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 9 ( Interest Periods ). |
5.2.2 | Only one Utilisation may be requested in each Utilisation Request. |
5.3 | Currency and amount |
5.3.1 | The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be dollars. |
5.3.2 | The amount of the proposed Utilisation shall be the lesser of: |
(a) | the Available Facility; and |
(b) | an amount which, together with the aggregate amount of any prior Utilisations, does not exceed the Relevant Percentage of the Project Cost (excluding Shareholder Loan Interest other than in the case of a Regas Acceptance Loan). |
5.4 | Lenders' participation |
5.4.1 | If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender shall make its participation in each Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office. |
5.4.2 | The amount of each Lender's participation in each Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to making the Loan. |
5.4.3 | The Agent shall notify each Lender of the amount of each Loan and the amount of its participation in that Loan by the Specified Time. |
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5.5 | Cancellation of Commitment |
The Total Commitments which, at that time, are unutilised shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period.
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SECTION 4
REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
6. | Repayment |
6.1 | Repayment of Loans |
6.1.1 | Subject to Clause 6.1.2, the Borrower shall repay the Loans in consecutive quarterly instalments in the amounts (the “ Repayment Instalments ”) and on the dates (the “ Repayment Dates ”) as set out in Schedule 7 ( Scheduled Repayments ). |
6.1.2 | On the date upon which the First Repayment Date is finalised, the Agent and Borrower shall agree to amend the Repayment Instalments and the Repayment Dates so that the Borrower shall repay the Loans in consecutive quarterly instalments commencing on the First Repayment Date and thereafter at three-Monthly intervals up to and including the Termination Date, provided that the “balloon” instalment of USD164,993,957.31 set out in Schedule 7 ( Scheduled Repayments ) shall not be amended. |
6.2 | Reborrowing |
The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Facility which is repaid.
7. | Prepayment and cancellation |
7.1 | Illegality |
If it becomes unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction for a Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain its participation in any Loan:
(a) | that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event; |
(b) | upon the Agent notifying the Borrower, the Available Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled; and |
(c) | the Borrower shall repay that Lender's participation in the Loans on the last day of the Interest Period for each Loan occurring after the Agent has notified the Borrowers or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law). |
7.2 | Mandatory Prepayment – Material Adverse Charge |
If any event or circumstance occurs which the Majority Lenders reasonably believe might have a material adverse effect on the ability of HLNG, LHC or MOL to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents to which each is a party up to, as the case may be, (i) the Regas Acceptance Date or (ii) the end of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period, the Borrower shall, within 45 days of receipt of notice from the Agent, prepay the Loans in full.
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7.3 | Mandatory Prepayment - Total Loss |
7.3.1 | On the date falling 120 days after that on which the Ship becomes a Total Loss or, if earlier, on the date upon which the relevant insurance proceeds are, or Requisition Compensation is, received by the Borrower (or the Security Trustee or any other Finance Party pursuant to the Security Documents), the Borrower shall prepay the Loans. |
7.3.2 | For the purpose of this Agreement, a Total Loss shall be deemed to have occurred: |
(a) | in the case of an actual total loss of the Ship, on the actual date and at the time the Ship was lost or, if such date is not known, on the date on which the Ship was last reported; |
(b) | in the case of a constructive total loss of the Ship, upon the date and at the time notice of abandonment of the Ship is given to the then insurers of the Ship (provided a claim for total loss is admitted by such insurers) or, if such insurers do not immediately admit such a claim, at the date and at the time at which either a total loss is subsequently admitted by such insurers or a total loss is subsequently adjudged by a competent court of law or arbitration tribunal to have occurred; |
(c) | in the case of a compromised or arranged total loss of the Ship, on the date upon which a binding agreement as to such compromised or arranged total loss has been entered into by the then insurers of the Ship; |
(d) | in the case of Requisition, on the date upon which the relevant requisition of title or other compulsory acquisition occurs; and |
(e) | in the case of hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Ship (other than where the same amounts to Requisition of the Ship) by any Government Entity, or by persons allegedly acting or purporting to act on behalf of any Government Entity, which deprives the Borrower of the use of the Ship for more than 30 days, upon the expiry of the period of twelve Months after the date upon which the relevant incident occurred. |
7.4 | Mandatory Prepayment – sale of Ship |
If the Ship is sold, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in full on or before the date upon which the sale is completed by delivery of the Ship to the purchaser.
7.5 | Mandatory Prepayment – termination of Shipbuilding Contract etc. |
If any of the Shipbuilding Contract, the Refund Guarantee or the Regas Performance Guarantee is cancelled, terminated or rescinded for any reason other than by expiry in accordance with its terms, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in full.
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7.6 | Mandatory Prepayment – termination of Charter |
7.6.1 | If the Charter is cancelled, terminated or rescinded for any reason other than the exercise by the Charterer of the No-Fault Termination Right or the Regas Rejection Termination Right, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in full. |
7.6.2 | If the Charter is terminated pursuant to the exercise by the Charterer of the No-Fault Termination Right, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to the Charter Termination Fee, such prepayment shall pro tanto satisfy the obligations under Clause 6.1 (Repayment of Loans ) and shall be applied pro rata against the outstanding repayment instalments. |
7.6.3 | If the Charter is terminated pursuant to the exercise by the Charterer of the Regas Rejection Termination Right, the Borrower shall, within five Business Days of the Regas Rejection Date, prepay the Loans in an amount equal to the aggregate of: |
(a) | the Performance Liquidated Damages; and |
(b) | the Additional Equity Prepayment; |
and such prepayments shall pro tanto satisfy the obligations under Clause 6.1 (Repayment of Loans ) and shall be applied pro rata against the outstanding repayment instalments.
7.7 | Mandatory Prepayment – remarketing of Ship |
7.7.1 | During the Remarketing Period: |
(a) | (i) | following exercise by the Charterer of the Regas Rejection Termination Right, the Borrower shall apply the Additional Equity Debt Service Provision from time to time to meet its payment obligations under this Agreement and under the Swap Contracts; or |
(ii) | following the exercise by the Charterer of the No-fault Termination Right, the Borrower shall apply the Debt Service Reserve from time to time to meet its payment obligations under this Agreement and under the Swap Contracts; and |
(b) | the Borrower shall not make any payments, prepayments or repayments in respect of a Shareholder Loan, but interest on a Shareholder Loan may be capitalised. |
7.7.2 | If a Replacement Charter is entered into during the Remarketing Period: |
(a) | the Lenders shall continue to make the Loans then outstanding available to the Borrower (subject to any amendment of the Finance Documents which may have been a condition to the Lenders’ approval of the Replacement Charter); |
(b) | in the case of the No-Fault Termination Remarketing Period, the Debt Service Reserve shall be adjusted to reflect the reduced debt service requirement resulting from the prepayment pursuant to Clause 7.6.2; and |
(c) | the Lenders will consider in good faith (taking into account the terms and nature of the Replacement Charter) any request by the Borrower for additional finance for the Ship (without incurring an obligation to pay any fees for the arrangement of such finance) in an amount of up to the aggregate of the amounts prepaid under Clause 7.6.2 or Clause 7.6.3 (as applicable). |
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7.7.3 | If a Replacement Charter has not been entered into by the end of the Remarketing Period, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in full. |
7.7.4 | If any part of the Additional Equity Debt Service Provision is not utilised by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 7.7.1 (a)(i), at the end of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period in circumstances where no Replacement Charter has been entered into, such amount shall be applied in pro tanto satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligation under Clause 7.7.3. |
7.7.5 | If any part of the Additional Equity Debt Service Provision is not utilised by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 7.7.1 (a)(i), at the end of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period in circumstances where a Replacement Charter has been entered into, such amount (or part thereof) as in the opinion of the Lenders (acting reasonably) is necessary to reduce the Loans to ensure debt service by the charter hire payable under the Replacement Charter shall be applied in prepayment of the Loans pro rata against the outstanding repayment instalments. |
7.8 | Voluntary cancellation |
The Borrower may, if they give the Agent not less than 5 Business Days' (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, cancel the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of USD10,000,000) of the Total Commitments. Any cancellation under this Clause 7.8 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably.
7.9 | Voluntary prepayment of Loans |
7.9.1 | The Borrower may, if it gives the Agent not less than 5 Business Days' (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior written notice, prepay the whole or any part of any Loan (but, if in part, being an amount that reduces the amount of that Loan by a minimum amount of USD10,000,000 and, if more, in multiples of USD1,000,000). |
7.9.2 | A Loan may only be prepaid after the first day on which the Available Facility is zero. |
7.9.3 | Any prepayment under this Clause 7.9 shall satisfy the obligations under Clause 6.1 ( Repayment of Loans ) in inverse order of maturity. |
7.10 | Right of repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender |
7.10.1 | If: |
(a) | any sum payable to any Lender by the Borrower is required to be increased under Clause 12.2 ( Tax Gross-up) ; or |
(b) | any Lender claims indemnification from the Borrower under Clause 12.3 ( Tax indemnit y) or Clause 13 ( Increased costs ), |
the Borrower may, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for indemnification continues, give the Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lender's participation in the Loans.
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7.10.2 | On receipt of a notice referred to in Clause 7.10.1 , the Commitment of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero. |
7.10.3 | On the last day of the then current Interest Period which ends after the Borrower has given notice under Clause 7.10.1 (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Borrower in that notice), the Borrower shall repay that Lender's participation in that Loan. |
7.11 | Effect on Commitment of other Lenders |
If the Commitment of any Lender is reduced or cancelled pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, the Relevant Percentage shall be reduced by the same proportion as, before such reduction or cancellation, the Available Commitment of the Lender whose Commitment was reduced or cancelled bore to the Total Commitments.
7.12 | Effect on Swap Contracts |
On or prior to any repayment or prepayment of any part of a Loan, or if any part of the Facility in respect of which a Swap Transaction has been entered into is not utilised under this Agreement prior to the end of the Availability Period, the Borrower shall wholly or partially reverse, unwind, offset or terminate (and settle at the then mark-to-market valuation) one or more of the Swap Transactions forming part of the Swap Contracts in the following order:
(a) | first , any Further Additional Swap Contracts; |
(b) | secondly , the Additional Swap Contract; |
(c) | thirdly , the MLA Swap Contracts (provided that the Borrower shall reverse, unwind, offset or terminate such Swap Transactions in equal amounts), |
so that the aggregate notional principal amount of the continuing Swap Transactions does not exceed 110 per cent. of the amount of the Loans and the Borrower shall at the same time supply a Hedging Compliance Certificate to the Agent setting out computations (in reasonable detail) as to compliance with this Clause 7.11 and Clause 8.5.2 as at that date.
7.13 | Restrictions |
7.13.1 | Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under this Clause 7 ( Prepayment and Cancellation ) shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment. |
7.13.2 | 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. |
7.13.3 | The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Facility which is prepaid. |
7.13.4 | The Borrower shall not repay or prepay all or any part of a Loan or cancel all or any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement. |
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7.13.5 | No amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated. |
7.13.6 | If the Agent receives a notice under this Clause 7 ( Prepayment and Cancellation ) it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to either the Borrower or the affected Lender, as appropriate. |
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SECTION 5
COSTS OF UTILISATION
8. | Interest |
8.1 | Calculation of interest |
The rate of interest on each Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:
(a) | Margin; |
(b) | LIBOR; and |
(c) | Mandatory Cost, if any. |
8.2 | Payment of interest |
The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on each Loan on the last day of each Interest Period (and, if the Interest Period is longer than three Months, on the dates falling at three-Monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period).
8.3 | Default interest |
8.3.1 | If the Borrower fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to Clause 8.3.2 below, is one 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 Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing under this Clause 8.3 ( Default Interest ) shall be immediately payable by the Borrower on demand by the Agent . |
8.3.2 | If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period: |
(a) | the first Interest Period for that overdue amount shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to that Loan; and |
(b) | the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest Period shall be one per cent. higher than the rate which would have applied if the overdue amount had not become due. |
8.3.3 | Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that overdue amount but will remain immediately due and payable. |
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8.4 | Notification of rates of interest |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the relevant Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.
8.5 | Interest Rate Hedging |
8.5.1 | On the first Utilisation Date, following receipt of confirmation from the Agent that all relevant conditions precedent have been satisfied pursuant to Clause 4 ( Conditions of Utilisation ): |
(a) | the Original Swap Contract shall be novated and amended so that: |
(i) | each Swap Bank is a party to a MLA Swap Contract (and each MLA Swap Contract shall be on the same terms and for the same notional principal amounts), and |
(ii) | the Swap Liabilities in respect thereof are secured by the Transaction Security; |
(b) | the Additional Swap Contract and any Further Additional Swap Contract shall be amended so that the Swap Liabilities in respect thereof are secured by the Transaction Security. |
8.5.2 | The Borrower shall ensure that, on the Utilisation Date for the Delivery Loan and at all times thereafter during the Security Period, the aggregate notional principal amounts of the then current Swap Transactions is equal to or greater than 90 per cent. of the amount of the Loans. |
9. | Interest Periods |
9.1 | Selection of Interest Periods |
9.1.1 | The Borrower may select an Interest Period for a Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan or (if the Loan has already been borrowed) in a Selection Notice. |
9.1.2 | Each Selection Notice for a Loan is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Agent by the Borrower not later than the Specified Time. |
9.1.3 | If a Borrower fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Agent in accordance with Clause 9.1.2 above, the relevant Interest Period will, subject to Clause 9.2 ( Changes to Interest Periods ), be three Months. |
9.1.4 | Subject to this Clause 9 ( Interest Periods ), the Borrower may select an Interest Period of three Months or any other period agreed between the Borrower and the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders). In addition the Borrower may select an Interest Period of less than one Month, if necessary to ensure that the Loan has an Interest Period ending on a Repayment Date. |
9.1.5 | An Interest Period for a Loan shall not extend beyond the Termination Date. |
9.1.6 | Each Interest Period for a Loan shall start on the Utilisation Date or (if already made) on the last day of its preceding Interest Period. |
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9.2 | Changes to Interest Periods |
If an Interest Period would otherwise overrun a Repayment Date, such Interest Period shall end on such Repayment Date.
9.3 | Non-Business Days |
If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).
9.4 | Consolidation of Loans |
The first Interest Period applicable to the second and any subsequent Loan shall end on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Loan then current, whereupon those Loans will be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan.
10. | Changes to the calculation of interest |
10.1 | Absence of quotations |
Subject to Clause 10.2 ( Market disruption ), if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks.
10.2 | Market disruption |
10.2.1 | If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to a Loan for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lender's share of that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of: |
(a) | the Margin; |
(b) | the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event before 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 that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select; and |
(c) | the Mandatory Cost, if any, applicable to that Lender's participation in the Loan. |
10.2.2 | In this Agreement " Market Disruption Event " means: |
(a) | at or about noon 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 Agent to determine LIBOR for dollars for the relevant Interest Period; or |
(b) | before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in a Loan exceed 35 per cent. of that Loan) that the cost to it or them of obtaining matching deposits in the London Interbank Market would be in excess of LIBOR. |
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Alternative basis of interest or funding
10.2.3 | If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Agent or the Borrower so requires, the Agent and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than thirty days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest. |
10.2.4 | Any alternative basis agreed pursuant Clause 10.2.3 above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Borrower, be binding on all Parties. |
10.3 | Break Costs |
10.3.1 | The Borrower shall, within three 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 Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum. |
10.3.2 | Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue. |
11. | Fees |
11.1 | Commitment fee |
11.1.1 | The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) a fee computed at the rate of 0.20 per cent. per annum on that Lender's Available Commitment for the Availability Period. |
11.1.2 | The accrued commitment fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of three Months which ends during the Availability Period, on the last day of the Availability Period and, if cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lender's Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective. |
11.2 | Arrangement fee |
The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger (for its own account) an arrangement fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Fee Letter.
11.3 | Agency fee |
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for its own account) the agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Fee Letter.
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SECTION 6
ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
12. | Tax gross up and indemnities |
12.1 | Definitions |
12.1.1 | In this Agreement: |
"Tax Credit" means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment or refund of any Tax.
"Tax Deduction" means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document (other than a Swap Contract).
"Tax Payment" means either the increase in a payment made by the Borrower to a Finance Party under Clause 12.2 ( Tax gross-up ) or a payment under Clause 12.3 ( Tax indemnity ).
12.1.2 | Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 12 a reference to "determines" or "determined" means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination. |
12.2 | Tax gross-up |
12.2.1 | The Borrower shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law. |
12.2.2 | The Borrower shall promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Borrower. |
12.2.3 | If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by the Borrower, the amount of the payment due from the Borrower shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required. |
12.2.4 | If the Borrower is required to make a Tax Deduction, the Borrower shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law. |
12.2.5 | Within thirty days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Borrower shall deliver to the Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment has been paid to the relevant taxing authority. |
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12.2.6 | The Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall cooperate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for the Borrower to make payments to all Lenders without a Tax Deduction. |
12.3 | Tax indemnity |
12.3.1 | The Borrower shall (within three Business Days of demand by the Agent) pay to a 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 by that Finance Party in respect of a Finance Document. |
12.3.2 | Clause 12.3.1 shall not apply: |
(a) | with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party: |
(i) | under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident or is engaged or deemed to be engaged in a trade or a business or has a presence for tax purposes; or |
(ii) | under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party's Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction, |
if that Tax is 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; or
(b) | to the extent a loss, liability or cost is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 12.2 ( Tax gross-up ). |
12.3.3 | A Finance Party making, or intending to make a claim under Clause 12.3.1 shall promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall notify the Borrower. |
12.3.4 | A Finance Party shall, on receiving a payment from the Borrower under this Clause 12.3, notify the Agent. |
12.4 | Tax Credit |
If the Borrower makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:
(a) | a Tax Credit is attributable either to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part, or to that Tax Payment; and |
(b) | that Finance Party has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit, |
the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Borrower 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.
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12.5 | Stamp taxes |
The Borrower shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document.
12.6 | Value added tax |
12.6.1 | All consideration expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT. If VAT is chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party in connection with a Finance Document, that Party shall pay to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT. |
12.6.2 | Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse a Finance Party for any costs or expenses, that Party shall also at the same time pay and indemnify the Finance Party against all VAT incurred by the Finance Party in respect of the costs or expenses to the extent that the Finance Party reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment or refund of the VAT. |
13. | Increased costs |
13.1 | Increased costs |
13.1.1 | Subject to Clause 13.3 ( Exceptions ) the Borrower shall, within three Business Days of a demand by the 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 or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement. |
13.1.2 | In this Agreement " Increased Costs " means: |
(a) | a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Party's (or its Affiliate's) overall capital; |
(b) | an additional or increased cost; or |
(c) | 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 Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.
13.2 | Increased cost claims |
13.2.1 | A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 13.1 ( Increased costs ) shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower. |
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13.2.2 | Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its increased costs and providing reasonable detail as to the computation of such amount. |
13.3 | Exceptions |
13.3.1 | Clause 13.1 ( Increased costs ) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is: |
(a) | attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by the Borrower; |
(b) | compensated for by Clause 12.3 ( Tax indemnity ) (or would have been compensated for under Clause 12.3 ( Tax indemnity ) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in Clause 12.3.2 applied); |
(c) | compensated for by the payment of the Mandatory Cost; or |
(d) | attributable to breach by, the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation, which breach is wilful or attributable to the gross negligence of that party. |
13.3.2 | In this Clause 13.3, a reference to a " Tax Deduction " has the same meaning given to the term in Clause 12.1 ( Definitions ). |
14. | Other indemnities |
14.1 | Currency indemnity |
14.1.1 | If any sum due from the Borrower 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: |
(a) | making or filing a claim or proof against the Borrower; |
(b) | obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings, |
the Borrower shall as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each 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.
14.1.2 | The Borrower waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable. |
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14.2 | Other indemnities |
The Borrower shall, within five Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a result of:
(a) | the occurrence of any Event of Default; |
(b) | a failure by the Borrower 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 29 ( Sharing among the Finance Parties ); |
(c) | funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Loan requested by the Borrower in a Utilisation 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); or |
(d) | a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower. |
14.3 | Indemnity to the Agent |
The Borrower shall promptly indemnify the Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:
(a) | investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default; or |
(b) | acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised. |
14.4 | Environmental indemnity |
The Borrower shall indemnify each Finance Party on demand and hold it harmless from and against all costs, claims, expenses, payments, charges, losses, demands, liabilities, actions, Proceedings (civil or criminal), penalties, fines, damages, judgements, orders or sanctions which may be incurred or made or asserted whensoever against such Finance Party at any time, whether before or after the repayment in full of principal and interest under this Agreement, arising howsoever out of an Environmental Claim made or asserted against such Finance Party (and in respect of which the Borrower has been consulted by that Finance Party) which would not have been, or been capable of being, made or asserted against such Finance Party had it not entered into any of the Finance Documents or been involved in any of the resulting or associated transactions.
14.5 | Exclusions |
The indemnities contained in this Clause 14 shall not extend to any claim or liability of a Finance Party to the extent that such claim or liability:
(a) | is one in respect of which that Finance Party is expressly and specifically indemnified and has received and is entitled to retain such indemnity under any other provision of this Agreement or any other Finance Document; or |
(b) | is a cost or expense (including but not limited to normal administrative costs or overhead expenses) which the Finance Parties have agreed to bear under this Agreement or any other Finance Document; or |
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(c) | is directly and exclusively caused by any failure on the part of that Finance Party to comply with any of its obligations under the Finance Documents. |
15. | Mitigation by the Lenders |
15.1 | Mitigation |
15.1.1 | Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Borrower, 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 7.1 ( Illegality ), Clause 12 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ), Clause 13 ( Increased costs ) or Schedule 4 ( Mandatory Cost formula ) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office or to another financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Agent. |
15.1.2 | Clause 15.1.1 above does not in any way limit the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents. |
15.2 | Limitation of liability |
15.2.1 | The Borrower shall 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 15 ( Mitigation by Lenders ). |
15.2.2 | A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 15 ( Mitigation by Lenders ) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it. |
16. | Costs and expenses |
16.1 | Transaction expenses |
The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees in amounts agreed by the Borrower) reasonably incurred by any of them (and in respect of which prior notice has been given to the Borrower) in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution and syndication of:
(a) | this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and |
(b) | any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement. |
16.2 | Amendment costs |
If the Borrower requests an amendment, waiver or consent, the Borrower shall, within five Business Days of demand, reimburse the Agent for the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agent in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.
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16.3 | Enforcement costs |
The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document.
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SECTION 7
REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT
17. | Representations |
The Borrower makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 17 to each Finance Party on the date of this Agreement.
17.1 | Status |
17.1.1 | It is a corporation, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation. |
17.1.2 | It has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted. |
17.2 | Share capital and ownership |
The Borrower has an authorised share capital of USD50,000 divided into 50,000 shares with a nominal value of USD1.00 each, all of which shares have been issued and the legal title and beneficial ownership of those shares is held, free of any Security or other claim, by HLNG as to 50 per cent. and by MOL as to 50 per cent.
17.3 | Required Authorisations |
All Required Authorisations have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
17.4 | Binding obligations |
The obligations expressed to be assumed by it in each Transaction Document are, subject to any general principles of law limiting its obligations which are specifically referred to in any legal opinion delivered pursuant to Clause 4 ( Conditions of Utilisation ), legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations and each Security Document to which it is a party creates the security interests which that Security Document purports to create and those security interests are valid and effective.
17.5 | Non-conflict with other obligations |
The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents, and the granting of the Transaction Security, do not and will not conflict with:
(a) | any law or regulation applicable to it; |
(b) | its constitutional documents; or |
(c) | in any material respect, any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any of its assets. |
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17.6 | Power and authority |
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 Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by those Transaction Documents, and no limit on its powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowing, grant of security, or giving of guarantees or indemnities contemplated by the Transaction Documents to which it is a party.
17.7 | Validity and admissibility in evidence |
All Authorisations required or desirable:
(a) | to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations in the Transaction Documents to which it is a party; and |
(b) | to make the Transaction Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in the Relevant Jurisdiction, |
have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect, except any Authorisations referred to in Clause 17.10 ( No filing or stamp taxes ).
17.8 | Governing law and enforcement |
17.8.1 | The choice of English law as the governing law of the Finance Documents (other than the Mortgage) will be recognised and enforced in the Relevant Jurisdictions. |
17.8.2 | Any judgment obtained in England in relation to a Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in the Relevant Jurisdiction. |
17.9 | Deduction of Tax |
It is not required to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it may make under any Finance Document.
17.10 | No filing or stamp taxes |
Under the law of the Relevant Jurisdiction it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents except for the registration of the Mortgage which will be completed at the Delivery Date.
17.11 | No default |
17.11.1 | No Event of Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the making of any Utilisation or the entry into, or performance of, or any transaction contemplated by, the Transaction Documents. |
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17.11.2 | No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes a default under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or to which its assets are subject which might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
17.12 | No misleading information |
17.12.1 | Any written factual information provided by the Borrower in connection with the Facility 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. |
17.12.2 | Any financial projections provided by the Borrower in connection with the Facility have been prepared on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of reasonable assumptions. |
17.12.3 | Nothing has occurred or been omitted from the information so provided and no information has been given or withheld that results in the information so provided being untrue or misleading in any material respect. |
17.13 | No proceedings pending or threatened |
No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings of or before any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect have (to the best of its knowledge and belief, having made due and careful enquiry) been started or threatened against the Borrower.
17.14 | No breach of laws |
It has not breached any law or regulation which will breach or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
17.15 | Security and Financial Indebtedness |
17.15.1 | No Security exists over the Charged Property other than Permitted Security. |
17.15.2 | The Borrower has no Financial Indebtedness outstanding other than as permitted by this Agreement. |
17.16 | Ranking |
The Transaction Security has or will have first ranking priority and it is not subject to any prior ranking or pari passu ranking Security.
17.17 | Good title to assets |
It has a good, valid and marketable title to, or valid leases or licences of, and all appropriate Authorisations to use, the assets necessary to carry on its business as presently conducted.
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17.18 | Legal and beneficial ownership |
It is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the respective assets over which it purports to grant Security.
17.19 | Shares |
The shares of the Borrower which are subject to the Transaction Security are fully paid and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights.
17.20 | Environmental Matters |
Except as may already have been disclosed by the Borrower in writing to, and acknowledged in writing by, the Agent:
(a) | the Borrower and the Operator and, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief (having made due enquiry), their respective Environmental Affiliates have complied with the provisions of all Environmental Laws in relation to the Ship; |
(b) | the Borrower and the Operator and, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief (having made due enquiry), their respective Environmental Affiliates have obtained all Environmental Approvals in relation to the Ship and are in compliance with all such Environmental Approvals; |
(c) | no Environmental Claim has been made or threatened or pending against the Borrower, the Operator or, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief (having made due enquiry), any of their respective Environmental Affiliates; and |
(d) | there has been no Environmental Incident. |
17.21 | Taxation |
17.21.1 | It has duly and punctually paid and discharged all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties (save to the extent that (i) payment is being contested in good faith, (ii) it has maintained adequate reserves for those Taxes and (iii) payment can be lawfully withheld). |
17.21.2 | It is not materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns. |
17.22 | Compliance with Money Laundering Regulation |
On the date hereof and on each day throughout the Security Period, in relation to the borrowing by the Borrower of the Loans, the performance and discharge of its obligations and liabilities under this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents and the transactions and other arrangements effected or contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents to which the Borrower is a party, it is acting for its own account and that the foregoing will not involve or lead to a contravention of any law, official requirement or other regulatory measure or procedure which has been implemented to combat “money laundering” (as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308/EEC), as amended, of the Council of the European Communities).
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17.23 | No Winding-up |
The Borrower has not taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of its knowledge and belief) threatened against the Borrower its winding-up, dissolution, administration or otherwise for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, conservator, custodian, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its assets or revenues.
17.24 | No material adverse change |
No event or circumstance has occurred which (to the best of its knowledge and belief) might have a Material Adverse Effect.
17.25 | Underlying Documents |
17.25.1 | The Certified Copies or originals of the Underlying Documents delivered or to be delivered to the Agent pursuant to Clause 18.1 ( Information: miscellaneous ): |
(a) | are, or will when delivered be, true and complete copies or, as the case may be, originals of such documents; |
(b) | constitute valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto; and |
(c) | comprise the entire agreement between the parties to such documents and there have been no amendments or variations thereof. |
17.25.2 | All conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the Underlying Documents and of the obligations of the parties thereunder, have been fulfilled. |
17.25.3 | The Borrower is in compliance with all its obligations under the Underlying Documents to which it is a party and, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief, no other party to an Underlying Document is in material default of its obligations thereunder. |
17.26 | Repetition |
17.26.1 | The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by the Borrower by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on the date of each Utilisation Request and the first day of each Interest Period. |
17.26.2 | The Borrower shall, on the Delivery Date, be deemed to represent that save for Permitted Liens the Ship is in the sole, unencumbered legal and beneficial ownership of the Borrower, operationally seaworthy and in every way fit for service and is classed with the Classification, free of all requirements and overdue recommendations of the Classification Society. |
18. | Information Undertakings |
The undertakings in this Clause 18 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
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18.1 | Financial statements |
The Borrower shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders:
18.1.1 | as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each of its financial years, its audited consolidated financial statements for that financial year; and |
18.1.2 | as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each semi-annual period of each of its financial years, its unaudited consolidated financial statements for that semi-annual period. |
18.2 | Requirements as to financial statements |
18.2.1 | Each set of financial statements delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 18.1 ( Financial statements ) shall be certified by a director of the Borrower as fairly representing its financial condition as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up. |
18.2.2 | The Borrower shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 18.1 ( Financial statements ) is prepared using IFRS. |
18.2.3 | The Borrower shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 18.1.1 has been audited by Ernst & Young or any other internationally recognised firm of independent auditors. |
18.2.4 | The Borrower shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 18.1 ( Financial Statements ) are in English or accompanied by a certified translation into English. |
18.3 | Information: miscellaneous |
The Borrower shall supply to the Agent:
(a) | promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against the Borrower, and which might, if adversely determined, have a Material Adverse Effect; |
(b) | promptly, all such information as any Finance Party (through the Agent) may from time to time reasonably require regarding the Ship, her employment, position and engagements, particulars of all towages and salvages, and copies of all charters and other contracts for her employment, or otherwise howsoever concerning her; |
(c) | promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of: |
(i) | any damage to the Ship (and any insurance claim made in respect thereof) requiring repairs the cost of which will or is reasonably likely to exceed the Casualty Amount; |
(ii) | any occurrence in consequence of which the Ship has or may become a Total Loss; |
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(iii) | any requisition of the Ship for hire; |
(iv) | any requirement or recommendation made by any insurer or the Classification Society or by any competent authority which is not, or cannot be, complied with in accordance with its terms; |
(v) | any arrest or detention of the Ship or any exercise or purported exercise of a lien or other claim on the Ship or the Earnings or Insurances for the Ship or any part thereof; |
(vi) | any petition or notice of meeting to consider any resolution to wind up the Borrower (or any event analogous thereto under the laws of the place of its incorporation); |
(vii) | any threatened or actual withdrawal of any ISM Code Documentation; |
(viii) | the making of any Environmental Claim against the Borrower or the Operator or any of its Environmental Affiliates or of the occurrence of any Environmental Incident which may give rise to any such Environmental Claim; or |
(ix) | the issue of any ISM Code Documentation (and promptly on request, to deliver a copy (certified as a true copy by the Borrower) of all ISM Code Documentation to the Agent) or of the receipt by any Operator of notification that any application for the same has been refused; |
(d) | promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition, business and operations of the Borrower as any Finance Party (through the Agent) may reasonably request; |
18.4 | Notification of default |
18.4.1 | The Borrower shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence (unless the Borrower is aware that a notification has already been provided by the Borrower). |
18.4.2 | Promptly upon a request by the Agent, the Borrower shall supply to the Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors or senior officers on its behalf 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). |
18.5 | “Know your customer” checks |
If:
(a) | the introduction of or change in (or the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement; |
(b) | any change in the status of the Borrower or the composition of the shareholders of the Borrower after the date of this Agreement; or |
(c) | a proposed assignment by a Lender of any of its rights under this Agreement |
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obliges the Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (c) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Borrower shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of the Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (c) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or any Lender or, in the case described in paragraph (c) above, 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 transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
19. | Accounts |
19.1 | General |
19.1.1 | The Borrower undertakes with each Finance Party that it will: |
(a) | on or before issue of the Utilisation Request for the first Utilisation, open each of the Accounts; and |
(b) | procure that all moneys payable to it in respect of: |
(i) | the Accelerated Equity; |
(ii) | the Additional Equity; |
(iii) | the Charter Hire; |
(iv) | the Charter Termination Fee; |
(v) | each Drydocking Cost Payment; |
(vi) | each Drydocking Cost Reimbursement (unless paid directly by the Charterer to the relevant shipyard); |
(vii) | each Equity Payment; |
(viii) | the Performance Liquidated Damages; and |
(ix) | each Swap Payment; |
(x) | any other Earnings, |
shall, unless and until the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) directs to the contrary, be paid to the Operating Account.
19.1.2 | Each Borrower agrees that if any of the moneys paid to the Operating Account are payable in a currency other than USD, the Account Bank shall (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably instructs the Account Bank to) convert such moneys into USD at the Account Bank’s spot rate of exchange at the relevant time for the purchase of USD with such currency and the term “spot rate of exchange” shall include any costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of USD with such currency. |
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19.2 | Operating Account |
Unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Operating Account at any time during the Security Period except that, unless and until a Default shall occur and the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) shall direct to the contrary, moneys credited to the Operating Account may be applied by the Borrower as follows:
19.2.1 | on a Charter Hire Payment Date, the Charter Hire received may be applied for the following purposes in the following order: |
(a) | first , to pay, pro rata , (i) to the Manager the operating costs of the Ship (but not exceeding an amount equal to 110 per cent. of the amount which is the lesser of (aa) the operating cost component of the Charter Hire and (bb) the operating costs payable monthly under the Management Agreement); (ii) premiums due in respect of Insurances and any Taxes then due for payment by the Borrower; and (iii) fees due to the Manager under the Management Agreement; |
(b) | secondly , to transfer to the Debt Service Retention Account on each Debt Service Retention Date all or part of the Debt Service Retention Amount for such Debt Service Retention Date; |
(c) | thirdly , to make payments to the Debt Service Reserve Account up to amount of the Debt Service Reserve; and |
(d) | fourthly , to make payments either: |
(i) | to the Dividend Distribution Account, provided the following conditions have been satisfied (the “Dividend Release Conditions” ): |
(aa) | the first repayment has been made pursuant to Clause 6.1 (Repayment of Loans) ; and |
(bb) | no Event of Default has occurred which is continuing; and |
(cc) | the Debt Service Retention Account is funded to the extent required by the definition of Debt Service Retention Amount and the Debt Service Reserve Account is fully funded; and |
(dd) | the Agent has received from the Borrower a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate confirming that the Historical Debt Service Cover Ratio is no less than 1.2 : 1.0 and the Projected Debt Service Cover Ratio is no less than 1.2 : 1.0; and |
(ee) | the Charterer has not given notice to terminate the Charter; |
or, if the Dividend Release Conditions have not been satisfied,
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(ii) | to the Dividend Lock-Up Account; |
19.2.2 | on a Utilisation Date, the Equity Payment received may be applied against the Current Project Cost; |
19.2.3 | the Additional Equity received from the Vessel Sponsors pursuant to the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking may be applied: |
(a) | in payment of accrued interest due under Clause 8.2 (Payment of Interest) ; |
(b) | in payment of Swap Payments due to a Swap Bank under a Swap Contract; |
(c) | in payment of the Additional Equity Prepayment pursuant to Clause 7.6.3; |
(d) | in payment of the Additional Equity Debt Service Provision pursuant to Clause 7.7.1(a); and |
(e) | in prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Clause 7.7.4 or Clause 7.7.5. |
19.2.4 | the Accelerated Equity received may be paid to the Debt Service Reserve Account pursuant to Clause 24.16(b); |
19.2.5 | a Drydocking Cost Payment or a Drydocking Cost Reimbursement may be applied in payment of a Drydocking Cost; |
19.2.6 | a Drydocking Cost Reimbursement may be paid to the Vessel Sponsors in reimbursement of a Drydocking Cost Payment (notwithstanding any restriction in this Agreement or in the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking which might otherwise operate to restrict such payment to the Vessel Sponsors); |
19.2.7 | the Charter Termination Fee received may be applied in prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Clause 7.5.2; |
19.2.8 | the Performance Liquidated Damages may be applied in prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Clause 7.5.3; and |
19.2.9 | The Debt Service Reserve may be applied against the Borrower’s payment obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Clause 7.6.1 (a) (ii). |
19.3 | Debt Service Retention Account |
19.3.1 | The Borrower undertakes with each Finance Party that, throughout the Security Period, it will, on each Debt Service Retention Date pay to the Account Bank for credit to the Debt Service Retention Account, the Debt Service Retention Amount for such date provided however that, to the extent that there are moneys standing to the credit of the Operating Account as at the relevant Debt Service Retention Date, such moneys shall, up to an amount equal to the Debt Service Retention Amount, in accordance with Clause 19.2.1 (b) be transferred to the Debt Service Retention Account on that Debt Service Retention Date (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises the Account Bank to effect each such transfer) and to that extent the Borrower’s obligations to make the payments referred to in this Clause 19.3.1 shall have been fulfilled upon such transfer being effected. |
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19.3.2 | Unless and until there shall occur an Event of Default (whereupon the provisions of Clause 19.7 ( Application of Accounts ) shall apply), all Debt Service Retention Amounts credited to the Debt Service Retention Account together with interest from time to time accruing or at any time accrued thereon must be applied by the Account Bank (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises the Account Bank so to apply the same) upon each Repayment Date and/or on each day that interest is payable pursuant to Clause 8.2 (Payment Interest) , and/or on each day that a Swap Payment is due to a Swap Bank pursuant to the relevant Swap Confirmation in or towards payment to the Agent or the relevant Swap Bank, as the case may be, of the Repayment Instalment then falling due for payment or, the amount of interest then due or the Swap Payment then due. Each such application by the Account Bank shall constitute a payment in or towards satisfaction of the Borrower’s corresponding payment obligations under this Agreement or the relevant Swap Contract (as applicable) but shall be strictly without prejudice to the obligations of the Borrower to make any such payment to the extent that the aforesaid application by the Account Bank is insufficient to meet the same. |
19.3.3 | Unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Debt Service Retention Account at any time during the Security Period other than pursuant to Clause 19.3.2. |
19.4 | Debt Service Reserve Account |
Unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account at any time during the Security Period other than pursuant to Clause 19.2.9.
19.5 | Dividend Distribution Account |
Unless and until a Default shall occur and is continuing and the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) shall direct to the contrary, the Borrower may withdraw moneys from the Dividend Distribution Account for any purpose.
19.6 | Dividend Lock-Up Account |
19.6.1 | Subject to Clause 19.6.2, unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Dividend Lock-Up Account. |
19.6.2 | Sums credited to the Dividend Lock-Up Account shall be transferred to the Dividend Distribution Account upon the written request of the Borrower from time to time and provided that the Dividend Release Conditions are then satisfied. |
19.7 | Application of accounts |
At any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Agent may (and on the instructions of the Majority Lenders shall), without notice to the Borrower, instruct the Account Bank to apply all moneys then standing to the credit of the Accounts or any of them (together with interest from time to time accruing or accrued thereon) in or towards satisfaction of any sums due to the Finance Parties or any of them under the Finance Documents.
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19.8 | Charging of accounts |
The Accounts and all amounts from time to time standing to the credit thereof shall be subject to the security constituted and the rights conferred by the Accounts Mortgages.
20. | Ship Covenants |
The undertakings in this Clause 20 will become effective on the Delivery Date (unless stated otherwise) and shall remain in force from that date for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
20.1 | Ship’s name and registration |
20.1.1 | The Borrower agrees: |
(a) | not to change the name of the Ship without prior notification to the Agent; and |
(b) | to keep the Ship registered in its name under the laws of an Approved Flag and not to permit its registration under any flag or at any other port without the prior written consent of the Agent and the Lenders. |
20.1.2 | If the flag State becomes involved in war or civil war or there is a seizure of power in the Flag State by unconstitutional means the Agent may notify the Borrower that it requires the flag and registry of the Vessel to be changed to another Approved Flag whereupon, subject to the consent of the Charterer pursuant to the Charter, the Borrower shall promptly implement such change. |
20.2 | Repair and Classification |
The Borrower agrees to keep the Ship in a good and efficient state of repair and ensure that all repairs and replacements of parts are made in such manner as not to reduce the value of the Ship and in particular to maintain the Classification as the class of the Ship and to submit the Ship to continuous surveys and such periodical or other surveys as may be required for classification purposes and to provide the Agent, upon request, with copies of all survey reports issued in respect of such surveys.
20.3 | Modification; removal of parts; equipment owned by third parties |
The Borrower agrees not without the prior written consent of the Agent to, or allow any other person to:
(a) | make any modification to the Ship in consequence of which her structure, type or performance characteristics could or might be materially altered or her value materially reduced; or |
(b) | remove any material part of the Ship or any equipment the value of which is such that its removal from the Ship would materially reduce the value of the Ship without replacing the same with equivalent parts or equipment which are owned by the Borrower free from Security; or |
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(c) | install on the Ship any equipment owned by a third party which cannot be removed without causing damage to the structure or fabric of the Ship. |
20.4 | Inspection |
The Borrower agrees to ensure that the Agent, by surveyors or other persons appointed by the Agent for such purpose, may board the Ship at all reasonable times for the purpose of inspecting her and to afford all proper facilities for such inspections and for this purpose to give the Agent reasonable advance notice of any intended drydocking of the Ship; prior to an Event of Default which is continuing, such inspections shall be carried out at the cost of the Lenders and so as not to interfere with or delay the operation of the Ship.
20.5 | Arrest |
The Borrower will promptly pay and discharge:
(a) | all liabilities which give or may give rise to maritime or possessory liens on or claims enforceable against the Ship, its Earnings or its Insurances, except for Permitted Security; |
(b) | all tolls, taxes, dues, fines, penalties and other amounts charged in respect of the Ship, the Earnings or the Insurances (unless disputed in good faith and in respect of which security has been provided or financial reserves maintained); and |
(c) | all other costs and expenses whatsoever in respect of the Ship owned by it, its Earnings or its Insurances, |
and, as soon as reasonably practicable upon receiving notice of the arrest of the Ship, or of its detention in exercise or purported exercise of any lien or claim, the Borrower shall procure its release by providing bail or procuring the provision of security or otherwise as the circumstances may require.
20.6 | Accounts |
The Borrower agrees to keep proper books of account in respect of the Ship and her Earnings and, as and when the Agent may so require, to make such books available for inspection on behalf of the Lenders.
20.7 | Employment |
The Borrower agrees not to employ the Ship or permit her employment:
(a) | in any manner, trade or business which is forbidden by international law, or which is unlawful or illicit under the law of any relevant jurisdiction; and, |
(b) | in the event of hostilities in any part of the world (whether war be declared or not), not to employ the Ship or permit her employment in carrying any contraband goods, or enter or trade to or to continue to trade in any zone which has been declared a war zone by any Government Entity or by the Ship's war risks insurers unless such special insurance cover as the Agent may require shall have been effected by the Borrower at the Borrower’s expense; the Borrower shall give the Agent as much notice as practicable of the Vessel trading to such a zone and shall inform and consult with the Agent in relation thereto and in relation to the special insurances. |
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20.8 | Manager |
The Borrower agrees that it shall not without the prior consent of the Agent:
(a) | appoint a manager of the Ship other than the Manager; or |
(b) | materially amend the terms of the Management Agreement; or |
(c) | terminate the Management Agreement unless such agreement is replaced immediately by an agreement acceptable to the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). |
20.9 | Compliance with Regulations |
The Borrower will and will procure that the Manager and/or any Operator of the Ship will:
(a) | maintain at all times a valid and current ISSC respect of the Ship; |
(b) | immediately notify the Agent in writing of any actual or threatened withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of the ISSC in respect of the Ship; |
(c) | procure that its Ship will comply at all times with the ISPS Code; |
(d) | at all times comply with the requirements of the ISM Code including (but not limited to) the maintenance and renewal of valid certificates pursuant thereto and all other statutory and other requirements relative to its business and/or the Ship; |
(e) | promptly inform the Agent upon the issue of any ISM Code Documentation in respect of the Ship or its Operator or the receipt by the Borrower or any Operator of notification that its application for the same has been refused; |
(f) | immediately inform the Agent if there is any threatened or actual withdrawal of their or any Operator’s ISM Code Documentation for the Ship; |
(g) | to take all necessary and proper precautions to prevent any infringements of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 of the United States of America or any similar legislation applicable to the Ship in any jurisdiction in or to which the Ship shall be employed or located or trade or which may otherwise be applicable to the Ship and/or the Borrower and, if the Agent shall so require, to enter into a “Carrier Initiative Agreement” with the United States Customs Service and to procure that the same agreement (or any similar agreement hereafter introduced by any Government Entity of the United States of America) is maintained in full force and effect and performed by the Borrower; |
(h) | and to comply with and ensure that the Ship at all times complies with the provisions of all relevant legislation and all regulations and requirements (statutory or otherwise) from time to time applicable to vessels registered at the Approved Flag or otherwise applicable to the Ship; and |
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(i) | at all times comply with all applicable laws and procedures implemented to contract money laundering as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308EEC) of the Council of the European Communities. |
20.10 | Sale or other disposal |
The Borrower will not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) and subject to such conditions as the Agent may impose, sell, agree to sell, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of the Ship or any of its other assets or any share or interest therein.
20.11 | Chartering |
The Borrower will not let the Ship other than under the Charter or a Replacement Charter provided that the Borrower may let the Ship on a voyage or short-term time charter with the consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
20.12 | Sharing of Earnings |
The Borrower will not without the prior consent of the Agent (and then only subject to such conditions as the Agent may impose) enter into any pool or enter any agreement or arrangement whereby the Earnings may be shared with any other person.
21. | Insurance Covenants |
The undertakings in this Clause 21 will become effective on the Delivery Date (unless stated otherwise) and shall remain in force from that date for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
21.1 | Obligatory insurances |
The Borrower shall keep the Ship insured at its expense against:
(a) | usual marine risks (including hull and machinery, hull interest, freight interest, disbursements and/or increased value, other Total Loss interests and war risks) in an amount equal to or more than 120 per cent. of the aggregate amount of the Loans at any time; |
(b) | protection and indemnity risks in respect of the full tonnage of the Ship; and |
(c) | loss of earnings, in such amount as may be approved by the Lenders (acting reasonably) with a deductible period of 30 days and a cover period of 180 days, |
such insurances to be in dollars and effected on such contractual terms and through such insurers and war risks and protection and indemnity associations as the Majority Lenders may approve.
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21.2 | Fleet cover |
If the Ship is insured under a fleet policy (other than under the Norwegian Marine Insurance Plan), the Borrower shall procure that the relevant insurer provides an undertaking to the Agent that it shall not set off against any claim, any premium due in respect of other vessels in the fleet policy or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels in the fleet policy or of premiums for such other insurances, and shall undertake to issue a separate policy in respect of the Ship if so requested by the Agent.
21.3 | Payment of premiums |
The Borrower shall punctually pay all premiums, calls or other sums payable in respect of the Insurances and produce all relevant receipts when so required by the Agent.
21.4 | Policy documents and letters of undertaking |
21.4.1 | The Borrower shall ensure that the Agent is provided with a letter of undertaking from each broker on behalf of each insurer or protection and indemnity or war risks association giving undertakings to the Agent that: |
(a) | a Loss Payable Clause has been endorsed on each policy on terms required by the Agent; |
(b) | any material change to the terms of the Insurances shall be notified to the Agent; and |
(c) | they will notify the Agent at least 14 days (or 7 days in the case of war risk insurances) before the expiry or cancellation for any reason of the Insurances. |
21.4.2 | The Agent shall be furnished with copies of the relevant policy documents, including cover notes, letters of undertaking and certificates of entry relating to the Insurances, upon request. |
21.5 | Renewal |
The Borrower shall, at least 7 days before expiry of any Insurances, notify the Agent of the names of the brokers (or other insurers) and any protection and indemnity or war risks association intended to be employed by the Borrower for the purposes of renewal of such Insurances and of the intended terms of renewal.
21.6 | Guarantees |
The Borrower will ensure that any guarantees required by a protection and indemnity or war risks association are promptly issued and delivered.
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21.7 | Compliance |
The Borrower will take all necessary action and comply with all requirements which may be applicable to the insurances (including the payment of any additional premiums or calls of the Ship) so as to ensure that the Insurances are not made subject to any exclusions or qualifications to which the Agent has not given its approval and are otherwise maintained on terms and conditions approved by the Agent.
21.8 | Collection of claims |
The Borrower will not settle, compromise or abandon any claim for Total Loss or for a figure in excess of the Casualty Amount, and the Borrower shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Agent to collect or recover any moneys which shall at any time become payable in respect of the Insurances for the Ship.
21.9 | Communications |
The Borrower shall provide the Agent, upon its reasonable request, at the time of each such communication, with copies of all written communications with brokers, underwriters, insurance companies and protection and indemnity and war risks associations which relate to compliance with requirements applicable to the Insurances for the Ship.
21.10 | Mortgagee's interest insurance |
The Agent may (acting upon the instructions of the Majority Lenders) effect (for the cost of the Lenders) mortgagee's interest insurance (including mortgagee's interest additional perils insurance) in respect of the Ship in an amount of up to 120 per cent. of the aggregate amount of the Loans upon such terms and through such insurers as the Agent may deem appropriate.
21.11 | Independent report |
The Agent may obtain (for the cost of the Lenders), a detailed report signed by an independent firm of marine insurance brokers appointed by the Agent stating the opinion of such firm as to the adequacy of the Insurances then maintained on the Ship.
21.12 | Application of recoveries |
The Borrower agrees to apply all sums receivable under the Insurances which are paid to it in accordance with the Loss Payable Clauses in repairing all damage and/or in discharging the liability in respect of which such sums shall have been received.
22. | Security Undertakings |
22.1 | Security Documents |
The Borrower undertakes with the Lenders to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Security Documents, and to procure the execution and delivery by other parties to the Security Documents, so that at all times during the Security Period the Security Documents shall be enforced in accordance with their terms.
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22.2 | Title |
The Borrower will hold the legal title to and own the entire beneficial interest in the Charged Property, free from all Security and other interests and rights of every kind, except for those created by the Security Documents and the effect of assignments contained in the Security Documents and except for Permitted Security.
22.3 | Negative Pledges |
The Borrower shall not without prior written consent of the Lenders:
(a) | create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets except for Permitted Security, or; |
(b) | give any pledge or undertaking to any other party (other than to the Charterer under the Charter) not to create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets. |
22.4 | Notice of Mortgage |
The Borrower agrees to place and retain a properly certified copy of the Mortgage and Deed of Covenant (which shall form part of the Ship's documents) on board the Ship with her papers and to place and keep prominently displayed in the navigation room and in the Master's cabin of the Ship a framed printed notice in plain type reading as follows:
NOTICE OF MORTGAGE
This Ship is subject to a first priority mortgage and collateral deed of covenant in favour of DnB NOR Bank ASA of Stranden 21, 0021 Oslo, Norway. Under the said mortgage and collateral deed, neither the owner nor any charterer nor the Master of this Ship has any right, power or authority to create, incur or permit to be imposed upon this Ship any commitments or encumbrances whatsoever other than for crew's wages and salvage and it is hereby agreed that save and subject as otherwise herein provided, neither the Borrower nor any charterer nor the Master of the Ship nor any other person has any right, power or authority to create, incur or permit to be imposed upon the Ship any lien whatsoever other than for crew's wages and salvage.
22.5 | Further assurance |
22.5.1 | The Borrower shall promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions) as the Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as the Agent may reasonably require) in favour of the Agent or its nominee(s): |
(a) | to perfect the Transaction Security (which may include the execution of a mortgage, charge, assignment or other Security over all or any of the Charged Property) or for the exercise of any rights, powers and remedies of the Agent or the Finance Parties provided by or pursuant to the Finance Documents or by law; and/or |
(b) | to facilitate the realisation of the Charged Property, including, in particular, by executing a bill of sale of the Ship in such form as the Agent may require in the event that the Ship is to be sold in exercise of any power contained in the Security Documents. |
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22.5.2 | The Borrower shall take all such action as is available to it (including making all filings and registrations in its jurisdiction of incorporation) 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 Agent or the Finance Parties by or pursuant to the Security Documents. |
23. | General Undertakings |
23.1 | Authorisations |
23.1.1 | The Borrower shall promptly: |
(a) | obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and |
(b) | supply certified copies to the Agent of, |
any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of a Relevant Jurisdiction to:
(i) | enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents; |
(ii) | ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Finance Document; and |
(iii) | carry on its business where failure to do so has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
23.2 | Compliance with Laws |
The Borrower shall comply in all respects with all laws to which it may be subject, if failure so to comply has or is reasonably likely to materially impair its ability to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents.
23.3 | Environmental Compliance |
The Borrower shall:
(a) | comply with all Environmental Law; and |
(b) | implement procedures to monitor compliance with and to prevent liability under any Environmental Law, |
where failure to do so has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
23.4 | Environmental Claims |
The Borrower shall promptly upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Agent in writing of:
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(a) | the suspension, revocation or modification of any Environmental Approval; |
(b) | any Environmental Claim against it which is current, pending or threatened; and |
(c) | any facts or circumstances which are reasonably likely to result in any Environmental Claim being commenced or threatened against it, |
where the claim, if determined against it, has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
23.5 | Taxation |
The Borrower shall 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:
(a) | such payment is being contested in good faith; |
(b) | adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and the costs required to contest them; and |
(c) | such payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay those Taxes does not have or is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
23.6 | Merger |
The Borrower shall not without prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction.
23.7 | Change of Business |
The Borrower shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of the Borrower taken as a whole from that carried on by the Borrower at the date of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders).
23.8 | Acquisitions |
The Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) acquire any further assets other than the Ship and rights arising under contracts entered into by or on behalf of the Borrower in the ordinary course of its businesses of owning, operating and chartering the Ship.
23.9 | Other obligations |
The Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) incur any obligations except for obligations arising under the Transaction Documents or contracts entered into in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating and chartering the Ship.
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23.10 | Subsidiaries |
The Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) form or acquire any Subsidiaries;
23.11 | Swap Contracts |
23.11.1 | The Borrower shall not assign, novate, or in any other way transfer any of their rights or obligations under or pursuant to any Swap Contract, nor make any amendment or supplement to any Swap Contract or any transaction entered into under it, except as envisaged by Clause 7.12 ( Effect on Swap Contract ) or pursuant to any transaction permitted under this Agreement. |
23.11.2 | The Borrower shall not enter into any interest rate exchange or hedging agreement with anyone other than a Swap Bank. |
23.12 | Transaction Documents |
The Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) amend, vary, novate, supplement, supersede, waive or terminate any material term of a Transaction Document.
23.13 | Loans or credit |
23.13.1 | Except as permitted under Clause 23.13.2, the Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) be a creditor in respect of any Financial Indebtedness. |
23.13.2 | Clause 23.13.1 above does not apply to: |
(a) | any creditor relationship entered into with the consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders),and |
(b) | normal trade credit in the ordinary course of business. |
23.14 | No Guarantees or indemnities |
23.14.1 | Except as permitted under Clause 23.14.2 below, the Borrower shall not incur or allow to remain outstanding any guarantee in receipt of any obligation of any person. |
23.14.2 | Clause 23.14.1 does not apply to a guarantee which is: |
(a) | entered into with the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders); |
(b) | from time to time required in the ordinary course by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Ship is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Ship from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees required for the salvage of the Ship; or |
(c) | in the Security Documents. |
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23.15 | Dividends and share redemption |
23.15.1 | Except as permitted under Clause 23.15.2, the Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders): |
(a) | declare, make or pay any dividend, charge, fee or other distribution (or interest on any unpaid 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); |
(b) | repay or distribute any dividend or share premium reserve; |
(c) | pay any management, advisory or other fee to or to the order of any of the shareholders of the Borrower; |
(d) | issue any further share capital; or |
(e) | redeem, repurchase, defease, retire, cancel or repay any of its share capital or resolve to do so. |
23.15.2 | Clause 23.15.1 above does not apply to payments made using moneys withdrawn from the Dividend Distribution Account. |
23.16 | Payment of Financial Indebtedness |
23.16.1 | Except as permitted under Clause 23.16.2, the Borrower shall not: |
(a) | repay or prepay any principal amount (or capitalised interest) outstanding in respect of Financial Indebtedness; |
(b) | pay any interest or any other amounts payable in connection with any Financial Indebtedness; or |
(c) | purchase, redeem, defease or discharge any amount outstanding with respect to any Financial Indebtedness. |
23.16.2 | Clause 23.16.1 does not apply to: |
(a) | the payment, prepayment or repayment of any amounts due under the Finance Documents; |
(b) | the repayment of Shareholder Loan Principal pursuant to a Utilisation; |
(c) | the payment of Shareholder Loan Interest pursuant to a Utilisation; |
(d) | the application of moneys withdrawn from the Dividend Distribution Account for such purposes; or |
(e) | a payment, prepayment, repayment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or discharge which is made with the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders). |
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23.17 | Financial Indebtedness |
23.17.1 | Except as permitted under Clause 23.17.2 below, the Borrower shall not incur or allow to remain outstanding any Financial Indebtedness. |
23.17.2 | Clause 23.17.1 above does not apply to Financial Indebtedness which is: |
(a) | entered into with the consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders); |
(b) | incurred under the Finance Documents; or |
(c) | incurred under the Shareholder Loan Agreements. |
23.18 | Transactions with Affiliates |
The Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) enter into any material transaction with an affiliated company unless such transaction is on arm’s length terms other than by way of any of the Transaction Documents.
23.19 | Ownership of Borrower |
The legal and beneficial ownership of the Borrower shall remain unchanged from that represented in Clause 17.2 ( Share capital and ownership) , unless:-
(a) | any change is a result of a transfer between HLNG and MOL, provided that following such transfer each of the Vessel Sponsors retains at least 25 per cent. of the legal and beneficial ownership of the Borrower; or |
(b) | any change is a result of a transfer between a Vessel Sponsor and an Affiliate of that Vessel Sponsor; or |
(c) | the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has consented in writing to any change, |
and, immediately following such change, a pledge is given by each of the shareholders of the Borrower in a similar form to the Negative Pledge.
23.20 | Opening of accounts |
Other than the Accounts, the Borrower shall not open or continue to maintain any accounts with any financial institution, unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has consented in writing to such accounts.
23.21 | Pari Passu ranking |
The Borrower shall ensure that at all times any unsecured and unsubordinated claims of a Finance Party against it under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors except those creditors whose claims are preferred by laws of general application to companies and except for Permitted Liens.
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24. | Events of Default |
Each of the events or circumstances set out in Clause 24 is an Event of Default (save for Clause 24.14 ( Acceleration ).
24.1 | Non-payment |
The Borrower does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document at the place and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable unless:
(a) | its failure to pay is caused by an administrative or technical error or by a Disruption Event; or |
(b) | its failure to pay is caused by the late payment of Charter Hire by the Charterer (provided that such failure by the Borrower to pay on the due date has not occurred more than twice in the preceding twelve-month period); |
and payment is made within 3 Business Days of its due date.
24.2 | Other obligations |
24.2.1 | The Borrower does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in Clause 24.1 ( Non-payment ). |
24.2.2 | No Event of Default under Clause 24.2.1 above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 20 Business Days of the Agent giving notice to the Borrower or the Borrower becoming aware of the failure to comply. |
24.3 | Misrepresentation |
24.3.1 | Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by the Borrower in the Finance Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made. |
24.3.2 | No Event of Default under Clause 24.3.1 above shall occur if the incorrectness or misleading nature of the statement is inadvertent and the circumstances giving rise to its incorrectness or misleading nature are capable of remedy and are remedied within 20 Business Days of the Agent giving notice to the Borrower or the Borrower becoming aware of the incorrectness or misleading nature of the statement. |
24.4 | Cross default |
24.4.1 | Any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period. |
24.4.2 | Any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower 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). |
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24.4.3 | Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of the Borrower as a result of an event of default (however described). |
24.4.4 | Any creditor of the Borrower becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described). |
24.5 | Swap Contracts |
A Swap Contract or a Swap Transaction is prematurely terminated, cancelled, suspended, rescinded or revoked or otherwise ceases to remain in full force and effect for any reason except as required under Clause 7.12 ( Effect on Swap Contracts) .
24.6 | Insolvency |
24.6.1 | The Borrower 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 Finance Parties with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness. |
24.6.2 | The value of the assets of the Borrower is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities). |
24.6.3 | A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of the Borrower. |
24.7 | Insolvency proceedings |
24.7.1 | Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to: |
(a) | 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 the Borrower; |
(b) | a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of the Borrower; |
(c) | the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of the Borrower or any of its assets; or |
(d) | enforcement of any Security over any assets of the Borrower, or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction. |
24.7.2 | No Event of Default under Clause 24.7.1(c) shall occur if the appointment referred to therein is initiated by a party other than a Security Party, is being contested in good faith and is permanently stayed or lifted within 20 Business Days. |
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24.8 | Creditors’ process |
24.8.1 | Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution affects any asset or assets of the Borrower except for any of the foregoing falling within the scope of what is permitted under Clause 20.5 (Arrest). |
24.8.2 | No Event of Default under Clause 24.8.1 above shall occur if the expropriation or other steps taken are reversed within 20 Business Days. |
24.9 | Cessation of business |
The Borrower suspends or threatens (in writing) to suspend or cease to carry on its business.
24.10 | Unlawfulness and invalidity |
It is or becomes unlawful for the Borrower or any other Security Party to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents, or any Transaction Security ceases to be effective.
24.11 | Repudiation |
The Borrower or any other Security Party repudiates a Finance Document or evidences an intention (in writing) to repudiate a Finance Document.
24.12 | Environmental Incidents |
An Environmental Incident occurs which gives rise, or may give rise, to an Environmental Claim which could, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
24.13 | Underlying Documents |
Any Underlying Document (other than the Shipbuilding Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Regas Performance Guarantee or the Charter) is cancelled, prematurely terminated, frustrated, or rescinded for any reason whatsoever or any party is in breach of its obligations under such Underlying Document and this could in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
24.14 | Acceleration |
On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower:
(a) | cancel the Total Commitments whereupon they shall immediately be cancelled; |
(b) | if the Event of Default occurs prior to the Delivery Date, require payment by the Borrower of the Accelerated Equity to the Operating Account; |
(c) | declare that the obligations of the Swap Banks under the Swap Contracts shall be terminated, whereupon such obligations shall terminate in accordance with such declaration; |
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(d) | declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, the Swap Exposure, all Swap Liabilities and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable; |
(e) | declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders; and/or |
(f) | exercise or direct the Security Trustee to exercise any or all of the rights, remedies, powers or discretions under the Finance Documents. |
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SECTION 8
CHANGES TO PARTIES
25. | Changes to the Lenders |
25.1 | Assignments and transfers by the Lenders |
Subject to this Clause 25, a Lender (the " Existing Lender ") may:
(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 or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the " New Lender "), provided that (i) any such assignment or transfer prior to the Regas Acceptance Date and (ii) any assignment or transfer to a financial institution other than a bank or licensed insurance company after the Regas Acceptance Date, shall require the prior written consent of the Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
25.2 | Conditions of assignment or transfer |
25.2.1 | An assignment will only be effective on: |
(a) | receipt by the Agent of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the other Finance Parties as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender; and |
(b) | performance by the 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 Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender. |
25.2.2 | A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) is complied with. |
25.2.3 | If: |
(a) | a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and |
(b) | as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, the Borrower would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under Clause 12 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) or Clause 13 ( Increased Costs ), |
then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred.
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25.3 | Assignment or transfer fee |
25.3.1 | Subject to Clause 25.3.2, the New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of USD2,500. |
25.3.2 | The fee set out in Clause 25.3.1 shall not be payable in the case of an assignment or transfer to a New Lender notified to the Agent prior to the date of this Agreement provided that such assignment or transfer takes effect within 10 Business Days of the date of this Agreement. |
25.4 | Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders |
25.4.1 | Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for: |
(a) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Transaction Documents, the Transaction Security or any other documents; |
(b) | the financial condition of the Borrower; |
(c) | the performance and observance by the Borrower of its obligations under the Transaction Documents or any other documents; or |
(d) | the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Transaction Document or any other document, |
and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.
25.4.2 | Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender, the other Finance Parties and the Secured Parties that it: |
(a) | has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of the Borrower 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 Transaction Document or the Transaction Security; and |
(b) | will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force. |
25.4.3 | Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to: |
(a) | accept a re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause 25; or |
(b) | support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by the Borrower of its obligations under the Transaction Documents or otherwise. |
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25.5 | Procedure for transfer |
25.5.1 | Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 25.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ) a transfer is effected in accordance with Clause 25.5.3 below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to Clause 25.5.2 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. |
25.5.2 | The 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 other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender. |
25.5.3 | On the Transfer Date: |
(a) | to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security the Borrower and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security shall be cancelled (being the " Discharged Rights and Obligations "); |
(b) | the Borrower 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 Borrower and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and the Existing Lender; |
(c) | the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Trustee, the New Lender, the other Lenders, and the Swap Banks shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves and in respect of the Transaction Security 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 Agent, the Arranger, the Security Trustee, the Swap Banks and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and |
(d) | the New Lender shall become a Party as a "Lender". |
25.6 | Copy of Transfer Certificate to Borrower |
25.6.1 | The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate, send to the Borrower a copy of that Transfer Certificate. |
25.7 | Disclosure of information |
25.7.1 | Any Lender may disclose to its professional advisers (including, if relevant, any ratings agency) and to any of its Affiliates and any other person: |
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(a) | to (or through) whom that Lender assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement; |
(b) | with (or through) whom that Lender enters into (or may potentially enter into) any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to, this Agreement or the Borrower; or |
(c) | to whom, and to the extent that, information is required to be disclosed by any applicable law or regulation, |
any information about the Borrower and the Finance Documents as that Lender shall consider appropriate if, in relation to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the person to whom the information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking.
26. | Changes to the Borrower |
The Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.
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SECTION 9
THE FINANCE PARTIES
27. | Role of the Agent and the Arranger |
27.1 | Appointment of the Agent |
27.1.1 | Each other Finance Party appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents. |
27.1.2 | Each other Finance Party authorises the Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions. |
27.2 | Duties of the Agent |
27.2.1 | The Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party. |
27.2.2 | Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party. |
27.2.3 | If the 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 Finance Parties. |
27.2.4 | If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Agent or the Arranger) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties. |
27.2.5 | The Agent's duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature. |
27.3 | Role of the Arranger and the Bookrunners |
Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, none of the Arranger or the Bookrunners has any obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.
27.4 | No fiduciary duties |
27.4.1 | Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Agent or the Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person. |
27.4.2 | Neither the Account Bank, the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Trustee nor any Swap Bank 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. |
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27.5 | Business with the Borrower |
27.5.1 | The Agent, the Account Bank, the Arranger, the Security Trustee and any Swap Bank may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with the Borrower. |
27.6 | Rights and discretions of the Agent |
27.6.1 | The Agent may rely on: |
(a) | any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; and |
(b) | any statement made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify. |
27.6.2 | The Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders) that: |
(a) | no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 24.1 ( Non-payment )); |
(b) | any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Majority Lenders has not been exercised; and |
(c) | any notice or request made by the Borrower (other than a Utilisation Request or Selection Notice) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Borrower. |
27.6.3 | The Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts. |
27.6.4 | The Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents. |
27.6.5 | The Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement. |
27.6.6 | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent, the Account Bank, the Arranger, the Security Trustee or any Swap Bank 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. |
27.7 | Majority Lenders' instructions |
27.7.1 | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Agent shall (i) exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as 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 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. |
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27.7.2 | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Finance Parties other than the Security Trustee. |
27.7.3 | The 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. |
27.7.4 | In the absence of instructions from the Majority Lenders, (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) the Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders. |
27.7.5 | The 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 Clause 27.7.5 shall not apply to any legal or arbitration proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of the rights under the Security Documents or enforcement of the Transaction Security or the Security Documents. |
27.8 | Responsibility for documentation |
Neither the Agent, the Account Bank, the Arranger nor any Swap Bank:
(a) | is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Account Bank, the Agent, the Arranger, the Swap Bank, the Borrower or any other person given in or in connection with any Transaction Document; or |
(b) | is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Transaction Document or the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Transaction Document. |
27.9 | Exclusion of liability |
27.9.1 | Without limiting Clause 27.9.2(and without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (e) of Clause 30.9 ( Disruption to Payment Systems etc .)) none of the Agent, the Account Bank, the Arranger or any Swap Bank will be liable (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct. |
27.9.2 | No Party (other than the Account Bank, the Agent or any Swap Bank) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or the agent of the Account Bank, the Agent or any Swap Bank in respect of any claim it might have against the Account Bank, the Agent or any Swap Bank or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document and any officer, employee or agent of the Account Bank, the Agent or any Swap Bank may rely on this Clause subject to Clause 1.4 ( Third Party Rights ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act. |
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27.9.3 | The 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 Agent if the 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 Agent for that purpose. |
27.9.4 | Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or the Arranger to carry out any "know your customer" or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent and the Arranger that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or the Arranger. |
27.10 | Lenders' indemnity to the Agent |
Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Agent, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by the Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Agent's gross negligence or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 30.9 ( Disruption to Payment Systems etc .) notwithstanding the Agent's negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent has been reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to a Finance Document).
27.11 | Resignation of the Agent |
27.11.1 | The Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates as successor by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower. |
27.11.2 | Alternatively the Agent may resign by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Borrower) may appoint a successor Agent. |
27.11.3 | If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 30 days after notice of resignation was given, the Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed beyond 30 days) appoint a successor Agent. |
27.11.4 | The retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents. |
27.11.5 | The Agent's resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor. |
27.11.6 | Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this Clause 27. Its 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. |
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27.11.7 | After consultation with the Borrower, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Agent, require it to resign in accordance with Clause 27.11.2. In this event, the Agent shall resign in accordance with Clause 27.11.2. |
27.12 | Confidentiality |
27.12.1 | In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the 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. |
27.12.2 | If information is received by another division or department of the Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it. |
27.12.3 | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor the 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. |
27.13 | Relationship with the Lenders |
27.13.1 | The Agent may treat each Lender as a Lender, entitled to payments under this Agreement and acting through its Facility Office unless it has received not less than five Business Days prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
27.13.2 | Each Lender shall supply the Agent with any information required by the Agent in order to calculate the Mandatory Cost in accordance with Schedule 4 ( Mandatory Cost formula ). |
27.13.3 | Each Lender shall supply the Agent with any information that the Agent may reasonably specify (through the Agent) as being necessary or desirable to enable the Agent to perform its functions as Security Trustee. Each Lender shall deal with the Security Trustee exclusively through the Agent and shall not deal directly with the Security Trustee. |
27.14 | Credit appraisal by the Lenders |
Without affecting the responsibility of the Borrower for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms to the Account Bank, Agent, the Arranger and any Swap Banks that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:
(a) | the financial condition, status and nature of the Borrower; |
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and the Transaction Security and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security |
(c) | whether that Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the Transaction Security, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and |
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(d) | the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information provided by the Agent, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and |
(e) | the right or title of any person in or to or the value or sufficiency of any part of the Charged Property, the priority of any of the Transaction Security or the existence of any Security affecting the Charged Property. |
27.15 | Reference Banks |
If a Reference Bank (or, if a Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Agent shall (in consultation with the Borrower) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender to replace that Reference Bank.
27.16 | Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent |
If any Party owes an amount to the Agent under the Finance Documents the Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.
28. | Conduct of business by the Finance Parties |
No provision of this Agreement will:
(a) | interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit; |
(b) | oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or |
(c) | oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax. |
29. | Sharing among the Finance Parties |
29.1 | Payments to Finance Parties |
If a Finance Party (a " Recovering Finance Party ") receives or recovers any amount from the Borrower other than in accordance with Clause 30 ( Payment mechanics ) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then:
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(a) | the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery, to the Agent; |
(b) | the 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 Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 30 ( Payment mechanics ), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and |
(c) | the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the " Sharing Payment ") equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 30.5 ( Partial payments ). |
29.2 | Redistribution of payments |
The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the Borrower and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) in accordance with Clause 30 ( Partial payments ).
29.3 | Recovering Finance Party's rights |
29.3.1 | On a distribution by the Agent under Clause 29.2 ( Redistribution of payments ), the Recovering Finance Party will be subrogated to the rights of the Finance Parties which have shared in the redistribution. |
29.3.2 | If and to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party is not able to rely on its rights under Clause 29.3.1, the Borrower shall be liable to the Recovering Finance Party for a debt equal to the Sharing Payment which is immediately due and payable. |
29.4 | Reversal of redistribution |
If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:
(a) | each Finance Party which has received a share of the relevant Sharing Payment pursuant to Clause 29.2 ( Redistribution of payments ) shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent for 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); and |
(b) | that Recovering Finance Party's rights of subrogation in respect of any reimbursement shall be cancelled and the Borrower will be liable to the reimbursing Finance Party for the amount so reimbursed. |
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29.5 | Exceptions |
29.5.1 | This Clause 29 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 Borrower. |
29.5.2 | 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: |
(a) | it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and |
(b) | that 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. |
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SECTION 10
ADMINISTRATION
30. | Payment mechanics |
30.1 | Payments to the Agent |
30.1.1 | On each date on which the Borrower or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document, the Borrower or the Lender shall make the same available to the 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 Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment. |
30.1.2 | Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency with such bank as the Agent specifies. |
30.2 | Distributions by the Agent |
Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to Clause 30.3 ( Distributions to the Borrower ) and Clause 30.4 ( Clawback ) be made available by the Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Agent by not less than five Business Days' notice with a bank in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency.
30.3 | Distributions to the Borrower |
The Agent may (with the consent of the Borrower or in accordance with Clause 31 ( Set-off )) apply any amount received by it for that Borrower in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.
30.4 | Clawback |
30.4.1 | Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the 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. |
30.4.2 | If the Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the 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 Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Agent, calculated by the Agent to reflect its cost of funds. |
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30.5 | Partial payments |
30.5.1 | If the Agent receives a payment that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by the Borrower under the Finance Documents, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents in the order set out in Clause 30.5.3. |
30.5.2 | All moneys received by the Agent under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents and expressed to be applicable in accordance with the provision of this clause shall be applied in the order set out in Clause 30.5.3 and the surplus (if any) shall be paid to the Borrower or to whoever else may appear to the Agent to be entitled to receive the surplus. |
30.5.3 | The order of application referred to in Clauses 30.5.1 and 30.5.2 is as follows: |
(a) | first , in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Agent and the Security Trustee under the Finance Documents; |
(b) | secondly , in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under this Agreement and any periodic Swap Payment due to a Swap Bank but unpaid under the relevant Swap Contract ; |
(c) | thirdly , in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under this Agreement and of any termination Swap Payments due to a Swap Bank but unpaid under the relevant Swap Contract; and |
(d) | fourthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents other than the Swap Contracts. |
30.5.4 | Clauses 30.5.1, 30.5.2 and 30.5.3 above will override any appropriation made by the Borrower. |
30.6 | No set-off by the Borrower |
All payments to be made by the Borrower under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.
30.7 | Business Days |
30.7.1 | 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). |
30.7.2 | 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. |
30.8 | Currency of account |
30.8.1 | Subject to Clauses 30.8.2 and 30.8.3 below, dollars is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from the Borrower under any Finance Document. |
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30.8.2 | Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred. |
30.8.3 | Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than dollars shall be paid in that other currency. |
30.9 | Disruption to Payment Systems etc. |
If either the Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Agent is notified by the Borrower that a Disruption Event has occurred:
(a) | the Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Borrower, consult with the Borrower with a view to agreeing with the Borrower such changes to the operation or administration of the Facility as the Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances; |
(b) | the Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Borrower in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes; |
(c) | the Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; |
(d) | any such changes agreed upon by the Agent and the Borrower shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 36 ( Amendments and Waivers ); |
(e) | the Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever (including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this Clause 30.9; and |
(f) | the Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to paragraph (d) above. |
31. | Set-off |
Following an Event of Default which is continuing, a Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to the Borrower, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.
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32. | Notices |
32.1 | Communications in writing |
Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter.
32.2 | Addresses |
The address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:
(a) | in the case of the Borrower, that identified with its name below; |
(b) | in the case of each Lender and each Swap Bank, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party; and |
(c) | in the case of the Agent or the Account Bank or the Security Trustee, that identified with its name below, |
or any substitute address or fax number or department or officer as the Party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than five Business Days' notice.
32.3 | Delivery |
32.3.1 | Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective: |
(a) | if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or |
(b) | if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address; |
and if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ), if addressed to that department or officer.
32.3.2 | Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with the Agent's signature below (or any substitute department or officer as the Agent shall specify for this purpose). |
32.3.3 | All notices from or to the Borrower shall be sent through the Agent. |
32.4 | Notification of address and fax number |
Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address or fax number or change of address or fax number pursuant to Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ) or changing its own address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other Parties.
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32.5 | Electronic communication |
32.5.1 | Any communication to be made between the Agent and a Lender under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Agent and the relevant Lender: |
(a) | agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication; |
(b) | notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and |
(c) | notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them. |
32.5.2 | Any electronic communication made between the Agent and a Lender will be effective only when actually received in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication made by a Lender to the Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent shall specify for this purpose. |
32.6 | Use of websites |
32.6.1 | The Borrower may satisfy its obligation under this Agreement to deliver any information in relation to those Lenders ( the " Website Lenders ") who accept this method of communication by posting this information onto an electronic website designated by the Borrower and the Agent (the " Designated Website ") if: |
(a) | the Agent expressly agrees (after consultation with each of the Lenders) that it will accept communication of the information by this method; |
(b) | both the Borrower and the Agent are aware of the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website; and |
(c) | the information is in a format previously agreed between the Borrower and the Agent. |
If any Lender (a " Paper Form Lender ") does not agree to the delivery of information electronically then the Agent shall notify the Borrower accordingly and the Borrower shall supply the information to the Agent (in sufficient copies for each Paper Form Lender) in paper form. In any event the Borrower shall supply the Agent with at least one copy in paper form of any information required to be provided by it.
32.6.2 | The Agent shall supply each Website Lender with the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website following designation of that website by the Borrower and the Agent. |
32.6.3 | The Borrower shall promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence notify the Agent if: |
(a) | the Designated Website cannot be accessed due to technical failure; |
(b) | the password specifications for the Designated Website change; |
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(c) | any new information which is required to be provided under this Agreement is posted onto the Designated Website; |
(d) | any existing information which has been provided under this Agreement and posted onto the Designated Website is amended; or |
(e) | the Borrower becomes aware that the Designated Website or any information posted onto the Designated Website is or has been infected by any electronic virus or similar software. |
If the Borrower notifies the Agent under Clause 32.6.3(a) or Clause 32.6.3(e) above, all information to be provided by the Borrower under this Agreement after the date of that notice shall be supplied in paper form unless and until the Agent and each Website Lender is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the notification are no longer continuing.
32.6.4 | Any Website Lender may request, through the Agent, one paper copy of any information required to be provided under this Agreement which is posted onto the Designated Website. The Borrower shall comply with any such request within ten Business Days. |
32.7 | English language |
32.7.1 | Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English. |
32.7.2 | All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be: |
(a) | in English; or |
(b) | if not in English, and if so required by the 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. |
33. | Calculations and certificates |
33.1 | Accounts |
In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.
33.2 | Certificates and Determinations |
Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, prima facie evidence of the matters to which it relates.
33.3 | Day count convention |
Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days or, in any case where the practice in the London Interbank Market differs, in accordance with that market practice.
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34. | Partial invalidity |
If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.
35. | Remedies, waivers and conflicts |
35.1.1 | No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. |
35.1.2 | In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and any of the other Security Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. |
36. | Amendments and waivers |
36.1 | Required consents |
36.1.1 | Subject to Clause 36.2 ( Exceptions ) any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties. |
36.1.2 | The Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause. |
36.2 | Exceptions |
36.2.1 | An amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to: |
(a) | the definition of "Majority Lenders" in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ); |
(b) | an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents; |
(c) | a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable; |
(d) | an increase in or an extension of any Commitment or the Total Commitments; |
(e) | a change to the Borrower; |
(f) | any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders; |
(g) | Clause 2.2 ( Finance Parties' rights and obligations ), Clause 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ) or this Clause 36; |
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(h) | the nature or scope of the Charged Property or the manner in which the proceeds of enforcement of the Transaction Security are distributed; or |
(i) | the release of any Security Document, |
shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders.
36.2.2 | An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Account Bank, any Swap Bank, the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Arranger may not be effected without the consent of the Account Bank, the Agent, any Swap Bank or the Arranger as the case may be. |
37. | Counterparts |
Each Finance Document 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 that Finance Document.
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SECTION 11
GOVERNING LAW AND ENFORCEMENT
38. | Governing law |
This Agreement is governed by English law.
39. | Enforcement |
39.1 | Jurisdiction |
39.1.1 | The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement) (a " Dispute "). |
39.1.2 | The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary. |
39.1.3 | This Clause 39.1 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. |
39.2 | Service of process |
39.2.1 | Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, the Borrower: |
(a) | irrevocably appoints Leif Höegh (UK) Limited of 5 Young Street, London W8 5EH as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document; and |
(b) | agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the Borrower of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned. |
39.2.2 | If any person appointed as agent for service of process is unable for any reason to act as agent for service of process, the Borrower shall immediately appoint another agent on terms acceptable to the Agent, failing this, the Agent may appoint another agent for this purpose. |
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
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SCHEDULE 1
THE ORIGINAL LENDERS
NAME OF ORIGINAL LENDER | COMMITMENT (USD) |
Calyon | 50,000,000 |
DnB NOR Bank ASA | 50,000,000 |
Fortis Bank (Nederland) NV, Oslo Branch | 50,000,000 |
Lloyds TSB Bank Plc | 50,000,000 |
Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. | 50,000,000 |
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Brussels Branch | 50,000,000 |
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SCHEDULE 2
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Part I
1. | Borrower |
(a) | A Certified Copy of the constitutional documents of the Borrower. |
(b) | A Certified Copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Borrower: |
(i) | approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute the Transaction Documents to which it is a party; |
(ii) | authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Transaction 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 (including, if relevant, any Utilisation Request and Selection Notice) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. |
(c) | A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph (b) above. |
(d) | A certificate of the Borrower (signed by a director) confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guaranteeing or similar limit binding on the Borrower to be exceeded. |
2. | Other documents and evidence |
(a) | Evidence that any process agent referred to in Clause 39.2 ( Service of process ), has accepted its appointment. |
(b) | A Certified Copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable (if it has notified the Borrower accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Transaction Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Transaction Document. |
(c) | Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Borrower pursuant to Clause 11 ( Fees ) and Clause 16 ( Costs and expenses ) have been paid or will be paid by the first Utilisation Date. |
(d) | The original Refund Guarantee and Certified Copies of such of the other Underlying Documents as are then in existence. |
(e) | Evidence that the Accounts have been established and duly completed mandate forms in respect thereof have been delivered to the Account Bank. |
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(f) | A Certified Copy of the Borrower’s statement of the Estimated Total Project Cost, including a breakdown of each constituent cost. |
3. | Finance Documents |
Duly executed originals of:
(a) | this Agreement; |
(b) | the Charter Assignment ; |
(c) | the Charter Consent and Agreement; |
(d) | the LHC Undertaking; |
(e) | the Negative Pledge; |
(f) | the Pledge of Accounts; |
(g) | the Pre-delivery Security Assignment; |
(h) | the Supervision Agreement Assignment; |
(i) | the Trust Agreement; and |
(j) | the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking. |
4. | Legal opinions |
(a) | An English legal opinion from Ince & Co, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(b) | A Caymans legal opinion from Maples & Calder, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(c) | A Korean legal opinion from Kim & Chang, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(d) | A Bermudan legal opinion from Mello Jones & Martin, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(e) | A Japanese legal opinion from Maritax Law Office addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(f) | A Luxembourg legal opinion from a firm approved by the Agent and the Borrower addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(g) | A Norwegian legal opinion from Wikborg Rein addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(h) | Such other legal opinions as the Agent may reasonably require in relation to any other Finance Document. |
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Part II
1. | Invoice |
A certificate from the Borrower confirming the amount of the Current Project Cost together with reasonable details of each cost incorporated therein and, if required by the Agent on reasonable prior notice, copies of all relevant invoices.
2. | Evidence of payments |
Evidence acceptable to the Agent that:
(a) | all preceding instalments of the Contract Price have been paid in full; and |
(b) | the Loan will be applied by the Borrower against the Current Project Cost. |
3. | Classification Society |
A certificate from the Classification Society certifying that the scheduled construction milestones under the Shipbuilding Contract have been completed and that the instalment to be financed by the proposed Loan is due to the Builder.
4. | Borrower's Certificate |
A certificate from the Borrower to the Agent confirming that:
(a) | the Builder has no outstanding claims against the Borrower or any other Security Party; and |
(b) | there have been no material amendments or variations agreed to the Shipbuilding Contract or Refund Guarantee that have not been agreed by the Agent and that no action has been taken by either the Builder, the Refund Guarantor or the Borrower which might in any way render such Shipbuilding Contract or Refund Guarantee inoperative or unenforceable, in whole or in any part; and |
(c) | there is no Security (except for Permitted Security) of any kind created or permitted by any person on or relating to the Shipbuilding Contract or Refund Guarantee or in relation to the Ship. |
5. | Swap Contracts and Swap Assignments |
Certified Copies of each Swap Contract and duly executed originals of the Swap Contracts Assignment.
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Part III
1. | Finance Documents |
Duly executed originals of:
(a) | the Mortgage; |
(b) | the Deed of Covenant; |
(c) | the Regas Performance Guarantee Assignment; and |
(d) | the Manager’s Undertaking. |
2. | Evidence that : |
(a) | the Borrower is in compliance with its obligations under Clause 8.5 ( Interest Rate Hedging ); |
(b) | the Ship is, or will be immediately following the Utilisation, registered in the name of the Borrower under an Approved Flag; |
(c) | the Ship is, or will be immediately following the Utilisation, in the absolute and unencumbered ownership of the Borrower save for the security created by the Finance Documents and Permitted Security; |
(d) | the Ship is, or will be immediately following the Utilisation, insured in accordance with the covenants given under this Agreement; and |
(e) | the Ship maintains the Classification with the Classification Society free of all overdue recommendations and conditions. |
3. | Such evidence as the Agent may require of the Borrower’s and/or the relevant Approved Manager's compliance with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code including a copy of the ISM Code Documentation (or in relation to the Safety Management Certificate, evidence that the Operator has applied for that certificate to be issued within any applicable time limit pursuant to the ISM Code) and the ISSC. |
4. | The original Regas Performance Guarantee and a Certified Copy of any other Underlying Document not previously delivered to the Agent. |
5. | Certified Copies of the Builder’s final invoice for the Ship and of the invoices for any other part of the Current Project Cost. |
6. | A favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant appointed by the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require. |
7. | Favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of the jurisdiction of the Approved Flag and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may, by reasonable prior notice to the Borrower, reasonably require. |
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SCHEDULE 3
REQUESTS
Part I
Utilisation Request
From: SRV JOINT GAS LTD
To: [ Agent ]
Dated:
Dear Sirs
[Borrower] – [●] Facility Agreement
dated [●] (the “Agreement”)
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a 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 Date: | [●] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) |
Amount: | [●] or, if less, the Available Facility |
Interest Period: | [●] |
3. | We confirm that each condition specified in Clause 4.2 ( Further conditions precedent ) is satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request. |
4. | The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to [●] |
5. | This Utilisation Request is irrevocable. |
Yours faithfully
authorised signatory for |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD
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Part II
Selection Notice
From: | SRV JOINT GAS LTD |
To: | [ Agent ] |
Dated:
Dear Sirs
[Borrower] – [●] Facility Agreement
dated [●] (the “Agreement”)
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Selection Notice. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Selection Notice unless given a different meaning in this Selection Notice. |
2. | [We request that the next Interest Period for the above Loan is [●]]. |
3. | This Selection Notice is irrevocable. |
Yours faithfully
authorised signatory for |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD
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SCHEDULE 4
MANDATORY COST FORMULA
1. | The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Financial Services Authority (or, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank. |
2. | On the first day of each Interest Period (or as soon as possible thereafter) the Agent shall calculate, as a percentage rate, a rate (the “ Additional Cost Rate ”) for each Lender, in accordance with the paragraphs set out below. The Mandatory Cost will be calculated by the Agent as a weighted average of the Lenders’ Additional Cost Rates (weighted in proportion to the percentage participation of each Lender in the relevant Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum. |
3. | The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Facility Office in a Participating Member State will be the percentage notified by that Lender to the Agent. This percentage will be certified by that Lender in its notice to the Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of that Lender’s participation in all Loans made from that Facility Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Facility Office. |
4. | The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Facility Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Agent as follows: |
per cent. Per annum. |
Where:
E is designed to compensate Lenders for amounts payable under the Fees Rules and is calculated by the Agent as being the average of the most recent rates of charge supplied by the Reference Banks to the Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 below and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000.
5. | For the purposes of this Schedule: |
(a) | “ Fees Rules ” means the rules on periodic fees contained in the FSA Supervision Manual or such other law or regulation as may be in force from time to time in respect of the payment of fees for the acceptance of deposits; |
(b) | “ Fee Tariffs ” means the fee tariffs specified in the Fees Rules under the activity group A.1 Deposit acceptors (ignoring any minimum fee or zero rated fee required pursuant to the Fees Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and |
(c) | “ Tariff Base ” has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules. |
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6. | If requested by the Agent, each Reference Bank shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Reference Bank to the Financial Services Authority pursuant to the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by that Reference Bank as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Reference Bank for that financial year) and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000 of the Tariff Base of that Reference Bank. |
7. | Each Lender shall supply any information required by the Agent for the purpose of calculating its Additional Cost Rate. In particular, but without limitation, each Lender shall supply the following information on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender: |
(a) | the jurisdiction of its Facility Office; and |
(b) | any other information that the Agent may reasonably require for such purpose. |
Each Lender shall promptly notify the Agent of any change to the information provided by it pursuant to this paragraph.
8. | The Agent shall have no liability to any person if such determination results in an Additional Cost Rate which over or under compensates any Lender and shall be entitled to assume that the information provided by any Lender or Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above is true and correct in all respects. |
9. | The Agent shall distribute the additional amounts received as a result of the Mandatory Cost to the Lenders on the basis of the Additional Cost Rate for each Lender based on the information provided by each Lender and each Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above. |
10. | Any determination by the Agent pursuant to this Schedule in relation to a formula, the Mandatory Cost, an Additional Cost Rate or any amount payable to a Lender shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties. |
11. | The Agent may from time to time, after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders, determine and notify to all Parties any amendments which are required to be made to this Schedule in order to comply with any change in law, regulation or any requirements from time to time imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties. |
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SCHEDULE 5
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
To: | [●] as Agent |
From: | [ The Existing Lender ] (the “ Existing Lender ”) and [ The New Lender ] (the “ New Lender ”) |
Dated:
[Insert name of Borrower] – [ ] Facility Agreement
dated [ ] (the “Facility Agreement”)
1. | We refer to the Facility Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Transfer Certificate. |
2. | We refer to Clause 25.5 (Procedure for transfer): |
(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 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ). |
(b) | The proposed Transfer Date is [ ]. |
(c) | The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule. |
3. | The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations set out in of Clause 25.4 ( Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders ). |
4. | This Transfer Certificate 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 Transfer Certificate. |
5. | This Transfer Certificate is governed by English law. |
THE SCHEDULE
Commitment/rights and obligations to be transferred
[insert relevant details]
[Facility Office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments,]
[Existing Lender] | [New Lender] |
By: | By: |
This Transfer Certificate is accepted by the Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [ ].
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[Agent]
By:
NOTE: The execution of this Transfer Certificate may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lender’s interest in the Transaction Security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lender’s Transaction Security in any jurisdiction, and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.
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SCHEDULE 6
TIMETABLES
Delivery of a duly | U – 3 |
completed Utilisation | |
Request (Clause 5.1 | 9.30 am |
(Delivery of a Utilisation | |
Request)) or a Selection | |
Notice (Clause 9.1 | |
(Selection of Interest | |
Periods)) | |
Agent notifies the | U – 3 |
Lenders of the Loan in | |
accordance with | 3 pm |
Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ | |
participation) | |
LIBOR is fixed | Quotation Day as of 11:00 a.m. London time |
“U” equals date of Utilisation
“U – X” equals X Business Days prior to the date of Utilisation
104 |
SCHEDULE 7
SCHEDULED REPAYMENTS
Repayment Date (Months after First Repayment
Date) |
Repayment Amount (USD) | |
0 | 1,911,252.69 | |
3 | 1,941,045.00 | |
6 | 1,971,304.62 | |
9 | 2,002,032.69 | |
12 | 2,033,243.08 | |
15 | 2,064,936.92 | |
18 | 2,097,126.92 | |
21 | 2,129,818.85 | |
24 | 2,163,018.46 | |
27 | 2,196,737.31 | |
30 | 2,230,981.15 | |
33 | 2,265,759.23 | |
36 | 2,301,078.46 | |
39 | 2,336,949.23 | |
42 | 2,373,379.62 | |
45 | 2,410,376.54 | |
48 | 2,447,950.38 | |
51 | 2,486,110.38 | |
54 | 2,524,865.77 | |
57 | 2,564,224.62 | |
60 | 2,604,197.31 | |
63 | 2,644,791.92 | |
66 | 2,686,021.15 | |
69 | 2,727,891.92 | |
72 | 2,770,416.92 | |
75 | 2,813,601.92 | |
78 | 2,857,463.08 | |
81 | 2,902,006.15 | |
84 | 2,947,245.00 | |
87 | 2,993,187.69 | |
90 | 3,039,846.92 | |
93 | 3,087,234.23 | |
96 | 3,135,360.00 | |
99 | 3,184,234.62 | |
102 | 3,233,873.08 | |
105 | 3,284,283.46 | |
108 | 3,335,481.92 | |
111 | 3,387,476.54 | |
114 | 3,440,282.31 | |
117 | 3,493,911.92 | |
120 | 3,548,375.77 | |
123 | 3,603,690.00 | |
126 | 3,659,867.31 | |
129 | 3,716,918.08 |
105 |
Repayment Date (Months after First Repayment
|
Repayment Amount (USD) | |
132 | 3,774,860.77 | |
135 | 3,833,704.62 | |
138 | 3,893,465.77 | |
141 | 3,954,160.38 | |
141 | 164,993,957.31 |
106 |
SCHEDULE 8
FORM OF DEBT SERVICE COVER COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
To: | DnB NOR Bank ASA |
From: | SRV Joint Gas Ltd |
Dated:
Dear Sirs
SRV Joint Gas Ltd [USD300,000,000]
Facility Agreement dated [ ] (the “Agreement”)
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate. |
2. | We confirm that as of the date of this Certificate |
(a) | the aggregate of the amounts payable (excluding any prepayments) by the Borrower under this Agreement during the preceding twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
(b) | the aggregate of the net amount payable (or, as the case may be, minus the net amount receivable) by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts during the preceding twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
(c) | the aggregate amount of the Charter Hire payments made to the Operating Account during the preceding twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
(d) | the aggregate amount of the withdrawals made from the Operating Account pursuant to Clause 19.2.2(a) during the preceding twelve-Month period is [ ] |
and therefore that the Historical Debt Service Cover Ratio is not less than 1.2 : 1.0.
3. | We confirm that as of the date of this Certificate: |
(a) | the projected aggregate of the amounts payable (excluding any prepayments) by the Borrower under this Agreement during the following twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
(b) | the projected aggregate of the net amount payable (or, as the case may be, minus the net amount receivable) by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts during the following twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
(c) | the projected aggregate amount of the Charter Hire payments to be made to the Operating Account during the following twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
107 |
(d) | the projected aggregate amount of the withdrawals to be made from the Operating Account pursuant to Clause 19.2.2(a) during the following twelve-Month period is [ ] |
and therefore that the Projected Debt Service Cover Ratio is not less than 1.2 : 1.0.
4. | We confirm that no Default is continuing |
Signed | Signed | |||
For and on behalf of | For and on behalf of | |||
SRV Joint Gas Ltd | SRV Joint Gas Ltd |
108 |
SCHEDULE 9
FORM OF HEDGING COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
To: | DnB NOR Bank ASA |
From: | SRV Joint Gas Ltd |
Dated:
Dear Sirs
SRV Joint Gas Ltd [USD300,000,000]
Facility Agreement dated [ ] (the “Agreement”)
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Hedging Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Hedging Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Hedging Compliance Certificate. |
2. | We confirm that as at [ ● ]: |
(a) | the aggregate notional principal amount of the Swap Transactions is USD[ ● ]; and |
(b) | the amount of the Loans is USD[ ● ] |
and that the aggregate principal amount of the Swap Transaction is [equal to]/[greater than] 90 per cent. of the amount of the Loans but does not exceed 110 per cent. of the amount of the Loans.
3. | We confirm that no Default is continuing. |
Signed | Signed | |||
Authorised Signatory | Authorised Signatory | |||
For and on behalf of | For and on behalf of | |||
SRV Joint Gas Ltd | SRV Joint Gas Ltd |
109 |
SIGNATURES
THE BORROWER
SRV JOINT GAS LTD
By: | /s/ TAKESHI HASHIMOTO |
Address: | c/o Höegh LNG AS |
Drammensveien 134 | |
PO Box 4, Skoyen | |
N-0212 Oslo, Norway | |
Fax: | +47 21 03 90 13 |
THE AGENT
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
THE SECURITY TRUSTEE
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
THE BOOKRUNNERS
CALYON
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Ruselokkveien 6 |
PO Box 1675 Vika | |
N-0120 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 01 0651 |
110 |
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street |
London, EC2V 7AE | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7158 3273 |
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Bracken House, One Friday Street |
London, EC4M 9JA | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7012 4478 |
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Avenue des Arts 58, Box 18 |
1000 Brussels | |
Belgium | |
Fax: | +32 2 502 07 80 |
THE MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS
CALYON
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Ruselokkveien 6 |
PO Box 1675 Vika | |
N-0120 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 01 0651 |
111 |
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Haakon VII’s Gate 10 |
0161 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 23 11 49 40 |
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street |
London, EC2V 7AE | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7158 3273 |
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Bracken House, One Friday Street |
London, EC4M 9JA | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7012 4478 |
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Avenue des Arts 58, Box 18 |
1000 Brussels | |
Belgium | |
Fax: | +32 2 502 07 80 |
112 |
THE LENDERS
CALYON
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Ruselokkveien 6 |
PO Box 1675 Vika | |
N-0120 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 01 0651 |
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Haakon VII’s Gate 10 |
0161 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 23 11 49 40 |
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street |
London, EC2V 7AE | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7158 3273 |
113 |
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Bracken House, |
One Friday Street | |
London, EC4M 9JA | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7012 4478 |
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Avenue des Arts 58, Box 18 |
1000 Brussels | |
Belgium | |
Fax: | +32 2 502 07 80 |
THE SWAP BANKS
CALYON
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Ruselokkveien 6 |
PO Box 1675 Vika | |
N-0120 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 01 0651 |
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
114 |
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street |
London, EC2V 7AE | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7158 3273 |
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Bracken House, One Friday Street |
London, EC4M 9JA | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7012 4478 |
SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Avenue des Arts 58, Box 18 |
1000 Brussels | |
Belgium | |
Fax: | +32 2 502 07 80 |
115 |
Dated 25 March 2010
Between
SRV JOINT GAS LTD.
as Borrower
and
DNB NOR BANK ASA
as Security Trustee and as Agent for the Finance Parties
AMENDMENT AGREEMENT RELATING TO A USD300,000,000
TERM FACILITY AGREEMENT 20 DECEMBER 2007
Ince & Co
1 St Katharine’s Way
London, E1W 1AY
Tel: +44 7481 0010
Fax: +44 7481 4968
(Ref: DGN/8745)
THIS AGREEMENT is dated 25 March 2010 and made between:
(1) | SRV JOINT GAS LTD. as borrower (the " Borrower "); |
(2) | DNB NOR BANK ASA as security trustee (the " Security Trustee "); and |
(3) | DNB NOR BANK ASA as agent for the Finance Parties (the " Agent "). |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
1 | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement:
"Amended Facility Agreement" means the Original Facility Agreement, as amended by this Agreement.
" Charter " means the time charterparty of the Ship dated 20 March 2007, originally entered into between the Borrower and the Original Charterer, as novated by a novation agreement dated 25 March 2010 entered into between the Borrower, the Original Charterer and the Charterer and which is effective as of 25 March 2010;
" Charterer " means GDF Suez Global LNG Supply SA, a company incorporated under the laws of the Duchy of Luxembourg, having its principal office address at 76, avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;
" Charter Assignment " means the assignment of the rights of the Borrower under the Charter to be executed by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in agreed form;
" Charter Consent and Agreement " means the agreement to be executed by the Charterer, the Borrower and the Security Trustee in agreed form;
" Charter Ownership Undertaking " means the undertaking from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower dated 25 March 2010;
" Comfort Letter " means the letter dated 25 March 2010 from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower;
"Effective Date" means the date on which the Agent confirms to the Borrower that it has received each of the documents listed in Schedule 1 ( Conditions Precedent ) in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
“Information Sharing Letter " means the letter from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower dated 25 March 2010;
"Original Facility Agreement" means the Facility Agreement dated 20 December 2007 between the Borrower, the Agent and the other Finance Parties;
" Original Charterer " means GDF Suez LNG Trading SA (formerly called Suez LNG Trading SA), a company incorporated under the laws of the Duchy of Luxembourg, having its principal office address at 76, avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;
" Replacement Security Documents " means:
(a) | the Charter Assignment; and |
(b) | the Charter Consent and Agreement; |
“ Replacement Transaction Documents ” means:
(a) | the Replacement Security Documents; and |
(b) | the Replacement Underlying Documents; |
" Replacement Underlying Documents " means:
(a) | the Charter Ownership Undertaking; |
(b) | the Comfort Letter; |
(c) | the Information Sharing Letter; and |
(d) | the Charter. |
1.2 | Incorporation of defined terms |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document has the same meaning in this Agreement. |
(b) | The principles of construction set out in the Original Facility Agreement shall have effect as if set out in this Agreement. |
1.3 | Clauses |
(a) | In this Agreement any reference to a "Clause" or a "Schedule" is, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to a Clause or a Schedule of this Agreement. |
(b) | Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
1.4 | Third Party Rights |
A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.
1.5 | Designation |
In accordance with the Original Facility Agreement, the Agent and the Borrower designate this Agreement as a Finance Document.
2 | AMENDMENTS |
With effect from the Effective Date, Clause 1.1 of the Original Facility Agreement shall be amended as follows:
(a) | by replacing the definitions of “Charter”, “Charterer”, “Charter Ownership Undertaking”, “Comfort Letter” and “Information Sharing Letter” in the Original Facility Agreement with the definitions of such terms in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement; and |
(b) | by the addition of the definition of “Original Charterer” as set out in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement. |
3 | CONTINUITY AND FURTHER ASSURANCE |
3.1 | Continuing obligations |
The provisions of the Original Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents shall, save as amended by this Agreement, continue in full force and effect.
3.2 | Further assurance |
The Borrower shall, at the request of the Agent and at its own expense, do all such acts and things necessary or desirable to give effect to the amendments effected or to be effected pursuant to this Agreement.
4 | FEES, COSTS AND EXPENSES |
4.1 | Transaction expenses |
The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Agent and each of the Lenders the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with the registration, preparation, printing and execution of this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement.
4.2 | Enforcement Costs |
The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement, or the preservation, of any rights under this Agreement.
5 | MISCELLANEOUS |
5.1 | Incorporation of terms |
The provisions of Clause 32 ( Notices ), Clause 34 ( Partial Invalidity ), Clause 35 ( Remedies and Waivers ) and Clause 39 ( Enforcement ) of the Original Facility Agreement shall be incorporated into this Agreement as if set out in full in this Agreement and as if references in these clauses to "this Agreement" are references to this Agreement.
5.2 | Counterparts |
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.
6 | GOVERNING LAW |
This Agreement is governed by English law.
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
SCHEDULE 1
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Part I
1. | Borrower |
(a) | A Certified Copy of the constitutional documents of the Borrower. |
(b) | A Certified Copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Borrower: |
(i) | approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Replacement Transaction Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute the Replacement Transaction Documents to which it is a party; |
(ii) | authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Replacement Transaction 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 Replacement Transaction Documents to which it is a party. |
(c) | the original of any power of attorney under which any Replacement Transaction Document is executed on behalf of the Borrower. |
(d) | A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph (b) above. |
2. | Finance Documents |
Duly executed originals of:
(a) | this Agreement; |
(b) | the New Charter Assignment; and |
(c) | the New Charter Consent and Agreement; |
3. | Underlying Documents |
Certified copies of:
(a) | the Charter Ownership Undertaking; |
(b) | the Comfort Letter |
(c) | the Information Sharing Letter; and |
(d) | the Charter. |
4. | Legal opinions |
(a) | An English legal opinion from Ince & Co, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(b) | A Caymans legal opinion from Maples & Calder, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(c) | A Luxembourg legal opinion from Bonn Schmitt Steichen Avocats addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(d) | Such other legal opinions as the Agent may reasonably require in relation to any other Finance Document. |
SIGNATURES
THE BORROWER
SRV JOINT GAS LTD.
By: | /s/ MATTHEW LEIGH |
Address: | c/o Höegh LNG AS |
Drammensveien 134 | |
PO Box 4, Skoyen | |
N-0212 Oslo, Norway | |
Fax: | +47 21 03 90 13 |
THE AGENT (FOR THE FINANCE PARTIES)
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ALISON LESCURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
THE SECURITY TRUSTEE
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ALISON LESCURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
To: | SRV Joint Gas Ltd. |
Clifton House
75 Fort Street
George Town
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
Höegh LNG Limited
Canon’s Court
22 Victoria Street
Hamilton
Bermuda HM12
Mitsui O.S.K Lines Limited
1-1 Toranomon
2-Chome, Minato-Ku
Tokyo
Japan, 105-8688
26 August 2010
Dear Sirs,
US$300,000,000 Term Loan Facility to SRV Joint Gas Ltd. (the “Borrower”)
We refer to a facility agreement dated 20 December 2007 as amended from time to time including by a facility amendment agreement dated 25 March 2010 (the “ Facility Agreement ”) and made between (i) the Borrower and (ii) CALYON, DnB NOR Bank ASA, Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V. Oslo Branch, Lloyds TSB Bank Plc, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Brussels Branch as arrangers (iv) the financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 as lenders (the “ Original Lenders ”), (v) CALYON, DnB NOR Bank ASA, Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V. Oslo Branch, Lloyds TSB Bank Plc, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and SMBC Capital Markets, Inc. as swap banks and (v) DNB NOR Bank ASA as Agent and Security Trustee under which the Lenders agreed to make available to the Borrower, upon the terms and subject to the conditions therein set out, a secured term loan facility in a total amount of up to USD300,000,000.
Words and expressions defined in the Facility Agreement, shall, as appropriate, have the same meaning where used in this letter.
A reference to a clause or schedule is to a clause or schedule in the Facility Agreement.
The Agent (acting with the consent and authorisation of the Lenders) hereby consents to the transfer from MOL to Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. (“ TLT ”) of 1.5 per cent. of the shares in the Borrower presently held by MOL and to the related amendment, restatement or novation (as applicable) of the Shareholder Agreement and the Shareholder Loan Agreement.
The terms of the Facility Agreement are amended so that with effective from the date on which the share transfer from MOL to TLT takes place (the “ Effective Date ”):
(i) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “Negative Pledge” shall be changed by adding the words “and any other shareholder of the Borrower” after “Vessel Sponsors”; |
(ii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “Shareholder Agreement” shall be changed by replacing the words “on, or about, the date of this Agreement entered into between MOL and HLNG” to “entered into between MOL, HLNG and TLT”; |
(iii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “Shareholder Loan Agreement” shall be changed by adding the words “as amended and restated and entered into between MOL, HLNG, TLT and the Borrower and the related novation agreement entered into between MOL, HLNG, TLT and the Borrower”; |
1 |
(iv) | by adding a new definition in Clause 1.1, as follows: “ TLT ” means Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. a company incorporated under the laws of Japan and having its principal office at 1-5-20 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 105-8527; |
(v) | Clause 17.2 ( Share Capital and Ownership ) shall be changed by replacing “and by MOL as to 50 per cent.” to “, by MOL as to 48.5 per cent. and by TLT as to 1.5 per cent.”; |
In addition from the Effective Date, Recital (C) in the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking dated 20 December 2007 shall be amended by replacing the words “and MOL as to 50 per cent.” with “, MOL as to 48.5 per cent. and TLT as to 1.5 per cent.”
On or before the Effective Date, the Borrower shall provide the Agent with certified copies of :
(i) | a resolution of the board of directors (or other appropriate corporate authorities or approvals) of the Borrower, each Vessel Sponsor and TLT approving the execution of this letter, the Negative Pledge, the Shareholder Agreement and the Shareholder Loan Agreement (as applicable) by a director, authorised signatory or attorney of each company together with any constitutional or incorporation documents or other corporate authorisations required in order to issue the legal opinions listed below; |
(ii) | the amended and restated Shareholder Agreement entered into between the Vessel Sponsors and TLT; |
(iii) | the amended and restated Shareholder Loan Agreement entered into between the Vessel Sponsors, TLT and the Borrower and the related novation agreement entered into between the Vessel Sponsors, TLT and the Borrower; |
(iv) | the share certificate issued in the name of TLT for its 1.5 per cent. shareholding in the Borrower, the share certificate issued in the name of MOL for its 48.5 per cent shareholding in the Borrower and the share purchase agreement entered into between MOL and TLT; and |
(v) | evidence that any process agent referred to in Clause 10.2, Negative Pledge ( Service of Process ) has accepted its appointment. |
The Agent shall arrange for legal opinions to be obtained in form satisfactory to the Agent as follows:
(i) | A Japanese legal opinion from Maritax Law Office addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; |
(ii) | A Bermudan legal opinion from Mello, Jones & Martin addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; and |
(iii) | An English legal opinion from Ince & Co addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders |
The provisions of the Facility Agreement and the Finance Documents shall, save as amended by this letter, continue in full force and effect.
This letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by English law.
Please confirm your agreement to the terms of this letter by signing and returning a copy of this letter.
Yours faithfully
/s/ HERMANN HOVLAND ØVERLIE | |
For and on behalf of | |
DNB NOR BANK ASA | |
(as Agent for the Lenders) |
2 |
We agree to the terms of this letter.
/s/ ØRJAN HOMME | |
For and on behalf of | |
SRV JOINT GAS LTD. | |
/s/ LARS MÅRDALEN | |
For and on behalf of | |
HÖEGH LNG LIMITED | |
/s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE | |
For and on behalf of | |
MITSUI O.S.K. LINES LIMITED |
3 |
To: | SRV Joint Gas Ltd. |
Clifton House
75 Fort Street
George Town
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
Höegh LNG Ltd.
Canon’s Court
22 Victoria Street
Hamilton
Bermuda HM12
Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd.
Canon’s Court
22 Victoria Street
Hamilton
Bermuda HM12
Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Ltd.
1-1 Toranomon
2-Chome, Minato-Ku
Tokyo
Japan, 105-8688
25 July 2014
Dear Sirs,
US$300,000,000 Term Loan Facility to SRV Joint Gas Ltd. (the “Borrower”)
We refer to a facility agreement dated 20 December 2007 as amended from time to time including by a facility amendment agreement dated 25 March 2010 and an amendment letter dated 26 August 2010 (the “ Facility Agreement ”) and made between (i) the Borrower and (ii) CALYON, DNB Bank ASA (previously known as DnB NOR Bank ASA), ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (previously known as Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V. Oslo Branch), Lloyds TSB Bank Plc, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Brussels Branch as arrangers (iv) the financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 as lenders (the “ Original Lenders ”), (v) CALYON, DNB Bank ASA (previously known as DnB NOR Bank ASA), ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (previously known as Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V. Oslo Branch), Lloyds TSB Bank Plc, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and SMBC Capital Markets, Inc. as swap banks and (v) DNB Bank ASA (previously known as DnB NOR Bank ASA) as Agent and Security Trustee under which the Lenders agreed to make available to the Borrower, upon the terms and subject to the conditions therein set out, a secured term loan facility in a total amount of up to USD300,000,000.
Words and expressions defined in the Facility Agreement, shall, as appropriate, have the same meaning where used in this letter.
A reference to a clause or schedule is to a clause or schedule in the Facility Agreement.
The Agent (acting with the consent and authorisation of the Majority Lenders) hereby consents to the request of Höegh LNG Ltd. (“ HLNG ”) (as set out in HLNG’s letter to the Finance Parties dated 4 April 2014) to transfer its 50 per cent. shareholding interest in the Borrower to Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC (“ OPCO ”) (the “ Transfer ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG Partners LP (or which will become such a wholly-owned subsidiary following the Transfer). This consent is subject to the conditions that on or before the date of the Transfer (i) the Facility Agreement shall have been amended by the execution of this letter, such amendments taking effect as set out in 1 and 2 below and (ii) the Agent shall have received the documents and evidence set out in 3 to 7 below in form and substance satisfactory to it; the Agent shall promptly confirm in writing to the Borrower, HLNG and MOL that the conditions to this consent have been satisfied.
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1. | The terms of the Facility Agreement will be amended so that with retroactive effect from the date hereof (the “ Effective Date ”): |
(i) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the existing definition of “ Affiliate ” shall be deleted and replaced with the following: |
“Affiliate” means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company and, for the purposes of Clause 23.19.1(b), shall include an MLP (or wholly-owned Subsidiary of the MLP) whether or not the MLP (or such wholly-owned Subsidiary of the MLP) would otherwise fall within this definition provided always that the requirements of Clause 23.19.2 are satisfied in relation to the MLP;
(ii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the following definition shall be added: |
“ MLP ” means Höegh MLP Partners LP, a master limited partnership established under the laws of the Marshall Islands and sponsored by HLNG Holdings;
(iii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the following definition shall be added and all references in the Facility Agreement to “LHC” shall be read to refer to “HLNG Holdings”: |
“ HLNG Holdings ” means Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. (previously named Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd.), a company incorporated in Bermuda having its registered office at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda;
(iv) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “ MOL ” shall be amended so that reference to “Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Limited” is replaced with “Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.”; |
(v) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “ Subsidiary ” shall be amended by replacing the words “section 736 of the Companies Act 1985” with “section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006”; |
(vi) | Clause 23.19 ( Ownership of Borrower ) shall become Clause 23.19.1 and the words “, provided that the provisions of Clause 23.19.2 are complied with” shall be added at Clause 23.19.1(b) after “an Affiliate of that Vessel Sponsor”; |
(vii) | a new Clause 23.19.2 shall be added as follows: |
A change pursuant to Clause 23.19.1(b) shall only be permitted if the Affiliate which is a transferee remains an Affiliate throughout the Security Period, and where the transferee is a MLP (or is, or following the Transfer becomes, a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the MLP) the following further conditions are satisfied throughout the Security Period:
(a) | HLNG Holdings and/or companies directly or indirectly controlled by HLNG Holdings individually or together: |
(i) | own beneficially an ownership interest of at least 25.1 per cent. of the MLP; and |
(ii) | own beneficially an ownership interest of at least 50 per cent. of the general partner of the MLP; and |
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(b) | the removal of the general partner of the MLP shall, under the terms of the partnership agreement of the MLP, be subject to a vote of at least 75 per cent. of the common and subordinated unit holders of the MLP. |
2. | The terms of the Facility Agreement will be further amended so that with effect from the date of the Transfer: |
(i) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the following definition shall be added: |
“ OPCO ” means Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the MLP incorporated in the Marshall Islands and having its registered office at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Islands, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960;
(ii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “ Shareholder Agreement ” shall be deleted and replaced with the following: |
“ Shareholder Agreement ” means the amended and restated shareholder agreement entered into between MOL, OPCO and TLT;
(iii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “ Shareholder Loan Agreement ” shall be deleted and replaced with the following: |
“ Shareholder Loan Agreement ” means the amended and restated shareholder loan agreement dated 31 August 2010 entered into between HLNG, MOL, TLT and the Borrower under which Shareholder Loans are being made available to the Borrower as amended and restated and entered into between MOL, OPCO, TLT and the Borrower and the related novation deed entered into between MOL, HLNG, OPCO, TLT and the Borrower;
(iv) | Clause 17.2 ( Share Capital and Ownership ) shall be amended by replacing “HLNG” with “OPCO”; and |
(v) | Clause 23.19.1(a) shall be amended by replacing “HLNG” with “OPCO”. |
3. | Pursuant to Clause 23.19.1, a pledge shall be given by the shareholders of the Borrower in a similar form to the Negative Pledge. |
4. | A certified copy of the Shareholder Agreement between MOL, OPCO and TLT shall be provided. |
5. | A certified copy of the Shareholder Loan Agreement between MOL, OPCO, TLT and the Borrower shall be provided, together with the related novation agreement between MOL, OPCO, TLT and the Borrower. |
6. | Certified copies shall be provided to the Agent (or its legal counsel in the relevant jurisdiction) of a resolution of the board of directors (or other appropriate corporate authorities or approvals) of the Borrower, each Vessel Sponsor, TLT, HLNG Holdings and OPCO approving the execution of this letter and each of the documents listed in 3, 4 and 5 above by a director, authorised signatory or attorney of each company together with any constitutional or incorporation documents or other corporate authorisations required in order to issue the legal opinions listed below. |
7. | The Agent shall arrange for legal opinions to be obtained in form satisfactory to the Agent as follows: |
(i) | A Japanese legal opinion from Maritax Law Office addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; |
(ii) | A Bermudan legal opinion from MJM Limited addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; |
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(iii) | A Cayman Islands legal opinion from Maples & Calder addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; |
(iv) | A Marshall Islands legal opinion from Holland & Knight addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; and |
(v) | An English legal opinion from Ince & Co LLP addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
The Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) with reference to Clause 23.12 ( Transaction Documents ) of the Facility Agreement further consents to the novation, amendment and restatement of the Shareholder Agreement and the Shareholder Loan Agreement in connection with the Transfer from HLNG to OPCO.
The provisions of the Facility Agreement and the Finance Documents shall, save as amended by this letter, continue in full force and effect.
The Agent and the Borrower hereby designate this letter and the document that shall be provided pursuant to 3 above as “Finance Documents” in accordance with Clause 1.1 of the Facility Agreement.
This letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by English law.
Please confirm your agreement to the terms of this letter by signing and returning a copy of this letter.
Yours faithfully
/s/ JULIE WALTON | Julie Walton | |
Attorney-in-fact |
For and on behalf of
DNB BANK ASA
(as Agent for the Finance Parties)
We agree to the terms of this letter.
/s/ KULRAJ BADHESHA | Kulraj Badhesha | |
Attorney-in-fact |
For and on behalf of
SRV JOINT GAS LTD.
/s/ KULRAJ BADHESHA | Kulraj Badhesha | |
Attorney-in-fact |
For and on behalf of
HÖEGH LNG LTD.
/s/ KULRAJ BADHESHA | Kulraj Badhesha | |
Attorney-in-fact |
For and on behalf of
HÖEGH LNG HOLDINGS LTD.
/s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
For and on behalf of |
MITSUI O.S.K. LINES, LTD. |
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Execution Version
Dated 24 February 2015
Between
SRV JOINT GAS LTD.
as Borrower
and
DNB BANK ASA
(formerly known as DnB NOR BANK ASA)
as Security Trustee and as Agent for the Finance Parties
AMENDMENT AGREEMENT RELATING TO A USD300,000,000
TERM FACILITY AGREEMENT DATED 20 DECEMBER 2007
(AS AMENDED ON 25 MARCH 2010, 26 AUGUST 2010 AND 25 JULY 2014)
Ince & Co LLP
1 St Katharine’s Way
London, E1W 1AY
Tel: +44 7481 0010
Fax: +44 7481 4968
(Ref: ISM/8822)
Execution Version
THIS AGREEMENT is dated 24 February 2015 and made between:
(1) | SRV JOINT GAS LTD. as borrower (the " Borrower "); |
(2) | DNB BANK ASA (formerly known as DnB NOR Bank ASA) as security trustee (the " Security Trustee "); and |
(3) | DNB BANK ASA (formerly known as DnB NOR Bank ASA) as agent for the Finance Parties (the " Agent "). |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
1 | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement:
"Amended Facility Agreement" means the Original Facility Agreement, as amended by this Agreement.
" Charter " means the time charterparty of the Ship dated 20 March 2007, originally entered into between the Borrower and the Original Charterer, as novated by a novation agreement dated 25 March 2010 entered into between the Borrower, the Original Charterer and the Charterer and as amended by the First Charter Amendment and the Second Charter Amendment;
“ FSRU Neptune Uruguay ” means Eklur SA, now known as FSRU Neptune LNG Uruguay S.A. a company existing under the laws of Uruguay having its registered office at Colonia 801, oficina 403, CP 11100 Montevideo, Uruguay;
“ FSRU Neptune Uruguay Group Agreement ” means the contractual arrangements to be entered into between the Charterer and FSRU Neptune Uruguay in relation to the Ship;
“ GNLS ” means GNLS S.A. a company organised and existing under the laws of Uruguay having its registered office at Dr Luis Bonavita 1266, 30 th Floor, WTC Tower 4, office 3005, CP 11300 Montevideo, Uruguay;
“ GNLS Sub-Charter ” means (i) the FSRU Neptune Uruguay Group Agreement and (ii) the sub-time charterparty to be entered into between FSRU Neptune Uruguay and GNLS as sub-charterer in relation to the Ship;
"Effective Date" means the date on which the Agent confirms to the Borrower that it has received each of the documents listed in Schedule 1 ( Conditions Precedent ) in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
“ First Charter Amendment ” means the agreement for amendments to the Charter in relation to the Ship being operated as an SRV to be entered into between the Borrower and the Charterer in agreed form;
"Original Facility Agreement" means the Facility Agreement dated 20 December 2007 as amended on 25 March 2010, 26 August 2010 and 25 July 2014 between the Borrower, the Agent and the other Finance Parties;
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Execution Version
“ Second Charter Amendment ” means the agreement for amendments to the Charter in relation to the Ship being operated as an FSRU under the GNLS Sub-Charter, to be entered into between the Borrower and the Charterer;
“ Ship Modification ” means the modification of the Ship by Navantia Shipyard at El Ferrol, Spain to operate as a shuttle and regasification vessel (“ SRV ”) or a floating, storage and regasification unit (“ FSRU ”) as required under the Second Charter Amendment;
“ Ship Reinstatement ” means the reinstatement of the Ship as an SRV at the end of the GNLS Sub-Charter, as required under the Second Charter Amendment; and
“ Time Charter Amendments ” means the First Charter Amendment and the Second Charter Amendment.
1.2 | Incorporation of defined terms |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in the Original Facility Agreement has the same meaning in this Agreement. |
(b) | The principles of construction set out in the Original Facility Agreement shall have effect as if set out in this Agreement. |
1.3 | Clauses |
(a) | In this Agreement any reference to a "Clause" or a "Schedule" is, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to a Clause or a Schedule of this Agreement. |
(b) | Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
1.4 | Third Party Rights |
A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.
1.5 | Designation |
In accordance with the Original Facility Agreement, the Agent and the Borrower designate this Agreement as a Finance Document.
2 | CONSENTS |
With effect from the Effective Date, the Agent (acting with the consent and authorisation of the Majority Lenders) gives its consent to:
(a) | the Time Charter Amendments (as required under Clause 23.12 of the Original Facility Agreement and Clause 4.2 of the Charter Assignment); and |
(b) | subject to receipt by the Agent of the evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 ( Conditions Subsequent ), in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, the Ship Modification (as required under Clause 20.3 of the Original Facility Agreement); and |
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Execution Version
(c) | Subject to receipt by the Agent of the evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 2 ( Conditions Subsequent ), in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, the Ship Reinstatement (as required under Clause 20.3 of the Original Facility Agreement). |
3 | AMENDMENTS |
With effect from the Effective Date,
3.1.1 | Clause 1.1 of the Original Facility Agreement shall be amended as follows: |
(a) | by replacing the definition of Charter in the Original Facility Agreement with the definition of such term in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement; |
(b) | by the addition of the definitions of “First Charter Amendment” and ”Second Charter Amendment” as set out in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement; and |
(c) | for the period following completion of the Ship Modification and before the Ship Reinstatement, by construing the definition of “Ship” to mean the Ship operating as an SRV or an FSRU. |
3.1.2 | Each of the other Finance Documents shall be amended so that: |
(a) | any reference therein to “the Facility Agreement” shall be construed as a reference to the Amended Facility Agreement; and |
(b) | for the period following completion of the Ship Modification and before the Ship Reinstatement, by construing the definition of “Ship” to mean the Ship operating as an SRV or an FSRU. |
4 | CONTINUITY AND FURTHER ASSURANCE |
4.1 | Continuing obligations |
The provisions of the Original Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents shall, save as amended by this Agreement, continue in full force and effect.
4.2 | Further assurance |
The Borrower shall, at the request of the Agent and at its own expense, do all such acts and things necessary or desirable to give effect to the amendments effected or to be effected pursuant to this Agreement.
5 | FEES, COSTS AND EXPENSES |
5.1 | Transaction expenses |
The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred in connection with the registration, preparation, printing and execution of this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement.
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Execution Version
5.2 | Enforcement Costs |
The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement, or the preservation, of any rights under this Agreement.
6 | MISCELLANEOUS |
6.1 | Incorporation of terms |
The provisions of Clause 32 ( Notices ), Clause 34 ( Partial Invalidity ), Clause 35 ( Remedies, Waivers and Conflicts ) and Clause 39 ( Enforcement ) of the Original Facility Agreement shall be incorporated into this Agreement as if set out in full in this Agreement and as if references in these clauses to "this Agreement" are references to this Agreement.
6.2 | Counterparts |
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.
7 | GOVERNING LAW |
This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by English law.
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
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Execution Version
SCHEDULE 1
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
1. | Borrower |
(a) | A Certified Copy of the constitutional and incorporation documents of the Borrower. |
(b) | A Certified Copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Borrower: |
(i) | approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Time Charter Amendments resolving that it execute this Agreement and the Time Charter Amendments; |
(ii) | authorising a specified person or persons to execute this Agreement and the Time Charter Amendments; 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 this Agreement and the Time Charter Amendments. |
(c) | the original of any power of attorney under which this Agreement and the Time Charter Amendments is executed on behalf of the Borrower. |
2. | Charterer |
(a) | A copy of the current consolidated articles of association of the Charterer (as available from the Luxembourg companies registry); |
(b) | A copy (provided on a confidential basis to Luxembourg counsel Bonn & Schmitt) of the minutes of the board of directors of the Charterer approving the execution of the Time Charter Amendments by a director, authorised signatory or attorney (or any other applicable signing authorities) of the Charterer as required in order to issue the legal opinion set out in 6 (c) below. |
3. | Finance Documents |
A duly executed original of this Agreement
4. | Underlying Documents |
Certified Copies of the Time Charter Amendments.
5. | GNLS and FSRU Neptune Uruguay Acknowledgements |
A confirmation from the Charterer that, in the GNLS Sub-Charter and the FSRU Neptune Uruguay Group Agreement (as applicable), GNLS and FSRU Neptune Uruguay have acknowledged:
(a) | the Mortgage registered over the Ship at the Norwegian International Ship Registry; and |
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Execution Version
(b) | the undertakings set out in Clause 1.6 ( Assignment, Transfer, Sub-chartering ) of the Consent and Agreement. |
6. | Legal opinions |
(a) | An English legal opinion from Ince & Co LLP, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(b) | A Cayman Islands legal opinion from Maples & Calder, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(c) | A Luxembourg legal opinion from Bonn & Schmitt addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(d) | Such other legal opinions as the Agent may reasonably require in relation to any other Finance Document. |
7. | Other documents and evidence |
A copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary (if it has notified the Borrower accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or for the validity and enforceability of this Agreement.
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Execution Version
SCHEDULE 2
CONDITIONS SUBSEQUENT
Part I
1. | Prior to the commencement of the Ship Modification works: |
(a) | evidence that the registration of the Ship and the Mortgage at the Norwegian International Ship Registry will not be affected by the Ship Modification, by providing an up-to-date copy of the Certificate of Ownership and Encumbrance for the Ship; |
(b) | evidence that the Ship will be insured for the relevant marine risks (including builder’s risks) and otherwise in accordance with the covenants given under the Original Facility Agreement during the period of the works for the Ship Modification; |
(c) | endorsements or confirmation from the insurers in relation to existing cover notes or policies and the P&I Certificate of Entry; and |
(d) | if required by the Agent, a favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant appointed by the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require. |
2. Following completion of the Ship Modification:
(a) | evidence that the Ship is insured for relevant marine risks in order to operate as an SRV or an FSRU under the terms of the Charter and otherwise in accordance with the covenants given under the Original Facility Agreement; |
(b) | endorsements or confirmation from the insurers in relation to existing cover notes or policies and P&I Certificate of Entry; |
(c) | if required by the Agent, a favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant appointed by the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require; |
(d) | evidence that the Ship maintains the highest class with the Classification Society free of all recommendations and conditions; and |
(e) | evidence that the Manager and/or Operator and the Ship are in compliance with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code, by providing up-to-date copies of: |
(i) | the document of compliance (“ DOC ”) for the Manager and/or Operator; |
(ii) | the safety management certificate (“ SMC ”) for the Ship; and |
(iii) | the international ship security certificate (“ ISSC ”) for the Ship. |
3. | By 30 April 2015, a copy (to be provided on a confidential basis to Luxembourg counsel Bonn & Schmitt) of the board resolution of the board of directors of the Charterer, confirming (in terms acceptable to Luxembourg counsel Bonn & Schmitt) the authorisations of the Time Charter Amendments approved at the board meeting of the Charterer held on 9 December 2014. |
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Execution Version
Part II
1. | Prior to the commencement of the Ship Reinstatement works: |
(a) | evidence that the registration of the Ship and the Mortgage at the Norwegian International Ship Registry will not be affected by the Ship Reinstatement, by providing an up-to-date copy of the Certificate of Ownership and Encumbrance for the Ship; |
(b) | evidence that the Ship will be insured for the relevant marine risks (including builder’s risks) and otherwise in accordance with the covenants given under the Original Facility Agreement during the period of the works for the Ship Reinstatement; |
(c) | endorsements or confirmation from the insurers in relation to existing cover notes or policies and P&I Certificate of Entry; and |
(d) | if required by the Agent, a favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant appointed by the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require. |
2. | Following completion of the Ship Reinstatement: |
(a) | evidence that the Ship is insured for relevant marine risks in order to operate as an SRV under the terms of the Charter and otherwise in accordance with the covenants given under the Original Facility Agreement; |
(b) | if required by the Agent, a favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant appointed by the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require; |
(c) | the Ship maintains the highest class with the Classification Society free of all recommendations and conditions; and |
(d) | the Manager and/or Operator and the Ship are in compliance with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code by providing up-to-date copies of: |
(i) | the DOC for the Manager and/or Operator; |
(ii) | the SMC for the Ship; and |
(iii) | the ISSC for the Ship. |
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Execution Version
SIGNATURES
THE BORROWER
SRV JOINT GAS LTD.
By: | /s/ Marthe Solaas |
Marthe Møller Solaas | |
Attorney-in-fact | |
Address: | c/o Höegh LNG AS |
Drammensveien 134 | |
PO Box 4, Skoyen | |
N-0212 Oslo, Norway | |
Fax: | +47 21 03 90 13 |
THE AGENT (FOR THE FINANCE PARTIES)
DNB BANK ASA
By: | /s/ Alison Lescure |
Alison Lescure | |
Attorney-in-fact | |
Address: | Dronning Eufemias gate 30, |
M15, 0191 Oslo, Norwary | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 28 94 |
THE SECURITY TRUSTEE
DNB BANK ASA
By: | /s/ Alison Lescure |
Alison Lescure | |
Attorney-in-fact | |
Address: | Dronning Eufemias gate 30, |
M15, 0191 Oslo, Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 28 94 |
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EXHIBIT 4.27
USD300,000,000
FACILITY AGREEMENT
Dated 20 December 2007
for
SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD
arranged by
CALYON
DNB NOR BANK ASA
FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH
with
DNB NOR BANK ASA
acting as Agent, Security Trustee and Account Bank
and
CALYON
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH
acting as Bookrunners
and
CALYON
DNB NOR BANK ASA
FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
acting as Swap Banks
INCE & CO
International House
1 St Katherine’s Way
London, E1W 1AY
Tel: +44 (0)20 7481 0010
Fax: +44 (0)20 7481 4968
(Ref: 1.07.9285.00)
CONTENTS
Clause | Page | |
SECTION 1 INTERPRETATION | 1 | |
1. | Definitions and Interpretation | 1 |
SECTION 2 THE FACILITY | 24 | |
2. | The Facility | 24 |
3. | Purpose | 24 |
4. | Conditions of Utilisation | 25 |
SECTION 3 UTILISATION | 26 | |
5. | Utilisation | 26 |
SECTION 4 REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION | 28 | |
6. | Repayment | 28 |
7. | Prepayment and cancellation | 28 |
SECTION 5 COSTS OF UTILISATION | 34 | |
8. | Interest | 34 |
9. | Interest Periods | 35 |
10. | Changes to the calculation of interest | 36 |
11. | Fees | 37 |
SECTION 6 ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS | 38 | |
12. | Tax gross up and indemnities | 38 |
13. | Increased costs | 40 |
14. | Other indemnities | 41 |
15. | Mitigation by the Lenders | 43 |
16. | Costs and expenses | 43 |
SECTION 7 REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 45 | |
17. | Representations | 45 |
18. | Information Undertakings | 49 |
THIS AGREEMENT is dated 20 December 2007 and made between:
(1) | SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands having its registered office address at Clifton House, PO Box 1350, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108, Cayman Islands as borrower (the " Borrower "); |
(2) | CALYON, DNB NOR BANK ASA, FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH, LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC, MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD . and SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH as mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together the " Arranger "); |
(3) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 as lenders (the " Original Lenders "); |
(4) | DNB NOR BANK ASA acting through its office at Stranden 21, 0021 Oslo, Norway as agent of the other Finance Parties (the “ Agent ”); |
(5) | DNB NOR BANK ASA acting through its office at Stranden 21, 0021 Oslo, Norway as security trustee for Secured Parties (the “ Security Trustee ”); |
(6) | DNB NOR BANK ASA acting through its office at Stranden 21, 0021 Oslo, Norway as account bank (the “ Account Bank ”); |
(7) | CALYON, LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC, MizuHo Corporate Bank, Ltd . and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, BRUSSELS BRANCH as bookrunners (the “Bookrunners” ); and |
(8) | CALYON, DNB NOR BANK ASA, FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC, MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD. and SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC. as swap banks (the “ Swap Banks ”). |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
SECTION 1
INTERPRETATION
1. | Definitions and Interpretation |
1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement:
“Accelerated Equity” means an amount equal to the Estimated Total Project Cost (excluding Shareholder Loan Interest) less the lower of (i) USD300,000,000 and (ii) the Relevant Percentage of the Estimated Total Project Cost (excluding Shareholder Loan Interest) less Base Equity payable by the Vessel Sponsors to the Borrower, whether by way of a Shareholder Loan or otherwise, pursuant to Clause 3 of the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking and a notice served by the Agent pursuant to Clause 24.14(b);
“ Accounts ” means, together, the Operating Account, the Debt Service Retention Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account, the Dividend Lock-Up Account and the Dividend Distribution Account;
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“ Additional Equity ” means the sum in the amount of up to USD75,000,000 payable by the Vessel Sponsors to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 4 of the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking;
“ Additional Equity Debt Service Provision ” means, at the commencement of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period, the amount estimated by the Agent (following consultation with the Borrower) to be necessary to provide for the Borrower to meet its payment obligations under this Agreement and the Swap Contracts during the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period (taking account of Swap Payments receivable by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts);
“Additional Equity Interest and Swap Payments” means the payments made by the Borrower under Clause 8.2 ( Payment of interest ) and the Swap Payments made by the Borrower under a Swap Contract prior to the commencement of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period, which have been funded by the Additional Equity;
“ Additional Equity Prepayment ” means USD75,000,000 less the Additional Equity Interest and Swap Payments less the Additional Equity Debt Service Provision;
“ Additional Swap Bank ” means DnB NOR Bank ASA;
“Additional Swap Contract ” means the contract made between the Additional Swap Bank and the Borrower comprising an ISDA Master Agreement dated 26 September 2007 and the Swap Confirmation executed pursuant thereto, in respect of a Swap Transaction entered into on 26 September 2007 for a notional principal amount of USD30,000,000, as shall be amended on the first Utilisation Date pursuant to Clause 8.5 ( Interest Rate Hedging );
“Affiliate " means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company;
“ Approved Flag ” means the Norwegian International Ship Registry, the Bahamas, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Panama, the United Kingdom or such other flag as may be approved in accordance with Clause 20.1 ( Ship’s name and registration );
" Authorisation " means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration;
" Availability Period " means
(a) | for the Utilisation of a Regas Acceptance Loan, the period from and including the date of this Agreement, to and including the date which is the earliest of: (i) 5 Business Days after the Regas Acceptance Date (ii) the Regas Rejection Date and (iii) the date on which the Total Commitments are reduced to zero; or |
(b) | for the Utilisation of any other Loan, the period from and including the date of this Agreement, to and including the date which is the earliest of: (i) 10 Business Days after the Delivery Date and (ii) the date on which the Total Commitments are reduced to zero; |
" Available Commitment " means a Lender's Commitment minus:
(a) | the amount of its participation in any outstanding Loans; and |
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(b) | in relation to any proposed Loan, the amount of its participation in any other Loans that are due to be made on or before the proposed Utilisation Date; |
“ Available Facility ” means the aggregate for the time being of each Lender’s Available Commitment;
“ Base Equity” means the aggregate amount of the Equity Payments which has been paid at any relevant time;
" Break Costs " means the amount (if any) by which:
(a) | the interest which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or an Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that 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 London 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; |
“ Builder ” means Samsung Heavy Industries Co Limited of 647-9, Yeoksam-Dong, Kangnam-Ku, Seoul, Korea 135-080;
" Business Day " means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London , Oslo, Tokyo and New York City;
“ Casualty Amount ” means USD7,500,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency);
“ Certified Copy ” means in relation to any document delivered or issued by or on behalf of any company, a copy of such document certified as a true, complete and up to date copy of the original by any of the directors or officers for the time being of such company or by such company’s attorneys or solicitors;
“ Charged Property ” means all of the assets which from time to time are, or are expressed to be, the subject of the Transaction Security;
“Charter” means the time charterparty of the Ship dated 20 March 2007 as novated by a novation agreement dated on, or about, the date of this Agreement entered into between the Borrower and the Charterer;
“Charterer” means, Suez LNG Trading SA, a company incorporated under the laws of the Duchy of Luxembourg, having its principal office address at 76, Avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg, Grand Duché de Luxembourg;
“Charter Assignment ” means the assignment of the rights of the Borrower under the Charter required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in the agreed form;
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“ Charter Consent and Agreement ” means the agreement entered into or to be entered into between the Charterer, the Borrower and the Security Trustee substantially in the form of Schedule VII of the Charter;
“Charter Hire” means hire paid by the Charterer to the Borrower under the Charter;
“Charter Hire Payment Date” means each date on which Charter Hire is paid;
“Charter Ownership Undertaking ” means the undertaking from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower dated on, or about, the date of this Agreement;
“ Charter Termination Fee ” means any fee payable by the Charterer to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 6(r) of the Charter;
“Classification ” means, in relation to the Ship, the highest class available for a vessel of her type with the relevant Classification Society or such other classification as the Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower, have agreed in writing shall be treated as the Classification Society in relation to the Ship;
“ Classification Society ” means Det norske Veritas or such other classification society which the Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower, have agreed in writing shall be treated as the Classification Society in relation to the Ship (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);
“Comfort Letter ” means the letter dated 20 March 2007 from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower;
" Commitment " means:
(a) | in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name under the heading " Commitment" in Schedule 1 ( The Original Lenders ) and the amount of any other Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement; and |
(b) | in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement, |
to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement;
" Confidentiality Undertaking " means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a recommended form of the LMA or in any other form agreed between the Borrower and the Agent;
“ Contract Instalment ” means an instalment of the Contract Price of the Ship payable under the Shipbuilding Contract;
“ Contract Price ” means the price payable by the Borrower to the Builder for the Ship under the Shipbuilding Contract as such may be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Shipbuilding Contract;
“Current Project Cost” means that part of the Project Cost against which a Loan will be applied on the relevant Utilisation Date;
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“Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 8 ( Form of Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate );
“Debt Service Reserve” means the amount estimated by the Agent (following consultation with the Borrower) and notified to the Borrower as the amount as shall be necessary to provide for the Borrower to meet its payment obligations under this Agreement and under the Swap Contracts during the following six Months (taking account of Swap Payments receivable by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts);
“ Debt Service Reserve Account” means an interest-bearing USD account of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes any sub-accounts thereof and any other account designated in writing by the Agent to be a Debt Service Reserve Account, for the purposes of this Agreement;
“Debt Service Retention Account” means an interest-bearing USD account of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes any sub-accounts thereof and any other account designated in writing by the Agent to be a Debt Service Retention Account for the purposes of this Agreement;
“Debt Service Retention Amount” means, in relation to any Debt Service Retention Date, such sum as shall be the aggregate of:
(a) | one-third (1/3rd) of the repayment instalment falling due for payment pursuant to Clause 6.1 ( Repayment of Loans ) (as the same may have been reduced by any prepayment) on the next Repayment Date after the relevant Debt Service Retention Date; and |
(b) | the applicable fraction (as hereinafter defined) of the aggregate amount of interest falling due for payment in respect of each part of such Utilisation during and at the end of each Interest Period current at the relevant Debt Service Retention Date in respect of such Utilisation, reduced by the amount of any Swap Payment due from a Swap Bank to the Borrower or increased by the amount of any Swap Payment due from the Borrower to a Swap Bank (as applicable) on the same date and reduced by the amount of interest which has then accrued to the Debt Service Retention Account and, for this purpose, the expression “applicable fraction” in relation to each Interest Period shall mean a fraction having a numerator of one and a denominator equal to the number of Debt Service Retention Dates in respect of such Utilisation falling within the relevant Interest Period; |
“Debt Service Retention Dates” means the first Charter Hire Payment Date after the Regas Acceptance Date and each of the Charter Hire Payment Dates after such date and prior to the Termination Date;
“ Deed of Covenant ” means in relation to the Ship the deed of covenant collateral to the Mortgage for the Ship and creating charges over the Ship, its Earnings, Insurances and Requisition Compensation required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in the agreed form;
" Default " means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in Clause 24 ( Events of Default ) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default;
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“Delegate” means any delegate, agent, attorney or co-trustee appointed by the Security Trustee;
“ Delivery Loan ” means the Loan to be made available in respect of the Contract Instalment due on the Delivery Date;
“ Delivery Date ” means the date on which the Ship is delivered to the Borrower in accordance with the Shipbuilding Contract;
" Disruption Event " means either or both of:
(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, |
and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted;
“ Dividend Distribution Account ” means an interest-bearing USD Account of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes any sub-accounts thereof and any other account designated in writing by the Agent to be a Dividend Distribution Account for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Dividend Lock-Up Account ” means an interest-bearing USD Account of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes any sub-accounts thereof and any other account designated in writing by the Agent to be a Dividend Lock-Up Account for the purposes of this Agreement;
“Drydocking Cost” means each cost incurred by the Borrower in relation to a scheduled drydocking of the Ship;
“Drydocking Cost Payment” means each payment made by the Vessel Sponsors to the Borrower under Clause 5 of the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking to finance the payment by the Borrower of a Drydocking Cost which has not been funded or, as the case may be, paid by a Drydocking Cost Reimbursement on or before the due date for payment of a Drydocking Cost;
“Drydocking Cost Reimbursement” means each payment made by the Charterer to the Borrower under the Charter in reimbursement of a Drydocking Cost or, as the case may be, each payment made by the Charterer to the relevant shipyard under the Charter in direct settlement of a Drydocking Cost;
“ Earnings ” has the meaning given to that expression in the Deed of Covenant;
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“ Environmental Affiliate ” means any agent or employee of the Borrower or the Operator or any person having a contractual relationship with the Borrower or the Operator in connection with the Ship or its operation or the carriage of cargo and/or passengers thereon and/or the provision of goods and/or services on or from the Ship;
“ Environmental Approvals ” means all authorisations, consents, licences, permits, exemptions or other approvals whatsoever required by the Borrower or the Operator under applicable Environmental Laws;
“ Environmental Claim ” means (i) any claim by, or directive from, any applicable Government Entity alleging breach of, or non-compliance with, any Environmental Laws or Environmental Approvals or otherwise howsoever relating to or arising out of an Environmental Incident or (ii) any claim by any other third party howsoever relating to or arising out of an Environmental Incident (and, in each such case, “claim” shall include a claim for damages and/or direction for and/or enforcement relating to clean-up costs, removal, compliance, remedial action or otherwise) or (iii) any Proceedings arising from any of the foregoing but excluding any claim of a vexations or frivolous nature which is being contested in good faith;
“ Environmental Incident ” means, regardless of cause, (i) any actual discharge or release of Environmentally Sensitive Material from the Ship; (ii) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is discharged or released from a vessel other than the Ship which involves collision between the Ship and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, where the Ship, the Manager and/or the Borrower and/or the Operator are actually, contingently or allegedly at fault or otherwise howsoever liable (in whole or in part) or (iii) any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is discharged or released from a vessel other than the Ship and where the Ship is actually or potentially liable to be arrested as a result and/or where the Manager and/or the Borrower and/or the Operator are actually, contingently or allegedly at fault or otherwise howsoever liable;
“ Environmental Laws ” means all laws, regulations, conventions and agreements whatsoever applicable to the Borrower, the Operator or the Ship and relating to pollution, human or wildlife well-being or protection of the environment (including, without limitation, the United States Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and any comparable laws of the individual States of the United States of America);
“ Environmentally Sensitive Material ” means oil, oil products or any other products or substance which are polluting, toxic or hazardous or any substance the release of which into the environment is howsoever regulated, prohibited or penalised by or pursuant to any Environmental Law;
“Equity Payment” means each payment made by the Vessel Sponsors to the Borrower, whether by a Shareholder Loan or otherwise, pursuant to its obligations under Clause 2 of the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking to finance the payment by the Borrower of that part of the Current Project Cost not financed by a Loan;
“ Estimated Total Project Cost ” means the Borrower’s estimate of the total costs for the construction of the Ship, being on the date hereof USD337,000,000, as such amount may be increased or reduced by the Agent at each Utilisation Date (in consultation with the Borrower, subject to no Event of Default having occurred and continuing) having regard to any variation with the Project Cost at such date;
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" Event of Default " means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 24 ( Events of Default );
“ Facility ” means the term loan facility made available under this Agreement as described in Clause 2 ( The Facility );
" Facility Office " means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days' written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement;
" Fee Letter " means any letter or letters dated on or about the date of this Agreement setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 11 ( Fees );
" Finance Document " means:
(a) | any Fee Letter; |
(b) | any Security Document; |
(c) | any Selection Notice; |
(d) | any Swap Contract; |
(e) | the Trust Agreement; |
(f) | any Utilisation Request; and |
(g) | any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Borrower; |
"Finance Party" means the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Trustee, a Bookrunner, a Swap Bank or a Lender;
"Financial Indebtedness" means any indebtedness for or in respect of:
(a) | moneys borrowed and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions; |
(b) | any acceptance under any acceptance credit or bill discounting facility or dematerialised equivalent; |
(c) | 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 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 (and, when calculating the value of that 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 transaction, that amount) shall be taken into account); |
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(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 classified as borrowings under IFRS; |
(i) | any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if (i) one of the primary reasons behind entering into the agreement is to raise finance or 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 30 days after the date of supply; |
(j) | 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; and |
(k) | the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (j) above; |
“First Repayment Date ” means the date which is the earlier of:
(a) | three Months after the Regas Acceptance Date; and |
(b) | 240 days after the Delivery Date, |
provided that if such date is not the last day of an Interest Period, the date shall be the last day of the Interest Period then current;
“Flag State” means the state or territory of the Approved Flag;
“Further Additional Swap Contracts ” means any contract (other than an Original Swap Contract, an Additional Swap Contract or a MLA Swap Contract) made or to be made between a Swap Bank and the Borrower comprising an ISDA Master Agreement and any Swap Confirmation executed pursuant thereto, as shall be amended on the first Utilisation Date pursuant to Clause 8.5.1(b), pursuant to which a Swap Bank enters into a Swap Transaction;
“Government Entity” means any national or local government body, tribunal, court or regulatory or other agency and any organisation of which such body, tribunal, court or agency is a part or to which it is subject;
“Hedging Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 9 ( Form of Hedging Compliance Certificate );
"Historical Debt Service" means, at any time, the aggregate of the amounts payable (excluding any prepayments) by the Borrower under this Agreement plus the net amount payable (or, as the case may be, minus the net amount receivable) by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts during the twelve-Month period ending on the date of a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate;
"Historical Debt Service Cover Ratio" means, at any time, the ratio of the Historical Net Earnings to the Historical Debt Service;
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"Historical Net Earnings" means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Charter Hire payments less the aggregate amount of the withdrawals made from the Operating Account pursuant to Clause 19.2.1 (a) during the twelve-Month period ending on the date of a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate;
“HLNG ” means Höegh LNG Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda, having its address at c/o Appleby, Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, HM12, Hamilton, Bermuda;
"Holding Company" means, in relation to a company or corporation, any other company or corporation in respect of which it is a Subsidiary;
"IFRS" means international accounting standards within the meaning of the IAS Regulation 1606/2002;
“Information Sharing Letter” means the letter from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower dated 20 March 2007;
“Insurances” has the meaning given to that expression in the Deed of Covenant;
"Interest Period" means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 9 ( Interest Periods ) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with Clause 8.3 ( Default interest );
“ISM Code” means the International Safety Management Code (including the guidelines on its implementation), adopted by the International Maritime Organisation Assembly as Resolutions A.741(18) and A.788 (19), as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time);
“ISM Code Documentation” means the document of compliance (DOC) and safety management certificate (SMC) issued by a Classification Society pursuant to the ISM Code in relation to the Ship within the periods specified by the ISM Code;
“ISM SMS” means the safety management system which is required to be developed, implemented and maintained under the ISM Code;
“ISPS Code” means the International Ship and Port Security Code of the International Maritime Organisation and includes any amendments or extensions thereto and any regulations issued pursuant thereto;
“ISSC” means an International Ship Security Certificate issued in respect of the Ship pursuant to the ISPS Code;
“Lease Arranger” means Calyon, acting in such capacity through its office at Ruselokkveien 6, PO Box 1675 Vika, N-0120 Oslo, Norway;
"Lender" means:
(a) | any Original Lender; and |
(b) | any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party in accordance with Clause 25 ( Changes to the Parties ), |
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which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
“LHC” means Leif Höegh & Co Ltd a company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda, having its address at c/o Appleby, Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda;
“LHC Undertaking” means the undertaking to be provided by LHC to the Security Trustee in respect of the obligations of HLNG under the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking, in agreed form;
"LIBOR" means, in relation to any Loan:
(a) | the applicable Screen Rate; or |
(b) | (if no Screen Rate is available for dollars for the Interest Period of that Loan) the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Agent at its request quoted by the Reference Banks to leading banks in the London interbank market, |
as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the offering of deposits in dollars and for a period comparable to the Interest Period for that Loan;
“Loan” means a loan made or to be made under the Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that Loan;
"LMA" means the Loan Market Association;
“Loss Payable Clauses” has the meaning given to that expression in the Deed of Covenant;
"Majority Lenders" means:
(a) | if there are no Loans then outstanding, a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 66⅔% of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 66⅔% of the Total Commitments immediately prior to the reduction); or |
(b) | at any other time: |
(i) | prior to an Event of Default, a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loans then outstanding aggregate more than 66⅔% of all Loans then outstanding; or |
(ii) | following an Event of Default: |
(aa) | a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loans then outstanding; and |
(bb) | a Swap Bank (which is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender) or Swap Banks (who are Lenders or Affiliates of Lenders) whose Swap Exposure then current |
together aggregates more than 66⅔% of the aggregate of all the Loans then outstanding and the Swap Exposure;
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“Management Agreement” means the agreement to be made between the Borrower and Höegh LNG AS in relation to the management of the Ship, in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders;
“Manager” means Höegh LNG AS, a Vessel Sponsor, or any other person appointed by the Borrower, with the prior written consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), as the manager of the Ship;
“Manager's Undertaking” means the manager’s undertaking required to be executed hereunder by the Manager in favour of the Security Trustee in respect of the Ship in agreed form;
"Mandatory Cost" means the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Agent in accordance with Schedule 4 ( Mandatory Cost formula );
"Margin" means 0.50 per cent per annum;
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on:
(a) | the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower; |
(b) | the ability of a Security Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents provided that, for this purpose, HLNG, LHC and MOL shall each cease to be a “Security Party” on (i) the Regas Acceptance Date or, as the case may be, the end of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period; or |
(c) | the validity or enforceability of the Finance Documents or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under the Finance Documents; |
“MII Policy” means a mortgagee’s interest and pollution risks insurance policy (including additional perils cover) in respect of the Ship to be effected by the Agent on behalf of the Lenders (for the cost of the Lenders) on or before the first Utilisation Date and renewed or replaced annually thereafter and maintained throughout the Security Period through such brokers, with such underwriters and containing such coverage as may be acceptable to the Agent in its sole discretion, insuring a sum of at least 110% of the Loan;
“MLA Swap Contracts ” means each contract to be made between a Swap Bank and the Borrower by a novation and amendment of the Original Swap Contract on the first Utilisation Date pursuant to Clause 8.5.1, comprising an ISDA Master Agreement and a Swap Confirmation in respect of the relevant Swap Transaction;
“MOL” means Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Japan, having its principal office address at 1-1, Toranomon, 2-Chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, 105-8688.
"Month" means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that:
(a) | subject to paragraph (c) below if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, that period shall end on the next Business Day in that calendar month in which that period is to end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately preceding Business Day; |
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(b) | if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which that period is to end, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that calendar month; and |
(c) | if an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month, that Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day in the calendar month in which that Interest Period is to end. |
The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period;
“Mortgage” means the first priority mortgage of the Ship required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in agreed form;
“Negative Pledge ” means a negative pledge of the shares of the Borrower to be executed by the Vessel Sponsors in favour of the Security Trustee in agreed form;
“No-Fault Termination Remarketing Period” means the period commencing on the No-Fault Termination Date and ending on the earlier of (a) the date falling six Months thereafter and (b) the date of the Replacement Charter;
“ No-Fault Termination Right ” means the right of termination of the charter by the Charterer pursuant to Clause 6 (r) of the Charter;
“ No-Fault Termination Date” means any date upon which the Charter has been terminated pursuant to the exercise by the Charterer of its No-Fault Termination Right;
“Notice of Assignment of Insurances” , means the notice of assignment relating to the Insurances on the Ship in the form set out in the Deed of Covenant or such other form as may from time to time be required or agreed by the Agent;
“Operating Account” means an interest-bearing USD account of the Borrower with the Account Bank and includes any sub-accounts thereof and any other account designated in writing by the Agent to be the Operating Account for the purposes of this Agreement;
“Operator” means the Manager and/or any other person who is from time to time during the Security Period concerned in the operation of the Ship and falls within the definition of “Company” set out in rule 1.1.2 of the ISM Code;
“Original Swap Bank ” means SMBC Capital Markets, Inc.
“ Original Swap Contract ” means the contract made between the Original Swap Bank and the Original Swap Counterparty, as novated to the Borrower comprising an ISDA Master Agreement dated 2 April 2007 and a Swap Confirmation executed pursuant thereto, in respect of a Swap Transaction entered into on 11 April 2007 for a notional principal amount of USD260,000,000;
“ Original Swap Counterparty ” means SRV Joint Gas Ltd, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, having its registered office address at Clifton House, PO Box 1150, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108, Cayman Islands;
“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Communities that adopts or has adopted the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Community relating to Economic and Monetary Union;
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"Party" means a party to this Agreement;
“Permitted Liens”
(a) | liens in favour of suppliers up to the Casualty Amount; |
(b) | liens arising in respect of loss, damage, or expense in respect of which a bond or other security has been posted to prevent the arrest or secure the release of the Ship from arrest on account of such claim; |
(c) | liens arising by the operation of law for not more than two months’ prepaid hire under the Charter; |
(d) | liens arising by the operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of operation, repair or maintenance of the Ship where the Charterer is contesting the claim giving rise to such lien in good faith by appropriate steps and for the payment of which adequate reserves have been made in case the Charterer finally has to pay such claim so long as any such proceedings shall not, and may not reasonably be considered unlikely to, lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of the Ship, or any interest in the Ship; |
(e) | liens created in favour of a plaintiff or defendant in any action of the court or tribunal before whom such action is brought as security for costs and expenses where the Charterer is prosecuting or defending such action in good faith by appropriate steps or which are subject to a pending appeal and for which there shall have been granted a stay of execution pending such appeal and for the payment of which adequate reserves have been made so long as any such proceedings or the continue existence of such lien shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of the Ship, or any interest in the Ship; |
(f) | liens arising by operation of law in respect of Taxes which are not overdue for payment or Taxes which are overdue for payment but which are being contested in good faith by appropriate steps and in respect of which appropriate reserves have been made so long as any such proceedings or the continued existence of such lien shall not and may reasonably be considered unlikely to lead to the arrest, sale, forfeiture or loss of the Ship, or any interest in the Ship; |
(g) | liens (including possessory liens) for classification or scheduled dry docking whose aggregate cost does not exceed the Casualty Amount at any one time in respect of the Ship; |
(h) | liens for collision or salvage; and |
(i) | any other lien, the creation of which has been expressly permitted in writing by the Agent; |
“ Performance Liquidated Damages ” means the amount of (i) the aggregate of all sums received by the Borrower under Article III and Article VII, Clause 8 of the Shipbuilding Contract and under the Regas Performance Guarantee, in excess of (ii) the aggregate of all sums paid or payable by the Borrower to the Charterer under Clause 6 and Clause 7 of the Charter;
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“Permitted Security” means any Security in favour of the Secured Parties or any of them created pursuant to the Security Documents and Permitted Liens;
“Pre-delivery Security Assignment” means the assignment of the Shipbuilding Contract and the Refund Guarantee required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee, in agreed form;
“Pledge of Accounts” means the pledge of the Accounts required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee;
“Proceedings” means any litigation, arbitration, legal action or complaint or judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative proceedings whatsoever arising or instigated by anyone in any court, tribunal, public office or other forum whatsoever and wheresoever (including, without limitation, any action for provisional or permanent attachment of any thing or for injunctive remedies or interim relief and any action instigated on an ex parte basis);
“Project Cost” means the aggregate at any time of costs then due or already paid in respect of:
(a) | the Contract Instalments; |
(b) | plan approval costs, supervision costs, commissioning and other costs incurred in connection with the construction, delivery and outfitting of the Ship; |
(c) | costs of training and familiarisation of persons to be employed as crew of the Ship; |
(d) | fees (including legal fees), costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower prior to the Delivery Date in connection with the Transaction Documents; |
(e) | interest payable prior to the Delivery Date under this Agreement; |
(f) | Shareholder Loan Interest; and |
(g) | any other cost which the Agent and the Borrower agree to be included within the definition of Project Cost; |
“ Project Sponsor ” means Suez SA, a company incorporated under the laws of France, having its registered office address at 16, rue de la Ville L’Evêque-75383, Paris, Cedex 08, France;
"Projected Debt Service" means, at any time, the projected aggregate of the amounts payable (excluding any prepayments) by the Borrower under this Agreement plus the net amount payable (or, as the case may be, minus the net amount receivable) by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts during the twelve-Month period following the date of a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate;
"Projected Debt Service Cover Ratio" means, at any time, the ratio of the Projected Net Earnings to the Projected Debt Service;
"Projected Net Earnings" means, at any time, the projected aggregate amount of the Charter Hire payments to be made to the Operating Account less the aggregate amount of the withdrawals to be made from the Operating Account pursuant to Clause 19.2.1(a) during the twelve-Month period following the date of a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate;
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"Quotation Day" means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined, two Business Days before the first day of that period unless market practice differs in the London Interbank Market in which case the Quotation Day will be determined by the Agent in accordance with market practice in the London Interbank Market (and if quotations would normally be given by leading banks in the London Interbank Market on more than one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of those days);
“Receiver” means a receiver or receiver and manager or administrative receiver of the whole or any part of the Charged Property;
"Reference Banks" means the principal London offices of Calyon, DnB NOR Bank ASA and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Brussels Branch or such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Borrower;
“Refund Guarantee” means the letter of guarantee issued by the Refund Guarantor in favour of the Borrower in respect of the Builder’s obligations under the Shipbuilding Contract;
“Refund Guarantor” means the Export-Import Bank of Korea;
“Regas Acceptance Date ” means any date upon which the Ship has been accepted by Charterer under the Charter following successful completion of regasification trials;
“Regas Acceptance Loan” means the Loan to be made available on the Regas Acceptance Date for the payment of Shareholder Loan Interest;
“Regas Performance Guarantee” means the guarantee to be executed by the Regas Performance Guarantor on or before the Delivery Date in favour of the Borrower;
“Regas Performance Guarantee Assignment” means the assignment of the Regas Performance Guarantee required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee, in agreed form;
“Regas Performance Guarantor” means the Export-Import Bank of Korea or the Korea Development Bank;
“ Regas Rejection Date ” means any date upon which the Ship has been rejected by the Charterer under the Charter following three consecutive failures of the regasification trials;
“Regas Rejection Remarketing Period” means the period commencing on the Regas Rejection Date and ending on the earlier of (a) the date falling six Months thereafter or (b) the date of the Replacement Charter;
“ Regas Rejection Termination Right ” means the right of termination of the Charter by the Charterer pursuant to Clause 7 of the Charter;
“Regas Tests Acceptance Certificate” means a certificate in the form of Schedule VI of the Charter, signed by the Borrower and the Charterer;
“Registry” means the office of such registrar, commissioner or representative of the Flag State who is duly authorised and empowered to register the Ship, the Borrower's title to the Ship and the Mortgage under the laws and flag of the Flag State;
“Relevant Jurisdiction” means any jurisdiction in which the Borrower is incorporated;
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“Relevant Percentage” means 90 per cent., as such percentage may be reduced pursuant to Clause 7.11 (Effect on Commitment of other Lenders);
“Remarketing Conditions” means the conditions in the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking for the effectiveness of the Remarketing Undertaking, being the exercise by the Charterer of its No-Fault Termination Right or Regas Rejection Termination Right;
“Remarketing Period” means the No-Fault Termination Remarketing Period or the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period;
“ Remarketing Undertaking ” means the undertaking of the Vessel Sponsors to remarket the Ship as set out in the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking;
“Repayment Date” means the First Repayment Date and each of the dates falling at three-Monthly intervals thereafter up to and including the Termination Date;
"Repeating Representations" means each of the representations set out in Clause 17 ( Representations ) other than Clauses 17.3, 17.4, 17.5, 17.8, 17.9, 17.10, 17.12, 17.13, 17.20(c) and (d), 17.24 and 17.25;
“Replacement Charter” means a time charter of the Ship entered into by the Borrower with a charterer approved by the Lenders and on terms approved by the Lenders (acting reasonably);
“Requisition” means requisition for title or other compulsory acquisition, requisition, appropriation, expropriation, deprivation, forfeiture or confiscation howsoever for any reason of the Ship by any Government Entity or other competent authority, whether de jure or de facto, but shall exclude requisition for use or hire not involving requisition of title;
“Requisition Compensation” has the meaning given to that expression in the Deed of Covenant;
“Required Authorisation” means any authorisation, consent, declaration, licence, permit, exemption, approval or other document, whether imposed by or arising in connection with any law, regulation, custom, contract, security or otherwise howsoever which must be obtained at any time from any person, Government Entity, central bank or other self-regulating or supra-national authority in order to enable the Borrower lawfully to draw the Loan and/or perform all its obligations whatsoever whensoever arising and/or grant security under the relevant Security Documents and/or to ensure the continuous validity and enforceability thereof;
"Screen Rate" means the British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rate for dollars for the relevant period, displayed on the appropriate page of the Reuters screen; if the agreed page is replaced or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the appropriate rate after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders;
“Secured Parties” means each Finance Party from time to time party to this Agreement and any Receiver or Delegate;
"Security" means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect;
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“Security Documents” means
(a) | this Agreement; |
(b) | the Charter Assignment; |
(c) | the Charter Consent and Agreement; |
(d) | the Deed of Covenant; |
(e) | the LHC Undertaking; |
(f) | the Manager’s Undertaking; |
(g) | the Mortgage; |
(h) | the Negative Pledge; |
(i) | the Pledge of Accounts; |
(j) | the Pre-delivery Security Assignment; |
(k) | the Regas Performance Guarantee Assignment; |
(l) | the Supervision Agreement Assignment; |
(m) | the Swap Contracts Assignment; |
(n) | the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking; and |
(o) | any other documents as may have been or shall from time to time after the date of this Agreement be executed (by, or with the agreement of, the Borrower) to guarantee and/or to govern and/or secure all or any part of the Loan, interest thereon and other moneys from time to time owing by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (whether or not any such document also secures moneys from time to time owing pursuant to any other document or agreement). |
“Security Party” means any person (except a Finance Party) who, as a surety or mortgagor, as a party to any subordination or priorities arrangement, or in any similar capacity, executes a Finance Document;
“Security Period” means the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and continuing for so long as any moneys are owing actually or contingently under the Security Documents and while any Loan and/or the Swap Liabilities remain outstanding;
"Selection Notice" means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part II of Schedule 3 ( Requests ) given in accordance with Clause 9 ( Interest Periods );
“Shareholder Agreement” means the agreement amended and restated on, or about, the date of this Agreement entered into between MOL and HLNG;
“Shareholder Loan” means a loan made by a Vessel Sponsor to the Borrower to finance part of the Project Cost;
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“Shareholder Loan Agreement” means each agreement entered into between a Vessel Sponsor and the Borrower under which a Vessel Sponsor makes available Shareholder Loans to the Borrower;
“Shareholder Loan Interest” means at any time the interest that has accrued (using a notional interest rate of 8 per cent. per annum) in respect of a Shareholder Loan;
“Shareholder Loan Principal” means at any time the principal amount of a Shareholder Loan;
“Ship” means the 145,000 cbm shuttle and regasification LNG-carrier vessel currently known as Hull No. 1689, to be constructed and sold by the Builder to the Borrower pursuant to the Shipbuilding Contract;
“Shipbuilding Contract” means the shipbuilding contract dated 7 April 2006 as amended and supplemented by a side letter and a supplemental agreement no. 1 each dated 7 April 2006, as novated by a novation agreement dated on, or about, the date of this Agreement each entered into between the Borrower and the Builder in relation to the Ship;
“Specified Time" means a time determined in accordance with Schedule 6 ( Timetables );
"Subsidiary" means a subsidiary within the meaning of section 736 of the Companies Act 1985;
“Supervision Agreement” means the construction management agreement in respect of the supervision of the construction of the Ship dated on, or about, the date of this Agreement entered into between the Borrower, MOL and Höegh LNG AS;
“Supervision Agreement Assignment” means the assignment of the Supervision Agreement required to be executed hereunder by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee;
“Swap Confirmation ” in relation to any Swap Transaction, shall have the meaning given in the relevant Swap Contract;
“Swap Contract” means each MLA Swap Contract, the Additional Swap Contract and any Further Additional Swap Contract;
“Swap Contracts Assignment ” means the assignment of the Swap Contracts by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in agreed form;
“Swap Exposure” means at any date, the amount which a Swap Bank certifies would be the aggregate net amount in dollars which would be payable by the Borrower to that Swap Bank under the relevant Swap Contract if an Early Termination Event (as defined in the relevant Swap Contract) had occurred on that date in respect of all Swap Transactions entered into under the relevant Swap Contract;
“Swap Liabilities” means indebtedness incurred by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts;
“Swap Payment” means each net periodic payment payable under a Swap Contract or a net termination payment payable under a Swap Contract, by the Borrower to a Swap Bank or by a Swap Bank to the Borrower;
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“Swap Transaction” means a transaction entered into by the Borrower pursuant to a Swap Contract for the purpose of hedging the Borrower’s exposure under this Agreement to changes in LIBOR;
"Tax" means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same);
“Termination Date” means the date which is twelve years after the Delivery Date;
"Total Commitments" means the aggregate of the Commitments being USD300,000,000 at the date of this Agreement;
“Total Loss” means:
(a) | actual, constructive, compromised or arranged total loss of the Ship; or |
(b) | Requisition; or |
(c) | the hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Ship (other than Requisition) by any Government Entity, or by persons allegedly acting or purporting to act on behalf of any Government Entity, unless the Ship be released and restored to the Borrower within twelve Months after such incident; |
“Transaction Documents” means the Finance Documents and the Underlying Documents;
“Transaction Security” means the security constituted or intended to be constituted by the Security Documents;
"Transfer Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 ( Form of Transfer Certificate ) or any other form agreed between the Agent and the Borrower;
"Transfer Date" means, in relation to a transfer, the later of:
(a) | the proposed Transfer Date specified in the Transfer Certificate; and |
(b) | the date on which the Agent executes the Transfer Certificate; |
“Trust Agreement” means the agreement required to be executed hereunder between the Borrower, the Lenders, the Swap Banks, the Agent and the Security Trustee in agreed form;
“Underlying Documents” means;
(a) | the Charter; |
(b) | the Charter Ownership Undertaking; |
(c) | the Comfort Letter; |
(d) | the Information Sharing Letter; |
(e) | the Refund Guarantee; |
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(f) | the Regas Performance Guarantee; |
(g) | the Shareholder Agreement; |
(h) | the Shareholder Loan Agreements; |
(i) | the Shipbuilding Contract; |
(j) | the Supervision Agreement; and |
(k) | the Management Agreement; |
"Unpaid Sum" means any sum due and payable but unpaid by the Borrower under the Finance Documents;
"Utilisation" means a utilisation of the Facility;
"Utilisation Date" means the date of a Utilisation, being the date on which the relevant Loan is to be made;
"Utilisation Request" means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part I of Schedule 3 ( Requests );
"VAT" means value added tax as provided for in the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and any other tax of a similar nature;
“Vessel Sponsors” means, together, HLNG and MOL; and
“Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking” means the undertaking to be provided by the Vessel Sponsors to the Security Trustee, in agreed form.
1.2 | Construction |
1.2.1 | Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in this Agreement to: |
(a) | the " Agent ", the " Arranger ", any " Finance Party ", any " Lender ", the “ Borrower ” any “ Swap Bank ”, any “ Security Party ”, the “ Security Trustee ” or any " Party " shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees; |
(b) | a document in “ agreed form ” is a document which is previously agreed in writing by or on behalf of, the Borrower and the Agent, or, if not so agreed, is in the form specified by the Agent; |
(c) | " assets " includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description; |
(d) | a “ Finance Document ” or " Transaction Document " or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document, that Transaction Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated, supplemented, extended or restated; |
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(e) | " indebtedness " includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent; |
(f) | 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); |
(g) | 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 regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation; |
(h) | a “ provision of law ” is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted; and |
(i) | a “ time of day ” is a reference to London time. |
1.2.2 | Section, Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
1.2.3 | A term defined in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ) in the singular shall include the plural and in the plural shall include the singular. |
1.2.4 | 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. |
1.2.5 | A Default or an Event of Default is " continuing " if it has not been remedied or waived. |
1.2.6 | If any party (the “ First Party ”) to a Transaction Document shall, subject to any required consents required by the terms of the Finance Documents, be replaced by way of transfer, assumption or novation by another party (the “ Second Party ”), upon such transfer, assumption or novation taking effect: |
(a) | all references in the Finance Documents to the First Party shall be deemed to be, and shall be construed as, references to the Second Party; and |
(b) | all Security constituted by the Security Documents shall continue in full force and effect including, where applicable, as Security for any obligations of the Second Party, |
without the need for any amendment or supplement to the Finance Documents unless any amendment or supplement is otherwise required in connection with such transfer, assumption or novation.
1.3 | Currency Symbols and Definitions |
“ dollars ” and “ USD ” denote the lawful currency of the United States of America.
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1.4 | Third party rights |
Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document, a person who is not a Party has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.
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SECTION 2
THE FACILITY
2. | The Facility |
2.1 | The Facility |
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrower a dollar term loan facility in an aggregate amount up to the Total Commitments.
2.2 | Finance Parties' rights and obligations |
2.2.1 | 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. |
2.2.2 | 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 the Borrower shall be a separate and independent debt. |
2.2.3 | A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents. |
3. | Purpose |
3.1 | Purpose |
The Borrower agrees that all amounts borrowed by it under the Facility shall be applied towards financing part of the Project Cost, provided that Shareholder Loan Interest may be financed only by a Regas Acceptance Loan.
3.2 | Lease financing |
3.2.1 | In the event that the Borrower intends to enter into a UK or French tax-advantaged lease financing for the Ship with the Lease Arranger, the Finance Parties shall agree to amend the Finance Documents and enter into such other documentation as may be required so that the facility provided hereby can be used to support such lease financing, provided that: |
(a) | the terms and conditions of any amendments to the Finance Documents and any other documentation to be entered into by the Lenders are acceptable to the Finance Parties; and |
(b) | the Security to be provided to the Lenders and the Swap Banks shall, in the opinion of the Lenders and the Swap Banks, be of at least equivalent value to the Transaction Security. |
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3.2.2 | In connection with the matters referred to in Clause 3.2.1, the Finance Parties shall act in good faith and in accordance with their respective normal internal procedures for considering these and similar matters. |
3.3 | Monitoring |
No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement.
4. | Conditions of Utilisation |
4.1 | Initial conditions precedent |
4.1.1 | The Borrower may not deliver a Utilisation Request unless the Agent has received all the documentation and other evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 ( Conditions Precedent ) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied. |
4.1.2 | Subject to Clause 4.1.1, the Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ Participation ) in relation to any Utilisation (other than in respect of a Delivery Loan or a Regas Acceptance Loan) if, by the Specified Time on the proposed Utilisation Date for that Utilisation, the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) in relation to the Ship in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied. |
4.1.3 | The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ Participation ) in relation to a Utilisation in respect of a Delivery Loan, if, by the Specified Time on the proposed Utilisation Date, the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part III of Schedule 2 ( Conditions Precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied. |
4.1.4 | The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 (Lenders’ Participation) in relation to a Utilisation in respect of a Regas Acceptance Loan, if by the Specified Time on the proposed Utilisation Date, the Agent has received a Certified Copy of the Regas Tests Acceptance Certificate. The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied. |
4.2 | Further conditions precedent |
4.2.1 | The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders' participation ) if on the proposed Utilisation Date: |
(a) | it has received evidence of payment by the Borrower of the Equity Payment in settlement of that part of the Current Project Cost which will not be financed by the proposed Loan; |
(b) | no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan; |
(c) | the Repeating Representations to be made by the Borrower are true in all material respects. |
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SECTION 3
UTILISATION
5. | Utilisation |
5.1 | Delivery of a Utilisation Request |
The Borrower may utilise the Facility by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than the Specified Time.
5.2 | Completion of a Utilisation Request |
5.2.1 | Each Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless: |
(a) | the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period; |
(b) | the currency and amount of the Utilisation comply with Clause 5.3 ( Currency and amount ); and |
(c) | the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 9 ( Interest Periods ). |
5.2.2 | Only one Utilisation may be requested in each Utilisation Request. |
5.3 | Currency and amount |
5.3.1 | The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be dollars. |
5.3.2 | The amount of the proposed Utilisation shall be the lesser of: |
(a) | the Available Facility; and |
(b) | an amount which, together with the aggregate amount of any prior Utilisations, does not exceed the Relevant Percentage of the Project Cost (excluding Shareholder Loan Interest other than in the case of a Regas Acceptance Loan). |
5.4 | Lenders' participation |
5.4.1 | If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender shall make its participation in each Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office. |
5.4.2 | The amount of each Lender's participation in each Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to making the Loan. |
5.4.3 | The Agent shall notify each Lender of the amount of each Loan and the amount of its participation in that Loan by the Specified Time. |
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5.5 | Cancellation of Commitment |
The Total Commitments which, at that time, are unutilised shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period.
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SECTION 4
REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
6. | Repayment |
6.1 | Repayment of Loans |
6.1.1 | Subject to Clause 6.1.2, the Borrower shall repay the Loans in consecutive quarterly instalments in the amounts (the “ Repayment Instalments ”) and on the dates (the “ Repayment Dates ”) as set out in Schedule 7 ( Scheduled Repayments ). |
6.1.2 | On the date upon which the First Repayment Date is finalised, the Agent and Borrower shall agree to amend the Repayment Instalments and the Repayment Dates so that the Borrower shall repay the Loans in consecutive quarterly instalments commencing on the First Repayment Date and thereafter at three-Monthly intervals up to and including the Termination Date, provided that the “balloon” instalment of USD164,993,957.31 set out in Schedule 7 ( Scheduled Repayments ) shall not be amended. |
6.2 | Reborrowing |
The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Facility which is repaid.
7. | Prepayment and cancellation |
7.1 | Illegality |
If it becomes unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction for a Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain its participation in any Loan:
(a) | that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event; |
(b) | upon the Agent notifying the Borrower, the Available Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled; and |
(c) | the Borrower shall repay that Lender's participation in the Loans on the last day of the Interest Period for each Loan occurring after the Agent has notified the Borrowers or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law). |
7.2 | Mandatory Prepayment – Material Adverse Charge |
If any event or circumstance occurs which the Majority Lenders reasonably believe might have a material adverse effect on the ability of HLNG, LHC or MOL to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents to which each is a party up to, as the case may be, (i) the Regas Acceptance Date or (ii) the end of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period, the Borrower shall, within 45 days of receipt of notice from the Agent, prepay the Loans in full.
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7.3 | Mandatory Prepayment - Total Loss |
7.3.1 | On the date falling 120 days after that on which the Ship becomes a Total Loss or, if earlier, on the date upon which the relevant insurance proceeds are, or Requisition Compensation is, received by the Borrower (or the Security Trustee or any other Finance Party pursuant to the Security Documents), the Borrower shall prepay the Loans. |
7.3.2 | For the purpose of this Agreement, a Total Loss shall be deemed to have occurred: |
(a) | in the case of an actual total loss of the Ship, on the actual date and at the time the Ship was lost or, if such date is not known, on the date on which the Ship was last reported; |
(b) | in the case of a constructive total loss of the Ship, upon the date and at the time notice of abandonment of the Ship is given to the then insurers of the Ship (provided a claim for total loss is admitted by such insurers) or, if such insurers do not immediately admit such a claim, at the date and at the time at which either a total loss is subsequently admitted by such insurers or a total loss is subsequently adjudged by a competent court of law or arbitration tribunal to have occurred; |
(c) | in the case of a compromised or arranged total loss of the Ship, on the date upon which a binding agreement as to such compromised or arranged total loss has been entered into by the then insurers of the Ship; |
(d) | in the case of Requisition, on the date upon which the relevant requisition of title or other compulsory acquisition occurs; and |
(e) | in the case of hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest, detention or confiscation of the Ship (other than where the same amounts to Requisition of the Ship) by any Government Entity, or by persons allegedly acting or purporting to act on behalf of any Government Entity, which deprives the Borrower of the use of the Ship for more than 30 days, upon the expiry of the period of twelve Months after the date upon which the relevant incident occurred. |
7.4 | Mandatory Prepayment – sale of Ship |
If the Ship is sold, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in full on or before the date upon which the sale is completed by delivery of the Ship to the purchaser.
7.5 | Mandatory Prepayment – termination of Shipbuilding Contract etc. |
If any of the Shipbuilding Contract, the Refund Guarantee or the Regas Performance Guarantee is cancelled, terminated or rescinded for any reason other than by expiry in accordance with its terms, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in full.
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7.6 | Mandatory Prepayment – termination of Charter |
7.6.1 | If the Charter is cancelled, terminated or rescinded for any reason other than the exercise by the Charterer of the No-Fault Termination Right or the Regas Rejection Termination Right, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in full. |
7.6.2 | If the Charter is terminated pursuant to the exercise by the Charterer of the No-Fault Termination Right, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to the Charter Termination Fee, such prepayment shall pro tanto satisfy the obligations under Clause 6.1 (Repayment of Loans ) and shall be applied pro rata against the outstanding repayment instalments. |
7.6.3 | If the Charter is terminated pursuant to the exercise by the Charterer of the Regas Rejection Termination Right, the Borrower shall, within five Business Days of the Regas Rejection Date, prepay the Loans in an amount equal to the aggregate of: |
(a) | the Performance Liquidated Damages; and |
(b) | the Additional Equity Prepayment; |
and such prepayments shall pro tanto satisfy the obligations under Clause 6.1 (Repayment of Loans ) and shall be applied pro rata against the outstanding repayment instalments.
7.7 | Mandatory Prepayment – remarketing of Ship |
7.7.1 | During the Remarketing Period: |
(a) | (i) | following exercise by the Charterer of the Regas Rejection Termination Right, the Borrower shall apply the Additional Equity Debt Service Provision from time to time to meet its payment obligations under this Agreement and under the Swap Contracts; or |
(ii) | following the exercise by the Charterer of the No-fault Termination Right, the Borrower shall apply the Debt Service Reserve from time to time to meet its payment obligations under this Agreement and under the Swap Contracts; and |
(b) | the Borrower shall not make any payments, prepayments or repayments in respect of a Shareholder Loan, but interest on a Shareholder Loan may be capitalised. |
7.7.2 | If a Replacement Charter is entered into during the Remarketing Period: |
(a) | the Lenders shall continue to make the Loans then outstanding available to the Borrower (subject to any amendment of the Finance Documents which may have been a condition to the Lenders’ approval of the Replacement Charter); |
(b) | in the case of the No-Fault Termination Remarketing Period, the Debt Service Reserve shall be adjusted to reflect the reduced debt service requirement resulting from the prepayment pursuant to Clause 7.6.2; and |
(c) | the Lenders will consider in good faith (taking into account the terms and nature of the Replacement Charter) any request by the Borrower for additional finance for the Ship (without incurring an obligation to pay any fees for the arrangement of such finance) in an amount of up to the aggregate of the amounts prepaid under Clause 7.6.2 or Clause 7.6.3 (as applicable). |
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7.7.3 | If a Replacement Charter has not been entered into by the end of the Remarketing Period, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in full. |
7.7.4 | If any part of the Additional Equity Debt Service Provision is not utilised by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 7.7.1 (a)(i), at the end of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period in circumstances where no Replacement Charter has been entered into, such amount shall be applied in pro tanto satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligation under Clause 7.7.3. |
7.7.5 | If any part of the Additional Equity Debt Service Provision is not utilised by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 7.7.1 (a)(i), at the end of the Regas Rejection Remarketing Period in circumstances where a Replacement Charter has been entered into, such amount (or part thereof) as in the opinion of the Lenders (acting reasonably) is necessary to reduce the Loans to ensure debt service by the charter hire payable under the Replacement Charter shall be applied in prepayment of the Loans pro rata against the outstanding repayment instalments. |
7.8 | Voluntary cancellation |
The Borrower may, if they give the Agent not less than 5 Business Days' (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, cancel the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of USD10,000,000) of the Total Commitments. Any cancellation under this Clause 7.8 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably.
7.9 | Voluntary prepayment of Loans |
7.9.1 | The Borrower may, if it gives the Agent not less than 5 Business Days' (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior written notice, prepay the whole or any part of any Loan (but, if in part, being an amount that reduces the amount of that Loan by a minimum amount of USD10,000,000 and, if more, in multiples of USD1,000,000). |
7.9.2 | A Loan may only be prepaid after the first day on which the Available Facility is zero. |
7.9.3 | Any prepayment under this Clause 7.9 shall satisfy the obligations under Clause 6.1 ( Repayment of Loans ) in inverse order of maturity. |
7.10 | Right of repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender |
7.10.1 | If: |
(a) | any sum payable to any Lender by the Borrower is required to be increased under Clause 12.2 ( Tax Gross-up) ; or |
(b) | any Lender claims indemnification from the Borrower under Clause 12.3 ( Tax indemnit y) or Clause 13 ( Increased costs ), |
the Borrower may, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for indemnification continues, give the Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lender's participation in the Loans.
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7.10.2 | On receipt of a notice referred to in Clause 7.10.1 , the Commitment of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero. |
7.10.3 | On the last day of the then current Interest Period which ends after the Borrower has given notice under Clause 7.10.1 (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Borrower in that notice), the Borrower shall repay that Lender's participation in that Loan. |
7.11 | Effect on Commitment of other Lenders |
If the Commitment of any Lender is reduced or cancelled pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, the Relevant Percentage shall be reduced by the same proportion as, before such reduction or cancellation, the Available Commitment of the Lender whose Commitment was reduced or cancelled bore to the Total Commitments.
7.12 | Effect on Swap Contracts |
On or prior to any repayment or prepayment of any part of a Loan, or if any part of the Facility in respect of which a Swap Transaction has been entered into is not utilised under this Agreement prior to the end of the Availability Period, the Borrower shall wholly or partially reverse, unwind, offset or terminate (and settle at the then mark-to-market valuation) one or more of the Swap Transactions forming part of the Swap Contracts in the following order:
(a) | first , any Further Additional Swap Contracts; |
(b) | secondly , the Additional Swap Contract; |
(c) | thirdly , the MLA Swap Contracts (provided that the Borrower shall reverse, unwind, offset or terminate such Swap Transactions in equal amounts), |
so that the aggregate notional principal amount of the continuing Swap Transactions does not exceed 110 per cent. of the amount of the Loans and the Borrower shall at the same time supply a Hedging Compliance Certificate to the Agent setting out computations (in reasonable detail) as to compliance with this Clause 7.11 and Clause 8.5.2 as at that date.
7.13 | Restrictions |
7.13.1 | Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under this Clause 7 ( Prepayment and Cancellation ) shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment. |
7.13.2 | 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. |
7.13.3 | The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Facility which is prepaid. |
7.13.4 | The Borrower shall not repay or prepay all or any part of a Loan or cancel all or any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement. |
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7.13.5 | No amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated. |
7.13.6 | If the Agent receives a notice under this Clause 7 ( Prepayment and Cancellation ) it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to either the Borrower or the affected Lender, as appropriate. |
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SECTION 5
COSTS OF UTILISATION
8. | Interest |
8.1 | Calculation of interest |
The rate of interest on each Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:
(a) | Margin; |
(b) | LIBOR; and |
(c) | Mandatory Cost, if any. |
8.2 | Payment of interest |
The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on each Loan on the last day of each Interest Period (and, if the Interest Period is longer than three Months, on the dates falling at three-Monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period).
8.3 | Default interest |
8.3.1 | If the Borrower fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to Clause 8.3.2 below, is one 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 Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing under this Clause 8.3 ( Default Interest ) shall be immediately payable by the Borrower on demand by the Agent . |
8.3.2 | If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period: |
(a) | the first Interest Period for that overdue amount shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to that Loan; and |
(b) | the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest Period shall be one per cent. higher than the rate which would have applied if the overdue amount had not become due. |
8.3.3 | Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that overdue amount but will remain immediately due and payable. |
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8.4 | Notification of rates of interest |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the relevant Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.
8.5 | Interest Rate Hedging |
8.5.1 | On the first Utilisation Date, following receipt of confirmation from the Agent that all relevant conditions precedent have been satisfied pursuant to Clause 4 ( Conditions of Utilisation ): |
(a) | the Original Swap Contract shall be novated and amended so that: |
(i) | each Swap Bank is a party to a MLA Swap Contract (and each MLA Swap Contract shall be on the same terms and for the same notional principal amounts), and |
(ii) | the Swap Liabilities in respect thereof are secured by the Transaction Security; |
(b) | the Additional Swap Contract and any Further Additional Swap Contract shall be amended so that the Swap Liabilities in respect thereof are secured by the Transaction Security. |
8.5.2 | The Borrower shall ensure that, on the Utilisation Date for the Delivery Loan and at all times thereafter during the Security Period, the aggregate notional principal amounts of the then current Swap Transactions is equal to or greater than 90 per cent. of the amount of the Loans. |
9. | Interest Periods |
9.1 | Selection of Interest Periods |
9.1.1 | The Borrower may select an Interest Period for a Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan or (if the Loan has already been borrowed) in a Selection Notice. |
9.1.2 | Each Selection Notice for a Loan is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Agent by the Borrower not later than the Specified Time. |
9.1.3 | If a Borrower fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Agent in accordance with Clause 9.1.2 above, the relevant Interest Period will, subject to Clause 9.2 ( Changes to Interest Periods ), be three Months. |
9.1.4 | Subject to this Clause 9 ( Interest Periods ), the Borrower may select an Interest Period of three Months or any other period agreed between the Borrower and the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders). In addition the Borrower may select an Interest Period of less than one Month, if necessary to ensure that the Loan has an Interest Period ending on a Repayment Date. |
9.1.5 | An Interest Period for a Loan shall not extend beyond the Termination Date. |
9.1.6 | Each Interest Period for a Loan shall start on the Utilisation Date or (if already made) on the last day of its preceding Interest Period. |
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9.2 | Changes to Interest Periods |
If an Interest Period would otherwise overrun a Repayment Date, such Interest Period shall end on such Repayment Date.
9.3 | Non-Business Days |
If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).
9.4 | Consolidation of Loans |
The first Interest Period applicable to the second and any subsequent Loan shall end on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Loan then current, whereupon those Loans will be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan.
10. | Changes to the calculation of interest |
10.1 | Absence of quotations |
Subject to Clause 10.2 ( Market disruption ), if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks.
10.2 | Market disruption |
10.2.1 | If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to a Loan for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lender's share of that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of: |
(a) | the Margin; |
(b) | the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event before 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 that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select; and |
(c) | the Mandatory Cost, if any, applicable to that Lender's participation in the Loan. |
10.2.2 | In this Agreement " Market Disruption Event " means: |
(a) | at or about noon 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 Agent to determine LIBOR for dollars for the relevant Interest Period; or |
(b) | before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in a Loan exceed 35 per cent. of that Loan) that the cost to it or them of obtaining matching deposits in the London Interbank Market would be in excess of LIBOR. |
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Alternative basis of interest or funding
10.2.3 | If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Agent or the Borrower so requires, the Agent and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than thirty days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest. |
10.2.4 | Any alternative basis agreed pursuant Clause 10.2.3 above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Borrower, be binding on all Parties. |
10.3 | Break Costs |
10.3.1 | The Borrower shall, within three 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 Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum. |
10.3.2 | Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue. |
11. | Fees |
11.1 | Commitment fee |
11.1.1 | The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) a fee computed at the rate of 0.20 per cent. per annum on that Lender's Available Commitment for the Availability Period. |
11.1.2 | The accrued commitment fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of three Months which ends during the Availability Period, on the last day of the Availability Period and, if cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lender's Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective. |
11.2 | Arrangement fee |
The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger (for its own account) an arrangement fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Fee Letter.
11.3 | Agency fee |
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for its own account) the agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Fee Letter.
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SECTION 6
ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
12. | Tax gross up and indemnities |
12.1 | Definitions |
12.1.1 | In this Agreement: |
"Tax Credit" means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment or refund of any Tax.
"Tax Deduction" means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document (other than a Swap Contract).
"Tax Payment" means either the increase in a payment made by the Borrower to a Finance Party under Clause 12.2 ( Tax gross-up ) or a payment under Clause 12.3 ( Tax indemnity ).
12.1.2 | Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 12 a reference to "determines" or "determined" means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination. |
12.2 | Tax gross-up |
12.2.1 | The Borrower shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law. |
12.2.2 | The Borrower shall promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Borrower. |
12.2.3 | If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by the Borrower, the amount of the payment due from the Borrower shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required. |
12.2.4 | If the Borrower is required to make a Tax Deduction, the Borrower shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law. |
12.2.5 | Within thirty days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Borrower shall deliver to the Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment has been paid to the relevant taxing authority. |
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12.2.6 | The Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall cooperate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for the Borrower to make payments to all Lenders without a Tax Deduction. |
12.3 | Tax indemnity |
12.3.1 | The Borrower shall (within three Business Days of demand by the Agent) pay to a 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 by that Finance Party in respect of a Finance Document. |
12.3.2 | Clause 12.3.1 shall not apply: |
(a) | with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party: |
(i) | under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident or is engaged or deemed to be engaged in a trade or a business or has a presence for tax purposes; or |
(ii) | under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party's Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction, |
if that Tax is 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; or
(b) | to the extent a loss, liability or cost is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 12.2 ( Tax gross-up ). |
12.3.3 | A Finance Party making, or intending to make a claim under Clause 12.3.1 shall promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall notify the Borrower. |
12.3.4 | A Finance Party shall, on receiving a payment from the Borrower under this Clause 12.3, notify the Agent. |
12.4 | Tax Credit |
If the Borrower makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:
(a) | a Tax Credit is attributable either to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part, or to that Tax Payment; and |
(b) | that Finance Party has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit, |
the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Borrower 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.
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12.5 | Stamp taxes |
The Borrower shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document.
12.6 | Value added tax |
12.6.1 | All consideration expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT. If VAT is chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party in connection with a Finance Document, that Party shall pay to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT. |
12.6.2 | Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse a Finance Party for any costs or expenses, that Party shall also at the same time pay and indemnify the Finance Party against all VAT incurred by the Finance Party in respect of the costs or expenses to the extent that the Finance Party reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment or refund of the VAT. |
13. | Increased costs |
13.1 | Increased costs |
13.1.1 | Subject to Clause 13.3 ( Exceptions ) the Borrower shall, within three Business Days of a demand by the 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 or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement. |
13.1.2 | In this Agreement " Increased Costs " means: |
(a) | a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Party's (or its Affiliate's) overall capital; |
(b) | an additional or increased cost; or |
(c) | 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 Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.
13.2 | Increased cost claims |
13.2.1 | A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 13.1 ( Increased costs ) shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower. |
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13.2.2 | Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its increased costs and providing reasonable detail as to the computation of such amount. |
13.3 | Exceptions |
13.3.1 | Clause 13.1 ( Increased costs ) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is: |
(a) | attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by the Borrower; |
(b) | compensated for by Clause 12.3 ( Tax indemnity ) (or would have been compensated for under Clause 12.3 ( Tax indemnity ) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in Clause 12.3.2 applied); |
(c) | compensated for by the payment of the Mandatory Cost; or |
(d) | attributable to breach by, the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation, which breach is wilful or attributable to the gross negligence of that party. |
13.3.2 | In this Clause 13.3, a reference to a " Tax Deduction " has the same meaning given to the term in Clause 12.1 ( Definitions ). |
14. | Other indemnities |
14.1 | Currency indemnity |
14.1.1 | If any sum due from the Borrower 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: |
(a) | making or filing a claim or proof against the Borrower; |
(b) | obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings, |
the Borrower shall as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each 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.
14.1.2 | The Borrower waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable. |
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14.2 | Other indemnities |
The Borrower shall, within five Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a result of:
(a) | the occurrence of any Event of Default; |
(b) | a failure by the Borrower 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 29 ( Sharing among the Finance Parties ); |
(c) | funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Loan requested by the Borrower in a Utilisation 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); or |
(d) | a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower. |
14.3 | Indemnity to the Agent |
The Borrower shall promptly indemnify the Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:
(a) | investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default; or |
(b) | acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised. |
14.4 | Environmental indemnity |
The Borrower shall indemnify each Finance Party on demand and hold it harmless from and against all costs, claims, expenses, payments, charges, losses, demands, liabilities, actions, Proceedings (civil or criminal), penalties, fines, damages, judgements, orders or sanctions which may be incurred or made or asserted whensoever against such Finance Party at any time, whether before or after the repayment in full of principal and interest under this Agreement, arising howsoever out of an Environmental Claim made or asserted against such Finance Party (and in respect of which the Borrower has been consulted by that Finance Party) which would not have been, or been capable of being, made or asserted against such Finance Party had it not entered into any of the Finance Documents or been involved in any of the resulting or associated transactions.
14.5 | Exclusions |
The indemnities contained in this Clause 14 shall not extend to any claim or liability of a Finance Party to the extent that such claim or liability:
(a) | is one in respect of which that Finance Party is expressly and specifically indemnified and has received and is entitled to retain such indemnity under any other provision of this Agreement or any other Finance Document; or |
(b) | is a cost or expense (including but not limited to normal administrative costs or overhead expenses) which the Finance Parties have agreed to bear under this Agreement or any other Finance Document; or |
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(c) | is directly and exclusively caused by any failure on the part of that Finance Party to comply with any of its obligations under the Finance Documents. |
15. | Mitigation by the Lenders |
15.1 | Mitigation |
15.1.1 | Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Borrower, 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 7.1 ( Illegality ), Clause 12 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ), Clause 13 ( Increased costs ) or Schedule 4 ( Mandatory Cost formula ) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office or to another financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Agent. |
15.1.2 | Clause 15.1.1 above does not in any way limit the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents. |
15.2 | Limitation of liability |
15.2.1 | The Borrower shall 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 15 ( Mitigation by Lenders ). |
15.2.2 | A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 15 ( Mitigation by Lenders ) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it. |
16. | Costs and expenses |
16.1 | Transaction expenses |
The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees in amounts agreed by the Borrower) reasonably incurred by any of them (and in respect of which prior notice has been given to the Borrower) in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution and syndication of:
(a) | this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and |
(b) | any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement. |
16.2 | Amendment costs |
If the Borrower requests an amendment, waiver or consent, the Borrower shall, within five Business Days of demand, reimburse the Agent for the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agent in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.
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16.3 | Enforcement costs |
The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document.
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SECTION 7
REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT
17. | Representations |
The Borrower makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 17 to each Finance Party on the date of this Agreement.
17.1 | Status |
17.1.1 | It is a corporation, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation. |
17.1.2 | It has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted. |
17.2 | Share capital and ownership |
The Borrower has an authorised share capital of USD50,000 divided into 50,000 shares with a nominal value of USD1.00 each, all of which shares have been issued and the legal title and beneficial ownership of those shares is held, free of any Security or other claim, by HLNG as to 50 per cent. and by MOL as to 50 per cent.
17.3 | Required Authorisations |
All Required Authorisations have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
17.4 | Binding obligations |
The obligations expressed to be assumed by it in each Transaction Document are, subject to any general principles of law limiting its obligations which are specifically referred to in any legal opinion delivered pursuant to Clause 4 ( Conditions of Utilisation ), legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations and each Security Document to which it is a party creates the security interests which that Security Document purports to create and those security interests are valid and effective.
17.5 | Non-conflict with other obligations |
The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents, and the granting of the Transaction Security, do not and will not conflict with:
(a) | any law or regulation applicable to it; |
(b) | its constitutional documents; or |
(c) | in any material respect, any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any of its assets. |
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17.6 | Power and authority |
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 Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by those Transaction Documents, and no limit on its powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowing, grant of security, or giving of guarantees or indemnities contemplated by the Transaction Documents to which it is a party.
17.7 | Validity and admissibility in evidence |
All Authorisations required or desirable:
(a) | to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations in the Transaction Documents to which it is a party; and |
(b) | to make the Transaction Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in the Relevant Jurisdiction, |
have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect, except any Authorisations referred to in Clause 17.10 ( No filing or stamp taxes ).
17.8 | Governing law and enforcement |
17.8.1 | The choice of English law as the governing law of the Finance Documents (other than the Mortgage) will be recognised and enforced in the Relevant Jurisdictions. |
17.8.2 | Any judgment obtained in England in relation to a Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in the Relevant Jurisdiction. |
17.9 | Deduction of Tax |
It is not required to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it may make under any Finance Document.
17.10 | No filing or stamp taxes |
Under the law of the Relevant Jurisdiction it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents except for the registration of the Mortgage which will be completed at the Delivery Date.
17.11 | No default |
17.11.1 | No Event of Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the making of any Utilisation or the entry into, or performance of, or any transaction contemplated by, the Transaction Documents. |
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17.11.2 | No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes a default under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or to which its assets are subject which might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
17.12 | No misleading information |
17.12.1 | Any written factual information provided by the Borrower in connection with the Facility 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. |
17.12.2 | Any financial projections provided by the Borrower in connection with the Facility have been prepared on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of reasonable assumptions. |
17.12.3 | Nothing has occurred or been omitted from the information so provided and no information has been given or withheld that results in the information so provided being untrue or misleading in any material respect. |
17.13 | No proceedings pending or threatened |
No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings of or before any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect have (to the best of its knowledge and belief, having made due and careful enquiry) been started or threatened against the Borrower.
17.14 | No breach of laws |
It has not breached any law or regulation which will breach or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
17.15 | Security and Financial Indebtedness |
17.15.1 | No Security exists over the Charged Property other than Permitted Security. |
17.15.2 | The Borrower has no Financial Indebtedness outstanding other than as permitted by this Agreement. |
17.16 | Ranking |
The Transaction Security has or will have first ranking priority and it is not subject to any prior ranking or pari passu ranking Security.
17.17 | Good title to assets |
It has a good, valid and marketable title to, or valid leases or licences of, and all appropriate Authorisations to use, the assets necessary to carry on its business as presently conducted.
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17.18 | Legal and beneficial ownership |
It is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the respective assets over which it purports to grant Security.
17.19 | Shares |
The shares of the Borrower which are subject to the Transaction Security are fully paid and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights.
17.20 | Environmental Matters |
Except as may already have been disclosed by the Borrower in writing to, and acknowledged in writing by, the Agent:
(a) | the Borrower and the Operator and, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief (having made due enquiry), their respective Environmental Affiliates have complied with the provisions of all Environmental Laws in relation to the Ship; |
(b) | the Borrower and the Operator and, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief (having made due enquiry), their respective Environmental Affiliates have obtained all Environmental Approvals in relation to the Ship and are in compliance with all such Environmental Approvals; |
(c) | no Environmental Claim has been made or threatened or pending against the Borrower, the Operator or, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief (having made due enquiry), any of their respective Environmental Affiliates; and |
(d) | there has been no Environmental Incident. |
17.21 | Taxation |
17.21.1 | It has duly and punctually paid and discharged all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties (save to the extent that (i) payment is being contested in good faith, (ii) it has maintained adequate reserves for those Taxes and (iii) payment can be lawfully withheld). |
17.21.2 | It is not materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns. |
17.22 | Compliance with Money Laundering Regulation |
On the date hereof and on each day throughout the Security Period, in relation to the borrowing by the Borrower of the Loans, the performance and discharge of its obligations and liabilities under this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents and the transactions and other arrangements effected or contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Finance Documents to which the Borrower is a party, it is acting for its own account and that the foregoing will not involve or lead to a contravention of any law, official requirement or other regulatory measure or procedure which has been implemented to combat “money laundering” (as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308/EEC), as amended, of the Council of the European Communities).
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17.23 | No Winding-up |
The Borrower has not taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of its knowledge and belief) threatened against the Borrower its winding-up, dissolution, administration or otherwise for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, conservator, custodian, trustee or similar officer of it or of any or all of its assets or revenues.
17.24 | No material adverse change |
No event or circumstance has occurred which (to the best of its knowledge and belief) might have a Material Adverse Effect.
17.25 | Underlying Documents |
17.25.1 | The Certified Copies or originals of the Underlying Documents delivered or to be delivered to the Agent pursuant to Clause 18.1 ( Information: miscellaneous ): |
(a) | are, or will when delivered be, true and complete copies or, as the case may be, originals of such documents; |
(b) | constitute valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto; and |
(c) | comprise the entire agreement between the parties to such documents and there have been no amendments or variations thereof. |
17.25.2 | All conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the Underlying Documents and of the obligations of the parties thereunder, have been fulfilled. |
17.25.3 | The Borrower is in compliance with all its obligations under the Underlying Documents to which it is a party and, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge and belief, no other party to an Underlying Document is in material default of its obligations thereunder. |
17.26 | Repetition |
17.26.1 | The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by the Borrower by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on the date of each Utilisation Request and the first day of each Interest Period. |
17.26.2 | The Borrower shall, on the Delivery Date, be deemed to represent that save for Permitted Liens the Ship is in the sole, unencumbered legal and beneficial ownership of the Borrower, operationally seaworthy and in every way fit for service and is classed with the Classification, free of all requirements and overdue recommendations of the Classification Society. |
18. | Information Undertakings |
The undertakings in this Clause 18 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
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18.1 | Financial statements |
The Borrower shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders:
18.1.1 | as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each of its financial years, its audited consolidated financial statements for that financial year; and |
18.1.2 | as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each semi-annual period of each of its financial years, its unaudited consolidated financial statements for that semi-annual period. |
18.2 | Requirements as to financial statements |
18.2.1 | Each set of financial statements delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 18.1 ( Financial statements ) shall be certified by a director of the Borrower as fairly representing its financial condition as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up. |
18.2.2 | The Borrower shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 18.1 ( Financial statements ) is prepared using IFRS. |
18.2.3 | The Borrower shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 18.1.1 has been audited by Ernst & Young or any other internationally recognised firm of independent auditors. |
18.2.4 | The Borrower shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 18.1 ( Financial Statements ) are in English or accompanied by a certified translation into English. |
18.3 | Information: miscellaneous |
The Borrower shall supply to the Agent:
(a) | promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against the Borrower, and which might, if adversely determined, have a Material Adverse Effect; |
(b) | promptly, all such information as any Finance Party (through the Agent) may from time to time reasonably require regarding the Ship, her employment, position and engagements, particulars of all towages and salvages, and copies of all charters and other contracts for her employment, or otherwise howsoever concerning her; |
(c) | promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of: |
(i) | any damage to the Ship (and any insurance claim made in respect thereof) requiring repairs the cost of which will or is reasonably likely to exceed the Casualty Amount; |
(ii) | any occurrence in consequence of which the Ship has or may become a Total Loss; |
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(iii) | any requisition of the Ship for hire; |
(iv) | any requirement or recommendation made by any insurer or the Classification Society or by any competent authority which is not, or cannot be, complied with in accordance with its terms; |
(v) | any arrest or detention of the Ship or any exercise or purported exercise of a lien or other claim on the Ship or the Earnings or Insurances for the Ship or any part thereof; |
(vi) | any petition or notice of meeting to consider any resolution to wind up the Borrower (or any event analogous thereto under the laws of the place of its incorporation); |
(vii) | any threatened or actual withdrawal of any ISM Code Documentation; |
(viii) | the making of any Environmental Claim against the Borrower or the Operator or any of its Environmental Affiliates or of the occurrence of any Environmental Incident which may give rise to any such Environmental Claim; or |
(ix) | the issue of any ISM Code Documentation (and promptly on request, to deliver a copy (certified as a true copy by the Borrower) of all ISM Code Documentation to the Agent) or of the receipt by any Operator of notification that any application for the same has been refused; |
(d) | promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition, business and operations of the Borrower as any Finance Party (through the Agent) may reasonably request; |
18.4 | Notification of default |
18.4.1 | The Borrower shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence (unless the Borrower is aware that a notification has already been provided by the Borrower). |
18.4.2 | Promptly upon a request by the Agent, the Borrower shall supply to the Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors or senior officers on its behalf 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). |
18.5 | “Know your customer” checks |
If:
(a) | the introduction of or change in (or the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement; |
(b) | any change in the status of the Borrower or the composition of the shareholders of the Borrower after the date of this Agreement; or |
(c) | a proposed assignment by a Lender of any of its rights under this Agreement |
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obliges the Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (c) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Borrower shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of the Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (c) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or any Lender or, in the case described in paragraph (c) above, 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 transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
19. | Accounts |
19.1 | General |
19.1.1 | The Borrower undertakes with each Finance Party that it will: |
(a) | on or before issue of the Utilisation Request for the first Utilisation, open each of the Accounts; and |
(b) | procure that all moneys payable to it in respect of: |
(i) | the Accelerated Equity; |
(ii) | the Additional Equity; |
(iii) | the Charter Hire; |
(iv) | the Charter Termination Fee; |
(v) | each Drydocking Cost Payment; |
(vi) | each Drydocking Cost Reimbursement (unless paid directly by the Charterer to the relevant shipyard); |
(vii) | each Equity Payment; |
(viii) | the Performance Liquidated Damages; and |
(ix) | each Swap Payment; |
(x) | any other Earnings, |
shall, unless and until the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) directs to the contrary, be paid to the Operating Account.
19.1.2 | Each Borrower agrees that if any of the moneys paid to the Operating Account are payable in a currency other than USD, the Account Bank shall (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably instructs the Account Bank to) convert such moneys into USD at the Account Bank’s spot rate of exchange at the relevant time for the purchase of USD with such currency and the term “spot rate of exchange” shall include any costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of USD with such currency. |
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19.2 | Operating Account |
Unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Operating Account at any time during the Security Period except that, unless and until a Default shall occur and the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) shall direct to the contrary, moneys credited to the Operating Account may be applied by the Borrower as follows:
19.2.1 | on a Charter Hire Payment Date, the Charter Hire received may be applied for the following purposes in the following order: |
(a) | first , to pay, pro rata , (i) to the Manager the operating costs of the Ship (but not exceeding an amount equal to 110 per cent. of the amount which is the lesser of (aa) the operating cost component of the Charter Hire and (bb) the operating costs payable monthly under the Management Agreement); (ii) premiums due in respect of Insurances and any Taxes then due for payment by the Borrower; and (iii) fees due to the Manager under the Management Agreement; |
(b) | secondly , to transfer to the Debt Service Retention Account on each Debt Service Retention Date all or part of the Debt Service Retention Amount for such Debt Service Retention Date; |
(c) | thirdly , to make payments to the Debt Service Reserve Account up to amount of the Debt Service Reserve; and |
(d) | fourthly , to make payments either: |
(i) | to the Dividend Distribution Account, provided the following conditions have been satisfied (the “Dividend Release Conditions” ): |
(aa) | the first repayment has been made pursuant to Clause 6.1 (Repayment of Loans) ; and |
(bb) | no Event of Default has occurred which is continuing; and |
(cc) | the Debt Service Retention Account is funded to the extent required by the definition of Debt Service Retention Amount and the Debt Service Reserve Account is fully funded; and |
(dd) | the Agent has received from the Borrower a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate confirming that the Historical Debt Service Cover Ratio is no less than 1.2 : 1.0 and the Projected Debt Service Cover Ratio is no less than 1.2 : 1.0; and |
(ee) | the Charterer has not given notice to terminate the Charter; |
or, if the Dividend Release Conditions have not been satisfied,
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(ii) | to the Dividend Lock-Up Account; |
19.2.2 | on a Utilisation Date, the Equity Payment received may be applied against the Current Project Cost; |
19.2.3 | the Additional Equity received from the Vessel Sponsors pursuant to the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking may be applied: |
(a) | in payment of accrued interest due under Clause 8.2 (Payment of Interest) ; |
(b) | in payment of Swap Payments due to a Swap Bank under a Swap Contract; |
(c) | in payment of the Additional Equity Prepayment pursuant to Clause 7.6.3; |
(d) | in payment of the Additional Equity Debt Service Provision pursuant to Clause 7.7.1(a); and |
(e) | in prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Clause 7.7.4 or Clause 7.7.5. |
19.2.4 | the Accelerated Equity received may be paid to the Debt Service Reserve Account pursuant to Clause 24.16(b); |
19.2.5 | a Drydocking Cost Payment or a Drydocking Cost Reimbursement may be applied in payment of a Drydocking Cost; |
19.2.6 | a Drydocking Cost Reimbursement may be paid to the Vessel Sponsors in reimbursement of a Drydocking Cost Payment (notwithstanding any restriction in this Agreement or in the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking which might otherwise operate to restrict such payment to the Vessel Sponsors); |
19.2.7 | the Charter Termination Fee received may be applied in prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Clause 7.5.2; |
19.2.8 | the Performance Liquidated Damages may be applied in prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Clause 7.5.3; and |
19.2.9 | The Debt Service Reserve may be applied against the Borrower’s payment obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Clause 7.6.1 (a) (ii). |
19.3 | Debt Service Retention Account |
19.3.1 | The Borrower undertakes with each Finance Party that, throughout the Security Period, it will, on each Debt Service Retention Date pay to the Account Bank for credit to the Debt Service Retention Account, the Debt Service Retention Amount for such date provided however that, to the extent that there are moneys standing to the credit of the Operating Account as at the relevant Debt Service Retention Date, such moneys shall, up to an amount equal to the Debt Service Retention Amount, in accordance with Clause 19.2.1 (b) be transferred to the Debt Service Retention Account on that Debt Service Retention Date (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises the Account Bank to effect each such transfer) and to that extent the Borrower’s obligations to make the payments referred to in this Clause 19.3.1 shall have been fulfilled upon such transfer being effected. |
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19.3.2 | Unless and until there shall occur an Event of Default (whereupon the provisions of Clause 19.7 ( Application of Accounts ) shall apply), all Debt Service Retention Amounts credited to the Debt Service Retention Account together with interest from time to time accruing or at any time accrued thereon must be applied by the Account Bank (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises the Account Bank so to apply the same) upon each Repayment Date and/or on each day that interest is payable pursuant to Clause 8.2 (Payment Interest) , and/or on each day that a Swap Payment is due to a Swap Bank pursuant to the relevant Swap Confirmation in or towards payment to the Agent or the relevant Swap Bank, as the case may be, of the Repayment Instalment then falling due for payment or, the amount of interest then due or the Swap Payment then due. Each such application by the Account Bank shall constitute a payment in or towards satisfaction of the Borrower’s corresponding payment obligations under this Agreement or the relevant Swap Contract (as applicable) but shall be strictly without prejudice to the obligations of the Borrower to make any such payment to the extent that the aforesaid application by the Account Bank is insufficient to meet the same. |
19.3.3 | Unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Debt Service Retention Account at any time during the Security Period other than pursuant to Clause 19.3.2. |
19.4 | Debt Service Reserve Account |
Unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account at any time during the Security Period other than pursuant to Clause 19.2.9.
19.5 | Dividend Distribution Account |
Unless and until a Default shall occur and is continuing and the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) shall direct to the contrary, the Borrower may withdraw moneys from the Dividend Distribution Account for any purpose.
19.6 | Dividend Lock-Up Account |
19.6.1 | Subject to Clause 19.6.2, unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) otherwise agrees in writing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw any moneys from the Dividend Lock-Up Account. |
19.6.2 | Sums credited to the Dividend Lock-Up Account shall be transferred to the Dividend Distribution Account upon the written request of the Borrower from time to time and provided that the Dividend Release Conditions are then satisfied. |
19.7 | Application of accounts |
At any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Agent may (and on the instructions of the Majority Lenders shall), without notice to the Borrower, instruct the Account Bank to apply all moneys then standing to the credit of the Accounts or any of them (together with interest from time to time accruing or accrued thereon) in or towards satisfaction of any sums due to the Finance Parties or any of them under the Finance Documents.
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19.8 | Charging of accounts |
The Accounts and all amounts from time to time standing to the credit thereof shall be subject to the security constituted and the rights conferred by the Accounts Mortgages.
20. | Ship Covenants |
The undertakings in this Clause 20 will become effective on the Delivery Date (unless stated otherwise) and shall remain in force from that date for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
20.1 | Ship’s name and registration |
20.1.1 | The Borrower agrees: |
(a) | not to change the name of the Ship without prior notification to the Agent; and |
(b) | to keep the Ship registered in its name under the laws of an Approved Flag and not to permit its registration under any flag or at any other port without the prior written consent of the Agent and the Lenders. |
20.1.2 | If the flag State becomes involved in war or civil war or there is a seizure of power in the Flag State by unconstitutional means the Agent may notify the Borrower that it requires the flag and registry of the Vessel to be changed to another Approved Flag whereupon, subject to the consent of the Charterer pursuant to the Charter, the Borrower shall promptly implement such change. |
20.2 | Repair and Classification |
The Borrower agrees to keep the Ship in a good and efficient state of repair and ensure that all repairs and replacements of parts are made in such manner as not to reduce the value of the Ship and in particular to maintain the Classification as the class of the Ship and to submit the Ship to continuous surveys and such periodical or other surveys as may be required for classification purposes and to provide the Agent, upon request, with copies of all survey reports issued in respect of such surveys.
20.3 | Modification; removal of parts; equipment owned by third parties |
The Borrower agrees not without the prior written consent of the Agent to, or allow any other person to:
(a) | make any modification to the Ship in consequence of which her structure, type or performance characteristics could or might be materially altered or her value materially reduced; or |
(b) | remove any material part of the Ship or any equipment the value of which is such that its removal from the Ship would materially reduce the value of the Ship without replacing the same with equivalent parts or equipment which are owned by the Borrower free from Security; or |
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(c) | install on the Ship any equipment owned by a third party which cannot be removed without causing damage to the structure or fabric of the Ship. |
20.4 | Inspection |
The Borrower agrees to ensure that the Agent, by surveyors or other persons appointed by the Agent for such purpose, may board the Ship at all reasonable times for the purpose of inspecting her and to afford all proper facilities for such inspections and for this purpose to give the Agent reasonable advance notice of any intended drydocking of the Ship; prior to an Event of Default which is continuing, such inspections shall be carried out at the cost of the Lenders and so as not to interfere with or delay the operation of the Ship.
20.5 | Arrest |
The Borrower will promptly pay and discharge:
(a) | all liabilities which give or may give rise to maritime or possessory liens on or claims enforceable against the Ship, its Earnings or its Insurances, except for Permitted Security; |
(b) | all tolls, taxes, dues, fines, penalties and other amounts charged in respect of the Ship, the Earnings or the Insurances (unless disputed in good faith and in respect of which security has been provided or financial reserves maintained); and |
(c) | all other costs and expenses whatsoever in respect of the Ship owned by it, its Earnings or its Insurances, |
and, as soon as reasonably practicable upon receiving notice of the arrest of the Ship, or of its detention in exercise or purported exercise of any lien or claim, the Borrower shall procure its release by providing bail or procuring the provision of security or otherwise as the circumstances may require.
20.6 | Accounts |
The Borrower agrees to keep proper books of account in respect of the Ship and her Earnings and, as and when the Agent may so require, to make such books available for inspection on behalf of the Lenders.
20.7 | Employment |
The Borrower agrees not to employ the Ship or permit her employment:
(a) | in any manner, trade or business which is forbidden by international law, or which is unlawful or illicit under the law of any relevant jurisdiction; and, |
(b) | in the event of hostilities in any part of the world (whether war be declared or not), not to employ the Ship or permit her employment in carrying any contraband goods, or enter or trade to or to continue to trade in any zone which has been declared a war zone by any Government Entity or by the Ship's war risks insurers unless such special insurance cover as the Agent may require shall have been effected by the Borrower at the Borrower’s expense; the Borrower shall give the Agent as much notice as practicable of the Vessel trading to such a zone and shall inform and consult with the Agent in relation thereto and in relation to the special insurances. |
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20.8 | Manager |
The Borrower agrees that it shall not without the prior consent of the Agent:
(a) | appoint a manager of the Ship other than the Manager; or |
(b) | materially amend the terms of the Management Agreement; or |
(c) | terminate the Management Agreement unless such agreement is replaced immediately by an agreement acceptable to the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). |
20.9 | Compliance with Regulations |
The Borrower will and will procure that the Manager and/or any Operator of the Ship will:
(a) | maintain at all times a valid and current ISSC respect of the Ship; |
(b) | immediately notify the Agent in writing of any actual or threatened withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of the ISSC in respect of the Ship; |
(c) | procure that its Ship will comply at all times with the ISPS Code; |
(d) | at all times comply with the requirements of the ISM Code including (but not limited to) the maintenance and renewal of valid certificates pursuant thereto and all other statutory and other requirements relative to its business and/or the Ship; |
(e) | promptly inform the Agent upon the issue of any ISM Code Documentation in respect of the Ship or its Operator or the receipt by the Borrower or any Operator of notification that its application for the same has been refused; |
(f) | immediately inform the Agent if there is any threatened or actual withdrawal of their or any Operator’s ISM Code Documentation for the Ship; |
(g) | to take all necessary and proper precautions to prevent any infringements of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 of the United States of America or any similar legislation applicable to the Ship in any jurisdiction in or to which the Ship shall be employed or located or trade or which may otherwise be applicable to the Ship and/or the Borrower and, if the Agent shall so require, to enter into a “Carrier Initiative Agreement” with the United States Customs Service and to procure that the same agreement (or any similar agreement hereafter introduced by any Government Entity of the United States of America) is maintained in full force and effect and performed by the Borrower; |
(h) | and to comply with and ensure that the Ship at all times complies with the provisions of all relevant legislation and all regulations and requirements (statutory or otherwise) from time to time applicable to vessels registered at the Approved Flag or otherwise applicable to the Ship; and |
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(i) | at all times comply with all applicable laws and procedures implemented to contract money laundering as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308EEC) of the Council of the European Communities. |
20.10 | Sale or other disposal |
The Borrower will not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) and subject to such conditions as the Agent may impose, sell, agree to sell, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of the Ship or any of its other assets or any share or interest therein.
20.11 | Chartering |
The Borrower will not let the Ship other than under the Charter or a Replacement Charter provided that the Borrower may let the Ship on a voyage or short-term time charter with the consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
20.12 | Sharing of Earnings |
The Borrower will not without the prior consent of the Agent (and then only subject to such conditions as the Agent may impose) enter into any pool or enter any agreement or arrangement whereby the Earnings may be shared with any other person.
21. | Insurance Covenants |
The undertakings in this Clause 21 will become effective on the Delivery Date (unless stated otherwise) and shall remain in force from that date for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
21.1 | Obligatory insurances |
The Borrower shall keep the Ship insured at its expense against:
(a) | usual marine risks (including hull and machinery, hull interest, freight interest, disbursements and/or increased value, other Total Loss interests and war risks) in an amount equal to or more than 120 per cent. of the aggregate amount of the Loans at any time; |
(b) | protection and indemnity risks in respect of the full tonnage of the Ship; and |
(c) | loss of earnings, in such amount as may be approved by the Lenders (acting reasonably) with a deductible period of 30 days and a cover period of 180 days, |
such insurances to be in dollars and effected on such contractual terms and through such insurers and war risks and protection and indemnity associations as the Majority Lenders may approve.
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21.2 | Fleet cover |
If the Ship is insured under a fleet policy (other than under the Norwegian Marine Insurance Plan), the Borrower shall procure that the relevant insurer provides an undertaking to the Agent that it shall not set off against any claim, any premium due in respect of other vessels in the fleet policy or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels in the fleet policy or of premiums for such other insurances, and shall undertake to issue a separate policy in respect of the Ship if so requested by the Agent.
21.3 | Payment of premiums |
The Borrower shall punctually pay all premiums, calls or other sums payable in respect of the Insurances and produce all relevant receipts when so required by the Agent.
21.4 | Policy documents and letters of undertaking |
21.4.1 | The Borrower shall ensure that the Agent is provided with a letter of undertaking from each broker on behalf of each insurer or protection and indemnity or war risks association giving undertakings to the Agent that: |
(a) | a Loss Payable Clause has been endorsed on each policy on terms required by the Agent; |
(b) | any material change to the terms of the Insurances shall be notified to the Agent; and |
(c) | they will notify the Agent at least 14 days (or 7 days in the case of war risk insurances) before the expiry or cancellation for any reason of the Insurances. |
21.4.2 | The Agent shall be furnished with copies of the relevant policy documents, including cover notes, letters of undertaking and certificates of entry relating to the Insurances, upon request. |
21.5 | Renewal |
The Borrower shall, at least 7 days before expiry of any Insurances, notify the Agent of the names of the brokers (or other insurers) and any protection and indemnity or war risks association intended to be employed by the Borrower for the purposes of renewal of such Insurances and of the intended terms of renewal.
21.6 | Guarantees |
The Borrower will ensure that any guarantees required by a protection and indemnity or war risks association are promptly issued and delivered.
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21.7 | Compliance |
The Borrower will take all necessary action and comply with all requirements which may be applicable to the insurances (including the payment of any additional premiums or calls of the Ship) so as to ensure that the Insurances are not made subject to any exclusions or qualifications to which the Agent has not given its approval and are otherwise maintained on terms and conditions approved by the Agent.
21.8 | Collection of claims |
The Borrower will not settle, compromise or abandon any claim for Total Loss or for a figure in excess of the Casualty Amount, and the Borrower shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Agent to collect or recover any moneys which shall at any time become payable in respect of the Insurances for the Ship.
21.9 | Communications |
The Borrower shall provide the Agent, upon its reasonable request, at the time of each such communication, with copies of all written communications with brokers, underwriters, insurance companies and protection and indemnity and war risks associations which relate to compliance with requirements applicable to the Insurances for the Ship.
21.10 | Mortgagee's interest insurance |
The Agent may (acting upon the instructions of the Majority Lenders) effect (for the cost of the Lenders) mortgagee's interest insurance (including mortgagee's interest additional perils insurance) in respect of the Ship in an amount of up to 120 per cent. of the aggregate amount of the Loans upon such terms and through such insurers as the Agent may deem appropriate.
21.11 | Independent report |
The Agent may obtain (for the cost of the Lenders), a detailed report signed by an independent firm of marine insurance brokers appointed by the Agent stating the opinion of such firm as to the adequacy of the Insurances then maintained on the Ship.
21.12 | Application of recoveries |
The Borrower agrees to apply all sums receivable under the Insurances which are paid to it in accordance with the Loss Payable Clauses in repairing all damage and/or in discharging the liability in respect of which such sums shall have been received.
22. | Security Undertakings |
22.1 | Security Documents |
The Borrower undertakes with the Lenders to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Security Documents, and to procure the execution and delivery by other parties to the Security Documents, so that at all times during the Security Period the Security Documents shall be enforced in accordance with their terms.
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22.2 | Title |
The Borrower will hold the legal title to and own the entire beneficial interest in the Charged Property, free from all Security and other interests and rights of every kind, except for those created by the Security Documents and the effect of assignments contained in the Security Documents and except for Permitted Security.
22.3 | Negative Pledges |
The Borrower shall not without prior written consent of the Lenders:
(a) | create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets except for Permitted Security, or; |
(b) | give any pledge or undertaking to any other party (other than to the Charterer under the Charter) not to create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets. |
22.4 | Notice of Mortgage |
The Borrower agrees to place and retain a properly certified copy of the Mortgage and Deed of Covenant (which shall form part of the Ship's documents) on board the Ship with her papers and to place and keep prominently displayed in the navigation room and in the Master's cabin of the Ship a framed printed notice in plain type reading as follows:
NOTICE OF MORTGAGE
This Ship is subject to a first priority mortgage and collateral deed of covenant in favour of DnB NOR Bank ASA of Stranden 21, 0021 Oslo, Norway. Under the said mortgage and collateral deed, neither the owner nor any charterer nor the Master of this Ship has any right, power or authority to create, incur or permit to be imposed upon this Ship any commitments or encumbrances whatsoever other than for crew's wages and salvage and it is hereby agreed that save and subject as otherwise herein provided, neither the Borrower nor any charterer nor the Master of the Ship nor any other person has any right, power or authority to create, incur or permit to be imposed upon the Ship any lien whatsoever other than for crew's wages and salvage.
22.5 | Further assurance |
22.5.1 | The Borrower shall promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions) as the Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as the Agent may reasonably require) in favour of the Agent or its nominee(s): |
(a) | to perfect the Transaction Security (which may include the execution of a mortgage, charge, assignment or other Security over all or any of the Charged Property) or for the exercise of any rights, powers and remedies of the Agent or the Finance Parties provided by or pursuant to the Finance Documents or by law; and/or |
(b) | to facilitate the realisation of the Charged Property, including, in particular, by executing a bill of sale of the Ship in such form as the Agent may require in the event that the Ship is to be sold in exercise of any power contained in the Security Documents. |
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22.5.2 | The Borrower shall take all such action as is available to it (including making all filings and registrations in its jurisdiction of incorporation) 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 Agent or the Finance Parties by or pursuant to the Security Documents. |
23. | General Undertakings |
23.1 | Authorisations |
23.1.1 | The Borrower shall promptly: |
(a) | obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and |
(b) | supply certified copies to the Agent of, |
any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of a Relevant Jurisdiction to:
(i) | enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents; |
(ii) | ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Finance Document; and |
(iii) | carry on its business where failure to do so has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
23.2 | Compliance with Laws |
The Borrower shall comply in all respects with all laws to which it may be subject, if failure so to comply has or is reasonably likely to materially impair its ability to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents.
23.3 | Environmental Compliance |
The Borrower shall:
(a) | comply with all Environmental Law; and |
(b) | implement procedures to monitor compliance with and to prevent liability under any Environmental Law, |
where failure to do so has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
23.4 | Environmental Claims |
The Borrower shall promptly upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Agent in writing of:
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(a) | the suspension, revocation or modification of any Environmental Approval; |
(b) | any Environmental Claim against it which is current, pending or threatened; and |
(c) | any facts or circumstances which are reasonably likely to result in any Environmental Claim being commenced or threatened against it, |
where the claim, if determined against it, has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
23.5 | Taxation |
The Borrower shall 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:
(a) | such payment is being contested in good faith; |
(b) | adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and the costs required to contest them; and |
(c) | such payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay those Taxes does not have or is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
23.6 | Merger |
The Borrower shall not without prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction.
23.7 | Change of Business |
The Borrower shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of the Borrower taken as a whole from that carried on by the Borrower at the date of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders).
23.8 | Acquisitions |
The Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) acquire any further assets other than the Ship and rights arising under contracts entered into by or on behalf of the Borrower in the ordinary course of its businesses of owning, operating and chartering the Ship.
23.9 | Other obligations |
The Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) incur any obligations except for obligations arising under the Transaction Documents or contracts entered into in the ordinary course of its business of owning, operating and chartering the Ship.
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23.10 | Subsidiaries |
The Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) form or acquire any Subsidiaries;
23.11 | Swap Contracts |
23.11.1 | The Borrower shall not assign, novate, or in any other way transfer any of their rights or obligations under or pursuant to any Swap Contract, nor make any amendment or supplement to any Swap Contract or any transaction entered into under it, except as envisaged by Clause 7.12 ( Effect on Swap Contract ) or pursuant to any transaction permitted under this Agreement. |
23.11.2 | The Borrower shall not enter into any interest rate exchange or hedging agreement with anyone other than a Swap Bank. |
23.12 | Transaction Documents |
The Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) amend, vary, novate, supplement, supersede, waive or terminate any material term of a Transaction Document.
23.13 | Loans or credit |
23.13.1 | Except as permitted under Clause 23.13.2, the Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) be a creditor in respect of any Financial Indebtedness. |
23.13.2 | Clause 23.13.1 above does not apply to: |
(a) | any creditor relationship entered into with the consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders),and |
(b) | normal trade credit in the ordinary course of business. |
23.14 | No Guarantees or indemnities |
23.14.1 | Except as permitted under Clause 23.14.2 below, the Borrower shall not incur or allow to remain outstanding any guarantee in receipt of any obligation of any person. |
23.14.2 | Clause 23.14.1 does not apply to a guarantee which is: |
(a) | entered into with the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders); |
(b) | from time to time required in the ordinary course by any protection and indemnity or war risks association with which the Ship is entered, guarantees required to procure the release of the Ship from any arrest, detention, attachment or levy or guarantees required for the salvage of the Ship; or |
(c) | in the Security Documents. |
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23.15 | Dividends and share redemption |
23.15.1 | Except as permitted under Clause 23.15.2, the Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders): |
(a) | declare, make or pay any dividend, charge, fee or other distribution (or interest on any unpaid 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); |
(b) | repay or distribute any dividend or share premium reserve; |
(c) | pay any management, advisory or other fee to or to the order of any of the shareholders of the Borrower; |
(d) | issue any further share capital; or |
(e) | redeem, repurchase, defease, retire, cancel or repay any of its share capital or resolve to do so. |
23.15.2 | Clause 23.15.1 above does not apply to payments made using moneys withdrawn from the Dividend Distribution Account. |
23.16 | Payment of Financial Indebtedness |
23.16.1 | Except as permitted under Clause 23.16.2, the Borrower shall not: |
(a) | repay or prepay any principal amount (or capitalised interest) outstanding in respect of Financial Indebtedness; |
(b) | pay any interest or any other amounts payable in connection with any Financial Indebtedness; or |
(c) | purchase, redeem, defease or discharge any amount outstanding with respect to any Financial Indebtedness. |
23.16.2 | Clause 23.16.1 does not apply to: |
(a) | the payment, prepayment or repayment of any amounts due under the Finance Documents; |
(b) | the repayment of Shareholder Loan Principal pursuant to a Utilisation; |
(c) | the payment of Shareholder Loan Interest pursuant to a Utilisation; |
(d) | the application of moneys withdrawn from the Dividend Distribution Account for such purposes; or |
(e) | a payment, prepayment, repayment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or discharge which is made with the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders). |
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23.17 | Financial Indebtedness |
23.17.1 | Except as permitted under Clause 23.17.2 below, the Borrower shall not incur or allow to remain outstanding any Financial Indebtedness. |
23.17.2 | Clause 23.17.1 above does not apply to Financial Indebtedness which is: |
(a) | entered into with the consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders); |
(b) | incurred under the Finance Documents; or |
(c) | incurred under the Shareholder Loan Agreements. |
23.18 | Transactions with Affiliates |
The Borrower shall not without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) enter into any material transaction with an affiliated company unless such transaction is on arm’s length terms other than by way of any of the Transaction Documents.
23.19 | Ownership of Borrower |
The legal and beneficial ownership of the Borrower shall remain unchanged from that represented in Clause 17.2 ( Share capital and ownership) , unless:-
(a) | any change is a result of a transfer between HLNG and MOL, provided that following such transfer each of the Vessel Sponsors retains at least 25 per cent. of the legal and beneficial ownership of the Borrower; or |
(b) | any change is a result of a transfer between a Vessel Sponsor and an Affiliate of that Vessel Sponsor; or |
(c) | the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has consented in writing to any change, |
and, immediately following such change, a pledge is given by each of the shareholders of the Borrower in a similar form to the Negative Pledge.
23.20 | Opening of accounts |
Other than the Accounts, the Borrower shall not open or continue to maintain any accounts with any financial institution, unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has consented in writing to such accounts.
23.21 | Pari Passu ranking |
The Borrower shall ensure that at all times any unsecured and unsubordinated claims of a Finance Party against it under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors except those creditors whose claims are preferred by laws of general application to companies and except for Permitted Liens.
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24. | Events of Default |
Each of the events or circumstances set out in Clause 24 is an Event of Default (save for Clause 24.14 ( Acceleration ).
24.1 | Non-payment |
The Borrower does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document at the place and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable unless:
(a) | its failure to pay is caused by an administrative or technical error or by a Disruption Event; or |
(b) | its failure to pay is caused by the late payment of Charter Hire by the Charterer (provided that such failure by the Borrower to pay on the due date has not occurred more than twice in the preceding twelve-month period); |
and payment is made within 3 Business Days of its due date.
24.2 | Other obligations |
24.2.1 | The Borrower does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in Clause 24.1 ( Non-payment ). |
24.2.2 | No Event of Default under Clause 24.2.1 above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 20 Business Days of the Agent giving notice to the Borrower or the Borrower becoming aware of the failure to comply. |
24.3 | Misrepresentation |
24.3.1 | Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by the Borrower in the Finance Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made. |
24.3.2 | No Event of Default under Clause 24.3.1 above shall occur if the incorrectness or misleading nature of the statement is inadvertent and the circumstances giving rise to its incorrectness or misleading nature are capable of remedy and are remedied within 20 Business Days of the Agent giving notice to the Borrower or the Borrower becoming aware of the incorrectness or misleading nature of the statement. |
24.4 | Cross default |
24.4.1 | Any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period. |
24.4.2 | Any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower 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). |
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24.4.3 | Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of the Borrower as a result of an event of default (however described). |
24.4.4 | Any creditor of the Borrower becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described). |
24.5 | Swap Contracts |
A Swap Contract or a Swap Transaction is prematurely terminated, cancelled, suspended, rescinded or revoked or otherwise ceases to remain in full force and effect for any reason except as required under Clause 7.12 ( Effect on Swap Contracts) .
24.6 | Insolvency |
24.6.1 | The Borrower 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 Finance Parties with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness. |
24.6.2 | The value of the assets of the Borrower is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities). |
24.6.3 | A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of the Borrower. |
24.7 | Insolvency proceedings |
24.7.1 | Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to: |
(a) | 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 the Borrower; |
(b) | a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of the Borrower; |
(c) | the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of the Borrower or any of its assets; or |
(d) | enforcement of any Security over any assets of the Borrower, or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction. |
24.7.2 | No Event of Default under Clause 24.7.1(c) shall occur if the appointment referred to therein is initiated by a party other than a Security Party, is being contested in good faith and is permanently stayed or lifted within 20 Business Days. |
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24.8 | Creditors’ process |
24.8.1 | Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution affects any asset or assets of the Borrower except for any of the foregoing falling within the scope of what is permitted under Clause 20.5 (Arrest). |
24.8.2 | No Event of Default under Clause 24.8.1 above shall occur if the expropriation or other steps taken are reversed within 20 Business Days. |
24.9 | Cessation of business |
The Borrower suspends or threatens (in writing) to suspend or cease to carry on its business.
24.10 | Unlawfulness and invalidity |
It is or becomes unlawful for the Borrower or any other Security Party to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents, or any Transaction Security ceases to be effective.
24.11 | Repudiation |
The Borrower or any other Security Party repudiates a Finance Document or evidences an intention (in writing) to repudiate a Finance Document.
24.12 | Environmental Incidents |
An Environmental Incident occurs which gives rise, or may give rise, to an Environmental Claim which could, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
24.13 | Underlying Documents |
Any Underlying Document (other than the Shipbuilding Contract, the Refund Guarantee, the Regas Performance Guarantee or the Charter) is cancelled, prematurely terminated, frustrated, or rescinded for any reason whatsoever or any party is in breach of its obligations under such Underlying Document and this could in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
24.14 | Acceleration |
On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower:
(a) | cancel the Total Commitments whereupon they shall immediately be cancelled; |
(b) | if the Event of Default occurs prior to the Delivery Date, require payment by the Borrower of the Accelerated Equity to the Operating Account; |
(c) | declare that the obligations of the Swap Banks under the Swap Contracts shall be terminated, whereupon such obligations shall terminate in accordance with such declaration; |
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(d) | declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, the Swap Exposure, all Swap Liabilities and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable; |
(e) | declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders; and/or |
(f) | exercise or direct the Security Trustee to exercise any or all of the rights, remedies, powers or discretions under the Finance Documents. |
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SECTION 8
CHANGES TO PARTIES
25. | Changes to the Lenders |
25.1 | Assignments and transfers by the Lenders |
Subject to this Clause 25, a Lender (the " Existing Lender ") may:
(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 or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the " New Lender "), provided that (i) any such assignment or transfer prior to the Regas Acceptance Date and (ii) any assignment or transfer to a financial institution other than a bank or licensed insurance company after the Regas Acceptance Date, shall require the prior written consent of the Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
25.2 | Conditions of assignment or transfer |
25.2.1 | An assignment will only be effective on: |
(a) | receipt by the Agent of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the other Finance Parties as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender; and |
(b) | performance by the 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 Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender. |
25.2.2 | A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) is complied with. |
25.2.3 | If: |
(a) | a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and |
(b) | as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, the Borrower would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under Clause 12 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) or Clause 13 ( Increased Costs ), |
then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred.
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25.3 | Assignment or transfer fee |
25.3.1 | Subject to Clause 25.3.2, the New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of USD2,500. |
25.3.2 | The fee set out in Clause 25.3.1 shall not be payable in the case of an assignment or transfer to a New Lender notified to the Agent prior to the date of this Agreement provided that such assignment or transfer takes effect within 10 Business Days of the date of this Agreement. |
25.4 | Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders |
25.4.1 | Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for: |
(a) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Transaction Documents, the Transaction Security or any other documents; |
(b) | the financial condition of the Borrower; |
(c) | the performance and observance by the Borrower of its obligations under the Transaction Documents or any other documents; or |
(d) | the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Transaction Document or any other document, |
and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.
25.4.2 | Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender, the other Finance Parties and the Secured Parties that it: |
(a) | has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of the Borrower 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 Transaction Document or the Transaction Security; and |
(b) | will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force. |
25.4.3 | Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to: |
(a) | accept a re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause 25; or |
(b) | support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by the Borrower of its obligations under the Transaction Documents or otherwise. |
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25.5 | Procedure for transfer |
25.5.1 | Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 25.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ) a transfer is effected in accordance with Clause 25.5.3 below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to Clause 25.5.2 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. |
25.5.2 | The 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 other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender. |
25.5.3 | On the Transfer Date: |
(a) | to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security the Borrower and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security shall be cancelled (being the " Discharged Rights and Obligations "); |
(b) | the Borrower 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 Borrower and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and the Existing Lender; |
(c) | the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Trustee, the New Lender, the other Lenders, and the Swap Banks shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves and in respect of the Transaction Security 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 Agent, the Arranger, the Security Trustee, the Swap Banks and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and |
(d) | the New Lender shall become a Party as a "Lender". |
25.6 | Copy of Transfer Certificate to Borrower |
25.6.1 | The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate, send to the Borrower a copy of that Transfer Certificate. |
25.7 | Disclosure of information |
25.7.1 | Any Lender may disclose to its professional advisers (including, if relevant, any ratings agency) and to any of its Affiliates and any other person: |
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(a) | to (or through) whom that Lender assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement; |
(b) | with (or through) whom that Lender enters into (or may potentially enter into) any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to, this Agreement or the Borrower; or |
(c) | to whom, and to the extent that, information is required to be disclosed by any applicable law or regulation, |
any information about the Borrower and the Finance Documents as that Lender shall consider appropriate if, in relation to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the person to whom the information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking.
26. | Changes to the Borrower |
The Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.
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SECTION 9
THE FINANCE PARTIES
27. | Role of the Agent and the Arranger |
27.1 | Appointment of the Agent |
27.1.1 | Each other Finance Party appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents. |
27.1.2 | Each other Finance Party authorises the Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions. |
27.2 | Duties of the Agent |
27.2.1 | The Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party. |
27.2.2 | Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party. |
27.2.3 | If the 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 Finance Parties. |
27.2.4 | If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Agent or the Arranger) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties. |
27.2.5 | The Agent's duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature. |
27.3 | Role of the Arranger and the Bookrunners |
Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, none of the Arranger or the Bookrunners has any obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.
27.4 | No fiduciary duties |
27.4.1 | Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Agent or the Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person. |
27.4.2 | Neither the Account Bank, the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Trustee nor any Swap Bank 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. |
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27.5 | Business with the Borrower |
27.5.1 | The Agent, the Account Bank, the Arranger, the Security Trustee and any Swap Bank may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with the Borrower. |
27.6 | Rights and discretions of the Agent |
27.6.1 | The Agent may rely on: |
(a) | any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; and |
(b) | any statement made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify. |
27.6.2 | The Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders) that: |
(a) | no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 24.1 ( Non-payment )); |
(b) | any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Majority Lenders has not been exercised; and |
(c) | any notice or request made by the Borrower (other than a Utilisation Request or Selection Notice) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Borrower. |
27.6.3 | The Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts. |
27.6.4 | The Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents. |
27.6.5 | The Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement. |
27.6.6 | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent, the Account Bank, the Arranger, the Security Trustee or any Swap Bank 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. |
27.7 | Majority Lenders' instructions |
27.7.1 | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Agent shall (i) exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as 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 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. |
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27.7.2 | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Finance Parties other than the Security Trustee. |
27.7.3 | The 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. |
27.7.4 | In the absence of instructions from the Majority Lenders, (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) the Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders. |
27.7.5 | The 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 Clause 27.7.5 shall not apply to any legal or arbitration proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of the rights under the Security Documents or enforcement of the Transaction Security or the Security Documents. |
27.8 | Responsibility for documentation |
Neither the Agent, the Account Bank, the Arranger nor any Swap Bank:
(a) | is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Account Bank, the Agent, the Arranger, the Swap Bank, the Borrower or any other person given in or in connection with any Transaction Document; or |
(b) | is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Transaction Document or the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Transaction Document. |
27.9 | Exclusion of liability |
27.9.1 | Without limiting Clause 27.9.2(and without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (e) of Clause 30.9 ( Disruption to Payment Systems etc .)) none of the Agent, the Account Bank, the Arranger or any Swap Bank will be liable (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct. |
27.9.2 | No Party (other than the Account Bank, the Agent or any Swap Bank) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or the agent of the Account Bank, the Agent or any Swap Bank in respect of any claim it might have against the Account Bank, the Agent or any Swap Bank or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document and any officer, employee or agent of the Account Bank, the Agent or any Swap Bank may rely on this Clause subject to Clause 1.4 ( Third Party Rights ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act. |
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27.9.3 | The 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 Agent if the 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 Agent for that purpose. |
27.9.4 | Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or the Arranger to carry out any "know your customer" or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent and the Arranger that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or the Arranger. |
27.10 | Lenders' indemnity to the Agent |
Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Agent, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by the Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Agent's gross negligence or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 30.9 ( Disruption to Payment Systems etc .) notwithstanding the Agent's negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent has been reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to a Finance Document).
27.11 | Resignation of the Agent |
27.11.1 | The Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates as successor by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower. |
27.11.2 | Alternatively the Agent may resign by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Borrower) may appoint a successor Agent. |
27.11.3 | If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 30 days after notice of resignation was given, the Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed beyond 30 days) appoint a successor Agent. |
27.11.4 | The retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents. |
27.11.5 | The Agent's resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor. |
27.11.6 | Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this Clause 27. Its 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. |
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27.11.7 | After consultation with the Borrower, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Agent, require it to resign in accordance with Clause 27.11.2. In this event, the Agent shall resign in accordance with Clause 27.11.2. |
27.12 | Confidentiality |
27.12.1 | In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the 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. |
27.12.2 | If information is received by another division or department of the Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it. |
27.12.3 | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor the 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. |
27.13 | Relationship with the Lenders |
27.13.1 | The Agent may treat each Lender as a Lender, entitled to payments under this Agreement and acting through its Facility Office unless it has received not less than five Business Days prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
27.13.2 | Each Lender shall supply the Agent with any information required by the Agent in order to calculate the Mandatory Cost in accordance with Schedule 4 ( Mandatory Cost formula ). |
27.13.3 | Each Lender shall supply the Agent with any information that the Agent may reasonably specify (through the Agent) as being necessary or desirable to enable the Agent to perform its functions as Security Trustee. Each Lender shall deal with the Security Trustee exclusively through the Agent and shall not deal directly with the Security Trustee. |
27.14 | Credit appraisal by the Lenders |
Without affecting the responsibility of the Borrower for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms to the Account Bank, Agent, the Arranger and any Swap Banks that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:
(a) | the financial condition, status and nature of the Borrower; |
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and the Transaction Security and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security |
(c) | whether that Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the Transaction Security, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and |
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(d) | the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information provided by the Agent, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and |
(e) | the right or title of any person in or to or the value or sufficiency of any part of the Charged Property, the priority of any of the Transaction Security or the existence of any Security affecting the Charged Property. |
27.15 | Reference Banks |
If a Reference Bank (or, if a Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Agent shall (in consultation with the Borrower) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender to replace that Reference Bank.
27.16 | Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent |
If any Party owes an amount to the Agent under the Finance Documents the Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.
28. | Conduct of business by the Finance Parties |
No provision of this Agreement will:
(a) | interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit; |
(b) | oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or |
(c) | oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax. |
29. | Sharing among the Finance Parties |
29.1 | Payments to Finance Parties |
If a Finance Party (a " Recovering Finance Party ") receives or recovers any amount from the Borrower other than in accordance with Clause 30 ( Payment mechanics ) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then:
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(a) | the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery, to the Agent; |
(b) | the 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 Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 30 ( Payment mechanics ), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and |
(c) | the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the " Sharing Payment ") equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 30.5 ( Partial payments ). |
29.2 | Redistribution of payments |
The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the Borrower and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) in accordance with Clause 30 ( Partial payments ).
29.3 | Recovering Finance Party's rights |
29.3.1 | On a distribution by the Agent under Clause 29.2 ( Redistribution of payments ), the Recovering Finance Party will be subrogated to the rights of the Finance Parties which have shared in the redistribution. |
29.3.2 | If and to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party is not able to rely on its rights under Clause 29.3.1, the Borrower shall be liable to the Recovering Finance Party for a debt equal to the Sharing Payment which is immediately due and payable. |
29.4 | Reversal of redistribution |
If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:
(a) | each Finance Party which has received a share of the relevant Sharing Payment pursuant to Clause 29.2 ( Redistribution of payments ) shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent for 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); and |
(b) | that Recovering Finance Party's rights of subrogation in respect of any reimbursement shall be cancelled and the Borrower will be liable to the reimbursing Finance Party for the amount so reimbursed. |
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29.5 | Exceptions |
29.5.1 | This Clause 29 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 Borrower. |
29.5.2 | 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: |
(a) | it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and |
(b) | that 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. |
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SECTION 10
ADMINISTRATION
30. | Payment mechanics |
30.1 | Payments to the Agent |
30.1.1 | On each date on which the Borrower or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document, the Borrower or the Lender shall make the same available to the 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 Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment. |
30.1.2 | Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency with such bank as the Agent specifies. |
30.2 | Distributions by the Agent |
Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to Clause 30.3 ( Distributions to the Borrower ) and Clause 30.4 ( Clawback ) be made available by the Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Agent by not less than five Business Days' notice with a bank in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency.
30.3 | Distributions to the Borrower |
The Agent may (with the consent of the Borrower or in accordance with Clause 31 ( Set-off )) apply any amount received by it for that Borrower in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.
30.4 | Clawback |
30.4.1 | Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the 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. |
30.4.2 | If the Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the 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 Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Agent, calculated by the Agent to reflect its cost of funds. |
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30.5 | Partial payments |
30.5.1 | If the Agent receives a payment that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by the Borrower under the Finance Documents, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents in the order set out in Clause 30.5.3. |
30.5.2 | All moneys received by the Agent under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents and expressed to be applicable in accordance with the provision of this clause shall be applied in the order set out in Clause 30.5.3 and the surplus (if any) shall be paid to the Borrower or to whoever else may appear to the Agent to be entitled to receive the surplus. |
30.5.3 | The order of application referred to in Clauses 30.5.1 and 30.5.2 is as follows: |
(a) | first , in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Agent and the Security Trustee under the Finance Documents; |
(b) | secondly , in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under this Agreement and any periodic Swap Payment due to a Swap Bank but unpaid under the relevant Swap Contract ; |
(c) | thirdly , in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under this Agreement and of any termination Swap Payments due to a Swap Bank but unpaid under the relevant Swap Contract; and |
(d) | fourthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents other than the Swap Contracts. |
30.5.4 | Clauses 30.5.1, 30.5.2 and 30.5.3 above will override any appropriation made by the Borrower. |
30.6 | No set-off by the Borrower |
All payments to be made by the Borrower under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.
30.7 | Business Days |
30.7.1 | 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). |
30.7.2 | 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. |
30.8 | Currency of account |
30.8.1 | Subject to Clauses 30.8.2 and 30.8.3 below, dollars is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from the Borrower under any Finance Document. |
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30.8.2 | Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred. |
30.8.3 | Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than dollars shall be paid in that other currency. |
30.9 | Disruption to Payment Systems etc. |
If either the Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Agent is notified by the Borrower that a Disruption Event has occurred:
(a) | the Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Borrower, consult with the Borrower with a view to agreeing with the Borrower such changes to the operation or administration of the Facility as the Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances; |
(b) | the Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Borrower in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes; |
(c) | the Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; |
(d) | any such changes agreed upon by the Agent and the Borrower shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 36 ( Amendments and Waivers ); |
(e) | the Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever (including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this Clause 30.9; and |
(f) | the Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to paragraph (d) above. |
31. | Set-off |
Following an Event of Default which is continuing, a Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to the Borrower, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.
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32. | Notices |
32.1 | Communications in writing |
Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter.
32.2 | Addresses |
The address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:
(a) | in the case of the Borrower, that identified with its name below; |
(b) | in the case of each Lender and each Swap Bank, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party; and |
(c) | in the case of the Agent or the Account Bank or the Security Trustee, that identified with its name below, |
or any substitute address or fax number or department or officer as the Party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than five Business Days' notice.
32.3 | Delivery |
32.3.1 | Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective: |
(a) | if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or |
(b) | if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address; |
and if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ), if addressed to that department or officer.
32.3.2 | Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with the Agent's signature below (or any substitute department or officer as the Agent shall specify for this purpose). |
32.3.3 | All notices from or to the Borrower shall be sent through the Agent. |
32.4 | Notification of address and fax number |
Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address or fax number or change of address or fax number pursuant to Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ) or changing its own address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other Parties.
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32.5 | Electronic communication |
32.5.1 | Any communication to be made between the Agent and a Lender under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Agent and the relevant Lender: |
(a) | agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication; |
(b) | notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and |
(c) | notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them. |
32.5.2 | Any electronic communication made between the Agent and a Lender will be effective only when actually received in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication made by a Lender to the Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent shall specify for this purpose. |
32.6 | Use of websites |
32.6.1 | The Borrower may satisfy its obligation under this Agreement to deliver any information in relation to those Lenders ( the " Website Lenders ") who accept this method of communication by posting this information onto an electronic website designated by the Borrower and the Agent (the " Designated Website ") if: |
(a) | the Agent expressly agrees (after consultation with each of the Lenders) that it will accept communication of the information by this method; |
(b) | both the Borrower and the Agent are aware of the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website; and |
(c) | the information is in a format previously agreed between the Borrower and the Agent. |
If any Lender (a " Paper Form Lender ") does not agree to the delivery of information electronically then the Agent shall notify the Borrower accordingly and the Borrower shall supply the information to the Agent (in sufficient copies for each Paper Form Lender) in paper form. In any event the Borrower shall supply the Agent with at least one copy in paper form of any information required to be provided by it.
32.6.2 | The Agent shall supply each Website Lender with the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website following designation of that website by the Borrower and the Agent. |
32.6.3 | The Borrower shall promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence notify the Agent if: |
(a) | the Designated Website cannot be accessed due to technical failure; |
(b) | the password specifications for the Designated Website change; |
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(c) | any new information which is required to be provided under this Agreement is posted onto the Designated Website; |
(d) | any existing information which has been provided under this Agreement and posted onto the Designated Website is amended; or |
(e) | the Borrower becomes aware that the Designated Website or any information posted onto the Designated Website is or has been infected by any electronic virus or similar software. |
If the Borrower notifies the Agent under Clause 32.6.3(a) or Clause 32.6.3(e) above, all information to be provided by the Borrower under this Agreement after the date of that notice shall be supplied in paper form unless and until the Agent and each Website Lender is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the notification are no longer continuing.
32.6.4 | Any Website Lender may request, through the Agent, one paper copy of any information required to be provided under this Agreement which is posted onto the Designated Website. The Borrower shall comply with any such request within ten Business Days. |
32.7 | English language |
32.7.1 | Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English. |
32.7.2 | All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be: |
(a) | in English; or |
(b) | if not in English, and if so required by the 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. |
33. | Calculations and certificates |
33.1 | Accounts |
In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.
33.2 | Certificates and Determinations |
Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, prima facie evidence of the matters to which it relates.
33.3 | Day count convention |
Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days or, in any case where the practice in the London Interbank Market differs, in accordance with that market practice.
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34. | Partial invalidity |
If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.
35. | Remedies, waivers and conflicts |
35.1.1 | No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. |
35.1.2 | In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and any of the other Security Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. |
36. | Amendments and waivers |
36.1 | Required consents |
36.1.1 | Subject to Clause 36.2 ( Exceptions ) any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties. |
36.1.2 | The Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause. |
36.2 | Exceptions |
36.2.1 | An amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to: |
(a) | the definition of "Majority Lenders" in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ); |
(b) | an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents; |
(c) | a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable; |
(d) | an increase in or an extension of any Commitment or the Total Commitments; |
(e) | a change to the Borrower; |
(f) | any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders; |
(g) | Clause 2.2 ( Finance Parties' rights and obligations ), Clause 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ) or this Clause 36; |
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(h) | the nature or scope of the Charged Property or the manner in which the proceeds of enforcement of the Transaction Security are distributed; or |
(i) | the release of any Security Document, |
shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders.
36.2.2 | An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Account Bank, any Swap Bank, the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Arranger may not be effected without the consent of the Account Bank, the Agent, any Swap Bank or the Arranger as the case may be. |
37. | Counterparts |
Each Finance Document 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 that Finance Document.
91 |
SECTION 11
GOVERNING LAW AND ENFORCEMENT
38. | Governing law |
This Agreement is governed by English law.
39. | Enforcement |
39.1 | Jurisdiction |
39.1.1 | The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement) (a " Dispute "). |
39.1.2 | The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary. |
39.1.3 | This Clause 39.1 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. |
39.2 | Service of process |
39.2.1 | Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, the Borrower: |
(a) | irrevocably appoints Leif Höegh (UK) Limited of 5 Young Street, London W8 5EH as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document; and |
(b) | agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the Borrower of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned. |
39.2.2 | If any person appointed as agent for service of process is unable for any reason to act as agent for service of process, the Borrower shall immediately appoint another agent on terms acceptable to the Agent, failing this, the Agent may appoint another agent for this purpose. |
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
92 |
SCHEDULE 1
THE ORIGINAL LENDERS
NAME OF ORIGINAL LENDER | COMMITMENT (USD) |
Calyon | 50,000,000 |
DnB NOR Bank ASA | 50,000,000 |
Fortis Bank (Nederland) NV, Oslo Branch | 50,000,000 |
Lloyds TSB Bank Plc | 50,000,000 |
Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. | 50,000,000 |
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Brussels Branch | 50,000,000 |
93 |
SCHEDULE 2
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Part I
1. | Borrower |
(a) | A Certified Copy of the constitutional documents of the Borrower. |
(b) | A Certified Copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Borrower: |
(i) | approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute the Transaction Documents to which it is a party; |
(ii) | authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Transaction 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 (including, if relevant, any Utilisation Request and Selection Notice) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. |
(c) | A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph (b) above. |
(d) | A certificate of the Borrower (signed by a director) confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guaranteeing or similar limit binding on the Borrower to be exceeded. |
2. | Other documents and evidence |
(a) | Evidence that any process agent referred to in Clause 39.2 ( Service of process ), has accepted its appointment. |
(b) | A Certified Copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable (if it has notified the Borrower accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Transaction Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Transaction Document. |
(c) | Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Borrower pursuant to Clause 11 ( Fees ) and Clause 16 ( Costs and expenses ) have been paid or will be paid by the first Utilisation Date. |
(d) | The original Refund Guarantee and Certified Copies of such of the other Underlying Documents as are then in existence. |
(e) | Evidence that the Accounts have been established and duly completed mandate forms in respect thereof have been delivered to the Account Bank. |
94 |
(f) | A Certified Copy of the Borrower’s statement of the Estimated Total Project Cost, including a breakdown of each constituent cost. |
3. | Finance Documents |
Duly executed originals of:
(a) | this Agreement; |
(b) | the Charter Assignment ; |
(c) | the Charter Consent and Agreement; |
(d) | the LHC Undertaking; |
(e) | the Negative Pledge; |
(f) | the Pledge of Accounts; |
(g) | the Pre-delivery Security Assignment; |
(h) | the Supervision Agreement Assignment; |
(i) | the Trust Agreement; and |
(j) | the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking. |
4. | Legal opinions |
(a) | An English legal opinion from Ince & Co, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(b) | A Caymans legal opinion from Maples & Calder, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(c) | A Korean legal opinion from Kim & Chang, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(d) | A Bermudan legal opinion from Mello Jones & Martin, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(e) | A Japanese legal opinion from Maritax Law Office addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(f) | A Luxembourg legal opinion from a firm approved by the Agent and the Borrower addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(g) | A Norwegian legal opinion from Wikborg Rein addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(h) | Such other legal opinions as the Agent may reasonably require in relation to any other Finance Document. |
95 |
Part II
1. | Invoice |
A certificate from the Borrower confirming the amount of the Current Project Cost together with reasonable details of each cost incorporated therein and, if required by the Agent on reasonable prior notice, copies of all relevant invoices.
2. | Evidence of payments |
Evidence acceptable to the Agent that:
(a) | all preceding instalments of the Contract Price have been paid in full; and |
(b) | the Loan will be applied by the Borrower against the Current Project Cost. |
3. | Classification Society |
A certificate from the Classification Society certifying that the scheduled construction milestones under the Shipbuilding Contract have been completed and that the instalment to be financed by the proposed Loan is due to the Builder.
4. | Borrower's Certificate |
A certificate from the Borrower to the Agent confirming that:
(a) | the Builder has no outstanding claims against the Borrower or any other Security Party; and |
(b) | there have been no material amendments or variations agreed to the Shipbuilding Contract or Refund Guarantee that have not been agreed by the Agent and that no action has been taken by either the Builder, the Refund Guarantor or the Borrower which might in any way render such Shipbuilding Contract or Refund Guarantee inoperative or unenforceable, in whole or in any part; and |
(c) | there is no Security (except for Permitted Security) of any kind created or permitted by any person on or relating to the Shipbuilding Contract or Refund Guarantee or in relation to the Ship. |
5. | Swap Contracts and Swap Assignments |
Certified Copies of each Swap Contract and duly executed originals of the Swap Contracts Assignment.
96 |
Part III
1. | Finance Documents |
Duly executed originals of:
(a) | the Mortgage; |
(b) | the Deed of Covenant; |
(c) | the Regas Performance Guarantee Assignment; and |
(d) | the Manager’s Undertaking. |
2. | Evidence that : |
(a) | the Borrower is in compliance with its obligations under Clause 8.5 ( Interest Rate Hedging ); |
(b) | the Ship is, or will be immediately following the Utilisation, registered in the name of the Borrower under an Approved Flag; |
(c) | the Ship is, or will be immediately following the Utilisation, in the absolute and unencumbered ownership of the Borrower save for the security created by the Finance Documents and Permitted Security; |
(d) | the Ship is, or will be immediately following the Utilisation, insured in accordance with the covenants given under this Agreement; and |
(e) | the Ship maintains the Classification with the Classification Society free of all overdue recommendations and conditions. |
3. | Such evidence as the Agent may require of the Borrower’s and/or the relevant Approved Manager's compliance with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code including a copy of the ISM Code Documentation (or in relation to the Safety Management Certificate, evidence that the Operator has applied for that certificate to be issued within any applicable time limit pursuant to the ISM Code) and the ISSC. |
4. | The original Regas Performance Guarantee and a Certified Copy of any other Underlying Document not previously delivered to the Agent. |
5. | Certified Copies of the Builder’s final invoice for the Ship and of the invoices for any other part of the Current Project Cost. |
6. | A favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant appointed by the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require. |
7. | Favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of the jurisdiction of the Approved Flag and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may, by reasonable prior notice to the Borrower, reasonably require. |
97 |
SCHEDULE 3
REQUESTS
Part I
Utilisation Request
From: SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD
To: [ Agent ]
Dated:
Dear Sirs
[Borrower] – [●] Facility Agreement
dated [●] (the “Agreement”)
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a 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 Date: | [●] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) |
Amount: | [●] or, if less, the Available Facility |
Interest Period: | [●] |
3. | We confirm that each condition specified in Clause 4.2 ( Further conditions precedent ) is satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request. |
4. | The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to [●] |
5. | This Utilisation Request is irrevocable. |
Yours faithfully
authorised signatory for |
SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD
98 |
Part II
Selection Notice
From: | SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD |
To: | [ Agent ] |
Dated:
Dear Sirs
[Borrower] – [●] Facility Agreement
dated [●] (the “Agreement”)
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Selection Notice. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Selection Notice unless given a different meaning in this Selection Notice. |
2. | [We request that the next Interest Period for the above Loan is [●]]. |
3. | This Selection Notice is irrevocable. |
Yours faithfully
authorised signatory for |
SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD
99 |
SCHEDULE 4
MANDATORY COST FORMULA
1. | The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Financial Services Authority (or, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank. |
2. | On the first day of each Interest Period (or as soon as possible thereafter) the Agent shall calculate, as a percentage rate, a rate (the “ Additional Cost Rate ”) for each Lender, in accordance with the paragraphs set out below. The Mandatory Cost will be calculated by the Agent as a weighted average of the Lenders’ Additional Cost Rates (weighted in proportion to the percentage participation of each Lender in the relevant Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum. |
3. | The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Facility Office in a Participating Member State will be the percentage notified by that Lender to the Agent. This percentage will be certified by that Lender in its notice to the Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of that Lender’s participation in all Loans made from that Facility Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Facility Office. |
4. | The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Facility Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Agent as follows: |
per cent. Per annum. |
Where:
E is designed to compensate Lenders for amounts payable under the Fees Rules and is calculated by the Agent as being the average of the most recent rates of charge supplied by the Reference Banks to the Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 below and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000.
5. | For the purposes of this Schedule: |
(a) | “ Fees Rules ” means the rules on periodic fees contained in the FSA Supervision Manual or such other law or regulation as may be in force from time to time in respect of the payment of fees for the acceptance of deposits; |
(b) | “ Fee Tariffs ” means the fee tariffs specified in the Fees Rules under the activity group A.1 Deposit acceptors (ignoring any minimum fee or zero rated fee required pursuant to the Fees Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and |
(c) | “ Tariff Base ” has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules. |
100 |
6. | If requested by the Agent, each Reference Bank shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Reference Bank to the Financial Services Authority pursuant to the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by that Reference Bank as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Reference Bank for that financial year) and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000 of the Tariff Base of that Reference Bank. |
7. | Each Lender shall supply any information required by the Agent for the purpose of calculating its Additional Cost Rate. In particular, but without limitation, each Lender shall supply the following information on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender: |
(a) | the jurisdiction of its Facility Office; and |
(b) | any other information that the Agent may reasonably require for such purpose. |
Each Lender shall promptly notify the Agent of any change to the information provided by it pursuant to this paragraph.
8. | The Agent shall have no liability to any person if such determination results in an Additional Cost Rate which over or under compensates any Lender and shall be entitled to assume that the information provided by any Lender or Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above is true and correct in all respects. |
9. | The Agent shall distribute the additional amounts received as a result of the Mandatory Cost to the Lenders on the basis of the Additional Cost Rate for each Lender based on the information provided by each Lender and each Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 6 and 7 above. |
10. | Any determination by the Agent pursuant to this Schedule in relation to a formula, the Mandatory Cost, an Additional Cost Rate or any amount payable to a Lender shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties. |
11. | The Agent may from time to time, after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders, determine and notify to all Parties any amendments which are required to be made to this Schedule in order to comply with any change in law, regulation or any requirements from time to time imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties. |
101 |
SCHEDULE 5
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
To: | [●] as Agent |
From: | [ The Existing Lender ] (the “ Existing Lender ”) and [ The New Lender ] (the “ New Lender ”) |
Dated:
[Insert name of Borrower] – [ ] Facility Agreement
dated [ ] (the “Facility Agreement”)
1. | We refer to the Facility Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Transfer Certificate. |
2. | We refer to Clause 25.5 (Procedure for transfer): |
(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 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ). |
(b) | The proposed Transfer Date is [ ]. |
(c) | The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 32.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule. |
3. | The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations set out in of Clause 25.4 ( Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders ). |
4. | This Transfer Certificate 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 Transfer Certificate. |
5. | This Transfer Certificate is governed by English law. |
THE SCHEDULE
Commitment/rights and obligations to be transferred
[insert relevant details]
[Facility Office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments,]
[Existing Lender] | [New Lender] |
By: | By: |
This Transfer Certificate is accepted by the Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [ ].
102 |
[Agent]
By:
NOTE: The execution of this Transfer Certificate may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lender’s interest in the Transaction Security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lender’s Transaction Security in any jurisdiction, and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.
103 |
SCHEDULE 6
TIMETABLES
Delivery of a duly | U – 3 |
completed Utilisation | |
Request (Clause 5.1 | 9.30 am |
(Delivery of a Utilisation | |
Request)) or a Selection | |
Notice (Clause 9.1 | |
(Selection of Interest | |
Periods)) | |
Agent notifies the | U – 3 |
Lenders of the Loan in | |
accordance with | 3 pm |
Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ | |
participation) | |
LIBOR is fixed | Quotation Day as of 11:00 a.m. London time |
“U” equals date of Utilisation
“U – X” equals X Business Days prior to the date of Utilisation
104 |
SCHEDULE 7
SCHEDULED REPAYMENTS
Repayment Date (Months after First Repayment
Date) |
Repayment Amount (USD) | |
0 | 1,911,252.69 | |
3 | 1,941,045.00 | |
6 | 1,971,304.62 | |
9 | 2,002,032.69 | |
12 | 2,033,243.08 | |
15 | 2,064,936.92 | |
18 | 2,097,126.92 | |
21 | 2,129,818.85 | |
24 | 2,163,018.46 | |
27 | 2,196,737.31 | |
30 | 2,230,981.15 | |
33 | 2,265,759.23 | |
36 | 2,301,078.46 | |
39 | 2,336,949.23 | |
42 | 2,373,379.62 | |
45 | 2,410,376.54 | |
48 | 2,447,950.38 | |
51 | 2,486,110.38 | |
54 | 2,524,865.77 | |
57 | 2,564,224.62 | |
60 | 2,604,197.31 | |
63 | 2,644,791.92 | |
66 | 2,686,021.15 | |
69 | 2,727,891.92 | |
72 | 2,770,416.92 | |
75 | 2,813,601.92 | |
78 | 2,857,463.08 | |
81 | 2,902,006.15 | |
84 | 2,947,245.00 | |
87 | 2,993,187.69 | |
90 | 3,039,846.92 | |
93 | 3,087,234.23 | |
96 | 3,135,360.00 | |
99 | 3,184,234.62 | |
102 | 3,233,873.08 | |
105 | 3,284,283.46 | |
108 | 3,335,481.92 | |
111 | 3,387,476.54 | |
114 | 3,440,282.31 | |
117 | 3,493,911.92 | |
120 | 3,548,375.77 | |
123 | 3,603,690.00 | |
126 | 3,659,867.31 | |
129 | 3,716,918.08 |
105 |
Repayment Date (Months after First Repayment
|
Repayment Amount (USD) | |
132 | 3,774,860.77 | |
135 | 3,833,704.62 | |
138 | 3,893,465.77 | |
141 | 3,954,160.38 | |
141 | 164,993,957.31 |
106 |
SCHEDULE 8
FORM OF DEBT SERVICE COVER COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
To: | DnB NOR Bank ASA |
From: | SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd |
Dated:
Dear Sirs
SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd [USD300,000,000]
Facility Agreement dated [ ] (the “Agreement”)
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Debt Service Cover Compliance Certificate. |
2. | We confirm that as of the date of this Certificate |
(a) | the aggregate of the amounts payable (excluding any prepayments) by the Borrower under this Agreement during the preceding twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
(b) | the aggregate of the net amount payable (or, as the case may be, minus the net amount receivable) by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts during the preceding twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
(c) | the aggregate amount of the Charter Hire payments made to the Operating Account during the preceding twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
(d) | the aggregate amount of the withdrawals made from the Operating Account pursuant to Clause 19.2.2(a) during the preceding twelve-Month period is [ ] |
and therefore that the Historical Debt Service Cover Ratio is not less than 1.2 : 1.0.
3. | We confirm that as of the date of this Certificate: |
(a) | the projected aggregate of the amounts payable (excluding any prepayments) by the Borrower under this Agreement during the following twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
(b) | the projected aggregate of the net amount payable (or, as the case may be, minus the net amount receivable) by the Borrower under the Swap Contracts during the following twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
(c) | the projected aggregate amount of the Charter Hire payments to be made to the Operating Account during the following twelve-Month period is USD[ ]; |
107 |
(d) | the projected aggregate amount of the withdrawals to be made from the Operating Account pursuant to Clause 19.2.2(a) during the following twelve-Month period is [ ] |
and therefore that the Projected Debt Service Cover Ratio is not less than 1.2 : 1.0.
4. | We confirm that no Default is continuing |
Signed | Signed | |||
For and on behalf of | For and on behalf of | |||
SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd | SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd |
108 |
SCHEDULE 9
FORM OF HEDGING COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
To: | DnB NOR Bank ASA |
From: | SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd |
Dated:
Dear Sirs
SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd [USD300,000,000]
Facility Agreement dated [ ] (the “Agreement”)
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Hedging Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Hedging Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Hedging Compliance Certificate. |
2. | We confirm that as at [ ● ]: |
(a) | the aggregate notional principal amount of the Swap Transactions is USD[ ● ]; and |
(b) | the amount of the Loans is USD[ ● ] |
and that the aggregate principal amount of the Swap Transaction is [equal to]/[greater than] 90 per cent. of the amount of the Loans but does not exceed 110 per cent. of the amount of the Loans.
3. | We confirm that no Default is continuing. |
Signed | Signed | |||
Authorised Signatory | Authorised Signatory | |||
For and on behalf of | For and on behalf of | |||
SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd | SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd |
109 |
SIGNATURES
THE BORROWER
SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD
By: | /s/ ØYSTEIN LAURITZEN |
Address: | c/o Höegh LNG AS |
Drammensveien 134 | |
PO Box 4, Skoyen | |
N-0212 Oslo, Norway | |
Fax: | +47 21 03 90 13 |
THE AGENT
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
THE SECURITY TRUSTEE
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
THE BOOKRUNNERS
CALYON
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Ruselokkveien 6 |
PO Box 1675 Vika | |
N-0120 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 01 0651 |
110 |
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street |
London, EC2V 7AE | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7158 3273 |
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Bracken House, One Friday Street |
London, EC4M 9JA | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7012 4478 |
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Avenue des Arts 58, Box 18 |
1000 Brussels | |
Belgium | |
Fax: | +32 2 502 07 80 |
THE MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS
CALYON
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Ruselokkveien 6 |
PO Box 1675 Vika | |
N-0120 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 01 0651 |
111 |
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Haakon VII’s Gate 10 |
0161 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 23 11 49 40 |
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street |
London, EC2V 7AE | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7158 3273 |
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Bracken House, One Friday Street |
London, EC4M 9JA | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7012 4478 |
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Avenue des Arts 58, Box 18 |
1000 Brussels | |
Belgium | |
Fax: | +32 2 502 07 80 |
112 |
THE LENDERS
CALYON
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Ruselokkveien 6 |
PO Box 1675 Vika | |
N-0120 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 01 0651 |
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Haakon VII’s Gate 10 |
0161 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 23 11 49 40 |
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street |
London, EC2V 7AE | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7158 3273 |
113 |
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Bracken House, |
One Friday Street | |
London, EC4M 9JA | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7012 4478 |
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, BRUSSELS BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Avenue des Arts 58, Box 18 |
1000 Brussels | |
Belgium | |
Fax: | +32 2 502 07 80 |
THE SWAP BANKS
CALYON
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Ruselokkveien 6 |
PO Box 1675 Vika | |
N-0120 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 01 0651 |
DNB NOR BANK ASA
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
FORTIS BANK (NEDERLAND) NV, OSLO BRANCH
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
114 |
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street |
London, EC2V 7AE | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7158 3273 |
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Bracken House, One Friday Street |
London, EC4M 9JA | |
Fax: | +44 (0)20 7012 4478 |
SMBC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
By: | /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE |
Address: | Avenue des Arts 58, Box 18 |
1000 Brussels | |
Belgium | |
Fax: | +32 2 502 07 80 |
115 |
Dated 25 March 2010
Between
SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
as Borrower
and
DNB NOR BANK ASA
as Security Trustee and as Agent for the Finance Parties
________________________________________________
AMENDMENT AGREEMENT RELATING TO A USD300,000,000
TERM FACILITY AGREEMENT 20 DECEMBER 2007
_________________________________________________
Ince & Co
1 St Katharine’s Way
London, E1W 1AY
Tel: +44 7481 0010
Fax: +44 7481 4968
(Ref: DGN/8745)
THIS AGREEMENT is dated 25 March 2010 and made between:
(1) SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD. as borrower (the " Borrower ");
(2) DNB NOR BANK ASA as security trustee (the " Security Trustee "); and
(3) DNB NOR BANK ASA as agent for the Finance Parties (the " Agent ").
IT IS AGREED as follows:
1 | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement:
"Amended Facility Agreement" means the Original Facility Agreement, as amended by this Agreement.
" Charter " means the time charterparty of the Ship dated 20 March 2007, originally entered into between the Borrower and the Original Charterer, as novated by a novation agreement dated 25 March 2010 entered into between the Borrower, the Original Charterer and the Charterer and which is effective as of 25 March 2010;
" Charterer " means GDF Suez Global LNG Supply SA, a company incorporated under the laws of the Duchy of Luxembourg, having its principal office address at 76, avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;
" Charter Assignment " means the assignment of the rights of the Borrower under the Charter to be executed by the Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in agreed form;
" Charter Consent and Agreement " means the agreement to be executed by the Charterer, the Borrower and the Security Trustee in agreed form;
" Charter Ownership Undertaking " means the undertaking from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower dated 25 March 2010;
" Comfort Letter " means the letter dated 25 March 2010 from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower;
"Effective Date" means the date on which the Agent confirms to the Borrower that it has received each of the documents listed in Schedule 1 ( Conditions Precedent ) in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
“Information Sharing Letter " means the letter from the Project Sponsor to the Borrower dated 25 March 2010;
"Original Facility Agreement" means the Facility Agreement dated 20 December 2007 between the Borrower, the Agent and the other Finance Parties;
" Original Charterer " means GDF Suez LNG Trading SA (formerly called Suez LNG Trading SA), a company incorporated under the laws of the Duchy of Luxembourg, having its principal office address at 76, avenue de la Liberté, L-1930 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;
" Replacement Security Documents " means:
(a) | the Charter Assignment; and |
(b) | the Charter Consent and Agreement; |
“ Replacement Transaction Documents ” means:
(a) | the Replacement Security Documents; and |
(b) | the Replacement Underlying Documents; |
" Replacement Underlying Documents " means:
(a) | the Charter Ownership Undertaking; |
(b) | the Comfort Letter; |
(c) | the Information Sharing Letter; and |
(d) | the Charter. |
1.2 | Incorporation of defined terms |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document has the same meaning in this Agreement. |
(b) | The principles of construction set out in the Original Facility Agreement shall have effect as if set out in this Agreement. |
1.3 | Clauses |
(a) | In this Agreement any reference to a "Clause" or a "Schedule" is, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to a Clause or a Schedule of this Agreement. |
(b) | Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
1.4 | Third Party Rights |
A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.
1.5 | Designation |
In accordance with the Original Facility Agreement, the Agent and the Borrower designate this Agreement as a Finance Document.
2 | AMENDMENTS |
With effect from the Effective Date, Clause 1.1 of the Original Facility Agreement shall be amended as follows:
(a) | by replacing the definitions of “Charter”, “Charterer”, “Charter Ownership Undertaking”, “Comfort Letter” and “Information Sharing Letter” in the Original Facility Agreement with the definitions of such terms in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement; and |
(b) | by the addition of the definition of “Original Charterer” as set out in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement. |
3 | CONTINUITY AND FURTHER ASSURANCE |
3.1 | Continuing obligations |
The provisions of the Original Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents shall, save as amended by this Agreement, continue in full force and effect.
3.2 | Further assurance |
The Borrower shall, at the request of the Agent and at its own expense, do all such acts and things necessary or desirable to give effect to the amendments effected or to be effected pursuant to this Agreement.
4 | FEES, COSTS AND EXPENSES |
4.1 | Transaction expenses |
The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Agent and each of the Lenders the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with the registration, preparation, printing and execution of this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement.
4.2 | Enforcement Costs |
The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement, or the preservation, of any rights under this Agreement.
5 | MISCELLANEOUS |
5.1 | Incorporation of terms |
The provisions of Clause 32 ( Notices ), Clause 34 ( Partial Invalidity ), Clause 35 ( Remedies and Waivers ) and Clause 39 ( Enforcement ) of the Original Facility Agreement shall be incorporated into this Agreement as if set out in full in this Agreement and as if references in these clauses to "this Agreement" are references to this Agreement.
5.2 | Counterparts |
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.
6 | GOVERNING LAW |
This Agreement is governed by English law.
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
SCHEDULE 1
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Part I
1. | Borrower |
(a) | A Certified Copy of the constitutional documents of the Borrower. |
(b) | A Certified Copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Borrower: |
(i) | approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Replacement Transaction Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute the Replacement Transaction Documents to which it is a party; |
(ii) | authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Replacement Transaction 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 Replacement Transaction Documents to which it is a party. |
(c) | the original of any power of attorney under which any Replacement Transaction Document is executed on behalf of the Borrower. |
(d) | A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph (b) above. |
2. | Finance Documents |
Duly executed originals of:
(a) | this Agreement; |
(b) | the New Charter Assignment; and |
(c) | the New Charter Consent and Agreement; |
3. | Underlying Documents |
Certified copies of:
(a) | the Charter Ownership Undertaking; |
(b) | the Comfort Letter |
(c) | the Information Sharing Letter; and |
(d) | the Charter. |
4. | Legal opinions |
(a) | An English legal opinion from Ince & Co, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(b) | A Caymans legal opinion from Maples & Calder, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(c) | A Luxembourg legal opinion from Bonn Schmitt Steichen Avocats addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(d) | Such other legal opinions as the Agent may reasonably require in relation to any other Finance Document. |
SIGNATURES
To: | SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. |
Clifton House
75 Fort Street
George Town
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
Höegh LNG Limited
Canon’s Court
22 Victoria Street
Hamilton
Bermuda HM12
Mitsui O.S.K Lines Limited
1-1 Toranomon
2-Chome, Minato-Ku
Tokyo
Japan, 105-8688
26 August 2010
Dear Sirs,
US$300,000,000 Term Loan Facility to SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (the “Borrower”)
We refer to a facility agreement dated 20 December 2007 as amended from time to time including by a facility amendment agreement dated 25 March 2010 (the “ Facility Agreement ”) and made between (i) the Borrower and (ii) CALYON, DnB NOR Bank ASA, Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V. Oslo Branch, Lloyds TSB Bank Plc, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Brussels Branch as arrangers (iv) the financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 as lenders (the “ Original Lenders ”), (v) CALYON, DnB NOR Bank ASA, Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V. Oslo Branch, Lloyds TSB Bank Plc, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and SMBC Capital Markets, Inc. as swap banks and (v) DNB NOR Bank ASA as Agent and Security Trustee under which the Lenders agreed to make available to the Borrower, upon the terms and subject to the conditions therein set out, a secured term loan facility in a total amount of up to USD300,000,000.
Words and expressions defined in the Facility Agreement, shall, as appropriate, have the same meaning where used in this letter.
A reference to a clause or schedule is to a clause or schedule in the Facility Agreement.
The Agent (acting with the consent and authorisation of the Lenders) hereby consents to the transfer from MOL to Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. (“ TLT ”) of 1.5 per cent. of the shares in the Borrower presently held by MOL and to the related amendment, restatement or novation (as applicable) of the Shareholder Agreement and the Shareholder Loan Agreement.
The terms of the Facility Agreement are amended so that with effective from the date on which the share transfer from MOL to TLT takes place (the “ Effective Date ”):
(i) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “Negative Pledge” shall be changed by adding the words “and any other shareholder of the Borrower” after “Vessel Sponsors”; |
(ii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “Shareholder Agreement” shall be changed by replacing the words “on, or about, the date of this Agreement entered into between MOL and HLNG” to “entered into between MOL, HLNG and TLT”; |
(iii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “Shareholder Loan Agreement” shall be changed by adding the words “as amended and restated and entered into between MOL, HLNG, TLT and the Borrower and the related novation agreement entered into between MOL, HLNG, TLT and the Borrower”; |
1 |
(iv) | by adding a new definition in Clause 1.1, as follows: “ TLT ” means Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. a company incorporated under the laws of Japan and having its principal office at 1-5-20 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 105-8527; |
(v) | Clause 17.2 ( Share Capital and Ownership ) shall be changed by replacing “and by MOL as to 50 per cent.” to “, by MOL as to 48.5 per cent. and by TLT as to 1.5 per cent.”; |
In addition from the Effective Date, Recital (C) in the Vessel Sponsors’ Undertaking dated 20 December 2007 shall be amended by replacing the words “and MOL as to 50 per cent.” with “, MOL as to 48.5 per cent. and TLT as to 1.5 per cent.”
On or before the Effective Date, the Borrower shall provide the Agent with certified copies of :
(i) | a resolution of the board of directors (or other appropriate corporate authorities or approvals) of the Borrower, each Vessel Sponsor and TLT approving the execution of this letter, the Negative Pledge, the Shareholder Agreement and the Shareholder Loan Agreement (as applicable) by a director, authorised signatory or attorney of each company together with any constitutional or incorporation documents or other corporate authorisations required in order to issue the legal opinions listed below; |
(ii) | the amended and restated Shareholder Agreement entered into between the Vessel Sponsors and TLT; |
(iii) | the amended and restated Shareholder Loan Agreement entered into between the Vessel Sponsors, TLT and the Borrower and the related novation agreement entered into between the Vessel Sponsors, TLT and the Borrower; |
(iv) | the share certificate issued in the name of TLT for its 1.5 per cent. shareholding in the Borrower, the share certificate issued in the name of MOL for its 48.5 per cent shareholding in the Borrower and the share purchase agreement entered into between MOL and TLT; and |
(v) | evidence that any process agent referred to in Clause 10.2, Negative Pledge ( Service of Process ) has accepted its appointment. |
The Agent shall arrange for legal opinions to be obtained in form satisfactory to the Agent as follows:
(i) | A Japanese legal opinion from Maritax Law Office addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; |
(ii) | A Bermudan legal opinion from Mello, Jones & Martin addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; and |
(iii) | An English legal opinion from Ince & Co addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders |
The provisions of the Facility Agreement and the Finance Documents shall, save as amended by this letter, continue in full force and effect.
This letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by English law.
Please confirm your agreement to the terms of this letter by signing and returning a copy of this letter.
Yours faithfully
/s/ HERMANN HOVLAND ØVERLIE | |
For and on behalf of | |
DNB NOR BANK ASA | |
(as Agent for the Lenders) |
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We agree to the terms of this letter. | |
/s/ ØRJAN HOMME | |
For and on behalf of | |
SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD. | |
/s/ LARS MÅRDALEN | |
For and on behalf of | |
HÖEGH LNG LIMITED | |
/s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE | |
For and on behalf of | |
MITSUI O.S.K. LINES LIMITED |
3 |
Dated 29 June 2012
Between
SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
as Borrower
and
DNB BANK ASA
(formerly known as DnB NOR BANK ASA)
as Security Trustee and as Agent for the Finance Parties
AMENDMENT AGREEMENT RELATING TO A USD300,000,000
TERM FACILITY AGREEMENT DATED 20 DECEMBER 2007
(AS AMENDED ON 25 MARCH 2010 AND ON 26 AUGUST 2010)
Ince & Co LLP
1 St Katharine’s Way
London, E1W 1AY
Tel: +44 7481 0010
Fax: +44 7481 4968
(Ref: DGN/8745)
THIS AGREEMENT is dated 29 June 2012 and made between:
(1) | SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD. as borrower (the " Borrower "); |
(2) | DNB BANK ASA (formerly known as DnB NOR Bank ASA) as security trustee (the " Security Trustee "); and |
(3) | DNB BANK ASA (formerly known as DnB NOR Bank ASA) as agent for the Finance Parties (the " Agent "). |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
1 | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement:
"Amended Facility Agreement" means the Original Facility Agreement, as amended by this Agreement.
" Charter " means the time charterparty of the Ship dated 20 March 2007, originally entered into between the Borrower and the Original Charterer, as novated by a novation agreement dated 25 March 2010 entered into between the Borrower, the Original Charterer and the Charterer and as amended by the First Charter Amendment and the Second Charter Amendment;
“ CNOOC ” means CNOOC Gas & Power Limited a company organised and existing under the law of China having its registered office at Jingxin Building, Jia No 2, Dongsanhuabeilu, Beijing, People’s Republic of China;
“ CNOOC Sub-Charter ” means the sub-time charterparty to be entered into between the Charterer and CNOOC as sub-charterer in relation to the Ship;
"Effective Date" means the date on which the Agent confirms to the Borrower that it has received each of the documents listed in Schedule 1 ( Conditions Precedent ) in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
“ First Charter Amendment ” means the agreement for amendments to the Charter in relation to the Ship being operated as an SRV to be entered into between the Borrower and the Charterer in agreed form;
"Original Facility Agreement" means the Facility Agreement dated 20 December 2007 as amended on 25 March 2010 and 26 August 2010 between the Borrower, the Agent and the other Finance Parties;
“ Second Charter Amendment ” means the agreement for amendments to the Charter in relation to the Ship being operated as an FSRU to be entered into between the Borrower and the Charterer;
“ Ship Modification ” means the modification of the Ship by Sembawang Shipyard, Singapore to operate as a shuttle and regasification vessel (“ SRV ”) or a floating, storage and regasification unit (“ FSRU ”) as required under the Second Charter Amendment;
1 |
“ Ship Reinstatement ” means the reinstatement of the Ship as an SRV at the end of the CNOOC Sub-Charter, as required under the Second Charter Amendment; and
“ Time Charter Amendments ” means the First Charter Amendment and the Second Charter Amendment.
1.2 | Incorporation of defined terms |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in the Original Facility Agreement has the same meaning in this Agreement. |
(b) | The principles of construction set out in the Original Facility Agreement shall have effect as if set out in this Agreement. |
1.3 | Clauses |
(a) | In this Agreement any reference to a "Clause" or a "Schedule" is, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to a Clause or a Schedule of this Agreement. |
(b) | Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
1.4 | Third Party Rights |
A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.
1.5 | Designation |
In accordance with the Original Facility Agreement, the Agent and the Borrower designate this Agreement as a Finance Document.
2 | CONSENTS |
With effect from the Effective Date, the Agent (acting with the consent and authorisation of the Majority Lenders) gives its consent to:
(a) | the Time Charter Amendments (as required under Clause 23.12 of the Original Facility Agreement and Clause 4.2 of the Charter Assignment); and |
(b) | subject to receipt by the Agent of the evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 ( Conditions Subsequent ), in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, the Ship Modification (as required under Clause 20.3 of the Original Facility Agreement); and |
(c) | Subject to receipt by the Agent of the evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 2 ( Conditions Subsequent ), in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, the Ship Reinstatement (as required under Clause 20.3 of the Original Facility Agreement). |
3 | AMENDMENTS |
With effect from the Effective Date,
3.1.1 | Clause 1.1 of the Original Facility Agreement shall be amended as follows: |
2 |
(a) | by replacing the definition of Charter in the Original Facility Agreement with the definition of such term in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement; |
(b) | by the addition of the definitions of “First Charter Amendment” and ”Second Time Charter Amendment” as set out in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement; and |
(c) | for the period following completion of the Ship Modification and before the Ship Reinstatement, by construing the definition of “Ship” to mean the Ship operating as an SRV or an FSRU. |
3.1.2 | Each of the other Finance Documents shall be amended so that: |
(a) | any reference therein to “the Facility Agreement” shall be construed as a reference to the Amended Facility Agreement; and |
(b) | for the period following completion of the Ship Modification and before the Ship Reinstatement, by construing the definition of “Ship” to mean the Ship operating as an SRV or an FSRU. |
4 | CONTINUITY AND FURTHER ASSURANCE |
4.1 | Continuing obligations |
The provisions of the Original Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents shall, save as amended by this Agreement, continue in full force and effect.
4.2 | Further assurance |
The Borrower shall, at the request of the Agent and at its own expense, do all such acts and things necessary or desirable to give effect to the amendments effected or to be effected pursuant to this Agreement.
5 | FEES, COSTS AND EXPENSES |
5.1 | Transaction expenses |
The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred in connection with the registration, preparation, printing and execution of this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement.
5.2 | Enforcement Costs |
The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement, or the preservation, of any rights under this Agreement.
6 | MISCELLANEOUS |
6.1 | Incorporation of terms |
The provisions of Clause 32 ( Notices ), Clause 34 ( Partial Invalidity ), Clause 35 ( Remedies and Waivers ) and Clause 39 ( Enforcement ) of the Original Facility Agreement shall be incorporated into this Agreement as if set out in full in this Agreement and as if references in these clauses to "this Agreement" are references to this Agreement.
3 |
6.2 | Counterparts |
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.
7 | GOVERNING LAW |
This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by English law.
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
4 |
SCHEDULE 1
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
1. | Borrower |
(a) | A Certified Copy of the constitutional and incorporation documents of the Borrower. |
(b) | A Certified Copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Borrower: |
(i) | approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Time Charter Amendments resolving that it execute this Agreement and the Time Charter Amendments; |
(ii) | authorising a specified person or persons to execute this Agreement and the Time Charter Amendments; 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 this Agreement and the Time Charter Amendments. |
(c) | the original of any power of attorney under which this Agreement and the Time Charter Amendments is executed on behalf of the Borrower. |
2. | Charterer |
(a) | A Certified Copy of the current consolidated articles of association of the Charterer; |
(b) | A Certified Copy of the minutes or circular resolutions of the board of directors of the Charterer approving the execution of the Time Charter Amendments by a director, authorised signatory or attorney (including the original of any power of attorney, if applicable) of the Charterer as required in order to issue the legal opinions set out in 6. below. |
3. | Finance Documents |
A duly executed original of this Agreement
4. | Underlying Documents |
Certified Copies of the Time Charter Amendments.
5. | CNOOC Mortgage Acknowledgement |
A confirmation from the Charterer that, in the CNOOC Sub-Charter, CNOOC has acknowledged the Mortgage registered over the Ship at the Norwegian International Ship Registry.
5 |
6. | Legal opinions |
(a) | An English legal opinion from Ince & Co LLP, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(b) | A Cayman Islands legal opinion from Maples & Calder, addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(c) | A Luxembourg legal opinion from Bonn & Schmitt addressed to the Arranger, the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
(d) | Such other legal opinions as the Agent may reasonably require in relation to any other Finance Document. |
7. | Other documents and evidence |
A copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary (if it has notified the Borrower accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or for the validity and enforceability of this Agreement.
6 |
SCHEDULE 2
CONDITIONS SUBSEQUENT
Part I
1. | Prior to the commencement of the Ship Modification works: |
(a) | evidence that the registration of the Ship and the Mortgage at the Norwegian International Ship Registry will not be affected by the Ship Modification, by providing an up-to-date copy of the Certificate of Ownership and Encumbrance for the Ship; |
(b) | evidence that the Ship will be insured for the relevant marine risks (including builder’s risks) and otherwise in accordance with the covenants given under the Original Facility Agreement during the period of the works for the Ship Modification; |
(c) | letters of undertaking in accordance with Clause 21.4.1 of the Original Facility Agreement or confirmation from the insurers that the existing letters of undertaking will continue to be valid and effective; and |
(d) | if required by the Agent, a favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant appointed by the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require. |
2. Following completion of the Ship Modification:
(a) | evidence that the Ship is insured for relevant marine risks in order to operate as an SRV or an FSRU under the terms of the Charter and otherwise in accordance with the covenants given under the Original Facility Agreement; |
(b) | letters of undertaking in accordance with Clause 21.4.1 of the Original Facility Agreement or confirmation from the insurers that the existing letter of undertaking will continue to be valid and effective; |
(c) | if required by the Agent, a favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant appointed by the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require; |
(d) | evidence that the Ship maintains the highest class with the Classification Society free of all recommendations and conditions; and |
(e) | evidence that the Manager and/or Operator and the Ship are in compliance with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code, by providing up-to-date copies of: |
(i) | the document of compliance (“ DOC ”) for the Manager and/or Operator; |
(ii) | the safety management certificate (“ SMC ”) for the Ship; and |
(iii) | the international ship security certificate (“ ISSC ”) for the Ship. |
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Part II
1. | Prior to the commencement of the Ship Reinstatement works: |
(a) | evidence that the registration of the Ship and the Mortgage at the Norwegian International Ship Registry will not be affected by the Ship Reinstatement, by providing an up-to-date copy of the Certificate of Ownership and Encumbrance for the Ship; |
(b) | evidence that the Ship will be insured for the relevant marine risks (including builder’s risks) and otherwise in accordance with the covenants given under the Original Facility Agreement during the period of the works for the Ship Reinstatement; |
(c) | letters of undertaking in accordance with Clause 21.4.1 of the Original Facility Agreement or confirmation from the insurers that the existing letters of undertaking will continue to be valid and effective; and |
(d) | if required by the Agent, a favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant appointed by the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require. |
2. | Following completion of the Ship Reinstatement: |
(a) | evidence that the Ship is insured for relevant marine risks in order to operate as an SRV under the terms of the Charter and otherwise in accordance with the covenants given under the Original Facility Agreement; |
(b) | if required by the Agent, a favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant appointed by the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the Ship as the Agent may require; |
(c) | the Ship maintains the highest class with the Classification Society free of all recommendations and conditions; and |
(d) | the Manager and/or Operator and the Ship are in compliance with the ISM Code and the ISPS Code by providing up-to-date copies of: |
(i) | the DOC for the Manager and/or Operator; |
(ii) | the SMC for the Ship; and |
(iii) | the ISSC for the Ship. |
8 |
SIGNATURES
THE BORROWER
SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD.
By: | /s/ STEFFEN FØREID |
Address: | c/o Höegh LNG AS |
Drammensveien 134 | |
PO Box 4, Skoyen | |
N-0212 Oslo, Norway | |
Fax: | +47 21 03 90 13 |
THE AGENT (FOR THE FINANCE PARTIES)
DNB BANK ASA
By: | /s/ KJERSTIN R. BRATTHEN |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
THE SECURITY TRUSTEE
DNB BANK ASA
By: | /s/ KJERSTIN R. BRATTHEN |
Address: | Stranden 21 |
0021 Oslo | |
Norway | |
Fax: | +47 22 48 20 20 |
9 |
To: | SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. |
Clifton House
75 Fort Street
George Town
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
Höegh LNG Ltd.
Canon’s Court
22 Victoria Street
Hamilton
Bermuda HM12
Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd.
Canon’s Court
22 Victoria Street
Hamilton
Bermuda HM12
Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Ltd.
1-1 Toranomon
2-Chome, Minato-Ku
Tokyo
Japan, 105-8688
25 July 2014
Dear Sirs,
US$300,000,000 Term Loan Facility to SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. (the “Borrower”)
We refer to a facility agreement dated 20 December 2007 as amended from time to time including by a facility amendment agreement dated 25 March 2010, an amendment letter dated 26 August 2010 and by an amendment agreement dated 29 June 2012 (the “ Facility Agreement ”) and made between (i) the Borrower and (ii) CALYON, DNB Bank ASA (previously known as DnB NOR Bank ASA), ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (previously known as Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V. Oslo Branch), Lloyds TSB Bank Plc, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Brussels Branch as arrangers (iv) the financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 as lenders (the “ Original Lenders ”), (v) CALYON, DNB Bank ASA (previously known as DnB NOR Bank ASA), ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (previously known as Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V. Oslo Branch), Lloyds TSB Bank Plc, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and SMBC Capital Markets, Inc. as swap banks and (v) DNB Bank ASA (previously known as DnB NOR Bank ASA) as Agent and Security Trustee under which the Lenders agreed to make available to the Borrower, upon the terms and subject to the conditions therein set out, a secured term loan facility in a total amount of up to USD300,000,000.
Words and expressions defined in the Facility Agreement, shall, as appropriate, have the same meaning where used in this letter.
A reference to a clause or schedule is to a clause or schedule in the Facility Agreement.
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The Agent (acting with the consent and authorisation of the Majority Lenders) hereby consents to the request of Höegh LNG Ltd. (“ HLNG ”) (as set out in HLNG’s letter to the Finance Parties dated 4 April 2014) to transfer its 50 per cent. shareholding interest in the Borrower to Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC (“ OPCO ”) (the “ Transfer ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Höegh LNG Partners LP (or which will become such a wholly-owned subsidiary following the Transfer). This consent is subject to the conditions that on or before the date of the Transfer (i) the Facility Agreement shall have been amended by the execution of this letter, such amendments taking effect as set out in 1 and 2 below and (ii) the Agent shall have received the documents and evidence set out in 3 to 7 below in form and substance satisfactory to it; the Agent shall promptly confirm in writing to the Borrower, HLNG and MOL that the conditions to this consent have been satisfied.
1. | The terms of the Facility Agreement will be amended so that with retroactive effect from the date hereof (the “ Effective Date ”): |
(i) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the existing definition of “ Affiliate ” shall be deleted and replaced with the following: |
“Affiliate” means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company and, for the purposes of Clause 23.19.1(b), shall include an MLP (or wholly-owned Subsidiary of the MLP) whether or not the MLP (or such wholly-owned Subsidiary of the MLP) would otherwise fall within this definition provided always that the requirements of Clause 23.19.2 are satisfied in relation to the MLP;
(ii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the following definition shall be added: |
“ MLP ” means Höegh MLP Partners LP, a master limited partnership established under the laws of the Marshall Islands and sponsored by HLNG Holdings;
(iii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the following definition shall be added and all references in the Facility Agreement to “LHC” shall be read to refer to “HLNG Holdings”: |
“ HLNG Holdings ” means Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. (previously named Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd.), a company incorporated in Bermuda having its registered office at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda;
(iv) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “ MOL ” shall be amended so that reference to “Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Limited” is replaced with “Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.”; |
(v) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “ Subsidiary ” shall be amended by replacing the words “section 736 of the Companies Act 1985” with “section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006”; |
(vi) | Clause 23.19 ( Ownership of Borrower ) shall become Clause 23.19.1 and the words “, provided that the provisions of Clause 23.19.2 are complied with” shall be added at Clause 23.19.1(b) after “an Affiliate of that Vessel Sponsor”; |
(vii) | a new Clause 23.19.2 shall be added as follows: |
A change pursuant to Clause 23.19.1(b) shall only be permitted if the Affiliate which is a transferee remains an Affiliate throughout the Security Period, and where the transferee is a MLP (or is, or following the Transfer becomes, a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the MLP) the following further conditions are satisfied throughout the Security Period:
(a) | HLNG Holdings and/or companies directly or indirectly controlled by HLNG Holdings individually or together: |
(i) | own beneficially an ownership interest of at least 25.1 per cent. of the MLP; and |
(ii) | own beneficially an ownership interest of at least 50 per cent. of the general partner of the MLP; and |
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(b) | the removal of the general partner of the MLP shall, under the terms of the partnership agreement of the MLP, be subject to a vote of at least 75 per cent. of the common and subordinated unit holders of the MLP. |
2. | The terms of the Facility Agreement will be further amended so that with effect from the date of the Transfer: |
(i) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the following definition shall be added: |
“ OPCO ” means Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the MLP incorporated in the Marshall Islands and having its registered office at Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Islands, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960;
(ii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “ Shareholder Agreement ” shall be deleted and replaced with the following: |
“ Shareholder Agreement ” means the amended and restated shareholder agreement entered into between MOL, OPCO and TLT;
(iii) | in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions ), the definition of “ Shareholder Loan Agreement ” shall be deleted and replaced with the following: |
“ Shareholder Loan Agreement ” means the amended and restated shareholder loan agreement dated 31 August 2010 entered into between HLNG, MOL, TLT and the Borrower under which Shareholder Loans are being made available to the Borrower as amended and restated and entered into between MOL, OPCO, TLT and the Borrower and the related novation deed entered into between MOL, HLNG, OPCO, TLT and the Borrower;
(iv) | Clause 17.2 ( Share Capital and Ownership ) shall be amended by replacing “HLNG” with “OPCO”; and |
(v) | Clause 23.19.1(a) shall be amended by replacing “HLNG” with “OPCO”. |
3. | Pursuant to Clause 23.19.1, a pledge shall be given by the shareholders of the Borrower in a similar form to the Negative Pledge. |
4. | A certified copy of the Shareholder Agreement between MOL, OPCO and TLT shall be provided. |
5. | A certified copy of the Shareholder Loan Agreement between MOL, OPCO, TLT and the Borrower shall be provided, together with the related novation agreement between MOL, OPCO, TLT and the Borrower. |
6. | Certified copies shall be provided to the Agent (or its legal counsel in the relevant jurisdiction) of a resolution of the board of directors (or other appropriate corporate authorities or approvals) of the Borrower, each Vessel Sponsor, TLT, HLNG Holdings and OPCO approving the execution of this letter and each of the documents listed in 3, 4 and 5 above by a director, authorised signatory or attorney of each company together with any constitutional or incorporation documents or other corporate authorisations required in order to issue the legal opinions listed below. |
7. | The Agent shall arrange for legal opinions to be obtained in form satisfactory to the Agent as follows: |
(i) | A Japanese legal opinion from Maritax Law Office addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; |
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(ii) | A Bermudan legal opinion from MJM Limited addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; |
(iii) | A Cayman Islands legal opinion from Maples & Calder addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; |
(iv) | A Marshall Islands legal opinion from Holland & Knight addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders; and |
(v) | An English legal opinion from Ince & Co LLP addressed to the Agent and the Original Lenders. |
The Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) with reference to Clause 23.12 ( Transaction Documents ) of the Facility Agreement further consents to the novation, amendment and restatement of the Shareholder Agreement and the Shareholder Loan Agreement in connection with the Transfer from HLNG to OPCO.
The provisions of the Facility Agreement and the Finance Documents shall, save as amended by this letter, continue in full force and effect.
The Agent and the Borrower hereby designate this letter and the document that shall be provided pursuant to 3 above as “Finance Documents” in accordance with Clause 1.1 of the Facility Agreement.
This letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by English law.
Please confirm your agreement to the terms of this letter by signing and returning a copy of this letter.
Yours faithfully
/s/ JULIE WALTON | Julie Walton | |
Attorney-in-fact | ||
For and on behalf of | ||
DNB BANK ASA | ||
(as Agent for the Finance Parties) | ||
We agree to the terms of this letter. | ||
/s/ KULRAJ BADHESHA | Kulraj Badhesha | |
Attorney-in-fact | ||
For and on behalf of | ||
SRV JOINT GAS TWO LTD. | ||
/s/ KULRAJ BADHESHA | Kulraj Badhesha | |
Attorney-in-fact | ||
For and on behalf of | ||
HÖEGH LNG LTD. | ||
/s/ KULRAJ BADHESHA | Kulraj Badhesha | |
Attorney-in-fact | ||
For and on behalf of | ||
HÖEGH LNG HOLDINGS LTD. | ||
/s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE | ||
For and on behalf of | ||
MITSUI O.S.K. LINES, LTD. |
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EXHIBIT 4.28
Execution Version
Dated 12 SEPTEMBER 2013
PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG
with
THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.
DBS BANK LTD
KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK
OVERSEA-CHINESE BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED
and
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
as Mandated Lead Arrangers
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
as Facility Agent and Security Agent
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LISTED HEREIN
as Lenders
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LISTED HEREIN
as Hedging Banks
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
as Offshore Account Bank
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, JAKARTA BRANCH
as Onshore Account Bank
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
as K-sure Agent
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
as Issuing Bank
FACILITY
AGREEMENT
for a $299,000,000 Term Loan Facility
and $10,700,000 Standby Letter of Credit Facility
in respect of the construction of one (1) Floating Storage
Regasification Unit (FSRU) having Hull No. 2548
at Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. and a
tower yoke mooring system
Contents
Clause | Page | |
Section 1 - Interpretation | 1 | |
1 | Definitions and interpretation | 1 |
Section 2 - The Facilities | 52 | |
2 | The Facilities | 52 |
3 | Purpose | 55 |
4 | Conditions of Utilisation | 55 |
Section 3 - UTILISATION | 57 | |
5 | Utilisation of Term Facility | 57 |
6 | Utilisation of LC Facility | 60 |
Section 4 - LETTER OF CREDIT | 62 | |
7 | Letter of Credit | 62 |
Section 4 - REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION | 66 | |
8 | Repayment | 66 |
9 | Illegality, prepayment and cancellation | 67 |
Section 5 - COSTS OF UTILISATION | 75 | |
10 | Interest | 75 |
11 | Interest Periods | 76 |
12 | Changes to the calculation of interest | 77 |
13 | Fees | 78 |
Section 6 - ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS | 79 | |
14 | Tax gross-up and indemnities | 79 |
15 | Increased Costs | 85 |
16 | Other indemnities | 86 |
17 | Mitigation by the Lenders | 89 |
18 | Costs and expenses | 90 |
Section 7 - REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 91 | |
19 | Representations | 91 |
20 | Information undertakings | 97 |
Section 11 - GOVERNING LAW AND ENFORCEMENT | 191 | |
48 | Governing law | 191 |
49 | Enforcement | 192 |
Schedule 1 The original parties | 193 | |
Schedule 2 Vessel information | 218 | |
Schedule 3 Conditions precedent | 221 | |
Schedule 4 Utilisation Requests | 232 | |
Schedule 5 Selection Notice | 235 | |
Schedule 6 Mandatory Cost Formulae | 236 | |
Schedule 7 Form of Transfer Certificate | 239 | |
Schedule 8 Form of Compliance Certificate | 241 | |
Schedule 9 Form of Market Disruption Notification | 242 | |
Schedule 10 Form of Project Budget Statement | 243 | |
Schedule 11 Repayment Schedules | 244 | |
Schedule 12 Form of Standby Letter of Credit | 245 | |
Schedule 13 Conditions Precedent to Completion Guarantee Release Date | 247 | |
Schedule 14 List of Translated Documents | 248 | |
Schedule 15 Form of Accession Deed | 249 | |
Schedule 16 Form of Increase Confirmation | 250 | |
Schedule 17 Technical Adviser’s Scope of Work | 252 | |
Schedule 18 Form of instruction to Account Banks | 255 | |
Schedule 19 Account Banks provisions | 257 |
THIS AGREEMENT is dated 12 September 2013 and made between:
(1) | PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG (the Borrower ); |
(2) | THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. , DBS BANK LTD , KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK , STANDARD CHARTERED BANK and OVERSEA-CHINESE BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED as mandated lead arrangers (the Mandated Lead Arrangers ); |
(3) | STANDARD CHARTERED BANK as KSURE agent (the K-sure Agent ); |
(4) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 as lenders (the Original Lenders ); |
(5) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 as hedging banks (the Original Hedging Banks ); |
(6) | STANDARD CHARTERED BANK as facility agent for the other Finance Parties (the Facility Agent ); |
(7) | STANDARD CHARTERED BANK as security agent for the Finance Parties (the Security Agent ); |
(8) | STANDARD CHARTERED BANK as offshore account bank (the Offshore Account Bank ); |
(9) | STANDARD CHARTERED BANK , JAKARTA BRANCH as onshore account bank (the Onshore Account Bank ); and |
(10) | STANDARD CHARTERED BANK as issuing bank (the Original Issuing Bank ). |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
Section 1 - Interpretation
1 | Definitions and interpretation |
1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement and (unless otherwise defined in the relevant Finance Document) the other Finance Documents:
50% Acquisition Terms is as defined in the Charter.
Accession Deed means a deed of accession entered into in the form set out in Schedule 15 ( Form of Accession Deed ) or such other form as is agreed by the Facility Agent and the Borrower.
Account means any bank account, deposit or certificate of deposit opened, made or established in accordance with clause 28 ( Project Accounts, Receivables and Insurance Proceeds ).
Account Bank means the Offshore Account Bank or the Onshore Account Bank.
Account Security means, in relation to a Project Account (other than the Distribution Account), a deed or other instrument executed by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent in an agreed form conferring a Security Interest over that Project Account.
Actual Project Cost means all Project Costs and other costs incurred to complete the Project (including Project Costs in respect of the Finance Documents) on or before Final Acceptance.
Additional Cost Rate has the meaning given to it in Schedule 6 ( Mandatory Cost Formulae ).
Affiliate means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.
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Agents means the K-sure Agent and the Facility Agent.
Agreed Scope of Work means the Technical Advisor’s scope of work as set out in Schedule 17 ( Technical Adviser’s Scope of Work ).
APLMA means the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association Limited.
Approved Credit Rating in respect of any relevant person, means a credit rating for the long term indebtedness of that person, or in the case of an insurer, an insurer financial strength rating, of not less than A- with Standard & Poor’s Rating Agency (or an equivalent rating with another internationally recognised credit rating agency).
Approved Operator means each O&M Contractor or another appropriately qualified and experienced company or group of companies within the Group as may be notified to the Facility Agent or another appropriately qualified and experienced company approved by the Lenders and K-sure.
Approved Refinancing means any extension of the Original FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date which complies with the requirements of clause 22.15 ( Balloon Refinancing ) or any other refinancing approved by the Lenders in writing.
Approved Shareholder means the Singapore Shareholder, the Indonesian Shareholder or another company or group of companies which has provided, or in respect of which the Borrower has provided, to the Facility Agent all documentation and other evidence required by the Lenders in order for each Lender to carry out and be satisfied with the results of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
Approved Transferee means any commercial bank which has a credit rating for its long term indebtedness of not less than BBB+ with Standard & Poor’s Rating Agency (or the equivalent rating with another internationally recognised credit rating agency).
Auditors means one of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, KPMG or Deloitte & Touche or another approved reputable international firm of accountants.
Authority means any national, supranational, regional or local government or governmental, administrative, fiscal, judicial, or government-owned body, department, commission, authority, tribunal, agency or entity, or central bank (or any person, whether or not government-owned and howsoever constituted or called, that exercises the functions of a central bank) in a Relevant Jurisdiction.
Available Cash Flow means, in respect of any period and without double counting:
(a) | the aggregate of: |
(i) | all amounts received by the Borrower under or pursuant to the Charter and/or any other Project Agreement (including the Total Charter Rate during each period) and any compensation payments and/or Insurance Proceeds paid into, or permitted to be transferred into a Revenue Account which are not required to be applied in prepayment of any Facility, in each case in such period but excluding any up front or one off reimbursement payments not forming part of the Total Charter Rate received by the Borrower in connection with any Alteration (as defined in the Charter) and the Mooring Purchase Price; |
(ii) | all interest and other income received by the Borrower during such period in respect of the Project Accounts (other than the Distribution Account); and |
(iii) | refunds, credits, rebates or similar accounts of Tax actually received by the Borrower during such period, |
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(b) | less the sum of: |
(i) | Operating Expenses paid by or due from the Borrower during such period excluding any payments by the Borrower in respect of (A) an Alteration referred to in paragraph (a) above or under the Mooring Documents or (B) any repairs and/or replacements or liabilities to the extent paid by Insurance Proceeds received by the Borrower (in the case of liabilities to the extent such Insurance Proceeds were paid in relation to such liabilities); and |
(ii) | the Tax Element received by the Borrower under the Charter and paid into the Rupiah Account. |
Available Commitment means, in relation to a Lender in respect of a Facility or Tranche at any time, that Lender’s Commitment under that Facility or Tranche minus:
(a) | the aggregate amount of its participations in any outstanding Loans or, as the case may be, any Letter of Credit under the relevant Facility or Tranche; and |
(b) | in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the aggregate amount of its participations in any Loans or, as the case may be, any Letter of Credit that are due to be made under the relevant Facility or Tranche on or before the proposed Utilisation Date. |
Available Drawings means, at any date for determination under this Agreement, the total amount which, as at such time, any member of the Group is entitled to draw under any credit facility with a major international bank or financial institution for a term of more than 12 months and not subject to any conditions with which it or any other relevant party would not be able to comply at such time.
Available Facility means, in relation to a Facility or Tranche, at any relevant time the aggregate of each Lender’s Available Commitment in respect of that Facility or Tranche and Available Facilities means at any relevant time, the aggregate of each Lender’s Available Commitment in respect of all of the Facilities or Trenches.
Balloon means the FSRU Tranche Repayment Instalment due on the Original FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date (calculated as an amount equivalent to fifty per cent. (50%) of the aggregate of the FSRU Tranche Loans outstanding at the Last Availability Date in respect of the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility), as such amount may be reduced in accordance with this Agreement.
Balloon Repayment Guarantee means the irrevocable financial guarantee and indemnity in respect of the repayment of the Balloon and any LC Loan and certain accrued interest thereon to be issued by the Guarantor in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form and which shall be released in accordance with its terms.
Basel 2 Accord means the ‘International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework’ published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004 as updated prior to and in the form existing on the date of this Agreement excluding any amendment thereto arising out of the Basel 3 Accord.
Basel 2 Approach means, in relation to any Finance Party, either the Standardised Approach or the relevant Internal Ratings Based Approach (each as defined in the Basel 2 Accord) adopted by that Finance Party (or any of its Affiliates) for the purposes of implementing or complying with the Basel 2 Accord.
Basel 2 Regulation means any law or regulation implementing the Basel 2 Accord or any Basel 2 Approach adopted by any Finance Party or any of its Affiliates.
Basel 3 Accord means, together, “Basel Ill: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems” and “Basel IlI International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” both published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision on 16 December 2010.
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Basel 3 Increased Costs means an Increased Cost which is attributable to the implementation or application of or compliance with any Basel 3 Regulation (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulators, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates).
Basel 3 Regulation means any law or regulation implementing the Basel 3 Accord save and to the extent that it re-enacts a Basel 2 Regulation.
Book Equity means, at any date for determination under this Agreement, the value of the capital and reserves of the Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS and as shown in the Latest Balance Sheet (but excluding any hedging reserve as shown in the relevant consolidated equity statement and the mark-to-market value of any financial derivatives).
Borrower Assigned Property means all the right, title, interest and benefit of the Borrower in and to:
(a) | the Vessel Rights; |
(b) | the Guarantee Rights; |
(c) | the Charter Documents; |
(d) | the Building Contract Documents; |
(e) | the Mooring Documents; |
(f) | any Subordinated Loans; |
(g) | the Promissory Notes; |
(h) | the Earnings; |
(i) | the Insurances; |
(j) | any Requisition Compensation; and |
(k) | each Hedging Contract. |
Borrower Withdrawal Request means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part 1 of Schedule 18 ( Form of instruction to Account Banks ) or any other form agreed between the Borrower, the relevant Account Bank and the Facility Agent.
Borrower’s Security means together:
(a) | the Borrower Assigned Property; |
(b) | all of the Borrower’s right, title, interest and benefit in and to the Vessel; |
(c) | all of the Borrower’s right, title, interest and benefit in and to the Project Accounts (other than the Distribution Account); |
(d) | all the Borrower’s other assets and undertakings (secured under the Fiduciary Assignment of Tangible Assets); and |
(e) | all proceeds of realisation or enforcement of any Security Interest under a Security Document in or over any of the foregoing or the exercise of all and any rights, powers and remedies in relation to any such Security Interest over the foregoing. |
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Break Costs means the amount (if any) by which:
(a) | the interest (excluding the applicable Margin) which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that 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 Interbank Market for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current applicable Interest Period. |
Builder means Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd, a company incorporated in South Korea with its principal office at 1, Jeonha-Dong, Dong-Gu, Ulsan, Korea.
Builder’s Performance L/C means any letter of credit issued to the Borrower pursuant to Article 7.10 of the Building Contract.
Builder’s Risk Insurances means:
(a) | all policies and contracts of insurance; and |
(b) | all entries of the Lampung FSRU and/or the Mooring in a protection and indemnity or war risks or other mutual insurance association |
in the joint names of: (i) the Builder (in the case of the Lampung FSRU) or the Mooring EPC Contractor and/or the Mooring Installation Contractor (in the case of the Mooring) and (ii) the Borrower in respect of or in connection with the Lampung FSRU and/or the Mooring taken out under the Building Contract or the relevant Mooring Document.
Building Contract means the contract specified in Schedule 2 ( Vessel information ) and made between the Builder and the Sponsor relating to, inter alia, the construction of the Lampung FSRU (the Original Building Contract ) as amended by addenda 1 to 3 dated 10 June 2011, 26 March 2012 and 2 July 2012 as novated to the Borrower pursuant to the Building Contract Novation Agreement.
Building Contract Documents means the Building Contract, any Builder’s Performance L/C, any Refund Guarantee and any other guarantee or security given to the Borrower by any persons for the Builder’s obligations under the Building Contract and includes any change orders or other deed, document, agreement or instrument amending, varying or supplementing any of the foregoing documents or any of the terms and conditions thereof.
Building Contract Novation Agreement means the novation agreement dated 22 July 2013 (as further described in Part 2 of Schedule 2 ( Vessel information )) made between the Borrower, the Sponsor and the Builder, pursuant to which the rights and obligations of the Sponsor under the Original Building Contract were novated in favour of the Borrower.
Business Day means:
(a) | if a payment in dollars is to be made or would, but for the operation of clause 40.8 ( Business Days ), fall to be made by any person on that day, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in Seoul, Singapore, London, Jakarta, New York and, if such payment relates to a payment under a Guarantee, Oslo; or |
(b) | for the purposes of determining LIBOR, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for the transaction of domestic and foreign exchange business in London; or |
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(c) | for all other purposes, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London, Singapore, Oslo, Seoul and Jakarta. |
Cancellation Date shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Charter.
Capital Element means the hire payable by the Charterer to the Borrower in relation to the Vessel pursuant to clause 12 of the Charter, calculated in accordance with section 2.1 of Schedule 6 to the Charter.
Change in Location means a change in location of the Lampung FSRU from the Permitted Location.
Change of Control means:
(d) | the Shareholders, together, cease to, directly or indirectly, legally and beneficially, own one hundred per cent (100%) of the shares in the Borrower; or |
(e) | unless the Master Limited Partnership has occurred, the Guarantor, ceases to, directly or indirectly, legally and beneficially, own at least forty nine per cent (49%) of the shares in the Borrower or have management control of the Borrower; or |
(f) | if the Master Limited Partnership has occurred, the Guarantor, ceases to, directly or indirectly, legally and beneficially, own at least forty nine per cent (49%) of the units in the MLP or ceases to have management control of the MLP or the MLP ceases to, directly or indirectly, legally and beneficially, own at least forty nine per cent (49%) of the shares in the Borrower or the MLP ceases to have management control over the Borrower. |
Charged Property means all of the assets of the Obligors which from time to time are, or are expressed to be, the subject of the Security Documents.
Charter means the amended and restated contract dated 17 October 2012 (as further described in Part 2 of Schedule 2 ( Vessel information )) in respect of the procurement of the Mooring and the installation, lease, operation and maintenance of the Vessel for an initial period of twenty (20) years (the Original Charter ) made between (1) the Charterer and (2) the Sponsor, as novated or to be novated to the Borrower pursuant to the Charter Novation Agreement.
Charter Documents means the Charter, the PGN L/C, the Umbrella Agreement, the Consortium Agreement, the Charter Guarantee and any guarantee or security given to the Borrower by any person for the Charterer’s obligations under the Charter and includes any other deed, document, agreement or instrument amending, varying or supplementing any of the foregoing documents or any of the terms and conditions thereof.
Charter Guarantee means each guarantee to be issued by the Charter Guarantor upon a novation of the Charter pursuant to and in accordance with clause 16.3 of the Charter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders, acting reasonably.
Charter Guarantor means PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, as further described in Part 2 of Schedule 2 ( Vessel information ).
Charter Liabilities means any and all obligations of the Borrower (whether present or future, actual or contingent) under or pursuant to the terms of the Charter.
Charter Novation Agreement means the novation agreement to be made between the Borrower, the Sponsor and the Charterer, pursuant to which the rights and obligations of the Sponsor under the Original Charter are novated in favour of the Borrower.
Charter Period means the “Lease Period” as defined in the Charter and further described in clause 3 of the Charter.
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Charter Rate means the charter hire payable by the Charterer to the Borrower pursuant to the Charter in relation to the Vessel and payable pursuant to clause 12 of the Charter and which does not include the Operating and Maintenance Element or the Tax Element.
Charterer means PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk, as further described in Part 2 of Schedule 2 ( Vessel information ) or a wholly owned Affiliate of the Charter Guarantor which is wholly Controlled (as defined in the Charter) by the Charter Guarantor to whom all rights and obligations of the Initial Company (as defined in the Charter) under the Charter have been novated pursuant to and in accordance with clause 16.3 of the Charter.
Charterer’s Purchase Option means the purchase option in respect of the Vessel granted to the Charterer and exercisable in accordance with and subject to clause 36 of the Charter.
Classification means the classification specified in Schedule 2 ( Vessel information ) with the Classification Society or another classification approved by the Lenders as its classification.
Classification Society means the classification society specified in Part 2 of Schedule 2 ( Vessel information ) or another classification society requested by the Borrower or the Charterer, or as permitted under the Charter and in each case approved by the Lenders.
Co-assured means each party (other than the Borrower and any Finance Party) which is named as a co-assured on any of the Insurances in relation to the Vessel after Delivery.
Code means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Collateral means any and all assets over or in respect of which any Security Interest is created in favour of the Finance Parties or any of them pursuant to any Finance Document.
Commercial Facility means the term loan facility comprising of the FSRU Tranche and the Mooring Tranche in an aggregate amount of up to $120, 365,624 to be made available to the Borrower by the Commercial Lenders under this Agreement.
Commercial Facility Final Maturity Dates means the FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date and the Mooring Tranche Final Maturity Date and Commercial Facility Final Maturity Date means either of them.
Commercial Facility Limit means the aggregate of the FSRU Tranche Limit and the Mooring Tranche Limit being an aggregate amount of $120,365,624.
Commercial Lender means:
(a) | any Original Commercial Lender; and |
(b) | any bank or financial institution which has become a party as a Commercial Lender in accordance with clause 33 ( Changes to the Lenders ). |
Commercial Loans means the FSRU Tranche Loans and the Mooring Tranche Loans and Commercial Loan means any of them.
Commitment means in relation to a Facility and a Tranche:
(a) | in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name in Schedule 1 ( The Original Lenders ) in respect of such Facility or, as the case may be, such Tranche and the amount of any other Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement in respect of such Facility or, as the case may be, such Tranche or assumed by it in accordance with clause 2.2 ( Increase ); and |
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(b) | in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement in respect of such Facility or, as the case may be, such Tranche or assumed by it in accordance with clause 2.2 ( Increase ), |
in each case to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.
Completion Guarantee means the irrevocable financial guarantee and indemnity to be issued by the Guarantor in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form and which shall be released in accordance with its terms.
Completion Guarantee Release Date means the earlier of:
(a) | the date that all moneys, obligations and liabilities expressed to be guaranteed by the Guarantor in clause 2.1 ( Guarantee ) of the Completion Guarantee have been paid in full and the Available Commitments are zero; and |
(b) | the date when the Facility Agent has confirmed to the Guarantor that it is satisfied, acting reasonably, that the conditions listed in the Schedule 13 ( Conditions Precedent to Completion Guarantee Release Date ) have been met. |
Completion Guarantee Release Report means a report from the Technical Advisor prepared in accordance with the Agreed Scope of Work confirming that any of the following applies:
(a) | in the event of Final Acceptance following satisfaction of the NoR Conditions and the Final Acceptance Test under the Charter, the Lampung FSRU has continued to meet the Operational Minimum Requirements (as defined in the Charter) and continued to comply with the Warranty Performance Requirement (as defined in the Charter), in each case to a sufficient extent to permit the Borrower to maintain the Debt Service Coverage Ratio as required by clause 21.1 ( Borrower Financial Covenants ) throughout any continuous period of 90 days after the Final Acceptance Date; or |
(b) | in the case of Deemed Acceptance, the Lampung FSRU has continued to meet the Operational Minimum Requirements (as defined in the Charter) and continued to comply with the Warranty Performance Requirement (as defined in the Charter), in each case, to a sufficient extent to permit the Borrower to maintain the Debt Service Coverage Ratio as required by clause 21.1 ( Borrower Financial Covenants ) throughout any continuous period of 90 days after Deemed Acceptance; and at any time after Deemed Acceptance: |
(i) | the Lampung FSRU satisfied all the AMR Requirements; or |
(ii) | in the event that an AMR Requirement was not satisfied, and there was not a reasonable opportunity (including by the supply of LNG and the nomination of regasified LNG by the Charterer) or it was agreed in consultation with the Technical Advisor that it was not reasonably practicable to determine whether the Lampung FSRU could satisfy that AMR Requirement, then as a minimum requirement the Lampung FSRU has demonstrated that: |
(A) | for LNG transfer, storage and cargo handling systems: |
(1) | the Lampung FSRU is capable of ship to ship transfer of LNG in accordance with the Charter; and |
(2) | the LNG cargo storage and handling systems have been fully tested and accepted under the Building Contract; |
(B) | for regasification and export systems: |
(1) | each of the 3 LNG trains is capable of achieving its name plate capacity at 120MMscf per day, together with evidence that it is capable of ramping down to a minimum send-out rate of 45MMscf per day; or |
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(2) | if the system testing is limited (e.g. by LNG supply or gas export limitations) by the Charterer preventing the running of the trains to full capacity, each of the 3 LNG trains is capable of regasifying LNG at a rate of at least 45MMscf per day; or |
(c) | in the case of Deemed Acceptance, to the extent that the requirements of paragraph (b) have not been satisfied, the Technical Advisor has assessed the performance of any untested or partially tested part of the Lampung FSRU, and is of the opinion that the Lampung FSRU is likely to be capable of satisfying the applicable Warranty Performance Requirements (as defined in the Charter) based on the results of operations and testing of the Lampung FSRU, including during vendor factory acceptance testing, sea trials and gas trials performed under the Building Contract and acceptance testing performed under the Charter. |
For the purposes of this definition, an “ AMR Requirement ” means any of paragraphs 1(b), 1(c), 1(d), 1(f), 1(g), 1(h) and 1(i) of the Part A of Schedule 2 of the Charter.
Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 8 ( Form of Compliance Certificate ) or otherwise approved.
Compulsory Acquisition means requisition for title or other compulsory acquisition, nationalisation, requisition, appropriation, expropriation, deprivation, forfeiture or confiscation for any reason of the Vessel by any government entity or other competent authority, whether de jure or de factor, but shall exclude requisition for use or hire not involving requisition for title.
Confidential Information means all information relating to the Borrower, any Obligor, the Group, the Transaction Documents or a Facility of which a Finance Party becomes aware in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party or which is received by a Finance Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents or a Facility from either:
(a) | the Borrower or any member of the Group or any of their advisers; or |
(b) | another Finance Party, if the information was obtained by that Finance Party directly or indirectly from the Borrower or any member of the Group or any of their advisers, |
in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes information that:
(i) | is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of clause 36 ( Confidentiality ); or |
(ii) | is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by the Borrower or any member of the Group or any of their advisers; or |
(iii) | is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) above or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the Borrower or Group and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality. |
Confidentiality Undertaking means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a recommended form of the APLMA or in any other form agreed between the Facility Agent and the Borrower.
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Confirmation shall have, in relation to any Hedging Transaction, the meaning given to it in the relevant Hedging Master Agreement.
Consents means and includes consents, authorisations (including any Project Authorisations and Environmental Licences), licences, approvals, registrations with, declarations to or filings with, or waivers or exemptions from governmental or public bodies or Regulatory Authority or other authorities or courts.
Consortium Agreement means the agreement between the Sponsor or the Borrower and the EPCIC Contractor relating to the allocation of responsibility for delay liquidated damages payable under the Charter and the EPCIC Agreement (the Original Consortium Agreement ) and, if not entered into by the Borrower, as novated or to be novated to the Borrower pursuant to the Consortium Agreement Novation Agreement.
Consortium Agreement Novation Agreement means a novation agreement made between the Borrower, the Sponsor and the EPCIC Contractor pursuant to which the rights and obligations of the Sponsor under the Original Consortium Agreement are novated in favour of the Borrower.
Constitutional Documents means, in respect of an Obligor, such Obligor’s memorandum and articles of association, by-laws or other constitutional documents including as referred to in any certificate relating to an Obligor delivered by that Obligor pursuant to Schedule 3 ( Conditions precedent ).
Construction Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or, as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Offshore Account Bank, designated by the Offshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG - Construction Account” and includes any redesignation and each sub-account thereof.
Contract Price means the price of the Lampung FSRU payable under the Building Contract and includes the instalments of such price paid or to be paid.
Cost Overruns means that part of the Actual Project Cost which exceeds the Initial Project Budget.
Debt Service for any period means, the aggregate of:
(a) | the amount of interest on the Facilities which is payable under clause 10 ( Interest ); |
(b) | each principal amount of the Loans which is scheduled to be repaid under clause 8 ( Repayment ) (excluding the Mooring Tranche Repayment Instalment and the LC Loans); and |
(c) | the Net Hedging Expenses, |
in each case during that period.
Debt Service Coverage Ratio means:
(a) | for any date of testing under clause 21 ( Financial covenants ) the ratio of (i) Available Cash Flow to (ii) Debt Service for the Relevant Period ending on that date; |
(b) | for the purposes of the Distribution Restrictions, the ratio of (i) Available Cash Flow to (ii) Debt Service for the most recent 6 month period ending on the applicable Repayment Date which falls on or within 10 Business Days of the date of the applicable transfer to the Distribution Account (but excluding any Debt Service that is due on a Repayment Date falling at the start, or within one (1) month of the start, of that period); and |
(c) | for the purposes of the Completion Guarantee Release Date, the ratio of (i) Available Cash Flow to (ii) Debt Service for the 3 month period ending on the most recent Repayment Date (but excluding any Debt Service that is due on any Repayment Date falling at the start, or within one (1) month of the start, of such period); |
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in each case, as confirmed by the Borrower to the Facility Agent in a Compliance Certificate in accordance with clause 20.2 ( Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate ).
Debt Service Reserve means on any date a sum equal to the projected Debt Service obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement due in the six month period from that date (excluding the Mooring Tranche Repayment Instalment, the Balloon and any projected repayments of LC Loans and in respect of any period commencing on a Repayment Date, excluding the amounts payable on that Repayment Date) and provided that for such purpose LIBOR shall be assumed to be unchanged from the rate currently applicable for any Loan or pursuant to any Hedging Contract.
Debt Service Reserve Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or, as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Offshore Account Bank, designated by the Offshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG - Debt Service Reserve Account” and includes any redesignation and each sub-account thereof.
Deemed Acceptance means Final Acceptance occurring under the Charter other than pursuant to satisfaction of the Acceptance Conditions (as defined in the Charter).
Default means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance which with giving of notice or lapse of time or the satisfaction of any other condition (or any combination thereof) would constitute an Event of Default.
Defaulting Lender means any Lender:
(a) | which has failed to make its participation in a Loan available (or has notified the Facility Agent or the Borrower (which has notified the Facility Agent) that it will not make its participation in a Loan available) by the Utilisation Date of that Loan in accordance with either clause 5.4 ( K-sure Lenders’ participation ) or clause 5.5 ( Commercial Lenders’ participation ); |
(b) | which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or |
(c) | with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, |
unless in the case of paragraph (a) above:
(i) | its failure to pay is caused by: |
(A) | administrative or technical error; or |
(B) | a Disruption Event; and |
payment is made within five (5) Business Days of its due date;
(ii) | the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question. |
Delivery means the delivery to, and acceptance of the Lampung FSRU by, the Borrower under the Building Contract.
Delivery Date means the date on which Delivery occurs.
Delivery Instalment means the instalment of the Contract Price falling due on Delivery.
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Disclosure Letter means the letter dated 6 September 2013 from H ö egh LNG AS to the Mandated Lead Arrangers in relation to potential litigation and claims involving the Group.
Distribution Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or, as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Offshore Account Bank, designated by the Offshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG - Distribution Account” and includes any redesignation and each sub-account thereof.
Disruption Event means either or both of:
(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 Facilities (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, |
(and which (in either such case)) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted.
Distribution Restriction means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) | the Debt Service Coverage Ratio for the most recent applicable period preceding, or ending on, the date of the proposed transfer to the Distribution Account is less than 1:20:1; |
(b) | Final Acceptance has not occurred; |
(c) | any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result of the transfer to the Distribution Account; |
(d) | the Guarantor is in breach of any of the financial covenants set out in clause 21.2 ( Guarantor Financial Covenants ); |
(e) | the first Repayment Instalment for each of the FSRU Tranche and the K-sure Facility has not been repaid in accordance with this Agreement or there are any outstanding Mooring Tranche Loans. |
DSRA Balance means at any time the aggregate of the amount standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account and the amounts available to be drawn under each DSRA Letter of Credit.
DSRA Guarantee means the irrevocable financial guarantee and indemnity in respect of the Borrower’s obligations under clause 28.12 ( Debt Service Reserve Account ) to be issued by the Guarantor in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form and which shall be released in accordance with its terms.
DSRA Letter of Credit means an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a DSRA L/C Issuer in favour of the Security Agent on terms acceptable to the Majority Lenders pursuant to clause 28.12(a) and includes any other letter of credit acceptable to the Majority Lenders that may replace it from time to time.
DSRA L/C Issuer means any Lender or other financial institution having an Approved Credit Rating.
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Due Amount has the meaning given to it in clause 7.2 ( Guarantee Payments ).
Due Date has the meaning given to it in clause 7.2 ( Guarantee Payments ).
Due Diligence Report means a report from the Technical Advisor prepared in accordance with the Agreed Scope of Work.
Earnings means all money at any time payable to the Borrower for or in relation to the use or operation of the Vessel including the Total Charter Rate, the Purchase Option Price, freight, hire and passage moneys, money payable to the Borrower for the provision of services by or from the Vessel or under any charter commitment, requisition for hire compensation, remuneration for salvage and towage services, demurrage and detention moneys and damages for breach and payments for termination or variation of any charter commitment.
Enforcement Action means any action whatsoever to:
(a) | prematurely terminate or close out any Hedging Transaction (other than as provided by clause 32.4 ( Close out of Hedging Contracts ) or permitted under clause 30 ( Hedging )); |
(b) | recover all or any part of any Hedging Debt including by set-off (whether by operation of law or otherwise) or combination of accounts; |
(c) | exercise or enforce any rights under any guarantee, indemnity or other assurance in relation to (or given in support of) all or any part of any Hedging Debt (including under any Security Document); |
(d) | exercise or enforce any rights under any Security Interest whatsoever (including, without limitation, the crystallisation (automatic or otherwise) of a floating charge) which secures or purports to secure any Hedging Debt (including under any Security Document); |
(e) | apply, petition or vote for (or take any other steps which may lead to) any event described in clause 31.8 ( Insolvency ) or clause 31.9 ( Insolvency proceedings ) in relation to any Obligor; or |
(f) | designate an Early Termination Date (as defined in any Hedging Master Agreement) or terminate and/or close out any transaction under any Hedging Contract prior to its stated maturity or demand payment of any amount which would become payable on or following an Early Termination Date or any such termination and/or close out, in each case other than in accordance with clause 32.4 ( Close out of Hedging Contracts ) or permitted under clause 30 ( Hedging ). |
Environment means all or any of the following media: air (including air within buildings or other structures and whether below or above ground); land (including buildings and any other structures or erections in, on or under it and any soil and anything below the surface of the land); land covered with water; and water (including sea, ground and surface water and any living organism supported by such media).
Environmental and Social Regulations means:
(a) | any applicable law or regulation whose purpose or effect is (i) the protection of, or the prevention of damage to, the Environment, (ii) to regulate or control Environmental Contaminants, or (iii) to provide remedies in relation to harm or damage to the Environment; and |
(b) | any applicable law or regulation whose purpose or effect is (i) to prevent, regulate or control an detrimental social effect, (ii) to provide remedies in relation to any detrimental social effect or (iii) to impose obligation so requirements in relation to social or cultural matters. |
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Environmental Claim means any claim, notice, prosecution, demand, action, abatement or other order (conditional or otherwise) relating to Environmental Matters or in response to a Spill or any notification or order requiring compliance with the terms of any Environmental Licence or Environmental Law and Environmental and Social Regulations which may reasonably be expected to result in a liability for an Obligor in respect of such matters that exceeds an amount of $1,000,000.
Environmental Contaminants means all Pollutants and contaminants (including any chemicals, biological, industrial, radioactive, dangerous, toxic or hazardous substance, water or residue, whether in solid or liquid form or a gas or vapour) and any genetically modified organisms.
Environmental Incident means any Spill from any vessel in circumstances where:
(a) | the Vessel or the Borrower or any O&M Contractor are or may reasonably be expected to be liable for Environmental Claims arising from the Spill (other than Environmental Claims arising and fully satisfied before the date of this Agreement) (in the case of an O&M Contractor only if such Environmental Claims have arisen due to it being an O&M Contractor of the Lampung FSRU or otherwise in respect of or in connection with the Lampung FSRU); and/or |
(b) | the Vessel is or may reasonably be expected to be arrested or attached in connection with any such Environmental Claim. |
Environmental Law means all or any law, statute, rule, regulation, treaty, by-law, code of practice, order, notice, demand, decision of the courts or of any applicable governmental authority or agency or any other regulatory or other body in any applicable jurisdiction relating to Environmental Matters.
Environmental Licence means any permit, licence, authorisation, consent or other approval required at any time by any Environmental Law and Environmental and Social Regulations for the operation of the Borrower’s business or in order for the Borrower and each O&M Contractor to comply with its respective obligations under the Transaction Documents.
Environmental Management Plan means (i) the ship oil pollution emergency plan (SOPEP) in relation to the Vessel prepared in accordance with MARPOL 73/78 and (ii) the Environmental Management Plan prepared by the Charterer dated 12 September 2012, in the form provided by the Borrower to the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement (unless otherwise agreed by the Lenders and the Borrower).
Environmental Matters means the pollution, conservation or protection of the Environment (both natural and built) or of man or any living organisms supported by the Environment.
EPCIC Agreement means the amended and restated contract between the Charterer and the EPCIC Contractor dated 17 October 2012 for the engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning of the Project pipeline system on a turn-key, lump sum basis.
EPCIC Contractor means PT Rekayasa lndustri, a company incorporated in Indonesia with its principal office at Jalan Kalibata Timur I No. 36, Jakarta 12740.
Equator Principles means the principles set out in a paper entitled ‘‘A financial industry benchmark for determining assessing and managing social and environmental risk in project financing” dated July 2006 and developed and adopted by the International Finance Corporation and various other financial institutions, as amended, revived or reissued from time to time.
Equity Loan means any loan or loan stock made or, as the context may require, to be made available by the Singapore Shareholder or an Affiliate of the Singapore Shareholder to the Indonesian Shareholder pursuant to an Equity Loan Agreement.
Equity Loan Agreement means any loan agreement made or to be made between the Singapore Shareholder or an Affiliate of the Singapore Shareholder and an Indonesian Shareholder pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement.
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Event of Default means any event or circumstance specified as such in clause 31 ( Events of Default ).
Excess Sponsor Funding means the amount by which the Sponsor Funding exceeds $104,000,000, as set out in the Financial Model and as such excess may be revised by the Borrower, with the consent of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably and on the advice of the Technical Advisor) to reflect any additional Sponsor Funding not reflected in the Financial Model.
Extension Request means a written notice delivered to the Facility Agent in accordance with clause 6.6 ( Extension of the Letter of Credit ).
Facilities means:
(a) | the K-sure Facility; |
(b) | the Commercial Facility; and |
(c) | the LC Facility, |
and Facility means any of them.
Facility Agent means Standard Chartered Bank or any person as may be appointed as facility agent under this Agreement.
Facility Agent Withdrawal Request means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part 2 of Schedule 18 ( Form of instruction to Account Banks ) or any other form agreed between the Borrower, the relevant Account Bank and the Facility Agent.
Facility Limit means the aggregate of the Commercial Facility Limit, the K-sure Facility Limit and the LC Facility Limit being an aggregate amount of not more than $309,700,000.
Facility Obligor means the Borrower and, until the Guarantee Release Date, the Guarantor.
Facility Office means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Facility Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five (5) Business Days’ written notice) as the office through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement.
Facility Period means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date on which (a) the issued Letters of Credit have been refunded to the Issuing Bank endorsed to the effect that they have been cancelled or any issued Letter of Credit has expired and (b) the Total Commitments of all Facilities have reduced to zero and all indebtedness of the Obligors under the Finance Documents has been fully paid and discharged.
FATCA means:
(a) | sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations or other official guidance; |
(b) | any treaty, law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of paragraph (a) above; or |
(c) | any agreement pursuant to the implementation of paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction; |
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FATCA Application Date means:
(a) | in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 January 2014; |
(b) | in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(ii) of the Code (which relates to “gross proceeds” from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the US), 1 January 2017; or |
(c) | in relation to a “passthru payment” described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) above, 1 January 2017, |
or, in each case, such other date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA as a result of any change in FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
FATCA Application Event has the meaning given to it in clause 14.9(a).
FATCA Deduction means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA.
FATCA Exempt Party means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.
FATCA FFI means a foreign financial institution as defined in section 1471(d)(4) of the Code which, if any Finance Party is not a FATCA Exempt Party, could be required to make a FATCA Deduction.
FATCA Protected Party means:
(a) | until and including the date of an Approved Refinancing, any Finance Party which is not required by applicable law, regulation or its group policy to be compliant with FACIA and/or other legislation or regulation applicable to it in a manner that would make it a FATCA Exempt Party; |
(b) | from the date of an Approved Refinancing, any K-sure Lender who was a K-sure Lender on the date of the Approved Refinancing but immediately following the Approved Refinancing taking effect was not a Commercial Lender and which is not required by applicable law, regulation or its group policy to be compliant with FACTA and/or other legislation or regulation applicable to it in a manner that would make it a FATCA Exempt Party; and |
(c) | any Finance Party which is required by applicable law, regulation or its group policy to be compliant with FATCA and/or other legislation or regulation applicable to it in a manner that would make it a FATCA Exempt Party and is so compliant. |
Fee Letters means the letter(s) dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the relevant Finance Parties and the Borrower, each in the agreed form setting out any of the fees referred to in clause 13 ( Fees ) and Fee Letter means any of them.
Fiduciary Assignment of Receivables means an Indonesian law deed of fiduciary security ( jaminan fidusia ) over the Borrower’s rights under the Charter Documents, the Building Contract Documents, the Mooring Documents, the Vessel Rights and the Guarantee Rights executed by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form;
Fiduciary Assignment of Tangible Assets means an Indonesian law deed of fiduciary security ( jaminan fidusia ) over all of the tangible assets of the Borrower executed by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form
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Fiduciary Assignments means the Fiduciary Assignment of Receivables, the Insurance Fiduciary Assignment, the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment, the Fiduciary Assignment of Tangible Assets and the Shares Security in respect of each Indonesian Shareholder and Fiduciary Assignment means any of them.
Final Acceptance means (a) the issue of the Final Acceptance Certificate by the Charterer pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Charter following satisfaction of the NoR Conditions and the Final Acceptance Test to the satisfaction of the Charterer or (b) Deemed Acceptance.
Final Acceptance Certificate means the “Certificate of Acceptance” (as defined in the Charter) issued or to be issued by the Charterer upon Final Acceptance in accordance with the terms of the Charter.
Final Acceptance Date means the date on which Final Acceptance occurs.
Final Acceptance Test means the “Acceptance Conditions” as defined in clause 6.2 of the Charter.
Final Maturity Date means the K-Sure Facility Maturity Date or either of the Commercial Facility Final Maturity Dates and in respect of a LC Loan means the FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date.
Finance Documents means this Agreement, the Hedging Contracts, any Accession Deed, any Fee Letter, the Security Documents, any Subordination Deed, any lntercreditor Deed, each Utilisation Request and any other document designated as such by the Facility Agent and the Borrower.
Finance Party means the Facility Agent, the Security Agent, the K-sure Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Account Bank, any Mandated Lead Arranger, any Hedging Bank and any Lender (including K-sure if it has become a Lender) and Finance Parties means all of them.
Financial Indebtedness means any indebtedness for or in respect of:
(a) | monies borrowed (including any overdraft facility); |
(b) | debit balances at banks or other financial institutions; |
(c) | any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility or equivalent; |
(d) | any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument; |
(e) | the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with applicable GAAP, be treated as a finance or capital lease; |
(f) | unsubordinated redeemable preference shares (howsoever described); |
(g) | receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis); |
(h) | any Treasury Transaction (and, when calculating the value of that Treasury Transaction, the marked to market value shall be taken into account); |
(i) | 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 in respect of any underlying liability; |
(j) | any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if (a) one of the primary reasons behind entering into the agreement is to raise finance or (b) the agreement is in respect of the supply of assets or services and payment is due more than 180 days after the date of supply; |
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(k) | any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase, sale and sale-back or sale and leaseback agreement) under which interest charges are customarily paid or having the commercial effect of a borrowing or otherwise classified as borrowings under applicable GAAP; and |
(l) | any guarantee for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (k) above. |
Financial Model means the financial model setting out the base case financial projections and ratios related to the Project prepared by the Sponsor and approved by the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement (as updated from to time to time by the Borrower with the approval of the Majority Lenders).
First Repayment Date means, in respect of the K-sure Facility and the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility, subject to clause 40.8 ( Business Days ), the date falling three (3) months after the Last Availability Date of that Facility.
Flag State means the country specified in Schedule 2 ( Vessel information ) or such other state or territory as may be approved by the Lenders and K-sure (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), at the request of the Borrower, as being the Flag State for the purposes of the Finance Documents.
FLNG Business means the Group’s rights, interests and title in and to certain assets used in the development and design of floating liquefied natural gas production units and plans and projects for utilisation of such units.
FLNG Transaction means a demerger, contribution in kind, private placement, sale or other disposal of all or any part of HFLNG, the Group’s shares in HFLNG and/or the FLNG Business.
Force Majeure Event means an event beyond the control of the Borrower and/or the Charterer as described in clause 25 of the Charter.
Free Liquid Assets means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Group’s:
(a) | cash in hand; |
(b) | deposits in banks (including any amounts credited to the Project Accounts) and financial institutions; |
(c) | debt securities which are publicly traded on a major stock exchange or investment market (valued as at any applicable date of determination) and rated at least “A” with Standard and Poor’s; and |
(d) | Available Drawings, |
but excluding any of those assets subject to a Security Interest at any time.
FSRU means a floating LNG storage and regasification unit.
FSRU Tranche means the loan facility in an aggregate amount not exceeding the FSRU Tranche Limit available to be drawn by the Borrower on the terms, and subject to the conditions of, this Agreement.
FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date means the Original FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date or such later date as the Facility Agent may agree (on instructions of the Lenders, in their absolute discretion) or, except in respect of the LC Loans, as may be extended by the relevant Lenders and the Borrower in the event of an Approved Refinancing in accordance with clause 22.15 ( Balloon Refinancing ).
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FSRU Tranche Loan each loan made or to be made to the Borrower under the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility or (as the context may require) the outstanding principal amount of such borrowing and FSRU Tranche Loans means all of them.
FSRU Tranche Limit means an amount of $58,465,624.
FSRU Tranche Repayment Dates means with respect to the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility:
(a) | the First Repayment Date relating to such Tranche; |
(b) | each of the dates falling at three (3) monthly intervals thereafter up to but not including the Final Maturity Date for that Tranche; and |
(c) | the FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date. |
FSRU Tranche Repayment Instalments means each scheduled repayment instalment payable on each FSRU Tranche Repayment Date in accordance with clauses 8.2(d) and 8.2(e) as may be amended by the Commercial Lenders and the Borrower in the event of an Approved Refinancing in accordance with clause 22.15 ( Balloon Refinancing ).
FSRU Tranche Repayment Schedule means the schedule set out in Part A of Schedule 11 ( Repayment Schedules ) as may be amended by the Commercial Lenders and the Borrower in the event of an Approved Refinancing.
Gap Analysis Report means a report from the Technical Advisor prepared in accordance with the Agreed Scope of Work.
GAAP means:
(a) | in relation to the Borrower, generally accepted accounting principles in Indonesia or, if so notified by the Borrower, generally accepted accounting principles in Indonesia or !FRS as may be notified to the Facility Agent by the Borrower prior to any such change applying for the purposes of this Agreement; and |
(b) | in relation to the Guarantor, IFRS or, if so notified by the Borrower, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America or IFRS as may be notified to the Facility Agent by the Borrower prior to any such change applying for the purposes of this Agreement. |
Grosse Akte Pendaftaran Kapal means the authenticated copy of the Lampung FSRU’s registration deed.
Group means the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for the time being.
Guarantee Release Date means the date on which the Guarantor no longer has any obligations under any of the Guarantees.
Guarantees means each of the Prepayment Guarantee, the Balloon Repayment Guarantee, the DSRA Guarantee and the Completion Guarantee and Guarantee means any of them.
Guarantee Rights means the rights of the Borrower under any guarantees or warranties issued by the Builder, the Mooring EPC Contractor, the Mooring Installation Contractor or any manufacturer, supplier or repairer in respect of the manufacture, design, conversion, construction, supply, installation, operation and maintenance of the Vessel and/or the Mooring or any equipment of the Vessel and/or the Mooring or part thereof (including, without limitation, under or pursuant to the Building Contract or the Mooring EPC Contract).
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Guarantor means H ö egh LNG Holdings Ltd, a company incorporated in Bermuda with its registered office at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda.
Guarantor’s Letter of Undertaking means a letter of undertaking from the Guarantor in favour of the Security Agent (for and on behalf of the Finance Parties) in the agreed form to provide an irrevocable guarantee and indemnity in the agreed form for all amounts outstanding under the Finance Documents LESS (provided that such proceeds exceed the Major Casualty Amount and are paid in accordance with this Agreement and not applied by the Borrower in breach of this Agreement) any proceeds of the Insurances or Reinsurances received by the Borrower or a Finance Party relating to the Vessel FM, such guarantee to be provided in the event that prior to the date of an Approved Refinancing if the Charter is terminated for Vessel FM and the procedure for 50% Acquisition Terms is initiated and such terms are not agreed within 75 days after negotiation of the 50% Acquisition Terms commences and provided that such guarantee shall be released upon agreement of the 50% Acquisition Terms and where the Secured Obligations have been or, in the opinion of the Facility Agent, will be concurrently with the sale prepaid in full and provided that such undertaking shall automatically terminate and cease to apply with effect on the date of an Approved Refinancing.
Hedging Bank means:
(a) | any Original Hedging Bank; |
(b) | any bank, financial institution, any trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party in accordance with clause 30.7 ( Assignment of Hedging Contracts by Hedging Banks ), |
which in each case has entered into a Hedging Master Agreement with the Borrower and has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Hedging Contract means a Hedging Transaction together with the relevant Hedging Master Agreement and Hedging Contracts means all of them.
Hedging Debt means all present and future moneys, debts and liabilities due, owing and/or incurred by the Borrower to any Hedging Bank in connection with any Hedging Contract (in each case, whether alone or jointly, or jointly and severally, with any other person, whether actually or contingently, and whether as principal, surety or otherwise) determined pursuant to the respective Hedging Contract.
Hedging Exposure means, as at any relevant date, the aggregate of the amount certified by each of the Hedging Banks to the Security Agent to be the net amount in dollars (a) in relation to all Hedging Contracts that have been closed out on or prior to the relevant date, that is due and owing by the Borrower to the Hedging Banks (or, to the extent that such amount is due and owing by the Hedging Banks to the Borrower, which amount shall be expressed as a negative amount) in respect of such Hedging Contracts on the relevant date and (b) in relation to all Hedging Contracts that are continuing on the relevant date, that would be payable by the Borrower to the Hedging Banks (or, to the extent that such amount would be payable by the Hedging Banks to the Borrower, which amount shall be expressed as a negative amount) under (and calculated in accordance with) the early termination provisions of the Hedging Contracts as if an Early Termination Date (as defined in the Hedging Master Agreements) had occurred on the relevant date in relation to all such continuing Hedging Contracts.
Hedging Master Agreement means a 2002 form of ISDA Master Agreement and the Schedule thereto between the Borrower and a Hedging Bank in a form agreed between the Facility Agent, such Hedging Bank and the Borrower and Hedging Master Agreements means all of them.
Hedging Security means a first assignment of the Borrower’s rights and interests in and to the Hedging Contracts in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form.
Hedging Transaction means an interest rate swap transaction as evidenced by a Confirmation (as defined in the relevant Hedging Master Agreement) between the Borrower and a Hedging Bank under a Hedging Master Agreement and subject to the terms of this Agreement.
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HFLNG means H ö egh FLNG Ltd., a company incorporated in Bermuda.
Holding Company means, in relation to a company or corporation, any other company or corporation in respect of which it is a Subsidiary.
IFC Performance Standards means the performance standards set out in the paper entitled “Performance Standards and Guidance Notes - 2012 Edition” and developed by the International Finance Corporation.
IFRS means international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS regulation 1606/2002.
Illegality Payment means the proportion of a Due Amount which any LC Lender would have been obliged to pay to the Issuing Bank pursuant to clause 7.2(c), had clauses 9.1 ( Illegality ) or 9.5 ( Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender ) not applied to that LC Lender, up to a maximum of the amounts received by the Issuing Bank by way of cash collateral from the Borrower (in respect of the Letter of Credit) or paid into the LC Cash Collateral Account for the purposes of cash collateral in respect of the Letter of Credit, in each case pursuant to any relevant provision of this Agreement at that time and not previously applied pursuant to clause 7.7 ( Cash collateralisation ).
IMF means the International Monetary Fund.
Impaired Agent means an Agent at any time when:
(a) | it has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for payment; |
(b) | that Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document; |
(c) | (if that Agent is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”; or |
(d) | an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to that Agent; |
unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:
(i) | its failure to pay is caused by: |
(A) | administrative or technical error; or |
(B) | a Payment Disruption Event; and |
payment is made within five (5) Business Days of its due date; or
(ii) | that Agent is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question. |
Increase Confirmation means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 16 ( Form of Increase Confirmation ).
Increase Lender has the meaning given to that term in clause 2.2 ( Increase ).
Increased Costs shall have the meaning given to it in clause 15.1(b) ( Increased Costs ).
Indemnified Person means:
(a) | K-sure, each Finance Party and each Receiver and any attorney, agent or other person appointed by them under and in accordance with the Finance Documents; |
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(b) | each Affiliate of those persons; and |
(c) | any officers, employees or agents of any of the above persons. |
Indirect Tax means any goods and services tax, consumption tax, value added tax or any tax of a similar nature.
Indonesian Shareholders means the Original Indonesian Shareholder and each New Shareholder which is not an Affiliate of the Guarantor or the MLP.
Initial Equity Account means a dollar account of the Borrower with a bank in Indonesia. Initial Project Budget means $403,000,000.
Insolvency Event in relation to a Finance Party means that the Finance Party:
(a) | is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
(b) | becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due; |
(c) | makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors; |
(d) | institutes or has instituted against it, by a regulator, supervisor or any similar official with primary insolvency, rehabilitative or regulatory jurisdiction over it in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organisation or the jurisdiction of its head or home office, a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar official; |
(e) | has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition is instituted or presented by a person or entity not described in paragraph (d) above and: |
(i) | results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding up or liquidation; or |
(ii) | is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within 30 days of the institution or presentation thereof; |
(f) | has exercised in respect of it one or more of the stabilisation powers pursuant to Part 1 of the Banking Act 2009 and/or has instituted against it a bank insolvency proceeding pursuant to Part 2 of the Banking Act 2009 or a bank administration proceeding pursuant to Part 3 of the Banking Act 2009; |
(g) | has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
(h) | seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets (other than, for so long as it is required by law or regulation not to be publicly disclosed, any such appointment which is to be made, or is made, by a person or entity described in paragraph (d) above); |
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(i) | has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter; |
(j) | causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (i) above; or |
(k) | takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts. |
Insurance Advisor means Marsh (Singapore) Pte Limited or any other reputable insurance consultant familiar with the market with experience of assets of the same type as the Vessel and the Mooring, appointed by the Facility Agent on behalf of the Lenders, with the approval of the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed and, to the extent that the Borrower has not responded to the Facility Agent within 5 Business Days of its request, such approval shall be deemed to have been given) to review the Insurances, the Finance Documents and, if necessary, the Reinsurances and to report to the Finance Parties whether such Insurances and/or Reinsurances are in full force and effect and in accordance with the requirements under the Finance Documents, the Charter, the Building Contract and the Mooring Documents (as applicable).
Insurance Assignment means, in relation to a Co-assured (other than the Charterer) a first assignment of that Co-assured’s rights and interests in and to the Insurances (other than protection and indemnity policies) and all benefits thereof (including the right to receive claims and to return of premiums) in relation to the Vessel after Delivery in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form.
Insurance Fiduciary Assignment means an Indonesian law deed of fiduciary security ( jaminan fidusia ) of the Borrower’s rights in the Insurances and all benefits thereof (including the right to receive claims and to return of premiums) and the Builder’s Risk Insurances executed by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form.
Insurance Notice means, in relation to the Insurances of the Vessel and the Mooring, a notice of assignment of such Insurances in the form scheduled to the Security Assignment (in the case of the Borrower), the Insurance Assignment (in the case of any other Co-assured (other than the Charterer) or any Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment (in the case of an Insurer).
Insurance Proceeds means all proceeds of the Insurances and/or Reinsurances and/or Builder’s Risks Insurances (or any part thereof) from time to time received by any Obligor or any Finance Party (other than Total Loss Proceeds or Liability Insurance Proceeds).
Insurance Proceeds Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Offshore Account Bank, designated by the Offshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG - Insurance Proceeds Account” and includes any re-designation and each sub-account thereof.
Insurances means:
(a) | all policies and contracts of insurance (which expression includes, without limitation, any confiscation, expropriation, nationalisation and deprivation insurance, together with any kidnap and ransom insurance); and |
(b) | all entries in a protection and indemnity or war risks or other mutual insurance association, |
in the name of the Borrower or the joint names of the Borrower and any other person in respect of or in connection with the Vessel and/or the Mooring (up to and including the Final Acceptance Date) and/or the Earnings and/or the Project generally other than Builder’s Risk Insurances.
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Insurer means any insurer which is from time to time party to any Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment in favour of the Security Agent.
Interbank Market means the London interbank market.
lntercreditor Deed means the intercreditor deed dated on or around the date of this Agreement and entered into between each of the Finance Parties, the Borrower and the Singapore Shareholder.
Interest During Construction in relation to a Facility or Tranche, means interest which accrues under that Facility or Tranche from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of (a) Last Availability Date for that Facility or Tranche and (b) Final Acceptance.
Interest Payment Date shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in clause 10.2 ( Payment of interest ).
Interest Period means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with clause 11 ( Interest Periods ) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with clause 10.3 ( Default interest ).
Interpolated Screen Rate means, in relation to LIBOR for any Loan or Unpaid Sum, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the two relevant Screen Rates) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:
(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 or Unpaid Sum; 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 or Unpaid Sum, |
each as of 11:00 a.m. on the Quotation Day for the offering of deposits in dollars.
Issuing Bank means the Original Issuing Bank or any other Lender having a credit rating for the long term indebtedness of that person of not less than BB with Standard & Poor’s Rating Agency or Bat with Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (or the equivalent rating with another internationally recognised credit rating agency) which has become the Issuing Bank in accordance with this Agreement.
K-sure means Korea Trade Insurance Corporation.
K-Sure Agent means Standard Chartered Bank.
K-sure Facility means the term loan facility in an aggregate amount not exceeding the K-sure Facility Limit available to be drawn by the Borrower on the terms, and subject to the conditions of, this Agreement.
K-sure Facility Repayment Dates means with respect to the K-sure Facility:
(a) | the First Repayment Date relating to such Facility; |
(b) | each of the dates falling at three (3) monthly intervals thereafter up to but not including the Final Maturity Date for that Facility; and |
(c) | the Final Maturity Date for that Facility. |
K-sure Facility Repayment Instalments means each scheduled repayment instalment payable on each K-sure Facility Repayment Date in accordance with clauses 8.2(a) and 8.2(b).
K-sure Facility Repayment Schedule means the schedule set out in Part B of Schedule 11 ( Repayment Schedules ).
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K-sure Facility Limit means an amount of $178,634,376.
K-Sure Final Maturity Date means the date falling 144 months after Last Availability Date of the K-sure Facility, or such later date as the Facility Agent may agree (on instructions of the Lenders and K-sure, in their absolute discretion).
K-sure Insurance Proceeds means any and all insurance moneys, recoveries and/or any other amounts payable by K-sure under the K-sure Policy.
K-sure Lenders means:
(a) | any Original K-sure Lender; and |
(b) | any bank or financial institutions which has become a party as a K-sure Lender in accordance with clause 33 ( Changes to the Lenders ), |
which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
K-sure Loan means a loan made or to be made to the Borrower under the K-sure Facility or (as the context may require) the outstanding principal amount of such borrowing and K-sure Loans means all of them.
K-sure Policy means the insurance policy given or to be given by K-sure in relation to this Agreement.
K-sure Premium means the full sum payable to K-sure as stipulated in the K-sure Policy, which sum may be adjusted by K-sure on the last Utilisation of the K-sure Facility in accordance with the terms of such policy and K-Sure’s internal regulations.
Korea means the Republic of Korea
Lampung FSRU means the FSRU being built by the Builder pursuant to the Building Contract with Hull number 2548 and to be delivered to the Borrower on the Delivery Date
Last Availability Date means:
(a) | in relation to the K-sure Facility and the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility, the earliest to occur of: |
(i) | 31 October 2014; |
(ii) | the Termination Date; and |
(iii) | the date falling ninety (90) days after the Final Acceptance Date; |
(b) | in relation to the Mooring Tranche of the Commercial Facility, the earliest to occur of: |
(i) | 31 October 2014; |
(iv) | the Final Acceptance Date; and |
(v) | the Termination Date; and |
(c) | in relation to the LC Facility, the earliest to occur of: |
(i) | the date falling thirty (30) days after Final Acceptance Date; |
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(ii) | the date falling thirty (30) days after the Cancellation Date (as defined in the Charter); and |
(iii) | 18 March 2015, |
or in each case such later date as may be agreed in writing by the Borrower and the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders).
Latest Balance Sheet means the consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor most recently delivered to the Facility Agent pursuant to clause 20.1 ( Financial statements ) and/or most recently made publicly available.
LC Amount means at any time prior to the relevant LC Termination Date, the maximum aggregate amount which may at that time be payable or at any time thereafter become payable by the Issuing Bank under the Letter of Credit.
LC Beneficiary means the Charterer.
LC Cash Collateral Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Offshore Account Bank, designated by the Offshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG — LC Cash Collateral Account” and includes any re-designation and each sub-account thereof.
LC Contribution means, in relation to any LC Lender at any time, that Lender’s participation in the Letter of Credit or, as the case may be, the principal amount of the LC Loan owing to that LC Lender at that time.
LC Demand means any demand for payment issued pursuant to and in accordance with a Letter of Credit.
LC Facility means the standby letter of credit facility provided to the Borrower by the Issuing Bank and the LC Lenders pursuant to this Agreement.
LC Facility Limit means an amount of $10,700,000.
LC Facility Repayment Dates means each of the dates specified in clause 8.2(f) ( Repayment of LC Loans ).
LC Lender means:
(a) | any Original LC Lender; and |
(b) | any bank or financial institution which has become a party as a LC Lender in accordance with clause 33 ( Changes to the Lenders ), |
which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
LC Loan each loan deemed made to the Borrower under the LC Facility or (as the context may require) the outstanding principal amount of such borrowing and LC Loans means all of them.
LC Termination Date means the date on which a Letter of Credit will, pursuant to the terms thereof or pursuant to any other express agreement between the Issuing Bank and the LC Beneficiary which is not inconsistent with the Borrower’s obligations under the Charter, expire or be cancelled, being a date no later than 18 March 2015.
LC Utilisation means a Utilisation of the LC Facility which is to procured by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with clause 27.1 of the Charter.
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Legal Reservations means:
(a) | the principle that equitable remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court and the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to insolvency, reorganisation and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors; |
(b) | the time barring of claims under the Limitation Acts, the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for, or indemnify a person against, non-payment of UK stamp duty may be void and defences of set-off or counterclaim; |
(c) | notwithstanding the terms of any English Law Security Document or the assets or rights over which any English Law Security Document is expressed to create security, an English Law Security Document may not create effective security over an asset or right which is situated in or governed by the governing law of Indonesia (or in the case of Vessel Rights or Guarantee Rights any country other than England) and for the purpose of this paragraph (c) English Law Security Document means a Security Document governed by English law; |
(d) | in relation to an assignment or charging of Vessel Rights and/or Guarantee Rights only, an assignment or other charge in breach of a prohibition on assignment or charging or without a consent required for such assignment or charge may not be effective; |
(e) | as of the date of this Agreement, valid first-rank security interests under Indonesian laws are limited only to fiduciary security ( fiducia ), pledge ( gadai ) and mortgage ( hak tanggungan ), mortgage/hypothec over vessel and warehouse receipt ( resi gudang ). There is no assurance that Indonesian courts will recognize or enforce (i) the creation under any non-Indonesian law document of a security interest in assets of the Borrower located or sited in the Republic of Indonesia and (ii) the Powers of Attorney; |
(f) | foreclosure on and sale of the capital goods covered by the Fiduciary Assignment of Tangible Assets (if any) may require the prior approvals of the Coordinating Board of Investment (“BKPM”) or the Minister of Finance, which approval may be conditioned upon payment of import duties and import value added taxes and import luxury goods sales taxes which may have been exempted, suspended or deferred upon importation of such goods. |
(g) | foreclosure on and the sale of the Shares in the Borrower covered by the Share Security would be subject to the approvals from BKPM; |
(h) | any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations as to matters of law of general application in any legal opinion delivered to any of the Finance Parties pursuant to clause 4.1 ( Initial conditions precedent ) or in connection with any Finance Document entered into after the first Utilisation; and |
(i) | similar principles, rights and defences under the laws of any Relevant Jurisdiction. |
Lender means:
(a) | any Original Lender; and |
(b) | any bank, financial institution, or any trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party in accordance with clause 2.2 ( Increase ) or clause 33 ( Changes to the Lenders ), |
which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Letter of Quiet Enjoyment means the letter of quiet enjoyment entered into or to be entered into between the Charterer, the Borrower and the Security Agent in the agreed form.
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Letter of Credit means a standby letter of credit issued or to be issued by the Issuing Bank to the LC Beneficiary under the LC Facility for an amount not exceeding the LC Facility Limit, substantially in the form set out in Schedule 12 ( Form of Standby Letter of Credit ) or in any other form requested by the Borrower and agreed upon by the Facility Agent (with the prior consent of the LC Lenders) and the Issuing Bank for the term requested by the Borrower.
Liability Insurance Proceeds means the proceeds of the Insurances received in respect of protection and indemnity risks.
LIBOR means, in relation to any Loan or any part of it or any Unpaid Sum:
(a) | the applicable Screen Rate; or |
(b) | if no Screen Rate is available for the relevant Interest Period the applicable Interpolated Screen Rate; |
(c) | if: |
(i) | no Screen Rate is available for the currency of that Loan or Unpaid Sum; or |
(ii) | no Screen Rate is available for the relevant Interest Period and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan and/or Unpaid Sum, |
the Reference Bank Rate.
as of 11:00 am. (London time) on the Quotation Day for the offering of deposits in dollars for a period comparable to the Interest Period for the relevant Loan or relevant part of it or Unpaid Sum and, if any such rate is below zero, LIBOR will be deemed to be zero.
Limitation Acts means the Limitation Act 1980 and the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984. LNG means liquified natural gas.
Loans means, together, the K-sure Loans, the Commercial Loans and the LC Loans and Loan means any of them.
London Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London.
Loss of Hire Insurance Proceeds means the proceeds of the Insurances received in respect of loss of hire (if such Insurances are entered into in respect of the Vessel).
Loss Payable Clauses means, in relation to the Insurances of the Vessel and/or the Mooring, the provisions concerning payment of claims under such Insurances or, as the case may be, Reinsurances in the form scheduled to the Security Assignment, the Insurance Assignment, any Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment (as the case may be) or in another approved form.
Losses means any losses, liabilities, costs, charges, expenses, claims, damages, penalties, fines or other sanctions of whatsoever nature (including without limitation, Taxes).
Maintenance Provider means an appropriately qualified company or group of companies within the Group as may be notified to the Facility Agent by the Borrower or another appropriately qualified company approved by the Lenders or such other Approved Operator which has been appointed by the Borrower as maintenance provider in accordance with clause 24.4 ( Operation and Maintenance ) of this Agreement.
Major Casualty means any casualty to the Vessel for which the total insurance claim, inclusive of any deductible, exceeds or is reasonably likely to exceed the Major Casualty Amount.
Major Casualty Amount means in respect of the Vessel, $30,000,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency).
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Majority Lenders means at any time:
(a) | if there is any Loan then outstanding, a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loan(s) then outstanding aggregate more than 66 2 / 3 % of all such Loan(s); or |
(b) | if there is no Loan then outstanding and the Available Facilities are then greater than zero, a Lender or Lenders whose Available Commitments aggregate more than 66 2 / 3 % of the Available Facilities; or |
(c) | if there is no Loan then outstanding and the Available Facilities are then zero: |
(i) | if the Available Facilities became zero after a Loan ceased to be outstanding, a Lender or Lenders whose Available Commitments aggregated more than 66 2 / 3 % of the Available Facilities immediately before the Available Facilities became zero; or |
(ii) | if a Loan ceased to be outstanding after the Available Facilities became zero, a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loan(s) outstanding immediately before any Loan ceased to be outstanding aggregated more than 66 2 / 3 % of all such Loan(s). |
Mandatory Cost means the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Facility Agent in accordance with Schedule 6 (Mandatory Cost Formulae).
Manuals and Technical Records means, in relation to the Vessel, all such books, records, logs, manuals, handbooks, technical data, plans, drawings and other materials and documents (whether or not kept or required to be kept in compliance with any applicable laws or the requirements of the Classification Society) relating to the Vessel.
Margin means:
(a) | in relation to each K-sure Loan, 2.30% per annum; |
(b) | in relation to each FSRU Loan, 3.40% per annum; |
(c) | in relation to the Mooring Loan, 2.50% per annum; and |
(d) | in relation to each LC Loan, 3.40% per annum. |
Master Limited Partnership means a corporate restructuring or reorganisation where following such restructuring or reorganisation:
(a) | 49% of the shares in the Borrower shall be owned directly or indirectly by a new master limited partnership (MLP) and the remaining 51% of the shares in the Borrower shall be owned directly by the Indonesian Shareholders; |
(b) | the Guarantor shall, directly or indirectly, own at least 49% of all units of the MLP and have management control over the MLP; and |
(c) | the MLP shall have management control over the Borrower. |
Master Maintenance Agreement means an agreement for the provision or procurement of maintenance between the Borrower and a Maintenance Provider in relation to the FSRU substantially following the terms set out in the applicable outline terms provided to the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement or as otherwise approved.
Master Parts Agreement means an agreement for the provision or procurement of spare or replacement parts between the Borrower and a Parts Provider in relation to the FSRU substantially following the terms set out in the applicable outline terms provided to the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement or as otherwise approved.
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Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on:
(a) | the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower, any other Facility Obligor or the Charterer to a level that adversely impacts the ability of any Obligor to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents; |
(b) | the ability of an Obligor to perform its obligations under any of the Finance Documents; or |
(c) | the validity or enforceability of, or the effectiveness or ranking of any Security Interest granted pursuant to, any of the Finance Documents or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under any of the Finance Documents. |
Material Project Agreement means the Charter, any Charter Guarantee, the PGN L/C, the Umbrella Agreement, the Consortium Agreement, the Building Contract, the Refund Guarantee, any Builder’s Performance L/C, the Mooring EPC Contract, the Mooring Installation Contract, the Modec Guarantee, the Supervision Agreement and any O&M Contract.
MLP has the meaning given to it in the definition of Master Limited Partnership.
Modec means Modec International, Inc. whose corporate office is located at 14741 Yorktown Plaza Drive, Houston, TX 77040.
Modec Guarantee means the parent company guarantee to be issued by Modec in favour of the Borrower in respect of the Mooring EPC Contract following execution of the Mooring EPC Contract Novation Agreement.
Mooring means the Mooring as defined in the Charter.
Mooring Contract Price means the aggregate amount, payable by the Borrower (or prior to the relevant novation the Sponsor and/or its Affiliates) in respect of the Mooring under the Mooring EPC Contract and the Mooring Installation Contract, as notified by the Borrower to the Facility Agent.
Mooring Documents means the Mooring EPC Contract, the Modec Guarantee, the Mooring Installation Contract and any guarantee or security given to the Borrower by any person for the Mooring EPC Contractor’s obligations under the Mooring EPC Contract and/or the Mooring Installation Contractor’s obligations under the Mooring Installation Contract and includes any change orders or other deed, document, agreement or instrument amending, varying or supplementing any of the foregoing documents or any of the terms and conditions thereof.
Mooring EPC Contract means the contract specified in Schedule 2 (Vessel Information) and made between the Mooring EPC Contractor and the Sponsor relating to, inter alia, the construction of the Mooring (the Original Mooring EPC Contract ) as novated or to be novated to the Borrower pursuant to the Mooring EPC Contract Novation Agreement.
Mooring EPC Contractor means SOFEC, Inc., a company incorporated in Texas, United States of America with its registered office at 14741 Yorktown Plaza Drive, Houston, Texas, 77040.
Mooring EPC Contract Novation Agreement means the novation agreement between the Borrower, the Mooring EPC Contractor and HLNG Asia Pte Ltd, pursuant to which the rights and obligations of HLNG Asia Pte Ltd under the Original Mooring EPC Contract are novated in favour of the Borrower.
Mooring installation Contract means a contract relating to the installation of the Mooring at the Site to be made between the Borrower and the Mooring Installation Contractor substantially following the terms set out in the applicable letter of intent provided by the Borrower prior to the entry into such contract and approved by the Lenders (acting reasonably) or as otherwise approved.
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Mooring Installation Contractor means a company approved by the Lenders (acting reasonably).
Mooring Payment Accounts means the Offshore Mooring Account and the Onshore Mooring Account and Mooring Payment Account means either of them.
Mooring Purchase Price means the amount in respect of the purchase price of the Mooring calculated in accordance with the Charter and payable by the Charterer to the Borrower.
Mooring Tranche means the loan facility in an aggregate amount not exceeding the Mooring Tranche Limit available to be drawn by the Borrower on the terms, and subject to the conditions of, this Agreement.
Mooring Tranche Final Maturity Date means the earliest of:
(a) | 18 March 2015; |
(b) | the first Interest Payment Date following the Final Acceptance Date; and |
(c) | three (3) months after the date of the Mooring Declaration (as defined in the Charter), |
or such later date as the Facility Agent may agree (on instructions of the Commercial Lenders, in their absolute discretion).
Mooring Tranche Limit means an amount of up to $61,900,000.
Mooring Tranche Loan means the loan made or to be made to the Borrower under the Mooring Tranche of the Commercial Facility or (as the context may require) the outstanding principal amount of such borrowing.
Mooring Tranche Repayment Date means the Mooring Tranche Final Maturity Date.
Mooring Tranche Repayment Instalment means the scheduled repayment instalment payable on the Mooring Tranche Repayment Date in accordance with clause 8.2 (c).
Mortgage means a first ranking Indonesian ship hypothec ( hipotek kapal ) over the Vessel in the agreed form executed by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent.
Mortgage Period means the period commencing on the date on which the Mortgage over the Vessel is executed and submitted for registration until the earlier of the date on which the Mortgage is released and discharged and the Total Loss Date in respect of the Vessel.
Net Hedging Expenses for any period means the amounts payable (or, in respect of a future period, projected to be payable) during that period under any Hedging Contract by the Borrower less the amounts payable (or, in respect of a future period, projected to be payable) during that period under any Hedging Contract to the Borrower in each case excluding any payment in respect of a party’s costs of entering into or terminating a Hedging Contract (and, for the avoidance of doubt, any Net Hedging Expenses may be a negative amount as well as a positive amount).
New Lender has the meaning given to such term in clause 33.1 ( Assignments and transfers by the Lenders ).
New Shareholder means any person or corporate entity which has become a shareholder of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with clause 29.16 ( Replacement and/or additional shareholder ).
NOR Conditions means the “NoR Conditions” as defined in clause 6.1 of the Charter.
O&M Contract means a Technical Services Agreement, a Master Maintenance Agreement or a Master Parts Agreement.
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O&M Contractor means a Maintenance Provider or a Parts Provider or a Technical Services Provider.
O&M Contractor Undertaking means, in relation to each O&M Contractor which is an Affiliate of the Borrower or Guarantor, an undertaking by that O&M Contractor to the Security Agent in the agreed form.
Obligors means a Facility Obligor, the Singapore Shareholder, each O&M Contractor which is an Affiliate of the Borrower or the Guarantor (so long as it is a party to a Finance Document) and any other Affiliate of the Borrower (other than an Indonesian Shareholder) or the Guarantor (other than the Sponsor so long as it is a party only to the Sponsor’s Assignment) which is from time to time a party to a Finance Document and Obligor means any of them.
OECD Common Approaches means Recommendation of the Council in Common Approaches for Officially Supported Export Credits and Environmental and Social Due Diligence (the Common Approaches) (TAD/ECG (2012) 5) dated 28 June 2012.
Offshore Account Bank means the Offshore Account Bank specified above and includes any person who may be appointed by the Borrower with the approval of the Majority Lenders (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) as an ‘Offshore Account Bank’ in addition to or, as the case may be, in substitution for the Offshore Account Bank as at the date of this Agreement and which has entered into an Accession Deed.
Offshore Mooring Payment Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or, as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Offshore Account Bank, designated by the Offshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG — Offshore Mooring Payment Account” and includes any redesignation and each sub-account thereof.
Offshore Operating Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Offshore Account Bank, designated by the Offshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG — Offshore Operating Account” and includes any re-designation and each sub-account thereof.
Offshore Revenue Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or, as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Offshore Account Bank, designated by the Offshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG - Offshore Revenue Account” and includes any redesignation and each sub-account thereof.
Onshore Account Bank means the Onshore Account Bank specified above and includes any person who may be appointed by the Borrower with the approval of the Majority Lenders (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) as an ‘Onshore Account Bank’ in addition to or, as the case may be, in substitution for the Onshore Account Bank as at the date of this Agreement and which has entered into an Accession Deed.
Onshore Delivery Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Onshore Account Bank, designated by the Onshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG — Onshore Delivery Account” and includes any re-designation and each sub-account thereof.
Onshore Operating Account means the rupiah account of the Borrower opened or as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Onshore Account Bank, designated by the Onshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG — Onshore Operating Account” and includes any re-designation and each sub-account thereof.
Onshore Mooring Payment Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or, as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Onshore Account Bank, designated by the Onshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG - Onshore Mooring Payment Account” and includes any redesignation and each sub-account thereof.
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Onshore Proceeds Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Onshore Account Bank, designated by the Onshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG — Onshore Proceeds Account” and includes any re-designation and each sub-account thereof.
Onshore Revenue Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or, as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Onshore Account Bank, designated by the Onshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG - Onshore Revenue Account” and includes any redesignation and each sub-account thereof.
Operating Accounts means the Offshore Operating Account and the Onshore Operating Account and Operating Account means either of them.
Operating and Maintenance Element means the fee payable by the Charterer to the Borrower pursuant to clause 12 of the Charter, calculated in accordance with sections 3.2 to 3.7 of Schedule 6 to the Charter.
Operating Expenses means all operating expenses, taxes, capital expenditure, payments under Project Documents (other than Subordinated Loan Agreements and Promissory Notes), employee costs, insurance premiums and similar amounts payable by the Borrower.
Original Commercial Lenders means those banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 ( The Original Lenders ) as Commercial Lenders.
Original Financial Statements means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor for its financial year ended 31 December 2012.
Original FSRU Tranche Final Maturity means the date falling 84 months after the Last Availability Date in respect of the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility.
Original Hedging Banks means the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 as Hedging Banks.
Original Indonesian Shareholder means PT Bahtera Daya Utama, a company incorporated in Indonesia with its registered office at Jalan Ampera Raya No. 9-10, Jakarta Selatan 12550, Indonesia.
Original K-sure Lenders means those banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 ( The Original Lenders ) as K-sure Lenders.
Original Lenders means the Original K-sure Lenders, the Original Commercial Lenders and the Original LC Lenders and Original Lender means any of them.
Original LC Lenders means those banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 ( The Original Lenders ) as LC Lenders.
Original Security Documents means:
(a) | the Mortgage; |
(b) | the Security Assignment; |
(c) | the Project Agreements Assignment; |
(d) | the Insurance Assignment; |
(e) | the Shares Security |
(f) | the Sponsor’s Assignment; |
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(g) | the Account Security; |
(h) | each O&M Contractor Undertaking; |
(i) | the Supervisor Undertaking; |
(j) | the Letter of Quiet Enjoyment; |
(k) | the Guarantees; |
(l) | the Guarantor’s Letter of Undertaking; |
(m) | the Fiduciary Assignments; |
(n) | the Hedging Security; |
(o) | any DSRA Letter of Credit; and |
(p) | the Powers of Attorney. |
Original Shareholders means the Singapore Shareholder and the Original Indonesian Shareholder.
Participating Member State means any member state of the European Community that adopts or has adopted the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Community relating to Economic and Monetary Union.
Parts Provider means a company or group of companies within the Group as may be notified to the Facility Agent by the Borrower or another appropriately qualified company approved by the Lenders or such other Approved Operator which has been appointed by the Borrower as parts provider in accordance with clause 24.4 ( Operation and Maintenance ) of this Agreement.
Party means a party to this Agreement.
Perfection Requirements means the paying, making or the procuring of the appropriate registrations, taxes, fees, filings, endorsements, notarisation, stampings, translations and/or notifications in respect of the Security Documents as specifically referred to in any Finance Document or in any legal opinion delivered to the Facility Agent pursuant to clause 4 ( Conditions of Utilisation ) or in connection with the entry into any Finance Document.
Permitted Amendment means:
(a) | any amendment of, or waiver or release of a party’s obligations under, any Subordinated Loan Agreement and/or any Promissory Note and/or any Equity Loan Agreement provided that if it is a material amendment, waiver or release it is notified in advance to the Facility Agent; |
(b) | any amendment of, or waiver or release of a party’s obligations under, the Shareholders Agreement other than an amendment, waiver or release of any Restricted Provision which is notified in advance to the Facility Agent; |
(c) | any amendment to the Building Contract and/or Mooring EPC Contract and/or Mooring Installation Contract in accordance with clause 23.8 ( Variations to Building Contract, Mooring EPC Contract and Mooring Installation Contract ) and any consequential amendment required to be made to the Charter pursuant to an expert’s determination; |
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(d) | any amendment to an O&M Contract which does not result in the Operating Expenses of the Borrower for the applicable period exceeding the then applicable Projected Operating Expenses or increasing any other liability of the Borrower under the Project Agreements or in a change to the tenor of such Project Agreements and which is notified in advance to the Facility Agent; and |
(e) | any amendment to the Supervision Agreement or any other Project Agreement which is not a Material Project Agreement or expressly referred to elsewhere in this definition which does not result in an increase in any amount payable by the Borrower or the liability of the Borrower under the Project Agreements or in a change to the tenor of such Project Agreements and which is notified in advance to the Facility Agent; |
(f) | any amendment to the Charter by way of a change order or written amendment which relates to matters of a purely technical and/or operational nature and which would not, or would not reasonably be expected to: |
(i) | require the Borrower to effect or otherwise result in a material structural alteration to the Vessel or the Mooring or affect the safety or structural integrity thereof; or |
(ii) | result in any change in the amount (by way of reduction), calculation, method or timing of payment of the Total Charter Rate; or |
(iii) | result in any reduction to the Charter Period or termination of the Charter; or |
(iv) | result in any change to the termination and/or force majeure provisions (if applicable) of a Project Agreement; or |
(v) | result in any change to any counterparty to a Project Agreement; or |
(vi) | result in any forecast shortfall in funding to achieve Final Acceptance in excess of $5,000,000 in aggregate during the construction period; or |
(vii) | result in an increase in Operating Expenses that are not being compensated in full by the Charterer; |
(g) | any amendment permitted under clause 24.1(d) or 24.1(e) ( Project Agreements ) or required pursuant to and in accordance with this Agreement and any consequential amendments required to be made to the Charter pursuant to an expert’s determination; and |
(h) | any novation of a Project Agreement (other than the Charter) to the Borrower as contemplated by this Agreement, the Building Contract Novation Agreement, the Mooring EPC Contract Novation Agreement, the Umbrella Novation Agreement or the Consortium Agreement Novation Agreement; |
(i) | any novation of the Charter to the Borrower pursuant to the Charter Novation Agreement or by the Charterer pursuant to clause 16.3 of the Charter and in accordance with clause 24.1(d)(vi) of this Agreement; |
(j) | any extension of the term of the Charter. |
Permitted Financial Indebtedness means any:
(a) | Financial Indebtedness incurred under, or as expressly permitted by, the Finance Documents; and |
(b) | Financial Indebtedness in the form of Subordinated Loans or Promissory Notes; |
(c) | Financial Indebtedness in the form of an Approved Refinancing; |
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(d) | Financial Indebtedness incurred in respect of any trade and/or sundry creditors which is not exceeding ninety (90) days; and |
(e) | Financial Indebtedness under finance or capital leases of vehicles, plant, machinery, equipment or computers provided that the aggregate capital value of all such items so leased by the Borrower under outstanding leases does not exceed $250,000 at any time. |
Permitted Location means the Site or any other location required under the Charter Documents as the Lenders may approve in accordance with clause 24.12 ( Negative covenants ).
Permitted Maritime Liens means:
(a) | unless an Event of Default is continuing, any ship repairer’s or outfitter’s possessory lien in respect of the Vessel for an amount not exceeding the Major Casualty Amount; |
(b) | any lien on the Vessel for master’s, officer’s or crew’s wages outstanding in the ordinary course of its trading which are not overdue; |
(c) | any lien on the Vessel for salvage; and |
(d) | any lien arising in the ordinary course of business or operation of the Vessel created by statute or by operation of law in Indonesia (and constituting a bona fide, non-discriminatory measure of general application) and in respect of obligations which are not overdue or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings (and for the payment of which adequate reserves have been provided) so long as any such proceedings or the continued existence of such lien do not, in the reasonable opinion of the Facility Agent, involve any likelihood of the sale, forfeiture or loss or, or of any interest in, or loss of use (for a period of seven (7) days or more) of, the Vessel. |
Permitted Repayment means any repayment or payment in respect of Promissory Notes made by the Borrower prior to the first Utilisation Date provided that such repayment or payment is made solely from amounts paid by the Shareholders pursuant to the subscription of shares in or other capitalisation of share or equity of the Borrower.
Permitted Security Interest means:
(a) | any Security Interest which is created by or expressed to be created by any Finance Document or in respect of any cash collateral in relation to the LC Facility; |
(b) | a Permitted Maritime Lien; |
(c) | until the date that the Shares Security is entered into by the Indonesian Shareholder, any Security Interest over the shares in the Borrower owned by the Indonesian Shareholder; |
(d) | any Security Interest arising under any retention of title, hire purchase or conditional sale arrangement or arrangements having similar effect in respect of goods supplied to the Borrower in the ordinary course of trading and on the supplier’s standard or usual terms and not as a result of any default or omission by the Borrower; |
(e) | any Security Interest arising as a consequence of any finance or capital lease which is permitted pursuant to paragraph (e) of the definition of Permitted Financial indebtedness; |
(f) | any Security Interest existing in favour of an Account Bank pursuant to paragraph 3.1 of Schedule 19 ( Account Banks provisions ); |
(g) | any Security Interest over cash collateral contemplated in clause 9.2(b); or |
(h) | any other Security Interest approved by the Lenders. |
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PGN L/C means an irrevocable standby letter of credit substantially in the form of Part B of Schedule 4 of the Charter or such other form as may be approved by the Lenders which is issued by an Approved Bank (as defined in the Charter) in favour of the Borrower in accordance with the Charter.
Pollutant means and includes LNG, crude oil and its products, any other polluting, toxic or hazardous substance and any other substance whose release into the environment is regulated or penalised by Environmental Laws.
Powers of Attorney means the security powers of attorney in the agreed form granted or, as the context may require, to be granted by the Borrower to the Security Agent on behalf of the Finance Parties, pursuant to which the Borrower appoints or, as the context may require, will appoint the Security Agent as its attorney for the purposes of, inter alia, effecting the termination of the Charter, the repossession of the Vessel, the decommissioning of the Vessel, sale of the Vessel, the towage of the Vessel to a location outside the Permitted Location, the deregistration of the Vessel and/or creating second and subsequent hypothec over the Vessel.
Prepayment Guarantee means the irrevocable financial guarantee and indemnity in respect of the K-sure Facility to be issued by the Guarantor in favour of the K-sure Agent in the agreed form and which shall be released in accordance with its terms.
Priority Operating Expenses means in any period the amount transferred from the Offshore Revenue Account to the Offshore Operating Account in respect of Operating Expenses pursuant to and in accordance with clause 28.8(a)(i).
Proceeds Application Event means the Borrower becoming obliged to prepay the Loans (or any part thereof) pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement (other than in accordance with clauses 9.1 ( Illegality ), 9.2 ( Voluntary prepayment and cancellation ) or 9.3 ( Right of cancellation and prepayment in relation to a single Lender ) unless applicable to all Loans and Lenders, clause 9.5 ( Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender ) or clause 9.10 ( K-sure Policy ) in the event that only the K-sure Loans are required to be pre-paid in accordance with that clause or clause 28.8(a)(viii)).
Prohibited Payment means:
(a) | any offer, gift, payment, promise to pay, commission, fee, loan or other consideration which would constitute bribery or a breach of the Bribery Act 2010, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or other applicable law of any Relevant Jurisdiction or England and Wales; or |
(b) | any offer, gift, payment, promise to pay, commission, fee, loan or other consideration which would or might constitute bribery within the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions of 17 December 1997. |
Project means the Works and procurement and installation of the Mooring and the construction, installation, commissioning, operation and chartering to the Charterer of the Vessel pursuant to the Charter.
Project Accounts means, together, the following:
(a) | the Construction Account; |
(b) | the Revenue Accounts; |
(c) | the Operating Accounts; |
(d) | the Onshore Proceeds Account; |
(e) | the Onshore Delivery Account; |
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(f) | the Debt Service Reserve Account; |
(g) | the Rupiah Account; |
(h) | the Distribution Account; |
(i) | the LC Cash Collateral Account; |
(j) | the Mooring Payment Accounts; |
(k) | the Retention Account; and |
(l) | the Insurance Proceeds Account. |
Project Agreements means the Charter Documents, the Building Contract Documents, the Mooring Documents, the O&M Contracts, the Supervision Agreement, the Subordinated Loan Agreements (if any) and each other document the Facility Agent and the Borrower designate as a Project Agreement.
Project Agreements Assignment means a first assignment of the Borrower’s rights and interest in and to the Material Project Agreements to which it is a party (including, without limitation, the Vessel Rights and the Guarantee Rights), the Subordinated Loan Agreement and the Promissory Notes by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form.
Project Authorisations means all licences, permits, wayleaves, approvals, filings, registrations, exemptions, authorisations and consents (other than Environmental Licences) necessary to be obtained by the Borrower and/or any O&M Contractor in connection with the Transaction Documents, the Project and all activities related to the Project to be carried out by the Borrower and/or the O&M Contractor.
Project Budget Statement means each statement to be prepared and required to be submitted by the Borrower to the Facility Agent pursuant to and in accordance with clause 24.5 ( Agreement of Projected Operating Expenses and Delivery of Project Budget Statement ) substantially in the form attached as Schedule 10 ( Form of Project Budget Statement ) or as otherwise agreed by the Facility Agent and the Borrower and setting out the projected Projected Operating Expenses and the latest cashflow and tax projections for the relevant period, as such statement may be updated in accordance with clause 24.5 ( Agreement of Projected Operating Expenses and Delivery of Project Budget Statement ).
Project Cost means the costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower and, prior to first Utilisation, the Sponsor and/or its Affiliates in relation to, and costs and expenses to complete, the Project, including, without limitation, the construction and installation costs in respect of the Vessel and the Mooring, interest During Construction, the K-sure Premium, Net Hedging Expenses payable up to the Final Acceptance Date, direct fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower and/or the Sponsor and its Affiliates in relation to the Project and the Finance Documents and including in each case such amounts paid or funded by the Guarantor, the Sponsor, the Shareholders and any of their Affiliates, whether before or after the establishment of the Borrower and provided that in determining the amount of the Project Costs, amounts payable by the Borrower to the Sponsor and/or its Affiliates pursuant to the novation of any Material Project Agreement to the Borrower shall not be included in addition to the amounts paid by the Sponsor and/or its Affiliates in respect of those Material Project Agreements prior to novation and any margin payable to the Sponsor and/or its Affiliates by the Borrower pursuant to such novations over such amounts paid by the Sponsor and/or its Affiliates shall not be a Project Cost,
Projected Operating Expenses means the anticipated operating expenses of the Borrower for the applicable year as shown in the relevant Project Budget Statement.
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Promissory Note means any promissory note or convertible promissory note issued by the Borrower in favour of the Guarantor, the Sponsor, a Shareholder or any of their Affiliates, and which, from the first Utilisation Date (or in the case of the Sponsor by no later than the date falling three (3) Business Days after the first Utilisation Date), is subordinated to the Facilities by way of a Subordination Deed.
Quotation Day means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined, two (2) London Business Days before the first day of that period unless market practice differs in the Interbank Market for the relevant currency, in which case the Quotation Day for that currency shall be determined by the Facility Agent in accordance with market practice in the Interbank Market (and if quotations would normally be given by leading banks in the Interbank Market on more than one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of those days).
Receivables means:
(a) | all Sales Proceeds in respect of the Vessel; |
(b) | proceeds in respect of any disposal of part of the Vessel; |
(c) | Total Loss Proceeds in respect of the Vessel; |
(d) | any Termination Fee; |
(e) | the Vessel Purchase Option Price; |
(f) | the Mooring Purchase Price; |
(g) | Tax refunds and other taxes applicable to the Project; |
(h) | all amounts which are received or receivable by the Borrower (or the Security Trustee as assignee) under the Building Contract Documents, the Mooring Contract Documents or the Charter Guarantee; |
(i) | the proceeds of any sale of the shares in respect of the Borrower pursuant to the Shares Security; |
(j) | all amounts which are, at any time received or receivable from the Guarantor under, and pursuant to the terms of, any Guarantee (other than the DSRA Guarantee); and |
(k) | all other amounts which are from time to time required, pursuant to the terms of the Finance Documents, to be deposited in a Revenue Account. |
Receiver means a receiver or a receiver and manager or an administrative receiver appointed in relation to the whole or any part of any Charged Property under any relevant Security Document.
Reference Bank Rate means the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Facility Agent at its request by the Reference Banks as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London interbank market in dollars and 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.
Reference Banks means the principal offices in London of The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, UFJ, Standard Chartered Bank, DBS Bank Ltd., Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited and JP Morgan or such other banks as may be agreed by the Facility Agent and the Borrower.
Refund Guarantee means the guarantee details of which are specified in Schedule 2 ( Vessel information ) issued by the Refund Guarantor in respect of the Builder’s obligations under the Building Contract and any further guarantee to be issued by the Refund Guarantor to the Borrower in respect of such obligations in accordance with the Building Contract.
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Refund Guarantor means the refund guarantor specified as such in Schedule 2 ( Vessel information ) or any approved replacement Refund Guarantor in accordance with this Agreement.
Registry means such registrar, commissioner or representative of the Flag State who is duly authorised and empowered to register the Lampung FSRU, the Borrower’s title to the Lampung FSRU and the Mortgage under the laws of its Flag State.
Regulatory Authority means the Classification Society, the Registry, and each other regulatory authority in Indonesia or elsewhere or, as the case may be, such other body carrying out the functions which are carried out by the Classification Society or the Registry or such other body in Indonesia or in any other location in which the Vessel is, or is proposed to be operated, in each case to the extent applicable to the Borrower, any O&M Contractor and/or the Vessel.
Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment means the Indonesian law deed of fiduciary security ( jaminan fidusia ) over Insurance Proceeds (in respect of the Reinsurances and all benefits thereof including claims of whatsoever nature and return of premiums) executed by the Insurer(s) in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form or such other form as may be approved.
Reinsurances means any and all policies and contracts of reinsurance which are from time to time in place or taken out or entered into by or / for the benefit of the insurers in relation to any of the Insurances or any renewals or substitutions therefore.
Relevant Jurisdiction means, in relation to an Obligor:
(a) | its jurisdiction of incorporation; |
(b) | any jurisdiction where any Charged Property owned by it is situated; and |
(c) | any jurisdiction whose laws govern the perfection of any of the Security Documents entered into by it. |
Relevant Period means in the case of the first Relevant Period, a period of nine (9) months ending on the first date of testing under clause 21.3 ( Financial testing ) and in the case of each subsequent Relevant Period, each period of nine (9) months ending on any FSRU Tranche Repayment Date or K-sure Facility Repayment Date.
Repayment Dates means, together, the FSRU Tranche Repayment Dates, the Mooring Tranche Repayment Date, the K-sure Facility Repayment Dates and the LC Facility Repayment Dates and
Repayment Date shall mean any such date.
Repayment Instalments means the FSRU Tranche Repayment Instalments, the Mooring Tranche Instalment, the K-sure Facility Repayment Instalments and Repayment Instalment shall mean any such instalment.
Repayment Schedule means, as the case may be, the K-sure Facility Repayment Schedule or the FSRU Tranche Repayment Schedule.
Repeating Representations means each of the representations and warranties set out in clauses 19.1 ( Status ) to 19.10 ( Ranking and effectiveness of security ) (other than clause 19.8(c)).
Representative means any delegate, agent, manager, administrator, nominee, attorney, trustee or custodian.
Requisition Compensation means, in respect of the Vessel, any compensation paid or payable by a government entity to the Borrower for the requisition for title, confiscation or compulsory acquisition of the Vessel.
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Restricted Party means a person that is: (i) listed on, or owned or controlled by a person listed on, or acting on behalf of a person listed on, any Sanctions List; (ii) not a natural person and is located in, incorporated under the laws of, or owned or (directly or indirectly) controlled by, or acting on behalf of, a person located in or organized under the laws of a country or territory that is the target of country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions; (or) (iii) otherwise a target of Sanctions (“target of Sanctions” signifying a person with whom a US person or other national of a Sanctions Authority would be prohibited or restricted by Sanctions from engaging in trade, business or other activities).
Restricted Provisions means clauses 4(a), 5, 8.1(a), (b)(i) & (ii), 8.1(c)(i), 8.2(d), (e) and (g), 8.3(a), (b)(i) and (b)(ii), (c)(i) and (f), 8.4(d), (e) and (g), 9(b), 9(e), 10(a), 15, 16(g), 17 and 19 of the Shareholders Agreement and the Super Majority Matters (as defined in the Shareholders Agreement) and Restricted Provision means any of them.
Retention Account means the dollar account of the Borrower opened or, as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Offshore Account Bank, designated by the Offshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG - Retention Account” and includes any redesignation and each sub-account thereof.
Revenue Accounts means the Onshore Revenue Account and the Offshore Revenue Account and Revenue Account means either of them.
Rupiah Account means the rupiah account of the Borrower opened or, as the context may require, to be opened by the Borrower with the Onshore Account Bank, designated by the Onshore Account Bank to be the “PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG - Rupiah Account” and includes any redesignation and each sub-account thereof.
Sales Proceeds means, in respect of the Vessel, the total proceeds of any sale of the Vessel by the Borrower after the date hereof including the Vessel Purchase Option Price received by the Borrower (or the Security Agent or Account Bank) on its behalf and, if the Vessel is sold in a currency other than dollars, the Sales Proceeds shall be the amount of dollars which the Borrower is able to purchase with the other currency at a market rate of exchange on the day of receipt of such other currency.
Sanctions means the economic sanctions laws, regulations, embargoes or restrictive measures administered, enacted or enforced by: (i) the United States government; (ii) the United Nations; (iii) the European Union; (iv) the United Kingdom; or (v) 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 ) (together, the Sanctions Authorities ).
Sanctions List means the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” list maintained by OFAC, the Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List maintained by HMT, or any similar list maintained by, or public announcement of Sanctions designation made by, any of the Sanctions Authorities.
Screen Rate means in relation to LIBOR, the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate (or if the British Bankers’ Association ceases to act in the role of administering and publishing LIBOR rates, the equivalent rate published by a subsequently appointed administrator of LIBOR) for the relevant currency and period displayed on the LIBOR01 page (or its successor page) of the Reuters screen. If the agreed page is replaced or service ceases to be available, the Facility Agent may specify another page or service displaying the appropriate rate after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders.
Secured Obligations means the obligations of the Borrower and each other Facility Obligor to the Finance Parties or any of them under the Finance Documents and includes such obligations in respect of all sums of money (including, without limitation, the aggregate of the Loan and interest accrued and accruing thereon) and the Hedging Debt from time to time owing to the Finance Parties or any of them, whether actually or contingently and whether or not due and payable, under the Finance Documents or any of them.
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Security Agent means Standard Chartered Bank or any other person as may be appointed Security Agent under this Agreement.
Security Assignment means a first assignment of the Borrower’s rights in respect of Insurances and all benefits thereof (including the right to receive claims and to return of premiums), Builder’s Risks Insurances and all benefits thereof (including the right to receive claims and to return of premiums), Earnings and Requisition Compensation by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form.
Security Documents means:
(a) | the Original Security Documents; |
(b) | any Subordination Deed executed after the date of this Agreement; |
(c) | any other document as may after the date of this Agreement be executed by any Obligor, or by any other person if the Borrower has consented to such document being a Security Document to guarantee and/or secure any amounts owing to the Finance Parties under this Agreement or any other Security Document. |
Security Interest means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, assignment, trust, hypothecation or other security interest of any kind securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect.
Selection Notice means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 ( Selection Notice ) given in accordance with clause 11 ( interest Periods ).
Shareholder Agreement means the shareholders agreement dated 13 March 2013 made between the Singapore Shareholder and the Original Indonesian Shareholder in relation to the establishment and operation of the Borrower as may be amended, supplemented and/or replaced from time to time.
Shareholders means the Original Shareholders and any New Shareholder.
Shares Security means:
(a) | the Indonesian law pledge of shares ( gadai saham ) by each Shareholder (other than an Indonesian Shareholder) in favour of the Security Agent; and |
(b) | the Indonesian law deed of fiduciary security ( jaminan fidusia ) by each Indonesian Shareholder, |
each in the agreed form in respect of all of the shares in the Borrower owned by the relevant Shareholder.
Singapore Shareholder means H ö egh LNG Lampung Pte Ltd, a company incorporated in Singapore with its registered office at 4 Robinson Road, House of Eden #05-01, Singapore 048543 and any of its Affiliates which becomes a shareholder in the Borrower in accordance with the Finance Documents, in each case until it ceases to be a shareholder of the Borrower in accordance with the Finance Documents.
Site means the mooring site located approximately 16 kilometres offshore Lampung, South Sumatra, Indonesia, where the Vessel and the Mooring is stationed at the time of Final Acceptance as such site may be changed at the request of the Charterer in accordance with the Charter and with the prior approval of the Lenders (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
Specifications means the specifications of the Lampung FSRU, as defined in the Building Contract.
Spill means any actual spill, release or discharge of a Pollutant into the Environment.
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Sponsor means H ö egh LNG Ltd., a company incorporated in Bermuda with its registered office at Canon’s court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda.
Sponsor Funding means:
(a) | the amount of Project Costs paid by the Sponsor, the Guarantor, a Shareholder or any of their Affiliates (other than the Borrower), whether before or after incorporation of the Borrower; |
(b) | the amount of Project Costs paid by the Borrower which are funded by the Sponsor, the Borrower, the Guarantor, a Shareholder or any of their Affiliates other than from the proceeds of the Loans but in the case of receipts under the Charter only including any such Project Costs funded by the Mooring Purchase Price (which has not been included as Sponsor Funding under paragraph (a)) or part thereof or by payments made by the Charterer and which the Borrower is entitled to retain for its own account in relation to Alterations (as defined in the Charter) or variations or other changes under the Building Contract or Mooring Documents, having paid all costs required to implement such Alterations or such variations. |
Sponsor’s Assignment means a first assignment of the Sponsor’s rights and interest in and to the Umbrella Agreement and the Consortium Agreement by the Sponsor in favour of the Security Agent in the agreed form and which shall automatically be released upon the effective date of the novation of such Material Project Agreements to the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the Umbrella Novation Agreement and the Consortium Agreement Novation Agreement.
Subordinated Loan means any loan or loan stock made or, as the context may require to be made available by the Sponsor or a Shareholder or any of their Affiliates to the Borrower pursuant to a Subordinated Loan Agreement (and which is to be subordinated to the facility by way of a Subordination Deed from the first Utilisation Date or by no later than the third (3m) Business Day after the first Utilisation Date in the case of the Sponsor).
Subordinated Loan Agreement means any loan agreement made or to be made between the Sponsor or a Shareholder or any of their respective Affiliates and the Borrower in relation to the provision of a Subordinated Loan to the Borrower.
Subordination Deed means any deed of subordination in the agreed form executed or, as the context may require, to be executed by either the Sponsor or a Shareholder or any of their respective Affiliates in favour of the Security Agent on behalf of the Finance Parties together with all deeds of accession entered into or to be entered into pursuant thereto.
Subsidiary means, in relation to any company or corporation, a company or corporation:
(a) | which is controlled, directly or indirectly, by the first mentioned company or corporation; |
(b) | more than half the issued equity share capital of which is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the first mentioned company or corporation; or |
(c) | which is a Subsidiary of another Subsidiary of the first mentioned company or corporation, |
and for this purpose, a company or corporation shall be treated as being controlled by another if that other company or corporation is able to direct its affairs and/or to control the composition of its board of directors or equivalent body.
Supervision Agreement means the construction management agreement entered into between the Borrower and the Supervisor pursuant to which the Supervisor will on behalf of the Borrower supervise the performance of the Builder, Mooring EPC Contractor and Mooring Installation Contractor under the Building Contract, Mooring EPC Contract and Mooring Installation Contract.
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Supervisor means a company or group of companies within the Group as may be notified to the Facility Agent by the Borrower prior to the first Utilisation and as may be replaced by the Borrower with another company or group of companies within the Group following notice to the Facility Agent.
Supervisor Undertaking means an undertaking by the Supervisor to the Security Agent in the agreed form.
Tax means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same) however so arising, including in Indonesia whether or not in connection with the Borrower and Taxation shall be construed accordingly.
Tax Element means the fee payable by the Charterer to the Borrower pursuant to clause 12 of the Charter, calculated in accordance with sections 4.2 and 4.3 of Schedule 6 to the Charter.
Technical Adviser means Crandall Energy or any other technical consultant with experience of assets of the same type as the Vessel and the Mooring appointed by the Facility Agent on behalf of the Lenders, with the approval of the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed and, to the extent that the Borrower has not responded to the Facility Agent within 5 Business Days of delivery of its request, such approval shall be deemed to have been given) to carry out the Agreed Scope of Work.
Technical Services Agreement means an agreement between the Borrower and a Technical Services Provider pursuant to which the Borrower is provided with certain services and licensed intellectual property substantially following the terms set out in the applicable outline terms provided to the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement or as otherwise approved.
Technical Services Provider means a company or group of companies within the Group as may be notified to the Facility Agent by the Borrower or another appropriately qualified company approved by the Lenders or such other Approved Operator which has been appointed by the Borrower as the technical services provider in accordance with clause 24.4 ( Operation and Maintenance ) of this Agreement.
Term means each period determined under this Agreement for which the issuing Bank is under a liability under the Letter of Credit.
Term Facilities means the K-sure Facility and the Commercial Facility and Term Facility means either of them.
Termination Acquisition Notice is as defined in the Charter.
Termination Date means the earliest to occur of:
(a) | the Total Loss Date; |
(b) | the date that the Total Commitments are cancelled pursuant to clause 31.30 ( Acceleration ); |
(c) | the date on which the Total Commitments are reduced to zero pursuant to clause 9.3 ( Right of cancellation and prepayment in relation to a single Lender ) applying to all Lenders; |
(d) | the date on which the Total Commitments are reduced to zero and/or cancelled pursuant to clause 9.6 ( Change of Control ), 9.7 ( Sale of Vessel ), 9.8 ( Charter and Charter Guarantee ), 9.9 ( PGN L/C ) and 9.10 ( K-sure Policy ). |
Termination Fee means any amount payable to the Borrower by the Charterer under the charter upon termination of the Charter including the Vessel FM Termination Amount, the Non-Vessel FM Termination Amount, the Owner Breach Termination Amount, the Charterer Breach Termination Amount and the Acquisition Price as each such term is defined in Schedule 15 of the Charter.
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Total Assets means the total book value of all the assets of the Group which would, in accordance with IFRS, be classified as assets of the Group (excluding the marked to market value of any derivative transactions).
Total Charter Rate means the aggregate of the Capital Element, the Operating and Maintenance Element and Tax Element.
Total Commitments means, in relation to a Facility or a Tranche, at any time the aggregate of the Commitments under that Facility or Tranche.
Total Loss means, in relation to the Lampung FSRU, its:
(a) | actual, constructive, compromised or arranged total loss; or |
(b) | requisition for title, confiscation, expropriation, nationalisation, seizure or other compulsory acquisition by a government entity; or |
(c) | hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest or detention for more than 30 days. |
Total Loss Date means:
(a) | in the case of an actual total loss, the date it happened or, if such date is not known, the date on which the Lampung FSRU was last reported; |
(b) | in the case of a constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss, the earliest of: |
(i) | the date notice of abandonment of the Lampung FSRU is given to its insurers by the Borrower; or |
(ii) | if the insurers do not admit such a claim, the date later determined by a competent court of law to have been the date on which the total loss happened; or |
(iii) | the date upon which a binding agreement as to such compromised or arranged total loss has been entered into by the relevant insurers; |
(c) | in the case of a requisition for title, confiscation or compulsory acquisition, the date it happened; and |
(d) | in the case of hijacking, theft, condemnation, capture, seizure, arrest or detention, the date 30 days after the date upon which it happened. |
Total Loss Proceeds means the proceeds of any policy or contract of insurance or reinsurance arising in respect of any Total Loss or any Requisition Compensation received in respect of a Compulsory Acquisition.
Total Loss Repayment Date means where the Lampung FSRU has become a Total Loss the earlier of:
(a) | the date 180 days after its Total Loss Date; and |
(b) | the date upon which the Total Loss Proceeds are paid by insurers or the relevant government entity. |
Tranche means either the FSRU Tranche or the Mooring Tranche and Tranches means both of them.
Transaction means any transaction entered into pursuant to the Hedging Contracts.
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Transaction Documents means the Finance Documents and the Material Project Agreements, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
Transfer Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7 ( Form of Transfer Certificate ) or any other form agreed between the Facility Agent and the Borrower.
Transfer Date means, in relation to a transfer, the later of:
(a) | the proposed Transfer Date specified in the Transfer Certificate; and |
(b) | the date on which the Facility Agent executes the Transfer Certificate. |
Treasury Transaction means any derivative or hedging transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (including, without limitation, any Transaction).
Trust Property means, collectively:
(a) | all moneys duly received by the Security Agent under or in respect of the Finance Documents; |
(b) | any portion of the balance on any Project Account (other than the Distribution Account) held by or charged to the Security Agent at any time; |
(c) | the Security Interests, guarantees, security, powers and rights given to the Security Agent under and pursuant to the Finance Documents including, without limitation, the covenants given to the Security Agent in respect of all obligations of any Obligor; |
(d) | all assets paid or transferred to or vested in the Security Agent or its agent or received or recovered by the Security Agent or its agent in connection with any of the Finance Documents whether from any Obligor or any other person; and |
(e) | all or any part of any rights, benefits, interests and other assets at any time representing or deriving from any of the above, including all income and other sums at any time received or receivable by the Security Agent or its agent in respect of the same (or any part thereof). |
Umbrella Agreement means the amended and restated contract dated 17 October 2012 setting out, inter alia , the joint and several liability of the Sponsor and the EPCIC Contractor for delay liquidated damages under the Charter and the EPCIC Agreement (the Original Umbrella Agreement ) made between the Sponsor, the EPCIC Contractor and the Charterer as novated or to be novated to the Borrower pursuant to the Umbrella Novation Agreement.
Umbrella Novation Agreement means a novation agreement to be made between the Borrower, the Sponsor, the EPCIC Contractor and the Charterer, pursuant to which the rights and obligations of the Sponsor under the Original Umbrella Agreement are novated in favour of the Borrower.
Unpaid Sum means any sum due and payable but unpaid by an Obligor under the Finance Documents,
US Tax Obligor means:
(a) | a Borrower which is resident for tax purposes in the United States of America; or |
(b) | a Facility Obligor some or all of whose payments under the Finance Documents are from sources within the United States for US federal income tax purposes. |
Utilisation means the making of a Loan or a Letter of Credit.
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Utilisation Date means the date on which a Utilisation is made, being a Business Day falling not later than the applicable Last Availability Date.
Utilisation Request means a notice substantially in the form set out in the form set out in Part 1 (for a Loan) or Part 2 (for a Letter of Credit) of Schedule 4 ( Utilisation Requests ) or any other form agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders).
Vessel means the FSRU referred to as the “FSRU” in the Charter, as further described in Schedule 2 ( Vessel information ) with Hull Number 2548 and, to be named “PGN FSRU Lampung” and registered with the Flag State in the name of the Borrower and where the context so permits includes any share or interest of the Borrower in it and its engines, machinery, boats, tackle, outfit, equipment, derricks, tools, cranes, rigging, pumps and pumping equipment, tubing, casing, spare gear, fuel, consumable or other stores, belongings, appurtenances and all fittings and equipment of the Vessel whether on board or ashore and whether now owned or later acquired by the Borrower (including, without limitation, all radio equipment and also any and all additions, improvements and replacements made in or to such vessel or any part of it or in or to its equipment and appurtenances but excluding, the Mooring and where applicable, all LNG stored in the Vessel, rented equipment and any other equipment installed on or used on the Vessel which is owned by the Charterer) in each case which are the property of the Borrower pursuant to the Charter or any other Project Agreement or become installed on the Vessel thereafter and which are the property of the Borrower or which, having been removed therefrom, remain the property of the Borrower, together with any and all replacements and renewals thereof and substitutions therefor from time to time made in accordance with the Project Agreements and which are the property of the Borrower and, where the context permits, Vessel shall include the Manuals and Technical Records in respect of the Vessel.
Vessel and Mooring Specifications means the specifications and performance criteria of the Lampung FSRU and the Mooring required by the Charter, as set out in schedules 1 and 2 to the Charter.
Vessel FM is as defined in the Charter.
Vessel FM Termination Amount means the fee payable by the Charterer to the Borrower pursuant to clause 26.4(a)(i) of the Charter, calculated in accordance with section 2 of Part A of Schedule 15 to the Charter.
Vessel Purchase Option Price means the amount in respect of the purchase price of the Lampung FSRU calculated in accordance with the Charter and payable by the Charterer upon the exercise of the Charterer’s Purchase Option.
Vessel Representations means each of the representations and warranties set out in clauses 19.22 ( Vessel status ) and 19.23 ( Earnings ).
Vessel Rights means all rights, including without prejudice to the foregoing, the benefit of all warranties and indemnities to which the Borrower is from time to time entitled from any builder (including the Builder and the Mooring EPC Contractor), manufacturer, sub-contractor, supplier or repairer in respect of the manufacture, supply, condition, design, conversion, construction, installation or operation of the Vessel and/or the Mooring or any part thereof and any liquidated damages payable to the Borrower from time to time under any of the Building Contract Documents and/or the Mooring Documents.
Works means the design, development and construction of the Project and any other works contemplated by the Building Contract Documents and/or the Mooring Documents and/or the Charter Documents.
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1.2 | Construction |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in any of the Finance Documents to: |
(i) | Sections, clauses and Schedules are to be construed as references to the Sections and clauses of, and the Schedules to, the relevant Finance Document and references to a Finance Document include its Schedules; |
(ii) | a Finance Document or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as it may from time to time be amended, restated, novated or replaced, however fundamentally; |
(iii) | words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa; |
(iv) | a time of day are to London time unless otherwise specified; |
(v) | any person includes its successors in title, permitted assignees or transferees; |
(vi) | the knowledge, awareness and/or beliefs (and similar expressions) of any Obligor shall be construed so as to mean the knowledge, awareness and beliefs of the director and officers of such Obligor, having made due and careful enquiry; |
(vii) | agreed form means: |
(A) | where a Finance Document has already been executed by the Facility Agent or the Security Agent, such Finance Document in its executed form; |
(B) | prior to the execution of a Finance Document, the form of such Finance Document separately agreed in writing between the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) and the Borrower as the form in which that Finance Document is to be executed or another form approved at the request of the Borrower; |
(viii) | approved by the Majority Lenders or approved by the Lenders means approved in writing by the Facility Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders or, as the case may be, the Lenders (on such conditions as they may respectively require and which are agreed by the Borrower) and otherwise approved means approved in writing by the Facility Agent (on such conditions as the Facility Agent may require and which are agreed by the Borrower) and approval and approve shall be construed accordingly; |
(ix) | assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description; |
(x) | an authorisation means any authorisation, consent, concession, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration; |
(xi) | charter commitment means, in relation to a vessel, any charter or contract for the use, employment or operation of that vessel or the carriage of people and/or cargo or the provision of services by or from it and includes any agreement for pooling or sharing income derived from any such charter or contract; |
(xii) | having management control of the Borrower or the MLP means: |
(A) | in the case of the MLP, the general partner of the MLP is a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Guarantor and either (x) in the event the general partner of the MLP is a member-managed limited liability company, the Guarantor or one of its wholly owned Subsidiaries is the managing member or (y) in the event the general partner of the MLP is a manager-managed limited liability company, the Guarantor has, directly or indirectly, the power to appoint or remove the members of the board of managers of the general partner of the MLP and the Guarantor shall be deemed to have management control of the MLP if the foregoing apply; or |
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(B) | in the case of the Borrower, the direct or indirect power to appoint or remove the president director or the president commissioner or the majority of the directors or the majority of the commissioners of the Borrower, |
and for the purposes of this provision power means the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, units or partnership interests, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise and/or through arrangements set out in the Shareholders Agreement and the Borrower’s articles of association or, as the case may be, the relevant limited partnership agreement);
(xiii) | the term disposal or dispose means a sale, transfer or other disposal (including by way of lease or loan but not including by way of loan of money) by a person of all or part of its assets, whether by one transaction or a series of transactions and whether at the same time or over a period of time, but not the creation of a Security Interest; |
(xiv) | doIlar / $ means the lawful currency of the United States of America; |
(xv) | the equivalent of an amount specified in a particular currency (the specified currency amount ) shall, unless otherwise expressly stated, be construed as a reference to the amount of the other relevant currency which can be purchased with the specified currency amount in the London foreign exchange market at or about 11 am. on the date the calculation falls to be made (or if not a Business Day the immediately preceding Business Day) for spot delivery at the Facility Agent’s (including for the purposes of 1.2(b)) or, as the context may require, the Account Bank’s spot rate of exchange and the Facility Agent’s or, as the case may be, the Account Bank’s determination of any such equivalent shall be conclusive absent manifest error; |
(xvi) | a government entity means any government, state or agency of a state; |
(xvii) | a guarantee means any guarantee, letter of credit, bond, indemnity or similar assurance against loss, or any obligation, direct or indirect, actual or contingent, to purchase or assume any indebtedness of any person or to make an investment in or loan to any person or to purchase assets of any person where, in each case, such obligation is assumed in order to maintain or assist the ability of such person to meet its indebtedness; |
(xviii) | indebtedness includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent; |
(xix) | month means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month or the calendar month in which it is to end, except that: |
(A) | if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, that period shall end on the next Business Day in that month (if there is one) or on the immediately preceding Business Day (if there is not); and |
(B) | if there is no numerically corresponding day in that month, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that month |
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and the above rules in paragraphs (A) to (B) will only apply to the last month of any period;
(xx) | an obligation means any duty, obligation or liability of any kind; |
(xxi) | something being in the ordinary course of business of a person means something that is in the ordinary course of that person’s then applicable business and operations which, in the case of the Borrower, is the Project (and not merely anything which that person is entitled to do under its Constitutional Documents); |
(xxii) | pay, prepay or repay in clause 29 ( Business restrictions ) includes by way of set-off, combination of accounts or otherwise; |
(xxiii) | a person includes any individual, firm, company, corporation, government entity or any association, trust, joint venture, consortium or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality); |
(xxiv) | a regulation includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law, but if not having the force of law, which is generally complied with in the ordinary course of business of the party concerned or by those to which it is addressed) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation and includes (without limitation) any Basel 2 Regulation or Basel 3 Regulation; |
(xxv) | right means any right, privilege, power or remedy, any proprietary interest in any asset and any other interest or remedy of any kind, whether actual or contingent, present or future, arising under contract or law, or in equity; |
(xxvi) | rupiah means the lawful currency of Indonesia; |
(xxvii) | agent , trustee , fiduciary and fiduciary duty has in each case the meaning given to such term under applicable law; |
(xxviii) | (i) the winding up , dissolution , or administration of person or (ii) a receiver or administrative receiver or administrator in the context of insolvency proceedings or security enforcement actions in respect of a person shall be construed so as to include any equivalent or analogous proceedings or any equivalent and analogous person or appointee (respectively) under the law of the jurisdiction in which such person is established or incorporated or any jurisdiction in which such person carries on business including (in respect of proceedings) the seeking or occurrences of liquidation, winding-up, reorganisation, dissolution, administration, arrangement, adjustment, protection or relief of debtors; |
(xxix) | refinancing and reimbursing any payment or funding made by the Sponsor and/or a Shareholder and/or any of their Affiliates includes the Borrower making a payment or repayment pursuant to a Subordinated Loan Agreement or Promissory Note in an amount not exceeding such payment or funding; and |
(xxx) | a provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted. |
(b) | Where in this Agreement a provision includes a monetary reference level in one currency, unless a contrary indication appears, such reference level is intended to apply equally to its equivalent in other currencies as of the relevant time for the purposes of applying such reference level to any other currencies. |
(c) | Section, clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
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(d) | 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. |
(e) | A Default or an Event of Default is continuing if it has not been remedied or waived. |
1.3 | Third party rights |
(a) | Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document for the benefit of a Finance Party or another Indemnified Person, a person (other than K-sure to the extent provided for under clause 1.6 ( K-sure )) who is not a party to a Finance Document has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the Third Parties Act ) to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of the relevant Finance Document. |
(b) | Any Finance Document may be rescinded or varied by the parties to it without the consent of any person who is not a party to it (unless otherwise provided by this Agreement). |
(c) | An Indemnified Person who is not a party to a Finance Document may only enforce its rights under that Finance Document through the Finance Party in relation to which it is an Indemnified Person and if and to the extent and in such manner as the Finance Party may determine. |
1.4 | Finance Documents |
Where any other Finance Document provides that this clause 1.4 shall apply to that Finance Document, any other provision of this Agreement which, by its terms, purports to apply to all or any of the Finance Documents and/or any Obligor shall apply to that Finance Document as if set out in it but with all necessary changes.
1.5 | Conflict of documents |
The terms of the Finance Documents (other than as relates to the creation and/or perfection of security) are subject to the terms of this Agreement and, in the event of any conflict between any provision of this Agreement and any provision of any Finance Document (other than in relation to the creation and/or perfection of security) the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.
1.6 | K-sure |
Each Party agrees that:
(a) | K-sure shall not have any obligations or liabilities under this Agreement unless it has become a Lender; |
(b) | K-sure shall be a third party beneficiary of the rights expressed to be for its benefit or exercisable by it under this Agreement; and |
(c) | This Agreement may not be amended to limit, modify or eliminate any rights of K-sure without its prior written consent. |
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Section 2 - The Facilities
2 | The Facilities |
2.1 | The Facilities |
(a) | Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrower: |
(i) | the Commercial Facility in two (2) Trenches (comprising of the FSRU Tranche and the Mooring Tranche) and in an aggregate amount up to the Commercial Facility Limit (as adjusted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement); |
(ii) | the K-sure Facility in an aggregate amount up to the K-sure Facility Limit (as adjusted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement); and |
(iii) | the LC Facility in an aggregate amount up to the LC Facility Limit (as adjusted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement). |
(b) | The obligation of each Commercial Lender under this Agreement shall be to contribute that proportion of each Commercial Loan of each Tranche which, as at the Utilisation Date for that Commercial Loan, its Commitment in respect of that Tranche bears to the Total Commitments in respect of that Tranche. |
(c) | The obligation of each K-sure Lender under this Agreement shall be to contribute that proportion of each K-sure Loan which, as at the Utilisation Date for each K-sure Loan, its Commitment in respect of the K-sure Facility bears to the Total Commitments in respect of the K-sure Facility. |
(d) | The obligation of each LC Lender under this Agreement shall be to assume liability for that proportion of the LC Amount or, as applicable, to reimburse to the Issuing Bank that proportion of each Due Amount which, in each case, its Commitment in respect of the LC Facility hears to the Total Commitments in respect of the LC Facility immediately before the Letter of Credit is issued (as adjusted to reflect any transfer of such Commitment after the date of its issue) and no LC Lender shall be obliged to assume liability for and/or reimburse anything in excess of that proportion. |
2.2 | Increase |
The Borrower may by giving prior notice to the Facility Agent by no later than the date falling ten (10) Business Days after the effective date of a cancellation of:
(a) | the undrawn Commitment of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with clause 9.5 ( Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender ); or |
(b) | the Commitment of a Lender in accordance with: |
(i) | clause 9.1 ( Illegality ); or |
(ii) | clause 9.3 ( Right of cancellation and prepayment in relation to a single Lender ), |
request that the Commitments be increased (and the Commitments shall be so increased) in an aggregate amount of up to the amount of the Commitment so cancelled as follows:
(A) | the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks, financial institutions, trusts, funds or other entities (each an Increase Lender ) selected by the Borrower (each of which shall not be a Group member) and acceptable to K-sure in case such Commitment relates to the K-sure Facility and each of which confirms in writing (whether in the relevant Increase Confirmation or otherwise) its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender); |
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(B) | the Borrower and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Borrower and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender; |
(C) | each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a ‘‘Lender” and any Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another as that Increase Lender and those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender; |
(D) | the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and |
(E) | any increase in the Commitments shall take effect on the date specified by the Borrower in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in clause 2.3 are satisfied. |
2.3 | An increase in the Commitments will only be effective on: |
(a) | the execution by the Facility Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Increase Lender; and |
(b) | in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase, the Facility Agent being satisfied that it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase Lender. The Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the increase Lender upon being so satisfied. |
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2.4 | Each of the other Finance Parties and the Borrower hereby appoints the Facility Agent as its agent to execute on its behalf any Increase Confirmation delivered to the Facility Agent in accordance with clauses 2.2 and 2.3. |
2.5 | Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the avoidance of doubt) that the Facility Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the increase becomes effective. |
2.6 | The Borrower shall, promptly on demand, pay the Facility Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection with arty increase in Commitments under clause 2.2. |
2.7 | The Increase Lender shall, on the date upon which the increase takes effect, pay to the Facility Agent (for its own account) a fee in an amount equal to the fee which would be payable under clause 33.3 ( Fee ) if the increase was a transfer pursuant to clause 33.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) and if the Increase Lender was a New Lender. |
2.8 | The Borrower may pay to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between the Borrower and the Increase Lender in a letter between the Borrower and the Increase Lender setting out that fee. A reference in this Agreement to a Fee Letter shall include any letter referred to in this clause 2.8. |
2.9 | Clause 33.4 ( Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders ) shall apply mutatis mutandis in clause 2.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that clause to: |
(a) | an Existing Lender were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase; |
(b) | the New Lender were references to that Increase Lender; and |
(c) | a re-assignment or re-transfer were references to an assignment or transfer. |
2.10 | 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 an Obligor shall be a separate and independent debt. |
(c) | A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents (including clauses 37.26 ( All enforcement action through the Security Agent )) and 38.2 ( Finance Parties acting together ), separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents. |
2.11 | K-sure override |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall oblige any Finance Party to act (or omit to act) in a manner that is inconsistent with the terms of the K-sure Policy, in particular:
(a) | the Security Agent and each Agent shall be authorized to take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the terms of the K-sure Policy are complied with; and |
(b) | no Finance Party shall be obliged to do anything if to do so results or is reasonably likely to result in a breach of any term or affect the validity of the K-sure Policy. |
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2.12 | Each Lender agrees that the Facility Agent, to the extent that such Lender’s participation in a Loan is guaranteed or insured by K-sure under the K-sure Policy, will accept (for the purposes of Majority Lender or all Lender decisions or instructions) the decision or instruction of K-sure as advised to the Facility Agent by the K-sure Agent or K-sure and the decision or instruction of that Lender will be accepted only to the extent that such Lender’s participation in a Loan is not guaranteed or insured by K-sure under the K-sure Policy. |
2.13 | Each Finance Party will cooperate with the Agents and each other Finance Party, and take such actions and/or refrain from taking such actions as may be reasonably necessary, to ensure that the K-sure Policy continues in full force and effect. |
2.14 | The K-sure Agent shall provide the Borrower with a copy of the K-sure Policy promptly following its issue and the K-sure Agent and the K-sure Lenders shall not make or consent to any material amendment to the K-sure Policy without the prior written consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). |
2.15 | In the event of conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the K-sure Policy as between the K-sure Lenders and K-sure the terms of the K-sure Policy shall prevail. |
3 | Purpose |
3.1 | Purpose |
The Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed under the Facilities in accordance with this clause 3.
3.2 | Use |
(a) | The FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility shall be made available to the Borrower solely to finance (or to refinance or reimburse any payments or funding made by the Sponsor and/or the Shareholders and/or any of their Affiliates in respect of) Project Costs (including the Contract Price) and the K-sure Premium (except Project Costs to be funded by the Mooring Tranche). |
(b) | The Mooring Tranche shall be made available solely for the purposes of funding Project Costs in relation to the Mooring and the Mooring Tranche. |
(c) | Subject to the terms of the K-sure Policy, the K-sure Facility shall be made available to the Borrower solely for the purpose of financing (or refinancing or reimbursing any funding made by the Sponsors and/or the Shareholders and/or any of their Affiliates in respect of) the Contract Price. For the avoidance of doubt, the K-sure Facility shall not be used to fund the payment of the K-sure Premium or any Interest During Construction. |
(d) | The LC Facility shall be made available to the Borrower for the purpose of issuing a Letter of Credit in favour of the LC Beneficiary in accordance with clause 27.1 of the Charter. |
3.3 | Monitoring |
No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement.
4 | Conditions of Utilisation |
4.1 | Initial conditions precedent |
The Borrower may not deliver a Utilisation Request unless the Facility Agent, or its duly authorised representative, has received, or is satisfied that it will receive on the relevant Utilisation Date, all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 3 ( Initial conditions precedent ) in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent.
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4.2 | Conditions precedent to Utilisation on Delivery |
(a) | The Borrower may not deliver a Utilisation Request in respect of the Delivery Instalment unless the Facility Agent, or its duly authorised representative, has received all of the documents and evidence listed in Part 2A of Schedule 3 ( Conditions precedent to Utilisation on Delivery ) in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent. |
(b) | The Utilisation in respect of the Delivery Instalment shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of clause 28.6 ( Onshore Delivery Account ) and the Building Contract and released to the Builder when the Facility Agent, or its duly authorised representative, receives the evidence listed in Part 2B of Schedule 3 ( Conditions precedent to Release of Delivery Instalment ) in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent. |
4.3 | Conditions subsequent |
The Borrower shall provide to the Facility Agent or its duly authorised representative the documents and evidence listed in Part 3 of Schedule 3 ( Conditions subsequent ) in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders (acting reasonably) prior to the applicable date specified that Schedule.
4.4 | Notice to Lenders |
The Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon receiving and being satisfied with all of the documents and evidence delivered to it under this clause 4.
4.5 | Further conditions precedent |
(a) | The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with clause 5.4 ( K-sure Lenders’ participation ) and/or 5.5 ( Commercial Lenders’ participation ) if on the date of a Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date: |
(i) | no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Utilisation; |
(ii) | no breach or default has occurred and is continuing under any of the Project Agreements or the Shareholders Agreement or the EPCIC Contract which has or might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, save for any breach or default previously notified to and accepted by the Facility Agent in writing; |
(iii) | the Repeating Representations and, in relation to the first Utilisation, all of the other representations set out in clause 19 ( Representations ) (other than the Vessel Representations), are true in all material respects; and |
(iv) | in relation to each Utilisation during the Mortgage Period, the Vessel Representations are true in all material respects; and |
(v) | the Borrower has certified in the relevant Utilisation Request: |
(A) | that there is no forecast shortfall in funding in excess of $5,000,000 to achieve Delivery by the Last Availability Date and Final Acceptance by the earlier of (i) the Cancellation Date and (ii) 18 March 2015; and |
(B) | that there is no forecast delay in achieving Delivery and/or Final Acceptance on or prior to such dates, respectively; and |
(C) | the extent of any forecast Cost Overrun. |
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(vi) | at the time the Technical Adviser delivered its latest report to the Facility Agent, the Technical Adviser did not confirm in writing to the Facility Agent that there is a funding shortfall or forecast delay referred to in paragraph (v) above or, if the Technical Advisor did confirm in writing to the Facility Agent that there is such a funding shortfall or forecast delay (and provided that the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of the existence of any such notice), the Technical Advisor has since confirmed in writing to the Facility Agent that any such funding shortfall or forecast delay has been determined pursuant to clause 24.10(f) to not apply or the Borrower has provided evidence satisfactory to the Facility Agent and the Technical Adviser that such funding shortfall or forecast delay no longer applies; |
(vii) | the Borrower provides together with each Utilisation Request, invoices or other reasonable supporting documents (in form satisfactory to Facility Agent) relating to the Project Costs in respect of which payment and/or reimbursement is sought through the relevant Utilisation provided that the Borrower shall not be required to provide for any Utilisation copies of any invoices (or other supporting documentation other than a summary of such Project Costs so that for each Utilisation the amounts set out in the summary and the relevant invoices shall equal the amount of the proposed Utilisation) in respect of any payment or reimbursement of an amount in respect of Project Costs (or an item or part thereof), other than amounts payable under the Building Contract, the Mooring EPC Contact and/or the Mooring Installation Contract, which is less than $325,000; and |
(viii) | the Sponsor Funding is not less than $104,000,000 and the ratio of the aggregate Loans (excluding any LC Loans) outstanding as at the proposed Utilisation Date (following the proposed Utilisation) and any Available Commitments (excluding in relation to the LC Facility) as at the proposed Utilisation Date (following the proposed Utilisation) to Sponsor Funding would not exceed 3:1. |
(b) | The K-sure Lenders shall not be obliged to comply with their obligations under clause 5.4 ( K-sure Lenders’ participation ) if (i) K-sure has declared in writing that further disbursements under this Agreement will not be covered by the K-sure Policy, (ii) K-sure has not requested the K-sure Lenders to suspend the making of the Loan in accordance with the K-sure Policy and/or the Lenders are required by any term of the K-sure Policy to suspend the making of the Loan and (iii) an occurrence, event or circumstance exists which prohibits any of the K-sure Lenders from participating in the Loan pursuant to the terms of the K-sure Policy. The K-sure Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of any such declaration. |
4.6 | Waiver of conditions precedent and conditions subsequent |
The conditions in this clause 4 are inserted solely for the benefit of the Finance Parties and may be waived on their behalf in whole or in part and with (provided agreed by the Borrower) or without conditions by the Facility Agent acting on the instructions of the Lenders.
Section 3 - UTILISATION
5 | Utilisation of Term Facility |
5.1 | Delivery of a Utilisation Request for a Term Facility |
The Borrower may utilise a Term Facility by delivery to the Facility Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than 11:00 a.m. five (5) Business Days before the proposed Utilisation Date for a Loan or such shorter period as the Facility Agent (in consultation with the relevant Lenders) may agree.
5.2 | Completion of a Utilisation Request for a Term Facility |
(a) | Each Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless: |
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(i) | it identifies the Facility to be utilised and, in the case of the Commercial Facility, the Tranche to be utilised; |
(ii) | the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day falling not later than the Last Availability Date applicable to that Facility and/or, if applicable, Tranche; |
(iii) | the currency and amount of the Utilisation comply with clause 5.3 ( Currency and amount ); |
(iv) | the proposed first Interest Period complies with clause 11 ( Interest Periods ); and |
(v) | it identifies (i) the purpose for the Utilisation and that purpose complies with clause 3 ( Purpose ) and (ii) the account into which the Utilisation is to be paid; |
(vi) | it includes a statement from the Borrower confirming: |
(A) | there is no forecast shortfall in funding in excess of $5,000,000 to achieve Delivery by the Last Availability Date and Final Acceptance by the earlier of (i) the Cancellation Date and (ii) 18 March 2015; |
(B) | there is no forecast delay in achieving Delivery and/or Final Acceptance on or prior to such dates, respectively; and |
(C) | the extent of any such forecast Cost Overrun. |
(b) | No Utilisation Request shall request Utilisation of more than one Facility. |
(c) | The frequency of Utilisation Requests shall be limited across all Facilities to two (2) Business Days in any one (1) month. |
5.3 | Currency and amount |
The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be dollars and the aggregate amount of the proposed Utilisations on any day must be a minimum of $2,500,000 (or if less, the applicable Available Facilities).
5.4 | K-sure Lenders’ participation |
(a) | If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each K-sure Lender shall make its participation in each K-sure Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office. |
(b) | The amount of each K-sure Lender’s participation in a K-sure Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its K-sure Facility Commitment to the Total Commitments for the K-sure Facility immediately prior to making a K-sure Loan. |
(c) | The Facility Agent shall promptly notify each K-sure Lender and the K-sure Agent of the amount of a K-sure Loan and the amount of its participation in a K-sure Loan. |
(d) | The Facility Agent shall pay all amounts received by it in respect of each K-sure Loan (and its own participation in it, if any) to the Borrower or for its account in accordance with the instructions contained in the Utilisation Request. |
5.5 | Commercial Lenders’ participation |
(a) | If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Commercial Lender shall make its participation in each Commercial Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office. |
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(b) | The amount of each Commercial Lender’s participation in a Commercial Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its Commercial Facility Commitment to the Total Commitments for the Commercial Facility immediately prior to making a Commercial Loan. |
(c) | The Facility Agent shall promptly notify each Commercial Lender of the amount of a Commercial Loan and the amount of its participation in a Commercial Loan. |
(d) | The Facility Agent shall pay all amounts received by it in respect of each Commercial Loan (and its own participation in it, if any) to the Borrower or for its account in accordance with the instructions contained in the Utilisation Request. |
5.6 | Loans |
(a) | The aggregate of all FSRU Tranche Loans shall not exceed the FSRU Tranche Limit. |
(b) | The aggregate of all FSRU Tranche Loans and the Mooring Tranche Loan shall not exceed the Commercial Facility Limit. |
(c) | The aggregate of all K-sure Loans shall not exceed the K-sure Facility Limit. |
(d) | In relation to each Loan (other than any LC Loan), the amount of such Loan shall not, when aggregated with all Loans (other than any LC Loan) drawn down or to be drawdown as at the date of such Utilisation Request, exceed seventy five per cent (75%) of the aggregate Project Costs paid or incurred as at the Utilisation Date relating to that Loan. |
5.7 | Sponsor Funding |
(a) | The Borrower shall be entitled to apply the proceeds of the first Utilisation of the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility to reimburse the Sponsor, the Singapore Shareholder and/or any of their Affiliates up to an amount of the Excess Sponsor Funding and such amount of the first Utilisation of the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility may be transferred into the Distribution Account for such purpose. |
(b) | If the ratio of Loans (other than LC Loans) outstanding under the Facilities to Sponsor Funding (less any amounts repaid under the Facilities) is equal to or less than 3:1, then the Borrower will not be required to procure additional Sponsor Funding as a condition precedent to a Utilisation. |
(c) | If, on the later of, (i) the Last Availability Date for the L/C Facility and (ii) the date on which the Available Commitments for all the Facilities are zero, any LC Loan remains outstanding, then the Borrower must ensure that within ten (10) Business Days of such date the ratio of Sponsor Funding to Loans outstanding on that date under the Facilities must be 1:3 by if necessary to achieve such ratios, procuring additional Sponsor Funding to either part-prepay one or more Facilities (where there is no forecast or actual increase in Project Costs) or to finance additional Project Costs (to the extent that there is a forecast or actual increase in Project Costs to achieve Final Acceptance) to ensure the Borrower complies with this clause 5.7(c). |
(d) | if, during the period commencing one (1) month after the Final Acceptance Date up to and including the Last Availability Date for the FSRU Tranche, the ratio of Sponsor Funding to Loans outstanding is more than 1:3, the Borrower shall be entitled to apply the proceeds of a Utilisation of the FSRU Tranche to reimburse the Sponsor, Singapore Shareholders and/or any of their Affiliates up to an amount that ensures the ratio of the Sponsor Funding to the outstanding Loans is not less than 1:3 and such Utilisation may be transferred into the Distribution Account for such purpose. |
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6 | Utilisation of LC Facility |
6.1 | Delivery of a Utilisation Request for Letter of Credit |
The Borrower may request a Letter of Credit to be issued on its behalf, by delivery to the Facility Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request and any additional document that the Issuing Bank may request the Borrower to complete as per its normal banking practice not later than 11:00am, five (5) Business Days prior to the proposed Utilisation Date.
6.2 | Completion of a Utilisation Request for Letter of Credit |
Each Utilisation Request for a Letter of Credit is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:
(a) | it specifies that it is for the Letter of Credit; |
(b) | it identifies that it is on the Borrower’s behalf; |
(c) | the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day falling not later than the Last Availability Date applicable to the LC Facility; |
(d) | the currency specified is dollars and the amount of the proposed Letter of Credit is an amount not exceeding the Available Facility applicable to the LC Facility; |
(e) | the delivery instructions for the Letter of Credit are specified; and |
(f) | the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit is the LC Beneficiary. |
6.3 | Availability |
Any amount of the Total Commitments in respect of the LC Facility not utilised by the Last Availability Date applicable to the LC Facility shall automatically be cancelled at close of business in Singapore on such date. Not more than one (1) Letter of Credit may be outstanding at any one time.
6.4 | Lenders’ participation - Letter of Credit |
Upon receipt of a Utilisation Request for a Letter of Credit, the Facility Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of the requested Letter of Credit and the amount of each Lender’s participation in the Letter of Credit.
6.5 | Issue of Letter of Credit |
(a) | Upon receipt of a Utilisation Request for a Letter of Credit complying with the terms of this Agreement, the Facility Agent shall promptly send to each Lender and the Issuing Bank a copy of that Utilisation Request. |
(b) | It shall be a condition to the issue of the Letter of Credit requested in a Utilisation Request that the form of that Letter of Credit, if different from the form set out in Schedule 12, shall have been approved by the Facility Agent and the Issuing Bank and that the LC Termination Date for that Letter of Credit shall not fall later than 18 March 2015. |
(c) | The Facility Agent and the Issuing Bank shall review the form of Letter of Credit requested by the Borrower (if different from the form set out in Schedule 12) and shall, as soon as practicable and, in any event, by no later than the date falling three (3) Business Days before the date on which the Letter of Credit is to be issued (as specified in the Utilisation Request), notify the Borrower whether it approves the Letter of Credit (if different from the form set out in Schedule 12 or not complying with the provisions of this clause 6). |
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(d) | Subject to the provisions of this clause 6 and the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuing Bank shall, on the date specified in the applicable Utilisation Request, issue the Letter of Credit so requested in that Utilisation Request (in an amount up to the Available Commitment in respect of the LC Facility, as specified in that Utilisation Request) by delivery thereof to the LC Beneficiary (and each of the LC Lenders, the Facility Agent and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally authorises and instructs the Issuing Bank to do so). Promptly following the issue of the Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall provide to the Facility Agent and the Borrower, and the Facility Agent shall provide to each of the LC Lenders, a copy of the executed version thereof. The Issuing Bank shall not agree to any amendment to a Letter of Credit without the prior written consent of the Borrower. The Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of any such amendment. The Issuing Bank shall take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Borrower to ensure that on a novation of the Charter by the Charterer permitted under this Agreement any Letter of Credit is amended, re-issued or transferred, such that the Charterer following such novation is the beneficiary under that Letter of Credit. All pre-agreed costs incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with such novation shall be borne by the Borrower. |
6.6 | Extension of the Letter of Credit |
(a) | If any Letter of Credit is issued for a period of 12 months or less, the Borrower may request that any such Letter of Credit be extended for successive periods of up to 12 months ending no later than 18 March 2015 by delivery to the Facility Agent of an Extension Request in substantially similar form to a Utilisation Request for the Letter of Credit. |
(b) | The Finance Parties shall treat any Extension Request in the same way as a Utilisation Request for the Letter of Credit. |
(c) | The terms of each extended Letter of Credit shall be the same as those of the relevant Letter of Credit immediately prior to its renewal, except that: |
(i) | its amount may be less than the amount of the Letter of Credit immediately prior to its extension; |
(ii) | its Term shall start on the date which was the LC Termination Date of the Letter of Credit immediately prior to its extension and shall end on the proposed LC Termination Date specified in the Extension Request; and |
(iii) | if the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, the Issuing Bank shall amend and re-issue/extend the Letter of Credit pursuant to an Extension Request. |
(d) | The Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of any re-issuance or extension to the Letter of Credit. |
6.7 | Reduction of LC Amount |
(a) | The LC Amount shall automatically be reduced by the amount of each demand thereunder paid and shall not otherwise be treated as reduced for the purposes of this Agreement unless and until: |
(i) | the Facility Agent has received, on behalf of the Lenders, a written confirmation from the LC Beneficiary of the amount of such reduction; |
(ii) | each Issuing Bank and the LC Lender has notified the Facility Agent in writing that, notwithstanding the absence of a written confirmation from the LC Beneficiary, it is satisfied that its liability under the Letter of Credit and LC Facility, respectively, has been irrevocably reduced or discharged; |
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(iii) | the amount of the Letter of Credit irrevocably and unconditionally reduces in accordance with its terms except to the extent a replacement Letter of Credit has been issued; or |
(iv) | the LC Termination Date elapses and no claim or demand has been made under the Letter of Credit which is unpaid, except to the extent a replacement letter of credit has been issued. |
(b) | Upon any such reduction of the LC Amount, the Total Commitments in respect of the LC Facility shall be reduced rateably. |
Section 4 - LETTER OF CREDIT
7 | Letter of Credit |
7.1 | Claims under the Letter of Credit |
(a) | The Issuing Bank is hereby irrevocably and unconditionally authorised by the Borrower, the Facility Agent and each of the LC Lenders to make all and any payments demanded of them under the Letter of Credit which appear on their face to be in order without further authority or notice from the Borrower, the Facility Agent and the LC Lenders (or any of them) and shall accept any such demand as conclusive evidence (in the absence of manifest error) that the person whose obligations and/or liabilities are guaranteed pursuant to or are otherwise the subject of the Letter of Credit was liable to pay the amount in respect of which the relevant request or demand is made. |
(b) | The Issuing Bank shall need not before the making of any payment under, or purportedly under, the Letter of Credit make any investigation or enquiry or otherwise concern itself as to the propriety of the relevant request or demand made or purported to be made under or in the manner required by the terms of the Letter of Credit nor as to whether any event has occurred which would, according to the terms hereof, or of that Letter of Credit or of any other document relating to this Agreement or otherwise, discharge the Issuing Bank from its obligations in respect of the Letter of Credit. |
(c) | The obligations of the Borrower under this clause will not be affected by: |
(i) | the sufficiency, accuracy or genuineness of any claim or any other document; or |
(ii) | any incapacity of, or limitation on the powers of, any person signing a claim or other document. |
7.2 | Guarantee Payments |
(a) | Upon receipt of a LC Demand, the Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Facility Agent and the Facility Agent shall promptly notify each of the Lenders and the Borrower of: |
(i) | that LC Demand; |
(ii) | the amount ( Due Amount ) demanded thereunder in accordance with its provisions; and |
(iii) | the date ( Due Date ) on which the Due Amount is due to be paid by the Issuing Bank in accordance with its provisions. |
(b) | On the Due Date, the Issuing Bank shall (subject to paragraph (c) below) pay the Due Amount to the LC Beneficiary (or as it may direct in the LC Demand) and, without prejudice to the generality of clause 7.1, each of the Lenders, the Facility Agent and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally authorises and instructs the Issuing Bank to do so. |
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(c) | Each of the LC Lenders shall pay to the Issuing Bank for value at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Due Date its proportion (calculated in accordance with clause 2.1(d)) of the Due Amount in the LC Cash Collateral Account in accordance with clause 40 ( Payment mechanics ). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligations of the LC Lenders under this clause 7.2 shall apply regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing at such time. |
(d) | Each of the parties to this Agreement agrees that any Due Amount paid by the Issuing Bank shall, as from the Due Date of the relevant Due Amount, constitute an LC Loan (except to the extent such Due Amount was paid from the LC Cash Collateral Account or other cash collateral provided by the Borrower in accordance with this Agreement), as if each of the LC Lenders had advanced its proportion (calculated in accordance with clause 2.1(d)) of the Due Amount to the Borrower on the Due Date of the relevant Due Amount. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of clause 4 ( Conditions of Utilisation ) shall not apply to such LC Loan. |
(e) | The obligations of each LC Lender under this clause 7.2 are continuing obligations and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by that LC Lender in respect of the Letter of Credit, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part. |
(f) | The obligations of any LC Lender under this clause 7.2 will not be affected by any act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this clause, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this clause (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any other person) including: |
(i) | any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor, any LC Beneficiary or other person; |
(ii) | the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement; |
(iii) | 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 Obligor, any LC Beneficiary 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; |
(iv) | any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor, any LC Beneficiary or any other person; |
(v) | any amendment (however fundamental) or replacement of a Finance Document, or any other document or security; |
(vi) | any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document, the Letter of Credit or any other document or security; or |
(vii) | any insolvency or similar proceedings. |
7.3 | Role of Issuing Bank |
(a) | Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Issuing Bank as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person. |
(b) | The Issuing Bank shall not 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 Issuing Bank may accept deposits from, fend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group. |
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(d) | The Issuing Bank may rely on: |
(i) | any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; and |
(ii) | any statement made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify. |
(e) | The Issuing Bank may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, reasonably required, in respect of any demand under a Letter of Credit. |
(f) | The Issuing Bank may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents and may engage a corresponding bank to issue the Letter of Credit. |
(g) | The Issuing Bank is not responsible for: |
(i) | the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) provided by the Facility Agent, a corresponding bank, any Party (including itself), or any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transaction contemplated by the Finance 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 |
(ii) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document. |
7.4 | Exclusion of liability |
(a) | Without limiting paragraph 7.4(b) below, the Issuing Bank will not be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct. |
(b) | No Party may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Issuing Bank in respect of any claim it might have against the Issuing Bank or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document. |
7.5 | Credit appraisal by the Lenders |
Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms to the Issuing Bank that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document.
7.6 | LC Lenders’ indemnity to the Issuing Bank |
(a) | Each LC Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments in respect of the LC Facility or, if such Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments in respect of the LC Facility immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Issuing Bank, within three (3) Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Issuing Bank (otherwise than by reason of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct) in acting as Issuing Bank under the Finance Documents. |
(b) | The Borrower shall immediately on demand reimburse any LC Lender for any payment that LC Lender makes to the Issuing Bank pursuant to clause 7.6(a). |
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(c) | Clause 7.6(b) above shall not apply to the extent that the indemnity payment in respect of which the LC Lender claims reimbursement relates to a liability of the Issuing Bank to an Obligor. |
(d) | The provisions of this clause 7.6 shall survive the termination or expiry of this Agreement. |
7.7 | Cash collateralisation |
(a) | If a Due Date occurs at any time the Letter of Credit is outstanding and clause 9.1 ( Illegality ) and/or clause 9.5 ( Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender ) has become applicable or an amount of cash collateral has been paid pursuant to clause 9.3 ( Right of cancellation and prepayment in relation to a single Lender ), an amount equal to the Illegality Payment shall be withdrawn by or paid to the Issuing Bank from the LC Cash Collateral Account or other cash collateral provided by the Borrower in accordance with this Agreement and applied by the Issuing Bank in or towards funding the Due Amount payable on that Due Date. |
(b) | If a Due Date occurs at any time the Letter of Credit is outstanding after any of the events specified in clauses 9.4 ( Total Loss ) to 9.12 ( Automatic cancellation ) and/or 31.30 ( Acceleration ) has occurred, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Due Amount in respect of that Due Date and (ii) all amounts of cash cover paid to the LC Cash Collateral Account or otherwise received by the Issuing Bank from the Borrower (in respect of the Letter of Credit) pursuant to this Agreement at that Due Date (and not previously applied pursuant to this clause 7.7) shall be withdrawn by or paid to the Issuing Bank from the LC Cash Collateral Account or other cash collateral provided by the Borrower in accordance with this Agreement and applied by the Issuing Bank in or towards funding the Due Amount payable on that Due Date. |
(c) | On or promptly after the LC Termination Date and provided that no LC Demand is outstanding and no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all amounts of cash collateral paid into the LC Cash Collateral Account or otherwise received by the Issuing Bank from the Borrower (in respect of the Letter of Credit) pursuant to this Agreement and not otherwise applied in accordance with this Agreement shall be paid to the Borrower as it may direct. |
(d) | Following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, and provided that the LC Termination Date has occurred, all amounts of cash collateral paid into the LC Cash Collateral Account or otherwise received by the Issuing Bank from the Borrower (in respect of the Letter of Credit) pursuant to this Agreement and not otherwise applied in accordance with this Agreement shall be deemed to be Receivables and shall be transferred or be paid by the Issuing Bank at the request of the Facility Agent into the Offshore Revenue Account and applied in accordance with clause 28.18 ( Application after Termination Date ). |
7.8 | Defaulting Lender |
(a) | The Borrower and the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Issuing Bank upon it becoming aware that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender. |
(b) | If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender due to any reason other than as a result of an Insolvency Event at any time when an LC Letter of Credit is outstanding and prior to the LC Termination Date, the Borrower shall upon request of the Issuing Bank, on or before the date falling twenty (20) Business Days after the date of such request provide cash cover by crediting to the LC Cash Collateral Account an amount equal to the proportion of the LC Amount that Defaulting Lender is liable for and such cash cover shall be held on the LC Cash Collateral Account unless it is released to the Borrower or transferred to the Offshore Revenue Account in accordance with clause 7.7 ( Cash collateralisation ) or applied in transfer to the Issuing Bank for the purpose of paying any Due Amount. Notwithstanding any provision of cash collateral pursuant to this clause (b) the Defaulting Lender shall remain obliged to fund its proportion of the Due Amount in accordance with clause 7.2(c) and such cash collateral shall only be withdrawn or applied by the Issuing Bank for the purpose of paying any Due Amount if the Defaulting Lender has failed to do so. To the extent that the Defaulting Lender has funded its proportion of such Due Amount the amount of such cash collateral not required to be applied in transfer to the Issuing Bank for the purpose of paying the Defaulting Lender’s proportion of any Due Amount shall be transferred to the Construction Account (if pre Final Acceptance) or the Offshore Revenue Account (if post Final Acceptance). |
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7.9 | Replacement of Issuing Bank |
(a) | If, at any time, the credit rating for the long term indebtedness of an Issuing Bank falls below BB with Standard & Poor’s Rating Agency or Ba2 with Moody’s Investor Service, Inc, the Borrower may, by giving thirty (30) days’ notice to the Issuing Bank, replace the Issuing Bank by appointing another LC Lender as successor Issuing Bank. |
Section 4 - REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
8 | Repayment |
8.1 | Repayment |
The Borrower shall on each Repayment Date repay such part of the Loans as is required to be repaid by clause 8.2 ( Scheduled repayment of Facilities ).
8.2 | Scheduled repayment of Facilities |
Repayment of K-sure Loans
(a) | The K-sure Loans shall be repaid by instalments on each K-sure Facility Repayment Date by the amounts specified in the K-sure Facility Repayment Schedule (as revised by clause 8.3). |
(b) | On the K-sure Final Maturity Date (without prejudice to any other provision of this Agreement), the K-sure Loans shall be repaid in full. |
Repayment of the Commercial Loans
(c) | The Mooring Loans shall be repaid by one (1) instalment on the Mooring Tranche Final Maturity Date. |
(d) | The FSRU Loans shall be repaid by instalments on each FSRU Tranche Repayment Date by the amounts specified in the FSRU Tranche Repayment Schedule (as revised by clause 8.3). |
(e) | On the FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date (without prejudice to any other provision of this Agreement), the FSRU Loans shall be repaid in full. |
Repayment of LC Loans
(f) | Subject to any earlier prepayment in accordance with clause 28.8(a) ( Payment Cascade ), each LC Loan shall be repaid in full on the FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date. |
(g) | The Facility Agent shall promptly notify all Lenders of any repayment of any LC Loans. |
8.3 | Adjustment of scheduled repayments |
Subject to clause 9.13 ( Restrictions ), if:
(a) | the Total Commitments in respect of a Facility or Tranche have been partially reduced under this Agreement; and/or |
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(b) | any part of a Loan is prepaid before any Repayment Date, |
such reduction and/or prepayment shall be treated as reducing the repayment instalments for that Facility or Tranche (including in the case of the FSRU Tranche, the Balloon) in inverse order of maturity. As soon as practicable after effecting any such recalculation, the Facility Agent shall, if applicable, provide the Borrower with a revised schedule of Repayment Instalments and, if applicable, the Balloon and such revised schedule shall, unless incorrect, with effect from the date on which such revised schedule is produced (and signed by the Facility Agent and dated), be substituted for the relevant existing schedule set out in Schedule 11 ( Repayment Schedules ).
8.4 | The Borrower shall not reborrow any part of any Facility which is repaid. |
9 | Illegality, prepayment and cancellation |
9.1 | Illegality |
If it becomes unlawful at any time in any applicable jurisdiction for a Lender and/or the Issuing Bank to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain its participation in any Utilisation or part thereof then:
(a) | the affected Lender or, as the case may be, the Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon becoming aware of that event; and |
(b) | that Lender or, as the case may be, the Issuing Bank shall be given the opportunity (at its option) to transfer its rights and obligations to an Affiliate or a New Lender (as defined in clause 33 ( Changes to the Lenders ) pursuant to and in accordance with clause 33 ( Changes to the Lenders )). If that Lender or, as the case may be, the Issuing Bank has not been able to effectively transfer its rights and obligations in such manner, then: |
(i) | in the case of an affected Lender: |
(A) | if the Lender is a LC Lender and such unlawfulness occurs at any time when a Letter of Credit is outstanding and prior to the LC Termination Date, the Borrower shall, on or before the date falling twenty (20) Business Days after such date or, if earlier, the date specified by that Lender in the notice delivered to the Facility Agent (being no earlier than the fast day of any applicable grace period permitted by law), provide cash cover by crediting to the LC Cash Collateral Account an amount equal to the proportion of the LC Amount that Lender is liable for and such cash cover shall be held on the LC Cash Collateral Account unless it is released to the Borrower in accordance with clause 7.7 ( Cash collateralisation ) or applied in transfer to the Issuing Bank for the purpose of paying any Due Amount; |
(B) | upon the Facility Agent acting on the instruction of the affected Lender notifying the Borrower, the Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled; and |
(C) | the Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participation in each Loan on the last day of the Interest Period for the relevant Loan occurring after the Facility Agent has notified the Borrower 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); and |
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(ii) | in the case of an affected Issuing Bank: |
(A) | upon the Facility Agent, acting on the instruction of the affected Issuing Bank, notifying the Borrower, the Issuing Bank shall not be obliged to issue any Letter of Credit; |
(B) | the Borrower shall use its reasonable endeavours to procure the release of the Letter of Credit issued by that issuing Bank and outstanding at such time; and |
(C) | unless any other Lender is or has become an Issuing Bank pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the LC Facility shall cease to be available for the issue of the Letter of Credit. |
9.2 | Voluntary prepayment and cancellation |
(a) | Subject to the proviso below, the Borrower may, if it gives the Facility Agent not less than ten (10) Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior written notice, prepay and/or cancel the whole or any part of the Term Facilities, the Loans under the Term Facilities or the Available Commitments for the Term Facilities (but if in part, being an amount that reduces the amount of the Term Facilities in aggregate by a minimum amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000) or in full, provided that, (unless it is a cancellation in respect of the Mooring Tranche after the date of the Mooring Declaration (as defined in the Charter)) or in respect of the K-sure Facility after the Borrower has been notified that any of the events in clause 9.10 ( K-Sure Policy ) apply) if there are any Loans or Letter of Credit outstanding and Final Acceptance has not occurred, before the Borrower may cancel any part of the Available Commitments of the Term Facilities, it is required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Majority Lenders (acting on the advice of the Technical Adviser) that, after such cancellation, it has sufficient funds available to cover all projected Project Costs to achieve Final Acceptance by the earlier of (i) the Cancellation Date and (ii) 18 March 2015. |
(b) | The Borrower may at any time, if it gives the Facility Agent not less than ten (10) Business Days prior written notice (except for any prepayment pursuant to clause 28.8(a)(viii) for which no prior notice shall be required), prepay and/or cancel the LC Loans or the Available Commitments for the LC Facility or the LC Facility in full provided that: |
(i) | in the case of a cancellation of the LC Facility in full, no Letter of Credit is outstanding; and |
(ii) | in the case of any cancellation, if the Borrower is then (or may at any later time be in accordance with the terms of the Charter) required to provide a letter of credit under the Charter and the Issuing Bank meets the requirements under the Charter for the issue of the relevant letter of credit under the Charter, the Borrower providing evidence satisfactory to the Facility Agent that a replacement letter of credit has been, or will be, issued in accordance with clause 27.1 of the Charter or the Borrower has provided equivalent security (including but not limited to cash collateral) to the Charterer in place of such letter of credit. In such event, the Borrower shall not be required to prepay and/or cancel any other Facility under this Agreement. |
9.3 | Right of cancellation and prepayment in relation to a single Lender |
(a) | If: |
(i) | any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased under clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ) other than in respect of any withholding Tax payable in respect of payments under any Finance Document to Lenders in Korea or Singapore; or |
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(ii) | any Lender is a FATCA Protected Party and at any time any Party is or will be required to make a FATCA Deduction from a payment to that Lender (or to an Agent or Security Agent for the account of that Lender); or |
(iii) | any Lender claims indemnification from the Borrower under clause 14.3 ( Tax indemnity ) or clause 15.1 ( Increased Costs ); or |
the Borrower may, whilst (in the case of (i), (ii) and (iii) above) the circumstance giving rise to the requirement or indemnification or FATCA Deduction continues, give the Facility Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lender’s participation in the Loan.
(b) | On receipt of a notice referred to in clause 9.3(a) above, the Commitment of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero. |
(c) | On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Borrower has given notice under clause 9.3(a) above (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Borrower in that notice), the Borrower shall prepay that Lender’s participation in each Loan and, if the Lender is an LC Lender and a Letter of Credit is outstanding, the Borrower shall immediately provide cash cover in an amount equal to that Lender’s LC Contribution, by paying such amount into the LC Cash Collateral Account. |
(d) | The Borrower may, in the circumstances set out in paragraph (a) above (when sub paragraph (ii) of that paragraph applies), on 10 Business Days’ prior notice to the Facility Agent and that Lender, replace that Lender by requiring that Lender to (and, to the extent permitted by law, that Lender shall) transfer pursuant to clause 33 ( Changes to the Lenders ) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank selected by the Borrower which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of the transferring Lender in accordance with clause 33 ( Changes to the Lenders ) for a purchase price in cash or other cash payment payable at the time of the transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest, Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents. |
(e) | The replacement of a Lender pursuant to paragraph 9.3(d) above shall be subject to the following conditions: |
(i) | the Borrower shall have no right to replace the Facility Agent; |
(ii) | neither the Facility Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to find a replacement Lender; |
(iii) | in no event shall the Lender replaced under paragraph (d) above be required to pay or surrender any of the fees received by such Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents; and |
(iv) | the Lender shall only be obliged to transfer its rights and obligations pursuant to paragraph (d) above once it is satisfied that it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to that transfer. |
(f) | A Lender shall perform the checks described in paragraph (e)(iv) above as soon as reasonably practicable following delivery of a notice referred to in paragraph (d) above and shall notify the Facility Agent and the Borrower when it is satisfied that it has complied with those checks. |
9.4 | Total Loss |
On the Total Loss Repayment Date in relation to the Vessel:
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(a) | the Total Commitments of all Facilities will be reduced to zero; |
(b) | the Borrower shall: |
(i) | prepay the Loans and any Hedging Debt then due (in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Contracts) in full; and |
(ii) | if a Letter of Credit is outstanding, immediately provide cash cover by crediting to the LC Cash Collateral Account such amount that ensures the balance on the LC Cash Collateral Account is equal to the LC Amount. |
9.5 | Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender |
(a) | If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower may, at any time whilst the Lender continues to be a Defaulting Lender, give the Facility Agent fifteen (15) Business Days’ notice of cancellation of each Available Commitment of that Lender. |
(b) | On the notice referred to in clause 9.5(a) above becoming effective, each Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero. |
(c) | The Facility Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in clause 9.5(a) above, notify all the Lenders and K-sure. |
9.6 | Change of Control |
If a Change of Control occurs the Facility Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower with effect from the date falling fifteen (15) Business Days after the giving of such notice (or such later date as may be approved in advance by the Majority Lenders) cancel the Total Commitments of all Facilities. The Borrower shall on the date such cancellation takes effect:
(a) | prepay the Loans in full; and |
(b) | if a Letter of Credit is outstanding, immediately provide cash cover by crediting to the LC Cash Collateral Account such amount that ensures the balance on the LC Cash Collateral Account is equal to the LC Amount, |
whereupon the Total Commitments of all Facilities shall be reduced to zero, and pay any Hedging Debt then due in full in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Contract.
9.7 | Sale of Vessel |
(a) | If at any time the Lampung FSRU is sold by or on behalf of the Borrower (including to the Charterer following exercise of the Charterer’s Purchase Option), the Borrower shall forthwith upon the date on which any Sales Proceeds are received by it (or by the Security Agent on its behalf in which case it shall apply them to): |
(i) | prepay the Loans in full; and |
(ii) | if a Letter of Credit is outstanding, immediately provide cash cover by crediting to the LC Cash Collateral Account such amount that ensures the balance on the LC Cash Collateral Account is equal to the LC Amount, |
whereupon the Total Commitments of all Facilities shall be reduced to zero, and pay any Hedging Debt then due in full in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Contracts. If the Sales Proceeds received are sufficient to pay, repay, satisfy and discharge the Secured Obligations in full and the other obligations to be paid in priority pursuant to the Intercreditor Deed, the Facility Agent shall as soon as reasonably practicable pay any Sales Proceeds remaining after such payment, repayment, satisfaction and discharge to the Borrower or to its order. The Finance Parties shall take such action as is reasonably requested by the Borrower in respect of any sale of the Vessel to release the Vessel from the relevant Security Interests created by the Security Documents upon discharge of the Secured Obligations in full. For the avoidance of doubt, the Finance Parties shall not be required to release such Security Interests unless the Lenders are satisfied that the Secured Obligations have been, or will be immediately upon the release of such Security Interests, paid in full.
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9.8 | Charter and Charter Guarantee |
If:
(a) | the Charter or the Charter Guarantee is for any reason (other than for an Event of Owner’s Default as defined in the Charter) and by any method terminated, repudiated or rescinded; or |
(b) | the Charter ceases to be in full force and effect (other than through expiry by lapse of time or fulfilment of all obligations thereunder); |
(c) | the Charter Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect (other than through expiry by lapse of time or fulfilment of all obligations thereunder) unless the PGN L/C remains in full force and effect and such Charter Guarantee is replaced with a valid, binding and enforceable replacement Charter Guarantee within twenty (20) Business Days of it ceasing to be in full force and effect; or |
(d) | a payment of the Termination Fee is made or is payable, |
the Facility Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower with effect from the date falling five (5) Business Days after the giving of such notice (or thirty (30) Business Days of the occurrence of any event described in paragraphs (a) to (d) above if such event results in, or will following the issue of a termination notice result in, a Termination Fee being payable in accordance with the Charter and such Termination Fee is, or will be, sufficient to repay all Secured Obligations in full, or such later date as may be approved in advance by the Majority Lenders) cancel the Total Commitments of all Facilities. The Borrower shall on the date such cancellation takes effect (or if earlier the date the Termination Fee is paid):
(i) | prepay the Loans in full; and |
(ii) | if a Letter of Credit is outstanding, immediately provide cash cover by crediting to the LC Cash Collateral Account such amount that ensures the balance on the LC Cash Collateral Account is equal to the LC Amount, |
whereupon the Total Commitments of all Facilities shall be reduced to zero, and pay any Hedging Debt then due in full in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Contracts and the Finance Parties agree that following a notice under this clause the Borrower may take such actions as are necessary to terminate the Charter and shall promptly provide their confirmation of any consent or approval of such termination required pursuant to any Finance Document and reasonably requested by the Borrower.
9.9 | PGN L/C |
(a) | The Borrower shall promptly notify the Facility Agent if a Company Event of Default occurs under clause 27.2(b) of the Charter. If such Company Event of Default is not remedied to the satisfaction of the Lenders within thirty (30) Business Days of such event occurring and the Borrower has not drawn down under the PGN L/C and has not received and is not holding cash collateral in an amount equal to the face value of the PGN L/C that should have been in place, the Facility Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower with effect from the date falling thirty (30) Business Days after the giving of such notice (or such later date as may be approved in advance by the Majority Lenders) cancel the Total Commitments of all Facilities. The Borrower shall on the date such cancellation takes effect (or if earlier the date the Termination Fee is paid): |
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(i) | prepay the Loans in full; and |
(ii) | if a Letter of Credit is outstanding, immediately provide cash cover by crediting to the LC Cash Collateral Account such amount that ensures the balance on the LC Cash Collateral Account is equal to the LC Amount, |
whereupon the Total Commitments of all Facilities shall be reduced to zero, and pay any Hedging Debt the due in full in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Contracts and the Finance Parties agree that following a notice under this clause the Borrower may take such actions as are necessary to terminate the Charter and shall promptly provide their confirmation of any consent or approval of such termination required pursuant to any Finance Document and reasonably requested by the Borrower.
9.10 | K-sure Policy |
(a) | If on the Original FSRU Tranche Facility Final Maturity Date, there has been no Approved Refinancing pursuant to and in accordance with clause 22.15 ( Balloon Refinancing ), the Facility Agent shall if so directed by the K-Sure Agent (acting on behalf of the K-sure Lenders or upon instruction from K-sure), by notice to the Borrower with effect from the date falling fifteen (15) Business Days after the giving of such notice (or such later date as may be approved in advance by the Majority Lenders) cancel the Total Commitments of the K-sure Facility. The Borrower shall on the date such cancellation takes effect prepay the K-sure Loans in full whereupon the Total Commitments of the K-sure Facility shall be reduced to zero, and pay any Hedging Debt then due in full in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Contracts. |
(b) | If, at any time: |
(i) | the K-sure Policy ceases to remain in full force and effect or ceases to be legal, valid, binding and (subject to general principles of law limiting enforceability) enforceable; or |
(ii) | the K-sure Policy is repudiated, revoked, rescinded or suspended by K-sure, |
then, subject to paragraph (c) below, the Facility Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower with effect from the date falling five (5) Business Days (or thirty (30) Business Days if for a reason not due to an action or inaction of an Obligor) after the giving of such notice (or such later date as may be approved in advance by the Majority Lenders) cancel the Total Commitments. The Borrower shall on the date such cancellation takes effect:
(A) | prepay the Loans in full; and |
(B) | if a Letter of Credit is outstanding, immediately provide cash cover by crediting to the LC Cash Collateral Account an amount that ensures the balance on the LC Cash Collateral Account is equal to the LC Amount, |
whereupon the Total Commitments of all Facilities shall be reduced to zero, and pay any Hedging Debt then due in full in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Contracts.
(c) | Provided that if any event specified in paragraph (b)(i) or (ii) above occurs: |
(i) | prior to Final Acceptance and the Lenders are satisfied that there would be no forecast shortfall in funding following a cancellation of the Total Commitments in respect of the K-sure Facility; or |
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(ii) | after Final Acceptance, |
then in each case the Facility Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower with effect from the date falling five (5) Business Days (or thirty (30) Business Days if for a reason not due to an action or inaction of an Obligor) after the giving of such notice (or such later date as may be approved in advance by the Majority Lenders), subject to the proviso below, cancel the Total Commitments in respect of the K-sure Facility only. The Borrower shall on the date such cancellation takes effect prepay the K-sure Loans in full whereupon the Total Commitments of all K-sure Facility shall be reduced to zero and pay any Hedging Debt then due in full in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Contracts.
9.11 | Insurance |
If:
(a) | the credit rating of any insurer (unless such Insurances are reinsured and the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment has been duly executed, in which case the credit rating of any reinsurer) in respect of the Insurances or, if applicable, the Reinsurances falls below the Approved Credit Rating such that the requirements of clause 27.3(d) are not met and such insurer or and the insurances or, as applicable, Reinsurances are not replaced with a replacement insurer or reinsurer such that the requirements of clause 27.3(d) are met and otherwise in compliance with clause 27 ( Insurance ) within forty (45) days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower. |
(b) | any insurer being a provider of Insurances and/or Insurer is or becomes insolvent, unless (a) the Insurances and/or Reinsurances placed with such Insurer are re-placed with a replacement, solvent insurer within seven (7) days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower and, in the case of an Insurer, (b) the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment granted by such Insurer is within thirty (30) days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower replaced by a substitute Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment issued by the replacement insurer on substantially the same terms. |
(c) | any Insurer fails to perform or observe any material covenant or obligation to be performed or observed by it under the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment (which the Facility Agent has notified the Borrower and Insurer of) unless either: |
(i) | the Facility Agent considers that the failure to perform or observe any such material covenant or obligation is capable of remedy and the failure is remedied within forty (45) days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower and the Insurer; or |
(ii) | within such forty (45) day period, the Insurances placed with such Insurer are replaced with a replacement insurer and the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment granted by such Insurer is replaced by a substitute Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment issued by the replacement insurer on substantially the same terms. |
(d) | any representation made by an Insurer in any Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made (which the Facility Agent has notified the Borrower and Insurer of) unless either: |
(i) | the incorrectness or misleading nature of the relevant representation and/or the underlying event or circumstance giving rise to it is capable of remedy and is remedied within forty (45) days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower and/or the Insurer; or |
(ii) | within such forty (45) day period, the Insurances placed with such Insurer are replaced with a replacement insurer and the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment granted by such Insurer is replaced by a substitute Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment issued by the replacement insurer on substantially the same terms. |
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(e) | either: |
(i) | it is or becomes unlawful for an Insurer to perform any of its obligations under any Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment entered into by it and/or any Security Interest created or expressed to be created or evidenced by any such Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment ceases (subject to the Legal Reservations) to be effective; or |
(ii) | any obligation of an Insurer under any Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment entered into by it is not (subject to the Legal Reservations) or ceases to be legal, valid, binding or enforceable, |
unless, within forty (45) days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower and/or the Insurer of such event, the Insurances placed with such Insurer are re-placed with a replacement insurer (whereby such unlawfulness, non-effectiveness, illegality, invalidity, non-binding nature or unenforceability is thereby remedied) and the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment granted by such Insurer is replaced by a substitute Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment issued by the replacement insurer on substantially the same terms,
then the Facility Agent may, by notice to the Borrower with effect from the date falling five (5) Business Days after the giving of such notice (or such later date as may be approved in advance by the Majority Lenders) cancel the Total Commitments. The Borrower shall on the date such cancellation takes effect:
(i) | prepay the Loans in full; and |
(ii) | if a Letter of Credit is outstanding, immediately provide cash cover by crediting to the LC Cash Collateral Account such an amount that ensures the balance on the LC Cash Collateral Account is equal to the LC Amount, |
whereupon the Total Commitments of all Facilities shall be reduced to zero, and pay any Hedging Debt then due in full in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Contracts.
9.12 | Automatic cancellation |
The Available Commitments of a Facility or Tranche which have not been utilised by the Last Availability Date applicable to such Facility or Tranche shall be automatically cancelled at 17:00 on such Last Availability Date.
9.13 | Restrictions |
(a) | Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under this clause 9 shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment. |
(b) | Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, if prepayment is made otherwise than on an Interest Payment Date, subject to any Break Costs (and any swap break costs in relation to the Loans (or any part thereof) which are payable in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Contracts), without premium or penalty. |
(c) | The Borrower may not reborrow any part of either Facility which is prepaid. |
(d) | The Borrower shall not repay or prepay all or any part of either Facility or reduce all or any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement. |
(e) | No amount of the Total Commitments of any Facility reduced under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated. |
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(f) | If the Facility Agent receives a notice under this clause 9 it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to either the Borrower or the affected Lender, as appropriate and provide a copy of such notice to K-sure. |
(g) | If the Total Commitments of any Facility or Tranche are partially reduced under this Agreement (other than under clause 9.1 ( Illegality ) and clause 9.3 ( Right of cancellation and prepayment in relation to a single Lender ) and clause 9.5 ( Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender )), the Commitments of the Lenders in respect of that Facility or Tranche shall be reduced rateably. |
(h) | Any prepayment under this Agreement (other than under clause 9.1 ( Illegality ), clause 9.2 ( Voluntary prepayment and cancellation ), clause 9.3 ( Right of cancellation and prepayment in relation to a single Lender ) and clause 9.5 ( Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender ), clause 9.10(a) and clause 9.10(c)) shall be applied pro rata against each Facility and pro rata among the Lenders in proportion to their participation in the Loans and the Letter of Credit. |
(i) | Subject to paragraph (j) below, any prepayment and/or cancellation under clause 9.2(a) ( Voluntary prepayment and cancellation ) shall be applied pro rata against the Term Facilities in reducing the Term Facilities Loans and pro rata among the Lenders in proportion to their participation in such Loans. |
(j) | Any prepayment and/or cancellation stated by the Borrower to be in respect of the Mooring Tranche shall be applied against Loans under the Mooring Tranche and pro rata among the Lenders in proportion to their participation in such Loans. |
(k) | Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with payment to a Hedging Banks (pro rata) of any amount falling due to the Hedging Banks under the Hedging Contracts on the date of that prepayment as a result of the termination or close out of the Hedging Contracts or any Hedging Transactions under them in accordance with clause 30.6 ( Unwinding of Hedging Contracts ) in relation to that prepayment. |
(l) | Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be applied against the outstanding repayment instalments of the Loans under the relevant Facility in inverse order of maturity. |
Section 5 - COSTS OF UTILISATION
10 | Interest |
10.1 | Calculation of interest |
The rate of interest on each Loan, for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:
(a) | Margin; |
(b) | LIBOR; and |
(c) | Mandatory Cost, if any. |
10.2 | Payment of interest |
The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on that Loan on the last day of each Interest Period relating to such Loan (an Interest Payment Date ) and, if the relevant Interest Period is longer than three (3) months, on the dates falling at three monthly intervals after the first day of the relevant Interest Period.
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10.3 | Default interest |
(a) | If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the Unpaid Sum from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to clause (b) below, is two per cent (2%) higher than the rate which would have been payable if the Unpaid Sum had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing in accordance with this clause 10.3 shall be immediately payable by the Obligor on demand by the Facility Agent. |
(b) | If any Unpaid Sum consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to that Loan or the relevant part of it: |
(i) | the first Interest Period for that Unpaid Sum shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to that Loan; and |
(ii) | the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest Period shall be two per cent (2%) higher than the rate which would have applied if the Unpaid Sum had not become due. |
(c) | Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an Unpaid Sum will be compounded with the Unpaid Sum at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that Unpaid Sum but will remain immediately due and payable. |
(d) | For the avoidance of doubt, this clause 10.3 does not apply to any amount payable under a Hedging Contract in respect of any continuing Transaction as to which section 2(e) ( Default Interest; Other Amounts ) of the ISDA Master Agreement of that Hedging Contract shall apply or in respect of any other Finance Document which also provides for interest to be paid on overdue amounts (other than pursuant to this provision). |
10.4 | Notification of rates of interest |
The Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.
11 | Interest Periods |
11.1 | Selection of Interest Periods |
(a) | The Borrower may select an Interest Period for a Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan or (if the Loan has already been borrowed or in the case of a LC Loan deemed borrowed) in a Selection Notice. |
(b) | Each Selection Notice is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Facility Agent by the Borrower not later than 11:00 a.m. four (4) Business Days before the last day of the then current Interest Period. |
(c) | If the Borrower fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Facility Agent (in accordance with clause (b) or otherwise) the relevant Interest Period will, subject to clause 11.1(h) below, be three (3) months. |
(d) | Subject to this clause 11, the Borrower may select an interest Period of one or three months or such other period as the Borrower may agree with the Facility Agent from time to time. |
(e) | No Interest Period for a Loan shall extend beyond that Loan’s Final Maturity Date. |
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(f) | Each interest Period for a Loan shall commence on the actual Utilisation Date or (if already made) on the last day of its preceding Interest Period or, in the case of a LC Loan, on the Due Date relating to that LC Loan. |
(g) | If a Loan is already outstanding under a Facility, then the first Interest Period for each subsequent Loan under that Facility must end on the last day of the current Interest Period for such outstanding Loan (the Current Interest Period) and on the last day of the Current Interest Period, the new Loan will be consolidated with all other borrowings outstanding in respect of that Facility so that together they form the Loan on the last day of the Interest Period. The next following Interest Period will then be applicable to the Loan in accordance with the terms of clause 11.3 ( Consolidation of Loans ) as a whole. |
(h) | No Interest Period for any Loan under a Facility shall overrun a Repayment Date relating to such Facility. |
11.2 | Non-Business Days |
If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).
11.3 | Consolidation of Loans |
If two (2) or more Interest Periods:
(a) | relate to Loans under the same Facility; and |
(b) | end on the same date, |
the amounts to which those Interest Periods relate shall be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan under that Facility on the last day of the Interest Period.
12 | Changes to the calculation of interest |
12.1 | Absence of quotations |
Subject to clause 12.2 ( Market disruption ), if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by 11:00 am. on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks.
12.2 | Market disruption |
(a) | If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to a Loan prior to the commencement of any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lender’s share in that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the rate per annum which is the sum of: |
(i) | the applicable Margin; and |
(ii) | the rate notified to the Facility Agent by that Lender (in a Market Disruption Notification, at the time set out in clause 12.2(b)(ii)) to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select; and |
(iii) | the Mandatory Cost, if any, applicable to that Lender’s participation in that Loan. |
(b) | In this Agreement: |
Market Disruption Event means that:
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(i) | at or about noon 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 17:00 (Singapore time) one Business Day after the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Facility Agent receives notifications from any Lender or Lenders (the Affected Lenders ) (whose participations in the Loans are equal to or exceed 60% of the Loans) (pursuant to a Market Disruption Notification) that the cost to it of obtaining matching deposits in the Interbank Market would be in excess of LIBOR (and that the Facility Agent shall inform the other Lenders in accordance with paragraph 3 of the Market Disruption Notification as set out in Schedule 9 ( Form of Market Disruption Notification )). |
Market Disruption Notification means a notification from a Lender substantially in the form set out in Schedule 9 ( Form of Market Disruption Notification ) or otherwise approved.
12.3 | Alternative basis of interest or funding |
(a) | If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Facility Agent or the Borrower so requires, the Facility Agent and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than thirty (30) days (in the case of Interest Periods of three (3) months’ or more duration) or, in the case of Interest Periods of less than three (3) months’ duration, a period ending not less than seven (7) days prior to the end of the current Interest Period, with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest for the relevant Affected Lenders. |
(b) | Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to (a) above shall, with the prior consent of the Affected Lenders, K-sure and the Borrower, be binding on all Parties. |
12.4 | Break Costs |
(a) | The Borrower shall, promptly on 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 Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum or relevant part of it. |
(b) | Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent, provide to the Facility Agent a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue. |
13 | Fees |
13.1 | Commitment fee |
(a) | The Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent (for the account of each Lender) a fee in dollars computed at the rate of forty per cent (40%) of the Margin (other than in the case of the LC Facility where it shall be the rate equal to forty per cent (40%) of the rate specified in clause 13.4) per annum calculated daily on the Available Facility of each Facility (or, in the case of the Commercial Facility, each Tranche) calculated from the date of this Agreement (the Start Date ) to the date of payment of the accrued commitment commission pursuant to clause 13.1(b) below. |
(b) | The Borrower shall pay the accrued commitment fee on the last day of the period of three months commencing on the Start Date, on the last day of each successive period of three months, on the Last Availability Date of each Facility and, if a Lender’s Commitment is cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lender’s Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective. |
(c) | No commitment fee or commission is payable to the Facility Agent for any Lender in respect of its Available Commitment for any day when it is a Defaulting Lender. |
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13.2 | Agency fee |
The Borrower shall pay to each Agent and Security Agent (each for its own account), whether or not any part of a Loan is ever drawn down, an agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.
13.3 | Arrangement fee |
The Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent (for the account of the Mandated Lead Arrangers), whether or not any part of a Loan its ever drawn down, a documentation fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.
13.4 | LC Commission |
The Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent (for the account of the LC Lenders), in relation to each Letter of Credit issued, a fee in dollars computed at the rate of one point five per cent (1.5%) per annum calculated daily on the LC Amount for the scheduled period of the Letter of Credit in respect of that Letter of Credit and payable on or prior to the date of issuance of that Letter of Credit.
13.5 | Issuing Bank fee |
The Borrower shall pay to the Issuing Bank (for its own account) a guarantee fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.
13.6 | Account Bank fee |
The Borrower shall pay to each Account Banks (for its own account) a fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter to which that Account Bank is a party.
13.7 | K-sure Premium |
(a) | The Borrower shall pay the K-sure Premium to the K-sure Agent (for the account of K-sure). |
(b) | The Borrower acknowledges that none of the Finance Parties nor the Builder are in any way involved in the final determination of the K-sure Premium or any additional K-sure Premium and that the Borrower will not raise against any of the Finance Parties any claim or defence of any kind whatsoever in relation to the calculation or payment of any K-sure Premium. Without prejudice to clause (c) below, the Borrower’s obligation to pay the K-sure Premium shall be an absolute and unconditional obligation and, without limitation, shall not be affected by any failure by the Borrower to drawdown funds under this agreement or the prepayment or acceleration of the whole or any part of the Loans. |
(c) | The parties acknowledge that the K-sure Premium is refundable in accordance with the terms of the K-sure Policy and K-sure internal policy and any such refund shall be payable to the K-sure Agent and shall be transferred or paid by the K-sure Agent into the Offshore Revenue Account. No K-sure Premium shall be refundable following service of a notice by the Facility Agent pursuant to and in accordance with clause 31.30 ( Acceleration ). The K-sure Agent shall use reasonable endeavours to obtain a refund at the request of the Borrower. |
Section 6 - ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
14 | Tax gross-up and indemnities |
14.1 | Definitions |
(a) | In this Agreement: |
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FATCA Payment means either:
(i) | the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under clause 14.10 ( FATCA Deduction and gross-up by Obligor ) or clause 14.11 ( FATCA Deduction by Finance Party ); or |
(ii) | a payment under clause 14.11 ( FATCA Deduction by Finance Party ); |
Protected Party means a Finance Party or, in relation to clause 16.5 ( Indemnity concerning security ) and 16.11 ( Interest ) insofar as it relates to interest on any amount demanded by that Indemnified Person under clause 16 ( Other indemnities ), any Indemnified Person, which is or will be subject to any liability, or required to make any payment, for or on account of Tax in relation to a sum received or receivable (or any sum deemed for the purposes of Tax to be received or receivable) under a Finance Document.
Tax Credit means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax.
Tax Deduction means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document (other than a Hedging Contract or a FATCA Deduction).
Tax Payment means either the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ) or a payment under clause 14.3 ( Tax indemnity ).
(b) | Unless a contrary indication appears, in this clause 14 a reference to “determines” or determined means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination, acting reasonably. |
14.2 | Tax gross-up |
(a) | Each Obligor shall make all payments to be made by it under any Finance Document without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law. |
(b) | The Borrower shall, promptly upon becoming aware that an Obligor must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction), notify the Facility Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Facility Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Facility Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Borrower and that Obligor. |
(c) | Subject to clause 33.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ), if a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by an Obligor, the amount of the payment due from that Obligor under the relevant Finance Document shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required to be made. |
(d) | If an Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction, that Obligor shall make that Tax Deduction and, subject to the proviso in clause 33.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ), any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law. |
(e) | Within thirty (30) days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Obligor making that Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Facility Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority. |
14.3 | Tax indemnity |
(a) | The Borrower shall within three (3) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent pay to a Protected Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Protected Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of Tax by that Protected Party in respect of a Finance Document. |
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(b) | Clause 14.3(a) above shall not apply: |
(i) | with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party: |
(A) | under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes; or |
(B) | under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party’s Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction, |
if that Tax is 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; or
(ii) | to the extent a loss, liability or cost is compensated for by an increased payment under clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ), clause 14.10 (FATCA Deduction and gross-up by Obligor) or clause 14.11 ( FATCA Deduction by a Finance Party ) or would have been compensated by an increased payment under clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ) but was not compensated solely because one of the exclusions in paragraph (d) of clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ) applied or the application of clause 33.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ); or |
(iii) | to the extent a loss, liability or cost relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party. |
(c) | A Protected Party making, or intending to make a claim under clause 14.3(a) above shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower. |
(d) | A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from an Obligor under this clause 14.3, notify the Facility Agent. |
14.4 | Tax credit |
If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:
(a) | a Tax Credit is attributable to that Tax Payment; and |
(b) | that a Finance Party has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit, |
the relevant Finance Party shall pay an amount to the relevant 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 Obligor.
14.5 | Stamp taxes |
The Borrower shall pay and, within on demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document except for any stamp taxes relating to the transfer by a Finance Party of any participation in a Finance Document.
14.6 | Indirect Tax |
(a) | All consideration expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party shall be deemed to be exclusive of any Indirect Tax. If any Indirect Tax is chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party in connection with a Finance Document and the Finance Party is required to account for that Indirect Tax, that Party shall pay to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the indirect Tax. |
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(b) | Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse a Finance Party for any costs or expenses, that Party shall also at the same time pay and indemnify the Finance Party against all Indirect Tax incurred by that Finance Party in respect of the costs or expenses to the extent that the Finance Party reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment in respect of the Indirect Tax. |
(c) | A Finance Party making, or intending to make a claim under this clause 14.6 shall provide the Facility Agent with reasonable evidence of the Indirect Tax referred to in this clause 14.6 (if available), following which the Facility Agent shall pass on such evidence to the Borrower. |
14.7 | Conflict with Hedging Contracts |
In respect of any of the indemnities entered into in favour of the Hedging Banks in this clause 14 (and in clauses 15 ( Increased Costs ) and 16 ( Other indemnities )), and in respect of the mitigation obligations of the Hedging Banks set out in clause 17 ( Mitigation by the Lenders ) to the extent of any inconsistency between such provisions and the equivalent indemnity and mitigation provisions set out in the Hedging Contracts, the provisions of the Hedging Contracts shall prevail.
14.8 | FATCA Information |
(a) | Subject to clause 14.8(c), 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 |
(ii) | supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA (including its applicable “passthru payment percentage” or other information required under the US Treasury Regulations or other official guidance including intergovernmental agreements) as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with FATCA. |
(b) | if a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to clause 14.8(a) 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) | Clause 14.8(a) 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 fiduciary duty; or |
(iii) | 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 clause 14.8(a) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where clause 14.8(c) applies), then: |
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(i) | 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 Finance Documents as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party; and |
(ii) | if that Party failed to confirm its applicable “passthru payment percentage” then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments made thereunder) as if its applicable “passthru payment percentage” is 100%, |
until (in each case) such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.
14.9 | FATCA Grandfathering |
(a) | Clauses 14.10, 14.11 and 14.12 shall only apply if (i) an amendment or waiver to this Agreement is made at the request, or with the consent, of a Facility Obligor that constitutes a “material modification” for the purposes of FATCA with the result that the grandfathering of the Facilities for the purposes of FATCA is no longer available or (ii) due to the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation (including FATCA and any inter-governmental agreements associated thereto) a FATCA Deduction is required to be made in circumstances where a FATCA Deduction would not have been required but for that change in law or regulation, and in each case a Facility Obligor is a FATCA FFI or US Tax Obligor (the “ FATCA Application Event ”). If the FATCA Application Event does not apply the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) below shall apply. |
(b) | 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, except as specifically provided for in this Agreement, 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. |
(c) | Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate of the basis of such FATCA Deduction) notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Borrower, the Facility Agent and the other Finance Parties. |
14.10 | FATCA Deduction and gross-up by Obligor |
(a) | If a Facility Obligor is required to make a FATCA Deduction, that Obligor shall make that FATCA Deduction and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by FATCA. |
(b) | If the FATCA Application Event applies and a FATCA Deduction is required to be made by a Facility Obligor in respect of a payment to a FATCA Protected Party (or to an Agent or the Security Agent for the account of a FATCA Protected Party), the amount of the payment due from that Obligor to that FATCA Protected Party (or to an Agent or the Security Agent for the account of that FATCA Protected Party) shall be increased 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 in respect of the payment to that FATCA Protected Party (or to an Agent or the Security Agent for the account of that FATCA Protected Party). |
(c) | The Borrower shall promptly upon becoming aware that a Facility Obligor must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a FATCA Deduction) notify the Facility Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Finance Party shall notify the Facility Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Finance Party. If the Facility Agent receives such notification from a Finance Party it shall notify the Borrower. |
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(d) | Within thirty (30) days of making either a FATCA Deduction or any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, the Facility Obligor making that FATCA Deduction or payment shall deliver to the Facility Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the FATCA Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant governmental or taxation authority.] |
14.11 | FATCA Deduction by a Finance Party |
(a) | Each Finance Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required by FATCA to make, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Finance 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. A Finance Party which becomes aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment to another Party (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction) shall notify that Party and the Facility Agent. |
(b) | If the FATCA Application Event applies and the Facility Agent is required to make a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment to a FATCA Protected Party under clause 40.2 ( Distributions by the Facility Agent ) which relates to a payment by a Facility Obligor, the amount of the payment due from that Obligor shall be increased to an amount which (after the Facility Agent has made such FATCA Deduction), leaves the Facility Agent with an amount equal to the payment which would have been made by the Facility Agent if no FATCA Deduction had been required in respect of the payment to a FATCA Protected Party. |
(c) | The Facility Agent shall promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment to a FATCA Protected Party under clause 40.2 ( Distributions by the Facility Agent ) which relates to a payment by a Facility Obligor (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such a FATCA Deduction) notify the Borrower, the relevant Obligor and the relevant Finance Party. |
(d) | If the FATCA Application Event applies and a Finance Party has made a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment due to a FATCA Protected Party under a Finance Document, the Borrower shall (within three Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent) pay to that FATCA Protected Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that FATCA Protected Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered by that FATCA Protected Party as a result of another Finance Party making a FATCA Deduction in respect of a payment due to it under a Finance Document. This paragraph shall not apply to the extent a loss, liability or cost is compensated for by an increased payment under clause 14.11(b). |
(e) | A Finance Party making, or intending to make, a claim under clause 14.11(d) shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of the FATCA Deduction which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower. |
14.12 | Tax Credit and FATCA |
If an Obligor makes a FATCA Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:
(a) | a Tax Credit is attributable to an increased payment of which that FATCA Payment forms part, to that FATCA Payment or to a FATCA Deduction in consequence of which that FATCA Payment was required; and |
(b) | 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 FATCA Payment not been required to be made by the Obligor.
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15 | Increased Costs |
15.1 | Increased Costs |
(a) | Subject to clause 15.3 ( Exceptions ), the Borrower shall, promptly on 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 which: |
(i) | arises 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 in either case made after the date of this Agreement; and/or |
(ii) | is a Basel 3 Increased Cost. |
The terms law and regulation in this clause 15.1(a) shall include, without limitation, any law or regulation concerning capital adequacy, prudential limits, liquidity, reserve assets or Tax.
(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 Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.
15.2 | Increased Cost claims |
(a) | A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to clause 15.1 ( 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 to the Facility Agent. |
15.3 | Exceptions |
(a) | Clause 15.1 ( Increased Costs ) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is: |
(i) | attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor; |
(ii) | compensated for by clause 14.3 ( Tax indemnity ) (or would have been compensated for under clause 14.3 ( Tax indemnity ) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in clause 14.3(b) applied) or the application of clause 33.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ); |
(iii) | attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party; |
(iv) | attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation; |
(v) | compensated for by paragraph (d) of clause 14.11; or |
(vi) | compensated for by the payment of the Mandatory Cost. |
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(b) | In this clause 15.3, a reference to a Tax Deduction has the same meaning given to the term in clause 14.1 ( Definitions ). |
16 | Other indemnities |
16.1 | 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 that Obligor; and/or |
(ii) | obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings, |
that Obligor shall, as an independent obligation, promptly on demand by a Finance Party, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any Losses arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (i) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (ii) 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 unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable. |
16.2 | Other indemnities |
The Borrower shall promptly on demand by a Finance Party or K-sure, indemnify each Finance Party and/or K-sure against all Losses incurred by that Finance Party or K-sure as a result of:
(a) | the occurrence of any Event of Default; |
(b) | a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, all Losses arising as a result of clause 39 ( Sharing among the Finance Parties ); |
(c) | funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Loan requested by the Borrower in a Utilisation 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); or |
(d) | a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower. |
16.3 | Indemnity to the Agents and the Security Agent |
The Borrower shall promptly indemnify the Agents and the Security Agent against:
(a) | all Losses incurred by the Agents and/or the Security Agent (each acting reasonably) as a result of: |
(i) | investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default; |
(ii) | acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; or |
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(iii) | taking, or failing to take, any action in connection with clause 2.11 ( K-sure override ) (provided that the relevant Agent or Security Agent (as relevant) acted in good faith in taking, or failing to take, such action). |
16.4 | Indemnity to K-sure |
The Borrower shall promptly indemnify K-sure in relation to any costs or expenses (including legal fees) reasonably suffered or incurred by K-sure in connection with any assignment or transfer to K-sure undertaken pursuant to clauses 31.32 to 31.36 ( K-sure subrogation ) (including legal fees) or in connection with any review by K-sure of or in relation to any Event of Default and/or amendment or supplement to any of the Finance Documents, dispute between the Borrower or any Obligor on the one hand and the Finance Parties on the other prior to the assignment referred to in clauses 31.32 to 31.36 ( K-sure subrogation ) and/or a request for a consent or approval from K-sure.
The provisions of clause 37.9 ( Exclusion of Liability ) and clause 37.10 ( Lenders’ indemnity to the Facility Agent ) shall be deemed repeated and shall apply with respect to K-sure in this Agreement as if (each reference to the Facility Agent were a reference to K-sure and (ii) with respect to clause 37.10 ( Lenders’ indemnity to the Facility Agent ), each reference to a Lender in such clause were a reference to a K-sure Lender.
16.5 | Indemnity concerning security |
(a) | The Borrower shall promptly indemnify the Security Agent and any Receiver against all Losses incurred by it as a result of: |
(i) | any failure by the Borrower to comply with its obligations under clause 18 ( Costs and expenses ); |
(ii) | the taking, holding, protection or enforcement of the Security Documents; |
(iii) | the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions and remedies vested in the Security Agent and each Receiver by the Finance Documents or by law unless and to the extent that it was caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct; |
(iv) | any default by any Obligor in the performance of any of its obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents; or |
(v) | or which otherwise relates to any of the Charged Property or the performance of the terms of the Finance Documents (otherwise than as a result of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct). |
(b) | The Security Agent may, in priority to any payment to the other Finance Parties, indemnify itself out of the Trust Property in respect of, and pay and retain, all sums necessary to give effect to the indemnity in this clause 16.5 and shall have a lien on the Security Documents and the proceeds of the enforcement of those Security Documents for all monies payable to it. |
16.6 | General operating indemnity |
The Borrower hereby agrees at all times to pay promptly or, as the case may be, indemnify each Indemnified Person against all Losses incurred by it:
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(a) | as a result of the relevant Finance Party and/or K-sure exercising its rights under and in accordance with the Finance Documents to operate, possess or dispose of the Vessel or the Mooring or to perform the obligations of the Borrower under a Material Project Agreement and which arise directly or indirectly out of the refurbishment, conversion, manufacture, construction, installation, transportation, ownership, possession, performance, management, import to or export from any jurisdiction, control, use or operation, registration, navigation, certification, classification, management, manning, provisioning, the provision of bunkers and lubricating oils, testing, design, condition, acceptance, chartering, sub-leasing, insurance, maintenance, repair, service, modification, refurbishment, dry-docking, survey, overhaul, replacement, removal, repossession, return, redelivery of the Vessel (or any part thereof) or the Mooring (or any part thereof), whether or not such Losses may be attributable to any defect in the Vessel (or any part thereof) or the Mooring (or any part thereof) or to the design, construction or use thereof or from any maintenance, service, repair, overhaul, inspection or to any other reason whatsoever (whether similar to any of the foregoing or not), and regardless of when the same shall arise (whether prior to, during or after termination of this Agreement) and whether or not the Vessel or the Mooring (or any part thereof) is in the possession or control of the Borrower, any O&M Contractor or the Charterer or any other person; and/or |
(b) | which arise as a result of the relevant Finance Party and/or K-sure being party to a Finance Document or exercising its rights under and in accordance with the Finance Documents to operate, possess or dispose of the Vessel or the Mooring or perform the obligations of the Borrower under a Material Project Agreement as a consequence of any claim that any design, article or material in the Vessel (or any part thereof) or the Mooring (or any part thereof) or any part thereof or relating thereto or the operation or use thereof constitutes an infringement of patent, copyright, design or other proprietary right; and/or |
(c) | in preventing or attempting to prevent the arrest, confiscation, seizure, taking in execution, requisition, impounding, forfeiture or detention of the Vessel (or any part thereof) or the Mooring (or any part thereof) or in securing or attempting to secure the release of the Vessel (or any part thereof) or the Mooring (or any part thereof) in each case in accordance with the Finance Documents. |
16.7 | Environmental indemnity |
Without prejudice to the provisions of clause 16.6 ( General operating indemnity ), the Borrower shall indemnify the Indemnified Persons and each of them on demand and hold the Indemnified Persons and each of them harmless from and against all costs, expenses, payments, charges, Losses, demands, liabilities, actions, proceedings (whether civil or criminal), penalties, fines, damages, judgments, orders, sanctions or other outgoings of whatever nature which may be suffered, incurred or paid by, or made or asserted against the Indemnified Persons or any of them at any time, whether before or after the repayment in full of principal and interest under this Agreement, relating to, or arising directly or indirectly in any manner or for any cause or reason whatsoever out of an Environmental Claim in respect of any Obligor or the Vessel (whilst owned and operated by the Borrower or any other Obligor) or the Mooring (whilst owned and operated by the Borrower or any other Obligor) made or asserted against the Indemnified Persons or any of them if such Environmental Claim would not have been, or been capable of being, made or asserted against the Indemnified Persons if the Finance Parties and/or K-sure or the relevant Finance Party or K-sure had not entered into this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents (or in the case of K-sure issued the K-sure Policy) and/or exercised any of their rights, powers and discretions thereby conferred in accordance with their terms and/or performed any of their obligations thereunder in accordance with their terms.
16.8 | The indemnities contained in clause 16.6 ( General operating indemnity ) and clause 16.7 ( Environmental indemnity ) shall not extend to any claim or liability of an Indemnified Person to the extent that such claim or liability: |
(a) | arises as a direct consequence of the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of that Indemnified Person or in the case of K-sure or a Finance Party and their related Indemnified Persons, K-sure or that Finance Party, as the case may be, or their related Indemnified Persons; |
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(b) | is caused by any breach or failure on the part of that Indemnified Person or in the case of K-sure or a Finance Party and their related Indemnified Persons, K-sure or that Finance Party, as the case may be, or their related Indemnified Persons to comply with any of its obligations under any of the Finance Documents (but excluding any such breach or failure that arises as a result of the failure of a party to such Finance Document (other than that Indemnified Person or, in the case of a Finance Party or K-sure and their related Indemnified Persons, that Finance Party or K-sure or their related Indemnified Persons) to duly and punctually to perform its obligations); |
(c) | would have been, or capable of being, made or asserted against the Indemnified Person if the Finance Parties or relevant Finance Party or K-sure had not entered into one or more of the Finance Documents (or in the case of K-sure the K-sure Policy) and/or exercised any of their rights, powers and discretions thereby conferred in accordance with their terms and/or performed any of their obligations thereunder in accordance with their terms; |
(d) | represents any loss of future income or profits (other than to the extent the same comprises, consists or is derived from interest or the margin thereon or any Increased Costs); |
(e) | in respect of which that Indemnified Person or, in the case of K-sure or a Finance Party and their related Indemnified Persons, K-sure or that Finance Party or its related Indemnified Persons is expressly and specifically indemnified under any other provision of the Finance Documents. |
16.9 | Continuation of indemnities |
The indemnities of the Borrower in favour of an Indemnified Person contained in this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any breach by any Finance Party which is not that Indemnified Person or the Finance Party to which that Indemnified Person relates, or the Borrower of the terms of this Agreement, the repayment or prepayment of a Loan, the cancellation of the Total Commitments or the repudiation by the Facility Agent (in the case of an Indemnified Person other than the Facility Agent and its related Indemnified Persons) or the Borrower of this Agreement and shall survive the termination or expiry of this Agreement.
16.10 | Third Parties Act |
Each indemnified Person may rely on the terms of clause 16.5 ( Indemnity concerning security ) and clause 14 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) and 16.11 ( Interest ) insofar as it relates to interest on any amount demanded by that Indemnified Person under clause 16.5 ( Indemnity concerning security ), subject to clause 1.3 ( Third party rights ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.
16.11 | Interest |
Moneys becoming due by the Borrower to any Indemnified Person under the indemnities contained in this clause 16 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be paid within five (5) Business Days of demand made by the relevant Finance Party and shall be paid together with interest on the sum demanded from the due date therefore to the date of reimbursement by the Borrower to such Finance Party (both before and after judgment) at the rate referred to in clause 10.3 ( Default interest ) without double counting.
17 | Mitigation by the Lenders |
17.1 | Mitigation |
(a) | Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Borrower, 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 14 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) or clause 15 ( Increased costs ), clause 16 ( Other indemnities ) or paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 ( Mandatory Cost Formulae ) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office. |
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(b) | Clause 17.1(a) does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents. |
17.2 | Limitation of liability |
(a) | The Borrower shall within five (5) Business Days of demand indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under clause 17.1 ( Mitigation ). |
(b) | No Finance Party is obliged to take any steps under clause 17.1 ( Mitigation ) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it. |
18 | Costs and expenses |
18.1 | Transaction expenses |
The Borrower shall within fifteen (15) Business Days of demand pay the Finance Parties and K-sure the amount of all costs and expenses (not exceeding the amounts which have been pre-approved by the Borrower and to the extent so approved, including fees, costs and expenses of legal advisers and insurance, technical and other consultants and advisers) reasonably incurred by any of them (and by any Receiver) in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution, syndication, registration and perfection and any release, discharge or reassignment of:
(a) | this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement and the Original Security Documents; |
(b) | any other Finance Documents executed or proposed to be executed after the date of this Agreement; and/or |
(c) | any Security Interest expressed or intended to be granted by a Finance Document. |
18.2 | Amendment costs |
If an Obligor requests an amendment, waiver or consent, the Borrower shall, within fifteen (15) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent, reimburse the Finance Parties and K-sure for the amount of all costs and expenses (not exceeding the amounts which have been pre-approved by the Borrower and to the extent so approved including fees, costs and expenses of legal advisers and insurance and other consultants and advisers) reasonably incurred by the Finance Parties and K-sure (and by any Receiver) in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.
18.3 | Enforcement, preservation and other costs |
The Borrower shall within five (5) Business Days of demand by a Finance Party or K-sure, pay to each Finance Party and/or K-sure, as the case may be, the amount of all costs and expenses (including fees, costs and expenses of legal advisers and insurance and other consultants and advisers) incurred by that Finance Party and/or K-sure in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document and any proceedings initiated by or against any Finance Party or K-sure as a consequence of holding, or being a beneficiary of, the Charged Property or enforcing those rights, in each case in accordance with the Finance Documents.
18.4 | Appointment of advisers |
The Facility Agent may at any time:
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(a) | appoint such advisers as it considers necessary (acting reasonably and with the prior consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld)) to act on behalf of the Finance Parties in relation to the Project; and |
(b) | if any adviser resigns or its appointment ceases or is terminated, appoint a replacement to such advisers with the prior written consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld). |
18.5 | Costs and expenses |
The Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Facility Agent in connection with the appointment of any adviser under this clause 18 not exceeding the amount which has been pre agreed by the Borrower.
Section 7 - REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT
19 | Representations |
The Borrower makes and repeats the representations and warranties set out in this clause 19 to each Finance Party at the times specified in clause 19.31 ( Times when representations are made ) and provided that the Borrower only makes the representations in this clause 19 in respect of the Sponsor so long as it is a party to a Finance Document.
19.1 | Status |
(a) | Each Obligor and the Sponsor is duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation as a limited liability company or corporation. |
(b) | Each Obligor and the Sponsor has power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to own its property and other assets. |
19.2 | Binding obligations |
Subject to any applicable Legal Reservation, the obligations expressed to be assumed by each Obligor and the Sponsor in each Transaction Document to which it is a party are legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations.
19.3 | Power and authority |
(a) | Each Obligor and the Sponsor has power to enter into, perform and deliver and comply with its obligations under, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into, each Transaction Document to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. |
(b) | No limitation on any Obligor’s or the Sponsor’s powers to borrow, create security or give guarantees will be exceeded as a result of any transaction under, or the entry into, any Finance Document to which such Obligor is, or is required to be, a party. |
19.4 | Non-conflict |
The entry into and performance by each Obligor and the Sponsor of, and the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and the granting of the Security Interests purported to be created by the Security Documents do not and will not conflict with:
(a) | subject to any applicable Legal Reservation, any law or regulation applicable to any Obligor or the Sponsor; |
(b) | the constitutional documents of that Obligor or, as the case may be, the Sponsor; or |
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(c) | in relation to the Borrower, any agreement or other instrument binding upon it or its assets or constitute a default or termination event (however described) under any such agreement or instrument: |
(d) | in relation to art Obligor (other than the Borrower) and/or the Sponsor in any material respect any agreement or other instrument binding upon that Obligor or its assets or constitute a default or termination event (however described) under any such agreement or instrument, or |
result in the creation of any Security Interest (save for a Permitted Maritime Lien or under a Security Document) on any of its assets, rights or revenues.
19.5 | Validity and admissibility in evidence |
(a) | All Consents required (in connection with the Project and/or the Vessel and/or the Mooring or otherwise at the times this representation is made): |
(i) | to enable each Obligor and the Sponsor lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations (in the case of a Project Agreement the rights and obligations it is then entitled or required to exercise or perform, as the case may be) under each Transaction Document to which it is a party; and |
(ii) | subject to the Legal Reservations and Perfection Requirements, to make each Transaction Document to which it is a party admissible in evidence in its Relevant Jurisdiction, |
have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect except any authorisation or filing referred to in clause 19.12 ( No filing, stamp taxes or announcements ), which authorisation or filing will be promptly obtained or effected within any applicable period.
(b) | All Consents necessary for the conduct of the business, trade and ordinary activities of each Obligor and the Sponsor have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect if failure to obtain or effect those Consents has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
19.6 | Governing law and enforcement |
Subject to the Legal Reservations,
(a) | the choice of governing law of any Transaction Document will be recognised and enforced in each Obligor’s and the Sponsor’s Relevant Jurisdiction; and |
(b) | any arbitration award obtained in relation to an Obligor under a Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in the relevant Obligor’s and the Sponsors Relevant Jurisdictions. |
19.7 | Information |
(a) | Any Information is true and accurate in all material respects at the time it was given or made. |
(b) | There were at the time any Information was given or provided no facts or circumstances or any other information which have not been disclosed to a Finance Party in writing and could make the Information incomplete, untrue, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect. |
(c) | The Information did not at the time it was provided omit anything which could make that Information incomplete, untrue, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect. |
(d) | All opinions, projections, forecasts, estimates or expressions of intention contained in the Information and prepared by the Borrower, the Sponsor or their Affiliates and the assumptions on which they are based have been arrived at after due and careful enquiry and consideration and were believed to be reasonable by the person who provided that Information as at the date it was given or made. |
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(e) | For the purposes of this clause 19.7, Information means: any written information provided by any Obligor to any of the Finance Parties in connection with the Transaction Documents or the transactions referred to in them, excluding any Information concerning any third party (which is not an Obligor or a member of the Group) which was received and provided by the Borrower, the Sponsor or any of their Affiliates in good faith and to the best of its knowledge and belief at the time it was given or provided. |
19.8 | Original Financial Statements |
(a) | The Original Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with applicable GAAP consistently applied. |
(b) | The audited Original Financial Statements give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Guarantor during the relevant financial year. |
(c) | There has been no material adverse change in the assets, business or financial condition of the Guarantor since the date of the Original Financial Statements to a level that adversely effects the ability of any Obligor to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents. |
19.9 | Pari passu ranking |
Each Facility Obligor’s payment obligations under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated payment obligations, except for the order or priority for payments under the Finance Documents set out in any Finance Document and any obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.
19.10 | Ranking and effectiveness of security |
Subject to any applicable Legal Reservation and the Perfection Requirements, the security created by the Security Documents has (or will have when the Security Documents have been executed and the applicable Perfection Requirements completed) the priority which it is expressed to have in the Security Documents, the Charged Property is not subject to any Security Interest other than Permitted Security Interests and such security will following completion of the Perfection Requirements constitute perfected security on the assets described in the Security Documents to the extent provided for under the Security Documents.
19.11 | No insolvency |
No corporate action, legal proceeding or other procedure or step described in clause 31.9 ( Insolvency proceedings ) or creditors’ process described in clause 31.11 ( Creditors’ process ) has been taken or, to the knowledge of any Facility Obligor, threatened in relation to any Facility Obligor and none of the circumstances described in clause 31.8 ( Insolvency ) applies to any Facility Obligor.
19.12 | No filing, stamp taxes or announcements |
Under the laws of its Relevant Jurisdictions it is not necessary that any Transaction Document to which it is party be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration, notarial or similar Taxes or fees be paid on or in relation to any such Transaction Document or the transactions contemplated by such Transaction Documents except for such filings, recordings, enrolments and payments that have been made, any applicable Perfection Requirements and any filing, recording or enrolling or any tax or fee payable in relation to any Transaction Document which is referred to in any legal opinion delivered to the Facility Agent under clause 4.1 ( Initial conditions precedent ) or in connection with any Finance Document entered into after first Utilisation and which will be made or paid promptly within any applicable period.
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19.13 | No Default |
(a) | No Default is continuing or is reasonably likely to result from the making of any Utilisation or the entry into, the performance of, or any transaction contemplated by, any Transaction Document. |
(b) | No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes (or, with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination or any combination of any of the foregoing, would constitute) a default or termination event (however described) under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on any Obligor or to which any Obligor’s assets are subject which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
19.14 | No proceedings pending or threatened |
Other than as disclosed to the Mandated Lead Arrangers in the Disclosure Letter, no litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or investigations of, or before, any court, arbitral body or agency have (to the best of any Obligor’s knowledge and belief) been started or threatened against any Obligor which in relation to the Guarantor only, if adversely determined, would have or might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
19.15 | No breach of laws |
(a) | Each Obligor is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, in the case of the Borrower, in all material respects and in the case of an Obligor other than the Borrower to the extent that failure to do so has or might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) | No labour dispute is current or, to the best of any Obligor’s knowledge and belief, threatened against any Obligor which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
19.16 | Taxation |
(a) | The Borrower is not overdue in the filing of any Tax returns or overdue in the payment of any amount in respect of Tax; and |
(b) | the Guarantor is not materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns or materially overdue in the payment of any amount in respect of Tax, |
save in each case to the extent that (i) payment is being contested in goodfaith; (ii) adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes; and (iii) payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay these Taxes will not or could not reasonably be expected to result in the imposition of any penalty.
(c) | Other than as disclosed to the Mandated Lead Arrangers in the Disclosure Letter, no claims or investigations are being, or is reasonably likely to be, made or conducted against any Obligor with respect to Taxes such that a liability of, or claim against, any Obligor is reasonably likely to arise for an amount for which adequate reserves are not being maintained and which has or is reasonably like to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(d) | The Borrower is resident for Tax purposes only in the jurisdiction of its incorporation. |
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19.17 | Security and Financial Indebtedness |
(a) | No Security Interest other than any Permitted Security Interest exists over all or any of the present or future assets of the Borrower or the Consortium Agreement or the Umbrella Agreement. |
(b) | The Borrower does not have any Financial Indebtedness outstanding in breach of this Agreement. |
19.18 | Legal and beneficial ownership |
Each Obligor which is a party to a Security Document is, subject to the Security Interests under the Security Documents, the sole legal and beneficial owner of the respective assets over which it purports to grant a Security Interest under the Security Documents.
19.19 | Shares |
(a) | The shares of the Borrower will, at all times from the date of the Shares Security in respect of those shares, be fully paid and not subject to any Security Interest (other than pursuant to the Security Documents), any option to purchase or similar rights other than under the Shareholders Agreement and Equity Loan Agreements. The Constitutional Documents of the Borrower do not and could not restrict or inhibit any transfer of those shares on creation or enforcement of the Security Documents. Other than the Shareholders Agreement and Equity Loan Agreements, there are no agreements in force which provide for the issue or allotment of, or grant any person the right to call for the issue or allotment of, any share capital of the Borrower (including any option or right of pre-emption or conversion). |
(b) | The Guarantor indirectly, legally and beneficially, owns at least forty nine per cent (49%) of the shares in the Borrower and has management control of the Borrower. |
(c) | On the first Utilisation Date, the Indonesian Shareholders, together, directly, legally and beneficially, own 51% of the shares in the Borrower and the Singapore Shareholder directly, legally and beneficially, owns 49% of the shares in the Borrower. |
19.20 | Copies of documents |
The copies of the Project Agreements to which an Obligor or the Sponsor is a party and the Constitutional Documents of the Obligors delivered to the Facility Agent under clause 4 ( Conditions of Utilisation ) will be true, complete and accurate copies of such documents and all amendments and supplements to them as at the time of such delivery have been delivered to the Facility Agent and no other agreements or arrangements exist between any of the parties to any such Project Agreement which would materially affect the transactions or arrangements contemplated by any such Project Agreement or modify or release the obligations of any party under that Project Agreement which have not been delivered to the Facility Agent as required hereunder.
19.21 | No immunity |
No Obligor or any of its assets is immune to any legal action or proceeding that may be taken under the Finance Documents.
19.22 | Vessel status |
The Vessel shall:
(a) | on the first day of the Mortgage Period be registered in the name of the Borrower through the Registry as a ship (or other applicable category of vessel or installation) under the laws and flag of the Flag State. |
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(b) | on the Delivery Date be seaworthy and has been built in accordance with its Specifications; |
(c) | on the Delivery Date be classed with the relevant Classification free of all overdue conditions; and |
(d) | on the Delivery Date be insured in the manner required by the Finance Documents. |
19.23 | Earnings |
There is no agreement or arrangement whereby the Earnings may be shared with any other person except as expressly provided for in the Finance Documents and Material Project Agreements.
19.24 | Other business |
The Borrower is not currently involved in any business whatsoever, other than as contemplated by the Transaction Documents and has not undertaken any other business which is still continuing.
19.25 | Subsidiaries and minority interest |
The Borrower has no Subsidiaries and holds no share or stock in any corporate entity of any kind or in any partnership.
19.26 | No Prohibited Payments |
To the best of its knowledge, no Prohibited Payment has been made or provided, directly or indirectly, by (or on behalf of) it, any of its Affiliates, its officers, directors or any other person acting on its behalf to, or for the benefit of, any Authority (or any official, officer, director, agent or key employee of, or other person with management responsibilities in, any Authority) in connection with any Finance Document.
19.27 | No funds of illicit origin |
None of the sources of funds provided other than under the Finance Documents and to be used by it in connection with any Finance Document or its business are of illicit origin.
19.28 | Sanctions |
(a) | No Loan will be used by any Facility Obligor or any other member of the Group: |
(i) | to finance equipment or sectors under embargo decisions of the United Nations or the World Bank; or |
(ii) | in breach of any Sanctions. |
(b) | No Obligor, nor any of their respective Subsidiaries or joint ventures, nor any of their respective directors, officers or employees nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower or the Guarantor, any persons acting on any of their behalf in connection with the Project: |
(i) | is a Restricted Party; or |
(ii) | is aware of any valid claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation against it with respect to Sanctions by any Sanctions Authority. |
19.29 | No adverse consequences |
(a) | Subject to the Legal Reservations, it is not necessary under the laws of the Relevant Jurisdictions of any Obligor: |
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(i) | in order to enable any Finance Party to enforce its rights under any Finance Document; or |
(ii) | by reason of the execution of any Finance Document or the performance by any Obligor of its obligations under any Finance Document, |
that any Finance Party should be licensed, qualified or otherwise entitled to carry on business in any of such Relevant Jurisdictions.
19.30 | K-sure Policy |
(a) | To the best of its knowledge, no Obligor has done, or omitted to do anything, and no event or circumstance has occurred, which has made, or could make, the K-sure Policy void or voidable. |
(b) | No Obligor has received any valid notification that the liability of K-sure or the government of Korea under the K-sure Policy has been reduced or avoided. |
19.31 | Times when representations are made |
(a) | All of the representations and warranties set out in this clause 19 (other than Vessel Representations) are made on the date of this Agreement and are deemed to be repeated on the dates of: |
(i) | the first Utilisation Request; and |
(ii) | the first Utilisation. |
(b) | The Repeating Representations are deemed to be repeated on the dates of each subsequent Utilisation Request and on the first day of each Interest Period. |
(c) | The Vessel Representations are deemed to be made and repeated on the first day of the Mortgage Period and on Final Acceptance. |
(d) | Each representation or warranty deemed to be made after the date of this Agreement shall be deemed to be made by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing at the date the representation or warranty is deemed to be made. |
20 | Information undertakings |
The undertakings in this clause 20 remain in force during the Facility Period.
In this clause 20:
Annual Financial Statement means in relation to a Facility Obligor the financial statements for a financial year of such Obligor delivered pursuant to clause 20.1(a).
Semi-annual Financial Statement means, in relation to a Facility Obligor the financial statements for the first half of a financial year of such Obligor delivered pursuant to clause 20.1(c).
20.1 | Financial statements |
(a) | The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent as soon as the same become available, but in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each of the relevant Facility Obligors’ financial years the audited (consolidated in the case of the Guarantor) financial statements of the Borrower and the Guarantor for that financial year (or part of a year in the case of the Borrower’s first statements) |
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(b) | The Borrower shall use its reasonable endeavours to supply to the Facility Agent as soon as the same become available to it the annual audited financial statements (consolidated if applicable) of the Charterer for that financial year together with any information concerning the Charterer which the Lenders may reasonably require that the Borrower may obtain using reasonable endeavours. |
(c) | The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent as soon as the same become available, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of the first half of the relevant Facility Obligors’ financial years the unaudited financial statements of the relevant Facility Obligor for that financial half-year. |
20.2 | Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate |
(a) | Unless the Guarantor is not then a Facility Obligor, the Borrower shall supply a Compliance Certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the Guarantor to the Facility Agent with each set of financial statements of the Guarantor delivered pursuant to clause 20.1 ( Financial statements ); |
(b) | The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent a Compliance Certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the Borrower within ten (10) Business Days of each K-sure Tranche Repayment Date. |
(c) | Each Compliance Certificate shall, amongst other things, set out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with clause 21.1 ( Borrower Financial Covenants ) (in the case of a Compliance Certificate signed by the Borrower) or clause 21.2 ( Guarantor Financial Covenants ) (in the case of a Compliance Certificate signed by the Guarantor). A Compliance Certificate signed by the Borrower shall also set out the Debt Service Coverage Ratio for the purposes of the Distribution Restrictions, if a transfer to the Distribution Account has been made or is proposed to be made on or within ten (10) Business Days of that Repayment Date and the Debt Service Coverage Ratio for the purposes of the Completion Guarantee Release Date if applicable. |
20.3 | Requirements as to financial statements |
(a) | The Borrower shall procure that each set of Annual Financial Statements and Semiannual Financial Statements includes a profit and loss account, a balance sheet and a cashflow statement and that, in addition each set of Annual Financial Statements shall be audited by one of the Auditors. |
(b) | Each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to clause 20.1 ( Financial statements ) shall: |
(i) | be prepared in accordance with applicable GAAP; |
(ii) | give a true and fair view of (in the case of Annual Financial Statements for any financial year), or fairly represent (in other cases), the financial condition and operations of the relevant Obligor as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up; |
(iii) | in the case of Annual Financial Statements and the Semi-annual Financial Statements, be in English or accompanied by an English translation. |
20.4 | Information: miscellaneous |
The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent and the K-sure Agent (and the K-sure Agent shall supply to K-sure):
(a) | together with the monthly progress reports required to be delivered to the Facility Agent pursuant to clause 24.6(a) ( Information concerning the Project ): |
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(i) | copies of all documents dispatched by the Borrower to its shareholders generally (or any class of them) (in relation to extraordinary matters); |
(ii) | copies of all documents dispatched by any Facility Obligor to its creditors generally; |
(b) | promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any Obligor, and which, if adversely determined, might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; |
(c) | promptly, such information as the Facility Agent may reasonably require about the Charged Property and compliance of the Obligors with the terms of any Security Documents; |
(d) | promptly on request, such further information regarding the financial condition, assets and operations of the Borrower and/or the Guarantor and/or the performance of the Charter and/or the other Project Agreements as any Finance Party or K-sure, through the Facility Agent, may reasonably request, except to the extent that disclosure of such information would breach contract to which it is a party, any law, regulation or stock exchange requirement or listing rule; |
(e) | promptly following any changes to the authorised signatories of the Borrower in relation to any of the Project Accounts (other than the Distribution Account) and/or a Utilisation Request, notice of such changes in the form of a certificate signed by the authorised director(s) of the Borrower in accordance with its articles of association together with specimen signatures of any new signatory; |
(f) | promptly following the making of any amendment to any constitutional documents of either Facility Obligor, a notification of the details of such amendment together with complete copies of each amended constitutional document; and |
(g) | promptly following any changes in the percentage ownership interests and/or shareholding of the Borrower, a notification of the details of such change. |
20.5 | Change in law |
The Borrower shall, promptly upon becoming aware of the same, advise the Facility Agent upon any change in law or regulation which has or might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
20.6 | Sufficient copies |
The Borrower shall supply sufficient copies of each document to be supplied under the Finance Documents to the Facility Agent to distribute to each of the Lenders and K-sure, and a document in electronic format shall be sufficient to satisfy this requirement provided that a single certified hard copy is provided to the Facility Agent if the relevant document is required to be provided in certified form and a certified hard copy is required to fulfil this requirement.
20.7 | “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 the status of an Obligor or the composition of the shareholders of an Obligor after the date of this Agreement; or |
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(iii) | 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, |
obliges the Facility Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, each Obligor 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, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Facility Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied with the results of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
(b) | Each Finance Party shall promptly upon the request of the Facility Agent or the Security Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Facility Agent or the Security Agent (for itself) in order for it to carry out and be satisfied with the results of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents. |
20.8 | Notification of defaults |
The Borrower shall promptly inform the Facility Agent of:
(a) | any material occurrence of which it becomes aware which has or which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; |
(b) | any Default under this Agreement of which it becomes aware and will from time to time, if so requested by the Security Agent, confirm to the Security Agent in writing that, save as otherwise stated in such confirmation, it is not aware of any Default that has occurred and is continuing; and/or |
(c) | any material breach of the Charter or any other Material Project Agreement or Shareholders Agreement or EPCIC Contract by any party (and the steps, if any, that the Borrower is aware are being taken to remedy such breach) promptly upon the Borrower becoming aware of the same; |
20.9 | Remedy of Defaults |
The Borrower will, promptly after request by the Facility Agent, provide the Facility Agent with evidence satisfactory to the Lenders (acting reasonably) of the remedy of any Default or Event of Default which has occurred and been remedied.
20.10 | K-sure Policy |
The Borrower will, promptly after request by the K-sure Agent, promptly supply to the K-sure Agent copies of all financial or other information reasonably required by K-sure to satisfy any request for information made by K-sure pursuant to the K-sure Policy, except to the extent that such disclosure of such information would breach contract to which it is a party, any law, regulation or stock exchange requirement or listing rule.
21 | Financial covenants |
The Borrower undertakes that the undertakings in this clause 21 will be complied with throughout the Facility Period.
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21.1 | Borrower Financial Covenants |
The Borrower shall ensure that, from the second K-sure Tranche Repayment Date and thereafter, the Debt Service Coverage Ratio for any Relevant Period is not less than 1.10:1.
21.2 | Guarantor Financial Covenants |
The Borrower shall procure that, from the date of this Agreement up to and including the Guarantee Release Date:
Minimum Book Equity
(a) | Book Equity is greater than the higher of (i) $200,000,000 and (ii) twenty five percent (25%) of the Total Assets; and |
Minimum liquidity
(b) | Free Liquid Assets are greater than $20,000,000. |
21.3 | Financial testing |
The financial covenants set out in this clause 21 shall be calculated in accordance with applicable GAAP and tested:
(a) | in the case of the Borrower’s financial covenants in clause 21.1 ( Borrower Financial Covenants ), by reference to the Compliance Certificates signed by the Borrower delivered pursuant to clause 20.2; and |
(b) | in the case of the Guarantors financial covenants in clause 21.2 ( Guarantor Financial Covenants ), by reference to each of the financial statements and each Compliance Certificate signed by the Guarantor delivered pursuant to clause 20.2 ( Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate ) on the date they are delivered, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
22 | General undertakings |
The undertakings in this clause 22 will remain in force throughout the Facility Period.
22.1 | Use of proceeds |
The Borrower undertakes that the proceeds of Utilisations will be used exclusively for the purposes specified in clause 3 ( Purpose ).
22.2 | Authorisations |
The Borrower will promptly and shall procure that each other Obligor and the Sponsor shall:
(a) | obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and |
(b) | to the extent requested by the Facility Agent, supply certified copies to the Facility Agent of, |
each Consent required under any law or regulation of a Relevant Jurisdiction to:
(i) | enable it to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party; |
(ii) | ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Transaction Document to which it is a party; and |
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(iii) | carry on its business where failure to do so has or might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
22.3 | Pari passu |
The Borrower shall and shall ensure that each Facility Obligor shall ensure that its payment obligations under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents to which it is a party shall at all times rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness with the exception of any order of priority for payments under the Finance Documents set out in any Finance Documents and any obligations which are mandatorily preferred by law and not by contract.
22.4 | Compliance with laws |
The Borrower shall and shall procure that in respect of the Vessel any O&M Contractor will comply in all respects with all laws and regulations (including Environmental Laws and Environmental and Social Regulations) to which it may be subject where failure to do so has or might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on an Obligor’s ability to perform its obligations under a Material Project Agreement.
22.5 | Anti-corruption law |
(a) | The Borrower will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of any Facility to make any Prohibited Payment. |
(b) | The Borrower shall conduct its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws. |
22.6 | Taxation |
(a) | The Borrower shall pay and discharge all Tax imposed upon it or its assets within such time period as may be allowed by law without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that: |
(i) | such payment is being contested in good faith; |
(ii) | adequate reserves are being maintained for those Tax and the costs required to contest them which have been disclosed (or will when they are delivered) in its latest financial statements delivered to the Facility Agent under clause 20.1 ( Financial statements ); and |
(iii) | such payment can be lawfully withheld. |
(b) | The Borrower shall maintain its residence for Tax purposes in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated and ensure that it is not resident for Tax purposes in any other jurisdiction except with the consent of the Facility Agent. |
22.7 | Change of business |
The Borrower undertakes that no change will be made to the general nature of its business from that carried on at the date of this Agreement.
22.8 | Merger |
The Borrower will not enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction.
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22.9 | Further assurance |
(a) | The Borrower shall and shall ensure that each other Obligor and the Sponsor shall promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions) as the Facility Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as the Facility Agent may reasonably require in favour of the Security Agent or its nominee(s)): |
(i) | to perfect any Security Interests created or expressed to be created by that Obligor and/or the Sponsor under or evidenced by the Security Documents (which may include the execution of a mortgage, pledge, fiduciary security, charge, assignment or other security over all or any of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Security Documents) 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) | confer on the Security Agent or on the Finance Parties Security Interests over any Charged Property of that Obligor and/or the Sponsor located in any jurisdiction equivalent or similar to the Security Interest expressed to be conferred by or pursuant to the Security Documents and that are recognised and effective under the laws of such jurisdiction; and/or |
(iii) | after an Event of Default that is continuing, to facilitate the realisation of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Security Documents. |
(b) | The Borrower shall and shall ensure that each other applicable Obligor and/or, as the case may be, the Sponsor shall take all such action as is available to it (including making all filings and registrations) and is requested by the Security Agent and may be necessary for the purpose of the creation, perfection as required under the Finance Documents, protection or maintenance of any Security Interest conferred or expressed to be conferred on the Security Agent or the Finance Parties by or pursuant to the Finance Documents including but not limited to: |
(i) | the registration of the Fiduciary Assignments with the Fiduciary Registration Office having jurisdiction over the legal domicile of the relevant fiduciary grantor; |
(ii) | the registration of the Mortgage with the port authority that issued the Grosse Akta Pendaftaran Kapal relating to the Vessel; |
(iii) | the registration of the Shares Security in the Borrowers share register; |
(iv) | the reporting of the execution and the filing of this Agreement with each of Bank Indonesia, the Ministry of Finance and Coordination of Management Offshore Commercial Loan Team ( Tim Koordinasi Pengelolaan Pinjaman Komersial Luar Negeri ) and/or the Financial Service Authority ( Otoritas Jasa Keuangan ) (as applicable); and |
(v) | the payment of nominal stamp tax in the amount of Rp6,000 on the Finance Documents to which the Borrower is a party. |
22.10 | Translations |
(a) | The Finance Documents are executed in the English language. The Parties confirm that they fully understand and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Finance Documents notwithstanding that the Finance Documents are prepared and executed in English. |
(b) | In compliance with Law No. 24 of 2009 regarding National Flag, Language, Emblem and Anthem, the Borrower agrees, at its own cost: |
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(i) | to translate and to ensure that the relevant Obligors take such actions as are reasonably required on their part and to use reasonable endeavours on the other relevant Indonesian parties to execute a Bahasa Indonesia version of each of the Transaction Documents listed in Schedule 14 (List of Translated Documents) in the agreed form: or |
(ii) | in the case of the Transaction Documents listed in Schedule 14 (List of Translated Documents) involving Indonesian parties (in addition to the Borrower), to translate and to ensure that the relevant Obligors and to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that all other relevant parties to such Transaction Documents sign a confirmation to be attached to each Indonesian translation pursuant to which the parties (i) confirm that the translation constitutes the Indonesian version of the document to satisfy the requirement of Law 24 and (ii) provide similar language undertakings as provided in items (a), (c) and (d) of this clause 22.10, |
no later than the later of (i) ninety (90) days after the date of this Agreement; (ii) the date such Transaction Document is entered into; (iii) or any other date as agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent; and provide a copy of the same to the Facility Agent (or in the case of a Finance Document an original signed by the relevant Obligors).
(c) | The Parties agree that: (i) the Bahasa Indonesia version of the Transaction Documents, if executed, will be deemed to be effective from the date the English language version was executed; and (ii) in the event of inconsistency between the Bahasa Indonesia version and the English version, the English version shall prevail and the relevant Bahasa Indonesia text will be deemed to be amended to conform with and to make the relevant Indonesian text consistent with the relevant English text. |
(d) | The Borrower further agrees and undertakes that not to (or allow or assist any other party to), in any manner or forum, challenge the validity of, or raise or file any objection to, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or the transactions contemplated by any Transaction Document on the basis of any failure to comply with Law 24 or its implementing regulations or other similar laws and regulations applicable in Indonesia. |
22.11 | No prejudicial action |
The Borrower shall not do anything and shall not take any action against any person (including, without limitation, any insolvency official or similar officer of, or any creditor of, the Borrower or any other person claiming through, under or in place of the Borrower) which has or is reasonably likely to have the effect of prejudicing any Security Interest created by any Security Document in favour of any Finance Party except for such actions permitted by this Agreement.
22.12 | Negative pledge in respect of Charged Property |
Except for Permitted Security Interests, the Borrower will not and shall procure than no Obligor will grant or allow to exist any Security Interest over any Charged Property.
22.13 | Action of Borrower |
At any time after an Event of Default which is continuing, the Borrower shall take such action, make such requests or demands and give such notices and certificates (including, without limitation, any lawful demand for payment under any of the Transaction Documents) as the Facility Agent or the Security Agent may reasonably request and, if requested by the Facility Agent shall not, without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent, take any steps to enforce or exercise, and shall take such reasonable steps as the Facility Agent or the Security Agent may direct to enforce or exercise, any rights, remedies, powers and privileges under the Charter or in respect of the Vessel or the Mooring or any of the Borrower’s Security.
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22.14 | Subordinated Loan |
(a) | At all times from the first Utilisation Date (or in the case of the Sponsor three (3) Business Days after the first Utilisation Date), the Borrower shall ensure (and procure) that if the Sponsor, a Shareholder (or any other member of the Group) has or may have outstanding rights or claims against the Borrower in respect of any Subordinated Loan or Promissory Note (or any other inter-company loan made available to the Borrower) such person shall have executed a Subordination Deed. The Finance Parties shall promptly take any action that is reasonably requested by the Borrower and required on their part to ensure a Subordination Deed is executed for this purpose |
(b) | The Borrower agrees that following the occurrence of a Default, the Borrower shall not repay and shall procure that the Sponsor, a Shareholder or any relevant member of the Group shall not demand or accept repayment of any such loans or payments of any Promissory Notes, in each case without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent acting on the instructions of the Lenders except to the extent that such payments are made from amounts standing to the credit of the Distribution Account (which payments can be made without any such consent). |
22.15 | Balloon Refinancing |
Subject to the provisions of this clause 22.15, each of the Finance Parties hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Borrower may procure that the Balloon is effectively refinanced by an extension of the FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date by agreement with existing Lenders and/or new lenders, subject to the terms of this Agreement. Each of the following conditions must be satisfied in respect of an Approved Refinancing pursuant to this clause:
(a) | the Borrower has notified the Facility Agent of the proposed Approved Refinancing and provided the Lenders with the opportunity to provide terms and/or to match other terms received and, to the extent a Lender has (acting in its absolute discretion), within twenty (20) Business Days of request, agreed to provide terms matching those provided to the Borrower from such banks (including Lenders if applicable) as it may select at its discretion, each such Lender that has agreed to participate in the Approved Refinancing has been allocated a commitment equal to the maximum amount of its agreed commitment or, to the extent such maximum commitments exceed in aggregate the amount of the desired Approved Refinancing a commitment pro rata to the proportion its maximum commitment has to the aggregate maximum commitments; |
(b) | the date that the proposed Approved Refinancing is to be effected falling not earlier than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the Original FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date and not later than the Original FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date; |
(c) | the Borrower has delivered to the Facility Agent the details of the proposed terms of the Approved Refinancing such that the proposed FSRU Tranche will from the date of the Original FSRU Final Maturity Date have a minimum loan tenor of 5 years (or if less a tenor equal to the outstanding tenor of the K-sure Facility) and an average loan life of not less 2.5 years (or, if less an average loan life equal to the average remaining loan life of the K-sure Facility calculated from the Original FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date) and otherwise shall only require changes to the applicable Margin, the FSRU Tranche Repayment Dates, the FSRU Tranche Repayment Instalments, the FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date and any other necessary consequential changes |
(d) | the Lenders (acting reasonably) receive evidence satisfactory to them (supported by necessary legal opinions) that upon and following any such Approved Refinancing: |
(i) | each Security Document remains valid, legal, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms to the same extent as required by the terms of the Finance Documents prior to any Approved Refinancing being effected; and |
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(ii) | the K-sure Policy remains in full force and effect and such confirmations as they may reasonably require from the K-sure Agent and K-sure that the K-sure Policy is not the subject of any arbitration or legal proceedings; |
(e) | Any New Lender is not a bank or a financial institution located in any sanctioned country which is the subject of Sanctions. |
22.16 | Each Commercial Lender that is not participating in an Approved Refinancing or whose maximum commitment for an Approved Refinancing is less than its participation in the FSRU Tranche Loans, in each case in accordance with clause 22.15 ( Balloon Refinancing ), shall promptly on request by the Borrower transfer its participation on the FSRU Tranche Loans, or the relevant part of its participation, as applicable, to such of the participating lenders as the Borrower may direct, provided that on such transfer the relevant Commercial Lender receives all amounts owing to it in its capacity as a Commercial Lender pursuant to this Agreement and the other Finance Documents. Each Finance Party agrees to promptly enter into such Transfer Certificates, amendment agreements or letters and other documents as are reasonably requested by the Borrower to implement an Approved Refinancing in accordance with clause 22.15 ( Balloon Refinancing ). All costs reasonably incurred by a Finance Party in relation to any such transfer to be borne by the Borrower in accordance with clause 18.2 ( Amendment costs ). |
23 | Construction undertakings |
23.1 | Construction period |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 23 will be complied with throughout the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of (i) the Final Acceptance Date and (ii) the end of the Facility Period.
23.2 | Performance by Builder, Mooring EPC Contractor and Mooring Installation Contractor |
The Borrower shall use its reasonable endeavours to ensure that:
(a) | the Builder builds the Lampung FSRU diligently; and |
(b) | the Mooring EPC Contractor and the Mooring Installation Contractor build and installs, respectively, the Mooring diligently. |
23.3 | Progress and information |
Upon the Facility Agent’s reasonable request, the Borrower shall and shall procure that the Supervisor shall:
(a) | advise the Facility Agent of the progress of construction of the Lampung FSRU and the Mooring; and |
(b) | supply the Facility Agent with such other information as the Facility Agent may reasonably require about the construction of the Lampung FSRU or the Mooring or the Building Contract or any Refund Guarantee or any other Building Contract Document or the Mooring Documents. |
23.4 | Enforcement of rights |
If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall do everything it is entitled to do under any Building Contract Document or any Mooring Document which the Facility Agent requires for the purpose of enforcing the rights of the Borrower under the Building Contract and/or any Refund Guarantee and/or any other Building Contract Document and/or any Mooring Document and allow its name to be used by the Security Agent for that purpose.
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23.5 | Notification of certain events |
The Borrower shall notify the Facility Agent promptly if:
(a) | any party cancels, rescinds, repudiates or otherwise terminates the Building Contract (or purports to do so) or rejects the Lampung FSRU (or purports to do so) or if the Lampung FSRU becomes a Total Loss or partial loss or is materially damaged or if a dispute arises under the Building Contract which has or might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or |
(b) | any party cancels, rescinds, repudiates or otherwise terminates any Mooring Document (or purports to do so) or rejects the Mooring (or purports to do so) or if, prior to and including the Final Acceptance Date, the Mooring becomes a Total Loss or partial loss or is materially damaged or if a dispute arises under any Mooring Document which has or might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
23.6 | Vessel’s registration and mortgage |
The Borrower will by no later than ten (10) Business Days after Delivery register the Lampung FSRU with the relevant Registry under the laws and flag of its Flag State and by no later than five (5) Business Days after the later of (i) Delivery and (ii) issuance of the Gross Akte Pendaftaran Kapal execute the Mortgage in the presence of officials of the Directorate General of Sea Communication of the Department of Communication of the Republic of Indonesia and submit the Mortgage for registration against the Lampung FSRU as a first priority Indonesian ship mortgage.
23.7 | Sale or other disposal |
Except with approval of the Lenders and K-sure, or under the Security Documents, the Borrower will not dispose of its rights:
(a) | under the Building Contract, any Refund Guarantee or any other Building Contract Document; or |
(b) | under any Mooring Document other than a sale or transfer to the Charterer in accordance with the Charter and having repaid or concurrently repaid the Mooring Loan in full (and the Security Agent shall promptly release the Mooring and the Mooring Documents from the relevant Security Interests for such purpose), |
or, in either case, agree to do so except as contemplated under paragraph (b) above.
23.8 | Variations to the Building Contract, Mooring EPC Contract and Mooring Installation Contract |
(a) | Subject always to the provisions of this clause 23.8, the Borrower may vary the Building Contract and/or the Mooring EPC Contract and/or the Mooring Installation Contract and/or change the specification of the Vessel and/or the Mooring if required by law, the Classification Society or the Charterer in accordance with the Charter. |
(b) | Except with approval of the Lenders (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed where the Charterer has agreed to pay in advance for such variation and where the conditions in paragraphs (i) and (iv) below do not apply), the Building Contract and/or the Mooring EPC Contract and/or the Mooring Installation Contract shall not be varied and the specification of the Lampung FSRU and/or the Mooring shall not be changed in a way which: |
(i) | might reasonably be expected to delay Delivery beyond the Last Availability Date; or |
(ii) | will increase the Project Cost by a cumulative amount greater than $15,000,000; or |
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(iii) | notwithstanding the generality of paragraph (ii) above, will increase the Mooring Contract Price by a cumulative amount greater than 10%; or |
(iv) | might reasonably be expected to result in any forecast shortfall in funding to achieve Final Acceptance in excess of $5,000,000. |
(c) | The Borrower shall agree in writing with the Builder the terms and specification of any such work before the work is put in hand irrespective of whether approval of that work is required under the Finance Documents; |
23.9 | Variations to other Building Contract Documents and Mooring Documents |
Except with approval of the Lenders, any Refund Guarantee, the Modec Guarantee and/or any Builder’s Performance L/C shall not be varied.
23.10 | Rejection and cancellation |
Except with approval, the Borrower shall not exercise any right which it may have to permanently reject the Lampung FSRU or the Mooring or cancel or rescind or otherwise terminate the Building Contract, the Mooring EPC Contract or the Mooring Installation Contract.
24 | Project undertakings |
The undertakings in this clause 24 apply throughout the Facility Period.
24.1 | Project Agreements |
(a) | The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each other Obligor shall, duly and punctually perform, comply with and observe each of its respective obligations under each Project Agreement to which it is party and use its reasonable endeavours to ensure that each other party to them performs their obligations under the Project Agreements in each case to the extent that failure to do so has or may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on any Obligor’s ability to perform its obligations under the Project Agreements. |
(b) | The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each other Obligor shall, maintain and enforce its respective rights under the Project Agreements in each case to the extent that failure to do so has or may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on any Obligor’s ability to perform its obligations under the Project Agreements. |
(c) | If the Borrower and/or any other Obligor has the right to terminate a Material Project Agreement, the Borrower shall, and shall procure that any Obligor shall, (a) not exercise that right without the written consent of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders and K-sure) and (b) exercise that right if so directed by the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders and K-sure) if an Event of Default is continuing, provided that if the Borrower has a right to terminate the Charter and the Charterer is, or would following such termination be, required to pay to the Borrower either a Company Breach Termination Amount or a Non Vessel FM Termination Amount (as each such term is defined in the Charter) in an amount which is sufficient to discharge all Secured Obligations in full and no other Event of Default is continuing) such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the Borrower may exercise any rights to terminate a Project Agreement which a O&M Contractor or the Supervisor is party to at any time when that O&M Contractor or Supervisor is being replaced in accordance with this Agreement. |
(d) | The Borrower shall not (and shall procure that no other Obligor shall), without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders), permit or agree or consent to: |
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(i) | any withdrawal of the Lampung FSRU from service under the Charter at a time when the Borrower is entitled to terminate the Charter (except any suspension of services under clause 26.3(c) of the Charter or when termination is required or permitted under this Agreement) or which entitles the Charterer to terminate, or may reasonably be expected to entitle the Charterer to terminate, the Charter; |
(ii) | save for Permitted Amendments and as otherwise permitted under this Agreement (including under paragraph (e) below), any amendment or variation of, or waiver or release of a party’s obligations or liabilities under, any Project Agreement or the Shareholder Agreement; |
(iii) | save for Permitted Amendments and as otherwise permitted under this Agreement, any variation or series of variations to the Works or any changes to the design or construction of the Project which (either alone or together with all other variations and changes) would or is reasonably likely to materially alter the nature of the Project, the manner in which it operates or the risk profile of the Project; |
(iv) | give a notice under the Charter requiring negotiation of the 50% Acquisitions Terms (as defined in the Charter); |
(v) | except as expressly required under the Finance Documents, the assignment or transfer of a Project Agreement, Environmental Licence or Project Authorisation by the Borrower or any O&M Contractor; |
(vi) | any party to a Project Agreement (other than an Obligor) assigning or transferring that party’s rights or obligations under that Project Agreement except a novation of the Charter pursuant to and in accordance with clause 16.3 of the Charter and provided that the Facility Agent has received a copy of the novated Charter and Charter Guarantee, in each case certified as true by an authorised signatory of the Borrower, duly executed by the parties thereto together with (A) a legal opinion in form satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably and upon the advice of its legal counsel) as to the validity and enforceability of the Charter and the Charter Guarantee, the due incorporation of each of the new Charterer and the Charter Guarantor, its power and authority to enter into and perform the Charter and the Charter Guarantee, respectively, and all other documents and instruments to give effect to the same and (B) a certified true copy of the new PGN L/C (if required by applicable law following novation of the Charter) and valid Security Interest in respect of the Charter Guarantee and the PGN L/C in the same form as the Project Agreements Assignment or such other form as may be agreed and (C) a letter of quiet enjoyment in substantially the same form as the Letter of Quiet Enjoyment duly executed by the new Charterer; or |
(vii) | the termination of a Material Project Agreement or the Shareholders Agreement (unless directed to do so in accordance with clause 24.1(c) above or otherwise required or permitted under this Agreement). |
(e) | Each Lender shall respond promptly to a Borrower’s request to vary the Charter (other than for a Permitted Amendment for which consent shall not be required) and in any event no later than fifteen (15) Business Days (or five (5) Business Days in the case of a variation to the Charter which results in an increase in amounts payable by PGN to the Borrower under the Charter and such variation does not impose any additional materially onerous obligations on the Borrower) from receipt by that Lender of notice from the Borrower or the Facility Agent of the proposed variation. If a Lender or the Facility Agent fails to respond to the Borrower within such fifteen (15) day period (or, as the case may be, five (5) day period) then such Lender or the Facility Agent on behalf of the Lenders, as the case may be shall be deemed to have consented to such variation (including any consent required under clause 24.1(d)). |
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24.2 | Project Authorisations |
The Borrower shall, and (if applicable) each O&M Contractor, shall obtain, and maintain in full force and effect, each Project Authorisation necessary:
(a) | to enable it to lawfully enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its respective obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party; and |
(b) | required by it to carry out the Project in accordance with the Project Agreements, |
and shall at all times comply with the requirements such Project Authorisations, in each case to the extent that failure to do so has or may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on any Obligor’s ability to perform its obligations under the Project Agreements.
24.3 | Environmental Matters |
(a) | The Borrower shall, and shall procure that the O&M Contractors shall, ensure that it has each Environmental Licence required to be in its name and which is necessary for it to carry out the Project in accordance with the Material Project Agreements and that it maintains, and complies with the terms of, such Environmental Licences in each case to the extent that failure to do so has or may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on any Obligor’s ability to perform its obligations under the Project Agreements and upon reasonable request by a Finance Party provide such information in relation to the Project as is available to it and able to be disclosed without breach of any contract or law and is reasonably required by such Finance Party for determining the extent of compliance by that Finance Party with the Equator Principles to the extent applicable to the Project. |
(b) | The Borrower shall, and shall procure that the O&M Contractors shall, comply with, and carry out the Project in accordance with, all applicable Environmental Laws and the Environmental and Social Regulations in each case to the extent that failure to do so has or may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on any Obligor’s ability to perform its obligations under the Project Agreements. The Borrower will provide to the Facility Agent and the Technical Adviser details of all environmental tests and studies carried out in relation to the Project and the Site or any material environmental inspections, investigations, studies, audits, tests, reviews or other analyses, in each case which are received by it relating to the Borrower, any O&M Contractor, the Charterer and/or the Vessel and/or the Mooring and able to be disclosed without breach of any contract or applicable law. |
(c) | The Borrower will notify the Facility Agent as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of: |
(i) | any Environmental Incident or any Spill which has given or it reasonably expects may give rise to an Environmental Incident; |
(ii) | any Environmental Claim being made against any Obligor (or any of their respective officers) relating to a breach of Environmental and Social Regulations or an Environmental Incident in respect of the Vessel and/or the Mooring and/or the Project or against the Vessel and of any Environmental Incident which may give rise to such a claim and will keep the Facility Agent regularly and promptly informed in reasonable detail of the nature of, and response to, any such Environmental Incident and the defence to any such claim; and |
(iii) | details of any material breach of or non-compliance by the Borrower with any Environmental and Social Regulation. |
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(d) | The Borrower will duly and punctually perform, comply with and observe each of its obligations under the Environmental Management Plans, and shall provide the Facility Agent with any environmental monitoring reports that the Borrower has prepared or received pursuant to the Environmental Management Plans and which are able to be disclosed without any breach of any contract or law on a semi-annual basis. |
24.4 | Operation and Maintenance |
(a) | The Borrower shall from Delivery ensure that throughout the Facility Period the Lampung FSRU is at all times operated and maintained in accordance with appropriate industry standards. |
(b) | The Borrower shall further ensure that at all times throughout the Facility Period from Delivery O&M Contractors will be contracted to carry out the O&M Contracts and will not otherwise sub-contract or delegate any of its operation and maintenance obligations under the Charter to any other party (other than an Approved Operator) without the written consent of the Lenders, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; |
(c) | The Borrower further undertakes that from Delivery there shall be no change in the companies carrying out the operation and maintenance services provided by the Borrower under the Charter in respect of the Vessel without the consent of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) unless: |
(i) | if such approval is required under the Charter, the Charterer has approved, in accordance with the terms of the Charter or, following an Event of Default, the Letter of Quiet Enjoyment, the appointment of the replacement operator (the Replacement Operator ) to carry out the operation and maintenance services to be provided by the Borrower under the Charter (as the case may be); |
(ii) | the Replacement Operator is an Approved Operator; |
(iii) | the replacement contract (the Replacement Contract ) to be entered into between the Replacement Operator and the Borrower is on terms acceptable to the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably); |
(iv) | if applicable, the Replacement Operator has entered into an accession deed (or such other documentation as may be required) whereby the Replacement Operator assumes all of an outgoing O&M Contractor’s obligations under the Finance Documents and such other amendments are made to the Finance Documents and the other Transaction Documents so as to ensure that the Replacement Operator assumes all of an outgoing O&M Contractor’s obligations under such documents (to the satisfaction of the Lenders, acting reasonably); and |
(v) | the Facility Agent has obtained satisfactory legal opinions in respect of the Replacement Operator’s entry into the Replacement Contract and any applicable other documents referred to in paragraph (v) above. |
24.5 | Agreement of Projected Operating Expenses and Delivery of Project Budget Statement |
(a) | Prior to Delivery for the then current financial year and thereafter not less than sixty (60) days prior to the end of each of its financial years, the Borrower shall deliver to the Facility Agent the Project Budget Statement with the Projected Operating Expenses for the next financial year. If, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably), the proposed Project Budget Statement is materially inaccurate, the Facility Agent shall be entitled (no later than thirty (30) days prior to the end of that financial year) to instruct the Technical Advisor to determine the Projected Operating Expenses in consultation with the Borrower and the Technical Advisor’s determination shall be binding on the parties; provided that the Technical Advisor’s terms of reference shall be solely to confirm such expenses or to adjust such expenses to the extent it determines them to be materially inaccurate and that prior to such determination the Borrower’s Project Budget Statement shall continue to apply. |
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(b) | Following delivery and, if applicable, determination of each Project Budget Statement in accordance with paragraph (a) above, the Borrower may amend that Project Budget Statement with the consent of the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) unless the amendment is to transfer Projected Operating Expenses (in respect of which a transfer to the Offshore Operating Account pursuant to clause 28.8(a) ( Payment Cascade ) has not been made) to a different month within the same financial year in which case such consent is not required and the Borrower may update and shall deliver to the Facility Agent the revised Project Budget Statement accordingly. |
24.6 | Information concerning the Project |
The Borrower shall furnish the Facility Agent promptly (or on a monthly basis where so indicated) with:
(a) | on a monthly basis until Final Acceptance, up to date progress reports with respect to the construction of the Vessel and the Mooring which shall include the projected Project Costs, details of any Cost Overrun, shortfall in funding to achieve Final Acceptance or forecast delay in achieving Delivery by the Last Availability Date and a statement from the Borrower in respect of the construction of the Downstream Pipeline (as defined in the Charter) and/or the Project; |
(b) | after the Guarantee Release Date, annual progress reports with respect of the operation of the Vessel and the Project; |
(c) | information relating to (i) any material amendments to or proposed amendments to the Vessel and Mooring Specifications and (ii) details of any material changes to the design, construction or operation of the Vessel and/or the Mooring prior to carrying out or agreeing such changes and (iii) details of any Permitted Amendments to the Material Project Agreements and the Shareholders Agreement and, to the extent available to the Borrower, the EPCIC Contract that have not previously been provided; |
(d) | on a monthly basis in respect of the previous month (i) details of any fines levied and charges made by the Charterer pursuant to the Charter (including the amount of each such fine and, to the extent available to the Borrower, the basis on which the fine was levied) and (ii) details of any other Total Charter Rate reduction event incurred which results in a reduction in Total Charter Rate and (iii) details of any period of off hire incurred which results in a suspension of the obligation to pay any Total Charter Rate or the amount by which the anticipated Total Charter Rate for that period has been reduced; |
(e) | notice of any party having begun any arbitration proceedings under any Project Agreement to which it is party, the conclusion of the arbitration and the terms of any award in such arbitration; |
(f) | information in relation to any proposed dry docking of the Vessel including the proposed date of any dry docking and the period for which it is expected that the Vessel will be suspended or in dry dock; |
(g) | copies of any material notices received by or on behalf of the Borrower or issued by or on behalf of the Borrower under any of the Material Project Agreements and which have not previously been provided; and |
(h) | such information that the Borrower is aware of concerning the Project or any Project Agreements that deviates from the requirements stipulated in the Charter and/or the O&M Contract and which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and any remedial action proposed by the Borrower to eliminate or reduce the extent of any such deviation. |
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24.7 | Information in relation to the Charterer |
The Borrower shall use its reasonable endeavours to provide any information in respect of the Charterer as the Lenders may reasonably require and request.
24.8 | Enforcement of rights |
The Borrower shall take such reasonable steps to enforce its rights under the Charter and the other Project Agreements which may reasonably be expected to be taken by a prudent FSRU owner or (following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing) which may be required by the Facility Agent.
24.9 | Communications under the Charter and any O&M Contract |
The Borrower shall advise the Facility Agent promptly upon receipt by the Borrower of a termination notice under the Charter, and as soon as reasonably practicable (but in any event within one (1) Business Day), provide the Facility Agent with a copy of any such notice.
24.10 | Technical Adviser |
(a) | The Borrower shall give the Facility Agent and the Technical Adviser: |
(i) | reasonable notice of all acceptance tests to be carried out in respect of the Lampung FSRU and/or the Mooring (if it so requires) and copies of its reports on such tests promptly following completion of such tests to the extent necessary to carry out its Agreed Scope of Work; |
(ii) | promptly upon receipt by the Borrower and/or the O&M Contractor, a copy of any notice received from the Charterer in relation to any material operational issues in respect of the Charter which might reasonably be expected to adversely affect the amount of Charter Hire; |
(b) | The Technical Adviser is entitled to inspect the Borrower’s and any O&M Contractor’s records (including all drawings and specifications) in relation to the Vessel, the Mooring and the Project on reasonable prior notice to the Borrower or, as the case may be, any O&M Contractor to the extent necessary to carry out its Agreed Scope of Work; |
(c) | The Borrower shall use best endeavours to ensure that the Technical Advisor shall: |
(i) | at any time it has a material concern relating to the Project, which has been raised with the Borrower and not resolved, on reasonable prior notice to the Borrower be allowed to visit the Site and/or the Builder’s and/or the Mooring EPC Contractor’s yard and/or to board the Vessel and/or the Mooring to enable the Technical Adviser to investigate such concern (without interfering with or hindering performance of a Project Agreement or the safe and efficient operation of the Vessel or Mooring) and shall be given all proper facilities needed for that purpose; |
(ii) | following an Event of Default which is continuing, be granted access to any meetings between the Borrower and the Charterer or the Builder or the Mooring EPC Contractor, |
in each case subject to the consent of the Charterer or, as the case may be, the Builder or the Mooring EPC Contractor or the Mooring Installation Contractor.
(d) | The Borrower shall, and shall procure that the O&M Contractor shall: |
(i) | provide all necessary co-operation, access and assistance or, as the case may be, procure that the same is provided within their control to enable the Technical Adviser to complete its scope of work and produce the reports in accordance with the Agreed Scope of Work; and |
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(ii) | following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing and on request by the Facility Agent, prepare any report or investigate any concerns of the Facility Agent in each case of such operational or technical matters in respect of the Project as the Facility Agent shall reasonably advise. |
(e) | The Borrower shall promptly respond to each material concern referred to in any of the reports specified in the Agreed Scope of Work, at the request of the Facility Agent. |
(f) | The Technical Adviser shall, until Final Acceptance, provide quarterly progress reports to the Facility Agent with respect to the construction of the Vessel and the Mooring and the Project. In the event that the Technical Adviser determines in a report at any time that there is a funding shortfall to achieve Final Acceptance by the earlier of (i) the Cancellation Date and (ii) 18 March 2015 or that the Project is likely to be delayed beyond such date, the Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Borrower and the Lenders (in consultation with the Technical Adviser) shall use reasonable endeavours to agree the extent to which any funding shortfall to achieve Final Acceptance or such forecast delay exists, within a period of thirty (30) days after the date on which the Facility Agent notifies the Borrower that the Technical Adviser’s report has determined that there is such a funding shortfall or forecast delay (the Negotiation Period ). The Technical Adviser shall update such report promptly at the end of the Negotiation Period, if applicable, to reflect any revisions consequent on the information and clarifications provided by the Borrower in such period. If there has been a Negotiation Period, then unless otherwise agreed within the Negotiation Period, the Technical Adviser’s report (as updated if applicable) shall be conclusive and binding on all parties. |
24.11 | Advisers |
The Borrower shall co-operate with, and shall from Delivery ensure that the O&M Contractor and use reasonable endeavours to ensure that each other party to the Project Agreements cooperates with reasonable requirements of the Technical Adviser and the Insurance Advisor.
24.12 | Negative covenants |
The Borrower shall not, and shall from Delivery procure that no O&M Contractor shall, without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) agree to any Change in Location (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), other than (a) within the Permitted Location for the normal operational duties or (b) in case of emergencies or where required for the safety of, maintenance or repair of the Vessel and/or its crew and personnel or (c) where required under the Charter for laying up of the Lampung FSRU in accordance with clause 28.1 of the Charter.
24.13 | K-sure Policy |
(a) | The Borrower shall take all action reasonably requested by the K-sure Agent or the Facility Agent to avert any risk covered by the K-sure Policy. |
(b) | The Borrower shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would: |
(i) | result in the restriction, reservation, annulment or termination of the K-sure Policy; or |
(ii) | give rise to an exclusion or defence to payment by K-sure applicable to an insured loss under the K-sure Policy. |
(c) | The Borrower shall not waive any right, claim or cause of action or other remedy or accept any offer of compensation in respect of an insured loss under the K-sure Policy. |
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(d) | The Borrower agrees that, in the event that the Security Agent has filed or intends to file a claim for payment under K-sure Policy, the Borrower shall: |
(i) | use its best efforts to assist in filing a claim for compensation, indemnity or reimbursement in respect of any loss; |
(ii) | use its best efforts to co-operate in good faith with the Security Agent and K-sure with respect to any verification of claim, eligibility or amount by any such person (including but not limited to providing evidence, documentation, information, certificates and other forms of proof reasonably requested in connection therewith). |
25 | Dealings with the Vessel |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 25 will be complied with throughout the Mortgage Period.
25.1 | Vessel’s name and registration |
(a) | The Lampung FSRU’s name shall only be changed after prior notice to the Facility Agent. |
(b) | The Lampung FSRU shall remain permanently registered with the relevant Registry under the laws of the Flag State. Except with approval of the Lenders, the Lampung FSRU shall not be registered under any other flag or at any other port or fly any other flag (other than that of the Flag State). If that registration is for a limited period, it shall be renewed at least 45 days before the date it is due to expire and the Facility Agent shall be notified of that renewal at least 30 days before that expiry date. |
(c) | Nothing will be done and no action will be omitted by the Borrower or any other Obligor if that might result in such registration being forfeited or imperilled or the Vessel being required to be registered under the laws of another state of registry. |
25.2 | Sale or other disposal of the Vessel |
Except:
(a) | with approval of the Lenders and K-sure; or |
(b) | for the 50% Acquisition Terms and any sale that complies with clause 9.7 ( Sale of Vessel ) and in each case where the Secured Obligations have been, or will be concurrently with the sale, prepaid in full; or |
(c) | in accordance with clause 29.8(b) ( Disposals ), |
the Borrower will not sell, or agree to, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of the Vessel or any share or interest in it or agree to do so (other than as contemplated in paragraph (b) above and pursuant to the Finance Documents).
25.3 | Sale of the Mooring |
Except a sale or transfer to the Charterer pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Charter and where the Mooring Tranche Loan has been, or will be concurrently with the sale or transfer, prepaid and/or repaid in full, the Borrower will not sell, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of the Mooring or any share or interest in it or agree to do so (other than as contemplated in this clause 25.3 and pursuant to the Finance Documents).
25.4 | Conveyance on default |
Following the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, where the Vessel is (or is to be) sold in exercise of any power conferred by the Security Documents, the Borrower shall, upon the Facility Agent’s request, immediately execute such form of transfer of title to the Lampung FSRU as the Facility Agent may require.
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25.5 | Chartering |
Except with approval, the Borrower shall not enter into any charter commitment for the Vessel (except for the Charter and the O&M Contracts).
25.6 | Movement of parts |
Except with approval, the Borrower shall not allow any machinery, equipment or materials which are an integral part of the Vessel to be removed outside the Permitted Location except as and when necessary to repair or replace them.
25.7 | Sanctions: |
(a) | The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit or authorize any other person to, directly or indirectly, use, lend, make payments of, contribute or otherwise make available, all or any part of the proceeds of any Loan to fund any trade, business or other activities: (i) involving or for the benefit of any Restricted Party, or (ii) in any other manner that would reasonably be expected to result in any Obligor or any Lender being in breach of any Sanctions (if any to the extent applicable to any of them) or becoming a Restricted Party. |
(b) | The Borrower shall not permit or authorize and shall use reasonable endeavours to prevent the Vessel being used directly or indirectly: (i) by or for the benefit or any Restricted Party; and/or or (ii) in any business which could reasonably be expected to expose the Vessel or the Finance Parties to enforcement proceedings or any other adverse consequences whatsoever arising from Sanctions. |
26 | Condition and operation of Vessel |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 26 will be complied with in relation to the Vessel throughout the Mortgage Period.
26.1 | Repair |
The Vessel shall be kept in a good, safe and efficient state of repair. The quality of workmanship and materials used to repair the Vessel or replace any damaged, worn or lost parts or equipment shall be sufficient to ensure that the Vessel’s value is not reduced (fair wear and tear excepted) as a result of any repair or replacement.
26.2 | Modification |
Except with approval or as permitted under this Agreement, the structure, type or performance characteristics of the Vessel shall not be modified in a way which might reasonably be expected to materially alter the Vessel in a manner that would materially reduce its value.
26.3 | Removal of parts |
Except with approval, no material part of the Vessel shall be removed from the Vessel if to do so would materially reduce its value (unless for repair or if at the same time it is replaced with equivalent parts or equipment owned by the Borrower free of any Security Interest except under Permitted Security Interests).
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26.4 | Third party owned equipment |
Except with approval, equipment owned by a third party (other than the Mooring) shall not be installed on the Vessel if it cannot be removed without risk of causing damage to the structure or fabric of the Vessel or incurring significant expense.
26.5 | Maintenance of class |
The Lampung FSRU’s class shall be, and shall be maintained throughout the Mortgage Period as, the Classification.
26.6 | Surveys |
The Lampung FSRU shall be submitted to surveys which are required for it to maintain the Classification as its class. Copies of reports of those surveys shall be provided promptly to the Facility Agent if it so requests.
26.7 | Notice of drydockings |
(a) | The Borrower shall ensure that the Vessel is not put into drydock without the consent of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, in consultation with the Technical Advisor if required), such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. |
(b) | In the event that the Vessel is drydocked in accordance with clause 26.7(a), the Facility Agent shall be given reasonable advance notice of any intended drydocking of the Vessel (whatever the purpose of that drydocking) and of the intended yard in which such drydocking is to be carried out. No drydocking may be carried out in a yard which is not approved by the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders), such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. |
26.8 | Prevention and release from arrest |
All debts, damages, liabilities and outgoings which have given, or may reasonably be expected to give, rise to maritime, statutory or possessory liens on, or claims enforceable against, the Vessel, the Earnings or Insurances shall be promptly paid and discharged when due.
26.9 | Notification of certain events |
The Facility Agent shall promptly after the Borrower becomes aware of such event be notified of:
(a) | any damage to the Vessel where the cost of the resulting repairs is reasonably likely to exceed the Major Casualty Amount; |
(b) | any occurrence which is reasonably likely to result in the Vessel becoming a Total Loss; |
(c) | any requisition of the Vessel for hire other than under the Charter; |
(d) | any requirement or recommendation made in relation to the Vessel by any insurer or the Classification Society or by any competent authority which is not, or cannot be, complied with in the manner or time required or recommended; and |
(e) | any arrest or detention of the Vessel or any exercise or purported exercise of a lien or other claim on the Vessel or the Earnings or Insurances other than the Finance Documents. |
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26.10 | Repairers’ liens |
Except with approval of the Facility Agent (acting reasonably), the Lampung FSRU shall not be put into any other person’s possession for work to be done on the Lampung FSRU if the cost to the Borrower of that work will exceed or is likely to exceed the Major Casualty Amount unless that person gives the Security Agent a written undertaking in approved terms not to exercise any lien on the Vessel or the Vessel’s Earnings for any of the cost of such work.
26.11 | Codes |
The Vessel and the Obligors responsible for its operation shall at all times comply with the requirements of any applicable code or prescribed procedures required to be observed by the Vessel or in relation to its operation under any applicable law or regulation (including but not limited to those currently known as the ISM Code and the ISPS Code) to the extent that failure to comply has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on any Obligor’s ability to perform its obligations under the Material Project Agreements to which it is a party. The Facility Agent shall promptly be informed of:
(a) | any threatened or actual withdrawal of any certificate issued in accordance with any such code which is or may be applicable to each of the Vessel and its operation and required by the Borrower for the purposes of the Charter; and |
(b) | the receipt of notification that any application for such a certificate has been refused. |
26.12 | Lawful use |
The Vessel shall not be employed:
(a) | in any way or in any activity which is unlawful under applicable international law or the domestic laws of Indonesia; |
(b) | in storing illicit or prohibited goods; |
(c) | in a way which may make it liable to be condemned by a prize court or destroyed, seized or confiscated; or |
(d) | in carrying contraband goods, |
and the persons responsible for the operation of the Vessel shall take all necessary and proper precautions to ensure that this does not happen.
26.13 | War zones |
(a) | Except with the approval of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders and K-sure), the Vessel shall not enter or remain in any zone which has been declared a war zone by any applicable government entity or the Vessel’s war risk insurers. |
(b) | If approval is granted for the Vessel to enter or remain in any such war zone, any requirements of the Facility Agent and/or the Vessel’s insurers necessary to ensure that the Vessel remains properly and fully insured in accordance with the Finance Documents (including any requirement for the payment of extra insurance premiums) and agreed by the Borrower for the purposes of such approval shall be complied with. |
26.14 | Valuations |
On an annual basis, the Borrower (at its cost) shall provide to the Facility Agent the valuation of the Vessel carried out by a reputable international broker.
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27 | Insurance |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 27 shall be complied with at all times throughout the Facility Period.
27.1 | Insurance terms |
In this clause 27:
excess risks means the proportion (if any) of claims for general average, salvage and salvage charges not recoverable under the hull and machinery insurances of a vessel in consequence of the value at which the vessel is assessed for the purpose of such claims exceeding its insured value.
excess war risk P&I cover means cover for claims only in excess of amounts recoverable under the usual war risk cover including (but not limited to) hull and machinery, crew and protection and indemnity risks.
hull cover means insurance cover against the risks identified in clause 27.2(a)(i).
minimum hull cover means an amount equal at the relevant time to 120% of such proportion of the Loans.
P&I association means a protection and indemnity association which is a member of the International Group of protection and indemnity associations (or, if the International Group ceases to exist, any other leading protection and indemnity association or other leading provider of protection and indemnity insurance) (including, without limitation, the proportion (if any) of any collision liability not covered under the terms of the hull cover)
P&I risks means the usual risks (including liability for oil pollution, excess war risk P&I cover) covered by a P&I association.
27.2 | Coverage required |
The Lampung FSRU and the Mooring shall be insured:
(a) | In the case of the Lampung FSRU, on and at all times after Delivery, |
(i) | against fire and usual marine risks (including excess risks) and war risks (including war protection and indemnity risks and terrorism risks) on an agreed value basis, for at least its minimum hull cover and no less than US$400,000,000; |
(ii) | against P&I risks for such amount then available in the insurance market for vessels of similar age, size and type as the Vessel as would be reasonable and expected for a prudent FSRU operator to insure against (but, in relation to liability for oil pollution, for an amount of not less than $500,000,000); |
(iii) | against such other risks and matters which would be reasonable and expected in the international insurance market from time to time (such as Workmen’s Compensation and/or Employer’s Liability or Third Party Legal Liability Insurance) for a prudent FSRU operator to insure against and which are proposed by the Facility Agent in consultation with the Borrower and the Insurance Adviser. |
(iv) | on terms which comply with the other provisions of this clause 27; and |
(b) | In the case of the Lampung FSRU, on and at all times from the earlier of (i) Arrival Time (as defined in the Charter) or (ii) Final Acceptance against loss of hire for a daily amount sufficient to cover in full the aggregate of the Capital Element, the Operating and Maintenance Element and all Tax payable by the Borrower not (i) covered by the Tax Element or (ii) otherwise payable by or to be reimbursed by the Charterer under the Charter of not less than 180 days (after deductible of 20 days) each accident or occurrence and in all; and |
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(c) | In the case of the Mooring, on and at all times after delivery of the Mooring to the Borrower under the Mooring EPC Contract until transfer to the Charterer, the Mooring shall at all times be insured: (i) with a Construction All Risk (CAR) Insurance on an agreed value for physical loss or damage to property, including third party liability insurance for limit USD 50,000,000. |
27.3 | Placing of cover |
The insurance coverage required by clause 27.2 ( Coverage required ) shall be:
(a) | in the name of the Borrower (in the case of the Vessel’s hull cover) and no other person (other than the Security Agent if required by the Facility Agent, the Charterer, any O&M Contractor and any other person which is approved and where, if so required by the Facility Agent, such person (other than the Charterer) has duly executed and delivered a first priority assignment and/or subordination of its interest in the Insurances (other than protection and indemnity insurances) to the Security Agent in an approved form and provided such supporting documents and opinions in relation to that assignment as the Facility Agent requires); |
(b) | if the Facility Agent so requests, in the joint names of the Borrower and Security Agent (and, to the extent reasonably practicable in the insurance market, without liability on the part of the Security Agent for premiums or calls); |
(c) | in dollars or another approved currency; and |
(d) | on terms reasonable in accordance with international insurance market practice and the requirements of the Charter (the Borrower to consult with the Facility Agent on such terms in the case of the first placing of any such insurance and, in the case of P&l Risks, with a P&I association(s). Each of the policies shall be placed with insurers with an Approved Credit Rating (or, if placed with insurers with no credit rating or a credit rating lower than the Approved Credit Rating, reinsured not less than 98% (or such lower percentage as is then required by applicable law) with reinsurers so that not more than 20% of each policy is placed with reinsurers with a credit rating for its long term indebtedness of not less than BBB with Standard & Poor’s Rating Agency (or the equivalent rating with another internationally recognised credit rating agency) and otherwise with reinsurers with an Approved Credit Rating and in all respects subject to the execution of the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment in the case of an Indonesian primary insurer). |
27.4 | Deductibles |
The aggregate amount of any excess or deductible under the Vessel’s hull cover shall not exceed an amount not exceeding $500,000.
27.5 | Mortgagee’s insurance |
The Borrower shall promptly reimburse to the Facility Agent the cost (pre-approved by the Borrower, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (with certification by the Facility Agent being prima facie evidence) of taking out and keeping in force in respect of the Vessel on terms in line with international market standards, or in considering or making claims under, a mortgagee’s interest insurance for the benefit of the Finance Parties for an amount acceptable to K-sure and up to its minimum hull cover.
27.6 | Fleet liens, set off and cancellations |
If the Vessel’s hull cover also insures other vessels, the Security Agent shall either be given an undertaking in approved terms by the brokers or (if such cover is not placed through brokers or the brokers do not, under any applicable laws or insurance terms, have such rights of set off and cancellation) the relevant insurers that the brokers or (if relevant) the insurers will not:
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(a) | set off against any claims in respect of the Vessel any premiums due in respect of any of such other vessels insured; or |
(b) | cancel that cover because of non-payment of premiums in respect of such other vessels, |
or the Borrower shall ensure that hull cover for the is provided under a separate policy from any other vessels.
27.7 | Payment of premiums |
All premiums, calls, contributions or other sums payable in respect of the Insurances shall be paid punctually.
27.8 | Details of proposed renewal of Insurances |
(a) | At least twenty one (21) days before any of the Insurances are due to expire, the Facility Agent shall be told the names of the brokers, insurers and associations proposed to be used for the renewal of such Insurances and either that there is no change in the amounts, risks and terms in, against and on which the Insurances are proposed to be renewed or that there will be changes. If any of the terms of such Insurances are changed then the Borrower will on request by the Facility Agent provide details of such changes. |
(b) | The Borrower will procure that the relevant brokers and/or insurers and or P&I Club will provide the Facility Agent with pro forma copies of all policies relating to the Insurances that are to be effected or renewed. |
27.9 | Instructions for renewal |
At least seven (7) days before any of the Insurances are due to expire, instructions shall be given by the Borrower to brokers, insurers and associations for them to be renewed or replaced on or before their expiry.
27.10 | Confirmation of renewal |
The Insurances shall be renewed or replaced upon their expiry or replacement in a manner and on terms which comply with this clause 27 and confirmation of such renewal or replacement given by the relevant brokers or insurers to the Facility Agent at least seven (7) days (or such shorter period as may be approved) before such expiry or replacement.
27.11 | P&I guarantees |
Any guarantee or undertaking required by any protection and indemnity or war risks association in relation to the Vessel shall be provided when required by the association.
27.12 | Insurance documents |
The Facility Agent shall be provided with cover notes of all insurance and reinsurance policies and other documentation issued by brokers, insurers, reinsurers and associations in connection with the Insurances and the Reinsurances promptly after they have been placed or renewed but in any case no later than thirty (30) days following such placement or renewal.
27.13 | Letters of undertaking |
Unless otherwise approved where the Facility Agent is satisfied that equivalent protection is afforded by the terms of the relevant Insurances and/or any applicable law and/or a letter of undertaking already provided, on each placing or renewal of the Insurances, the Facility Agent shall be provided promptly with letters of undertaking in an approved form (having regard to general insurance market practice and law at the time of issue of such letter of undertaking) from the relevant brokers.
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27.14 | Insurance Notices and Loss Payable Clauses |
The interest of the Security Agent as assignee of the Insurances shall be endorsed on all policies for the Insurances by the incorporation of a Loss Payable Clause and an Insurance Notice in respect of the Vessel.
27.15 | Insurance correspondence |
If so requested by the Facility Agent, the Facility Agent shall promptly be provided with copies of all material written communications between the assureds and brokers, insurers and associations relating to any of the Insurances which are available to the Borrower for provision as soon as they are available to the Borrower to be provided.
27.16 | Qualifications and exclusions |
All requirements applicable to the Insurances to be complied with by the Borrower shall be complied with and the Insurances shall only be subject to exclusions or qualifications which have been approved by the Insurance Advisor.
27.17 | Independent report |
The Facility Agent shall be entitled to obtain a detailed report on the adequacy of the Insurances and/or Reinsurances on an annual basis and when the terms of the Insurances and/or Reinsurances have been changed from the Insurance Advisor and the Borrower shall reimburse the Facility Agent for the cost of obtaining any such report on an annual basis and following any change to the terms of such Insurances and/or Reinsurances, provided that such costs have been pre-approved by the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
27.18 | Collection of claims |
All documents and other information and assistance available to be provided by the Borrower and required from the Borrower by the Facility Agent to assist it and/or the Security Agent in trying to collect or recover any claims under the Insurances and/or Reinsurances acting in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents shall be provided promptly.
27.19 | Employment of Vessel |
The Vessel shall only be employed or operated in conformity with the terms of the relevant Insurances (including any express or implied warranties) and not in any other way (unless the insurers have consented and any additional requirements of the insurers have been satisfied).
27.20 | Declarations and returns |
If the Insurances are on terms that require a declaration, certificate or other document to be made or filed before the Vessel sails to, or in the case of the Vessel, operates within, an area, those terms shall be complied with within the time and in the manner required by those Insurances.
27.21 | Settlement of claims |
Any claim under the Insurances for a Total Loss or Major Casualty shall only be settled, compromised or abandoned with the prior approval of the Facility Agent, acting on the instructions of the Lenders not to be unreasonably withheld in the case of settlement or compromise for a Major Casualty (exclusive of any deductible) where the requirements of clause 28.13(a)(ii)(A) are satisfied or for a Total Loss where the Total Loss Proceeds are sufficient to repay the Secured Obligations.
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27.22 | Further undertaking |
The Borrower will, at all times during the Facility Period, take all reasonable action within its power to comply or procure compliance at all times with the terms and conditions of all Insurances (or Reinsurances), and use its reasonable endeavours to procure that nothing is at any time done, or suffered to be done, by any Obligor whereby any Insurance (or Reinsurance) or other insurance required to be maintained by it hereunder, may be impaired, suspended or rendered void or voidable in whole or in part, or any claim becomes uncollectable in full or in part, including, without limitation:
(a) | complying with all of the requirements expressly imposed on it under the Insurances; |
(b) | taking all reasonable action within its power to procure that at all times all parties to the Insurances (other than, if applicable, any Finance Party) comply with all of the requirements under the Insurances; and |
(c) | complying with the express terms of all Insurances and taking all action necessary to maintain the Insurances as valid and up-to-date insurances. |
28 | Project Accounts, Receivables and Insurance Proceeds |
28.1 | The Borrower undertakes with each of the Finance Parties that, from the first Utilisation Date and thereafter, for so long as any Commitment or amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents, it will: |
(a) | open each of the Project Accounts with the Account Banks (and such other accounts as may from time to time be requested by the Borrower and approved by the Facility Agent) and, in connection therewith, will from time to time complete all “know your customer” and other returns necessary for such process if any; |
(b) | not withdraw any moneys, certificates of deposit or other securities from any Project Account (other than the Distribution Account) otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Account Security; and |
(c) | not request a withdrawal of any moneys from any Project Account (other than the Distribution Account) without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent if: |
(i) | an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result (wholly or partly) of such withdrawal and (in either case) the Facility Agent has notified the Borrower and the Account Bank that no such withdrawal will be permitted; or |
(ii) | such Project Account is overdrawn or would become overdrawn as a result of such withdrawal. |
28.2 | With effect from the first Utilisation Date, the Borrower shall: |
(a) | maintain each of its Project Accounts with an Account Bank; |
(b) | immediately disclose to the Facility Agent the particulars of any bank accounts of the Borrower other than the Project Accounts and notify the Facility Agent immediately upon opening any bank accounts other than the Project Accounts; |
(c) | pay and direct that the Charterer and any other relevant person shall pay: |
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(i) | all Total Charter Rate (other than the Tax Element) and other Earnings payable to the Borrower in respect of the Vessel into a Revenue Account in dollars; |
(ii) | all the Tax Element payable to the Borrower in respect of the Vessel into the Rupiah Account in rupiah; and |
(iii) | the Mooring Purchase Price into a Mooring Payment Account; |
(d) | pay proceeds of Utilisations of the Term Facilities (other than the Utilisations in respect of the Delivery Instalment) and the proceeds of Subordinated Loans, for issuance of Promissory Notes and share subscriptions in the Borrower payable to the Borrower into the Onshore Proceeds Account or the Construction Account (prior to Final Acceptance) or the Offshore Revenue Account (on and following Final Acceptance); |
(e) | in the case of the proceeds of Utilisations in respect of the Delivery Instalment, pay such proceeds into the Onshore Delivery Account for onward transmission by the Onshore Account Bank to the Builder’s bank in accordance with clause 28.6 ( Onshore Delivery Account ). |
(f) | pay or procure the payment of all compensation from time to time during the Facility Period received in respect of any requisition of the Vessel for hire into a Revenue Account; |
(g) | direct the Hedging Banks to pay any moneys received or receivable from the Hedging Banks under or pursuant to the Hedging Contracts into a Revenue Account and provided that any Hedging Banks who are party to this Agreement shall be deemed to have received such direction; |
(h) | permit the Security Agent and the Facility Agent to apply all Earnings in respect of the Vessel in accordance with the Security Assignment and/or in accordance with this clause 28; |
(i) | subject to clause 28.4 ( Construction Account ) and clause 5.7 ( Sponsor Funding ), pay all Receivables payable to it (other than the Tax Element and the Mooring Purchase Price) or procure that such proceeds are paid into either Revenue Account, for application in accordance with 28.7 ( Onshore Revenue Account ) and/or 28.8 ( Offshore Revenue Account ); |
(j) | pay all Insurance Proceeds and Liability Insurance Proceeds in respect of the Vessel, received by it whether greater or less than the Major Casualty Amount, or procure that such proceeds are paid, in the manner contemplated by clause 28.13 ( Insurance Proceeds Account ); and |
(k) | pay the proceeds of any Permitted Financial Indebtedness payable to the Borrower into a Project Account (other than the Distribution Account or the Rupiah Account) as the circumstances may require to be notified by the Borrower to the Facility Agent. |
28.3 | If any money credited to any of the dollar denominated Project Accounts is denominated in a currency other than (a) dollars or (b) currencies that are not freely convertible as determined by the relevant authorities and/or the relevant Account Bank from time to time, then the Borrower irrevocably authorises the relevant Account Bank to convert the amount received into dollars at the rate of exchange then prevailing in the market in accordance with the relevant Account Bank’s normal operating practices and any incidental costs of making such conversion in accordance with this clause shall be borne by the Borrower. |
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28.4 | Construction Account |
(a) | Payments |
The Borrower shall ensure that at all time prior to Final Acceptance, except as provided in clause 5.7 ( Sponsor Funding ), or as otherwise contemplated in clauses 28.2, 28.5, 28.6, 28.7 ( Onshore Revenue Account ), 28.14 ( Rupiah Account ) and 28.15, all amounts received by the Borrower in respect of Utilisations, under Hedging Contracts or Project Agreements, Sponsor Funding and liquidated damages are paid into the Construction Account.
(b) | Withdrawals |
The Borrower shall be entitled to withdraw funds from the Construction Account to: (i) meet any Project Costs and payments under the Finance Documents; (ii) prepay any Loan required to be prepaid pursuant to clause 5.7 ( Sponsor Funding ); (iii) transfer to the Distribution Account the proceeds of any Utilisation which have been transferred into the Construction Account and are permitted to be transferred into the Distribution Account pursuant to clause 5; and (iv) after the Final Acceptance Date transfer any amounts on such account to the Offshore Revenue Account, and for each such withdrawal the Borrower shall deliver a Borrower Withdrawal Request to the relevant Account Bank (with a copy to the Facility Agent) no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date.
(c) | Final Acceptance |
The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises and instructs the relevant Account Bank to transfer (and the Offshore Account Bank agrees to make such transfer upon receipt of a Borrower Withdrawal Request provided no later than two (2) Business Days prior to such transfer date) on the date falling ten (10) Business Days after the Final Acceptance Date all moneys standing to the credit of the Construction Account first to prepay any Loan then required to be prepaid pursuant to clause 5.7 ( Sponsor Funding ) to ensure that the ratio of Sponsor Funding to the outstanding Loans is not less than 1:3 and the remainder if any transferred to the Offshore Revenue Account.
28.5 | Onshore Proceeds Account |
(a) | Payments |
No later than one (1) Business Day following receipt of any payment into the Onshore Proceeds Account, the relevant Account Bank shall transfer (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises and instructs that Account Bank to make such transfer) such amount to the Construction Account (prior to the Final Acceptance Date) and to the Offshore Revenue Account (on and following the Final Acceptance Date). The Borrower shall notify the Onshore Account Bank of the occurrence of the Final Acceptance Date on the Final Acceptance Date and within two (2) Business Days of receipt of such notice the Onshore Account Bank shall ensure that amounts are transferred to the Offshore Revenue Account in accordance with this clause 28.5(a).
(b) | Withdrawals |
The Onshore Account Bank shall make the transfers required pursuant to clause 28.5(a) automatically and no Borrower Withdrawal Request shall be required for such transfer. During the Facility Period, the Borrower shall not withdraw or request a withdrawal of moneys from the Onshore Proceeds Account except (i) as provided for in clause 28.5(a), (ii) in accordance with the terms of the Account Security or (iii) with the Lenders’ prior written consent.
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28.6 | Onshore Delivery Account |
(a) | Payments |
No later than one (1) Business Day following receipt of the proceeds of Utilisations in respect of the Delivery Instalment into the Onshore Delivery Account, unless the Borrower, Lenders and the Onshore Account Bank otherwise agree, the Onshore Account Bank shall upon receipt of a Facility Agent Withdrawal Request provided two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant transfer date, transfer (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises and instructs that Account Bank to make such transfer) such amount to the Builder’s bank in accordance with Article (X)(4)(a)(ii) of the Building Contract. The transfer shall be accompanied by a MT199 message in a form agreed by the Borrower, relevant Account Bank and the Lenders and funds shall be released to the Builder in accordance with clause 4.2(b).
(b) | Withdrawals |
During the Facility Period, the Borrower shall not withdraw or request a withdrawal of moneys from the Onshore Delivery Account except (i) as provided for in clause 28.6(a), (ii) in accordance with the terms of the Account Security or (iii) with the Lenders’ prior written consent.
28.7 | Onshore Revenue Account |
(a) | Payments |
No later than one (1) Business Day following receipt of any payment into the Onshore Revenue Account, the relevant Account Bank shall transfer (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises and instructs that Account Bank to make such transfer) such amount to the Offshore Revenue Account.
(b) | Withdrawals |
No Borrower Withdrawal Request shall be required for a transfer pursuant to clause 28.7(a). During the Facility Period, the Borrower shall not withdraw or request a withdrawal of moneys from the Onshore Revenue Account except (i) as provided for in clause 28.7(a), (ii) in accordance with the terms of the Account Security or (iii) with the Lenders’ prior written consent.
28.8 | Offshore Revenue Account |
(a) | Payment Cascade |
Subject to clause 28.8(c) and clause 28.8(e), the Borrower shall apply the amounts standing to the credit of the Offshore Revenue Account in the following order of priority:
(i) | up to twice in any month, in or towards payment in dollars to the Offshore Operating Account of an amount which, when taken together with all other payments under this sub-paragraph in the same financial year, does not exceed 125% of the Projected Operating Expenses payable in that month and each prior month in that financial year as specified in the Project Budget Statement for that financial year; |
(ii) | secondly, on each Repayment Date and/or at any other time when such fees or prepayments are due, in payment in dollars of all fees (including commitment fee), expenses, charges and prepayments of Loans and accrued interest on such amounts prepaid due to the Finance Parties pursuant to the Finance Documents to the extent not paid from the Retention Account or in the case of the Mooring Tranche Loans the Offshore Mooring Payment Account; |
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(iii) | thirdly, on any date to pay any amounts which are due and payable under the Finance Documents and not otherwise referred to in this clause 28.8(a) or clause 28.9 or payable on a date otherwise than as set out in this clause 28.8(a) or clause 28.9; |
(iv) | fourthly, on each date (being a Business Day calculated in accordance with clause 1.2(a)(xix)) (a retention date ) falling 1 month after the date (the start date ) three months before the First Repayment Date and at 1 month intervals after that, the Borrower shall pay into the Retention Account the lower of: (A) the balance on the Offshore Revenue Account on such date after any payments in priority to this paragraph (iii) are made and (B) such amount as will ensure that the amount credited to the Retention Account is the relevant fraction of: |
(A) | the aggregate of all amounts in respect of interest (including any default interest) due on an Interest Payment Date falling at the end of any Interest Period current or ending on that retention date and payable under the Finance Documents and projected Net Hedging Expenses (if a positive number) in respect of the period ending on the relevant Interest Payment Date; |
(B) | all amounts in respect of principal on Loans payable on the first Repayment Date (other than LC Loans unless such date is the FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date and the Mooring Tranche Loans unless the Mooring Purchase Price has been transferred to the Offshore Revenue Account from the Offshore Mooring Payment Account) that falls on or after such retention date and payable under clause 8 ( Repayment ) (or otherwise pursuant to the Finance Documents); and |
(C) | any swap termination sums / close-out payments payable to the Hedging Banks under the Hedging Contracts on the first Repayment Date that falls on or after such retention date. |
The relevant fraction of such an amount referred to in paragraphs (A) to (C) as at a retention date will be the fraction whose numerator is the number of retention dates from the beginning of that Interest Period (in the case of an amount referred to in paragraph A) (but excluding any retention date at the start of such period) up to and including the relevant retention date or (in the case of an amount referred to in paragraph B or C) since the start date or, if later, the previous Repayment Date (but excluding any retention date at the start of such period) and whose denominator is the number of retention dates from the beginning of that Interest Period (in the case of an amount referred to in paragraph A) (but excluding any retention date at the start of such period) up to and including the relevant Interest Payment Date or (in the case of an amount referred to in paragraph B or C) the number of retention dates falling during the period beginning on the previous K-sure Facility Repayment Date (or the start date in the case of the retention dates before the First Repayment Date) (but in each case excluding any retention date at the start of such period) and ending on the K-sure Facility Repayment Date immediately following the start of such period;
(v) | fifthly, at the option of the Borrower in transfer to the Retention Account of any amount; |
(vi) | sixthly, on the relevant due date in payment of any amounts that are payable from the Retention Account but are unable to be paid from the amounts standing to the credit of the Retention Account; |
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provided that if there would, but for this proviso, be inadequate moneys standing to the credit of the Offshore Revenue Account on the relevant due date to make the payments referred to in paragraphs (ii), (iii) and/or (vi) above in full, then the relevant shortfall shall be met from any funds available first, in the Debt Service Reserve Account (or available to be drawn under any DSRA Letter of Credit) and, for this purpose, the Borrower hereby authorizes the Facility Agent and the Account Banks to apply the funds on the Debt Service Reserve Account (or available to be drawn under any DSRA Letter of Credit) for such purpose and the Facility Agent, the Security Agent and the relevant Account Bank must apply such amounts for that purpose and in the case of the Facility Agent sign the relevant Facility Agent Withdrawal Request for such payment;
(vii) | seventhly, on each Repayment Date, in transfer to the Debt Service Reserve Account of such amount (up to the balance remaining on the Offshore Revenue Account) needed to ensure that the DSRA Balance is equal to the applicable Debt Service Reserve at such time; |
(viii) | eighthly, on each FSRU Tranche Repayment Date falling after the Due Date, any moneys remaining on the Offshore Revenue Account after the applications under the preceding paragraphs of this clause 28.8(a) ( Payment Cascade ) have been made in full shall be paid to the Facility Agent in prepayment of the LC Loans (in inverse order of maturity) and otherwise in accordance with clause 9.13 ( Restrictions ) until the LC Loans have been prepaid in full; |
(ix) | ninthly, at the option of the Borrower, to the Facility Agent in prepayment of any of the Loans in accordance with clause 9.13 ( Restrictions ); and |
(x) | tenthly, (provided no Proceeds Application Event has occurred for which the relevant required prepayments have not been made) on each Repayment Date or within thirteen (13) Business Days thereafter, any moneys remaining on the Offshore Revenue Account after the applications under the preceding paragraphs of this clause 28.8(a) ( Payment Cascade ) have been made in full for the applicable date may be transferred to the Distribution Account provided that no Distribution Restriction shall have occurred and be continuing. |
(b) | To ensure compliance with clause 28.8(a), the Borrower shall: |
(A) | in respect of transfers to any third parties (other than the Facility Agent) in accordance with clause 28.8(a), provide the Facility Agent with a Facility Agent Withdrawal Request signed by the Borrower no later than four (4) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date and the Facility Agent shall, provided that such Facility Agent Withdrawal Request is in compliance with this clause 28.8 or appears to it to be so in compliance, deliver to the relevant Account Bank the countersigned Facility Agent Withdrawal Request no later than two (2) Business Days before the relevant payment date; |
(B) | in respect of transfers to the Distribution Account in accordance with this clause 28.8 ( Offshore Revenue Account ), provide the Facility Agent with a Facility Agent Withdrawal Request signed by the Borrower (and in the case of a transfer on or after the First Repayment Date a copy of the relevant Compliance Certificate pursuant to clause 20.2(b)) no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date and the Facility Agent shall provide the Lenders with a copy of such Facility Agent Withdrawal Request and, if applicable, the relevant Compliance Certificate. Unless the Majority Lenders have instructed the Facility Agent by such date that the conditions set out in clause 28.8(a)(x) are not met (in the case of a transfer on or after the First Repayment Date) or the withdrawal is not permitted under clause 28.8(e) (in the case of a transfer prior to the First Repayment Date), the Facility Agent shall deliver to the relevant Account Bank the countersigned Facility Agent Withdrawal Request no later than two (2) Business Days before the relevant payment date. |
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(C) | in respect of transfers to a Project Account (other than the Distribution Account) in accordance with clause 28.8(a) or clause 28.8(e), deliver a Borrower Withdrawal Request to the relevant Account Bank (with a copy to the Facility Agent) no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date; |
(D) | on a monthly basis from the Final Acceptance Date within seven (7) Business Days of the end of each calendar month, provide to the Facility Agent a detailed summary of all withdrawals from the Offshore Revenue Account in that calendar month and with appropriate statements and/or information as may be reasonably required by the Facility Agent for the purpose of determining that such withdrawals have been made in compliance with this clause 28.8. |
(c) | All Receivables (other than the Mooring Purchase Price and the Tax Element) from time to time received by the Borrower, either Agent, the Security Agent or either Account Bank after Final Acceptance shall be paid to and held in the Offshore Revenue Account, except as otherwise contemplated in clause 28.7 ( Onshore Revenue Account ) and shall in each case, if applicable following transfer to the Offshore Revenue Account, be applied in accordance with this clause 28.8. |
(d) | Upon the occurrence of a Proceeds Application Event (or if later the date the relevant prepayment is due) and at all times thereafter (until the relevant payments have been made together with the other amounts then due under the Finance Documents), all amounts standing to the credit of the Offshore Revenue Account (including all interest accrued thereon whilst held in the Offshore Revenue Account), together with all Receivables otherwise held by either Agent, the Security Agent, either Account Bank or the Borrower, shall (after providing for any Losses ranking by law in priority to the Secured Obligations) be applied (and, for this purpose, the Borrower hereby instructs the Facility Agent to make such application (and the Facility Agent hereby instructs the Account Banks, and the Borrower hereby authorises the Account Banks to make such payments) as soon as reasonably practicable in paying the following amounts in the following order: |
(i) | first, in or towards reimbursing all and any expenses and charges properly suffered, incurred or paid by the Finance Parties or any Receiver pursuant to the Finance Documents and all and any remuneration payable to any Receiver pursuant to the Finance Documents; |
(ii) | secondly, in or towards the required prepayment of the Loans and accrued interest and all other amounts then due under the Finance Documents and any Hedging Debt then due (in each case for further application in accordance with clause 40.6 ( Partial payments ); and |
(iii) | thirdly, an amount equal to the balance (if any) shall be paid to the Borrower or as it directs (including in accordance with the order of priorities in clause 28.8(a)). |
To ensure compliance with this clause 28.8(d) the Facility Agent shall deliver to the relevant Account Bank a Facility Agent Withdrawal Request (with a copy to the Borrower) for payment in accordance with this clause 28.8(d) no later than two (2) Business Days before the relevant payment date (and the Borrower hereby authorises that Account Bank to make the payment in accordance with such Facility Agent Withdrawal Request).
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(e) | Notwithstanding clause 28.8(a), the Borrower may: (i) transfer any amounts received into the Offshore Revenue Account prior to the Final Acceptance Date into the Construction Account, (ii) transfer to the Distribution Account the proceeds of any Utilisation which have been transferred into the Offshore Revenue Account and are permitted to be transferred into the Distribution Account pursuant to clause 5; and (iii) transfer into the Offshore Operating Account the proceeds of Subordinated Loans, for issuance of Promissory Notes and share subscriptions in the Borrower received by the Borrower and transferred to the Offshore Revenue Account after the Final Acceptance Date. |
(f) | Withdrawals |
During the Facility Period the Borrower shall not withdraw or request a withdrawal of moneys from the Offshore Revenue Account except as provided for in clause 28.8(a) or 28.8(d) or clause 28.8(e) or in accordance with the terms of the Account Security.
(g) | Information |
Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower undertakes that it will provide to the Facility Agent promptly such information as may be reasonably required by the Facility Agent for the purpose of determining the amounts to be credited to each of the Project Accounts referred to in clause 28.8(a) or otherwise for application in accordance with the provisions of clause 28.8(a).
28.9 | Retention Account |
(a) | The Borrower shall not withdraw amounts standing to the credit of the Retention Account except as permitted by paragraph (b) below. The Borrower may withdraw amounts from the Retention Account by providing the Facility Agent with a Facility Agent Withdrawal Request signed by the Borrower no later than four (4) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date and the Facility Agent shall, provided that such Facility Agent Withdrawal Request is in compliance with this clause 28.9 or appears to it to be so in compliance, deliver to the relevant Account Bank the countersigned Facility Agent Withdrawal Request no later than two (2) Business Day before the relevant payment date. |
(b) | The Borrower shall apply amounts standing to the credit of the Retention Account in the following order of priority: |
(i) | firstly, on each Interest Payment Date, in payment in dollars, on a pari passu basis, to: |
(A) | the Lenders pro rata of all amounts in respect of interest (including any default interest) then due (or overdue) on that Interest Payment Date and payable under the Finance Documents; |
(B) | the Hedging Banks pro rata of all amounts (other than any swap termination sums / close-out payments under the Hedging Contracts) (if any) then due and payable to the Hedging Banks under the Hedging Contracts in respect of the period ending on that Interest Payment Date; |
(ii) | secondly, on each Repayment Date, in payment in dollars, on a pari passu basis, to: |
(A) | the Lenders pro rata of all amounts in respect of principal on Loans (other than LC Loans unless such date is the FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date and the Mooring Tranche Loans to the extent such Loans are repaid from the Offshore Mooring Payment Account) then due (or overdue) on that Repayment Date and payable under clause 8 ( Repayment ) (or otherwise pursuant to the Finance Documents); and |
(B) | the Hedging Banks pro rata of any swap termination sums / close-out payments owing to them under the Hedging Contracts; and |
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provided that if there would, but for this proviso, be inadequate moneys standing to the credit of the Retention Account on that Interest Payment Date or Repayment Date to make the payments referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) above in full, then the relevant shortfall shall be met from any funds available first, in the Offshore Revenue Account and then from the Debt Service Reserve Account (or available to be drawn under any DSRA Letter of Credit) and, for this purpose, the Borrower hereby authorizes the Facility Agent and the Account Banks to apply the funds on the Offshore Revenue Account and/or Debt Service Reserve Account (or available to be drawn under any DSRA Letter of Credit) for such purpose and the Facility Agent, the Security Agent and the relevant Account Bank must apply such amounts for that purpose and in the case of the Facility Agent sign the relevant Facility Agent Withdrawal Request for such payment;
(iii) | thirdly, at the option of the Borrower payment to the Borrower’s Offshore Revenue Account of any amount by which the balance on the Retention Account exceeds that maximum amount then required to be in such account pursuant to clause 28.8(a). |
28.10 | Operating Accounts |
(a) | Payments |
The Borrower shall be entitled to:
(i) | make transfers from the Offshore Operating Account to the Onshore Operating Account for Operating Expenses payable in Rupiah; and |
(ii) | withdraw funds from the Onshore Operating Account and the Offshore Operating Account to pay any Operating Expenses on such dates and in such amounts as are necessary and transfers to the Offshore Revenue Account permitted by clause 28.13 ( Insurance Proceeds Account ). |
To ensure compliance with this clause 28.10(a) the Borrower shall deliver to the relevant Account Bank a Borrower Withdrawal Request for payment in accordance with this clause 28.10(a) no later than two (2) Business Days before the relevant payment date.
(b) | Cash Sweep |
The Borrower shall ensure that on 31st December of each year the amounts standing to the credit of the Operating Accounts shall not exceed 125% of the Projected Operating Expenses for January of the following year as set out in the relevant Project Budget Statement. To ensure compliance with this clause 28.10(b), the Borrower shall transfer any such excess to the Offshore Revenue Account and the relevant Account Bank agrees to make such transfer upon receipt of a Borrower Withdrawal Request provided no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date.
(c) | Withdrawals |
During the Facility Period, the Borrower shall not withdraw or request a withdrawal of moneys from either Operating Account except (i) as provided for in clause 28.10(a) and (b), (ii) in accordance with the terms of the Account Security or (iii) with the Lenders’ prior written consent.
28.11 | LC Cash Collateral Account |
(a) | Except with approval of the Issuing Bank or for the payment or transfer of cash collateral in accordance with clauses 7.7(c) and 7.7(d) ( Cash collateralisation ), clause 28.11(b) or clause 28.11(c), the Borrower shall not be entitled to withdraw moneys standing to the credit of the LC Cash Collateral Account. |
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(b) | To ensure compliance with clause 28.11(a) and subject to clause 28.11(b) the relevant Account Bank shall only make a transfer from the LC Cash Collateral Account in accordance with paragraph (a) above and upon receipt of a Borrower Withdrawal Request which is counter-signed by the Issuing Bank and is delivered by the Issuing Bank to the Account Bank no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises and instructs that Account Bank and the relevant Account Bank agrees to make the payment in accordance with such Borrower Withdrawal Request). |
(c) | The Issuing Bank shall withdraw from the LC Cash Collateral Account any amounts to be withdrawn or paid to it from such account pursuant to clauses 7.7(a) or 7.7(b) and notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs of this clause 28.11, the Issuing Bank shall be permitted to make withdrawals from the LC Cash Collateral Account in accordance with clause 7.7(a) and 7.7(b) without any intervention of the Borrower or requirement for any Borrower Withdrawal Request, and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises and instructs that Account Bank and the relevant Account Bank agrees to process such withdrawal request. |
28.12 | Debt Service Reserve Account |
(a) | At any time (unless an Event of Default shall have occurred at such time and be continuing), the Borrower shall be entitled to withdraw moneys standing to the credit of the Debt Service Reserve Account provided that the Borrower has provided a DSRA Letter of Credit (procured by the Shareholders or any of their Affiliates) or to the extent that the DSRA Balance is greater than the Debt Service Reserve. The amount available to be withdrawn shall be such amount that ensures after such withdrawal the DSRA Balance is equal to the Debt Service Reserve. Any such moneys withdrawn from the Debt Service Reserve Account shall be paid into the Distribution Account in the case of the transfer pursuant to the issuance of a DSRA Letter of Credit or the Offshore Revenue Account in the case of a withdrawal due to the DSRA Balance exceeding the Debt Service Reserve other than due to the issue of a DSRA Letter of Credit. |
(b) | The Borrower shall not enter into any counter indemnity or other obligations with the DSRA L/C Issuer in connection with the issue of any DSRA Letter of Credit. No DSRA L/C Issuer shall be entitled to share in the security constituted by the Security Documents with the Finance Parties by reason of provision of the DSRA Letter of Credit. Each DSRA Letter of Credit shall be renewed and/or replaced by the Borrower with a new DSRA Letter of Credit one month prior to the expiry of the then current DSRA Letter of Credit, provided that the Borrower shall not be obliged to ensure such renewal or replacement if the cash balance on the Debt Service Reserve Account is then equal to the Debt Service Reserve. If not replaced as required pursuant to this paragraph (b), the Security Agent shall be entitled to claim under the existing DSRA Letter of Credit an amount equal to the applicable Debt Service Reserve less the cash balance on the Debt Service Reserve Account and such amount shall be credited to the Debt Service Reserve Account. |
(c) | The Borrower shall not withdraw or request a withdrawal of moneys from the Debt Service Reserve Account except as provided in clause 28.8(a) ( Payment Cascade ), clause 28.9 or as provided in paragraph (a) above. |
(d) | The Borrower shall ensure that on the 8th FSRU Tranche Repayment Date the DSRA Balance is not less than the Debt Service Reserve. |
(e) | To ensure compliance with this clause 28.12 the relevant Account Bank shall only make a transfer from the Debt Service Reserve Account in accordance with paragraph (a) or (c) above and upon receipt of a Facility Agent Withdrawal Request. The Borrower may withdraw amounts from the Debt Service Reserve Account by providing the Facility Agent with a Facility Agent Withdrawal Request signed by the Borrower no later than four (4) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date and the Facility Agent shall, provided that such Facility Agent Withdrawal Request is in compliance with this clause 28.12 or appears to it to be so in compliance, deliver to the relevant Account Bank the countersigned Facility Agent Withdrawal Request no later than two (2) Business Day before the relevant payment date. |
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28.13 | Insurance Proceeds Account |
(a) | Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all Insurance Proceeds from time to time received by the Borrower, the Security Agent or either Account Bank during the Facility Period shall (after providing for any Losses ranking by law in priority to the Secured Obligations) be applied as follows: |
(i) | if those Insurance Proceeds are in an amount less than the Major Casualty Amount, an amount equal to those Insurance Proceeds shall be paid to the Operating Account and the Borrower shall use such Insurance Proceeds in repairing or replacing such asset or property and/or in discharging the liability in respect of which they have been paid except to the extent that the repairs or replacement are unnecessary for continued operation or have already been paid for and/or the liability already discharged or those Insurance Proceeds exceed the cost of repair in which case such excess Insurance Proceeds shall be transferred to the Offshore Revenue Account and if a Termination Date has occurred applied in accordance with clause 28.18 ( Application after Termination Date ); |
(ii) | if those Insurance Proceeds are in an amount equal to or exceeding the Major Casualty Amount an amount equal to those Insurance Proceeds shall be paid into the Insurance Proceeds Account and thereafter: |
(A) | if the Borrower is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Lenders (acting reasonably and on the advice of the Technical Adviser and in consultation with the Borrower) that it is technically feasible to repair or replace and make good the relevant damage or loss with a financial model showing (1) a projected average Debt Service Coverage Ratio (for the purpose of clause 21) of 1.10:1 and (2) projected sufficient cash and cash flow (including the existing and projected cash balance on the Debt Service Reserve Account and amounts then available to be drawn down under any DSRA Letter of Credit) to pay Debt Service, in each case for the remainder of the Facility Period, an amount equal to those Insurance Proceeds shall be paid: |
(1) | to the Borrower (to such account as is advised by the Borrower), following receipt by the Facility Agent from the Borrower of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Facility Agent that the relevant damage or loss has been properly made good and repaired and that all repair accounts and other liabilities whatsoever in connection with that damage or loss have been fully paid and discharged by the Borrower; or |
(2) | to the persons or person effecting the repairs to the Vessel on account of those repairs in the course of those repairs being effected (if staged payments for such repairs are required) or after those repairs have been effected (in all other circumstances); |
(B) | if the Lenders have not provided their consent to the application in accordance with paragraph (a) (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), those Insurance Proceeds that are not applied as contemplated by paragraph (A) above shall be paid into the Offshore Revenue Account for application in accordance with clause 28.18 ( Application after Termination Date ). |
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(b) | All amounts of Liability Insurance Proceeds from time to time received by the Borrower, the Security Agent or the Account Banks during the Facility Period shall be paid to the person who incurred the liability or who suffered the damage to which those Liability Insurance Proceeds relate or, where that liability has been satisfied, to the person who has satisfied that liability, in reimbursement to that person of the monies expended by it in satisfaction of that liability, in each case and to the extent applicable, following the receipt by the Security Agent from the Borrower of evidence satisfactory to the Security Agent acting reasonably that the relevant liability or damage was incurred or suffered or, as the case may be, that the relevant liability has been satisfied. |
(c) | All amounts of Loss of Hire Insurance Proceeds from time to time received by the Borrower, the Security Agent or the Account Banks during the Facility Period shall be paid into the Offshore Revenue Account. |
(d) | If an Event of Default is continuing, all amounts of Insurance Proceeds and/or Liability Insurance Proceeds from time to time received or held by the Security Agent or the Account Banks shall be applied in accordance with clause 37.23 ( Order of application ). |
(e) | To ensure compliance with this clause 28.13: |
(i) | the Borrower shall provide its instructions for payment (by providing the relevant Facility Agent Withdrawal Request signed by the Borrower) in accordance with this clause 28.13 to the Facility Agent (for its confirmation of compliance) no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date; and |
(ii) | the relevant Account Bank shall only make a transfer from the Insurance Proceeds Account upon receipt of a Facility Agent Withdrawal Request countersigned by the Facility Agent no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises and instructs the relevant Account Bank to make the payment in accordance with such Facility Agent Withdrawal Request). |
28.14 | Rupiah Account |
(a) | The Borrower shall not withdraw or request a withdrawal of moneys from the Rupiah Account other than in payment of its Tax obligations. |
(b) | To ensure compliance with this clause 28.14, the relevant Account Bank shall only make a transfer from the Rupiah Account upon receipt of a Borrower Withdrawal Request which is delivered by the Borrower to that Account Bank no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date. |
28.15 | Onshore Mooring Payment Account |
(a) | Payments |
No later than one (1) Business Day following receipt of any payment into the Onshore Mooring Payment Account, the relevant Account Bank shall transfer (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises and instructs that Account Bank to make such transfer) such amount to the Offshore Mooring Payment Account.
(b) | Withdrawals |
No Borrower Withdrawal Request shall be required for a transfer pursuant to clause 28.15(a). During the Facility Period, the Borrower shall not withdraw or request a withdrawal of moneys from the Onshore Mooring Payment Account except (i) as provided for in clause 28.15(a), (ii) in accordance with the terms of the Account Security or (iii) with the Lenders’ prior written consent.
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28.16 | Offshore Mooring Payment Account |
(a) | The Borrower shall not withdraw or request a withdrawal of moneys from the Offshore Mooring Payment Account other than to (i) make any payment or repayment in respect of the Mooring Tranche in accordance with this Agreement; (ii) transfer amounts to the Construction Account or, following Final Acceptance the Offshore Revenue Account; or (iii) transfer moneys standing to the credit of the Offshore Mooring Payment Account to the Distribution Account provided always that (in the case of transfers to the Distribution Account): |
(i) | the Mooring Tranche of the Commercial Facility has first been repaid in full and no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and |
(ii) | the Technical Advisor has confirmed to the Facility Agent on or prior to the proposed withdrawal date that the Borrower has sufficient funds to achieve Final Acceptance (taking into account any monies transferred from the Offshore Mooring Payment Account in respect of (i) and (ii) above). An amount equal to any funding shortfall (as determined by the Technical Advisor) shall be transferred to the Construction Account or, if Final Acceptance has occurred, to the Offshore Revenue Account. The Lenders shall request and use reasonable endeavours to procure the Technical Advisor to issue its advice as soon as possible prior to the payment of the Mooring Payment in order to minimise any delay in transferring any amount to the Distribution Account. |
(b) | To ensure compliance with this clause 28.16: |
(i) | the Borrower shall provide its instructions for payment (by providing the relevant Facility Agent Withdrawal Request signed by the Borrower) in accordance with this clause 28.16 to the Facility Agent (for its confirmation of compliance) no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date (or four (4) Business Days if the relevant payment is a repayment or prepayment of the Mooring Tranche Loans and/or any accrued interest thereon); |
(ii) | the relevant Account Bank shall only make a transfer from the Offshore Mooring Account upon receipt of a Facility Agent Withdrawal Request countersigned by the Facility Agent no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date (and the Borrower hereby authorises that Account Bank to make the payment in accordance with such Facility Agent Withdrawal Request). |
28.17 | Distribution Account |
(a) | The Borrower shall be entitled to withdraw moneys from the Distribution Account without restriction. |
(b) | To ensure compliance with this clause 28.17, the relevant Account Bank shall only make a transfer from the Distribution Account upon receipt of a Borrower Withdrawal Request which is delivered by the Borrower to that Account Bank no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant payment date. |
28.18 | Application after Termination Date |
Upon and following any Termination Date, the Facility Agent will (and the Account Banks and the Security Agent hereby agree to) on the due date for payment in accordance with this Agreement apply the proceeds of realisation of any Collateral, including any credit balance on any Project Account (other than the Distribution Account), any Insurance Proceeds and/or Total Loss Proceeds and/or Liability Insurance Proceeds and any other moneys received under or pursuant to the Finance Documents and the Security Documents (after providing for all costs, charges, expenses and liabilities and other payments ranking in priority to the Secured Obligations) in the following manner and order:
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(a) | first, in or towards payment to the Security Agent of any unpaid costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or attempted enforcement of any of the rights under any of the Finance Documents; and |
(b) | secondly, for further application in accordance with clause 37.23 ( Order of application ). |
28.19 | Payment Administration |
(a) | Each of the Project Accounts shall be operated by the relevant Account Bank solely-in accordance with this clause 28 and each instruction to the Account Banks shall be compliant with the format indicated in Schedule 18 ( Form of instruction to Account Bank ). For the avoidance of doubt, adherence to the terms of this clause 28 is the Facility Agent’s responsibility. |
(b) | The general provisions set out in Schedule 19 ( Account Bank provisions ) are incorporated into this Agreement by reference and, in the case of any conflict between the other provisions of this Agreement and Schedule 19, the provisions of Schedule 19 shall prevail. |
28.20 | Other provisions |
(a) | A Project Account (other than Project Accounts in place as of the first Utilisation Date) may only be designated for the purposes described in this clause 28 after the first Utilisation Date if: |
(i) | such designation is made in writing by the Borrower to the Facility Agent and specifies the name and address of the relevant Account Bank and the number and any designation or other reference attributed to the Account; |
(ii) | an Account Security (other than in the case of the Distribution Account) has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent; |
(iii) | any notice required by the Account Security to be given to an Account Bank has been given to the relevant Account Bank in the form required by the relevant Account Security; and |
(iv) | the Facility Agent, or its duly authorised representative, has received such documents and evidence it may require in relation to the Account and the Account Security including documents and evidence of the type referred to in Schedule 3 ( Conditions precedent ) in relation to the Account and the relevant Account Security. |
(b) | The Accounts shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Borrower, be interest bearing with such interest paid into the relevant Project Account to which it relates and the rates of payment of interest and other terms regulating any Project Account will be a matter of separate agreement between the Borrower and the relevant Account Bank. If a Project Account (other than the Distribution Account) is a fixed term deposit account, the Borrower may select the terms of deposits until the relevant Account Security has become enforceable and the Security Agent directs otherwise. |
(c) | The Borrower shall not close any Project Account (other than the Distribution Account) or alter the terms of any Project Account (other than the Distribution Account) from those in force at the time it is designated for the purposes of this clause 28 or waive any of its rights in relation to a Project Account (other than the Distribution Account) except with approval. |
(d) | The Borrower shall deposit with the Security Agent all certificates of deposit, receipts or other instruments or securities relating to any Project Account (other than the Distribution Account), notify the Security Agent of any claim or notice relating to a Project Account (other than the Distribution Account) from any other party and provide the Facility Agent with any other information it may request concerning any Project Account (other than the Distribution Account). |
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(e) | Each of the Facility Agent and the Issuing Bank shall promptly countersign and provide to the relevant Account Bank any Facility Agent Withdrawal Request or Borrower Withdrawal Request which is provided to them for their countersignature in accordance with this Agreement for a withdrawal which is in compliance with this clause 28 or in the case of a Borrower Withdrawal Request for the LC Cash Collateral Account clause 7.7 and the Lenders shall promptly provide such instructions as are required by the Facility Agent or Issuing Bank to countersign and provide to the relevant Account Bank any such Facility Agent Withdrawal Request or Borrower Withdrawal Request. |
(f) | For the purposes of this clause 28 a withdrawal from a Project Account includes a payment or transfer from such Project Account. |
(g) | Each Finance Party agrees that if it is an Account Bank in respect of a Project Account (other than the Distribution Account) then there will be no restrictions on charging that Project Account as contemplated by this Agreement and it shall not (except with the approval of the Majority Lenders) exercise any right of combination, consolidation or set-off which it may have in respect of that Account in a manner adverse to the rights of the other Finance Parties. |
29 | Business restrictions |
The Borrower undertakes that this clause 29 will be complied throughout the Facility Period.
29.1 | General negative pledge |
The Borrower shall not permit any Security Interest to exist, arise or be created or extended over all or any part of its assets except for:
(a) | those granted or expressed to be granted by any of the Security Documents; and |
(b) | Permitted Security Interests. |
29.2 | Transactions similar to security |
(Without prejudice to clauses 29.3 ( Financial Indebtedness ) and 29.8 ( Disposals )), the Borrower shall not:
(a) | sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby that asset is or may be leased to, or re-acquired by, any other member of the Group other than pursuant to disposals permitted under clause 29.8 ( Disposals ); |
(b) | sell, transfer, factor or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms (except for the discounting of bills or notes in the ordinary course of business); |
(c) | enter into any arrangement under which money or the benefit of a bank or other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a combination of accounts; or |
(d) | enter into any other preferential arrangement having a similar effect, |
in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into primarily as a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the acquisition of an asset except where such arrangement or transaction would be permitted by clause 29.1 ( General negative pledge ) if such arrangement or transaction had been a Security Interest.
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29.3 | Financial Indebtedness |
The Borrower shall not incur, or permit to exist, any Financial Indebtedness owed by it to anyone else except:
(a) | Financial Indebtedness incurred under the Finance Documents; |
(b) | Permitted Financial Indebtedness; and |
(c) | Financial Indebtedness permitted under clause 29.5 ( Loans and credit ). |
29.4 | Guarantees |
The Borrower shall not give or permit to exist, any guarantee by it in respect of indebtedness of any person or allow any of its indebtedness to be guaranteed by anyone else (except pursuant to the Guarantees or otherwise by the Guarantor).
29.5 | Loans and credit |
The Borrower shall not make, grant or permit to exist any loans or any credit by it to anyone else other than trade credit granted by it to its customers on normal commercial terms in the ordinary course of its business and any loans made from amounts standing to the credit of the Distribution Account.
29.6 | Bank accounts and other financial transactions |
The Borrower shall not:
(a) | maintain any current or deposit account (other than the Project Accounts and, prior to the first Utilisation Date, the Initial Equity Account) with a bank or financial institution except for the deposit of money, operation of current accounts and the conduct of electronic banking operations with the Account Banks; |
(b) | hold cash in any account (other than with the Account Banks) over or in respect of which any set-off, combination of accounts, netting or Security Interest exists except for the Initial Equity Account prior to the first Utilisation Date; |
(c) | be party to any banking or financial transaction, whether on or off balance sheet, that is not permitted under this Agreement. |
29.7 | Other obligations and/or business |
The Borrower shall not:
(a) | enter into any contract or agreement with any person and will not otherwise create, undertake, assume or incur any obligation or liability whatsoever to any person other than in its ordinary course of business or as provided for in, or as permitted by, the Transaction Documents and arrangements entered into as a result thereof and each other document required to be executed and delivered by it in accordance with the provisions hereof or thereof; or |
(b) | undertake or become involved in any business whatsoever other than as contemplated by the Transaction Documents without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent acting with the consent of all the Lenders. |
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29.8 | Disposals |
The Borrower shall not enter into a single transaction or a series of transactions, whether related or not and whether voluntarily or involuntarily, to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, charter, discount or otherwise dispose of any of its present and future business, undertaking, assets and revenues, including, but not limited to, its title, rights or interests in or to the Vessel or any equipment or any of the Borrower’s Security (other than the Permitted Security Interests) except for any of the following disposals so long as they are not prohibited by any other provision of the Finance Documents:
(a) | disposals of assets made in (and on terms reflecting) the ordinary course of trading of the disposing entity; |
(b) | disposals of obsolete assets, or assets which are no longer required for the purpose of the business of the Borrower in each case for cash on normal commercial terms and on an arm’s length basis; |
(c) | disposals of any assets, rights and revenues permitted by any Finance Document, or including without limitation under clauses 25.2 ( Sale or disposal of the Vessel ) and 25.3 ( Sale of the Mooring ) of this Agreement, or required pursuant to any other Finance Document; |
(d) | dealings with trade creditors with respect to book debts in the ordinary course of trading; and |
(e) | the application of cash or cash equivalents in the acquisition of assets or services in the ordinary course of its business. |
29.9 | Contracts and arrangements with Affiliates |
The Borrower shall not be party to any arrangement or contract with any of its Affiliates unless such arrangement or contract is on an arm’s length basis.
29.10 | Subsidiaries |
The Borrower shall not establish or acquire a company or other entity which would be or become a member of the Group or reactivate any member of the Group.
29.11 | Acquisitions and investments |
The Borrower shall not acquire any person, business or assets or make any investment in any person or business or enter into any joint-venture arrangement except:
(a) | the Vessel, the Mooring and the Borrower Assigned Property; |
(b) | acquisitions of assets in the ordinary course of business (not being new businesses or vessels); or |
(c) | pursuant to any Transaction Document to which it is party. |
29.12 | Reduction of capital |
The Borrower shall not redeem or purchase or otherwise reduce any of its share capital or any warrants or any uncalled or unpaid liability in respect of its share capital or reduce the amount (if any) for the time being standing to the credit of its share premium account or capital redemption or other undistributable reserve in any manner.
29.13 | Increase in capital |
The Borrower shall not issue shares to anyone unless to an existing Shareholder provided there is no change in the percentage ownership interests and/or shareholding in the Borrower that constitutes a Change of Control or to a New Shareholder which is an Approved Shareholder in accordance with clause 29.16 ( Replacement and/or additional shareholder ) and in each case provided that any such issued shares are, from the first Utilisation Date, subject to the Shares Security.
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29.14 | Distributions and other payments |
Except to the extent the relevant payment is made from amounts standing to the credit of the Distribution Account and for any Permitted Repayment, the Borrower shall not:
(a) | pay (including by way of set-off, combination of accounts or otherwise) any dividend or redeem or make any other distribution or payment (whether in cash or in specie), including any interest and/or unpaid dividends, in respect of its equity or any of its other share capital or any warrants for the time being in issue; or |
(b) | make any payment (including by way of set-off, combination of accounts or otherwise) by way of interest, or repayment, redemption, purchase or other payment, in respect of any Subordinated Loan or Promissory Note to a Shareholder or the Sponsor or another member of the Group or to any other person. |
29.15 | Change in ownership |
(a) | Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) below, the Borrower shall not, change or permit any change in the percentage shareholding held by the Shareholders in the Borrower as at the first Utilisation Date without the prior written consent of the Lenders. |
(b) | The Indonesian Shareholder may transfer all or part of its shareholding in the Borrower to another Shareholder or a New Shareholder which is an Approved Shareholder in accordance with clause 29.16 ( Replacement and/or additional shareholder ). |
(c) | The Singapore Shareholder may transfer all or part of its shareholding in the Borrower to an Affiliate which is a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Guarantor or, as the case may be, the MLP in accordance with clause 29.16 ( Replacement and/or additional shareholder ). |
29.16 | Replacement and/or additional shareholder |
No Shareholder shall transfer any of the shares held by it in the Borrower without the prior written consent of the Lenders (acting reasonably) unless:
(a) | the appointment of a New Shareholder would not breach the terms of the Charter, the Shareholders’ Agreement or any applicable law or regulation; |
(b) | the New Shareholder is an Approved Shareholder; |
(c) | the transfer does not result in a Change in Control; |
(d) | the Lenders have obtained all internal “know your customer” approvals required for the proposed appointment of the New Shareholder and can satisfy their “know your customer” requirements in respect of the New Shareholder; |
(e) | the New Shareholder has, or will have concurrently with such transfer, entered into an accession deed (solely or together with the transferring shareholder) or such other documentation as may reasonably be required whereby the New Shareholder assumes all applicable obligations of the transferring Shareholder under any applicable Finance Documents (to the satisfaction of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably)) and any other documents which the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) may consider necessary in relation to appointment of the New Shareholder to ensure that rights equivalent to those provided to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents in respect of the transferring shareholder and its shares are preserved; and |
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(f) | if required by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably), the Facility Agent has obtained satisfactory legal opinions in respect of the New Shareholder’s entry into any of the documents entered into by the New Shareholder pursuant to paragraph (e) above. |
30 | Hedging |
The undertakings in this clause apply throughout the Facility Period.
30.1 | Hedging |
(a) | Subject to clause 30.1(j) below, the Borrower shall enter into and maintain at all times on and from the date falling three (3) months after the date of this Agreement, Hedging Transactions on a forward start basis to commence from no later than the scheduled first Repayment Date for the K-sure Facility and FSRU Tranche which provide for protection against adverse movements in interest rates for an aggregate notional principal amount that is not less than seventy per cent (70%) of the aggregate of the Total Commitments of (or from the applicable Last Availability Date Loans under) the K-sure Facility and the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility (as at the date of this Agreement) but not greater than one hundred per cent (100%) (provided that the Borrower shall not be in breach of this requirement where such notional amounts are greater than 100% due to a prepayment if it is in compliance with such requirement within 20 Business Days or if due to a cancellation by any Finance Party or due to the occurrence of any Last Availability Date it is in compliance with such requirement within 20 Business Days after being notified of such event by the Facility Agent) of the aggregate of the K-sure Loans and FSRU Tranche Loans (or prior to the applicable Last Availability Date Total Commitments of the K-sure Facility and the FSRU Tranche); |
(b) | The initial Hedging Transactions to be entered into within 3 months of the date of this Agreement shall be entered into by the Borrower with the Original Lenders with the credit spread, in basis points (bps), over the offer side of the dollar swap rate, as calculated in line with the scheduled Repayment Instalments, based on the prevailing dollar swap yield curve, agreed by the Borrower and the Mandated Lead Arrangers in writing on or prior to the date of this Agreement, such Hedging Transactions to be entered into with each of the Original Lenders pro rata to the respective Commitments of the Original Lenders (provided that the Original Lenders enter into such Hedging Transactions on such agreed terms). Any Hedging Transactions required or permitted to be entered into by the Borrower after such initial Hedging Transactions shall, subject to clause 32.4(f) be entered into with such Lenders as the Borrower may select and on such terms as they may agree. The Borrower may for the purpose of an Approved Refinancing enter into further Hedging Transactions for the purposes of this clause 30 and subject to any additional terms that may be agreed as part of such Approved Refinancing. |
(c) | All Original Hedging Banks shall be Original Lenders. |
(d) | The Borrower shall no later than three (3) months after the first Utilisation Date, execute and deliver to the Facility Agent a copy of the Hedging Master Agreements that there are required to have been entered into by such date pursuant to clause 30.1(a) certified as true by an authorised signatory of the Borrower and evidence of the entry into the Hedging Transactions. |
(e) | Each Hedging Contract contemplated by this clause 30.1 ( Hedging ) shall: |
(i) | provide that the Termination Currency (as defined in each Hedging Contract) of each Hedging Contract is dollars; |
(ii) | provide for two-way payments in the event of a termination of a Hedging Transaction, whether upon a Termination Event or an Event of Default (each as defined in the relevant Hedging Contract) as the applicable payment measure; and |
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(iii) | provide that the governing law is English law. |
(f) | The Hedging Transactions contemplated by this clause 30.1 ( Hedging ) shall: |
(i) | individually provide for the Borrower to pay a fixed rate of interest in respect of the relevant notional principal amount from the first Repayment Dates of the FSRU Tranche and the K-sure Facility; and |
(ii) | collectively match the repayment profile of the K-sure Loans and the FSRU Tranche Loans in a manner consistent with clause 30.1(a), including pursuant to any adjustment necessitated by clause 8.3 ( Adjustments of scheduled repayments ). |
(g) | The Borrower and Hedging Banks shall use reasonable endeavours to ensure that: |
(i) | each Floating Rate Payer Payment Date (as defined in each Hedging Contract) in respect of each Hedging Transaction shall coincide with each Repayment Date; |
(ii) | each Reset Date (as defined in each Hedging Contract) in respect of each Hedging Transaction is consistent with each Quotation Day; and |
(iii) | the Floating Rate Option (as defined in each Hedging Contract) in respect of each Hedging Transaction is consistent with the definition of LIBOR, including with respect to the first Interest Period and any fallback determination provisions. |
(h) | Each Hedging Bank shall, promptly upon entry into any Hedging Transaction, deliver to the Facility Agent an original or certified copy of the relevant Confirmation. |
(i) | Other than Hedging Transactions which meet the requirements of this clause 30 ( Hedging ), the Borrower shall not enter into derivative transactions. |
(j) | In the circumstances referred to in clauses 32.4(f)(i), and 30.1(k) and from the date designated as the Early Termination Date by the terminating Hedging Bank or the Borrower, as applicable, the Borrower shall, if such action is necessary in order for the Borrower to comply with clause 30.1(a) above, have a period of thirty (30) days to execute replacement Hedging Transactions in accordance with the provisions of clause 30.1(b) and 32.4(f). In such case, unless otherwise agreed or due to the Hedging Banks not being willing to enter into such replacement Hedging Transactions following the procedures set out in clause 30.1(b), should the Borrower fail to execute replacement Hedging Transactions sufficient to comply with clause 30.1(a) within such thirty (30) day period, this shall constitute a breach of clause 30.1(a) but not otherwise. If execution of such replacement Hedging Transactions is unnecessary in order for the Borrower to comply with clause 30.1(a) above, the Borrower may execute replacement Hedging Transactions in accordance with the provisions of clause 30.1(b) and 32.4(f) but failure to do so shall not constitute a breach of clause 30.1(a). |
(k) | If an Event of Default (as defined in a Hedging Contract) occurs in respect of a Hedging Bank the Borrower shall, if requested by the Facility Agent, promptly exercise its rights to terminate the Hedging Transactions with the Hedging Bank in respect of which such event applies. |
(l) | The Borrower may if any Termination Event or Event of Default (as such terms are defined in a Hedging Contract) occurs in respect of a Hedging Bank, subject to the consent of the Facility Agent if such termination, unwinding or close out would or is reasonably likely to result in a net amount payable by the Borrower in respect of such termination, unwinding or close out (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed where the Borrower can demonstrate that, taking into account such payment, it would still be in compliance with clause 21.1 ( Borrower Financial Covenants ) in respect of the Relevant Period in which such payment would be payable or that such payment will be met from funds in the Distribution Account or advanced pursuant to a Subordinated Loan or Promissory Note) or if an Event of Default is continuing, exercise its rights to terminate any of the Hedging Transactions with the Hedging Bank in respect of whom the event applies, subject to compliance with clause 30.1(a). |
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(m) | The Borrower may at any time, subject to the consent of the Facility Agent if such termination, unwinding or close out would or is reasonably likely to result in a net amount payable by the Borrower in respect of such termination, unwinding or close out (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed where the Borrower can demonstrate that, taking into account such payment, it would still be in compliance with clause 21.1 ( Borrower Financial Covenants ) in respect of the Relevant Period in which such payment would be payable or that such payment will be met from funds in the Distribution Account or advanced pursuant to a Subordinated Loan or Promissory Note) or if an Event of Default is continuing and provided that following such action it will be in compliance with clause 30.1(a), exercise its rights to terminate, unwind or close out any Hedging Transactions provided that, except in the circumstances provided for in clauses 30.1(j), 30.1(k), 30.1(l) and 32.4(f), such action is taken in respect of each of the existing Hedging Transactions pro rata. |
(n) | The Borrower may enter into any further Hedging Transactions provided that such Hedging Transactions are entered into in compliance with clause 30.1(a) and in accordance with clause 30.1(b) and 32.4(f) and unless such Hedging Transactions are otherwise expressly permitted or provided for under any other provision of clause 30 or 32 or they are entered into with the prior written consent of the Facility Agent. |
30.2 | Variations |
Except with the approval of the Facility Agent (or as required under clause 30.6 ( Unwinding of Hedging Contracts ), or to align the payment dates with actual Repayment Dates for which no such approval shall be required) no Hedging Master Agreement or Hedging Contract shall be varied provided that, to the extent that any adjustment is made under clause 8.3 ( Adjustment of scheduled repayments ) or after such variation the Borrower will be in compliance with clause 30.1(a), no such approval shall be required to vary the profile of any Hedging Transaction to match such adjustment and for this purpose vary includes terminating or closing out any Hedging Transaction and provided that the Borrower may terminate, unwind or close out any Hedging Transaction subject to compliance with clause 30.1. Furthermore, no such approval is required if the variation is minor or of an administrative nature or corrects a manifest or proven error.
30.3 | Releases and waivers |
Except with the approval of the Facility Agent (subject to clause 30.7 ( Assignment of Hedging Contracts by Hedging Banks )), the Borrower shall not release any obligation of any Hedging Bank under the Hedging Contracts (including by way of novation), nor waive of any breach of any such obligation nor consent to anything which would otherwise be such a breach.
30.4 | Assignment by Borrower |
Except pursuant to the Hedging Security or as permitted or required under this Agreement, the Borrower shall not assign or otherwise dispose of its rights under any Hedging Contract.
30.5 | Termination of Hedging Contracts by Borrower |
Except with the approval of the Facility Agent or as permitted under this Agreement and subject to clause 32.4(f), the Borrower shall not terminate or rescind any Hedging Contract or close out or unwind any Hedging Transaction for any reason whatsoever.
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30.6 | Unwinding of Hedging Contracts |
(a) | Subject to clause 30.6(b) below, if, the 20 Business Day period referred to in clause 30.1(a) has lapsed, and whether as a result of any prepayment (in whole or in part) of the Loans or any cancellation (in whole or in part) of the Commitment or otherwise, the aggregate notional principal amount under all Hedging Transactions entered into by the Borrower exceeds or will exceed the aggregate amount of Loans in respect of the K-sure Facility and the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility outstanding at that time after such prepayment or cancellation, then each of the Hedging Banks shall promptly after the expiry of such period close out and terminate a sufficient portion of each Hedging Transaction (on a pro rata basis) as is necessary to ensure that the aggregate notional principal amount under the remaining continuing Hedging Transactions is not greater than one hundred per cent (100%) of the aggregate of the Loans outstanding in respect of the K-sure Facility and the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility at that time and as scheduled to be repaid from time to time thereafter pursuant to clause 8 ( Repayment ). |
(b) | Where the prepayment of a Loan (or any part thereof) arises as a result of the circumstances described in clause 9.1 ( Illegality ) in relation to a single Lender (and such circumstances also affect such person (or its respective Affiliate) acting in its capacity as Hedging Bank, as a result of which such Hedging Bank is entitled to designate an Early Termination Date (as defined in the relevant Hedging Master Agreement) with respect to the whole of the relevant Hedging Transaction), then such Hedging Bank shall (on the instruction of the Facility Agent) immediately close out and terminate such Hedging Transaction. |
30.7 | Assignment of Hedging Contracts by Hedging Banks |
(a) | A Hedging Bank (the Existing Hedging Bank ) shall assign its rights or transfer by novation its rights and obligations under this Agreement (in its capacity as a Hedging Bank and not, if applicable, as a Lender) to another bank or financial institution (or, following an Event of Default that is continuing, to a trust, fund or other entity) which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets and entering into ISDA derivative documentation and interest rate swaps (including an Affiliate of such Hedging Bank) (the New Hedging Bank ) to the extent that such Hedging Bank has assigned or transferred its rights to such New Hedging Bank under, and in accordance with the terms of, the relevant Hedging Contract and shall ensure each New Hedging Bank becomes a Party in capacity or, a hedging Bank by executing a Succession Deed. The consent of the Borrower is required for an assignment by a Hedging Bank, unless the assignment is to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Event of Default is continuing or such assignment or transfer is made after the Final Acceptance Date to an Approved Transferee and the relevant Existing Hedging Bank has notified the Borrower of the proposed assignment or transfer and New Hedging Bank at least five (5) Business Days prior to, and consulted with the Borrower on, the proposed assignment or transfer. The Facility Agent will immediately advise the Borrower and the Agents of the assignment. |
(b) | The Borrower’s consent to an assignment may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and will be deemed to have been given ten (10) Business Days after it has received the Existing Hedging Bank’s request for consent unless consent is expressly refused within that time |
(c) | Except in the case of a transfer that meets the criteria specified in clause 30.7(a) above or when an Event of Default which is continuing, no Hedging Bank is entitled to transfer its Hedging Contract other than to an Alternative Financial Institution (as defined in clause 32.4(f)). |
(d) | Neither the Borrower nor the other Obligors shall be liable for any costs (including break costs) arising from the termination of any Hedging Contracts and/or entering into new hedging arrangements on less favourable rates than the existing Hedging Contracts which are incurred as a result of voluntary transfers by Lenders or Hedging Banks. |
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(e) | If such assignment or transfer would at the date of such assignment or transfer subject the Borrower to any greater withholding tax liability hereunder to the New Hedging Bank than it would have had to the Existing Hedging Bank on such date then unless such assignment or transfer was made at the request or with the consent of the Borrower in order to mitigate or avoid the requirement for payment of additional amounts or increased costs or to mitigate or avoid an illegality, the Borrower shall not be obliged to pay any such additional withholding tax or increased costs under this Agreement in excess of that it would have been obliged to pay had no such assignment or transfer then taken place. |
30.8 | Information concerning Hedging Contracts |
The Hedging Banks shall provide the Facility Agent with any information it may request concerning any Hedging Contract, including all reasonable information, accounts and records that may be necessary or of assistance to enable the Facility Agent to verify the amounts of all payments and any other amounts payable under the Hedging Contracts or to enable any Finance Party to comply with any reporting obligation under the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction in respect of any Hedging Contract.
31 | Events of Default |
Each of the events or circumstances set out in clauses 31.1 to 31.29 is an Event of Default.
31.1 | Non-payment |
An Obligor does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document at the place at and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable and such failure to pay is not remedied within five (5) Business Days of its due date.
31.2 | Financial covenants |
The Borrower does not comply with clauses 21.1 ( Borrower Financial Covenants ) or 21.2 ( Guarantor Financial Covenants ) or the Guarantor does not comply with clause 21 ( Financial covenants ) of a Guarantee.
31.3 | Insurance |
(a) | The Insurances and, if applicable, the Reinsurances of the Vessel are not in place and in force in the manner (except for any requirement other than at the time of such insurance or reinsurance being taken, as to credit rating of any insurer or reinsurer) required by clause 27 ( Insurance ). |
(b) | Any insurer or reinsurer disclaims liability under the Insurances or, if applicable, the Reinsurances of the Vessel by reason of any mis-statement or failure or default by any Obligor. |
31.4 | Other obligations |
(a) | An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in clauses 31.1 ( Non-payment ), 31.2 ( Financial covenants ) and 31.3 ( Insurance )). |
(b) | No Event of Default under clause 31.4(a) above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and the failure is remedied within fifteen (15) Business Days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower. |
31.5 | Misrepresentation |
(a) | Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in the Finance Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made. |
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(b) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.5 ( Misrepresentation ) if the misrepresentation and/or mis-statement and/or underlying event or circumstance giving rise to it is capable of remedy and is remedied within fifteen (15) Business Days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower. |
(c) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.5 ( Misrepresentation ) in the case of a representation, statement or document made or delivered by, or in respect of, a Shareholder, O&M Contractor or Supervisor if the misrepresentation and/or mis-statement and/or underlying event or circumstance giving rise to it is capable of remedy by replacing such Shareholder, O&M Contractor or Supervisor and in the case of a Shareholder such Shareholder is replaced as a shareholder in the Borrower with a New Shareholder pursuant to and in accordance with clause 29.16 ( Replacement and/or additional shareholder ), or in the case of an O&M Contractor if a replacement operator which is an Approved Operator is appointed pursuant to and in accordance with clause 24.4 ( Operation and Maintenance ), or in the case of a Supervisor such Supervisor is replaced with a new Supervisor, in each case within thirty (30) Business Days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower. |
31.6 | Unlawfulness and invalidity |
(a) | It is or becomes unlawful for an Obligor, a Shareholder or the Charterer to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents. |
(b) | Any obligation or obligations of any Obligor, a Shareholder or the Charterer under any Finance Documents are not (subject to the Legal Reservations) or cease to be, legal, valid, binding or enforceable and the cessation individually or cumulatively materially and adversely affects the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents. |
(c) | Any Finance Document or any Security Interest created or expressed to be created or evidenced by the Security Documents (other than a Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment) ceases (subject to the Legal Reservations) to be in full force and effect (other than by a termination permitted under the Finance Documents) or is alleged by a party to it (other than a Finance Party) to be ineffective for any reason. |
(d) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.6 ( Unlawfulness and invalidity ) in the case of a Finance Document entered into by, or an obligation of or in respect of, a Shareholder, O&M Contractor or Supervisor if it is capable of remedy by replacing such Shareholder, O&M Contractor or Supervisor and the entry if applicable into replacement Finance Documents and in the case of a Shareholder such Shareholder is replaced as a shareholder in the Borrower with a New Shareholder pursuant to and in accordance with clause 29.16 ( Replacement and/or additional shareholder ), or in the case of an O&M Contractor if a replacement operator which is an Approved Operator is appointed pursuant to and in accordance with clause 24.4 ( Operation and Maintenance ), or in the case of a Supervisor such Supervisor is replaced with a new Supervisor, in each case together with the entry into of the applicable Finance Documents and within thirty (30) Business Days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower. |
31.7 | Cross default |
(a) | Any Financial Indebtedness of any Facility Obligor 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). |
(b) | Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any Facility Obligor is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of that Obligor as a result of an event of default (however described). |
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(c) | Any creditor of any Facility Obligor becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of that Obligor due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described). |
(d) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.7 if the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within clauses 31.7(a) to 31.7(c) above is, in the case of the Guarantor, less than $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) or occurs after the Guarantee Release Date. |
31.8 | Insolvency |
(a) | Any Obligor or the Charterer or the Charter Guarantor or the Builder or the Mooring EPC Contractor or the Mooring Installation Contractor or the EPCIC Contractor or the Refund Guarantor or Modec 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. |
(b) | A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Obligor or the Charterer or the Builder. If a moratorium occurs, the ending of the moratorium will not, subject to paragraph (c) below, remedy any Event of Default caused by that moratorium. |
(c) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.8 ( Insolvency ) if any of the events described in paragraphs (a) and (b) above occurs: |
(i) | in respect of the Builder, the Refund Guarantor or the Supervisor after Delivery or in respect of the EPCIC Contractor, the Mooring EPC Contractor or the Mooring Installation Contractor or Modec after Final Acceptance; or |
(ii) | in respect of the Refund Guarantor, if a replacement refund guarantee in the form of the existing Refund Guarantee or another approved form is issued by a bank or financial institution approved by the Facility Agent and K-sure within sixty (60) days of any event described within paragraphs (a) or (b) above having taken place; or |
(iii) | in respect of the Charterer, the Charter Guarantor, the Builder, the EPCIC Contractor, the Mooring EPC Contractor, Modec or the Mooring Installation Contractor and it might reasonably be expected that such event would not have a material adverse effect on the delivery of the Lampung FSRU in accordance with the Building Contract or the Charterer’s obligation to pay Charter Hire in accordance with the Charter. |
(d) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.8 ( Insolvency ) in the case a Shareholder, O&M Contractor or Supervisor if in the case of a Shareholder such Shareholder is replaced as a shareholder in the Borrower with a New Shareholder pursuant to and in accordance with clause 29.16 ( Replacement and/or additional shareholder ), or in the case of an O&M Contractor if a replacement operator which is an Approved Operator is appointed pursuant to and in accordance with clause 24.4 ( Operation and Maintenance ), or in the case of a Supervisor such Supervisor is replaced with a new Supervisor, in each case within thirty (30) Business Days of any event described within clauses 31.8(a) and (b) above having taken place (provided that none of the events described within clauses 31.8(a) and (b) above has occurred in respect of such New Shareholder or replacement O&M Contractor or Supervisor). |
31.9 | Insolvency proceedings |
(a) | Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to: |
(i) | 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 Obligor or the Charterer or the Charter Guarantor or the Builder or Modec or the Refund Guarantor or the Mooring EPC Contractor or the Mooring Installation Contractor or the EPCIC Contractor; |
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(ii) | if by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any Obligor or the Charterer or the Charter Guarantor or the Builder or Modec or the Refund Guarantor or the Mooring EPC Contractor or the Mooring Installation Contractor or the EPCIC Contractor; |
(iii) | the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of any Obligor or the Charterer or the Builder or the Mooring EPC Contractor or the Mooring Installation Contractor or the EPCIC Contractor or any of its assets (including the directors of any person requesting a person to appoint any such officer in relation to it or any of its assets); or |
(iv) | enforcement of any Security Interest over any assets of any Obligor or the Charterer or the Builder or the Mooring EPC Contractor or the Mooring Installation Contractor or the EPCIC Contractor, |
or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction.
(b) | Clause 31.9(a) shall not apply to any winding-up petition (or analogous procedure or step) which is frivolous or vexatious and (i) is discharged, stayed or dismissed within fourteen (14) days of commencement (or, if earlier, the date on which it is advertised) or (ii) if the Facility Agent is satisfied (acting upon the advice of its legal counsel) that there is no reasonable prospect of success. |
(c) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.9 ( Insolvency proceedings ) if any of the events described in paragraphs 31.9(a)(i) to (iv) above occurs: |
(i) | in respect of the Builder or the Refund Guarantor after Delivery or in respect of the EPCIC Contractor, the Mooring EPC Contractor or the Mooring Installation Contractor or Modec after Final Acceptance; or |
(ii) | in respect of the Refund Guarantor, if a replacement refund guarantee in the form of the existing Refund Guarantee or another approved form is issued by a bank or financial institution approved by the Facility Agent and K-sure within sixty (60) days of any event described within paragraphs (a) or (b) above having taken place; or |
(iii) | in respect of the Charterer, the Builder, the EPCIC Contractor, the Mooring EPC Contractor, Modec or the Mooring Installation Contractor and it might reasonably be expected that such event would not have a material adverse effect on the delivery of the Lampung FSRU in accordance with the Building Contract or the Charterer’s obligation to pay Charter Hire in accordance with the Charter. |
(d) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.9 ( Insolvency proceedings ) in the case a Shareholder, O&M Contractor or Supervisor if in the case of a Shareholder such Shareholder is replaced as a shareholder in the Borrower with a New Shareholder pursuant to and in accordance with clause 29.16 ( Replacement and/or additional shareholder ), or in the case of an O&M Contractor if a replacement operator which is an Approved Operator is appointed pursuant to and in accordance with clause 24.4 ( Operation and Maintenance ), or in the case of a Supervisor such Supervisor is replaced with a new Supervisor, in each case within thirty (30) Business Days of any event described within clauses 31.9(a)(i) to (iv) above having taken place (provided that none of the events described within clauses 31.9(a)(i) to (iv) above has occurred in respect of such New Shareholder or replacement O&M Contractor or Supervisor). |
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31.10 | DSRA L/C Issuer credit rating |
(a) | At any time, the credit rating of any DSRA L/C Issuer who is the issuer of an outstanding DSRA Letter of Credit falls below the Approved Credit Rating. |
(b) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.10 if within twenty (20) Business Days (or if earlier, prior to expiry of the relevant DSRA Letter of Credit) of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower either (a) a replacement DSRA Letter of Credit issued by a bank or financial institution having an Approved Credit Rating is provided to the Facility Agent or (b) the balance on the Debt Service Reserve Account is fully reinstated by the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates (other than the Borrower) to be equal to the applicable Debt Service Reserve. |
31.11 | Creditors’ process |
(a) | Other than pursuant to a Security Document or a Total Loss, any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress, execution or analogous process affects any asset or assets of any Facility Obligor with an aggregate value in excess of US$10,000,000 in respect of the Guarantor only and is not discharged within fourteen (14) days. |
(b) | Any final judgment or order with an aggregate value in excess of US$10,000,000 in respect of the Guarantor only is made against any Facility Obligor and is not stayed or complied with within seven (7) days or, in respect of the Guarantor only, such later period as is required to be complied with under applicable law. |
31.12 | Cessation of business |
The Borrower or the Guarantor suspends or ceases to carry on (or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on) all or a material part of its current business except, in the case of the Guarantor, for any FLNG Transaction.
31.13 | Expropriation |
The authority or ability of any Facility Obligor to conduct its business is limited or wholly or substantially curtailed by any seizure, expropriation, nationalisation, intervention, restriction or other action by or on behalf of any government, regulatory or other authority or other person in relation to the Borrower or any of its assets.
31.14 | Repudiation and rescission of Finance Documents |
(a) | An Obligor or a Shareholder repudiates or purports to repudiate a Finance Document or evidences an intention to rescind a Finance Document. |
(b) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.14 ( Repudiation and rescission of Finance Documents ) in the case of an Indonesian Shareholder if such Shareholder is replaced as a shareholder in the Borrower with a New Shareholder pursuant to and in accordance with clause 29.16 ( Replacement and/or additional shareholder ) within thirty (30) Business Days of any event described within paragraph (a) above having taken place (provided that none of the events described within paragraph (a) above has occurred in respect of such New Shareholder). |
31.15 | Litigation |
Any material litigation, alternative dispute resolution, arbitration or administrative proceeding related to the Project is taking place, or threatened or a claim in respect of any such proceedings is brought against any Facility Obligor or any of their respective assets, rights or revenues which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably), has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on any Facility Obligor’s ability to perform its obligations under the Project Agreements.
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31.16 | Material Adverse Effect |
(a) | Any event or circumstance or series of events (including but not limited to any change of law or hostilities or civil war in the Flag State or any Relevant Jurisdiction or there is a seizure of power in the Flag State) occurs which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably), has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.16 ( Material Adverse Effect ) if the relevant event or circumstance or series of events relates to a Shareholder, O&M Contractor or Supervisor if in the case of a Shareholder such Shareholder is replaced as a shareholder in the Borrower with a New Shareholder pursuant to and in accordance with clause 29.16 ( Replacement and/or additional shareholder ), or in the case of an O&M Contractor if a replacement operator which is an Approved Operator is appointed pursuant to and in accordance with clause 24.4 ( Operation and Maintenance ), or in the case of a Supervisor such Supervisor is replaced with a new Supervisor, in each case within thirty (30) Business Days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower |
31.17 | Arrest of Vessel / Mooring |
The Vessel or, prior to any sale or transfer permitted under this Agreement, the Mooring is arrested, confiscated, seized, taken in execution, impounded, forfeited, detained in exercise or purported exercise of any possessory lien or other claim and the Borrower fails to procure the release of the Vessel or the Mooring within a period of thirty (30) days thereafter (or such longer period as may be approved).
31.18 | Vessel registration |
Except with approval the Vessel is not registered or the Mortgage is not executed in accordance with and within the time specified in clause 23.6 ( Vessel’s registration and mortgage) or after the start of the Mortgage Period, the registration of the Lampung FSRU under the laws and flag of its Flag State is cancelled or terminated or, where applicable, not renewed.
31.19 | Hedging Contracts |
(a) | An Event of Default (as defined in any Hedging Contract or such other equivalent definition(s) in any Hedging Contract) has occurred with respect to the Borrower and is continuing under any Hedging Contract; or |
(b) | An Early Termination Date (as defined in any Hedging Contract or such other equivalent definition in any Hedging Contract) has occurred (except with the approval of the Facility Agent or in accordance with clause 30.1(k), (I) or (m) or clause 32.4 ( Close out of Hedging Contracts )). |
(c) | No Event of Default under clause 31.19(b) shall occur if the applicable Early Termination Date is a date designated by a terminating Hedging Bank in breach of its obligations under clause 32.4(b), (e) or (f). |
31.20 | Breach of obligations in relation to the Project Accounts |
(a) | The Borrower commits any breach of or omits to observe any of the covenants, obligations and undertakings expressed to be assumed by it under clause 28 ( Project Accounts, Receivables and Insurance Proceeds ) of this Agreement; or |
(b) | or any moneys standing to the credit of any Project Account are or become subject to any attachment or similar type of order and is not discharged within fourteen (14) days. |
(c) | No Event of Default under clause 31.20 above will occur if the breach (other than a deliberate breach) or omission (other than a deliberate omission) is capable of remedy and is remedied within seven (7) Business Days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower. |
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31.21 | O&M Contract |
(a) | Subject to (b) below, failure of an O&M Contractor to perform or observe any material covenant or obligation to be performed or observed by it under an O&M Contract where such failure to perform or observe any such covenant or obligation by it is not remedied in accordance with the requirements of the applicable O&M Contract. |
(b) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.21 if the Borrower notifies the Facility Agent of the event described in this clause 31.21 having taken place and a replacement operator which is an Approved Operator is appointed pursuant to clause 24.4 ( Operation and Maintenance ) within thirty (30) days of notice from the Facility Agent. |
31.22 | Qualification of accounts |
The Auditors of any Facility Obligor qualify their report on the audited financial statements of any Facility Obligor in any way whatsoever which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
31.23 | Charter termination and breach |
Except with the approval of the Facility Agent:
(a) | (except as a result of the Vessel becoming a Total Loss or in the circumstances contemplated in clause 9.8 ( Charter and Charter Guarantee )) the Charter is terminated, cancelled, rescinded, repudiated or frustrated as a result of an Owner’s Event of Default (as defined in the Charter); or |
(b) | an Event of Company’s Default (as defined in the Charter) occurs under clause 26.2 of the Charter and the non-payment is not rectified and any shortfall not paid by the Charterer or recovered under the PGN L/C within thirty (30) Business Days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower or, if earlier within thirty (30) Business Days of the Borrower giving notice to the Charterer provided that no Event of Default shall occur under this paragraph (c) if such payment is the subject to a dispute with the Charterer and the Borrower is in good faith in the process of resolving such dispute and the Borrower is not in default under any payment obligation under a Finance Document and the credit balance of the Debt Service Reserve Account is not less than a sum equal to three (3) months’ Debt Service obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement at that time; or |
(c) | the Charterer is otherwise in breach of its obligations under the Charter which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
31.24 | Project Agreements |
(a) | Any event of default or any other breach occurs under any of the Material Project Agreements, the Shareholders Agreement or the EPCIC Contract which entitles the Builder (prior to the Delivery Date) and/or the Charterer to terminate the Building Contract and/or the Charter (other than in the circumstances contemplated in clause 9.8 ( Charter and Charter Guarantee ) or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) | any Material Project Agreement or the Shareholders Agreement or the EPCIC Contract becomes unlawful or unenforceable for any reason (other than in the case of the Shareholders Agreement to the extent that any such unenforceability is in respect of the rights or obligations of any of the Shareholders in relation to a transfer of shares that may be required by any Shareholder) and the Borrower fails to make alternative arrangements satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably)) within thirty (30) Business Days of notice from the Facility Agent; or |
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(c) | any Obligor, the EPCIC Contractor or the Charterer repudiates a Material Project Agreement (other than the Charter) or any such Material Project Agreement is cancelled, terminated or suspended or varied or amended in breach of this Agreement. |
(d) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 31.24 ( Project Agreements ) if any of the events or circumstances described in paragraphs (a) to (c) above occurs: |
(i) | in respect of the Building Contract or the Refund Guarantee after Delivery; or |
(ii) | in respect of the Supervision Agreement after the later of (A) Delivery and (B) the completion Works under the Mooring Installation Contract; or |
(iii) | in respect of the EPCIC Contractor or EPCIC Contract and it might reasonably be expected not to: (A) delay Final Acceptance beyond the earlier of (x) Cancellation Date and (y) 18 March 2015 or (B) have a material adverse effect on the Charterer’s obligation to pay Charter Hire; or |
(iv) | in respect of the Mooring EPC Contract, the Mooring Installation Contract, the Modec Guarantee, the Umbrella Agreement, the Consortium Agreement or the EPCIC Contract after Final Acceptance. |
31.25 | Environmental |
There occurs an Environmental Incident unless within thirty (30) days of such Environmental Incident occurring it is determined that all Environmental Claims in respect of such Environmental Incident (excluding any deductibles) are payable in full by the Borrower’s Insurances and the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) is satisfied that there is sufficient cash and cash flow to pay all deductibles which are payable and, if applicable, all claims for an amount less than the deductible(s).
31.26 | Abandonment of the Vessel |
The Project or, after Delivery, the Vessel or, after Delivery and prior to transfer to the Charterer in accordance with the Charter, the Mooring is abandoned by the Borrower.
31.27 | Ownership of the Vessel |
The Borrower ceases to be the owner of the Lampung FSRU, unless it has been sold in accordance with clauses 9.7 ( Sale of Vessel ) and/or 25.2 ( Sale or other disposal of the Vessel ) or pursuant to a Security Document.
31.28 | Redeployment of the Vessel |
After the Final Acceptance Date, there is a redeployment of the Lampung FSRU or the Mooring or a relocation from the Permitted Location (other than for the normal operation of the Vessel at the Permitted Location or for maintenance or repairs or a short-term relocation (in each case of no more than thirty (30) days) required in the case of an emergency or security reason where the prior written consent of the Facility Agent cannot be obtained in sufficient time or when required under the Charter for laying up of the Lampung FSRU in accordance with clause 28.1 of the Charter) without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders), such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.
31.29 | Final Acceptance |
Final Acceptance is not achieved on or before 18 March 2015.
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31.30 | Acceleration |
On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Facility Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower:
(a) | cancel the Total Commitments at which time they shall immediately be cancelled; and/or |
(b) | declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, at which time they shall become immediately due and payable; and/or |
(c) | declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, at which time it shall immediately become payable on demand by the Facility Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders; and/or |
(d) | declare that all outstanding Hedging Transactions entered into under the Hedging Contracts shall be terminated or closed out by the Hedging Banks; |
(e) | declare that no withdrawals be made from any Project Account (other than the Distribution Account); and/or |
(f) | exercise or direct the Security Agent to exercise any or all of its rights, remedies, powers or discretions under the Finance Documents including but not limited to making a demand under any Guarantee and/or enforcing any Security Interest created by the Security Documents. |
31.31 | Remedies in relation to the K-sure Policy |
(a) | The remedies stated in clause 31.30 ( Acceleration ) shall be without prejudice to the rights of the K-sure Agent and K-sure Lenders to make claims under and enforce the K-sure Policy. |
(b) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and the other Finance Documents, the Facility Agent (or K-sure Agent as the case may be) shall only make written demand to K-sure under the K-sure Policy after the Facility Agent has first made a written demand for payment of the relevant amount of the Secured Obligations under the applicable Guarantee to the extent such Guarantee guarantees the payment of such amount of Secured Obligations. |
31.32 | K-sure subrogation |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and, in addition to, and without prejudice to, any right of indemnification or subrogation K-sure may have at law, in equity or otherwise, the Borrower and the Finance Parties unconditionally agrees that following payments by K-sure under the K-sure Policy in accordance with the terms of the K-sure Policy:
(a) | K-sure shall to the extent of such payments be subrogated to the relevant Lenders’ rights under the Finance Documents in accordance with the K-sure Policy and, furthermore, the Borrower consents to any assignment by the relevant Lenders of any or all of their rights under the Finance Documents to K-sure as may be required by the provisions of the K-sure Policy. |
(b) | To the extent required to do so by K-sure pursuant to the terms of the K-sure Policy, the K-sure Lenders shall cause a transfer to K-sure in respect of such party of its Commitment in respect of the K-sure Facility or (as the case may be) its portion of the K-sure Loans as is equal to the amount simultaneously paid to it by K-sure under the K-sure Policy. |
31.33 | The Borrower agrees to cooperate with the Agents and the Lenders, as the case may be, in giving effect to any subrogation or assignment referred to in clause 31.31 above, and to take all actions requested by an Agent, any Lender or K-sure, in each case to the extent capable of being done by it, to implement or give effect to such subrogation or assignment. |
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31.34 | On the date of any subrogation to, or (as applicable) assignment of, rights referred to in clauses 31.32 to 31.36 ( K-sure subrogation ): |
(a) | all further rights and benefits (including the right to receive commission in respect thereof but not any duty or other obligations) whatsoever of the relevant Lender in relation to the portion of the Loans or the rights and benefits to which such assignment or rights of subrogation relate under or arising out of this Agreement shall, to the extent of such assignment or rights of subrogation, be vested in and be for the benefit of K-sure; and |
(b) | references in this Agreement to the Lenders shall, where relevant in the context thereafter be construed so as to include K-sure in relation to such rights and benefits as are assigned to, or to which K-sure has rights of subrogation. |
31.35 | All agreements, representations and warranties made in this Agreement in favour of the relevant Lender shall survive any assignment or transfer made pursuant to clauses 31.32 to 31.36 ( K-sure subrogation ) and shall also inure to the benefit of K-sure. |
31.36 | The K-sure Agent, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent each agree that they will consult with K-sure prior to issuing a notice pursuant to clause 31.30 (although the consent of K-sure shall not be required in order for the Facility Agent and the Security Agent to issue such notice). |
32 | Position of Hedging Banks |
32.1 | Rights of Hedging Bank |
Each Hedging Bank is a Finance Party and as such, will be entitled to share in the security constituted by the Security Documents in respect of any liabilities of the Borrower under the Hedging Contracts with such Hedging Bank in the manner and to the extent contemplated by the Finance Documents.
32.2 | No voting rights |
Subject to clause 46.2 ( Exceptions ), no Hedging Bank shall be entitled to vote on any matter where a decision of the Lenders alone is required under this Agreement, whether before or after the termination or close out of the Hedging Contracts with such Hedging Bank, provided that each Hedging Bank shall be entitled to vote on any matter where a decision of all the Finance Parties is expressly required.
32.3 | Acceleration and enforcement of security |
Subject to clause 46.2 ( Exceptions ), neither the Agents nor the Security Agent or any other beneficiary of the Security Documents shall be obliged, in connection with any action taken or proposed to be taken under or pursuant to clause 31 ( Events of Default ) or pursuant to the other Finance Documents, to have any regard to the requirements of any Hedging Bank except to the extent that the relevant Hedging Bank is also a Lender.
32.4 | Close out of Hedging Contracts |
(a) | The parties to this Agreement agree that at any time when an Event of Default is continuing the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) shall be entitled, by notice in writing to a Hedging Bank, to instruct such Hedging Bank to terminate and close out any Hedging Transactions (or parts thereof) with the Borrower (on the basis that the Hedging Transactions shall be closed out pro rata and pari passu). The relevant Hedging Bank will terminate and close out the relevant Hedging Transactions (or parts thereof) and/or the relevant Hedging Contracts in accordance with such notice immediately upon receipt of such notice. |
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(b) | No Hedging Bank shall be entitled to terminate or close out any Hedging Contract or any Hedging Transaction under it prior to its stated maturity except: |
(i) | in accordance with a notice served by the Facility Agent under clause 32.4(a); or |
(ii) | in accordance with clause 30.6 ( Unwinding of Hedging Contracts ) (or, for the avoidance of doubt, as a result of a termination or dose out by the Borrower in accordance with clause 30 ( Hedging )); or |
(iii) | if the Borrower has not paid amounts due under the relevant Hedging Contract and such amounts remain unpaid for a period of five (5) days after the due date for payment; or |
(iv) | if the Facility Agent takes any action under clause 31.30 ( Acceleration ); or |
(v) | if the Loans and other amounts outstanding under the Finance Documents (other than amounts outstanding under the Hedging Contracts) have been repaid by the Borrower in full; or |
(vi) | if, following the occurrence of any Illegality, Bankruptcy, Tax Event, Tax Event Upon Merger, Force Majeure Event or Additional Termination Event (as each such expression is defined in the Hedging Master Agreements), the relevant Hedging Bank is entitled to terminate or close out the relevant Hedging Transaction pursuant to the relevant Hedging Contract. |
(c) | If there is a net amount payable to the Borrower under a Hedging Transaction or a Hedging Contract upon its termination and close out as a result of a notice pursuant to clause 32.4(a), the relevant Hedging Bank shall forthwith pay that net amount (together with interest earned on such amount) to the Security Agent for application in accordance with clause 37.23 ( Order of application ). |
(d) | No Hedging Bank shall set-off any such net amount against or exercise any right of combination in respect of any other claim it has against the Borrower. |
(e) | If, as a result of any termination or close-out of any Hedging Transaction pursuant to any Illegality, Tax Event or Force Majeure Event as referred to in clause 32.4(b)(vi), the Borrower would fail to comply with the requirements set out in clause 30.1(a), the relevant Hedging Bank shall, as a condition of its right to designate an Early Termination Date, use all reasonable efforts (which will not require such Hedging Bank to incur a loss, other than immaterial, incidental expenses (as determined by such Hedging Bank in its reasonable discretion)) to transfer within thirty (30) days (in the case of Tax Event or Force Majeure Event) or seven (7) Business Days (in the case of Illegality) after it gives notice of its intention to terminate or close out the relevant Hedging Transaction(s) all its rights and obligations under the relevant Hedging Contract to another of its Offices (as defined in the Hedging Master Agreements) or Affiliates (and any such transferee shall be required to accede to this Agreement as a Hedging Bank) so that the relevant Termination Event (as defined in the Hedging Master Agreements) ceases to exist. The Borrower hereby consents to any such transfer. Such time period shall run concurrently with any time period relating to any transfer requirement or Waiting Period (as defined in the Hedging Master Agreements) under the relevant Hedging Contract. |
(f) |
(i) | If the relevant Hedging Bank is unable to effect the transfer referred to in clause 32.4(e) within the relevant time period it will give notice to the Borrower (copied to the Facility Agent) to that effect following expiry of the relevant period, whereupon the Hedging Bank may then designate an Early Termination Date with respect to the relevant Hedging Transaction(s). |
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(ii) | Following designation of an Early Termination Date in relation to any Hedging Transaction by (1) a Hedging Bank pursuant to clause 32.4(f)(i) or following the occurrence of a Tax Event Upon Merger or (2) the Borrower in accordance with the terms of the relevant Hedging Contract and with the consent of the Facility Agent, the Borrower shall follow the process set out in clause 30.1(b) to the extent required in order to prevent any breach of clause 30.1(a) from arising as a result of the relevant termination or close-out pursuant such designation upon the expiry of the period referred to in clause 30.1(j). |
(iii) | In the event that no Lender is willing to take up the additional notional amount requested by the Borrower in accordance with clause 30.1(b), the Borrower may enter into one or more Hedging Contracts (on terms substantially the same as the Hedging Master Agreements entered into by the Original Hedging Banks on or about the date of this Agreement), with one or more Alternative Financial Institutions. |
For the purpose of this clause 32.4(f) and clause 30.7(c) above, Alternative Financial Institution shall mean a financial institution, with an Approved Credit Rating, which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of investing in loans, securities or other financial assets and entering into ISDA derivative documentation and interest rate swaps and which, simultaneously with entering into a Hedging Contract with the Borrower, accedes to this Agreement as a Hedging Bank.
32.5 | No Enforcement Action |
Other than the steps permitted by clause 32.4, no Hedging Bank will take any Enforcement Action without the prior written consent of the Security Agent.
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Section 8 - CHANGES TO PARTIES
33 | Changes to the Lenders |
33.1 | Assignments and transfers by the Lenders |
(a) | Subject to this clause 33, a Lender (the Existing Lender ) may: |
(i) | assign any of its rights; or |
(ii) | transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations, |
to another bank or financial institution, or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the New Lender ).
(b) | In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this clause 33, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Obligor, at any time charge, assign by way of security or otherwise create a Security Interest in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation: |
(i) | any charge, assignment by way of security or other Security Interest to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and |
(ii) | in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment by way of security or other Security Interest granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities, |
except that no such charge, assignment or other Security Interest shall:
(A) | release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or Security Interest for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or |
(B) | require any payments to be made by an Obligor or grant to any person any more extensive rights than those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents. |
33.2 | Conditions of assignment or transfer |
(a) | The consent of the Borrower is required for an assignment or transfer by a Lender, unless the assignment is to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Event of Default is continuing or such assignment or transfer is made after the Final Acceptance Date to an Approved Transferee and the relevant Existing Lender has notified the Borrower of the proposed assignment or transfer and New Lender at least five (5) Business Days prior to, and consulted with the Borrower on, the proposed assignment or transfer. The Facility Agent will immediately advise the Borrower and the Agents of the assignment or transfer. |
(b) | The Borrower’s consent to an assignment or transfer may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and will be deemed to have been given ten (10) Business Days after the Lender has delivered its request for consent to the Borrower unless consent is expressly refused within that time. |
(c) | K-sure’s consent is required for an assignment or transfer by a Lender in respect of any part of the K-sure Facility. |
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(d) | The consent of the Issuing Bank is required for an assignment or transfer by an LC Lender unless the assignment is to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or to another bank or financial institutional with an Approved Credit Rating. |
(e) | An Existing Lender shall provide the Borrower with at least two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice prior to an assignment or transfer in accordance with clause 33.1, unless the assignment or transfer is: |
(i) | by a K-sure Lender to K-sure; or |
(ii) | to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender; and/or |
(iii) | made at a time when an Event of Default is continuing. |
(f) | An assignment or transfer will only be effective: |
(i) | in the case of an assignment, on receipt by the Facility Agent of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the other Finance Parties and the other Finance Parties as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender or, in the case of a transfer, if the procedure set out in clause 33.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) is complied with; |
(ii) | on the New Lender entering into any documentation required for it to accede as a party to the Intercreditor Deed and any Security Document to which the Original Lender is a party in its capacity as a Lender; |
(iii) | on the Facility Agent (or, if appropriate, the Existing Lender) obtaining all “know your customer” or other checks relating to any person that it is required to carry out in relation to such assignment or transfer to a New Lender, the completion of which the Facility Agent (or, if appropriate, the Existing Lender) shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender (or, as appropriate, the Facility Agent) and the New Lender; |
(iv) | if, other than on an Approved Refinancing, that Existing Lender assigns or transfers equal fractions of its Commitment and participation in the Utilisations (if any) under the Facilities; |
(v) | other than where a Finance Party has granted security pursuant to clause 33.1(b), if the New Lender enters into a non-disclosure agreement with the Existing Lender on similar terms to that which the Borrower previously entered into with the Existing Lender; and |
(vi) | if at the time when an assignment or transfer takes effect more than one Utilisation is outstanding, the assignment of an Existing Lender’s participation in the Utilisations (if any) under the Facilities shall take effect in respect of the same fraction of each such Utilisation. |
(g) | If: (i) a Lender or Hedging Bank assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and (ii) as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, the Borrower would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office or new Hedging Bank under clause 14 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) or clause 15 ( Increased Costs ), then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office or new Hedging Bank is only entitled to receive payment under those clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office or Hedging Bank would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred. |
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33.3 | Fee |
Except for any assignment or transfer from a K-sure Lender to K-sure or on an Approved Refinancing, the New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect, pay to the Facility Agent (for its own account) a fee of $2,500.
33.4 | 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 or any other documents; |
(ii) | the financial condition of any Obligor; |
(iii) | the performance and observance by any Obligor or any other person of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; |
(iv) | the application of any Basel 2 Regulation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents; or |
(v) | 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 and the Finance Parties that it: |
(i) | has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation 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 each Obligor and their 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-assignment or re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights assigned and obligations transferred under this clause 33 ( Changes to the Lenders ); or |
(ii) | support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or by reason of the application of any Basel 2 Regulation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or otherwise. |
33.5 | Procedure for transfer |
(a) | Subject to the conditions set out in clause 33.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ) an assignment or transfer is effected in accordance with clause 33.5(b) below when (a) the Facility Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate and (b) the Facility Agent executes any document required under clause 33.2(f) which it may be necessary for it to execute in each case delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender duly executed by them and, in the case of any such other document, any other relevant person. The Facility Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a Transfer Certificate and any such other document each duly completed, 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 and such other document. The Borrower and the other Finance Parties irrevocably authorise the Facility Agent to execute any Transfer Certificate on their behalf without any consultations with them. |
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(b) | On the Transfer Date: |
(i) | to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to assign its rights and be released from its obligations under any Finance Document, the Existing Lender shall assign such rights absolutely to the New Lender and shall be released from further obligations towards the Borrower and the other Finance Parties under such Finance Documents (being the Discharged Rights Obligations ) (but the obligations owed by the Borrower under the Finance Documents shall not be released); |
(ii) | to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under this Agreement the Borrower and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under this Agreement and their respective rights against one another under this Agreement shall be cancelled (being the Discharged Rights and Obligations ); |
(iii) | in the case of an assignment pursuant to paragraph (i) above, the New Lender shall assume obligations towards the Borrower and the other Finance Parties and the Borrower and the other Finance Parties shall acquire rights against the New Lender which differ from the Discharged Rights Obligations only insofar as the New Lender has assumed and/or the Borrower and the other Finance Parties acquired the same in place of the Existing Lender and the New Lender shall be bound by the Discharged Rights Obligations; |
(iv) | in the case of a transfer pursuant to paragraph (ii) above, the Borrower 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 that the Borrower and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of that the Borrower and the Existing Lender; |
(v) | the other Finance Parties and the New Lender shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves 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 Security Agent, Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and |
(vi) | the New Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender’. |
33.6 | Copy of Transfer Certificate to Borrower |
The Facility Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate and any other document required under clause 33.2(f), send a copy of that Transfer Certificate and such documents to the Borrower.
33.7 | Universal Succession (Assignments and Transfers) |
(a) | If a Lender is to be merged with any other person by universal succession, such Lender shall, at its own cost within 45 days of that merger furnish to the Facility Agent: |
(i) | an original or certified true copy of a legal opinion issued by a qualified legal counsel practising law in its jurisdiction of incorporation confirming that all such Lender’s assets, rights and obligations generally have been duly vested in the succeeding entity who has succeeded to all relationships as if those assets, rights and obligations had been originally acquired, incurred or entered into by the succeeding entity; and |
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(ii) | an original or certified true copy of a written confirmation by either the Lender’s legal counsel or such other legal counsel acceptable to the Facility Agent and for the benefit of the Facility Agent (in its capacity as agent of the Lenders) that the laws of England and of the jurisdiction in which the Facility Office of such Lender is located recognise such merger by universal succession under the relevant foreign laws, |
whereupon a transfer and novation of all such Lender’s assets, rights and obligations to its succeeding entity shall have been, or be deemed to have been, duly effected as at the date of the said merger.
(b) | If such Lender, in a universal succession, does not comply with the requirements under paragraph (a) above, the Facility Agent has the right to decline to recognise the succeeding entity and demand such Lender and the succeeding entity to either sign and deliver a Transfer Certificate to the Facility Agent evidencing the disposal of all rights and obligations of such Lender to that succeeding entity, or provide or enter into such documents, or make such arrangements acceptable to the Facility Agent (acting on the advice of the Lender’s legal counsel (any legal costs so incurred shall be borne by the relevant Lender)) in order to establish that all rights and obligations of the relevant Lender under this Agreement have been transferred to and assumed by the succeeding entity. |
(c) | This clause 33.7 shall be subject to clause 33.2(f). |
34 | Changes to the Obligors |
None of the Obligors may assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.
35 | Benefit and burden |
This Agreement shall be binding upon, and enure for the benefit of, the Finance Parties and their respective successors in title and transferees and the Borrower and its successors in title.
36 | Confidentiality |
36.1 | Confidential Information |
Each Finance Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by clause 36.2 ( Disclosure of Confidential Information ) and clauses 36.3(a) to 36.3(c) ( Disclosure to numbering service providers ), and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.
36.2 | Disclosure of Confidential Information |
Any Finance Party may disclose:
(a) | to any of its Affiliates and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners, insurers and insurance brokers and Representatives such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this paragraph 36.2(a) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information 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 the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information; |
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(b) | to any person: |
(i) | to (or through) whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents or which succeeds (or which may potentially succeed) it as Agent or Security Agent and, in each case, to any of that person’s Affiliates, Representatives and professional advisers; |
(ii) | with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether directly or indirectly, any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one or more Finance Documents and/or one or more Obligors and to any of that person’s Affiliates, Representatives and professional advisers; |
(iii) | appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom clauses 36.2(a) or 36.2(b)(i) above applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed under clause 37.14 ( Relationship with the Lenders and the Hedging Banks )); |
(iv) | who invests in or otherwise finances ( or may potentially invest in or otherwise finance ), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in clauses 36.2(a) or 36.2(b)(i) above; |
(v) | 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; |
(vi) | 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; |
(vii) | who is a Party; or |
(viii) | with the consent of the Borrower; |
in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if:
(A) | in relation to clauses 36.2(b)(i) and 36.2(b)(ii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information; |
(B) | in relation to clause 32.4(b)(iii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information; |
(C) | in relation to clauses 32.4(b)(iv), 32.4(b)(v) and 32.4(b)(vi) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Finance Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances; and |
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(c) | to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom clauses 36.2(b)(i) above applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents including without limitation, in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services referred to in this paragraph (c) if the service provider to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Borrower and the relevant Finance Party; |
(d) | to any rating agency (including any professional advisers) such Confidential information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such rating agency to carry out its normal rating activities in relation to the Finance Documents and/or the Obligors if the rating agency to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information. |
36.3 | Disclosure to numbering service providers |
(a) | Any Finance Party may disclose to any national or international numbering service provider appointed by that Finance Party to provide identification numbering services in respect of this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors the following information: |
(i) | names of Obligors; |
(ii) | country of domicile of Obligors; |
(iii) | place of incorporation of Obligors; |
(iv) | date of this Agreement; |
(v) | clause 48 ( Governing law ); |
(vi) | the names of the Facility Agent and the Arranger; |
(vii) | date of each amendment and restatement of this Agreement; |
(viii) | amount of Total Commitments; |
(ix) | currency of the Facility; |
(x) | type of Facility; |
(xi) | ranking of Facility; |
(xii) | the term of the Facility; |
(xiii) | changes to any of the information previously supplied pursuant to paragraphs (i) to (xii) above; and |
(xiv) | such other information agreed between such Finance Party and the Borrower, |
to enable such numbering service provider to provide its usual syndicated loan numbering identification services.
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(b) | The Parties acknowledge and agree that each identification number assigned to this Agreement, the Facilities and/or one or more Obligors by a numbering service provider and the information associated with each such number may be disclosed to users of its services in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of that numbering service provider. |
(c) | The Borrower represents that none of the information set out in clauses 36.3(a)(i) to 36.3(a)(xiii) above is, nor will at any time be, unpublished price-sensitive information. |
(d) | The Facility Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the other Finance Parties of: |
(i) | the name of any numbering service provider appointed by the Facility Agent in respect of this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors; and |
(ii) | the number or, as the case may be, numbers assigned to this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors by such numbering service provider. |
36.4 | Entire agreement |
This clause 36 ( Confidentiality ) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the obligations of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents regarding Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.
36.5 | Inside information |
Each of the Finance Parties acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Finance Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.
36.6 | Notification of disclosure |
Each of the Finance Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the Borrower:
(a) | of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to clause 36.2(b)(iv) ( Disclosure of Confidential Information ) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that clause during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and |
(b) | upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this clause 36 ( Confidentiality ). |
36.7 | Continuing obligations |
The obligations in this clause 36 ( Confidentiality ) are continuing and, in particular, shall survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of twelve months from the earlier of:
(a) | the date on which all amounts payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise cease to be available; and |
(b) | the date on which such Finance Party otherwise ceases to be a Finance Party. |
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Section 9 - THE FINANCE PARTIES
37 | Roles of Facility Agent, Security Agent and K-sure Agent |
37.1 | Appointment of the Facility Agent |
(a) | Each other Finance Party (other than the Security Agent) appoints the Facility Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents. |
(b) | Each such other Finance Party authorises the Facility Agent: |
(i) | to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Facility Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions; and |
(ii) | to execute each of the Security Documents and all other documents that may be approved by the Majority Lenders for execution by it. |
37.2 | Instructions to Facility Agent |
(a) | The Facility Agent shall: |
(i) | unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Facility Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by: |
(A) | all Lenders if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is an all Lender decision; and |
(B) | in all other cases, the Majority Lenders; and |
(ii) | not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from acting) in accordance with clause 37.2(a)(i) above. |
(b) | The Facility Agent shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Majority Lenders (or, if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is a decision for any other Lender or group of Lenders, from that Lender or group of Lenders) as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion and the Facility Agent may refrain from acting unless and until it receives those instructions or that clarification. |
(c) | Save in the case of decisions stipulated to be a matter for any other Lender or group of Lenders under the relevant Finance Document and unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given to the Facility Agent by the Majority Lenders shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties and will be binding on all Finance Parties (other than the Security Agent). |
(d) | The Facility Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of any Lender or group of Lenders until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the Finance Documents and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability which it may incur in complying with those instructions. |
(e) | In the absence of, or while awaiting, instructions from the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders), the Facility Agent may act (or refrain from acting) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Finance Parties. |
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(f) | The Facility Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender or any Hedging Provider (without first obtaining that Lender’s or any Hedging Provider’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. This paragraph (f) 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 Documents. |
(g) | Neither the Facility Agent nor the Co-ordinating Bank shall be obliged to request any certificate, opinion or other information under clause 20 ( Information undertakings ) unless so required in writing by a Lender or any Hedging Bank, in which case the Facility Agent shall promptly make the appropriate request of the Borrower if such request would be in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
37.3 | Duties of the Facility Agent |
(a) | The Facility Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Facility Agent for that Party by any other Party. |
(b) | Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Facility Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party. |
(c) | 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. |
(d) | 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 Security Agent for their own account) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties. |
(e) | The Facility Agent’s duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature. |
37.4 | No fiduciary duties |
(a) | Nothing in this Agreement or any other Finance Document constitutes the Facility Agent as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person. |
(b) | None of the Facility Agent, the Security Agent shall be bound to account to any Lender or any Hedging Bank for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account or have any obligations to the other Finance Parties beyond those expressly stated in the Finance Documents. |
37.5 | Business with the Group |
The Facility Agent and the Security Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any Obligor or other member of the Group or their Affiliates as if it were not performing the duties specified herein or any other Finance Document.
37.6 | Rights and discretions of the Facility Agent |
(a) | The Facility Agent may rely on: |
(i) | any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; and |
(ii) | any statement made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his or her knowledge or within his or her power to verify. |
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(b) | The Facility Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as facility agent for the other Finance Parties) that: |
(i) | no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under clause 31.1 ( Non-payment )); |
(ii) | any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Majority Lenders has not been exercised; and |
(iii) | any notice or request made by the Borrower (other than a Utilisation Request or Selection Notice) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Obligors. |
(c) | The Facility Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts in the conduct of its obligations and responsibilities under the Finance Documents, subject to clause 18 ( Costs and expenses ). |
(d) | The Facility Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents. |
(e) | The Facility Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as facility agent under this Agreement. |
(f) | Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (e) above, the Facility Agent: |
(i) | may disclose; and |
(ii) | upon the written request of the Borrower or the Majority Lenders shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, disclose, |
the identity of a Defaulting Lender to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower.
(g) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Facility Agent is not 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. The Facility Agent may do anything which in its opinion, is necessary or desirable to comply with any law or regulation of any jurisdiction. |
37.7 | Majority Lenders’ instructions |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document (including, but not limited to, clause 46.2 ( Exceptions )), the Facility Agent shall: |
(i) | exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Facility Agent (including giving instructions to the Security 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); 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 (including, but not limited to, clause 46.2 ( Exceptions )), any instructions given by the Majority Lenders to the Facility Agent (in relation to any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Facility Agent) shall be binding on all the Finance Parties (other than the Security Agent). |
(c) | The Facility 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 Indirect Tax) which it may incur in complying with the instructions. |
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(d) | In the absence of, or while awaiting, instructions from the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders), the Facility Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Finance Parties. |
(e) | The Facility Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender or any Hedging Bank (without first obtaining that Lender’s or that Hedging Bank’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. This clause 37.7(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 Documents. |
(f) | The Facility Agent shall not be obliged to request any certificate, opinion or other information under clause 20 ( Information undertakings ) unless so required in writing by a Lender or any Hedging Bank, in which case the Facility Agent shall promptly make the appropriate request of the Borrower if such request would be in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
37.8 | Responsibility for documentation and other matters |
The Facility Agent:
(a) | is not responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Facility Agent, an Obligor or any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents or of any representations in any Finance Document or of any copy of any document delivered under any Finance Document; |
(b) | is not responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or any Project Agreement or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Finance Document or any Project Agreement; |
(c) | is not responsible for the application of any Basel 2 Regulation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents; |
(d) | is not responsible for any loss to the Trust Property arising in consequence of the failure, depreciation or loss of any Charged Property or any investments made or retained in good faith or by reason of any other matter or thing; |
(e) | is not obliged to account to any person for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account; |
(f) | is not responsible for the failure of any Obligor or any other party to perform its obligations under any Finance Document, Project Agreement or the financial condition of any such person; |
(g) | is not responsible to ascertain whether all deeds and documents which should have been deposited with it (or the Security Agent) under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents have been so deposited; |
(h) | is not responsible to investigate or make any enquiry into the title of any Obligor or any other party to any of the Charged Property or any of its other property or assets; |
(i) | is not responsible for the failure to register any of the Security Documents with the Registrar of Companies or any other public office; |
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(j) | is not responsible for the failure to register any of the Security Documents in accordance with the provisions of the documents of title of any Obligor or any other party to any of the Charged Property; |
(k) | is not responsible for the failure to take or require any Obligor or any other party to take any steps to render any of the Security Documents effective as regards property or assets outside England or Wales or to secure the creation of any ancillary charge under the laws of the jurisdiction concerned; or |
(l) | is not (unless it is the same entity as the Security Agent) responsible on account of the failure of the Security Agent to perform or discharge any of its duties or obligations under the Security Documents. |
37.9 | Exclusion of liability |
(a) | Without limiting clause 37.9(b) (and without prejudice to the provisions of clause 40.10 ( Disruption to Payment Systems etc. )), the Facility Agent will not be liable for any action or omission taken or committed by it under or in connection with any Finance Document or any insurance policy, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct. |
(b) | No Party (other than the Facility Agent) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Facility Agent in respect of any claim it might have against the Facility 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 insurance policy and any officer, employee or agent of the Facility Agent may rely on this clause subject to clause 1.3 ( Third party rights ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act. |
(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 to carry out any “Know Your Customer” or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender or any Hedging Bank and each Lender and each Hedging Bank confirms to the Facility Agent that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Facility Agent. |
37.10 | Lenders’ indemnity to the Facility Agent |
(a) | Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero): |
(i) | indemnify the Facility Agent, promptly on demand, against: |
(A) | any Losses for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever incurred by such Lenders’ Representative in the circumstances contemplated pursuant to clause 40.10 ( Disruption to Payment Systems etc ) notwithstanding the Facility Agent’s negligence, gross negligence, or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Facility Agent); and |
(B) | any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Facility Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Facility Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) including the costs of any person engaged in accordance with clause 37.6 ( Rights and discretions of the Facility Agent ) and any Receiver in acting as its agent under the Finance Documents (unless the Facility Agent has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document or out of the Trust Property); and |
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(ii) | reimburse the Facility Agent for any out of pocket expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the preparation, execution, administration or enforcement of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, the Finance Documents, to the extent that the Facility Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with clause 18.1 ( Transaction expenses ). |
(b) | Subject to clause 37.10(c) below, the Borrower shall immediately on demand reimburse any Lender for any payment that Lender makes to the Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) above. |
(c) | Clause 37.10(b) above shall not apply to the extent that the indemnity payment in respect of which the Lender claims reimbursement relates to a liability of the Facility Agent to an Obligor. |
(d) | The provisions of this clause 37.10 shall survive the termination or expiry of this Agreement. |
37.11 | Resignation of the Facility Agent |
(a) | The Facility Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates as successor by giving thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Lenders, the Hedging Banks, the Security Agent, the K-sure Agent and the Borrower. |
(b) | Alternatively the Facility Agent may resign by giving thirty (30) days’ notice to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Borrower) may appoint a successor Facility Agent. |
(c) | If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Facility Agent in accordance with clause 37.11(b) above within thirty (30) days after notice of resignation was given, the Facility Agent (after consultation with the Borrower) may appoint a successor Facility Agent. |
(d) | If the Facility Agent wishes to resign because (acting reasonably) it has concluded that it is no longer appropriate for it to remain as agent and the Facility Agent is entitled to appoint a successor Facility Agent under clause 37.11(c) above, the Facility Agent may (if it concludes (acting reasonably) that it is necessary to do so in order to persuade the proposed successor Facility Agent to become a party to this Agreement as Facility Agent) agree with the proposed successor Facility Agent amendments to this clause 37 and any other term of this Agreement dealing with the rights or obligations of the Facility Agent 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 normal fee rates and those amendments will bind the Parties. |
(e) | The retiring Facility Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Facility Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Facility Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Facility Agent under the Finance Documents. |
(f) | The Facility Agent’s resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor. |
(g) | The appointment of the successor Facility Agent shall take effect on the date specified in the notice from the Majority Lenders to the retiring Facility Agent. As of this date, the retiring Facility Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of clause 16.3 ( Indemnity to the Agents and the Security Agent ) and this clause 37 (and any agency fees for the account of the retiring Facility Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date. Its 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. |
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(h) | After consultation with the Borrower, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Facility Agent, require it to resign in accordance with clause 37.11(b). in this event, the Facility Agent shall resign in accordance with clause 37.11(b). |
37.12 | Replacement of the Facility Agent |
(a) | After consultation with the Borrower, the Majority Lenders may, by giving 30 days’ notice to the Facility Agent (or, at any time the Facility Agent is an Impaired Agent, by giving any shorter notice determined by the Majority Lenders) replace the Facility Agent by appointing a successor Facility Agent. |
(b) | The retiring Facility Agent shall (at its own cost if it is an Impaired Agent and otherwise at the expense of the Lenders) make available to the successor Facility Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Facility Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents. |
(c) | The appointment of the successor Facility Agent shall take effect on the date specified in the notice from the Majority Lenders to the retiring Facility Agent. As from this date, the retiring Facility Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents (other than its obligations under clause 37.12(a)) but shall remain entitled to the benefit of clause 16.3 ( Indemnity to the Agents and the Security Agent ) and this clause 37 (and any agency fees for the account of the retiring Facility Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date). |
(d) | Any successor Facility 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. |
(e) | The Facility Agent shall resign in accordance with clause 37.12 (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Facility Agent) if, on or after the date which is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents, either: |
(i) | the Facility Agent fails to respond to a request under clause 14.8 ( FATCA Information ) and a Lender reasonably believes that the Facility 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 pursuant to clause 14.8 ( FATCA Information ) indicates that the Facility 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 notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; |
(iv) | and (in each case) a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Facility Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and that Lender, by notice to the Facility Agent, requires it to resign. |
37.13 | Confidentiality |
(a) | In acting as facility agent for the Finance Parties, the Facility Agent shall be regarded as acting through its department, division or team directly responsible for the management of the Finance Documents which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions, departments or teams. |
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(b) | If information is received by another division or department of the Facility Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Facility Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it. |
(c) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Facility Agent is not 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. |
37.14 | Relationship with the Lenders and the Hedging Banks |
(a) | The Facility Agent may treat each Lender and each Hedging Bank as a Lender or (as the case may be) a Hedging Bank, entitled to payments under this Agreement and acting through its Facility Office unless it has received not less than five (5) Business Days prior notice from that Lender or that Hedging Bank to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
(b) | Each Lender and each Hedging Bank shall supply the Facility Agent with any information that the Facility Agent may reasonably specify as being necessary or desirable to enable the Facility Agent or the Security Agent to perform its functions as Facility Agent or Security Agent. Each Lender and each Hedging Bank shall deal with the Security Agent exclusively through the Facility Agent and shall not deal directly with the Security Agent. |
(c) | Each Lender shall supply the Facility Agent with any information required by the Facility Agent in order to calculate the Mandatory Cost in accordance with Schedule 6 ( Mandatory Cost Formulae ). |
37.15 | Credit appraisal by the Lenders and the Hedging Banks |
Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender and each Hedging Bank confirms to each other Finance Party that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:
(a) | the financial condition, status and nature of each Obligor and the Group; |
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Transaction Document and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Transaction Document; |
(c) | the application of any Basel 2 Regulation or Basel 3 Regulation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents; |
(d) | whether any Finance Party has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; |
(e) | the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information provided by the Facility Agent, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Transaction Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Transaction Document; and |
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(f) | the right of title of any person to, or the value or sufficiency of, any part of the Charged Property, the priority of the Security Documents or the existence of any Security Interest affecting the Charged Property. |
37.16 | Reference Banks |
If a Reference Bank (or, if a Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Facility Agent shall (in consultation with the Borrower) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender to replace that Reference Bank.
37.17 | Deduction from amounts payable by the Facility Agent |
If any Party owes an amount to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents the Facility Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Facility Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.
37.18 | Reliance and engagement letters |
Each Finance Party confirms that each of the Security Agent and the Facility Agent has authority to accept on its behalf (and ratifies the acceptance on its behalf of any letters or reports already accepted by the Security Agent or the Facility Agent) the terms of any reliance letter or engagement letters relating to any reports, opinions or letters provided by accountants or other professional advisers in connection with the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents and to bind it in respect of those reports, opinions or letters and to sign such letters on its behalf and further confirms that it accepts the terms and qualifications set out in such letters.
37.19 | Common parties |
Although the Facility Agent and the Security Agent may from time to time be the same entity, that entity will have entered into the Finance Documents (to which it is party) in its separate capacities as facility agent for the Finance Parties and (as appropriate) security agent and trustee for the Finance Parties. Where any Finance Document provides for the Facility Agent or Security Agent to communicate with or provide instructions to the other, while they are the same entity, such communication or instructions will not be necessary.
37.20 | Security Agent |
(a) | Each other Finance Party appoints the Security Agent to act as its agent and (to the extent permitted under any applicable law) trustee under and in connection with the Security Documents and confirms that the Security Agent shall have a lien on the Security Documents and the proceeds of the enforcement of those Security Documents for all moneys payable to the beneficiaries of those Security Documents. |
(b) | Each other Finance Party authorises the Security Agent: |
(i) | to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Security Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions; and |
(ii) | to execute each of the Security Documents and all other documents that may be approved by the Facility Agent and/or the Majority Lenders for execution by it. |
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(c) | The Security Agent accepts its appointment under clause 37.20 ( Security Agent ) as trustee of the Trust Property with effect from the date of this Agreement and declares that it holds the Trust Property on trust for itself, the other Finance Parties (for so long as they are Finance Parties) and such other persons entitled under the lntercreditor Deed on and subject to the terms set out in clauses 37.20 to 37.28 (inclusive), the lntercreditor Deed and the Security Documents to which it is a party. |
37.21 | Application of certain clauses to Security Agent |
(a) | Clauses 37.6 ( Rights and discretions of the Facility Agent ), 37.8 ( Responsibility for documentation and other matters ), 37.9 ( Exclusion of liability ), 37.10 ( Lenders’ indemnity to the Facility Agent ), 37.11 ( Resignation of the Facility Agent ), 37.12 ( Replacement of the Facility Agent ), 37.13 ( Confidentiality ), 37.14 ( Relationship with the Lenders and the Hedging Banks ), 37.15 ( Credit appraisal by the Lenders and the Hedging Banks ) and 37.17 ( Deduction from amounts payable by the Facility Agent ) shall each extend so as to apply to the Security Agent in its capacity as such and for that purpose each reference to the “Facility Agent” in these clauses shall extend to include in addition a reference to the “Security Agent” in its capacity as such. |
(b) | In addition, clause 37.11 ( Resignation of the Facility Agent ) shall, for the purposes of its application to the Security Agent pursuant to clause 37.21(a), have the following additional sub-clause: |
At any time after the appointment of a successor, the retiring Security Agent shall do and execute all acts, deeds and documents reasonably required by its successor to transfer to it (or its nominee, as it may direct) any property, assets and rights previously vested in the retiring Security Agent pursuant to the Security Documents and which shall not have vested in its successor by operation of law. All such acts, deeds and documents shall be done or, as the case may be, executed at the cost of the retiring Security Agent (except where the Security Agent is retiring under clause 37.11(h) as extended to it by clause 37.21(a), in which case such costs shall be borne by the Lenders (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero)).
37.22 | Instructions to Security Agent |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Security Agent shall: |
(i) | exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Security Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Facility Agent (or, if so instructed by the Facility Agent, refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Security Agent); and |
(ii) | not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking any action) in accordance with such an instruction of the Facility Agent (the Facility Agent in each case acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders or, if appropriate pursuant to clause 46.2 ( Exceptions ), the Lenders). |
(b) | The Security Agent shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Facility Agent as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion and the Security Agent may refrain from acting unless and until it receives those instructions or that clarification. |
(c) | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given by the Facility Agent to the Security Agent in accordance with clause 37.22(a) shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties and will be binding on the Finance Parties. |
(d) | The Security Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the Facility Agent until it has received such security as it may require for any cost, loss or liability (together with any associated Indirect Tax) which it may incur in complying with the instructions. |
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(e) | In the absence of, or while awaiting, instructions from the Facility Agent, (including in exceptional circumstances where time does not permit the Facility Agent obtaining instructions from the Lenders and urgent action is required) the Security Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Finance Parties. |
(f) | The Security Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of another Finance Party (without first obtaining that Finance Party’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document but this is without prejudice to clauses 37.22(a) and 37.22(e), including the right to enforce the Security Documents in accordance with these clauses. |
37.23 | Order of application |
(a) | Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Agent agrees to apply the Trust Property in accordance with the following respective claims: |
(i) | first , as to a sum equivalent to the amounts payable to K-sure under clause 16.4, the Facility Agent and/or the K-sure Agent and/or the Security Agent under the Finance Documents (excluding any amounts received by the Facility Agent and/or the Security Agent pursuant to clause 37.10 ( Lenders’ indemnity to the Facility Agent ) as extended to the Security Agent pursuant to clause 37.21 ( Application of certain clauses to Security Agent ) or by the K-sure Agent pursuant to clause 37.22(f)), for the Facility Agent and/or the K-sure Agent and/or the Security Agent absolutely, and/or K-sure; |
(ii) | secondly , as to a sum equivalent to any other unpaid fees, costs (including, without limitation, Break Costs) and expenses of the Facility Agent, the Security Agent, the Account Bank, the Mandated Lead Arrangers and any Receiver under the Finance Documents; |
(iii) | thirdly , in or towards payment, on a pari passu basis, to (i) the Lenders pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under the Finance Documents and (ii) the Hedging Banks pro rata of any sums (other than swap termination / close-out payments sums under the Hedging Contracts) owing to them under any of the Finance Documents; |
(iv) | fourthly , in or towards payment, on a pari passu basis, to: |
(A) | the Lenders pro rata of any principal which is due (or overdue) but unpaid under the Finance Documents; and |
(B) | the Hedging Banks pro rata of any termination sums / close-out payments owing to them under the Hedging Contracts; |
(v) | fifthly , only when an Event of Default is continuing, until such time as the Security Agent is satisfied that all obligations owed to the Finance Parties have been irrevocably and unconditionally discharged in full or no Event of Default is continuing, held by the Security Agent on a suspense account for payment of any further amounts owing to the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents and further application in accordance with this clause 37.23(a) as and when any such amounts later fall due, to the extent there remains a risk of an insolvency (as described in clause 31.8 ( Insolvency )) and/or insolvency proceedings (as described in clause 31.9 ( Insolvency proceedings )) affecting the Borrower; |
(vi) | sixthly , to such other persons (if any) as are entitled thereto in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement; |
(vii) | seventhly , to such other persons (if any) as are legally entitled thereto in priority to the Obligors; and |
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(viii) | eighthly , as to the balance (if any), for the Obligors by or from whom or from whose assets the relevant amounts were paid, received or recovered or other person entitled to them. |
(b) | The Security Agent shall make each application as soon as is practicable after the relevant moneys are received by, or otherwise become available to, it save that (without prejudice to any other provision contained in any of the Security Documents) the Security Agent (acting on the instructions of the Facility Agent) or any receiver or administrator may, when an Event of Default is continuing, credit any moneys received by it to a suspense account for so long and in such manner as the Security Agent or such receiver or administrator may from time to time determine with a view to preserving the rights of the Finance Parties or any of them to prove for the whole of their respective claims against the Borrower or any other person liable provided that: (1) when such amounts taken together with other amounts that are held on similar suspense or nominal accounts in accordance with the Finance Documents are sufficient to discharge the Borrower’s obligations under the Finance Documents they must be so applied; and (ii) such amount shall be treated as having been paid when due for all purposes under the Finance Documents, including the determination of interest accruing on amounts, whether at the default rate or otherwise. |
(c) | The Security Agent shall obtain a good discharge in respect of the amounts expressed to be due to the other Finance Parties as referred to in this clause 37.23 by paying such amounts to the Facility Agent for distribution in accordance with clause 40 ( Payment mechanics ). |
37.24 | Perpetuities |
The perpetuity period to the extent applicable to this Agreement and the other Finance Documents shall be 125 years from the date of this Agreement.
37.25 | Powers and duties of the Security Agent as trustee of the security |
In its capacity as trustee in relation to the Security Documents, the Security Agent:
(a) | shall, without prejudice to any of the powers, discretions and immunities conferred upon trustees by law (and to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement or any of the Security Documents), have all the same powers and discretions as a natural person acting as the beneficial owner of such property and/or as are conferred upon the Security Agent by this Agreement and/or any Security Document but so that the Security Agent may only exercise such powers and discretions to the extent that it is authorised to do so by the provisions of this Agreement; |
(b) | shall (subject to clause 37.23 ( Order of application )) be entitled (in its own name or in the names of nominees) to invest moneys from time to time forming part of the Trust Property or otherwise held by it as a consequence of any enforcement of the security constituted by any Finance Document which, in the reasonable opinion of the Security Agent, it would not be practicable to distribute immediately, by placing the same on deposit in the name or under the control of the Security Agent as the Security Agent may think fit without being under any duty to diversify the same and the Security Agent shall not be responsible for any loss due to interest rate or exchange rate fluctuations except for any loss arising from the Security Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct; |
(c) | may, subject to the consent of the Borrower unless an Event of Default is continuing, in the conduct of its obligations under and in respect of the Security Documents (otherwise than in relation to its right to make any declaration, determination or decision), instead of acting personally, employ and pay any agent (whether being a lawyer or any other person) to transact or concur in transacting any business and to do or concur in doing any acts required to be done by the Security Agent (including the receipt and payment of money) and on the basis that (i) any such agent engaged in any profession or business shall be entitled to be paid all usual professional and other charges for business transacted and acts done by him or any partner or employee of his or her in connection with such employment and (ii) the Security Agent shall not be bound to supervise, or be responsible for any loss incurred by reason of any act or omission of, any such agent if the Security Agent shall have exercised reasonable care in the selection of such agent; and |
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(d) | may place all deeds and other documents relating to the Trust Property which are from time to time deposited with it pursuant to the Security Documents in any safe deposit, safe or receptacle selected by the Security Agent exercising reasonable care or with any firm of solicitors or company whose business includes undertaking the safe custody of documents selected by the Security Agent exercising reasonable care and may make any such arrangements as it thinks fit for allowing Obligors access to, or its solicitors or auditors possession of, such documents when necessary or convenient and the Security Agent shall not be responsible for any loss incurred in connection with any such deposit, access or possession if it has exercised reasonable care in the selection of a safe deposit, safe, receptacle or firm of solicitors or company (save that it shall take reasonable steps to pursue any person who may be liable to it in connection with such loss). |
37.26 | All enforcement action through the Security Agent |
None of the other Finance Parties shall have any independent power to enforce any of the Security Documents or to exercise any rights, discretions or powers or to grant any consents or releases under or pursuant to any of the Security Documents or otherwise have direct recourse to the security and/or guarantees constituted by any of the Security Documents except through the Security Agent. If any Lender is a party to any Security Document it shall promptly upon being requested by the Facility Agent to do so grant power of attorney or other sufficient authority to the Security Agent to enable the Security Agent to exercise any rights, discretions or powers or to grant any consents or releases under such Security Document.
37.27 | Co-operation to achieve agreed priorities of application |
The other Finance Parties shall co-operate with each other and with the Security Agent and any receiver or administrator under the Security Documents in realising the property and assets subject to the Security Documents and in ensuring that the net proceeds realised under the Security Documents after deduction of the expenses of realisation are applied in accordance with clause 37.23 ( Order of application ).
37.28 | Indemnity from Trust Property |
(a) | In respect of all liabilities, costs or expenses for which the Obligors are liable under this Agreement, the Security Agent and each Affiliate of the Security Agent and each officer or employee of the Security Agent or its Affiliate (each an Indemnified Person ) shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the Trust Property in respect of all liabilities, damages, costs, claims, charges or expenses whatsoever properly incurred or suffered by such Indemnified Person in the execution or exercise or bona fide purported execution or exercise of the trusts, rights, powers, authorities, discretions and duties created or conferred by or pursuant to the Finance Documents. |
(b) | The rights conferred by this clause 37.28 are without prejudice to any right to indemnity by law given to trustees generally and to any provision of the Finance Documents entitling the Security Agent or any other person to an indemnity in respect of, and/or reimbursement of, any liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by it in connection with any of the Finance Documents or the performance of any duties under any of the Finance Documents. Nothing contained in this clause 37.28 shall entitle the Security Agent or any other person to be indemnified in respect of any liabilities, damages, costs, claims, charges or expenses to the extent that the same arise from such person’s own gross negligence or wilful misconduct. |
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37.29 | Finance Parties to provide information |
The other Finance Parties shall provide the Security Agent with such written information as it may reasonably require for the purposes of carrying out its duties and obligations under the Security Documents and, in particular, with such necessary directions in writing so as to enable the Security Agent to make the calculations and applications contemplated by clause 37.23 ( Order of application ) above and to apply amounts received under, and the proceeds of realisation of, the Security Documents as contemplated by the Security Documents, clause 40.6 ( Partial payments ) and clause 37.23 ( Order of application ).
37.30 | Release to facilitate enforcement and realisation |
Each Finance Party acknowledges that pursuant to any enforcement action by the Security Agent (or a Receiver) carried out on the instructions of the Facility Agent it may be desirable for the purpose of such enforcement and/or maximising the realisation of the Charged Property being enforced against, that any rights or claims of or by the Security Agent (for the benefit of the Finance Parties) and/or any Finance Parties against any Obligor and/or any Security Interest over any assets of any Obligor (in each case) as contained in or created by any Finance Document, other than such rights or claims or security being enforced, be released in order to facilitate such enforcement action and/or realisation and, notwithstanding any other provision of the Finance Documents, each Finance Party hereby irrevocably authorises the Security Agent (acting on the instructions of the Facility Agent) to grant any such releases to the extent necessary to fay effect such enforcement action and realisation including, without limitation, to the extent necessary for such purposes to execute release documents in the name of and on behalf of the Finance Parties. Where the relevant enforcement is by way of disposal of shares in the Borrower, the requisite release shall include releases of all claims (including under guarantees) of the Finance Parties and/or the Security Agent against the Borrower and of all Security Interests over the assets of the Borrower.
37.31 | Undertaking to pay |
The Borrower undertakes with the Security Agent on behalf of the Finance Parties that it will, on demand by the Security Agent, pay to the Security Agent all money from time to time owing, and discharge all other obligations from time to time incurred, by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents provided that any payment under this undertaking shall discharge its obligation to pay such amount to the relevant Finance Party entitled to such payment.
37.32 | Additional trustees |
The Security Agent shall have power by notice in writing to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower to appoint any person approved by the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) either to act as separate trustee or as co-trustee jointly with the Security Agent:
(a) | if the Security Agent reasonably considers such appointment to be in the best interests of the Finance Parties; |
(b) | for the purpose of conforming with any legal requirement, restriction or condition in any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed; or |
(c) | for the purpose of obtaining a judgment in any jurisdiction or the enforcement in any jurisdiction against any person of a judgment already obtained, |
and any person so appointed shall (subject to the provisions of this Agreement) have such rights (including as to reasonable remuneration), powers, duties and obligations as shall be conferred or imposed by the instrument of appointment approved by the Borrower. The Security Agent shall have power to remove any person so appointed. At the request of the Security Agent, the other parties to this Agreement shall forthwith execute all such documents and do all such things as may be required to perfect such appointment or removal and each Finance Party irrevocably authorises the Security Agent in its name and on its behalf to do the same. Such a person shall accede to this Agreement as a Security Agent to the extent necessary to carry out their role on terms satisfactory to the Security Agent and (subject always to the provisions of this Agreement) have such trusts, powers, authorities, liabilities and discretions (not exceeding those conferred on the Security Agent by this Agreement and the other Finance Documents) and such duties and obligations as shall be conferred or imposed by the instrument of appointment (being no less onerous than would have applied to the Security Agent but for the appointment). The Security Agent shall not be bound to supervise, or be responsible for any loss incurred by reason of any act or omission of, any such person if the Security Agent shall have exercised reasonable care in the selection of such person.
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37.33 | Non-recognition of trust |
It is agreed by all the parties to this Agreement that:
(a) | in relation to any jurisdiction the courts of which would not recognise or give effect to the trusts expressed to be constituted by this clause 37, the relationship of the Security Agent and the other Finance Parties shall be construed as one of principal and agent, but to the extent permissible under the laws of such jurisdiction, all the other provisions of this Agreement shall have full force and effect between the parties to this Agreement; and |
(b) | the provisions of this clause 37 insofar as they relate to the Security Agent in its capacity as trustee for the Finance Parties and the relationship between themselves and the Security Agent as their trustee may be amended by agreement between the other Finance Parties and the Security Agent. |
37.34 | K-sure Agent |
(a) | Each K-sure Lender hereby appoints and authorises the K-sure Agent to act as its agent in connection herewith and for all purposes under the K-sure Policy, with power to take all such actions as are specified for the K-sure Agent to take on behalf of the K-sure Lenders insured under the K-sure Policy, together with such other powers as are specifically delegated to the K-sure Agent by the terms of the K-sure Policy or are reasonably incidental thereto, and each K-sure Lender hereby authorises and instructs the K-sure Agent to execute and deliver, if required, on its behalf the K-sure Policy and agrees severally to be bound by the terms and conditions of the K-sure Policy as if it had executed and delivered such agreement for and in its own name. |
(b) | Each K-sure Lender represents and warrants to the K-sure Agent that (i) it has reviewed the K-sure Policy and is aware of the provisions thereof, (ii) the representations and warranties made by the K-sure Agent on behalf of each K-sure Lender under the K-sure Policy are true and correct with respect to such Lender in all respects, and (iii) no information provided by such K-sure Lender in writing to the K-sure Agent or to K-sure prior to the date hereof was incomplete, untrue or incorrect in any respect except to the extent that such Lender, in the exercise of reasonable care and due diligence prior to the giving of the information, could not have discovered the error or omission. Each K-sure Lender represents and warrants that it has not taken (or failed to take), and agrees that it shall not take (or fail to take), any action that would result in the K-sure Agent being in breach of any of its obligations in its capacity as K-sure Agent under the K-sure Policy or the other Transaction Documents, or result in the K-sure Lenders being in breach of any of their respective obligations as insured parties, under the K-sure Policy, or which would otherwise prejudice the K-sure Agent’s ability to make a claim on behalf of the K-sure Lenders under the K-sure Policy. |
(c) | The K-sure Agent agrees to furnish promptly to each K-sure Lender, a copy of each written communication received by it from, or sent by it to, K-sure expressly relating to the K-sure Policy. The K-sure Agent agrees not to take any action under the K-sure Policy without the consent of the Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), unless the K-sure Agent has reasonably determined that such action would not be material to the coverage provided to the K-sure Lender thereunder. |
(d) | Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that it shall have no entitlement to make any claim or to take any action whatsoever under or in connection with the K-sure Policy except through the K-sure Agent and that all of the rights of the K-sure Lenders under the K-sure Policy shall only be exercised by the K-sure Agent. |
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(e) | The K-sure Agent agrees to take such actions under the K-sure Policy (including with respect to any amendment, modification or supplement to the K-sure Policy) as may be directed by the Lenders from time to time; provided that, anything herein or in the K-sure Policy to the contrary notwithstanding, the K-sure Agent shall not be obliged to take any such action or to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any liability in the performance of any of its duties or the exercise of any of its rights or powers hereunder or thereunder if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it or if such action would be contrary to applicable law. |
(f) | Each K-sure Lender severally agrees to indemnify the K-sure Agent and its affiliates, and its and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents for any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the K-sure Agent or any of its affiliates or its or their respective officers, directors, employees or agents arising out of or by reason of any action taken by the K-sure Agent or any of its affiliates or its or their respective officers, directors, employees or agents or as a result of any misrepresentations and/or other breaches under paragraph (b) above, provided that no K-sure Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent they arise from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the K-sure Agent. Each Lender expressly confirms and agrees that the K-sure Agent shall not be liable for any loss caused as a result of the breach by any Lender of its obligations under paragraph (b) above. The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, pertaining to the procedures to be followed in connection with the appointment of successor Facility Agent and Security Agent shall constitute, mutatis mutandis, the procedures to be followed in connection with the appointment of a successor K-sure Agent. |
(g) | Each K-sure Lender severally agrees to reimburse the K-sure Agent in respect of the K-sure Premium (or any part thereof) if such premium (or any part thereof) is paid by the K-sure Agent and the K-sure Agent is not fully reimbursed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
(h) | If the K-sure Agent receives any K-sure Insurance Proceeds, the K-sure Agent shall pay the amount actually received by it to the Facility Agent for application in accordance with the provisions of clauses 37.23 ( Order of application ). The K-sure Insurance Proceeds are for the benefit of the Finance Parties and not for the benefit of the Borrowers. K-sure Insurance Proceeds received by the K-sure Agent or applied by the Facility Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall not be deemed to satisfy the obligations of the Borrower under any Security Document which obligations shall remain due and payable notwithstanding the receipt or application of those K-sure Insurance Proceeds. |
37.35 | Application of certain clauses to K-sure Agent |
Clauses 37.11 ( Resignation of the Facility Agent ), 37.12 ( Replacement of the Facility Agent ), 37.13 ( Confidentiality ) shall each extend so as to apply to the K-Sure Agent in its capacity as such and for that purpose each reference to the “Facility Agent” in these clauses shall extend to include in addition a reference to the “K-sure Agent” in its capacity as such.
37.36 | Application of certain clauses to Issuing Bank |
Clauses 37.11 ( Resignation of the Facility Agent ), 37.12 ( Replacement of the Facility Agent ), 37.13 ( Confidentiality ) shall each extend so as to apply to the Issuing Bank in its capacity as such and for that purpose each reference to the “Facility Agent in these clauses shall extend to include in addition a reference to the “Issuing Bank” in its capacity as such.
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38 | Conduct of business by the Finance Parties |
38.1 | Finance Parties tax affairs |
No provision of this Agreement will:
(a) | interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit; |
(b) | oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or |
(c) | oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax. |
38.2 | Finance Parties acting together |
Notwithstanding clause 2.10 ( Finance Parties’ rights and obligations ), if the Facility Agent makes a declaration under clause 31.30 ( Acceleration ) the Facility Agent shall, in the names of all the Finance Parties, take such action on behalf of the Finance Parties and conduct such negotiations with the Borrower and other Obligors and generally administer the Facility in accordance with the wishes of the Majority Lenders. All the Finance Parties shall be bound by the provisions of this clause and no Finance Party shall be entitled to take action independently against any Obligor or any of their respective assets without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders.
This clause shall not override clause 37 ( Roles of Facility Agent, Security Agent and K-sure Agent ) as it applies to the Security Agent.
38.3 | Majority Lenders |
(a) | Where any Finance Document provides for any matter to be determined by reference to the opinion of, or to be subject to the consent, approval or request of, the Majority Lenders or for any action to be taken on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (a majority decision ), such majority decision shall (as between the Lenders) only be regarded as having been validly given or issued by the Majority Lenders if all the Lenders shall have received prior notice of the matter on which such majority decision is required and the relevant majority of Lenders shall have given or issued such majority decision subject to paragraph (b) below. However (as between any Obligor and the Finance Parties) the relevant Obligor shall be entitled (and bound) to assume that such notice shall have been duly received by each Lender and that the relevant majority shall have been obtained to constitute Majority Lenders when notified to this effect by the Facility Agent whether or not this is the case. |
(b) | If, within the relevant decision period provided for under the relevant provision of the Finance Documents (or if there is no such period, fifteen (15) Business Days after the Facility Agent despatching to each Lender a notice requesting instructions (or confirmation of instructions) from the Lenders or the agreement of the Lenders to any amendment, modification, waiver, variation or excuse of performance for the purposes of, or in relation to, any of the Finance Documents), the Facility Agent has not received a reply specifically giving or confirming or refusing to give or confirm the relevant instructions or, as the case may be, approving or refusing to approve the proposed amendment, modification, waiver, variation or excuse of performance, then (irrespective of whether such Lender responds at a later date) the Facility Agent shall treat any Lender which has not so responded as having indicated a desire to be bound by the wishes of 662/3 per cent. of those Lenders (measured in terms of the total Commitments of those Lenders) which have so responded and their Commitment shall be disregarded for the purposes of determining whether a relevant percentage of the Total Commitments has been obtained. |
(c) | For the purposes of clause 38.3(b), any Lender which notifies the Facility Agent of a wish or intention to abstain on any particular issue shall be treated as if it had not responded. |
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(d) | Clauses 38.3(b) and 38.3(c) shall not apply in relation to those matters referred to in, or the subject of, clause 46.2 ( Exceptions ). |
38.4 | Conflicts |
(a) | The Borrower acknowledges that any Mandated Lead Arranger and its parent undertaking, subsidiary undertakings and fellow subsidiary undertakings (together an Arranger Group ) may be providing debt finance, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other persons with which the Borrower may have conflicting interests in respect of the Facility or otherwise. |
(b) | No member of an Arranger Group shall use confidential information gained from any Obligor by virtue of the Facility or its relationships with any Obligor in connection with their performance of services for other persons. This shall not, however, affect any obligations that any member of an Arranger Group has as Facility Agent in respect of the Finance Documents. The Borrower also acknowledges that no member of an Arranger Group has any obligation to use or furnish to any Obligor information obtained from other persons for their benefit. |
(c) | The terms parent undertaking , subsidiary undertaking and fellow subsidiary undertaking when used in this clause have the meaning given to them in sections 1161 and 1162 of the Companies Act 2006. |
39 | Sharing among the Finance Parties |
39.1 | Payments to Finance Parties |
If a Finance Party (a Recovering Finance Party ) receives or recovers any amount from an Obligor other than in accordance with clause 40 ( Payment mechanics ) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then:
(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 40 ( 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, promptly on 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 40.6 ( Partial payments ). |
39.2 | Redistribution of payments |
The Facility Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Obligor and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) in accordance with clause 40.6 ( Partial payments ).
39.3 | Recovering Finance Party’s rights |
(a) | On a distribution by the Facility Agent under clause 39.2 ( Redistribution of payments ), the Recovering Finance Party will be subrogated to the rights of the Finance Parties which have shared in the redistribution. |
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(b) | If and to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party is not able to rely on its rights under clause 39.3(a) above, the relevant Obligor shall be liable to the Recovering Finance Party for a debt equal to the Sharing Payment which is immediately due and payable. |
39.4 | Reversal of redistribution |
If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:
(a) | each Finance Party which has received a share of the relevant Sharing Payment pursuant to clause 39.2 ( Redistribution of payments ) shall, upon request of the Facility Agent, pay to the Facility Agent for 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); and |
(b) | that Recovering Finance Party’s rights of subrogation in respect of any reimbursement shall be cancelled and the relevant Obligor will be liable to the reimbursing Lender for the amount so reimbursed. |
39.5 | Exceptions |
(a) | This clause 39 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 relevant Obligor. |
(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 in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, if: |
(i) | it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; |
(ii) | the taking legal or arbitration proceedings was in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and |
(iii) | that 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. |
39.6 | Application of proceeds under K-sure Policy |
The foregoing provisions of this clause 39 shall not apply to any proceeds under the K-sure Policy and instead:
(a) | if any Finance Party receives any proceeds under the K-sure Policy, it shall pay such moneys to the Facility Agent; |
(b) | notwithstanding the provisions of clause 40.6 ( Partial payments ), any such moneys shall be applied by the Facility Agent only in favour of the K-sure Lenders, and, for the avoidance of doubt, no such proceeds shall be available in any circumstances to the Obligors; |
(c) | no such proceeds (whether before or after application in accordance with the provisions of clause 39.6(b) above) shall be deemed to satisfy the obligations of the Obligors, shall be ignored in calculating the amount owing to the Finance Parties and any of them in respect of the K-sure Policy and, for the avoidance of doubt, the obligations of each Obligor under each Finance Document to which it is a party shall remain in full force and effect unaffected by the receipt of any such insurance proceeds; and |
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(d) | any unpaid K-sure Premium shall constitute amounts then due and payable in respect of the K-sure Facility under the Finance Documents (and any of them) for the purposes of the amounts then due and payable in respect of clause 18.1 ( Transaction expenses ). |
Section 10 - ADMINISTRATION
40 | Payment mechanics |
40.1 | Payments to the Facility Agent |
(a) | On each date on which the Borrower or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document, the Borrower or 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 in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency with such bank as the Facility Agent specifies. |
40.2 | Distributions by the Facility Agent |
Each payment received by the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to clause 40.3 ( Distributions to an Obligor ) and clause 40.4 ( Clawback and pre-funding ) be made available by the Facility Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Facility Agent by not less than five Business Days’ notice with a bank specified by that Party in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency.
40.3 | Distributions to an Obligor |
The Facility Agent may (with the consent of the Obligor or in accordance with clause 41 ( Setoff )) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from that Obligor under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.
40.4 | Clawback and pre-funding |
(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) | 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 is willing to make available amounts for the account of the 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 the Borrower: |
(i) | the Facility Agent may notify the Borrower of that Lender’s identity and the Borrower shall on demand refund it to the Facility Agent; and |
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(ii) | the Lender by whom those funds should have been made available or, if that Lender fails to do so, the Borrower, 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. |
40.5 | Impaired Agent |
(a) | If, at any time, the Facility Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, the Borrower or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Facility Agent in accordance with clauses 40.1 ( Payments to the Facility Agent ) may instead either: |
(i) | pay that amount direct to the required recipient(s); or |
(ii) | if in its absolute discretion it considers that it is not reasonably practicable to pay that amount direct to the required recipient(s), pay the relevant part of that amount to an interest-bearing account held with an Approved Transferee and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Borrower or the Lender making the payment (the Paying Party ) and designated as a trust account for the benefit of the Party or Parties beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents (the Recipient Party or Recipient Parties ). |
In each case such payments must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents.
(b) | All interest accrued on the amount standing to the credit of the trust account shall be for the benefit of the Recipient Party or the Recipient Parties pro rata to their respective entitlements. |
(c) | A Party which has made a payment in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) above shall be discharged of the relevant payment obligation under the Finance Documents and shall not take any credit risk with respect to the amounts standing to the credit of the trust account. |
(d) | Promptly upon the appointment of a successor Facility Agent in accordance with this Agreement, each Paying Party shall (other than to the extent that that Party has given an instruction pursuant to paragraph (e) below) give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the amount (together with any accrued interest) to the successor Facility Agent for distribution to the relevant Recipient Party or Recipient Parties in accordance with clause 40.2 ( Distributions by the Facility Agent ). |
(e) | A Paying Party shall, promptly upon request by a Recipient Party and to the extent: |
(i) | that it has not given an instruction pursuant to paragraph (d) above; and |
(ii) | that it has been provided with the necessary information by that Recipient Party, |
give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the relevant amount (together with any accrued interest) to that Recipient Party.
40.6 | Partial payments |
(a) | If the Facility Agent receives a payment for application against amounts due under the Finance Documents that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under those Finance Documents, the Facility Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under those Finance Documents in the following order: |
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(i) | first , in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs (including Break Costs) and expenses (ignoring any fees payable under clause 13 ( Fees )) of the Agents, the Security Agent or the Mandated Lead Arrangers under those Finance Documents; |
(ii) | secondly , in or towards payment to the Lenders pro rata of any amount owing to the Lenders under clause 37.10 ( Lenders’ indemnity to the Facility Agent ) including any amount resulting from the indemnity to the Security Agent under clause 37.21(a) ( Application of certain clauses to Security Agent ); |
(iii) | thirdly , in or towards payment, on a pari passu basis, to (i) the Lenders pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under those Finance Documents and (ii) the Hedging Banks pro rata of any sums owing to them under any of those Finance Documents (other than any swap termination sums / closeout payments owing to them under the Hedging Contracts); |
(iv) | fourthly , in or towards payment, on a pari passu basis, to: |
(A) | the Lenders pro rata of any principal which is due but unpaid under those Finance Documents; and |
(B) | the Hedging Banks pro rata of any termination sums owing to them under the Hedging Contracts; and |
(v) | fifthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents. |
(b) | The Facility Agent shall, if so directed by all the Lenders and the Hedging Banks, vary the order set out in paragraphs (i) to (v) of clause 40.6(a). |
(c) | Clauses 40.6(a) and 40.6(b) above will override any appropriation made by an Obligor. |
40.7 | No set-off by Obligors |
All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.
40.8 | 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. |
40.9 | Currency of account |
(a) | Subject to clauses 40.9(b) to 40.9(c), dollars is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document. |
(b) | A repayment of all or part of any Loan or an Unpaid Sum and each payment of interest shall be made in dollars on its due date. |
(c) | Each payment in respect of the amount of any costs, expenses or Tax or other losses shall be made in dollars and, if they were incurred in a currency other than dollars, the amount payable under the Finance Documents shall be the equivalent in dollars of the relevant amount in such other currency on the date on which it was incurred. |
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(d) | All moneys received or held by the Security Agent or by a Receiver under a Security Document in a currency other than dollars may be sold for dollars and the Obligor which executed that Security Document shall indemnify the Security Agent against the full cost in relation to the sale. Neither the Security Agent nor such Receiver will have any liability to that Obligor in respect of any loss resulting from any fluctuation in exchange rates after the sale. |
40.10 | Disruption to Payment Systems etc. |
If the Facility Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Facility Agent is notified by the Borrower that a Disruption Event has occurred:
(a) | the Facility Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Borrower, consult with the Borrower with a view to agreeing with the Borrower such changes to the operation or administration of the Facility as the Facility Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances; |
(b) | the Facility Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Borrower in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes; |
(c) | the Facility Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; |
(d) | any such changes agreed upon by the Facility Agent and the Borrower shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of clause 46 ( Amendments and grant of waivers ); |
(e) | the Facility Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever (including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Facility Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this clause 40.10; and |
(f) | the Facility Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to clause 40.10(d) above. |
41 | Set-off |
A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under any Finance Document against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to that Obligor, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.
42 | Notices |
42.1 | Communications in writing |
Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax, email or letter.
42.2 | Addresses |
The address, email address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Obligor or any Finance Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:
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(a) | in the case of any Obligor which is a Party, that identified with its name in Schedule 1 ( The original parties ); |
(b) | in the case of any Obligor which is not a Party, that identified in any Finance Document to which it is a party; |
(c) | in the case of any Original Lender, the Security Agent, the Facility Agent, the K-sure Agent and any other original Finance Party that identified with its name in Schedule 1 ( The original parties ); and |
(d) | in the case of each other Lender or Finance Party, that notified in writing to the Facility Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party in the relevant capacity, |
or, in each case, any substitute address, email address, fax number, or department or officer as an Obligor or Finance Party may notify to the Facility Agent (or the Facility Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Facility Agent) by not less than five (5) Business Days’ notice.
42.3 | 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 fax or, in the case of a Party other than an Account Bank, email, 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; |
and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under clause 42.2 ( Addresses ), if addressed to that department or officer.
(b) | Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Facility Agent, the Account Banks or the Security Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Facility Agent, the Account Banks or the Security Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified in Schedule 1 ( The original parties ) (or any substitute department or officer as the Facility Agent or the Security Agent shall specify for this purpose). |
(c) | All notices from or to an Obligor to or from a Finance Party shall be sent through the Facility Agent. |
(d) | Any communication or document made or delivered to the Borrower in accordance with this clause will be deemed to have been made or delivered to each of the Obligors. |
(e) | Any electronic communication 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. |
42.4 | Notification of address, email address and fax number |
Promptly upon receipt (from an Obligor) of notification of an address, email address and fax number or change of address, email address or fax number pursuant to clause 42.2 ( Addresses ) or changing its own address, email address or fax number, the Facility Agent shall notify the other Parties.
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42.5 | Communication when Agent is Impaired Agent |
If the Facility Agent is. an Impaired Agent the Parties may, instead of communicating with each other through the Facility Agent, communicate with each other directly and (while the Facility Agent is an Impaired Agent) all the provisions of the Finance Documents which require communications to be made or notices to be given to or by the Facility Agent shall be varied so that communications may be made and notices given to or by the relevant Parties directly. This provision shall not operate after a replacement Agent has been appointed
42.6 | English language |
(a) | Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be in English. |
(b) | All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document shall 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. |
43 | Calculations and certificates |
43.1 | Accounts |
In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.
43.2 | Certificates and determinations |
Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates.
43.3 | Day count convention |
Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days or, in any case where the practice in the Interbank Market differs, in accordance with that market practice.
44 | Partial invalidity |
If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.
45 | Remedies and waivers |
No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in the Finance Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
189 |
46 | Amendments and grant of waivers |
46.1 | Required consents |
(a) | Subject to clause 46.2 ( Exceptions ), any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived with the consent of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders and, if it affects the rights and obligations of the Security Agent or either Agent, the consent of the Facility Agent or the Security Agent and, if it affects the rights and obligations of the Hedging Banks, the consent of the Hedging Banks) and any such amendment or waiver agreed, given or effected by the Facility Agent will be binding on the other Parties. |
(b) | The Facility Agent may (or, in the case of the Security Documents, instruct the Security Agent to) effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment, waiver, discharge or release permitted by this clause. |
(c) | Without prejudice to the generality of clause 37.6 ( Rights and discretion of the Facility Agent ), the Facility Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the services of lawyers in determining the consent level required for and effecting any amendment, waiver, discharge, release or consent under this Agreement. |
46.2 | Exceptions |
(a) | An amendment, waiver, discharge or release or a consent of, or in relation to, the terms of any Finance Document that has the effect of changing or which relates to: |
(i) | the definition of "Majority Lenders" in clause 1.1 ( Definitions ); |
(ii) | the definition of "Last Availability Date" in clause 1.1 ( Definitions ); |
(iii) | the definition of "Final Maturity Date" in clause 1.1 ( Definitions ); |
(iv) | an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents (other than the FSRU Tranche in the case of an Approved Refinancing in accordance with clause 22.15 ( Balloon Refinancing ); |
(v) | a reduction in the Margin (other than, in the case of the FSRU Tranche, any reduction agreed as part of the terms of an Approved Refinancing) or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable or the rate (other than, in the case of the FSRU Tranche, any reduction agreed as part of the terms of an Approved Refinancing) at which they are calculated; |
(vi) | an increase in, or an extension of, any Commitment or the Total Commitments, an extension of any period within which the Facility is available for Utilisation or any requirement that a cancellation of Commitments reduces the Commitments of the Lenders rateably under the Facility; |
(vii) | a change to the Borrower or any other Obligor (other than Supervisor and the appointment of a replacement O&M Contractor which is an Approved Operator pursuant to clause 24.4 ( Operation and Maintenance )) or the Charterer]; |
(viii) | any provision which expressly requires the consent or approval of all the Lenders; |
(ix) | clauses 20.1 ( Financial statements ), 20.2 ( Provisions and contents of Compliance Certificate ) or 20.3 ( Requirements as to financial statements ) or clause 21 ( Financial covenants ); |
(x) | clause 2.10 ( Finance Parties' rights and obligations ), clause 33 ( Changes to the Lenders ), clause 39.1 ( Payments to Finance Parties ) or this clause 46; |
190 |
(xi) | the order of distribution under clauses 37.23 ( Order of application ) or 40.6 ( Partial payments ); |
(xii) | the currency in which any amount is payable under any Finance Document; |
(xiii) | the nature or scope of the Charged Property or the manner in which the proceeds of enforcement of the Security Documents are distributed; or |
(xiv) | the circumstances in which the security constituted by the Security Documents are permitted or required to be released under any of the Finance Documents, |
shall not be made without the prior consent of the Lenders and K-sure.
(b) | Amendments to or waivers in respect of the Hedging Contracts may only be agreed by the Hedging Banks. |
(c) | An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Facility Agent, the Security Agent, the Hedging Banks or the Mandated Lead Arrangers in their respective capacities as such (and not just as a Lender) may not be effected without the consent of the Agents, Security Agent, the Hedging Banks and the Mandated Lead Arrangers (as the case may be). |
(d) | Notwithstanding clauses 46.1 and 46.2(a) to (c) (inclusive), the Facility Agent may with the consent of the Borrower make technical amendments to the Finance Documents arising out of manifest errors on the face of the Finance Documents, where such amendments would not prejudice or otherwise be adverse to the interests of any Finance Party without any reference or consent of the Finance Parties. |
(e) | Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause 46.2, any waiver of an Event of Default and enforcement of remedies related thereto shall require the consent of K-sure. |
(f) | The K-sure Agent shall provide a copy of any amendment or waiver to K-sure within ten (10) days of such amendment or waiver becoming effective. |
46.3 | Releases |
Except with the approval of the Lenders or as is expressly permitted or required by the Finance Documents, the Facility Agent shall not have authority to authorise the Security Agent to release:
(a) | any Charged Property from the security constituted by any Security Document; or |
(b) | any Obligor from any of its guarantee or other obligations under any Finance Document. |
47 | Counterparts |
Each Finance Document 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 the Finance Document.
Section 11 - GOVERNING LAW AND ENFORCEMENT
48 | Governing law |
This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations connected with it are governed by English law.
191 |
49 | Enforcement |
49.1 | Arbitration |
(a) | Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration in Singapore in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of Singapore International Arbitration Centre ( SIAC Rules ) for the time being in force which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference to this clause. |
(b) | The tribunal shall consist of a panel of three arbitrators (the Tribunal ) appointed in accordance with the SIAC Rules. |
(c) | The language of the arbitration shall be English. |
(d) | The Parties undertake to keep confidential the existence of, and all awards in, any arbitration, together with all materials in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration and all other documents produced by another party in the proceedings not otherwise in the public domain - save and to the extent that disclosure may be required of a Party by legal duty, to protect or pursue a legal right or to enforce or challenge an award in bona fide legal proceedings before a state court or other judicial authority. |
(e) | By agreeing to arbitration in accordance with this clause, the Parties do not intend to deprive any competent court of its jurisdiction to issue a pre-arbitral injunction, pre-arbitral attachment or other order in aid of the arbitration proceedings or the enforcement of any award. Any interim or provisional relief ordered by any competent court may subsequently be vacated, continued or modified by the arbitral tribunal on the application of either Party. |
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
192 |
Schedule 1
The original parties
Borrower
193 |
Guarantor
Name of Guarantor | HÖEGH LNG HOLDINGS LTD | ||
Jurisdiction of incorporation | Bermuda | ||
Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 39152 | ||
Registered office | Canon's Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda | ||
Address for service of notices | Drammensveien 134, P.O. Box 4 Skoyen, NO-0212 Oslo, Norway | ||
Fax No: | +47 975 67 401 | ||
Tel No: | +47 975 57 400 | ||
Attention: | Lars Mardalen | ||
E-mail: | lars.mardalen@hoeghIng.com |
194 |
Shareholders
Name of Singapore Shareholder | HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG PTE LTD | ||
Jurisdiction of incorporation | Singapore | ||
Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | 201230099W | ||
Registered office | 4 Robinson Road, House of Eden #05-01, Singapore 048543 | ||
Address for service of notices | 72 Anson Road, #07-03 Anson House, Singapore 079911 | ||
Fax No: | +65 6438 6493 | ||
Tel No: | +65 6511 1950 | ||
Attention: | Parthsarthi Jindal / Yin Ying Guay | ||
E-mail: | Parthsarthi.jindal@hoeqhlnq.com / yin-vinp.guay@hoeghlng.com |
195 |
Name of Indonesian Shareholder | PT BAHTERA DAYA UTAMA | ||
Jurisdiction of incorporation | Indonesia | ||
Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | TDP 09.03.1.46.82799 | ||
Registered office | Jalan Ampera Raya No. 9-10, Jakarta Selatan 12550, Indonesia | ||
Address for service of notices | Jalan Ampere Raya No. 9-10, Jakarta Selatan 12550, Indonesia | ||
Fax No: | 7808055 | ||
Tel No: | 7808044 | ||
Attention: | Director | ||
E-mail: | nbasuki@imeco.co.id |
196 |
The Original Lenders and their Commitments
(i) | Commercial Lenders |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details
for payments |
FSRU Tranche
Commitment $ |
Mooring
Tranche Commitment $ |
||||
The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, UFJ |
Administrative / Credit Contacts
Address: MidPlaza 1 Building 1-3F
Attn: Irma Nofiana / Alvian V. Langitan / Nurhayani Purwitasari / Cecilia S. Rachmani / Devi Mariana Afandy Tel: (62-21) 3004 8265 / (62-21) 2553 8364 / (62-21) 2553 8369 / (62-21) 3004 8214 / (62-21) 3004 8241 Fax: (62-21) 573 5724 / (62-21) 570 6184
Email:
Credit Contacts
Address: 9 Raffles Place, #01-01
Attn: Lam Sze Yin / Arthur Tay Tel: +65 6231 1890 / +65 6231 1875 Fax: 6231 1873
Email:
|
USD Payment Details Beneficiary Bank: The Bank of Tokyo — Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd New York Branch Swift No.: BOTKUS33 Country Payable: Indonesia Beneficiary Details: The Bank of Tokyo — Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd Jakarta Branch
Account number: USD acc.: 536 - 390317
Payment Details: Fee / Interest / Principal Payments of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung |
11,693,124.80 | 12,380,000.00 |
197 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details
for payments |
FSRU Tranche
Commitment $ |
Mooring
Tranche Commitment $ |
||||
DBS Bank Ltd |
DBS Bank Credit Correspondences Address: 12 Marina Boulevard Level 45, DBS Asia Central @ Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3, Singapore 018982 Attn: Berna Okten Tel: + (65) 6878 2073 Fax: + (65) 6224 7044 Email: bernaokten@dbs.com Admin Correspondences
Address: 12 Marina Boulevard Level 45
Attn: Tham Choi Ling / John Lim Tel: + (65) 6878 8634 / 4707 Fax: + (65) 6224 7044
Email:
|
USD Payment Details: Beneficiary Bank: The Bank of New York Mellon, New York Swift Code: IRVTUS3N Beneficiary Details: DBS Bank Ltd SWIFT address: DBSSSGSG A/C No. 8900298189 Payment Details: Fee / Interest / Principal Payments of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung |
198 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details
for payments |
FSRU Tranche
Commitment $ |
Mooring
Tranche Commitment $ |
||||
Korea Development Bank |
Korea Development Bank
Credit Correspondences
Address: 14, Eunhaeng-ro, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-973, Korea
Attn: Energy & Natural Resources Team
Tel: +82-2-787-5668 / +82-2-787-5666 Fax: +82-2-787-5693
Email:
Admin Correspondences Address: 14, Eunhaeng-ro, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-973, Korea
Attn: Operations Department
Tel: +82-2-787-7358 / +82 -2-787-7357 Fax: +82-2-787-5299
Email:
|
Bank name:
Address:
Swift code: CHASUS33
Beneficiary Bank:
Reference:
Account number:
|
11,693,124.80 | 12,380,000.00 |
199 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details
for payments |
FSRU Tranche
Commitment $ |
Mooring
Tranche Commitment $ |
||||
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited |
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited
Credit Correspondences
Address: 65 Chulia Street OCBC
Attn: Fu Xiaofei / Jenny Chu / Diong Chea Ming Tel: +65 67222391 / +65 65304118 / +65 65302925 Fax: +65 65366449
Email:
Admin Correspondences Address: 65 Chulia Street OCBC Centre #10-00 Singapore 049513 Attn: Evelyn Kum / Fu Xiaofei / Jenny Chu Tel: +65 65306189 / +65 67222391 / +65 65304118 Fax: +65 65366449
Email:
|
Name of Currency: USD Account Holding Bank: JP Morgan Chase Bank, NY City: New York, USA SWIFT Address: CHASUS33 Beneficiary: OCBC Singapore
Reference:
|
11,693,124.80 | 12,380,000.00 |
200 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details
for payments |
FSRU Tranche
Commitment $ |
Mooring
Tranche Commitment $ |
||||
Standard Chartered Bank |
Standard Chartered Bank Credit Correspondences Standard Chartered Bank
Address: 8 Marina Boulevard,
Attn: Ross Bennett Tel: +65 65964015 Fax: +65 66349568 Email: ross.bennett@sc.com Admin Correspondences
Address: 8 Marina Boulevard,
Attn: Ross Bennett Tel: +65 65964015 Fax: +65 66349568 Email: ross.bennett@sc.com |
Standard Chartered Bank, New York Swift: SCBLUS33 Account No.: 3582-088503-001 (CHIPS UID 057220) Account Name: Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore SWIFT Address: SWBSGSG Reference: Hoegh LNG Lampung (Attn: Ross Bennett) |
11,693,124.80 | 12,380,000.00 | ||||
TOTAL | 58,465,624.00 | 61,900,000.00 |
201 |
(ii) | K-sure Lenders |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details for
payments |
Commitment $ | |||
The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, UFJ |
Administrative / Credit Contacts
Address: MidPlaza 1 Building 1-3F JI. Jend Sudirman Kav. 10-11 Jakarta 10220 Attn: Irma Nofiana / Alvian V. Langitan / Nurhayani Purwitasari / Cecilia S. Rachmani / Devi Mariana Afandy Tel: (62-21) 3004 8265 / (62-21) 2553 8364 / (62-21) 2553 8369 / (62-21) 3004 8214 / (62-21) 3004 8241 Fax: (62-21) 573 5724 / (62-21) 570 6184
Email:
Credit Contacts
Address: 9 Raffles Place, #01-01 Republic Plaza, Singapore 048619 Attn: Lam Sze Yin / Arthur Tay Tel: +65 6231 1890 / +65 6231 1875 Fax: 6231 1873
Email:
|
USD Payment Details
Beneficiary Bank:
Swift No.: BOTKUS33 Country Payable: Indonesia Beneficiary Details: The Bank of Tokyo — Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd Jakarta Branch
Account number: USD acc.: 536 - 390317
Payment Details: Fee / Interest / Principal Payments of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung |
35,726,875.20 |
202 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details for
payments |
Commitment $ | |||
DBS Bank Ltd |
DBS Bank Credit Correspondences Address: 12 Marina Boulevard Level 45, DBS Asia Central @ Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3 Singapore 018982 Attn: Berna Okten Tel: + (65) 6878 2073 Fax: + (65) 6224 7044 Email: bernaokten@dbs.com Admin Correspondences Address: 12 Marina Boulevard Level 45, DBS Asia Central @ Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3 Singapore 018982 Attn: Tham Choi Ling / John Lim Tel: + (65) 6878 8634 / 4707 Fax: + (65) 6224 7044
Email:
|
USD Payment Details: Beneficiary Bank: The Bank of New York Mellon, New York Swift Code: IRVTUS3N Beneficiary Details: DBS Bank Ltd SWIFT address: DBSSSGSG A/C No. 8900298189 Payment Details: Fee / Interest / Principal Payments of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung |
35,726,875.20 |
203 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details for
payments |
Commitment $ | |||
Korea Development Bank |
Korea Development Bank
Credit Correspondences
Address: 14, Eunhaeng-ro, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-973, Korea
Attn: Energy & Natural Resources Team
Tel: +82-2-787-5668 / +82-2-787-5666 Fax: +82-2-787-5693
Email:
Admin Correspondences Address: 14, Eunhaeng-ro, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-973, Korea
Attn: Operations Department
Tel: +82-2-787-7358 / +82 -2-787-7357 Fax: +82-2-787-5299
Email:
|
Bank name:
Address:
Swift code: CHASUS33
Beneficiary Bank:
Reference:
Account number:
|
35,726,875.20 |
204 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details for
payments |
Commitment $ | |||
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited |
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited
Credit Correspondences
Address: 65 Chulia Street OCBC Centre #10-00 Singapore 049513 Attn: Fu Xiaofei / Jenny Chu / Diong Chea Ming Tel: +65 67222391 / +65 65304118 / +65 65302925 Fax: +65 65366449
Email:
Admin Correspondences Address: 65 Chulia Street OCBC Centre #10-00 Singapore 049513 Attn: Evelyn Kum / Fu Xiaofei / Jenny Chu Tel: +65 65306189 / +65 67222391 / +65 65304118 Fax: +65 65366449
Email:
|
Name of Currency: USD Account Holding Bank: JP Morgan Chase Bank, NY City: New York, USA SWIFT Address: CHASUS33 Beneficiary: OCBC Singapore
Reference:
|
35,726,875.20 |
205 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details for
payments |
Commitment $ | |||
Standard Chartered Bank |
Standard Chartered Bank Credit Correspondences Standard Chartered Bank
Address: 8 Marina Boulevard,
Attn: Ross Bennett Tel: +65 65964015 Fax: +65 66349568 Email: ross.bennett@sc.com Admin Correspondences
Address: 8 Marina Boulevard,
Attn: Ross Bennett Tel: +65 65964015 Fax: +65 66349568 Email: ross.bennett@sc.com |
Standard Chartered Bank, New York Swift: SCBLUS33 Account No.: 3582-088503-001 (CHIPS UID 057220) Account Name: Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore SWIFT Address: SWBSGSG Reference: Hoegh LNG Lampung (Attn: Ross Bennett) |
35,726,875.20 | |||
TOTAL | 178,634,376.00 |
206 |
(iii) | L/C Lenders |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details for
payments |
Commitment $ | |||
The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, UFJ |
Administrative / Credit Contacts The Bank Of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. Jakarta Branch Address: MidPlaza 1 Building 1-3F JI. Jend Sudirman Kav. 10-11 Jakarta 10220 Attn: Irma Nofiana / Alvian V. Langitan / Nurhayani Purwitasari / Cecilia S. Rachmani / Devi Mariana Afandy Tel: (62-21) 3004 8265 / (62-21) 2553 8364 / (62-21) 2553 8369 / (62-21) 3004 8214 / (62-21) 3004 8241 Fax: (62-21) 573 5724 / (62-21) 570 6184
Email:
Credit Contacts The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, UFJ, Ltd. Singapore Branch Address: 9 Raffles Place, #01-01 Republic Plaza, Singapore 048619 Attn: Lam Sze Yin / Arthur Tay Tel: +65 6231 1890 / +65 6231 1875 Fax: 6231 1873
Email:
|
USD Payment Details
Beneficiary Bank:
Swift No.: BOTKUS33 Country Payable: Indonesia Beneficiary Details: The Bank of Tokyo — Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd Jakarta Branch
Account number:
Payment Details: Fee / Interest / Principal Payments of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung |
2,140,000.00 |
207 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details for
payments |
Commitment $ | |||
DBS Bank Ltd |
DBS Bank Credit Correspondences Address: 12 Marina Boulevard Level 45, DBS Asia Central @ Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3 Singapore 018982 Attn: Berna Okten Tel: + (65) 6878 2073 Fax: + (65) 6224 7044 Email: bernaokten@dbs.com Admin Correspondences Address: 12 Marina Boulevard Level 45, DBS Asia Central @ Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3 Singapore 018982 Attn: Tham Choi Ling / John Lim Tel: + (65) 6878 8634 / 4707 Fax: + (65) 6224 7044
Email:
|
USD Payment Details: Beneficiary Bank: The Bank of New York Mellon, New York Swift Code: IRVTUS3N Beneficiary Details: DBS Bank Ltd SWIFT address: DBSSSGSG A/C No. 8900298189 Payment Details: Fee / Interest / Principal Payments of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung |
2,140,000.00 |
208 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details for
payments |
Commitment $ | |||
Korea Development Bank |
Korea Development Bank
Credit Correspondences
Address: 14, Eunhaeng-ro, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-973, Korea
Attn: Energy & Natural Resources Team
Tel: +82-2-787-5668 / +82-2-787-5666 Fax: +82-2-787-5693
Email:
Admin Correspondences Address: 14, Eunhaeng-ro, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-973, Korea
Attn: Operations Department
Tel: +82-2-787-7358 / +82 -2-787-7357 Fax: +82-2-787-5299
Email:
|
Bank name:
Address:
Swift code: CHASUS33
Beneficiary Bank:
Reference:
Account number:
|
2,140,000.00 |
209 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details for
payments |
Commitment $ | |||
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited |
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited
Credit Correspondences
Address: 65 Chulia Street OCBC Centre #10-00 Singapore 049513 Attn: Fu Xiaofei / Jenny Chu / Diong Chea Ming Tel: +65 67222391 / +65 65304118 / +65 65302925 Fax: +65 65366449
Email:
Admin Correspondences Address: 65 Chulia Street OCBC Centre #10-00 Singapore 049513 Attn: Evelyn Kum / Fu Xiaofei / Jenny Chu Tel: +65 65306189 / +65 67222391 / +65 65304118 Fax: +65 65366449
Email:
|
Name of Currency: USD Account Holding Bank: JP Morgan Chase Bank, NY City: New York, USA SWIFT Address: CHASUS33 Beneficiary: OCBC Singapore
Reference:
|
2,140,000.00 |
210 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and
attention details for notices and account details for payments |
Account details for
payments |
Commitment $ | |||
Standard Chartered Bank |
Standard Chartered Bank Credit Correspondences Standard Chartered Bank
Address: 8 Marina Boulevard,
Attn: Ross Bennett Tel: +65 65964015 Fax: +65 66349568 Email: ross.bennett@sc.com Admin Correspondences
Address: 8 Marina Boulevard,
Attn: Ross Bennett Tel: +65 65964015 Fax: +65 66349568 Email: ross.bennett@sc.com |
Standard Chartered Bank, New York Swift: SCBLUS33 Account No.: 3582-088503-001 (CHIPS UID 057220) Account Name: Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore SWIFT Address: SWBSGSG Reference: Hoegh LNG Lampung (Attn: Ross Bennett) |
2,140,000.00 | |||
TOTAL | 178,634,376.00 |
211 |
The Hedging Banks
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and attention details for notices and
account details for payments |
|
The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, UFJ |
Administrative / Credit Contacts
Address: MidPlaza 1 Building 1-3F JI. Jend Sudirman Kav. 10-11 Jakarta 10220 Attn: Irma Nofiana / Alvian V. Langitan / Nurhayani Purwitasari / Cecilia S. Rachmani / Devi Mariana Afandy Tel: (62-21) 3004 8265 / (62-21) 2553 8364 / (62-21) 2553 8369 / (62-21) 3004 8214 / (62-21) 3004 8241 Fax: (62-21) 573 5724 / (62-21) 570 6184
Email:
Credit Contacts The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, UFJ, Ltd. Singapore Branch
Address: 9 Raffles Place, #01-01 Republic
Plaza, Singapore 048619
Email:
Tel: +65 6231 1890 / +65 6231 1875 Fax: 6231 1873 Account Payment Details Beneficiary Bank: The Bank of Tokyo — Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd New York Branch Swift No.: BOTKUS33 Country Payable: Indonesia Beneficiary Details: The Bank of Tokyo — Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd Jakarta Branch
Account number:
Payment Details: Fee / Interest / Principal Payments of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung |
212 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and attention details for notices and
account details for payments |
|
Korea Development Bank |
Korea Development Bank Trading Center Address: 14, Eunhaeng-ro, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-973, Korea Attn: Han-June JO / KI-Hoon KIM Tel: +82-2-787-6983 / +82-2-787-7302 Fax: +82-2-787-7397
Email:
|
|
Standard Chartered Bank |
Standard Chartered Bank
Address: 8 Marina Boulevard,
Attn: Alok Raturi Tel: +65 65578162 Fax: +65 66349531 Email: Alok.Raturi@sc.com |
|
DBS Bank Ltd |
DBS Bank Credit Correspondences
Address: 12 Marina Boulevard Level 45
Attn: Berna Okten Tel: + (65) 6878 2073 Fax: + (65) 6224 7044 Email: bernaokten@dbs.com Admin Correspondences
Address: 12 Marina Boulevard Level 45
Attn: Tham Choi Ling / John Lim Tel: + (65) 6878 8634 / 4707 Fax: + (65) 6224 7044
Email:
|
213 |
Name |
Facility Office, address, fax number and attention details for notices and
account details for payments |
|
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited |
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited
Credit Correspondences
Address: 65 Chulia Street OCBC Centre #10-00 Singapore 049513 Attn: Fu Xiaofei / Jenny Chu / Diong Chea Ming Tel: +65 67222391 / +65 65304118 / +65 65302925 Fax: +65 65366449
Email:
Admin Correspondences Address: 65 Chulia Street OCBC Centre #10-00 Singapore 049513 Attn: Evelyn Kum / Fu Xiaofei / Jenny Chu Tel: +65 65306189 / +65 67222391 / +65 65304118 Fax: +65 65366449
Email:
|
214 |
The Facility Agent
Name | Standard Chartered Bank | |
Address | 5th Floor, 1 Basinghall Avenue, London. EC2V 5DD | |
Fax Number | +44 2078 853 632 | |
Attention | Matthew Breadon | |
Telephone number | +44 2078 858 632 | |
Email address | loansagencyuk@sc.com | |
Account Details (USD) |
A/C with Bank: Standard Chartered Bank, New York (SCBLUS33)
Beneficiary: Standard Chartered Bank, London (SCBLGB2L)
Account No: 3582-088442-001
Ref: Loans Agency / PT Hoegh / [Payment Reference] |
The Security Agent
Name | Standard Chartered Bank | |
Address | 5th Floor, 1 Basinghall Avenue, London. EC2V 5DD | |
Fax Number | +44 2078 853 632 | |
Attention | Matthew Breadon | |
Telephone number | +44 2078 858 632 | |
Email address | loansagencyuk@sc.com | |
Account Details (USD) |
A/C with Bank: Standard Chartered Bank, New York (SCBLUS33)
Beneficiary: Standard Chartered Bank, London (SCBLGB2L)
Account No: 3582-088442-001
Ref: Loans Agency / PT Hoegh / [Payment Reference] |
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The K-Sure Agent
Name | Standard Chartered Bank | |
Address | 5th Floor, 1 Basinghall Avenue, London. EC2V 5DD | |
Fax Number | +44 2078 853 632 | |
Attention | Matthew Breadon | |
Telephone number | +44 2078 858 632 | |
Email address | loansagencyuk@sc.com | |
Account Details (USD) |
A/C with Bank: Standard Chartered Bank, New York (SCBLUS33)
Beneficiary: Standard Chartered Bank, London (SCBLGB2L)
Account No: 3582-088442-001
Ref: Loans Agency / PT Hoegh / [Payment Reference] |
The Issuing Bank
Name |
Standard Chartered Bank | |
Address | 7 Changi Business Park Crescent, Level 1, Trade Services Centre, Singapore 486028 | |
Fax Number | +65 64467823 | |
Attention |
Banker's Guarantee Department Quoting Ref : PT Hoegh LNG Lampung, SBLC Issuance |
|
Email address | Niluka.Ratnavake@sc.com / Jai.Gurtoo@sc.com / Adeel-Mahdi.Rizvi@sc.com / Straight2bank.SG@sc.com / Premier.sg@sc.com | |
Account Details (USD) | FED WIRE/CHIPS/SWIFT TO STANDARD CHARTERED BANK NEW YORK ABA NO. 0260-0256-1, (CHIPS ABA 256) FOR A/C STANDARD CHARTERED BANK SINGAPORE A/C NO. 3582-088511 |
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The Offshore Account Bank
Name | Standard Chartered Bank | |
Address |
Addressed to: Securities Services Manager 7 Changi Business Crecent, Level 3, Singapore 486028 |
|
Fax Number | +65 63051760 | |
Attention | Steven Truong / Murad Abdul | |
Telephone number | +65 65962549, +65 65961164 | |
Email address | - | |
Account Details (USD) |
Pay to: Standard Chartered Bank
Account Number: 3582-088503-001
Account Bank / Account name: Standard Chartered Bank, New York (SWIFT Code: SCBLUS33)
Favouring: Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore (SWIFT Code: SCBLSGSG)
Quoting Ref: (in respect of the Offshore Account Bank Fee PT Hoegh LNG Lampung)
Attn: SEC SVS — Steven Truong/Murad Abdul |
The Onshore Account Bank
Name | Standard Chartered Bank, Jakarta Branch | |
Address |
Securities Services, Menara Standard Chartered Bank, JI. Prof. DR. Satrio, No. 164 Jakarta 12930 |
|
Fax Number | +62 21 571 9671 | |
Attention | Muhammad Rizki Samhudi — Head of Corporate Action Securities Services Operation | |
Telephone number | +62 21 255 50205 | |
Email address | M.Rizki.Sarnhudisc.com | |
Account Details (USD) |
Pay to: Standard Chartered Bank
Account Number: 3582-088517-001
Account Bank / Account name: Standard Chartered Bank, New York (SWIFT Code: SCBLUS33)
Favouring: Standard Chartered Bank, Jakarta (Securities Services)
Quoting Ref: (in respect of the Onshore Account Bank Fee PT Hoegh LNG Lampung)
Attn: SEC SVS — Reni Astuti |
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Schedule 2
Vessel information
Part 1
Description of the Vessel
Name |
Hull No. 2548 (to be named "PGN FSRU Lampung") | |
Gross Tons | 110,300 (Preliminary) | |
Net Tons | 81,500 (Preliminary) | |
Type | Ship Type 2G (-163oC, 500kg/rni, 70kPa) | |
Length overall | 294 M | |
Breadth moulded | 46 M | |
Depth moulded | 26 M | |
Storage capacity | 170,000 CBM |
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Part 2
Information
Vessel
Builder: | Hyundai Heavy Industries Co, Ltd | |
Builder's registered office: | 1. Jeonha-Dong, Gong-Gu, Ulsan, Korea | |
Date and description of Building Contract: | Building contract dated 10 June 2011 between the Builder and the Sponsor as novated to the Borrower pursuant to a novation agreement dated 22 July 2013 | |
Flag State | Indonesia | |
Charter description: | Charter contract dated 25 January 2012 between the Charterer and the Sponsor as amended and restated by an amendment and restatement agreement dated 17 October 2012, to be novated to the Borrower | |
Charterer: | PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk | |
Classification: | +1A1, Tanker for Liquefied Gas, Ship type 2G (-163oC, 500kg/m 3 ,70kPa, NAUTICUS (Newbuilding), REGAS-2, E0, NAUT-OC, CLEAN, BIS, CSA-FLS2, PLUS, COAT-PSPC (B), Recyclable, GAS FUELLED, TMON | |
Classification Society: | Det Norske Veritas | |
Refund Guarantor |
Kookmin Bank Republic of Korea |
|
Refund Guarantor's registered office | 9-1 2-Ga, Namdaemun-Ro, Jung-Gu Seoul, 100-703, Korea | |
Refund Guarantee | Refund guarantee dated 26 July 2013 with number M07601307XD00071 issued by the Refund Guarantor in favour of the Borrower in respect of the Builder's obligations under the Building Contract |
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Part 3
Information
Mooring
Mooring EPC Contractor: | SOFEC, Inc. | |
Mooring EPC Contractor's registered office: | 14741 Yorktown Plaza Drive, Houston, Texas, 77040 | |
Date and description of Mooring EPC Contract: | Contract dated 16 November 2012 made between the Mooring EPC Contractor and the Sponsor to establish the minimum technical requirements to be met during the operation, as well as to supply data for the contractual requirements towards design, purchasing of equipment, construction/fabrication and installation of the tower yoke mooring system for the safe mooring and operation of FSRU and feeder vessel LNGC, to be installed offshore Labuhan Maringgai, Indonesia for the full Design Service Life of 20 years, to be novated to the Borrower |
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Schedule 3
Conditions precedent
Part 1
Initial Conditions Precedent
1. | Constitutional Documents and corporate authorities |
In respect of each Obligor and the Sponsor which is, or is to be by the date of the first Utilisation, a party to a Finance Document and each Indonesian Shareholder (each a Relevant Party):
(a) | a copy certified by (i) a duly authorised officer and/or the company secretary of the relevant person or (ii) in the case of the Borrower and each Indonesian Shareholder, an authorised director of the Borrower and the relevant Indonesian Shareholder in accordance with its articles of association respectively to be a true, complete and up-to-date copy, of the Constitutional Documents of that person or equivalent documents in respect of that person; |
(b) | a copy, certified by (i) a duly authorised officer and/or the company secretary of the relevant person or (ii) in the case of the Borrower and each Indonesian Shareholder, an authorised director of the Borrower and the relevant Indonesian Shareholder in accordance with its articles of association respectively to be a true copy, and as being in full force and effect and not amended or rescinded, of resolutions of the board of directors or governors (or of a committee of the board of directors or governors or an analogous management body) of that person: |
(i) | approving the entering into by the Relevant Party of the Transaction Documents to which that person is (or is to be by the date of the first Utilisation) party (the " Relevant Transaction Documents "); |
(ii) | authorising the execution by that Relevant Party of such of the Relevant Transaction Documents; and |
(iii) | authorising an individual or individuals to sign and deliver on behalf of that person such of the Relevant Transaction Documents; |
(c) | if required by that Relevant Party's Constitutional Documents or applicable law, a copy of a resolution signed by all (or requisite number of) the holders of the issued shares in that Relevant Party, approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Relevant Transaction Documents; |
(d) | a copy certified by (i) a duly authorised officer and/or the company secretary of that person or (ii) in the case of the Borrower and each Indonesian Shareholder, an authorised director of the Borrower and each Indonesian Shareholder in accordance with its articles of association respectively to be a true copy, and as being in full force and effect and not revoked or withdrawn, of any power of attorney issued by that person pursuant to the said resolutions; |
(e) | a certificate of incumbency with a list of those signatories of the applicable party that have executed or will execute (and who are authorised) the Relevant Transaction Documents together with specimen signatures or attaching copies of documents with specimen signatures; and |
2. | Consents |
A certificate from the Borrower listing all material Consents necessary for ownership and operation of the FSRU in Indonesia in accordance with the Charter and, in relation to each such Consent, specifying whether that Consent is required to be in place by Delivery or by Final Acceptance.
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3. | Finance Documents |
(a) | An original counterpart of this Agreement and each Fee Letter duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. |
(b) | Each Subordination Deed required under this Agreement to have been entered into by the date of the first Utilisation and all documents required to be delivered pursuant thereto duly executed by the Obligors who are party thereto. |
(c) | An original of the following Original Security Documents: |
(i) | the Guarantees; |
(ii) | the Guarantor's Letter of Undertaking; |
(iii) | the Security Assignment; |
(iv) | the Project Agreements Assignment; |
(v) | the Account Security; |
(vi) | the Sponsor's Assignment |
(vii) | the Supervisor Undertaking; |
(viii) | the Shares Security; |
(ix) | the Letter of Quiet Enjoyment; |
(x) | the Hedging Security; |
(xi) | the Fiduciary Assignment of Tangible Assets; and |
(xii) | the Fiduciary Assignment of Receivables, and an original of each notice of assignment and acknowledgement required thereunder each duly executed by each of the relevant parties thereto. |
(d) | Agreed forms of each of the other Finance Documents, executed copies of which are to be provided under Parts 2 and 3 of this Schedule 3. |
(e) | Documentary evidence that the Shares Security in respect of each Indonesian Shareholder, the Fiduciary Assignment of Tangible Assets and the Fiduciary Assignment of Receivables has been duly registered with the Fiduciary Registration Registry (as evidenced by the receipt from the Fiduciary Registration Office accepting the registration thereof). |
(f) | Documentary evidence that the acknowledgments required under the Fiduciary Assignment of Receivables have been obtained from relevant counterparties. |
(g) | Documentary evidence that all filings and registrations in relation to the Finance Documents that have been entered into the date of the first Utilisation and that are required and capable to be made under applicable laws by the Obligors to have been made by the date of the first Utilisation, including the reports of: (i) the Borrower's offshore loan plan that covers the offshore loan Facilities under this Agreement; and (ii) the execution of this Agreement to Bank Indonesia as required under Bank Indonesia Regulation No. 14/21 /PBI/2012 have been made. |
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(h) | Documentary evidence that the report of the Borrower's offshore loan under this Agreement at the latest on the 10th day following the date of the execution of this Agreement to the Team for Coordination of Management of Offshore Commercial Loans (Tim Koordinasi Pengelolaan Pinjaman Komersial Luar Negeri) and the Ministry of Finance has been made. |
(i) | The original shares certificate(s) evidencing each Shareholder's percentage share ownership in the Borrower. |
(j) | The certified true copy of the share register of the Borrower that provides the registration of the Shareholders' share ownership in the Borrower and the Shares Security in respect of the Singapore Shareholder. |
4. | Project Agreements |
(a) | A copy, certified as a true copy by a duly authorised signatory of the Borrower, of: |
(i) | the Charter (including the Charter Novation Agreement); |
(ii) | the Umbrella Agreement; |
(iii) | the Consortium Agreement; |
(iv) | any Charter Guarantee; |
(v) | the Building Contract (including the Building Contract Novation Agreement); |
(vi) | Refund Guarantee; |
(vii) | the Mooring EPC Contract (including the Mooring EPC Contract Novation Agreement); |
(viii) | the Modec Guarantee; |
(ix) | the EPCIC Agreement; |
(x) | the Shareholders Agreement; |
(xi) | the Equity Loan Agreements; |
(xii) | any Subordinated Loan Agreements; |
(xiii) | the Promissory Notes, |
in each case duly executed by the parties thereto and, if copies have not been, or if not substantially in the form of a draft, delivered to the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;
(b) | A certificate from the Borrower confirming that each of the Project Agreements delivered to the Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) above are true, complete and accurate copies of such documents and all amendments and supplements to them as at the date of the relevant Utilisation Request have been delivered to the Facility Agent and all such documents remain in full force and effect on such date. |
(c) | Evidence as to the due incorporation of each of the Obligors to the Material Project Agreements delivered pursuant to paragraph (a) above, its power and authority to enter into and perform the Material Project Agreement to which it is a party and all other documents and instruments to give effect to the same, and evidence of the authority of the signatories of the other parties to such Material Project Agreements. |
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(d) | A legal due diligence report of the applicable Material Project Agreements in the form provided to the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement. |
5. | Legal opinions |
Legal opinions from:
(a) | Susandarini & Partners, Indonesian counsel to the Lenders in respect of the Borrower and each Indonesian Shareholder, the execution of the Finance Documents to which that person is a party and the validity and enforceability of such Finance Documents as a matter of Indonesian law; |
(b) | Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP, English counsel to the Lenders in respect of the validity and enforceability of the Finance Documents as a matter of English law; |
(c) | Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP, Singapore counsel to the Lenders in respect of the Singapore Shareholder, the execution of the Finance Documents to which that person is a party and the validity and enforceability of the Finance Documents as a matter of Singapore law; |
(d) | Lee & Ko, Korean counsel to the Lenders in respect of the validity and enforceability of the K-sure Policy and the Refund Guarantee as a matter of Korean law; and |
(e) | Conyers Dill & Pearman, Bermuda counsel to the Lenders in respect of the Guarantor and the Sponsor and the execution of the Finance Documents to which that person is a party and the validity and enforceability of such Finance Documents as a matter of Bermuda law; |
in each case addressed to the Security Agent and the Facility Agent and substantially in the form provided to the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement).
6. | Accounts and financial information |
(a) | The Original Financial Statements. |
(b) | Evidence that each of the Project Accounts have been opened and that all necessary bank mandates and signature forms have been delivered to the relevant Account Bank. |
(c) | A certificate from a duly authorised signatory of the Borrower confirming details of the total Project Costs incurred. |
(a) An updated copy of the Financial Model, confirming, inter alia:
(i) the Project Cost incurred and forecast to be incurred to achieve Final Acceptance; and
(ii) | that there is no forecast Cost Overrun or shortfall in funding to achieve Final Acceptance by the earlier of (i) the Cancellation Date and (ii) 18 March 2015. |
7. | Technical Adviser |
Receipt by the Facility Agent of the Due Diligence Report and the Gap Analysis Report in the form approved by the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement.
8. | "Know Your Customer Requirements" |
Documentation and/or evidence satisfying the Lenders ‘know your customers' requirements which have been notified to the Borrower.
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9. | K-sure Policy |
(a) | Evidence acceptable to the Agents that the K-sure Policy: |
(iii) | has been issued; |
(iv) | is in full force and effect; and |
(v) | that the K-sure Premium has been or will, on the first Utilisation Date, be paid in full either by way of Sponsor Funding or from the proceeds of the first FSRU Tranche Loan to be advanced to the Borrower and the K-sure Agent has not received notice or, following request, any confirmation from K-sure that the K-sure Policy: |
(A) | has been terminated; |
(B) | has been breached; or |
(C) | is the subject of any arbitration or legal proceedings. |
10. | Fees |
Evidence acceptable to the Facility Agent that all fees and expenses due to the Finance Parties from the Borrower (including the fees of the Insurance Advisor and the Facility Agent's legal counsel) and any applicable commitment commission payable on the first Utilisation Date have been, or will, on the first Utilisation Date, be paid in full.
11. | Project Information |
(a) | A copy of all invoices received by the Borrower or the Sponsor from the Builder under the Building Contract and evidence that such invoices have been fully paid to the Builder pursuant to the terms of the Building Contract; |
(b) | Where applicable, a copy of the certificates from the relevant classification society confirming the facts set out in the Builder's invoices referred to in paragraph (a) above; and |
(c) | if the Facility Agent so requires, in respect of any of the documents referred to above in this paragraph 12 that are not in English, a certified English translation prepared by a translator approved by the Facility Agent. |
12. | Insurance/Reinsurance |
A final opinion in form and content satisfactory to the Lenders from the Insurance Advisor, as to the adequacy of the Builder's Risk Insurances and the planned Insurances and Reinsurances in respect of the Vessel.
13. | Environment and social |
A copy of the "Environmental Impact Assessment" prepared by the Charterer in the form provided to the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement.
14. | Further conditions |
Such further opinions or evidence as may be reasonably required by the Facility Agent 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 and notified in writing to the Borrower in advance of being required.
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Part 2A
Conditions Precedent to the Utilisation on Delivery
1. | Constitutional Documents and corporate authorities |
Confirmation from a duly authorised officer and/or the company secretary of each Obligor that there has been no change in the Constitutional Documents of the relevant person since the date on which a certified copy thereof was provided to the Facility Agent or, as the case may be, a copy certified by (i) a duly authorised officer and/or the company secretary of the relevant person or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, an authorized director of the Borrower in accordance with its articles of association of any amendments thereto and in respect of the Finance Documents to be entered into by that Obligor which are specified in Parts 2 and 3 of this Schedule either a confirmation that the board resolutions, powers of attorney and other corporate authorisations referred to in paragraph 1 part 1 of this Schedule 3 remain unchanged and in full force and effect in relation to those Finance Documents or to the extent applicable new board resolutions, powers of attorney and other corporate authorisations in relation to Finance Documents equivalent to those required to be provided pursuant to paragraph 1 part 1 of this Schedule 3 or required for issuance of any legal opinion referred to in this Part 2.
2. | Finance Documents |
(a) | An original of: |
(i) | the Fiduciary Assignment of Insurances; |
(ii) | the insurance Assignment; |
(iii) | the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment; |
(iv) | the O&M Contractor Undertakings; |
(v) | the Powers of Attorney (attested, notarised, legalised and delivered to the Lenders' Indonesian legal counsel for the purpose of registration, as necessary) duly executed by the Borrower in favour of the Security Agent. |
(vi) | to the extent required 22.14 ( Subordinated Loans ) and not already entered into, a Subordination Deed in respect of any Indebtedness owed by the Borrower under any Subordinated Loan or Promissory Note. |
(b) | Documentary evidence that the Fiduciary Assignment of Insurances and the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment have been duly registered with the Fiduciary Registration Office (as evidenced by the receipt from the Fiduciary Registration Office accepting the registration thereof). |
3. | Project Agreements |
(a) | A copy, certified as a true copy by a duly authorised signatory of the Borrower, of: |
(i) | any Builder's Performance L/C issued to the Borrower; |
(ii) | the O&M Contracts; |
(iii) | the Consortium Agreement Novation Agreement; and |
(iv) | the Umbrella Novation Agreement. |
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(b) | A certificate from the Borrower confirming that each of the Material Project Agreements delivered to the Facility Agent pursuant to Part 1 of this Schedule and paragraph (a) above are true, complete and accurate copies of such documents and all amendments and supplements to them as at the date of the relevant Utilisation Request have been delivered to the Facility Agent and all such documents remain in full force and effect on such date. |
(c) | Evidence as to the due incorporation of each of the Obligors to the Material Project Agreements delivered pursuant to paragraph (a) above, its power and authority to enter into and perform the Material Project Agreement to which it is a party and all other documents and instruments to give effect to the same, and evidence of the authority of the signatories of the other parties to such Material Project Agreements. |
(d) | To the extent not already provided to the Facility Agent, a certified copy of any Sponsor Loan Agreement and/or any Promissory Note which will be in existence on the Utilisation Date. |
4. | Legal Opinions |
(a) | Legal opinions from: |
(i) | Susandarini & Partners, Indonesian counsel to the Lenders in respect of the Borrower and any Insurer, the execution of the Finance Documents specified in Part 2 of this Schedule to which that person is a party and the validity and enforceability of such Finance Documents as a matter of Indonesian law; and |
(ii) | Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP, English counsel to the Lenders in respect of the validity and enforceability of the Finance Documents specified in Part 2 of this Schedule as a matter of English law; and |
(iii) | any other legal advisers to the Lenders in any applicable jurisdiction in respect of each Obligor which is or will be a party to a Finance Document on the relevant Utilisation Date, |
and in each case addressed to the Security Agent and the Facility Agent and substantially in the form provided to the Mandated Lead Arrangers prior to the date of the Utilisation Request.
(b) | Evidence satisfactory to the Lenders that the terms and conditions of the legal opinions received under paragraph 5 of part 'I of Schedule 3 need not be altered or modified in any way which is material in the opinion of the Facility Agent or, to the extent they do and the Facility Agent so requires, have been modified and updated as the case may be. |
5. | Construction Matters |
A certificate from the Borrower confirming that:
(a) | neither the Sponsor nor the Builder have, nor will have from the relevant Utilisation Date following payment of the Delivery Instalment to the Builder, any lien or other right to detain and/or possess the Vessel; and |
(b) | all costs, fees and expenses payable by the Borrower in connection with the Building Contract Documents have been paid in full or will be paid in full on the relevant Utilisation Date on terms acceptable to the Lenders (and that there are no monies outstanding in respect of the Building Contract Documents). |
6. | Insurances/Reinsurances |
(a) | Evidence that the insurance and reinsurance obligations of the Obligors under the Finance Documents and under the Charter have been complied with and that the Vessel will be on the Delivery Date insured in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents and the Charter. |
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(b) | Receipt by the Facility Agent of, in respect of the Vessel, letters of undertaking from the insurers/reinsurers and the mutual association or club with which the protection and liability insurances are placed in respect of the Vessel or evidence satisfactory to the Facility Agent that these documents will be provided promptly after the Delivery Date upon the insurers receiving the relevant notices. |
(c) | Receipt by the Facility Agent of certified true copies of the insurance and reinsurance policies in respect of the insurance and reinsurance cover for the Vessel required to be in place under this Agreement on Delivery and list of insurers and reinsurers of the Vessel under such policies. |
(d) | Evidence that all premia and calls in respect of Insurances and Reinsurances in respect of the Vessel required to be in place under this Agreement on Delivery which have fallen due have been paid or will be paid on the Delivery Date. |
(e) | Evidence that the insurers of the Hull and Machinery and marine risks in respect of the Vessel under the relevant policy(s) referred to above have agreed that they have no right of subrogation against the Charterer. |
(f) | Evidence that all fees and expenses required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to clause 27.5 ( Mortgagee's insurance ) has been paid in full. |
(g) | A report from the Insurance Consultant, as to the compliance of the Insurances and Reinsurances in respect of the Vessel and the Mooring with the requirements under this Agreement and the Charter. |
(h) | Such evidence as the Facility Agent may reasonably require as to the due incorporation of the Insurer, its power and authority to enter into and perform the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment and the authorisation of its entry into the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment. |
7. | Technical Adviser |
A report in form and content satisfactory to the Lenders from the Technical Adviser, as to the adequacy of construction of the Vessel in accordance with the Agreed Scope of Work.
8. | Vessel conditions and construction matters |
(a) | Vessel conditions |
(i) | A copy of the Environmental Management Plan. |
(ii) | Evidence that the Vessel is classed with the relevant Classification free of all overdue conditions of the relevant Classification Society which have not expired (in the form of a copy of the provisional Classification Certificate for the Vessel issued by the Classification Society upon (or just prior to) Delivery). |
(b) | In respect of the Vessel, copies of (if so requested by the Facility Agent) any certificates issued under the ISM Code and the ISPS Code required to be observed by the Vessel. |
9. | Fees and expenses |
Evidence that all fees and expenses due to the Finance Parties (including the fees of the Insurance Consultant and the Facility Agent's legal advisers) and any applicable commitment commission payable on the Utilisation Date for Delivery have been paid in full or will be paid on the Utilisation Date for Delivery.
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10. | K-sure Policy |
(a) | Evidence acceptable to the Agents that the K-sure Policy: |
(i) | has been issued; |
(ii) | is in full force and effect; and |
(iii) | that the K-sure Premium has been or will, on the first Utilisation Date, be paid in full either by way of Sponsor Funding or from the proceeds of the first FSRU Tranche Loan to be advanced to the Borrower and the K-sure Agent has not received notice or, following request, any confirmation from K-sure that the K-sure Policy: |
(A) | has been terminated; |
(B) | has been breached; or |
(C) | is the subject of any arbitration or legal proceedings. |
11. | Further conditions |
Such further opinions or evidence as may be reasonably required by the Facility Agent in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document referred to in Part 2 of this Schedule or for the validity and enforceability of any such Finance Document and notified in writing to the Borrower in advance of being required.
Part 2B
Conditions Precedent to Release of Delivery Instalment
1. | Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance |
A certified copy of the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance of the Vessel (as defined in the Building Contract) signed by the Builder and the Borrower.
2. | Project Information |
A certificate from the Borrower confirming that:
(a) | all material Consents required to be obtained by Delivery (as referred to in the list provided to the Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph 2 of Part 1 of this Schedule has been given, issued, made or acquired and remain in full force and effect or, as the case may be, that such Consents obtained prior to the Utilisation Date on Delivery are unamended and remain in full force and effect; and |
(b) | the Charterer has not exercised the Charterer's Purchase Option. |
3. | Fees and expenses |
Evidence that all fees and expenses due to the Finance Parties (including the fees of the Insurance Consultant and the Facility Agent's legal advisers) and any applicable commitment commission payable on the Delivery Date have been paid in full.
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Part 3
Conditions subsequent
1. | Registration of the Vessel and Mortgage |
(a) | An original of the Grosse Akte Pendaftaran Kapal to be provided no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Delivery Date. |
(b) | No later than one (1) Business Days after the later of (1) the Delivery Date and (ii) the date of issuance of the Grosse Akte Pendaftaran Kapal evidence that the Borrower has submitted an application for registration of the Mortgage with the officials of the Directorate General of Sea Communication of the Department of Communication of the Republic of Indonesia. |
(c) | No later than five (5) Business Days after the later of (i) the Delivery Date and (ii) the date of issuance of the Grosse Akte Pendaftaran Kapal evidence that the Mortgage has been executed in the presence of officials of the Directorate General of Sea Communication of the Department of Communication of the Republic of Indonesia and submitted for registration against the Vessel as a first priority Indonesian ship mortgage. |
(d) | An original of the Gross Akta Hipotek to be provided no later than thirty (30) days after the date of execution of the Mortgage evidencing that the Mortgage has been duly registered against the Vessel as a valid first priority Indonesian ship mortgage with the Directorate General of Sea Communication of the Department of Communication of the Republic of Indonesia in accordance with the laws of Indonesia as evidenced by the issuance of Gross Akta Hipotek Pertama. |
(e) | Documentary evidence to be provided no later than the earlier of (i) twenty (20) Business Days after the later of (A) the Delivery Date and (B) the date of issuance of the Grosse Akte Pendaftaran Kapal and (ii) the issuance of Notice of Readiness (as defined in the Charter) that the Borrower possesses a SIUPAL or other relevant license required under Indonesian laws/regulations for the purpose of owning the Vessel. |
(f) | No later than five (5) Business Days after the Delivery Date an original of the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance of the Vessel (as defined in the Building Contract) signed by the Builder and the Borrower. |
2. | Project Agreements |
(a) | No later than 31 December 2013, a copy, certified as a true copy by a duly authorised signatory of the Borrower, of the Mooring Installation Contract. |
(b) | Promptly upon receipt by the Borrower and no later than seven Business Days after Final Acceptance, a copy, certified as a true copy by a duly authorised signatory of the Borrower, of the PGN L/C |
(c) | Evidence as to the due incorporation of each of the Obligors to the Material Project Agreements delivered pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, its power and authority to enter into and perform the Material Project Agreement to which it is a party and all other documents and instruments to give effect to the same, and evidence of the authority of the signatories of the other parties to such Material Project Agreements. |
3. | Fiduciary Assignments |
No later than twenty (20) days after the Delivery Date:
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(a) | The original certificates of each of the Insurance Fiduciary Assignment, the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment of Tangible Assets and the Fiduciary Assignment of Receivables, duly issued by the Fiduciary Registration Office; |
(b) | the notices required under the Insurance Fiduciary Assignment and the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment have been sent to relevant counterparties; and |
(c) | any acknowledgments required under the Insurance Fiduciary Assignment and the Reinsurance Fiduciary Assignment have been obtained from relevant counterparties. |
(d) | The certified true copy of the share register of the Borrower that provides the registration of the Shareholders' share ownership in the Borrower and the Shares Security in respect of each Indonesian Shareholder |
4. | Sponsor |
No later than three (3) Business Days following the first Utilisation, a certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the Sponsor and the Borrower that the Sponsor has no liabilities whatsoever outstanding from the Borrower in respect of any Promissory Note or evidence that the Sponsor has entered into or acceded to a Subordination Deed.
5. | Classification |
No later than the Final Acceptance Date, the form of a copy of the Classification Certificate for the Vessel evidencing that the Vessel is classed with the relevant Classification Society free of all overdue conditions of the relevant Classification Society which have not expired.
6. | Execution of Bahasa versions |
The documents referred to in clause 22.10 (Translations) by the date referred to such clause.
7. | Hedging |
No later than three (3) months after the date of this Agreement, a copy of the duly executed Hedging Master Agreements required to have been entered into by such date in accordance with clause 30.1(a).
231 |
Schedule 4
Utilisation Requests
Part 1
Utilisation Request for a Loan
From: | PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG |
To: | [ l ] |
Dated: | [ l ] 2013 |
Dear Sirs
$299,000,000 Term Loan Facility and $10,700,000 Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement dated [•] 2013 (the "Agreement")
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a 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 utilise the [Commercial] [K-Sure] Facility on the following terms: |
Facility: | [Commercial] [K-Sure] | |
[Tranche: | [FSRU] [Mooring] Tranche] | |
Proposed Utilisation Date: | [ l ] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) | |
Loan amount: | $[ l ] |
3. | We confirm that: |
(a) | each condition specified in clause 4.5 ( Further conditions precedent ) is satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request and hereby make the certification referred to therein. |
(b) | at the date of this Utilisation Request and following the proposed Utilisation the ratio of the aggregate Loans outstanding as at the Utilisation Date to Sponsor Funding does not exceed 75:25. |
(c) | there is no forecast shortfall in funding in excess of $5,000,000 to achieve Delivery by the Last Availability Date and Final Acceptance by the earlier of (i) the Cancellation Date and (ii) 18 March 2015; |
(d) | there is no forecast delay in achieving Delivery and/or Final Acceptance on or prior to such dates, respectively; and |
(e) | [ insert details of the extent of any Cost Overrun or confirmation that there is no Cost Overrun ]. |
4. | The purpose of this Loan is [ specify purpose complying with clause 3 of the Agreement ] and its proceeds should be credited to the following account(s) in the following amounts: |
(a) | an amount of $[ l ] shall be paid to [ l ] [ specify relevant account of the Borrower ]; and |
232 |
(b) | an amount of $[ l ] shall be paid to [ l ]. |
5. | We request that the first Interest Period for the Loan be [ l ] months. |
6. | This Utilisation Request is irrevocable. |
Yours faithfully | |
authorised signatory for | |
PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG |
233 |
Part 2
Utilisation Request for a Letter of Credit
From: | PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG |
To: | [ l ] |
Dated: | [ l ] 2013 |
Dear Sirs
$299,000,000 Term Loan Facility and $10,700,000 Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement dated [ l ] 2013 (the "Agreement")
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a 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 utilise the LC Facility on the following terms: |
Facility: | LC | |
Proposed Utilisation Date: | [ l ] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) | |
Letter of Credit amount: | $[ l ] |
3. | We confirm that each condition specified in clause 4.5 ( Further conditions precedent ) is satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request and make the certification referred to therein. |
4. | The original Letter of Credit should be issued in the approved form to the LC Beneficiary at the following address: |
[ insert address/delivery details ]
5. | This Utilisation Request is irrevocable. |
Yours faithfully | |
authorised signatory for | |
PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG |
234 |
Schedule 5
Selection Notice
From: | PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG |
To: | [ l ] |
Dated: | [ l ] 2013 |
Dear Sirs
$299,000,000 Term Loan Facility and $10,700,000 Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement dated [•] 2013 (the "Agreement")
PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG (the "Borrower")
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Selection Notice. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Selection Notice unless given a different meaning in this Selection Notice. |
2. | We request that the next Interest Period for the Loan be [ l ] months. |
3. | This Selection Notice is irrevocable. |
Yours faithfully | |
authorised signatory for | |
PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG |
235 |
Schedule 6
Mandatory Cost Formulae
1. | The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank. |
2. | On the first day of each Interest Period (or as soon as possible thereafter) the Facility Agent shall calculate, as a percentage rate, a rate (the "Additional Cost Rate" ) for each Lender, in accordance with the paragraphs set out below. The Mandatory Cost will be calculated by the Facility Agent as a weighted average of the Lenders' Additional Cost Rates (weighted in proportion to the percentage participation of each Lender in the relevant Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum. |
3. | The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Facility Office in a Participating Member State will be the percentage notified by that Lender to the Facility Agent. This percentage will be certified by that Lender in its notice to the Facility Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of that Lender's participation in all Loans made from that Facility Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Facility Office. |
4. | The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Facility Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Facility Agent as follows: |
(a) | in relation to a sterling Loan: |
AB+C (B–D) +E x 0.01 | per cent. per annum |
100 - (A + C) |
(b) | in relation to a Loan in any currency other than sterling: |
E x 0.01 | per cent. per annum. |
300 |
Where:
A | is the percentage of Eligible Liabilities (assuming these to be in excess of any stated minimum) which that Lender is from time to time required to maintain as an interest free cash ratio deposit with the Bank of England to comply with cash ratio requirements. |
B | is the percentage rate of interest (excluding the Margin and the Mandatory Cost) and, if the Loan is an Unpaid Sum, the additional rate of interest specified in clause 10.3(a) ( Default interest ) payable for the relevant Interest Period on the Loan. |
C | is the percentage (if any) of Eligible Liabilities which that Lender is required from time to time to maintain as interest bearing Special Deposits with the Bank of England. |
D | is the percentage rate per annum payable by the Bank of England to the Facility Agent on interest bearing Special Deposits. |
E | is designed to compensate Lenders for amounts payable under the Fees Rules and is calculated by the Facility Agent as being the average of the most recent rates of charge supplied by the Reference Banks to the Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 below and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000. |
236 |
5. | For the purposes of this Schedule: |
(a) | Eligible Liabilities and Special Deposits have the meanings given to them from time to time under or pursuant to the Bank of England Act 1998 or (as may be appropriate) by the Bank of England; |
(b) | Fees Rules means the rules on periodic fees contained in the Financial Services Authority Fees Manual or such other law or regulation as may be in force from time to time in respect of the payment of fees for the acceptance of deposits; |
(c) | Fee Tariffs means the fee tariffs specified in the Fees Rules under Column 1 of the activity group A.1 Deposit acceptors (ignoring any minimum fee or zero rated fee required pursuant to the Fees Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and |
(d) | Tariff Base has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules. |
6. | In application of the above formulae, A, B, C and D will be included in the formulae as percentages (i.e. 5 per cent. will be included in the formula as 5 and not as 0.05). A negative result obtained by subtracting D from B shall be taken as zero. The resulting figures shall be rounded to four decimal places. |
7. | If requested by the Facility Agent, each Reference Bank shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Facility Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Reference Bank to the Financial Services Authority pursuant to the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by that Reference Bank as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Reference Bank for that financial year) and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000 of the Tariff Base of that Reference Bank. |
8. | Each Lender shall supply any information required by the Facility Agent for the purpose of calculating its Additional Cost Rate. In particular, but without limitation, each Lender shall supply the following information on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender: |
(a) | the jurisdiction of its Facility Office; and |
(b) | any other information that the Facility Agent may reasonably require for such purpose. |
Each Lender shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of any change to the information provided by it pursuant to this paragraph.
9. | The percentages of each Lender for the purpose of A and C above and the rates of charge of each Reference Bank for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Facility Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 7 and 8 above and on the assumption that, unless a Lender notifies the Facility Agent to the contrary, each Lender's obligations in relation to cash ratio deposits and Special Deposits are the same as those of a typical bank from its jurisdiction of incorporation with a Facility Office in the same jurisdiction as its Facility Office. |
10. | The Facility Agent shall have no liability to any person if such determination results in an Additional Cost Rate which over or under compensates any Lender and shall be entitled to assume that the information provided by any Lender or Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above is true and correct in all respects. |
11. | The Facility Agent shall distribute the additional amounts received as a result of the Mandatory Cost to the Lenders on the basis of the Additional Cost Rate for each Lender based on the information provided by each Lender and each Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above. |
237 |
12. | Any determination by the Facility Agent pursuant to this Schedule in relation to a formula, the Mandatory Cost, an Additional Cost Rate or any amount payable to a Lender shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties. |
13. | The Facility Agent may from time to time, after consultation with the Borrowers and the Lenders, determine and notify to all Parties any amendments which are required to be made to this Schedule in order to comply with any change in law, regulation or any requirements from time to time imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties. |
238 |
Schedule 7
Form of Transfer Certificate
To: | [ l ] |
From: | [ The Existing Lender ] (the Existing Lender ) and [ The New Lender ] (the New Lender ) |
Dated: | [ l ] 2013 |
$[ l ] Facility Agreement dated [ l ] 2013 (the "Agreement")
PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Transfer Certificate. |
2. | We refer to clause 33.5 ( Procedure for transfer ): |
(a) | The Existing Lender and the New Lender agree to the Existing Lender assigning to the New Lender all or part of the Existing Lender's Commitment rights and assuming the Existing Lender's obligations referred to in the Schedule in accordance with clause 33.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) and the Existing Lender assigns and agrees to assign such rights to the New Lender with effect from the Transfer Date. |
(b) | The proposed Transfer Date is [ l ]. |
(c) | The Facility Office and address, email address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of clause 42.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule. |
3. | The New Lender expressly acknowledges the [limitations on the Existing Lender's obligations set out in clause 33.4(c). |
4. | This Transfer Certificate 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 Transfer Certificate. |
This Transfer Certificate and any non-contractual obligations connected with it are governed by English law.
239 |
The Schedule
Commitment/rights to be assigned and obligations to be assumed
[ insert relevant details ]
Facility Office address, fax number, email address and attention details for notices and account details for payments
[ insert relevant details ]
[ Existing Lender ] | [ New Lender ] |
By: | By: |
This Transfer Certificate is accepted by the Facility Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed to be as stated above.
[ l ]
By:
240 |
Schedule 8
Form of Compliance Certificate
To: | Standard Chartered Bank as Facility Agent |
From: | [PT Hoegh LNG Lampung][Hoegh LNG Holdings Ltd] |
Dated: | [ l ] |
Dear Sirs
$299,000,000 Term Loan Facility and $10,700,000 Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement dated [a] 2013 (the "Agreement")
PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG (the "Borrower")
1. | I/We refer to the Agreement. This is a Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning when used in this Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Compliance Certificate. |
2. | I/We confirm that: |
[Note: insert required financial covenant confirmations .]
3. | 1 [l/We confirm that we are not aware that any Default is continuing.] [ If this statement cannot be made, the certificate should identify any Default that the Borrower is aware is continuing and the steps, if any, the Borrower is aware being taken to remedy it .] |
Signed by: | |||
[Finance Director] | [Chief Financial Officer] |
[ l ]
1 To be included in the Borrower's Compliance Certificate only
241 |
Schedule 9
Form of Market Disruption Notification
To: Standard Chartered Bank as Facility Agent
From: [Lender]
Dated: [ l ] 2013
Dear Sirs
$299,000,000 Term Loan Facility and $10,700,000 Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement dated [ l ] 2013 (the "Agreement")
PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Market Disruption Notification. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning when used in this Market Disruption Notification unless given a different meaning in this Market Disruption Notification. |
2. | We hereby notify you that, in relation to our participation in the Loan referred to below and the Interest Period referred to below, the cost to us of obtaining a matching deposit (or matching deposits) in the Interbank Market would be in excess of LIBOR: |
Loan (currency and amount): | $[ l ] |
Interest Period: | [ l ] months commencing on [ l ] |
Cost of funds: | [ l ] |
3. | We request that, as soon as practicable, you inform the other Lenders that you have received a Market Disruption Notification in respect of the Loan and Interest Period referred to in paragraph 2 above, without stating our name or the amount or percentage of our participation. However, we acknowledge that you shall be under no liability for any act or omission in this respect. |
Yours faithfully | |
authorised signatory for | |
[name of relevant Lender] |
242 |
Schedule 10
Form of Project Budget Statement
FSRU “[ ]”
PROJECT BUDGET
STATEMENT
XXX
Projected Annual
Availability: [ ]
YEAR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | TOTAL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Capital Element | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 Operating Cost Element | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 Tax Element | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL REVENUE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical Services Agreement Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Master Maintenance Agreement Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Master Parts Agreement Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other 3 rd party O&M expenses (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Total O&M Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 Insurance – MII | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 Admin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 Agency | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 Tax Element Tax ÷ Tax Gross Up
Withholding Tax – Interest |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 Special Event Tax ÷ Tax Gross Up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Excess Cash |
(1) includes Manning Costs Maintenance and Repair Cost Consumables and Stores Cost Insurance Cost Miscellaneous Costs Management and Operational Costs
243 |
Schedule 11
Repayment Schedules
Repayment Date | Month |
K-Sure Facility Repayment
Schedule |
FSRU Tranche Repayment
Schedule |
|||||||
Start Date | 0 | – | – | |||||||
1st Repayment Date | 3 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
2nd Repayment Date | 6 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
3rd Repayment Date | 9 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
4th Repayment Date | 12 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
5th Repayment Date | 15 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
6th Repayment Date | 18 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
7th Repayment Date | 21 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
8th Repayment Date | 24 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
9th Repayment Date | 27 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
10th Repayment Date | 30 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
11th Repayment Date | 33 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
12th Repayment Date | 36 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
13th Repayment Date | 39 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
14th Repayment Date | 42 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
15th Repayment Date | 45 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
16th Repayment Date | 48 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
17th Repayment Date | 51 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
18th Repayment Date | 54 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
19th Repayment Date | 57 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
20th Repayment Date | 60 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
21st Repayment Date | 63 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
22nd Repayment Date | 66 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
23rd Repayment Date | 69 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
24th Repayment Date | 72 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
25th Repayment Date | 75 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
26th Repayment Date | 78 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
27th Repayment Date | 81 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
28th Repayment Date | 84 | 3,721,549.50 | 1,044,029.00 | |||||||
29th Repayment Date | 87 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
30th Repayment Date | 90 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
31st Repayment Date | 93 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
32nd Repayment Date | 96 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
33rd Repayment Date | 99 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
34th Repayment Date | 102 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
35th Repayment Date | 105 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
36th Repayment Date | 108 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
37th Repayment Date | 111 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
38th Repayment Date | 114 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
39th Repayment Date | 117 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
40th Repayment Date | 120 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
41st Repayment Date | 123 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
42nd Repayment Date | 126 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
43rd Repayment Date | 129 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
44th Repayment Date | 132 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
45th Repayment Date | 135 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
46th Repayment Date | 138 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
47th Repayment Date | 141 | 3,721,549.50 | – | |||||||
48th Repayment Date | 144 | 3,721,549.50 | – |
244 |
Schedule 12
Form of Standby Letter of Credit
PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk,
Jl.K.H. Zainul Arifin No. 20,
Jakarta 1140, Indonesia
[ Date ]
REF: IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT NO. (REF. NO. [ Insert reference number ])
Dear Sirs,
1. | By order and for the account of PT Hoegh LNG Lampung (the " Owner "), we hereby establish in your favour an irrevocable and unconditional standby letter of credit (this " Letter of Credit ") in support of Owner's obligations under the Amended and Restated Lease, Operation and Maintenance Agreement dated 17 October 2012 and authorise you to draw on [ Name and address of bank ], up to an aggregate amount of US$10,700,000, (the " Maximum Amount "). |
2. | Funds under this Letter of Credit will be paid to you in accordance with the terms of this Letter of Credit against your presentation to us at our offices located in Jakarta of a drawing certificate substantially in the form of Annex A hereto (each a " Draft ") not later than the close of business in Jakarta on the Expiry Date. |
3. | If a Draft is presented by you in accordance with the terms of this Letter of Credit, payment shall be made to you, without proof or condition, of the amount specified therein in immediately available funds without right of set-off or counterclaim on the fourth succeeding Business Day after such presentation (where " Business Day " shall mean any day other than a Saturday or Sunday on which banks are open for business in Singapore) free and clear of, and without deduction for or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings of any nature and by whomsoever imposed. |
4. | This Letter of Credit is effective from [the date hereof] and will remain valid and in full effect until the earlier of: |
(i) | [ insert longstop expiry date ] |
(ii) | the time the Letter of Credit is returned to us for cancellation; and |
(iii) | the time that the amounts paid to you under paragraph 3 of this Letter of Credit in aggregate are equivalent to the Maximum Amount, |
(the " Expiry Date "). No Draft may be presented later than the close of our business in [Jakarta] on the Expiry Date.
5. | Except as otherwise expressly stated herein, this Letter of Credit is subject to the International Standby Practices ("ISP98"), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590, and as to matters not governed by ISP98, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England. |
6. | Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Letter of Credit, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) Rules, which Rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Letter of Credit. The number of arbitrators shall be three. The seat, or legal place, of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The language to be used in the arbitral proceedings shall be English. |
Yours faithfully,
(Name and Location of Bank & Authorised Signature(s)) |
245 |
ANNEX A to IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT NO. [ Insert reference number ]
DRAWING CERTIFICATE
[ Date ]
[
Name of Issuing Bank
]
[
Address
]
Re: Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit No. [Insert reference number] (the " Letter of Credit ")
1. | We hereby certify that an event has occurred as a result of which, under the agreement pursuant to which the Letter of Credit was provided, we are entitled to make this demand, and we hereby demand payment in the amount of [ insert amount ] under the Letter of Credit. |
2. | Payment of the amount demanded hereby shall be made by [wire transfer to the following account: _________________] [issuance of a cheque to the order of _______________]. |
Signed by
on behalf of PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk |
246 |
Schedule 13 Conditions Precedent to Completion Guarantee Release Date
1. | The date falling 180 days after the Final Acceptance Date has occurred. |
2. | The Facility Agent has received the Completion Guarantee Release Report; |
3. | No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. |
4. | All Original Security Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Schedule 3 ( Conditions precedent ) of the Facility Agreement have been permanently filed or registered in the applicable jurisdiction to the extent required by applicable laws. |
5. | The Facility Agent has received a Compliance Certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the Borrower that the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (determined for this purpose by reference to the 3 month period ending on the most recent Repayment Date) is at least 1.10:1 by reference to unaudited management accounts of the Borrower for such period. |
6. | The principal repayment instalments of the K-Sure Loans and Commercial Loans payable by the Borrower under the Facility Agreement on the First Repayment Date and the Mooring Tranche Loans have been paid in full. |
247 |
Schedule 14 List of Translated Documents
1) | This Agreement; |
2) | Fee Letters; |
3) | Security Assignment; |
4) | Account Security; |
5) | Insurance Assignment; |
6) | Hedging Security; |
7) | O&M Contractor Undertaking (if issued by a party incorporated in Indonesia) |
8) | Supervisor Undertaking (if issued by a party incorporated in Indonesia) |
9) | Letter of Quiet Enjoyment; |
10) | Powers of Attorney; |
11) | Project Agreements Assignment; |
12) | Subordination Deed; |
13) | Intercreditor Deed; |
14) | Subordinated Loan Agreement; |
15) | Promissory Notes; |
16) | Utilisation Request; |
17) | Charter |
18) | Charter Novation Agreement; |
19) | any Charter Guarantee |
20) | Building Contract Novation Agreement; |
21) | Mooring EPC Contract Novation Agreement; |
22) | Umbrella Agreement; |
23) | Umbrella Novation Agreement; |
24) | Consortium Agreement; |
25) | Consortium Agreement Novation Agreement; |
26) | Mooring Installation Contract; |
27) | Supervision Agreement; |
28) | Master Maintenance Agreement; |
29) | Master Parts Agreement; and |
30) | Technical Services Agreement. |
248 |
Schedule 15 Form of Accession Deed
THIS ACCESSION DEED is dated [ ] and made BETWEEN :
(1) | The parties currently party to the facility agreement referred to below (the Existing Parties ); [and] |
(2) | [ [ ] (the Accession Party ); [and]] |
(3) | [ [[ ] (the Transferor).] |
IT IS AGREED that:
1. | This Accession Deed relates to a facility agreement deed dated [ date ] (as amended and in force from time to time, the Facility Agreement ) made between [ specify parties ]. Words and expressions defined in, or to be construed in accordance with, the Facility Agreement shall have the same meanings and construction when used in this Accession Deed. |
2. | [The Accession Party [has entered into a Hedging Agreement] [or] [become a Lender] [ specify other relevant action ] full particulars of which are set out in the schedule to this Accession Deed and confirms that it has supplied the Facility Agent with a copy of [ specify all relevant agreements or documents ]. |
OR
[The Transferor has transferred to the Accession Party [all] [part] of [ specify property or rights being transferred ] (the Transferred Interests ) details of which are set out in the schedule to this Accession Deed].
3. | The parties to this Accession Deed agree and acknowledge that the rights and obligations of the Accession Party in relation to the Transferred Interests are subject to the terms and conditions of the Facility Agreement. |
4. | [The Transferor transfers the Transferred Interests to the Accession Party by signature of this Accession Deed and the Facility Agent and the K-sure Agent accepts such transfer on behalf of the Existing Parties for the purposes of clause [•] of the Facility Agreement.] |
5. | The Accession Party undertakes with effect from the date of this Accession Deed to observe and perform the terms and obligations set out in the Facility Agreement relative to [ specify relevant capacity ] all of which shall be binding on the Accession Party as if it were originally included in the term[s] [ specify relevant definition(s) relating to capacity of Accession Party ]. |
6. | The Existing Parties undertake to the Accession Party that they will observe and perform the terms and conditions set out in the Facility Agreement all of which shall remain binding on the Existing Parties relative to the [ specify relevant capacity ] as if it were originally included in the term[s] [specify definition related to capacity of [ Accession Party ]]. |
7. | This Accession Deed and the rights and obligations of the parties under this Accession Deed are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English law. |
8. | The provisions of clauses [ l ] in the Facility Agreement shall be incorporated in this Accession Deed. |
249 |
Schedule 16 Form of Increase Confirmation
To: | Standard Chartered Bank as Facility Agent |
and | |
PT Hoegh LNG Lampung as Borrower | |
From: | [ the Increase Lender ] (the Increase Lender ) |
Dated: [ l ]
$299,000,000 Term Loan Facility and $10,700,000 Standby Letter of Credit Facility
Facility Agreement dated [ l ] 2013 (the Agreement)
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is an Increase Confirmation. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Increase Confirmation unless given a different meaning in this Increase Confirmation. |
2. | We refer to clause 2.2 ( Increase ). |
3. | The Increase Lender agrees to assume and will assume all of the obligations corresponding to the Commitment specified in the Schedule (the Relevant Commitment ) as if it was an Original Lender under the Agreement. |
4. | The proposed date on which the increase in relation to the Increase Lender and the Relevant Commitment is to take effect ( the Increase Date ) is [ l ]. |
5. | On the Increase Date, the Increase Lender becomes party to the Finance Documents as a Lender. |
6. | The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices to the Increase Lender for the purposes of clause 42.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule. |
7. | The Increase Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Lenders' obligations referred to in clause 2.9. |
8. | This Increase Confirmation 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 Increase Confirmation. |
9. | This Increase Confirmation and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law. |
10. | This Increase Confirmation has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Increase Confirmation. |
250 |
The Schedule
Relevant Commitment/rights and obligations to be assumed by the Increase Lender
[insert relevant details]
[Facility office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments]
[Increase Lender]
By:
This Increase Confirmation is accepted as an Increase Confirmation for the purposes of the Agreement by the Facility Agent and the Increase Date is confirmed as [ l ].
Agent (on behalf of itself, the Obligors and the other Finance Parties)
By:
251 |
Schedule 17 Technical Adviser's Scope of Work
Gap Analysis Report
(1) Review on the Lease Operation and Maintenance Agreement, Mooring EPC contract, shipbuilding contract, EPCIC and other material equipment supply contracts and/or Purchase Orders.
(2) Perform a high level review of previous technical advisor's technical evaluation findings to identify any gaps or residual risks that still need to be considered by the project.
(3) Detailed evaluation of each phase of the Project from construction, Owners Acceptance Testing, Hook-up/Commissioning, Charter Acceptance Testing and subsequent operations and maintenance. The evaluation shall include:
A) Review Project schedule, based on current progress of the project and identify the critical path(s) and adequacy of delivery dates to meet the Project schedule. To the extent information is available, comment on the construction and completion schedule of the undersea pipeline that will connect the mooring to shore being undertaken by PT Rekayasa Industri;
B) Review of interfaces between the Project and other components of the LNG Terminal;
C) Review of key risks in each phase to successful completion and potential mitigants to deal with identified issues;
D) (Note - review of operating and maintenance arrangements is excluded from this CTR.);
E) Perform a high level assessment of previous technical advisor's review the Health, Safety and Environmental policies established for the Project to identify any gaps or residual risks that still need to be considered by the project.
F) Recommendations on suitable mitigants to the identified risks, to reduce the risk to an as low as reasonably practicable basis.
(4) Review of the project management organization, project management tools, controls, duties and responsibilities as organised by Hoegh LNG for the Project.
(5) Review the Project budget & contingencies including the basis for establishing the budget and the feasibility of the budget.
(6) Perform a high level assessment of previous technical advisor's technical review to identify any residual technology risks to this project; providing, where necessary, commentary on the level of risks, mitigants in place and the sufficiency of the mitigants to reduce identified risks to an as low as reasonably practical basis.
(7) Perform a high level assessment of previous technical advisor's review and provide any supplementary comments on performance guarantees, liquidated damages and warranties provided under the project agreements. This will be reviewed and the impact on the overall risk profile of the project and contract assessed.
(8) Working together with Lenders' Legal Counsel to ensure that the technical and operating covenants in the facility documents are aligned with construction, delivery and operating requirements under the Lease Operation and Maintenance Agreement.
(9) Advise on other technical related matters, reasonably requested by Lenders
(10) Attend clarification meetings with lenders as required
252 |
(11) Prepare a Technical Due Diligence Draft Report prior to signing of facility agreement. This report will consolidate the supplemental ITA scope of work ("Gap Analysis") and additional analysis results and findings; where relevant, reference will be made to the previous technical advisor's Interim Report. 2
Construction Monitoring Report
(1) Perform monthly (for highlighting to the Lenders any red flag issues) and quarterly (for the purposes of preparing a report " Quarterly Report ") reviews of the Project Progress Reports (construction of the FSRU, Mooring and pipeline (to the extent information is made available by PGN)) until sailaway and acceptance of the FSRU. These reviews will consider any key risks or issues identified in the Technical Due Diligence, as well as identifying any impacts to achieving the planned project schedule, budgeted project cost and comment on any technical issues arising on the Project.
(2) At the request of lenders (subject to the provisions of the Facility Agreement), to conduct site inspections at the shipyard and/or the Project site in Indonesia.
(3) Each Quarterly Report shall include the following sections
– | Commentary on individual project area (including HHI, SOFEC, pipeline, installation and DNV) and overall progress achieved versus planned - focus on overall progress status and key milestones/ activities, including interface issues |
– | Budget status review including contingency allocation and variation status |
– | Schedule forecast commentary/ observations |
– | Project organisation - by exception reporting on planned recruitment and additional resource requirements |
– | Specific observations on key risk areas and period specific LTA monitoring topics |
– | Update of LTA risk register/ matrix and LTA monitoring action list |
– | Recommendations and observations on additional risk mitigation or progress recovery measures |
Delivery and Acceptance Review
Review of the Borrower's reports on Owners Acceptance Tests conducted for Sailaway of the FSRU from the shipyard and review on the commissioning and acceptance of the FSRU (or if applicable an assessment of the other items referred to in the definition of Completion Guarantee Release Report) on behalf of Lenders to prepare a Completion Guarantee Release Report, when requested by the Borrower. Technical Advisor can be required to prepare more than one such report, subject to Borrower and Technical Advisor agreeing costs of such report.
" Completion Guarantee Release Report " means a report from the Technical Advisor confirming that any of the following applies:
(a) | in the event of Final Acceptance following satisfaction of the NoR Conditions and the Final Acceptance Test under the Charter, the FSRU has continued to meet the Operational Minimum Requirements (as defined in the Charter) and continued to comply with the Warranty Performance Requirement (as defined in the Charter), in each case to a sufficient extent to permit the Borrower to maintain the Debt Service Coverage Ratio as required by Clause 21.1 ( Borrower financial covenants ) throughout any continuous period of 90 days after the Final Acceptance Date; or |
(b) | in the case of Deemed Acceptance, the FSRU has continued to meet the Operational Minimum Requirements (as defined in the Charter) and continued to comply with the Warranty Performance Requirement (as defined in the Charter), in each case, to a sufficient extent to permit the Borrower to maintain the Debt Service Coverage Ratio as required by Clause 21.1 ( Borrower financial covenants ) throughout any continuous period of 90 days after Deemed Acceptance; and at any time after Deemed Acceptance: |
(i) | the FSRU satisfied all the AMR Requirements; or |
2 For the avoidance of doubt Interim Report, Gap Analysis Report and Due Diligence Report have been completed prior to signing.
253 |
(ii) | in the event that an AMR Requirement was not satisfied, and there was not a reasonable opportunity (including by the supply of LNG and the nomination of regasified LNG by the Charterer) or it was agreed in consultation with the Technical Advisor that it was not reasonably practicable to determine whether the FSRU could satisfy that AMR Requirement, then as a minimum requirement the FSRU has demonstrated that: |
A. | for LNG transfer, storage and cargo handling systems: |
(1) | the FSRU is capable of ship to ship transfer of LNG in accordance with the Charter; and |
(2) | the LNG cargo storage and handling systems have been fully tested and accepted under the Building Contract; |
B. | for regasification and export systems: |
(1) | each of the 3 LNG trains is capable of achieving its name plate capacity at 120MMscf per day, together with evidence that it is capable of ramping down to a minimum send-out rate of 45MMscf per day; or |
(2) | if the system testing is limited (e.g. by LNG supply or gas export limitations) by the Charterer preventing the running of the trains to full capacity, each of the 3 LNG trains is capable of regasifying LNG at a rate of at least 45MMscf per day; or |
(c) | in the case of Deemed Acceptance, to the extent that the requirements of paragraph (b) have not been satisfied, the Technical Advisor has assessed the performance of any untested or partially tested part of the FSRU, and is of the opinion that the FSRU is likely to be capable of satisfying the applicable Warranty Performance Requirements (as defined in the Charter) based on the results of operations and testing of the FSRU, including during vendor factory acceptance testing, sea trials and gas trials performed under the Building Contract and acceptance testing performed under the Charter. |
For the purposes of this definition, an " AMR Requirement " means any of paragraphs 1(b), 1(c), 1(d), 1(f), 1(g), 1(h) and 1(i) of the Part A of Schedule 2 of the Charter.
" Project Progress Reports " means the monthly report prepared by the Borrower until Final Acceptance, within 3 weeks of the end of each month, on the progress of all elements of the FSRU and Mooring and (to the extent information is made available by PGN) pipeline construction. The report should include sufficient details on
– | Progress summary narrative on all areas of project |
– | Progress/ schedule status analysis (including S curves) |
– | Budget expenditure versus budget (including S curves) |
– | Any concerns regarding Class status |
– | Main interface actions, activities, milestones and key activity progress tracking/ forecasting (e.g. TSS release to HHI) |
– | Main milestones planned and achieved for period |
– | Any main areas of concern |
– | Key risk management activities against risk register |
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Schedule 18
Form of instruction to Account Banks
Part 1: Borrower Withdrawal Instruction
To: |
Standard Chartered Bank
as Account Bank |
cc: |
Standard Chartered Bank
as Facility Agent |
From: |
PT Hoegh LNG Lampung
as Borrower |
Dear Sirs | Dated: [ l ] Time: [ l ] |
$299,000,000 Term Loan Facility and $10,700,000 Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement dated [ l ] 2013 (the "Agreement")
1. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Borrower Withdrawal Request. |
2. | We confirm that [ insert details of purpose of required withdrawals ]. |
3. | In accordance with clause [•] of the Facility Agreement, we instruct you to withdraw monies from the [ specify relevant Project Account (account no. [ l ]) and apply such monies in the order as set out below: |
S.No. | Currency | Amount | Payee |
Payee
account details: account holder's name: |
Account
No |
Bank
Name |
Bank
Address |
SWIFT
Code: |
Reference: | |||||||||
4. | This withdrawal instruction is irrevocable. |
5. | We hereby represent and warrant that this withdrawal instruction is in compliance with clause 28 ( Project Accounts, Receivables and Insurance Proceeds ) of the Facility Agreement. |
Yours faithfully | |
for and on behalf of.
PT Hoegh LNG Lampung as Borrower
3
[
for and on behalf of
Standard Chartered Bank as Issuing Bank]
3 COUNTERSIGNATURE OF ISSUING BANK REQUIRED FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM LC CASH COLLATERAL ACCOUNT
255 |
Part 2: Facility Agent Withdrawal Instruction
To: |
Standard Chartered Bank
as Account Bank |
From: |
Standard Chartered Bank
as Facility Agent |
and: |
PT Hoegh LNG Lampung
as Borrower |
Dated: [
l
]
Time: [
l
]
Dear Sirs
$299,000,000 Term Loan Facility and $10,700,000 Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement dated [ l ] 2013 (the "Agreement")
6. | We refer to the Agreement. This is a Facility Agent Withdrawal Request. |
7. | We confirm that [ insert details of purpose of required withdrawals ]. |
8. | In accordance with clause [•] of the Facility Agreement, we instruct you to withdraw monies from the [ specify relevant Project Account (account no. [•]) and apply such monies in the order as set out below: |
S.No. | Currency | Amount | Payee |
Payee
account details: account holders name: |
Account
No |
Bank
Name |
Bank
Address |
SWIFT
Code: |
Reference: | |||||||||
9. | This withdrawal instruction is irrevocable. |
10. | We hereby represent and warrant that this withdrawal instruction is in compliance with clause 28 ( Project Accounts, Receivables and Insurance Proceeds ) of the Facility Agreement. |
Yours faithfully | |
for and on behalf of
PT Hoegh LNG Lampung as Borrower
COUNTERSIGNATURE OF FACILITY AGENT REQUIRED
for and on behalf of | |
Standard Chartered Bank as Facility Agent |
256 |
Schedule 19
Account Banks provisions
1 | Operation of the Project Accounts |
1.1 | Instructions to Account Banks and compliance with directions |
The Facility Agent, the Borrower and the Issuing Bank agree to give to the Account Banks all directions necessary to enable each Account Bank to operate the relevant Projects Accounts in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents. The Account Banks shall comply with any instruction delivered to the Account Bank in accordance with clause 28 ( Project Accounts ) to debit the Project Accounts but only if the relevant instruction (i) is in respect of a specified sum of money; (ii) is in writing or, in the case of a transfer of funds by electronic transmission, is evidenced in accordance with the relevant Account Bank's normal banking practice for such transfers; and (iii) complies with the form of instruction to Account Bank set out in Schedule 18.
1.2 | Payments to be made out of Singapore (for the Offshore Account Bank) and Indonesia (for the Onshore Account Bank) only |
All payments out of the Accounts shall be made by the Account Banks in Singapore (for the Offshore Account Bank) and Indonesia (for the Onshore Account Bank) only and the Account Banks are not permitted to make any payments out of the Accounts in any other jurisdiction for any reason whatsoever.
1.3 | Conflicting instructions |
In the case of any conflict between any instructions given to an Account Bank by the Facility Agent and any other person the instructions of the Facility Agent will prevail.
1.4 | No overdraft, insufficient moneys |
Amounts shall only be withdrawn from the Project Accounts to the extent such withdrawal does not cause the Project Accounts to have a negative balance and the Account Banks shall not have any obligation to monitor the Project Accounts for this purpose or incur any liability whatsoever from any non-distribution in such circumstances.
1.5 | Authorised signatories, call-back contacts |
Each of the Facility Agent and the Borrower shall provide a list of authorised signatories and call-back contacts to each Account Bank on or prior to the first Utilisation. Each of the Facility Agent and the Borrower undertakes to give each Account Bank five (5) clear Business Days' notice in writing of any amendment to their authorised signatories or call-back contacts.
2 | Reliance and Assumptions by Account Banks |
2.1 | Right to rely on communications |
Each of the Account Banks may rely on:
(a) | any communication or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine (even if such communication or document is later reversed, modified, set aside or vacated); and/or |
(b) | any document of any kind prima facie properly executed and submitted by any person whom the relevant Account Bank has reasonable grounds to believe is entitled to execute and submit such document in relation to any matter arising under or in connection with this Agreement (even if such document is later reversed, modified, set aside or vacated). |
257 |
2.2 | Right to consult and rely on professional advisers |
Each of the Account Banks may, at the reasonable expense of the Borrower, consult legal counsel or professional advisers over any question as to the provisions of this Agreement, its rights, obligations and/or its duties. Each of the Account Banks may rely on and act pursuant to the advice of its counsel or other professional advisers with respect to any matter (whether or not contentious) relating to this Agreement and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith in accordance with such advice.
2.3 | Right to assume no breach of obligations under the Account Agreement |
Each of the Account Banks can assume that no other party to this Agreement is in breach of its obligations hereunder unless the relevant Account Bank has actual notice to the contrary in its capacity as account bank.
2.4 | Right to assume all conditions to payment met |
Each of the Account Banks may assume that all conditions for the making of any payment out of the amounts standing to the credit of the Project Accounts held with it which are specified in any instruction from the Borrower, the Issuing Bank or the Facility Agent have been satisfied, unless the relevant Account Bank has actual notice to the contrary in its capacity as account bank.
3 | Expenses |
3.1 | Account Banks' right of lien |
The Borrower is liable for payment of any fees, expenses and other sums payable to the Account Banks pursuant to this Agreement. The Account Banks may debit any amounts due to it in respect of the operation of the relevant Project Accounts and shall be entitled to retain that proportion of the amounts standing to the credit of the Revenue Accounts (or either of them) equal to any unpaid fees and other charges due to the Account Banks (or either of them) under this Agreement (in respect of any Project Account) until all such fees and charges have been paid in full.
4 | No Duty or Obligation |
4.1 | No implied duties or obligations |
The Account Banks shall be obliged to perform only such duties as are set out in the Finance Documents and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against either of the Account Banks.
4.2 | No duty or obligation greater than that owed to general banking customers |
Neither of the Account Banks shall be under any duty or obligation to give the amounts held by it hereunder any greater degree of care than it gives to amounts held for its general banking customers.
4.3 | No duty or obligation to make payments |
Neither of the Account Banks shall be obliged to make any payment or otherwise to act on any request or instruction notified to it under this Agreement if:
(a) | it is unable to verify any signature pursuant to any request or instruction against the specimen signature provided for the relevant authorised signatory; or |
258 |
(b) | it is unable to validate the authenticity of the request by telephoning a call-back contact as provided to it pursuant to paragraph 1.4 above; or |
(c) | if, in the relevant Account Bank's reasonable opinion, it conflicts with any provision of this Agreement or otherwise does not comply with the requirements of this Agreement. |
4.4 No duty or obligation to ensure accuracy of any communication
Neither of the Account Banks is under no duty or obligation to ensure that any certificate, consent, notice, instruction or other communication which is or appears to be given by the Facility Agent in accordance with this Agreement is accurate, correct or duly authorised and shall be entitled to act in reliance without further enquiry upon any such certificate, consent, notice, instruction or other communication and shall not be under any duty or obligation to verify the accuracy or correctness of any statements made therein (even if such certificate, consent, notice, instruction or other communication is later reversed, modified, set aside or vacated).
4.5 No duty or obligation to take any action which may be illegal
Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither of the Account Banks is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law and neither of the Account Banks shall be liable for any failure to carry out any or all of its obligations under this Agreement where performance of any such duty or obligation would be in breach of any law or other regulation.
4.6 No duty to be bound by terms of settlement without consent
In the event that the terms of a settlement of any dispute involving the Borrower results in an increase, extension, modification or other variation of the duties, obligations or liabilities of either Account Bank contemplated by this Agreement, then such variation shall only be effective where, and to the extent, the relevant Account Bank has given its written consent to be bound thereby.
4.7 No duty or obligation to ensure that funds used for proper purpose
Neither of the Account Banks is under a duty or obligation to ensure that any funds withdrawn from the Project Accounts are actually applied for the purpose for which they are withdrawn.
5 | Limitation of Liability |
5.1 | General exclusion of liability |
Neither of the Account Banks shall be liable to any person or entity for any loss, liability, claim, action, damages or expenses arising out of or in connection with anything done or omitted to be done by it pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement save as are caused by its own gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
5.2 | No liability where withdrawal wrongly made in good faith |
Neither of the Account Banks is responsible or liable to the Borrower or the Contractors for any withdrawal wrongly made, if the relevant Account Bank acted in good faith in relation to that withdrawal.
5.3 | No liability for consequential loss, etc. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, under no circumstances will either of the Account Banks be liable to any party whether in contract, tort or otherwise, for any consequential loss (including, but not limited to, loss of business, goodwill, opportunity or profit) even if advised of the possibility of such loss or damage.
259 |
5.4 | No liability for events of force majeure |
In no event shall either of the Account Banks be liable for any Losses suffered due to a Force Majeure event (as each such expression is defined below).
Losses means any losses, damages, demands, claims, liabilities, costs (including legal costs) and expenses of any kind (including any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of goodwill and loss of reputation) whether or not they were foreseeable or likely to occur.
Force Majeure means any:
(a) | flood, storm, earthquake or other natural event; |
(b) | war, hostilities, terrorism, revolution, riot or civil disorder; |
(c) | strike, lockout or other industrial action; |
(d) | change in any law or any change in the interpretation or enforcement of any law; |
(e) | act or order of any Authority; |
(f) | order of any court or other judicial body; |
(g) | restriction or impending restriction on the availability, convertibility, credit or transferability of any currency; |
(h) | computer system malfunction or failure (regardless of cause) or any third party interference with a computer system; |
(i) | error, failure, interruption, delay or non-availability of any goods or services supplied to the Borrower or the relevant Account Bank by a third party; or |
(j) | other circumstance beyond the reasonable control of the relevant Account Bank. |
6 | Indemnity |
The Borrower (and, to the extent that the relevant Account Bank has not been reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to a Finance Document, the Lenders) shall indemnify and keep indemnified each of the Account Banks and its directors, officers, agents and employees (each an Indemnified Party) and hold each of them harmless from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, charges, actions, demands, damages, fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of the Indemnified Party's counsel) arising out of or in connection with (a) its appointment as an Account Bank under, and its performance of, the Finance Documents including, but not limited to, the reliance by such Account Bank on any instruction, and (b) the exercise of its rights and powers as an Account Bank under, or the enforcement of any provision of, the Finance Documents, save as are caused by its (or their) own gross negligence or wilful misconduct. The indemnities in this paragraph 7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, or the resignation or removal of the relevant Account Bank.
260 |
7 | Disclosure and Publicity |
7.1 | Publicity |
No material in any language which mentions either of the Account Bank's names or the rights, powers or duties of the Account Banks may be issued by either of the other Parties or on their behalf without the prior written consent of the relevant Account Bank.
8 | Resignation of Account Banks |
8.1 | Account Banks' right of resignation |
An Account Bank may resign and be discharged from its duties or obligations under this Agreement at any time by giving sixty (60) Business Days' notice in writing of such resignation.
8.2 | Procedure for nominating replacement Account Bank |
The Borrower and the Facility Agent will within 15 Business Days of receipt of the relevant Account Bank's resignation notice, jointly nominate and inform the relevant Account Bank in writing of a replacement Account Bank (together with details of the accounts into which the funds standing to the credit of the Project Accounts will be transferred). If the relevant Account Bank does not receive any nomination notice within such period, such Account Bank will nominate another bank or financial institution of international standing and repute before resigning and being discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and any such nomination and resulting appointment of a replacement Account Bank will be binding upon the Parties. The Parties will forthwith take all necessary steps to novate this Agreement to the replacement Account Bank, discharge the relevant Account Bank from its obligations under this Agreement and make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Finance Documents (including entering into replacement Account Security) as shall be required to reflect the replacement of the relevant Account Bank.
8.3 | Fees and expenses relating to replacement of Account Banks |
The Borrower will pay to the relevant Account Bank any fees due and owing to such Account Bank, plus any costs and expenses such Account Bank and the other Finance Parties will reasonably incur in connection with the transfer of the Project Accounts to the replacement account bank and the novation of, and amendments to, the Finance Documents referred to in paragraph 8.2 above. No compensation or fees paid to the relevant Account Bank hereunder will be refundable notwithstanding the resignation, replacement or other termination of the appointment of such Account Bank for any reason whatsoever.
9 | Termination |
No later than thirty (30) days after the expiry of the Facility Period, the agreement contained in this Schedule 19 ( Account Bank provisions ) will automatically terminate and the Project Accounts will automatically be closed, provided that the Account Banks shall first transfer any balance standing to the credit of the Project Accounts to the order of the Borrower.
10 | Governing Law |
Notwithstanding that this Agreement is governed by English law, any deposits standing to the credit of the Project Accounts from time to time and all payments out of the Project Accounts are governed by the prevailing laws in effect in Singapore in the case of the Project Accounts with the Offshore Account Bank and Indonesia in the case of the Project Accounts with the Onshore Account Bank.
11 | Miscellaneous |
11.1 | Monies held as banker; no trust |
It is hereby acknowledged that all monies held by each Account Bank under the Finance Documents are held by it as banker. Nothing, whether by reason of any matter or thing contained in this Agreement or otherwise, constitutes either Account Bank or any of its officers, employees, partners, servants or agents as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person.
261 |
11.2 | Succession and merger |
Any legal entity into which either Account Bank is merged or converted or any legal entity resulting from any merger or conversion to which either Account Bank is a party shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be the successor to the relevant Account Bank without any further formality.
11.3 | Ability to engage in other business; waiver of conflict |
Each of the Borrower, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent acknowledges and agrees that (without objection), (1) each Account Bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business and provide a broad range of financial services (including without limitation funding or advisory services and trading in debt and equity securities, both for its own account and the account of any client of the relevant Account Bank or of its Affiliates), (ii) each Account Bank may act in different capacities in relation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or otherwise, including as Facility Agent, Security Agent, Mandated Lead Arranger, Lender and Hedging Bank; and (iii) may, during the course of the contemplated transactions hereof or otherwise, be engaged in transactions and services with clients who may have conflicting interests to the Borrower, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent and/or other parties involved in the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
11.4 | Not required to risk own funds |
Neither of the Account Banks shall be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or the exercise of any right, power or authority hereunder
262 |
SIGNATURES
THE BORROWER | |
PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG | |
By: ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE | |
THE FACILITY AGENT | |
Standard Chartered Bank | |
By: /s/ PAUL THOMPSON | |
Paul Thompson | |
Director, Agency UK/Europe | |
Standard Chartered Bank | |
THE SECURITY AGENT | |
Standard Chartered Bank | |
By: /s/ PAUL THOMPSON | |
Paul Thompson | |
Director, Agency UK/Europe | |
Standard Chartered Bank | |
THE K-SURE AGENT | |
Standard Chartered Bank | |
By: /s/ PAUL THOMPSON | |
Paul Thompson | |
Director, Agency UK/Europe | |
Standard Chartered Bank |
263 |
THE OFFSHORE ACCOUNT BANK
By: /s/ SUMIT AGGARWAL |
SUMIT AGGARWAL Managing Director Regional Head of Transaction Banking |
|
South East Asia |
THE ONSHORE ACCOUNT BANK
Standard Chartered Bank, Jakarta Branch
By: /s/ ADJI WIBOWO
Adji Wibowo
Country Head, Transaction Banking |
THE ORIGINAL ISSUING BANK Standard Chartered Bank
By: /s/ SUMIT AGGARWAL |
SUMIT AGGARWAL Managing Director
Regional Head of Transaction Banking
|
264 |
THE HEDGING BANKS | ||
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. | ||
By: /s/ YASUO MATSUYAMA | ||
Yasuo Matsuyama | ||
Deputy General Manager | ||
Standard Chartered Bank | ||
By: /s/ CONOR MCCOOLE | ||
Conor McCoole | ||
Managing Director, Head of Project Finance, Asia | ||
DBS Bank Ltd | ||
By: /s/ SUNITA DANANI | ||
Sunita Danani | ||
Senior Vice President | ||
Korea Development Bank | ||
By: | Kim, Chang Kyun | |
Head F/X Derivatives Products Unit | ||
Trading Center | ||
/s/ KIM, CHANG KYUN | ||
The Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited | ||
By: | ||
/s/ GEORGE LEE | ||
GEORGE LEE | ||
HEAD | ||
GLOBAL CORPORATE BANKING |
265 |
THE COMMERCIAL LENDERS | ||
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. | ||
By: /s/ YASUO MATSUYAMA | ||
Yasuo Matsuyama | ||
Deputy General Manager | ||
Standard Chartered Bank | ||
By: /s/ CONOR MCCOOLE | ||
Conor McCoole | ||
Managing Director, Head of Project Finance, Asia | ||
DBS Bank Ltd | ||
By: /s/ SUNITA DANANI | ||
Sunita Danani | ||
Senior Vice President | ||
Korea Development Bank | ||
Mr. Jeongeun Lee | ||
By: | General Manager | |
Project Finance Department II | ||
/s/ JEONGEUN LEE | ||
The Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited | ||
By: | ||
/s/ GEORGE LEE | ||
GEORGE LEE | ||
HEAD | ||
GLOBAL CORPORATE BANKING |
266 |
THE K-SURE LENDERS | ||
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. | ||
By: /s/ YASUO MATSUYAMA | ||
Yasuo Matsuyama | ||
Deputy General Manager | ||
Standard Chartered Bank | ||
By: /s/ CONOR MCCOOLE | ||
Conor McCoole | ||
Managing Director, Head of Project Finance, Asia | ||
DBS Bank Ltd | ||
By: /s/ SUNITA DANANI | ||
Sunita Danani | ||
Senior Vice President | ||
Korea Development Bank | ||
Mr. Jeongeun Lee | ||
By: | General Manager | |
Project Finance Department II | ||
/s/ JEONGEUN LEE | ||
The Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited | ||
By: | ||
/s/ GEORGE LEE | ||
GEORGE LEE | ||
HEAD | ||
GLOBAL CORPORATE BANKING |
267 |
THE LC LENDERS | ||
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. | ||
By: /s/ YASUO MATSUYAMA | ||
Yasuo Matsuyama | ||
Deputy General Manager | ||
Standard Chartered Bank | ||
By: /s/ SUMIT AGGARWAL | ||
SUMIT AGGARWAL | ||
Managing Director | ||
Regional Head of Transaction Banking | ||
South East Asia | ||
DBS Bank Ltd | ||
By: /s/ SUNITA DANANI | ||
Sunita Danani | ||
Senior Vice President | ||
Korea Development Bank | ||
Mr. Jeongeun Lee | ||
By: | General Manager | |
Project Finance Department II | ||
/s/ JEONGEUN LEE | ||
The Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited | ||
By: | ||
/s/ GEORGE LEE | ||
GEORGE LEE | ||
HEAD | ||
GLOBAL CORPORATE BANKING |
268 |
THE MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS | ||
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. | ||
By: /s/ YASUO MATSUYAMA | ||
Yasuo Matsuyama | ||
Deputy General Manager | ||
Standard Chartered Bank | ||
By: /s/ CONOR MCCOOLE | ||
Conor McCoole | ||
Managing Director, Head of Project Finance, Asia | ||
DBS Bank Ltd | ||
By: /s/ SUNITA DANANI | ||
Sunita Danani | ||
Senior Vice President | ||
Korea Development Bank | ||
Mr. Jeongeun Lee | ||
By: | General Manager | |
Project Finance Department II | ||
/s/ JEONGEUN LEE | ||
The Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited | ||
By: | ||
/s/ GEORGE LEE | ||
GEORGE LEE | ||
HEAD | ||
GLOBAL CORPORATE BANKING |
269 |
THIS SECOND SIDE LETTER to the Facility Agreement (defined below) is dated 18 December 2014 and is made between:
(1) | PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG (the Borrower ); |
(2) | STANDARD CHARTERED BANK as facility agent for the other Finance Parties (the Facility Agent ). |
(together, the Parties ).
1 | We refer to the US$299,000,000 term loan facility and US$10,700,000 standby letter of credit facility dated 12 September 2013 between, amongst others, the Parties, as such has been amended or restated prior to the date hereof (the Facility Agreement ). |
2 | This letter is supplemental to the Facility Agreement. Terms and expressions defined in the Facility Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein, unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires. |
3 | References in the Facility Agreement to “this Agreement” shall, with effect from the date of this letter and unless the context otherwise requires, be references to the Facility Agreement as amended by this letter and words such as “herein”, “hereof”, “hereafter”, “hereby” and “hereto”, where they appear in the Facility Agreement, shall be construed accordingly. |
4 | The Facility Agreement shall, with effect on and from the date of this letter, be (and it is hereby) amended as follows: |
(a) | The definition of First Repayment Date shall be deleted in its entirety and be replaced with the following definition: |
First Repayment Date means, in respect of the K-sure Facility and the FSRU Tranche of the Commercial Facility, subject to clause 40.8 ( Business Days ), 29 December 2014.
(b) | The definition of K-Sure Final Maturity Date shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following definition: |
K-Sure Final Maturity Date means, subject to clause 40.8 ( Business Days ), 29 September 2026, or such later date as the Facility Agent may agree (on the instructions of the Lenders and K-sure, in their absolute discretion).
(c) | The definition of Original FSRU Tranche Final Maturity shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following definition: |
Original FSRU Tranche Final Maturity Date means, subject to clause 40.8 ( Business Days ), 29 September 2021, or such later date as the Facility Agent may agree (on the instructions of the Lenders, in their absolute discretion).
5 | Save as may be amended or varied hereby, the terms of the Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents shall remain unaltered and in full force and effect and shall be read and construed as the same may have been amended by this letter. |
6 | This letter may be executed in counterparts and by each party on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. |
7 | This letter and any non-contractual obligations connected with it are governed by and, shall be construed in accordance with, English law. |
1 |
THE BORROWER
PT HOEGH LNG LAMPUNG
By: /s/ ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE | |
THE FACILITY AGENT
for and on behalf of the Finance Parties
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
By:
/s/ Paul Thompson | |
Paul Thompson
Director, Agency UK/Europe
Standard Chartered Bank
2 |
Exhibit 4.30
SERVICE AGREEMENT
This Service Agreement (hereinafter the “ Agreement ”) has been entered into between:
Leif Hoegh (U.K.) Limited (“ LHUK ”)
and
Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC (“the Operating Company”)
Hereinafter together known as the “ Parties ” and individually known as a “ Party ”.
1. | Background |
The Operating Company is an intermediate holding company which is a Marshall Islands based subsidiary of Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands Limited partnership whose common units representing limited partnership interests in it are listed and trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the “MLP” ), and holds interests in a number of companies which own vessels (the “ Opcos ” ).
The Operating Company wishes to engage LHUK to provide certain commercial and operational services, as may be agreed from time to time, in regard to the vessels that are owned, in part or full, by the Opcos.
The purpose of this Agreement is to govern the delivery of such services.
2. | The Services |
This Agreement governs certain commercial and operational services provided by the LHUK to the Operating Company as may be agreed from time to time (the “ Services ”).
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement:
(a) LHUK shall not hold itself out as having, or allow any of its officers, employees, directors, personnel, agents or representatives to represent that it or any of them has any authority to legally bind the Operating Company or any of the Opcos by negotiation or otherwise to conclude any contract, agreement or other legal commitment (whether verbally or in writing) in the name of, or otherwise binding on, the Operating Company;
(b) LHUK shall not hold itself out as having, or allow any of its officers, employees, directors, personnel, agents or representatives to represent that it or any of them has any authority to legally bind the Operating Company or any of the Opcos by negotiation or otherwise to conclude any contract, agreement or other legal commitment (whether verbally or in writing) in the name of, or otherwise binding on, the Operating Company or any of the Opcos.
3. | Payments |
The Services shall be delivered at market value negotiated between the Parties .
Page 1 of 4 |
Payment is due promptly upon receipt of an invoice from LHUK. Payments shall be exclusive of VAT, which shall be payable upon receipt of a valid VAT invoice. Where this Agreement requires one Party to reimburse another for any costs or expenses, the payer shall, at the same time, pay the payee all VAT incurred by the payee in respect of those costs or expenses. The amount payable will be the amount that the payee reasonably determines is the amount that neither it, nor any other member of any group of which it is a member for VAT purposes, is entitled to recover from the relevant tax authority in respect of the VAT.
Interest will not be charged for the first 45 days after receipt of the invoice, but thereafter will be charged at 3.00% per annum above the three-month US$ LIBOR rate as at the due date if invoices are not settled on due date.
Any fixed fee charges are adjusted annually according to the general inflation in the UK, as indicated in statistical material. The basis for adjustments is the index at 1 January 2014.
4. | Duration of this Agreement |
LHUK shall render the Services on an ongoing basis. The Agreement can be terminated by either Party giving three – 3 – months notice.
The Agreement records the arrangements which were in place as at 12 August 2014 and shall be effective going forward.
5. | Service Standards |
All Services shall be rendered according to the standard and using the competence and control systems used for similar services performed for and by LHUK and deemed to be a normal standard for similar services rendered from external service providers.
LHUK personnel delivering services to the Operating Company must be qualified for the tasks that will be performed.
6. | Information |
Each Party shall ensure that the other is given all information reasonably necessary to fulfil its obligations towards the other under this Agreement.
7. | Amendments |
Amendments to this Agreement must be done in writing and must be signed by both Parties to be valid.
8. | Transfer |
No Party is permitted to assign or otherwise dispose of the benefit of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties. This Agreement is binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties’ successors and assigns.
Page 2 of 4 |
9. | Confidentiality |
Each of the Parties are obliged to treat any knowledge of this Agreement with confidentiality, and make sure that persons not concerned are not given knowledge of this Agreement. The aforementioned is not applicable to information deemed publicly available.
10. | TERMINATION |
To the extent one of the Parties is in material breach of its obligations under the terms of this Agreement, the other Party may, after giving the party in breach written notice and a reasonable period in which the Party in breach may remedy the breach, terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.
In case of termination each Party shall return to the other Party any information or material owned by the other Party. Any costs incurred by the termination of this Agreement shall be covered by each Party.
11. | CONTRADICTIONS |
If there are any contradictions between this Agreement and any appendices to this Agreement, the Agreement will govern the situation.
12. | DISPUTE |
If any dispute should arise regarding the interpretation of this Agreement, the Parties will try to solve the dispute through negotiations.
If negotiations fail, each of the Parties may raise the dispute to a court of law in the UK.
13. | JURISDICTION |
This Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
14. | COPIES |
This Agreement is made in two copies, both deemed originals, and each of the Parties will receive one copy each.
[Signature page to follow]
Page 3 of 4 |
For and on behalf of Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC
/s/ Richard Tyrrell |
For and on behalf of Leif Hoegh (U.K.) Limited
/s/ Chris Everard |
|
Name: Richard Tyrrell | Name: Chris Everard | |
Title: Chief Executive Officer | Title: Company Secretary | |
Place and Date: 21-Oct-14 London |
|
Place and Date: 28 Oct 14 London |
Page 4 of 4 |
Exhibit 4.31
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Service Agreement (hereinafter “ Agreement ”) has been entered into between:
Leif Höegh (U.K.) Limited (“LHUK”),
and
HOEGH LNG SERVICES LTD. (“HMUK”)
Hereinafter together known as the Parties and individually known as a Party.
1. | BACKGROUND |
HMUK provides certain services to Hoegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands Limited partnership whose common units representing limited partnership interests in it are listed and trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the “MLP” ) pursuant to an administrative services agreement dated 2 July 2014 (the “MLP Administrative Services Agreement” ).
Pursuant to the MLP Administrative Services Agreement, HMUK may subcontract the services provided to the MLP and wishes to engage LHUK to provide certain of those services, as further described in this Agreement.
Both Parties find it expedient to cooperate for these services in order to make the administration of the two companies as cost efficient as possible. The purpose of this Agreement is to govern the delivery of these services.
2. | THE SERVICES |
The Agreement governs the services that LHUK agrees to render to HMUK (hereinafter referred to as the “ Services ”). The Services are further described in Appendix 1 and any changes to the Services will be in writing and reflected in appendices to this Agreement.
3. | PAYMENTS |
The Services are delivered at market value negotiated between the Parties as specified in Appendix 1.
Payment is due immediately upon receipt of monthly invoices from LHUK. Charges for each service are specified in Appendix 1. Payments shall be exclusive of VAT, which shall be payable upon receipt of a valid VAT invoice. Where this Agreement requires one Party to reimburse another for any costs or expenses, the payer shall, at the same time, pay the payee all VAT incurred by the payee in respect of those costs or expenses. The amount payable will be the amount that the payee reasonably determines is the amount that neither it, nor any other member of any group of which it is a member for VAT purposes, is entitled to recover from the relevant tax authority in respect of the VAT. Interest will not be charged for the first 45 days after receipt of the invoice, but thereafter will be charged at 3.00% per annum above the three-month US$ LIBOR rate as at the due date if invoices are not settled on due date.
Any fixed fee charges are adjusted annually according to the general inflation in the UK, as indicated in statistical material. The basis for adjustments is the index at 1 January 2014.
Page 1 of 4 |
4. | DURATION OF THIS AGREEMENT |
LHUK shall render the Services in Appendix 1 on an ongoing basis. The Agreement can be terminated by either Party giving three – 3 – months notice.
The Agreement records the arrangements which were in place as at 12 August 2014 and shall be effective going forward.
5. | SERVICE STANDARDS |
All Services shall be rendered according to the standards and using the competence and control systems used for similar services performed for and by LHUK, and deemed to be a normal standard for similar services rendered from external service providers.
LHUK personnel delivering services to HMUK must be qualified for the tasks that will be performed.
6. | INFORMATION |
Each Party shall ensure that the other is given all information reasonably necessary to fulfil its obligations towards the other under this Agreement.
7. | AMENDMENTS |
Amendments to this Agreement must be done in writing and must be signed by both Parties to be valid.
8. | TRANSFER |
No Party is permitted to assign or otherwise dispose of the benefit of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties. This Agreement is binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties’ successors and assigns.
9. | CONFIDENTIALITY |
Each of the Parties are obliged to treat any knowledge of this Agreement with confidentiality, and make sure that persons not concerned are not given knowledge of this Agreement. The aforementioned is not applicable to information deemed publicly available.
10. | TERMINATION |
To the extent one of the Parties is in material breach of its obligations under the terms of this Agreement, the other Party may, after giving the party in breach written notice and a reasonable period in which the Party in breach may remedy the breach, terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.
In case of termination each Party shall return to the other Party any information or material owned by the other Party. Any costs incurred by the termination of this Agreement shall be covered by each Party.
11. | CONTRADICTIONS |
If there are any contradictions between this Agreement and any appendices to this Agreement, the Agreement will govern the situation.
Page 2 of 4 |
12. | DISPUTE |
If any dispute should arise regarding the interpretation of this Agreement, the Parties will try to solve the dispute through negotiations.
If negotiations fail, each of the Parties may raise the dispute to a court of law in the UK.
13. | JURISDICTION |
This Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
14. | COPIES |
This Agreement is made in two copies, both deemed originals, and each of the Parties will receive one copy each.
For and on behalf of Hoegh LNG Services Ltd.
/s/ Richard Tyrrell |
For and on behalf of Leif Hoegh (U.K.) Limited
/s/ Chris Everard
|
|
Name: Richard Tyrrell | Name: Chris Everard | |
Title: Director | Title: Company Secretary | |
Place and Date: 21 - Oct. - 14 London |
Place and Date: 28 - Oct - 14 London |
Page 3 of 4 |
Appendix 1:
Record | Type | Price | Description of Service and additional comments | |||
1 |
Provision of office facilities
|
An apportionment of general office rental and equipment. | ||||
2 |
Administration of payroll and benefits
|
An apportionment of the time spent on providing such Administration. | ||||
3 | Company Secretarial Services | Identify Cost + 5% |
Cost for the following personnel:
Chris Everard.
Costs should include preparatory work for board and shareholder meetings/resolutions, any travel or meeting arrangements, notarial services, and similar.
|
|||
4 | All other services | Allocated at cost |
Any other incidental services that directly or indirectly are rendered in relation to providing the Services. |
Page 4 of 4 |
Exhibit 8.1
Subsidiaries of Höegh LNG Partners LP
Subsidiary | Ownership Interest | Jurisdiction of Formation | ||
Höegh LNG Partners Operating LLC | 100% | Republic of the Marshall Islands | ||
SRV Joint Gas Ltd. | 50% | Cayman Islands | ||
SRV Joint Gas Two Ltd. | 50% | Cayman Islands | ||
Höegh LNG Lampung Pte Ltd. | 100% | Singapore | ||
Höegh LNG Services Ltd. | 100% | United Kingdom | ||
PT Hoegh LNG Lampung | 49% | Indonesia |
Exhibit 12.1
Certification Pursuant to
Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350)
I, Richard Tyrrell, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Höegh LNG Partners LP (the “registrant”); |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. | I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have: |
(a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
(b) | [Omitted pursuant to the transition period exemption for newly public companies]; |
(c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
(d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
(a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
(b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: April 24, 2015 | HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP | |
By: | /s/ Richard Tyrrell | |
Name: | Richard Tyrrell | |
Title: | Principal Executive Officer | |
and Principal Financial Officer |
Exhibit 13.1
Certification Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. 1350
Pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350), as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Höegh LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), certifies, to such officer’s knowledge, that:
The annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014 of the Partnership (the “ Report ”) fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.
Date: April 24, 2015 | HÖEGH LNG PARTNERS LP | |
By: | /s/ RICHARD TYRRELL | |
Name: | Richard Tyrrell | |
Title: | Principal Executive Officer | |
and Principal Financial Officer |
Exhibit 15.1
Schedule I- Condensed Financial Information of Registrant |
Höegh LNG Partners LP – Parent company (“Parent”) |
Schedule I- Condensed Financial Information of Registrant - Continued |
1. Basis of presentation
Höegh LNG Partners LP – Parent company is a Marshall Islands limited partnership formed on April 28, 2014, as such there is only one period reported in these condensed financial information.
In the parent-only financial statements, the investment in subsidiaries and investment in joint ventures are stated at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries and accumulated losses in joint ventures since the date of acquisition and the closing of the initial public offering on August 12, 2014. The Partnerships’ share of net income of its unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures are included in the condensed income statement using the equity method. The Parents financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Partnerships’ consolidated and combined carve-out financial statements.
2. Dividends
No cash dividends have been paid to the Parent from its subsidiaries and investees.
2 |