UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR
15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of January 2022

 

Commission File Number: 001-37889

 

TOP SHIPS INC.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

1 VAS. SOFIAS & MEG.

ALEXANDROU STREET

151 24, MAROUSSI

ATHENS, GREECE

(Address of principal executive office)

 

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

 

Form 20-F     ☒          Form 40-F     ☐

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

Information Contained in this Form 6-K Report

 

Attached to this report on Form 6-K (this “Report”) as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the press release of TOP Ships Inc. (the "Company") dated January 21, 2022, titled “Top Ships Inc. Announces Delivery of 1st VLCC, Sale of 2 Product Tankers and Fully-Funded Status of Current Newbuilding Program with New Sources of Capital.”

 

Attached to this Report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 99.2 is a copy of the Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock of the Company.

 

Attached to this Report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 99.3 is a copy of the Stock Purchase Agreement entered into as of January 17, 2022 by and between the Company and Africanus Inc.

 

The information contained in this report on Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by reference into the Company's registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-234281) that was filed with the SEC and became effective on November 4, 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

     
  TOP SHIPS INC.
  (Registrant)
   
   
  By: /s/ Evangelos J. Pistiolis  
  Name: Evangelos J. Pistiolis
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Date: January 21, 2022

 

 

EXHIBIT 99.1

Top Ships Inc. Announces Delivery of 1st VLCC, Sale of 2 Product Tankers and Fully-Funded Status of Current Newbuilding Program with New Sources of Capital

ATHENS, Greece, Jan. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TOP Ships Inc. (the “Company”), an international owner and operator of modern, fuel efficient "ECO" tanker vessels, announced today the delivery of the very high-specification, scrubber-fitted, 300,000 dwt newbuilding Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) vessel M/T Julius Caesar constructed at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea. The vessel has commenced its previously announced time charter employment with a major oil trader for three years with two yearly extensions at the charterer’s option. The revenue backlog expected to be generated by this fixture, assuming all options are exercised, is about $68.8 million. For 2022 alone, this charter is expected to contribute $12.5 million in revenue.

Sale of 2 Product Tankers

The company also announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell to unaffiliated third parties its 2 MR product tankers M/T Eco Los Angeles and M/T Eco City of Angels. The vessel sales are subject to customary closing conditions and are anticipated to be concluded during the first quarter of 2022.

Depending on when the closing of the sales take place, the Company estimates net proceeds after debt repayment of about $17.5 million and intends to use these funds towards its current newbuilding program, including repayment of the Unsecured Financing described below.

Secured Financing of Newbuilding Vessels

In relation to the delivery of M/T Julius Caesar, the Company drew down $54.0 million from its secured credit facility (in the form of a sale and leaseback transaction) with a major international financier entered into in November 2021, and has bareboat chartered back the vessel for a period of eight years at a bareboat hire rate consisting of 32 consecutive quarterly installments of $0.7 million and a balloon payment of $32.4 million payable together with the last installment, plus interest based on the 3 months USD LIBOR (or the applicable LIBOR replacement rate), plus 2.60% per annum. As part of this transaction, the Company has continuous options to buy back the vessels at purchase prices stipulated in the bareboat agreements. The facility contains customary financial and other covenants including with respect to a change in voting control of the Company.

The Company has in place a facility with the same financier with substantially similar terms for the M/T Legio X Equestris (Hull No. 3214) which is expected to be delivered during the 1st quarter of 2022.

The Company also announced that it has entered into a non-binding term sheet with a major international financier for up to $48.4 million for the financing, in the form of sale and leaseback, of the newbuilding vessel M/T Eco Oceano CA (Hull No. 871), subject to credit committee approval. According to the terms, the credit facility will be repayable in 40 consecutive quarterly installments of $0.7 million commencing from the date of delivery of the vessel, plus a balloon installment equal to $20.4m. The credit facility will bear interest based on the 3 months USD LIBOR (or the applicable LIBOR replacement rate), plus a margin of 3.50% per annum.

Subject to the approval of the termsheet relating to the financing of the M/T Eco Oceano CA, in combination with the Unsecured Financing and the sale of Series F Preferred Shares described below, the Company’s remaining newbuilding program, consisting of the VLCC vessel M/T Legio X Equestris (Hull No. 3214) and the Suezmax vessel M/T Eco Oceano CA (Hull No. 871), will be fully funded.

Unsecured Financing

The Company also announced that it has entered into an unsecured credit facility for up to $20 million with an affiliate of its CEO in order to finance part of the shipbuilding cost of the 2 VLCCs. To date, $9 million has been drawn down.

The company shall repay the principal amount of this facility in cash via one or multiple installments at its discretion by December 31, 2022. The principal terms of the loan include an arrangement fee of 2%, interest of 12% per annum and a commitment fee of 1.00% on the undrawn part of the facility.

Series F Non-Convertible Perpetual Preferred Shares

In January 2022, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with an affiliate of its CEO (the “Buyer”) for the sale of up to 7,560,759 newly-issued Series F Non-Convertible Perpetual Preferred Shares, par value $0.01, to the Buyer, in exchange for (i) the assumption by the Buyer of an amount of $48.0 million of shipbuilding costs for its newbuilding vessels M/T Eco Oceano CA (Hull No. 871), M/T Julius Caesar and M/T Legio X Equestris (Hull No. 3214), and (ii) settlement of the Company’s remaining payment obligations relating to the acquisition in September 8, 2021 of an additional 65% ownership interest in the newbuilding contracts for its 2 VLCCs, in an amount of up to $27.6 million. As of the date of this release 1,800,160 Series F Preferred Shares have been issued.

The Series F Preferred Shares have the following characteristics:

Voting.  The holders of Series F Preferred Shares are entitled to the voting power of ten (10) of our common shares per Series F Preferred Share.  The holders of Series F Preferred Shares and the holders of common shares shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Except as required by law, the holders of Series F Preferred Shares have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required for taking any corporate action.

Distributions. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our Company, the holders of Series F Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive the net assets of the Company pari passu with the Common Shares.

Redemption.  The Company at its option shall have the right to redeem a portion or all of the outstanding Series F Preferred Shares. Upon an optional redemption, the Company shall pay an amount equal to $10 per Series F Preferred Share redeemed (the “Liquidation Amount”), plus a redemption premium of 20% of the Liquidation Amount. The Series F Preferred Shares include a mandatory redemption provision tied to minimum ownership requirements for the Company’s major shareholders, including affiliates of the CEO, including payment of a redemption premium, as detailed in the Certificate of Designation for the Series F Preferred Shares.

Dividends. The holders of outstanding Series F Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive semi-annual dividends payable in cash at a rate of 13.5% per year of the Liquidation Amount of the then outstanding Series F Preferred Shares. In addition, a one-time cash dividend equal to 4.0% of the Liquidation Amount is payable to the Buyer 30 days following the issuance of Series F Preferred Shares.

Ranking. All shares of Series F Preferred Shares shall rank pari passu with the Company’s common shares.

The terms of the entry into the unsecured financing and the sale of Series F Preferred Shares were approved by a special committee composed of independent members of the Company's board of directors (the “Transaction Committee”). The Transaction Committee obtained a fairness opinion from an independent financial advisor for each transaction.

About TOP Ships Inc.

TOP Ships Inc. is an international ship-owning company.

For more information about TOP Ships Inc., visit its website: www.topships.org.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “may,” “should,” “expect” “pending” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

Contact:

Alexandros Tsirikos
Chief Financial Officer
TOP Ships Inc.
Tel: +30 210 812 8107
Email: atsirikos@topships.org

Exhibit 99.2

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND PRIVILEGES OF SERIES F PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK

 

OF

 

TOP SHIPS INC.

 

(Pursuant to Section 35 of the Business Corporations Act of the Republic of the Marshall Islands)

 

The undersigned, Mr. Alexandros Tsirikos, does hereby certify:

 

1.        That he is the duly elected and acting Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Top Ships Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation (the “Company”).

 

2.        That, pursuant to the authority conferred by the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) on January 17, 2022 adopted the following resolution designating and prescribing the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the Company’s Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock and such resolution has not been modified and is in full force and effect on the date hereof:

 

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board by the Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, the Board does hereby establish a series of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, and the designation and certain powers, preferences and other special rights of the shares of such series, and certain qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereon, are hereby fixed as follows:

 

Section 1.                Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock”. The Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.01 per share, and the number of shares constituting such series shall consist of 7,560,759 shares.

 

Section 2.                Dividends and Distributions.

 

(a)               Subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of any shares of any series of preferred stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of funds legally available for the purpose, semi-annual dividends payable in cash on the last day of June and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Semi Annual Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Semi Annual Dividend Payment Date in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to thirteen and one-half percent (13.5%) per year of the Liquidation Amount of the then outstanding Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock (computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual days elapsed).

 

(b)               In addition to the semi-annual dividend payable pursuant to Section 2(a), and subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of any shares of any series of preferred stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, each holder of shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock upon the initial issuance of such shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of funds legally available for the purpose a one-time dividend payable 30 days following the initial issuance of such shares, in an amount (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to four percent (4.0%) of the Liquidation Amount of such shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock.

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(c)               Accrued but unpaid dividends shall bear interest at a rate of thirteen and one-half percent (13.5%) per year. Dividends paid on the shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

 

Section 3.                Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

 

(a)               Each share of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to the voting power of ten (10) common shares of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”).

 

(b)               Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Company.

 

(c)               Except as required by law, holders of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

 

Section 4.                Consolidation, Merger, etc.

 

(a)               Subject to Section 8, upon any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation or other entity through one or a series of related transactions, then either (x) the shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding or, (y) in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Company is not the surviving or resulting entity, then the Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall be converted into or exchanged for preferred securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and in either case of (x) or (y) such shares remaining outstanding or such preferred securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole; provided, however, that for all purposes of this Section 4, any increase in the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock, including any increase in the authorized number of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock, will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the holders of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock.

 

Section 5.                Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

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(a)               Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall rank pari passu with the Common Stock in any distribution of the net assets of the Company.

 

Section 6.                Redemption.

 

(a)               The Company at its option shall have the right to redeem (unless otherwise prevented by law), a portion or all of the outstanding shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock. To effect any redemption pursuant to this paragraph, the Company shall pay an amount equal to ten dollars ($10) per share of Series F Perpetual Preferred Shares (the “Liquidation Amount”), plus a redemption premium equal to twenty percent (20%) of the Liquidation Amount being redeemed (“Redemption Premium”), plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends on such shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock (collectively referred to as the “Redemption Amount”). In order to make a redemption, the Company shall first provide one (1) business day advanced written notice to the holders of its intention to make a redemption (the “Redemption Notice”) setting forth the amount it desires to redeem. Upon the expiration of the one (1) business day period, the Company shall deliver to each holder the Redemption Amount with respect to the amount redeemed.

 

(b)               Upon the occurrence of a Mandatory Redemption Event, the Company shall as promptly as practicable redeem (unless otherwise prevented by law), all of the outstanding shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock. To effect any redemption pursuant to this paragraph, the Company shall pay an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount with respect to all outstanding shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock, plus a redemption premium equal to forty percent (40%) of such Liquidation Amount, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends on the shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock. “Mandatory Redemption Event” shall mean that the aggregate voting power represented by securities of the Company “beneficially owned” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) by Family Trading Inc., Tankers Family Inc., the Lax Trust, Evangelos Pistiolis and any of their “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) is or becomes less than 50% of the aggregate voting power represented by all issued and outstanding securities of the Company.

 

(c)               The shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall not be subject to redemption in cash at the option of the holders thereof under any circumstances.

 

Section 7.                Ranking. All shares of the Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock shall rank pari passu with all classes of Common Stock.

 

Section 8.                Amendment; Waiver. The Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preference or special rights of the Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class. Any term or provision of this Certificate of Designations may be waived, with the written consent of the Company and the vote or written consent of holders of all of the shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock at the time outstanding.

 

Section 9.                Fractional Shares. Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock.

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Section 10.            Transfer of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock. A holder may transfer some or all of its shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock without the consent of the Company.

 

Section 11.            Register. The Company shall maintain at its principal executive offices (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice to the holders), a register for the shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock, in which the Company shall record the name, address and facsimile number of the persons in whose name the shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock have been issued, as well as the name and address of each transferee. The Company may treat the person in whose name any shares of Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock is registered on the register as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, but in all events recognizing any properly made transfers.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation is executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chief Financial Officer and Secretary on January 17, 2022.

 

     
     
     /s/ Alexandros Tsirikos
    Name: Alexandros Tsirikos
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
     
     

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

Exhibit 99.3

 

STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of January 17, 2022 between TOP Ships Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation (the “Company”) and Africanus Inc. (the “Buyer”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to sell up to 7,560,759 newly-issued Series F Perpetual Preferred Shares, par value $0.01, with terms substantially as set forth in Exhibit A (the “Shares”), to the Buyer, and the Buyer is willing to purchase the Shares from the Company, on the terms and conditions contained herein, in exchange for (i) the assumption or settlement by the Buyer of the Company’s liabilities due to Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (together “Hyundai”) amounting to an aggregate of $48,045,592 for the delivery of the vessels Eco Oceano Ca (Hull No. 871), Julius Caesar (Hull No. 3213) and Legio X Equestris (Hull No. 3214) in the first half of 2022, and (ii) termination and release of the Company’s remaining payment obligations pursuant to the Sale and Purchase Agreement between the Company and Zizzy Charter Co. dated September 8, 2021, in the amount of $27,562,000 (together, the “Consideration”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements stated herein, the parties agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings specified in (a) the preamble, (b) the recitals, (c) Article I or (d) elsewhere in this Agreement, as the case may be:

 

Governmental Body means any (a) nation, state, county, city, town, village, district, or other jurisdiction of any nature, (b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, or other government, (c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official, or entity and any court or other tribunal), (d) multinational governmental organization or body, or (e) body exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police regulatory or taxing authority or power of any nature.

 

Laws means all statutes, treaties, codes, ordinances, decrees, rules, regulations, municipal bylaws, judicial or arbitral or administrative or ministerial or departmental or regulatory judgments, orders, decisions, rulings or awards, policies, certificates, codes, licenses, permits, approval, guidelines, voluntary restraints, inspection reports, or any provisions of such laws, including general principles of common law and equity and the requirements of all Governmental Bodies, binding or affecting the Person referred to in the context in which such word is used; and "Law" means any one of them.

 

Lien means, with respect to the Shares (whether the same is consensual or nonconsensual or arises by contract, operation of law, legal process or otherwise): (i) any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, attachment, levy or other charge or encumbrance of any kind thereupon or in respect thereof or (ii) any other arrangement under which the same is transferred, sequestered or otherwise identified with the intention of subjecting the same to, or making the same available for, the payment or performance of any liability in priority to the payment of the ordinary, unsecured creditors, and which under applicable law has the foregoing effect, including any “adverse claim” (as Section 8-102(a) of each applicable Uniform Commercial Code defines that term).

 

 

Person means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, government or agency or subdivision thereof or any other entity.

 

ARTICLE II

PURCHASE OF SHARES; CLOSING

 

Section 2.1 Purchase of Shares. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and on the basis of the representations and warranties hereinafter set forth, at the Closings, as defined below, the Buyer shall deliver the Consideration and the Company shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to the Buyer, and the Buyer shall acquire and purchase from the Company an aggregate of 7,560,759 Shares.

 

Section 2.2 Closing. Each closing contemplated hereby (each, a “Closing”) shall take place within three trading days following the satisfaction of the conditions to be satisfied prior to each such Closing pursuant to Article VI at such time and place upon which the Buyer and the Company shall agree. In four Closings, the Buyer shall deliver Consideration and the Company shall deliver Shares as follows: (i) 1,800,160 Shares in exchange for the assumption or settlement by the Buyer of the Company’s liabilities due to Hyundai amounting to an aggregate of $18,001,596 for the delivery of the vessel Legio X Equestris (Hull No. 3214), (ii) 1,800,159 Shares in exchange for the assumption or settlement by the Buyer of the Company’s liabilities due to Hyundai amounting to an aggregate of $18,001,596 for the delivery of the vessel Julius Caesar (Hull No. 3213), (iii) 1,204,240 Shares in exchange for the assumption or settlement by the Buyer of the Company’s liabilities due to Hyundai amounting to an aggregate of $12,042,400 for the delivery of the vessel Eco Oceano Ca (Hull No. 871), and (iv) 2,756,200 Shares in exchange for the termination and release of the Company’s remaining payment obligations pursuant to the Sale and Purchase Agreement between the Company and Zizzy Charter Co. dated September 8, 2021, in the amount of $27,562,000. The date on which any Closing is held is referred to in this Agreement as a “Closing Date.” The parties need not be present at Closing, and documents may be delivered through counsel.

 

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Buyer as follows:

 

Section 3.1 Authorization. (a) The Company has full corporate power and authority under its governing documents, and its shareholders and/or directors have taken all necessary action to authorize it, to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated herein and to take all actions required to be taken by it pursuant to the provisions hereof.

 

(b)       This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to the principles of equity (whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

Section 3.2 The Shares. (a) The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Shares are also free and clear of all Liens and are not and at Closing will not be subject to any agreements or understandings with respect to the voting or transfer of any of the Shares.

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(b)       There are no current, and at Closing there will not be any, outstanding subscriptions, options, convertible securities, warrants or calls or preemptive rights of any kind issued or granted by, or binding upon, the Company to purchase or otherwise acquire or to sell or otherwise dispose of the Shares or any interest in them.

 

Section 3.3 Non-Contravention. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any documents executed in connection herewith, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or therein, does or shall:

 

(a)       violate, conflict with, result in a breach of or require notice or consent under (i) any Law, (ii) the governing documents of the Company or (iii) any provision of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party;

 

(b)       contravene, conflict with, or result in a violation of, or give any Governmental Body or other Person the right to challenge any of such transactions or to exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under, any Law, to which the Company or the Shares, is subject;

 

(c)       require notice to or consent of any Governmental Body; or

 

(d)       result in the imposition or creation of any Lien upon or with respect to the Shares.

 

Section 3.4 Validity. There is no investigation, claim, proceeding or litigation of any type pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to which the Company is a party that (i) questions or involves the validity or enforceability of any of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement or (ii) seeks (or reasonably might be expected to seek) (A) to prevent or delay the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement or (B) damages in connection with any such consummation.

 

Section 3.5 Litigation. There is no investigation, claim, proceeding or litigation of any type pending or, to the knowledge of the Company against the Company, except as publicly disclosed.

 

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER

 

The Buyer represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

 

Section 4.1 Authorization. The Buyer has full corporate power and authority under governing documents, and its board of directors and shareholders have taken all necessary action to authorize it, to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated herein and to take all actions required to be taken by it pursuant to the provisions hereof or thereof, and this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Buyer, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to the principles of equity (whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

Section 4.2 Non-Contravention. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or therein, does or shall violate, conflict with or result in breach of or require notice or consent under any Law, the governing documents of the Buyer nor any provision of any agreement or instrument to which the Buyer is a party.

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Section 4.3 Validity. There is no investigation, claim, proceeding or litigation of any type pending or, to the knowledge of the Buyer, threatened to which the Buyer is a party that (i) questions or involves the validity or enforceability of any of the Buyer's obligations under this Agreement or (ii) seeks (or reasonably might be expected to seek) (A) to prevent or delay the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (B) damages in connection with any such consummation.

 

Section 4.4 Legends. To the extent applicable, each certificate or other document evidencing any of the Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be endorsed with the legends substantially in the form set forth below:

 

(a) The following legend under the Securities Act:

 

THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER SUCH ACT, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR OTHER EVIDENCE, REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

 

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS

 

Section 5.1 Conduct of Business Pending Closing. The Buyer and the Company agree that between the date of the execution of this Agreement and Closing, the Buyer and the Company shall (i) conduct the business and maintain and preserve their assets in the ordinary course of business (ii) not cause the distribution of any dividends, and (iii) use their reasonable efforts to cause all of the representations and warranties in Article III hereof to continue to be true and correct.

 

Section 5.2 Further Assurances. The Company shall execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be executed, acknowledged and delivered to the Buyer such assignments or other instruments of transfer, assignment and conveyance, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer, as shall be necessary to vest in the Buyer all of the right, title and interest in and to the Shares issued to the Buyer by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, free and clear of all Liens, and any other document reasonably requested by the Buyer in connection with this Agreement.

 

Section 5.3 Governmental Filings. As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, each party shall, in cooperation with the other, file any reports or notifications that may be required to be filed by it under applicable law, if any.

 

Section 5.4 Consents. After Closing, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain any consents or approvals or assist in any filings required in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby that are requested by the Buyer and that they have not been previously obtained or made.

 

Section 5.5 Public Announcements. Neither party shall without the prior approval of the other party, issue or permit any of its partners, stockholders, directors, officers, managers, members, employees, agents to issue, any press release or other public announcement with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, except as may be required by Law or the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

Section 6.1 Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer. The obligations of the Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated herein are subject, at the option of the Buyer, to satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a)       Compliance. The Company shall have complied with its covenants and agreements contained herein, and the representations and warranties contained in Article III hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects (except those representations and warranties qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all respects) on the date hereof and as of each Closing Date.

 

(b)       Share Certificates. At each Closing, the Company shall issue a stock certificate or initiate book-entry issuance in the name of Buyer evidencing the Shares to be issued at such Closing as set forth in Section 2.2, which certificate shall contain such legends (or the equivalent if such shares are held in book entry form) as the Company deems necessary or advisable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement;

 

(c)       Orders, etc. No action, suit or proceeding shall have been commenced or shall be pending or threatened, and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, promulgated, issued or deemed applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by any Governmental Body or court that reasonably may be expected to prohibit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d)       Consents. All consents and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement shall have been obtained;

 

Section 6.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated herein are subject, at the option of the Company, to satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a)       Compliance. The Buyer shall have complied with its covenants and agreements contained herein and the representations and warranties contained in Article IV hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects (except those representations and warranties qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all respects) on the date hereof and as of each Closing Date. At or prior to each Closing, the Company shall have received documentation satisfactory to the Company, in its sole discretion, with respect to the Consideration to be delivered at such Closing pursuant to Section 2.2.

 

(b)       Orders, etc. No action, suit or proceeding shall have been commenced or shall be pending or threatened, and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, promulgated, issued or deemed applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by any Governmental Body or court that reasonably may be expected to prohibit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(c)       Consents. All consents and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement shall have been obtained.

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ARTICLE VII

TERMINATION

 

Section 7.1 Grounds for Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to each Closing and only for the remainder of Shares not already delivered and paid for pursuant to the Agreement:

 

(a)       By the mutual written agreement of the Buyer and the Company;

 

(b)       By the Buyer if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 hereof shall have become incapable of fulfillment and shall not have been waived by the Buyer;

 

(c)       By the Company if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 hereof shall have become incapable of fulfillment and shall not have been waived by the Company;

 

(d)       By the Buyer or the Company if the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby would violate any nonappealable final order, decree or judgment of any court or Governmental Body having competent jurisdiction enjoining, restraining or otherwise preventing, or awarding substantial damages in connection with, or imposing a material adverse condition upon, the consummation of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that a party shall not be allowed to exercise any right of termination pursuant to this Section 8.1 if the event giving rise to such termination right shall be due to the negligent or willful failure of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform or observe in any material respect any of the covenants or agreements set forth herein to be performed or observed by such party.

 

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 8.1 Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective on the date first hereinabove written upon its execution by the respective authorized signatory of the Company and the Buyer.

 

Section 8.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be modified, amended or terminated except by a written instrument specifically referring to this Agreement signed by all the parties hereto.

 

Section 8.3 Waivers and Consents. All waivers and consents given hereunder shall be in writing. No waiver by any party hereto of any breach or anticipated breach of any provision hereof by any other party shall be deemed a waiver of any other contemporaneous, preceding or succeeding breach or anticipated breach, whether or not similar. Except as provided in this Agreement, no action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including any investigation by or in behalf of any party, shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement.

 

Section 8.4 Assignments, Successors and No Third-Party Rights. No party may assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will apply to, be binding in all respects upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the parties.

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Section 8.5 Choice of Law; Resolution of Disputes. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of New York without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Any legal action or proceeding in connection with this Agreement or the performance hereof may be brought in the state and federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, and the parties hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such action or proceeding. The parties hereby irrevocably waive trial by jury in any action, proceeding or claim brought by any part hereto or beneficiary hereof on any matter whatsoever arising out of or in any way connected with this agreement.

 

Section 8.6 Construction; Section Headings; Table of Contents. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language the parties hereto have chosen to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party hereto. The section headings and any table of contents contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Section 8.7 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only as broad as is enforceable.

 

Section 8.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

TOP SHIPS INC.   AFRICANUS INC.
     
     
By: /s/ Alexandros Tsirikos   By: /s/ Dimosthenis Eleftheriadis
Name: Alexandros Tsirikos   Name: Dimosthenis Eleftheriadis
Title: CFO   Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Stock Purchase Agreement]

 

Exhibit A

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND PRIVILEGES OF SERIES F PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK OF TOP SHIPS INC.